Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Spirit Transformation Old Fossil?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen climbs the Ascension Immortal Stairway behind Liu Yan’er and the others, absorbing the mountain’s exceptionally dense spiritual energy.
• He reflects on killing Qin Heng and shows no regret, believing that the Qin Household’s Nascent Soul experts—and perhaps even its Spirit Transformation patriarch—will not dare attack him openly.
• Lu Chen plans to enter the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm under Lu Bufan’s identity, suppressing his cultivation until he can break through to the Nascent Soul Realm inside.
• Duan Zhengde and his younger sister catch up with Lu Chen. Duan proposes continuing their previous cooperation from the Thirteen Void Passes.
• Lei Ting reveals that Lu Chen killed Qin Heng, causing Duan Zhengde to panic. Fearing retaliation from the powerful Qin Household, Duan immediately abandons the partnership and flees using a “cicada shedding its shell” escape technique.
• Lu Chen and the others continue climbing. Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, and Tang Xiaoman reach the summit exhausted, while Lu Chen remains almost completely unaffected. Lei Ting also struggles but manages to continue.
• At the Summit of the Void, Qin Household disciples openly threaten Lu Chen, declaring that they will kill him once he enters the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm.
• Lu Chen dismisses their threats. However, an intimidating figure beside the Bronze Immortal Gate awakens and focuses on him. Lu Chen senses overwhelming danger and realizes that this person is likely a Spirit Transformation Realm expert.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Becomes increasingly confident and fearless after killing Qin Heng. He remains calm under pressure, trusts his own strength, and is determined to face the Qin Household rather than retreat.
• Duan Zhengde: His hidden strength and agility are emphasized, as he easily keeps pace with the group and escapes rapidly. However, his courage has limits; once he learns Lu Chen killed Qin Heng, self-preservation overrides his desire to cooperate.
• Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, and Tang Xiaoman: Their physical and spiritual limits become apparent as the staircase’s pressure intensifies. They reach the summit through determination but collapse from exhaustion.
• Lei Ting: Shows awareness of the political consequences of Lu Chen’s actions and deliberately warns Duan Zhengde. She is stronger than the others but still finds the climb taxing.
• Qin Household disciples: Their grief and loyalty turn Lu Chen into their designated enemy, with the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm becoming the planned site of their revenge.
• The unnamed Spirit Transformation expert: Introduced as a major threat whose presence immediately alarms Lu Chen.

Significant Themes

• Fearlessness versus survival: Lu Chen refuses to fear the Qin Household, while Duan Zhengde represents the practical instinct to avoid a powerful enemy.
• Hidden strength: Duan Zhengde’s concealed abilities and Lu Chen’s own reserved breakthrough plan suggest that appearances conceal the characters’ true capabilities.
• Consequences of defiance: Lu Chen’s killing of Qin Heng has transformed him into the target of an entire ancient aristocratic clan.
• Cultivation and endurance: The staircase functions as both a physical trial and a measure of each character’s cultivation, willpower, and potential.
• Escalating danger: The threats progress from ordinary Qin disciples to the possible intervention of a Spirit Transformation Realm expert.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen mocks Duan Zhengde over his alleged thievery, while Duan denies the accusation.
• Duan attempts to recruit Lu Chen as a teammate, but Lei Ting exposes the danger of associating with him.
• After learning the truth, Duan abandons Lu Chen and escapes, leaving behind his outer robe.
• Qin Household disciples confront Lu Chen at the summit and threaten him directly.
• Lu Chen responds with confidence, but his attitude changes when the mysterious Spirit Transformation expert turns his attention toward him.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

At the Summit of the Void, the death of Qin Heng is attributed to Lu Chen, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Although everyone considers it impossible for him to defeat a Peak Golden Core expert directly, Qin Ye announces a reward of a Supreme Spirit Artifact for whoever kills Lu Chen inside the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm. This immediately turns Lu Chen into the target of numerous factions.
Despite warnings from Lei Ting and concern from Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, and Tang Xiaoman, Lu Chen refuses to flee and boldly enters the Bronze Immortal Gate. More than a dozen Golden Core cultivators pursue him, expecting an easy kill. Shortly afterward, Qin Hai, one of the Qin Household’s Five Heroes, is thrown back outside with his Golden Core forcibly removed. Inside the secret realm, Lu Chen has apparently defeated or crippled all of his pursuers.

Character developments

Lu Chen demonstrates extreme confidence and hidden strength, refusing to be intimidated by the Qin Household or the promised reward. His Yin-Yang Cauldron protects him from Qin Taixuan’s terrifying spiritual pressure, suggesting that he possesses powerful defensive treasures. His combat ability shocks everyone, as he defeats multiple Golden Core cultivators despite appearing to be only at Foundation Establishment.
Lei Ting reveals concern for Lu Chen because of their intimate relationship and urges him to seek protection from her household. Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, and Tang Xiaoman also show deep anxiety over his apparent death sentence. Qin Taixuan, initially confident in the Qin Household’s superiority, becomes enraged and suspicious after Qin Hai’s defeat.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes the danger of underestimating others based on cultivation level and appearance. Lu Chen’s apparent weakness contrasts sharply with his actual power, turning the “prey” into the hunter. It also explores greed and opportunism, as cultivators rush to kill him for the Supreme Spirit Artifact without understanding his capabilities. Pride, revenge, and the consequences of provoking a seemingly insignificant opponent are central themes.

Character interactions

Qin Ye deliberately incites the crowd against Lu Chen by offering the reward on behalf of the Qin Household. Qin Taixuan attempts to intimidate Lu Chen with a powerful gaze, but Lu Chen survives through the protection of the Yin-Yang Cauldron. Lei Ting and Lu Chen clash over whether he should flee, while his other companions express fear for his safety. After entering the secret realm, Lu Chen confronts the pursuing cultivators and taunts them: “You wanted to kill me, didn’t you? Come on!” The surviving attackers are left terrified and regretful after witnessing his overwhelming strength.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Inside the Bronze Immortal Gate, Lu Chen defeats an entire group of Golden Core cultivators with a single machete, relying solely on his Peak Iron Bone body-refinement strength rather than spells or divine abilities.
• Though the defeated cultivators beg for mercy, Lu Chen kills them all because they attacked and looked down on him. He collects their Golden Cores and valuables, noting that the elemental cores will help him advance toward the Golden Body Stage.
• Lu Chen executes a direct descendant of the Qin Household, reminding him that he had already killed Qin Heng and therefore had no reason to fear Qin retaliation.
• Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, Tang Xiaoman, and Lei Ting arrive and are shocked by the massacre. Lei Ting leads Lu Chen and the others deeper into the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm, promising him valuable benefits.
• Duan Zhengde and his sister witness Lu Chen’s strength from a distance. Although they recognize his extraordinary body-refinement path, Duan Zhengde believes Qin Taixuan, a Spirit Transformation expert, will eventually kill him for murdering Qin Taixuan’s son.
• The Ancient Immortal Secret Realm is revealed as a vast, spiritually rich but decaying land filled with ruins, ferocious beasts, and an ominous city under dark clouds and lightning. The realm will remain open for only one month.
• Qin Ziyi successfully breaks through to the Nascent Soul Realm, unleashing chaotic sword energy and declaring that Lu Chen’s death is near.
• Several other prodigies also achieve breakthroughs: Qin Ming forms a lightning-based Nascent Soul, while Tang Longxiang succeeds through the power of the dragon and elephant.
• Qin Fan’s War Puppet Avatar lures Liu Fuyao, Yun Feiyan, Su Qingqing, and other Joyful Union Sect disciples into a deadly area, intending to use them as bait to trap and kill Lu Chen.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Demonstrates overwhelming physical strength capable of crushing Golden Core cultivators. He becomes more ruthless and decisive, refusing to spare enemies who attack him, while strategically harvesting their Golden Cores for his own advancement.
• Qin Ziyi: Completes her breakthrough into the Nascent Soul Realm. Her cultivation greatly increases her confidence and intensifies her hatred and determination to kill Lu Chen.
• Qin Ming: Advances to the Nascent Soul Realm through lightning cultivation, strengthening the Qin faction’s position within the secret realm.
• Tang Longxiang: Also reaches the Nascent Soul Realm, revealing powerful dragon-elephant energy and establishing himself as another major threat.
• Duan Zhengde: Recognizes Lu Chen’s unusual body-sanctification path but remains focused on obtaining a mysterious item that could restore the Duan Household’s former power.
• Qin Fan: Shows his manipulative and vengeful nature by using innocent or subordinate cultivators as bait in a planned ambush against Lu Chen.

Significant Themes

• Strength beyond cultivation realms: Lu Chen’s victory emphasizes that conventional realm rankings do not always determine true combat ability.
• Consequences of underestimation: The Golden Core cultivators’ arrogance toward a Foundation Establishment cultivator leads directly to their deaths.
• Ruthlessness and survival: The chapter presents the secret realm as a brutal environment where mercy toward enemies can be fatal.
• Rising competition: Multiple prodigies break through to the Nascent Soul Realm, signaling that the conflict is escalating rapidly.
• Revenge and power struggles: Qin Ziyi and Qin Fan focus on avenging past defeats, while Duan Zhengde seeks an artifact or treasure capable of restoring his family’s former glory.
• Ancient cultivation paths and opportunities: Lu Chen’s body-refinement path and the elemental Golden Cores highlight alternative routes to power beyond ordinary spell cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen confronts and executes the Qin Household disciple despite his pleas, making clear that family status offers no protection.
• The defeated cultivators beg Lu Chen for mercy after realizing they are no match for him, but he rejects their appeals.
• Liu Yan’er and the other women react with shock upon seeing Lu Chen surrounded by corpses.
• Lei Ting takes charge of guiding Lu Chen and the group toward an undisclosed opportunity within the secret realm.
• Duan Zhengde and his sister discuss Lu Chen’s terrifying power and Qin Taixuan’s likely retaliation.
• Qin Ziyi openly declares her intention to kill Lu Chen after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.
• Qin Fan secretly plots against Lu Chen by using Liu Fuyao and the other Joyful Union Sect disciples as bait.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fan deliberately leads Liu Fuyao, Yun Feiyan, Su Qingqing, and the other Joyful Union Sect disciples into a deadly area. He spreads rumors that they are trapped there, hoping Lu Chen will come to rescue them so he can eliminate everyone at once.
• Throughout the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm, many geniuses who had suppressed their cultivation break through to the Nascent Soul Realm, taking advantage of the realm’s restrictions.
• Qin Ziyi successfully advances to the Nascent Soul Realm. Empowered by her Supreme Chaos Spiritual Root and innate sword body, she immediately sets out to find and kill “Lu Bufan,” unaware that Lu Bufan is merely one of Lu Chen’s aliases.
• Qin Ziyi tests her new strength by killing a massive ferocious beast with a single strike of Chaos Sword Qi. The beast is comparable to a Peak Golden Core cultivator.
• Lu Chen, Lei Ting, Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, Tang Xiaoman, and others later arrive at the beast’s lair. Lu Chen recognizes Qin Ziyi’s Chaos Sword Qi and realizes she was likely responsible for the kill.
• Inside the lair, they discover three precious Vermilion Bird Fruits. Lei Ting explains that the Ancient Desolate Aristocratic Clans and major sects maintain maps and records of resources and dangers within the secret realm.
• Before the group can collect the fruits, three disciples from Supreme Mountain arrive and claim the treasure by force. Their leader, Xiao Yu, is revealed to be a Half-Step Nascent Soul cultivator, shocking Lei Ting and the others.

Character Developments

• Qin Fan displays increasing cunning and arrogance, believing his trap for Lu Chen is flawless.
• Qin Ziyi undergoes a major power increase after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm. Her confidence and hostility toward “Lu Bufan” intensify, though her misunderstanding of Lu Chen’s identity remains unresolved.
• Lu Chen remains cautious and perceptive. He recognizes the unusual Chaos Sword Qi and senses that the Vermilion Bird Fruit location may conceal further danger.
• Lei Ting demonstrates her clan’s extensive knowledge of the secret realm and asserts ownership of the discovered treasure, but her confidence is challenged by Supreme Mountain’s stronger representatives.
• Xiao Yu is introduced as a powerful and domineering Half-Step Nascent Soul cultivator who believes strength alone determines ownership of treasures.

Significant Themes

• Deception and mistaken identity: Qin Fan’s trap and Qin Ziyi’s pursuit of the nonexistent Lu Bufan highlight how misinformation drives the conflict.
• Power and survival: Breakthroughs to the Nascent Soul Realm and the confrontation over the Vermilion Bird Fruits show that strength determines status and possession in the secret realm.
• Preparation and inherited knowledge: The major clans and sects preserve maps and records from previous expeditions, giving them an advantage in competing for resources.
• Greed and opportunism: Qin Fan and Supreme Mountain both attempt to exploit others for personal gain, while disputes over ownership quickly become threats of violence.
• Hidden danger: Despite the beast’s death, Lu Chen suspects the lair is not safe, foreshadowing further conflict or traps.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fan manipulates the Joyful Union Sect disciples while secretly planning to use them as bait for Lu Chen.
• Qin Ziyi’s hatred of Lu Bufan motivates her immediate journey toward the Bronze Immortal Gate, but her path is temporarily interrupted by the ferocious beast.
• Lu Chen and Lei Ting’s group investigate Qin Ziyi’s battle aftermath and discuss the Vermilion Bird Fruits.
• Lei Ting explains the secret realm’s resource records to Lu Chen and the others.
• The group then confronts Xiao Yu and the Supreme Mountain disciples, with Lei Ting arguing that her clan discovered the fruits first while Xiao Yu insists that only superior strength grants ownership.

Chapter Summary: “Who Says You Can Take the Vermilion Bird Fruit?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen, Lei Ting, Shen Li, Liu Yan’er, and Tang Xiaoman discover three extremely rare Vermilion Bird Fruits in the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm.
• Before they can harvest them, Xiao Yu—the heir and Eldest Senior Brother of Supreme Mountain—arrives with two disciples and orders them to leave.
• Xiao Yu arrogantly claims the fruits for himself, relying on his Half-Step Nascent Soul cultivation to intimidate the group.
• Enraged by his behavior, Lei Ting challenges Xiao Yu. She attacks with her Thunderclap Divine Fist, but Xiao Yu easily dodges.
• Xiao Yu counterattacks with Shen Li’s lost Icefire Fan, using it to unleash a fire dragon that breaks Lei Ting’s Thunder Shield and sends her flying.
• Lei Ting launches a second attack, forming a massive lightning blade. Xiao Yu destroys it with a single finger using Supreme Mountain’s powerful Supreme Sword technique.
• Lei Ting is seriously shaken and forced to recognize the overwhelming gap between her Peak Golden Core cultivation and Xiao Yu’s Half-Step Nascent Soul strength.
• Xiao Yu confidently moves to collect the Vermilion Bird Fruits, believing they will guarantee his breakthrough into the Nascent Soul Realm.
• Just as he is about to take them, Lu Chen speaks up and challenges Xiao Yu, shocking everyone—especially the contemptuous Supreme Mountain disciples, who view him as merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yu is established as extremely powerful, arrogant, and dismissive of weaker cultivators. His mastery of the Supreme Sword and use of the Icefire Fan reveal him to be far more formidable than expected.
• Lei Ting demonstrates courage and a fierce temper by confronting Xiao Yu despite the difference in cultivation. Her defeat forces her to acknowledge his superior strength.
• Lu Chen remains calm while observing Xiao Yu’s abilities. Rather than being intimidated, he becomes eager to test himself against a Half-Step Nascent Soul expert and ultimately steps forward to defend the Vermilion Bird Fruits.
• Shen Li is shocked and angered to see Xiao Yu wielding her lost Icefire Fan. This raises the possibility that Xiao Yu may be connected to the ambush in which she lost it.
• Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, and Tang Xiaoman are initially furious at Xiao Yu but become stunned after witnessing his easy victory over Lei Ting.
• The Supreme Mountain disciples display blind loyalty and flatter Xiao Yu while mocking Lu Chen.

Significant Themes

• Power and hierarchy: Xiao Yu uses his superior cultivation to dominate others, showing how strength determines status in the cultivation world.
• Arrogance versus hidden ability: The Supreme Mountain disciples dismiss Lu Chen because of his apparent low cultivation, setting up the possibility that they have underestimated him.
• Courage and defiance: Lei Ting refuses to surrender the fruits without a fight, and Lu Chen continues that defiance after her defeat.
• Rare opportunities and competition: The Vermilion Bird Fruits represent a major opportunity for advancement, making them the source of conflict between the groups.
• Mystery and suspicion: Xiao Yu’s possession of Shen Li’s Icefire Fan suggests a hidden connection to her previous ambush.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yu openly insults and threatens Lu Chen’s group, while his disciples reinforce his authority through mockery.
• Lei Ting confronts Xiao Yu directly, leading to a brief but decisive battle in which he defeats her in two moves.
• Shen Li silently reacts to the appearance of her stolen Icefire Fan, suspecting Xiao Yu may know more about the attack against her.
• Lu Chen watches Xiao Yu’s battle carefully, recognizing his strength but not showing fear.
• The chapter ends with Lu Chen publicly challenging Xiao Yu, reversing the power dynamic and setting up an impending confrontation over the Vermilion Bird Fruits.

Chapter Summary: “Blood Like a Dragon, Crushing the Supreme Sect”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yu, a Half-Step Nascent Soul cultivator, defeats Lei Ting, a Peak Golden Core expert, in only two moves and prepares to take the Vermilion Bird Fruit.
• Lu Chen, disguised as Lu Bufan, steps forward to oppose him. Shen Li and Tang Xiaoman recognize him, while Liu Yan’er and Lei Ting remain unaware of his identity.
• A Supreme Mountain disciple mocks Lu Chen and attacks him with a sword technique. Lu Chen’s body withstands the strike completely.
• The disciple escalates by using the Supreme Sword Art, but Lu Chen destroys the countless sword shadows with one punch. His immense blood and vitality manifest as a dragon phantom, and the punch annihilates the disciple’s body, soul, and flying sword.
• Xiao Yu realizes Lu Chen is a powerful body cultivator and confronts him, intending to avenge his junior brother.
• Xiao Yu attacks with the Icefire Fan, summoning a massive fire dragon that evaporates the pool and ignites the surrounding trees. Lu Chen destroys the hundred-zhang fire dragon with a single punch.
• Lu Chen then charges Xiao Yu and sends him crashing into the cliff wall. The blow leaves a fist mark on Xiao Yu’s Dragon-Scale Armor, a supreme defensive treasure.
• As Xiao Yu is trapped in the cliff, Lu Chen announces that he will strike again, leaving Xiao Yu terrified.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Reveals extraordinary physical strength while maintaining his low-level disguise. He is calm, confident, and ruthless only when attacked with genuine killing intent. His performance establishes that his apparent Foundation Establishment cultivation is deceptive.
• Xiao Yu: Initially arrogant and confident because of his Half-Step Nascent Soul cultivation and powerful treasures. After witnessing Lu Chen’s strength, he becomes shocked, cautious, and finally frightened.
• Lei Ting: Her defeat by Xiao Yu establishes the latter’s superiority, but she still recognizes the danger of his Supreme Sword and warns Lu Chen.
• Supreme Mountain disciples: Their contempt for Lu Chen turns into disbelief and terror when one is killed instantly.
• Shen Li and Tang Xiaoman: Their prior knowledge of Lu Chen’s true identity contrasts with the others’ shock at his hidden power.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and deception: Lu Chen’s Foundation Establishment appearance conceals overwhelming physical power.
• Physical cultivation versus conventional cultivation: Lu Chen defeats Golden Core and Half-Step Nascent Soul attacks through bodily strength alone.
• Consequences of aggression: Lu Chen does not seek conflict, but he kills decisively when others genuinely try to kill him.
• Arrogance overturned: The Supreme Mountain disciples dismiss Lu Chen as insignificant, only to be destroyed by him.
• Power and fear: Xiao Yu’s confidence collapses as Lu Chen proves capable of damaging even the sect’s strongest defensive treasure.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen verbally challenges the Supreme Mountain disciple after being ordered to leave.
• The disciple attacks first, prompting Lu Chen to retaliate lethally.
• Xiao Yu confronts Lu Chen to avenge his junior brother and protect the Vermilion Bird Fruit.
• Lei Ting warns Lu Chen about Xiao Yu’s Supreme Sword, while Lu Chen remains composed and accepts the challenge.
• After overpowering Xiao Yu’s fire attack and smashing him into the cliff, Lu Chen prepares to deliver another punch.

Chapter Summary

• Lu Chen overwhelms Xiao Yu: Lu Chen reveals his terrifying physical strength by knocking Xiao Yu into a cliff with one punch, despite Xiao Yu wearing Supreme Mountain’s powerful dragon-scale armor. A second punch nearly destroys the cliff and forces Xiao Yu to flee, proving that Lu Chen had been concealing his true strength.
• The Vermilion Bird Fruits are secured: Lu Chen’s attack causes the cliff holding the Vermilion Bird Fruit tree to collapse. Before the fruits are destroyed, he uses spiritual power to retrieve all three. Lei Ting is relieved because the fruit will greatly improve her chances of breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm without relying on a Nascent Soul Pill.
• Lu Chen distributes the fruits: Lu Chen gives one fruit to Lei Ting, one to Tang Xiaoman, and one to Shen Li.
  • Lei Ting can use it to strengthen her breakthrough and pursue superior combat power.
  • Tang Xiaoman needs it to awaken the ancient Vermilion Bird bloodline inherited by the Tang family.
  • Shen Li, who has ice-and-fire spiritual roots, also benefits from its powerful fire-element energy.
    Each recipient effectively owes Lu Chen a favor, while Liu Yan’er is left envious and negotiates the possibility of trading for a future spiritual treasure.
• The Supreme Mountain disciple is spared: After Xiao Yu flees, his junior disciple attempts to crawl away and begs for mercy. Lu Chen forces him to surrender his storage ring and spirit artifacts but allows him to live. Although the others warn that sparing him could create future trouble, Lu Chen says he is doing so because it will be “more fun,” suggesting he may have a strategic or mischievous reason.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Lu Chen displays overwhelming strength, generosity toward his companions, and a playful, unpredictable personality. He freely gives away priceless treasures but ensures the recipients owe him favors.
• Xiao Yu suffers a major humiliation. Despite being Supreme Mountain’s Eldest Senior Brother and possessing excellent armor, he is defeated and abandons his junior disciple, exposing himself as cowardly and afraid of death.
• Lei Ting, Tang Xiaoman, and Shen Li each deepen their connection with Lu Chen by accepting the fruits and owing him future favors.
• Liu Yan’er acts flirtatiously and competitively, wanting the same treatment as the other women.
• The group becomes increasingly impressed by Lu Chen’s strength while remaining uncertain about his motives.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and deception: Lu Chen’s earlier restraint is revealed to have been deliberate, while Xiao Yu’s prestigious reputation is exposed as unreliable.
• True courage versus reputation: Xiao Yu’s cowardice contrasts sharply with Lu Chen’s confidence and control.
• Power and loyalty: Lu Chen uses valuable treasures to strengthen his companions and establish bonds of obligation.
• Mercy and strategy: Sparing an enemy may not be kindness but part of Lu Chen’s larger, more playful plan.
• Inheritance and destiny: The Vermilion Bird Fruits connect to Lei Ting’s cultivation ambitions, Shen Li’s elemental abilities, and Tang Xiaoman’s ancestral bloodline.

Chapter Summary: “You Came After All!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen defeats Xiao Yu’s group. Xiao Yu abandons his junior brother and flees, revealing himself to be cowardly and self-serving. Rather than kill the abandoned disciple, Lu Chen releases him, deliberately ensuring that Supreme Mountain learns of Xiao Yu’s betrayal and that his junior brother grows resentful toward him.
• Lei Ting decides to use the Vermilion Bird Fruit to attempt a breakthrough into the Nascent Soul Realm. Because she and Lu Chen became husband and wife during their time in the Thirteen Void Passes, Lu Chen agrees to protect her during the breakthrough.
• Qin Ziyi arrives too late at the pool and recognizes Lu Chen’s lingering aura. She realizes that he is the man who stole her seven natal flying swords and vows to track him down. She then receives a summons from her cousin Qin Fan and leaves for the Qin Household’s camp.
• Meanwhile, Qin Fan secretly abandons Liu Fuyao, Yun Feiyan, and the other Joyful Union Sect disciples inside a dangerous fog-covered area. The women realize they have fallen into a trap and can only establish a defensive formation while Qin Fan escapes to safety.
• Lei Ting brings Lu Chen and his companions to the Lei Household’s fortified camp. The camp is protected by generations of powerful formations and contains numerous Golden Core Realm members, demonstrating the strength of the Ancient Lei Household.
• Several Lei Household members, especially Elder Lei Ren, object to Lei Ting bringing outsiders into the camp. Lei Ting dismisses their objections, declares that Lu Chen and the others saved her life, and announces her intention to enter seclusion and break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.
• Lei Ting orders Lu Chen to stop anyone who attempts to disturb her. She then enters the specially prepared training chamber and seals herself inside.
• Xiao Yu also enters seclusion at Supreme Mountain’s camp, driven by hatred toward Lu Chen, Lei Ting, and their allies.
• After nightfall, an unidentified figure approaches Lei Ting’s training chamber. Lu Chen senses the arrival and says, “You came after all,” setting up the chapter’s cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Demonstrates strategic cruelty and psychological insight by releasing Xiao Yu’s junior brother instead of killing him. He also continues to act as Lei Ting’s protector, showing loyalty and responsibility toward her.
• Xiao Yu: Is exposed as a coward who values his own survival above loyalty to his junior brother. Humiliated and enraged, he begins preparing for a Nascent Soul breakthrough, likely seeking revenge.
• Lei Ting: Shows authority and independence by openly defying conservative members of her clan. She trusts Lu Chen more than her own fellow clan members and takes a major step toward the Nascent Soul Realm.
• Qin Ziyi: Discovers that Lu Chen was nearby when she arrived too late. Her frustration turns into a firm determination to hunt him down.
• Qin Fan: Is revealed to be calculating and treacherous. He sacrifices the Joyful Union Sect group to protect himself, reinforcing Qin Ziyi’s negative opinion of him.
• Lei Ren and the Lei Household: Their divided reactions reveal internal factionalism. Some support Lei Ting’s breakthrough, while others appear threatened or resentful by her growing power.

Significant Themes

• Cowardice versus loyalty: Xiao Yu and Qin Fan both abandon others to save themselves, contrasting sharply with Lu Chen and Lei Ting’s mutual trust.
• Trust and chosen alliances: Lei Ting relies on Lu Chen rather than her own clan, suggesting that loyalty is based on action and shared experience rather than bloodline.
• Power struggles within clans and sects: The Lei Household’s disagreement over Lei Ting’s actions shows that powerful factions are internally divided and politically unstable.
• Strategic revenge: Lu Chen’s decision to release Xiao Yu’s junior brother is not mercy alone; it is a calculated attack on Xiao Yu’s reputation and relationships.
• Pursuit of advancement: Multiple characters—Lei Ting and Xiao Yu in particular—seek the Nascent Soul Realm, making breakthrough cultivation both a source of power and a catalyst for conflict.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen humiliates Xiao Yu indirectly by allowing his abandoned junior brother to live and expose his betrayal.
• Lei Ting asks Lu Chen to guard her breakthrough, demonstrating their intimate bond and deep trust.
• Lei Ting clashes with Elder Lei Ren and other clan members over the presence of Lu Chen and his companions.
• Qin Ziyi’s frustration over missing Lu Chen fuels her determination to pursue him.
• Qin Fan betrays Liu Fuyao, Yun Feiyan, and the Joyful Union Sect disciples by trapping them and escaping alone.
• The chapter ends with Lu Chen confronting an unknown visitor outside Lei Ting’s sealed training chamber, implying an imminent attack or challenge.

Chapter Summary

Plot and events

Lei Ting enters seclusion to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm, but Lei Ren and Lei Aotian arrive that night intending to assassinate her. They have released Carefree Immortal-Bewitching Incense throughout the valley, hoping to incapacitate everyone and frame Lu Chen and the others for Lei Ting’s death. Their real goal is to let Lei Aotian devour Lei Ting’s Supreme Thunder Spirit Root, allowing him to gain a superior cultivation foundation and claim the Thunder Clan’s heir position.

Character developments

Lu Chen reveals that he was unaffected by the incense because the Yin-Yang Cauldron inside him absorbed its medicinal power. He accurately deduces the conspirators’ plan and remains calm despite being vastly underestimated as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Lei Aotian’s arrogance quickly turns to shock and humiliation when his Thunder Tribulation Finger fails to hurt Lu Chen. Lei Ren, a Half-Step Nascent Soul cultivator, is likewise caught off guard by Lu Chen’s strength.

Major confrontation

Lei Aotian attacks Lu Chen with the Thunder Tribulation Finger, expecting to kill him instantly, but the lightning merely disperses harmlessly over Lu Chen’s body. Lu Chen then vanishes, grabs Lei Aotian by the throat, and throws him toward Lei Ren, who is preparing to break into Lei Ting’s training chamber. Though Lei Ren attempts to stop Lei Aotian, Lu Chen’s force sends him crashing into Lei Ren. Lu Chen follows with a punch that strikes Lei Ren in the eye, knocking both men to the ground and leaving them dazed.

Character interactions

Lu Chen mocks Lei Ren and Lei Aotian for their hypocritical and treacherous behavior. Lei Aotian boasts about becoming the Thunder Clan’s foremost younger-generation expert and future heir, while Lu Chen ridicules his ambitions. After defeating both attackers, Lu Chen challenges the enraged Lei Aotian to try killing him, maintaining his complete confidence.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes the contrast between outwardly respectable cultivators and their corrupt, power-hungry behavior. It also highlights Lu Chen’s hidden strength, the danger of internal clan politics, and the consequences of arrogance and underestimating an opponent.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm, Lu Chen discovers that the Thunder Clan is embroiled in a violent succession struggle.
• While Lei Ting is in seclusion, Lei Ren and Lei Aotian use Immortal-Entrancing Incense to incapacitate all the Thunder Clan disciples in the valley.
• They plan to assassinate Lei Ting and frame Lu Chen and his companions for the crime, intending to escape afterward.
• Lu Chen confronts them and immediately punches Lei Ren, a Half-Step Nascent Soul cultivator, leaving him with a black eye.
• Lei Ren attacks with the Thunder Tribulation Finger, but Lu Chen remains completely unharmed, revealing that his apparent Foundation Establishment cultivation is deceptive.
• Enraged, Lei Ren unleashes his powerful True Thunder God Fist, summoning nine destructive thunderballs that devastate the surrounding area.
• Lu Chen deliberately takes the attack head-on. When the dust clears, he emerges completely unharmed—and even stronger, having used the lightning to temper his body.
• Lei Ren concludes that Lu Chen must possess a powerful defensive treasure and decides to kill him in order to seize it.
• The chapter ends with Lei Ren demanding that Lu Chen hand over the “exotic treasure,” while Lu Chen wonders whether Lei Ren can actually perceive the hidden treasures on his person.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Demonstrates extraordinary physical strength and resilience, easily withstanding attacks from a Half-Step Nascent Soul cultivator. He continues pretending to be a weak Foundation Establishment cultivator while secretly testing and strengthening his body through lightning tempering. His confidence and composure contrast sharply with his opponents’ panic.
• Lei Ren: Revealed as ruthless, calculating, and power-hungry. He is willing to murder Lei Ting, slaughter witnesses, and frame outsiders. After discovering Lu Chen’s strength, his fear turns into greed as he becomes fixated on obtaining Lu Chen’s supposed treasure.
• Lei Aotian: Acts as Lei Ren’s accomplice and sycophantic supporter. Initially arrogant and confident that Lu Chen will die, he becomes shocked and frightened when Lu Chen survives Lei Ren’s strongest attack.
• Lei Ting: Although absent due to seclusion, she is shown to be the target of a carefully planned assassination and to have correctly recognized Lu Chen’s hidden capabilities by asking him to guard her.

Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden strength: Lu Chen’s apparent low cultivation conceals overwhelming physical power, allowing him to surprise enemies who judge him by appearances.
• Greed and betrayal: Lei Ren and Lei Aotian betray their own clan for power and attempt to manipulate the aftermath by framing Lu Chen.
• The danger of underestimating others: Lei Ren initially dismisses Lu Chen as an ant, only to discover that his assumptions are completely wrong.
• Body refinement and transformation: Lu Chen’s ability to benefit from Lei Ren’s lightning attack highlights the theme of turning danger into strength and approaching a possible breakthrough beyond the Peak Iron Bone Stage.
• Misunderstanding and dramatic irony: Lei Ren believes Lu Chen’s survival depends on a defensive treasure, while Lu Chen is genuinely confused about what treasure he supposedly possesses.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen openly provokes Lei Ren and Lei Aotian, challenging them to attack rather than listen to their threats.
• Lei Ren’s lightning attack and Lu Chen’s effortless resistance expose the vast gap between their understanding of Lu Chen’s abilities.
• Lei Aotian repeatedly praises Lei Ren and assumes victory, but his confidence collapses when Lu Chen survives.
• Lei Ren shifts from trying to kill Lu Chen out of anger to attempting to bargain for Lu Chen’s supposed treasure, revealing his greed.
• The final exchange centers on Lei Ren’s demand for the treasure and Lu Chen’s realization that the “old fool” may be able to detect something hidden on him.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen is confronted by Lei Ren and Lei Aotian, who suspect he possesses a powerful rare treasure because he survived Lei Ren’s earlier attack unharmed.
• Lei Ren decides to kill Lu Chen and seize the supposed treasure, believing doing so will make him invincible within the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm.
• Meanwhile, Lei Ting begins her breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm inside a training room. She consumes the Vermilion Bird Fruit and uses the Lightning Pearl to combine fire and lightning power, tempering her Thunder Extreme Sacred Body.
• As Lei Ting’s breakthrough causes dramatic changes in the heavens, Lei Aotian urges Lei Ren to kill Lu Chen before she succeeds.
• Lei Ren unleashes his strongest attack yet: a lightning dragon formed from a punch containing his full power.
• Lu Chen counters with a single physical punch. He destroys the lightning dragon and severely injures Lei Ren, whose right arm explodes from the backlash.
• Lei Ren realizes that Lu Chen is not merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator but an extraordinarily powerful Body Cultivation expert.
• Thunder Clan disciples arrive at the scene. Lei Aotian falsely accuses Lu Chen of being a spy who tried to harm Lei Ting during her breakthrough and claims Lu Chen crippled Lei Ren while being stopped.
• The chapter ends with the Thunder Clan disciples turning hostile toward Lu Chen, while Lu Chen calmly recognizes that Lei Aotian must have arranged for accomplices to arrive.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Demonstrates overwhelming physical strength, defeating Lei Ren without relying on spells, divine abilities, or the Yin-Yang Cauldron. His calmness and confidence remain unchanged despite being falsely accused.
• Lei Ren: His arrogance collapses after Lu Chen destroys his strongest attack. He is badly injured and forced to acknowledge Lu Chen as a terrifying Body Cultivation grandmaster.
• Lei Aotian: Reveals his manipulative and treacherous nature by exploiting the situation and framing Lu Chen as a spy. He remains focused on stopping Lei Ting’s breakthrough so he can eventually devour her Supreme Thunder Spirit Root.
• Lei Ting: Advances toward the Nascent Soul Realm by combining the Vermilion Bird Fruit and Lightning Pearl. Her breakthrough becomes the central source of urgency and danger.
• Thunder Clan disciples: Arrive believing Lei Aotian’s accusation, setting up a confrontation with Lu Chen.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and mistaken identity: Lu Chen is dismissed as a weak Foundation Establishment cultivator, but his physical power far exceeds expectations.
• Arrogance and reversal: Lei Ren and Lei Aotian assume Lu Chen can easily be defeated, only to suffer a shocking reversal.
• Betrayal and manipulation: Lei Aotian fabricates a story to turn the Thunder Clan against Lu Chen and conceal his own hostile intentions toward Lei Ting.
• Power and breakthrough: Lei Ting’s imminent advancement to the Nascent Soul Realm raises the stakes and drives Lei Aotian and Lei Ren to act desperately.
• Physical cultivation: Lu Chen’s victory emphasizes the terrifying potential of Body Cultivation, allowing him to overcome a much stronger opponent through raw physical force alone.

Character Interactions

• Lei Ren and Lei Aotian jointly target Lu Chen, discussing his supposed treasure and plotting to kill him.
• Lu Chen mocks their confidence and challenges Lei Ren’s assumption that his attacks are enough to defeat him.
• Lei Ren attacks Lu Chen with a lightning dragon, but Lu Chen defeats him in direct combat and exposes the gap between their abilities.
• Lei Aotian turns the arriving Thunder Clan disciples against Lu Chen by accusing him of spying on and attacking Lei Ting.
• Lu Chen silently sees through Lei Aotian’s scheme, realizing that the arriving disciples are likely accomplices rather than innocent witnesses.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chen, disguised as Lu Bufan, is falsely accused by Lei Aotian of being a spy who attempted to harm Lei Ting.
• Lei Aotian claims Lu Chen injured Elder Lei Ren and tried to steal Lei Ting’s Supreme Thunder Spirit Root. He further accuses Lu Chen of cultivating the evil Spirit Devouring Great Art.
• Lu Chen quickly realizes that Lei Aotian has accomplices among the Thunder Clan disciples, especially Lei Zhen, whose reactions expose his involvement.
• Lu Chen counters the accusations by revealing that Lei Ting had personally asked him to protect her, and suggests that Lei Aotian and Lei Ren may actually be plotting against her.
• The Thunder Clan disciples initially believe Lei Aotian and Lei Ren, largely because of their prestigious reputations.
• Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, and Tang Xiaoman arrive and defend Lu Chen. Tang Xiaoman warns that anyone who attacks him will become an enemy of the Beast Taming Sect.
• Lei Aotian orders the women to be captured as well, but Lu Chen challenges the Thunder Clan for bullying women and remains completely confident in his ability to survive.
• Lei Ren activates the powerful Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Evil-Slaying Formation, creating a huge lightning net over the valley and trapping everyone inside.
• Rather than fearing the formation, Lu Chen sees it as an opportunity to use its immense lightning power to temper his body and possibly advance his Body Cultivation into the legendary Limit-Breaking Realm.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Chen remains calm, sarcastic, and fearless despite being surrounded and framed. His confidence shows how greatly his powerful physical body has improved.
• He also demonstrates sharp observational skills by identifying Lei Zhen as Lei Aotian’s accomplice from a single glance.
• Lei Aotian is revealed as manipulative, shameless, and skilled at turning public opinion against Lu Chen. He uses the Thunder Clan’s trust in him to portray himself as the victim.
• Lei Zhen openly supports Lei Aotian and aggressively pushes the accusations, confirming his role as a conspirator.
• Lei Ren, despite being severely injured by Lu Chen’s punch, continues to lie and slander him. He regrets underestimating Lu Chen and realizes that his injuries may prevent him from reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.
• Tang Xiaoman openly protects Lu Chen and asserts the authority of the Beast Taming Sect, showing loyalty and courage.
• Liu Yan’er and Shen Li also stand by Lu Chen, rejecting the accusations against him.

3. Significant Themes

• Deception and manipulation: The chapter emphasizes how easily reputation and authority can be used to distort the truth.
• Blind loyalty and prejudice: The Thunder Clan disciples believe Lei Aotian and Lei Ren without investigating, demonstrating the danger of judging based on status.
• Justice versus public opinion: Lu Chen is forced to defend himself against a false narrative while the actual conspirators exploit the crowd’s anger.
• Loyalty and solidarity: Tang Xiaoman, Liu Yan’er, and Shen Li support Lu Chen despite the danger and their own troubled reputations.
• Turning danger into opportunity: Lu Chen views the deadly lightning formation not as a threat but as a chance to strengthen his body and reach a higher cultivation realm.
• Arrogance and hidden strength: The Thunder Clan underestimates Lu Chen because of his apparent Foundation Establishment cultivation, unaware that his Body Cultivation may rival that of a Nascent Soul expert.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Chen verbally confronts Lei Aotian and exposes the inconsistencies in his accusations.
• Lei Zhen repeatedly challenges Lu Chen and attempts to incite the Thunder Clan against him.
• Lei Aotian insults Liu Yan’er and Shen Li by invoking their wanted status, trying to discredit both them and Lu Chen.
• Tang Xiaoman directly threatens the Thunder Clan with the Beast Taming Sect’s retaliation if they attack Lu Chen.
• Lei Ren and Lu Chen remain enemies: Lei Ren uses false accusations to condemn Lu Chen, while Lu Chen recognizes the formation as an unexpected benefit.
• The chapter ends with Lu Chen facing the entire Thunder Clan’s lightning formation, eagerly anticipating the chance to use it for further cultivation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lei Ren activates the Thunder Clan’s ultimate weapon, the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Evil-Slaying Formation, intending to kill Lu Chen, whom the clan believes is trying to devour Lei Ting’s Supreme Thunder Spirit Root.
• The formation summons terrifying heavenly lightning said to be capable of killing even Nascent Soul experts. The Thunder Clan disciples are confident that Lu Chen, only a Foundation Establishment cultivator, cannot survive.
• Instead of fearing the formation, Lu Chen welcomes it as an opportunity to temper his body and break through the limits of the Iron Bone Stage.
• Lu Chen kicks Lei Ren away and openly declares that he will use the heavenly thunder to enter the legendary Limit-Breaking Realm, shocking and enraging the Thunder Clan.
• Lei Aotian activates the formation and directs a massive bolt of Nine Heavens Divine Thunder at Lu Chen. Lu Chen deliberately takes the attack without resisting or dodging.
• The lightning creates a huge, charred crater, leading Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, Tang Xiaoman, and the Thunder Clan disciples to believe that Lu Chen has been annihilated.
• Lei Ren and the Thunder Clan celebrate prematurely—until a hand suddenly emerges from the crater, revealing that Lu Chen has survived.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Demonstrates extreme confidence, fearlessness, and physical resilience. Rather than treating the divine lightning as a threat, he views it as a rare chance to surpass the natural limits of his body and pursue the Limit-Breaking Realm.
• Lei Ren: Shifts from confidence and cruelty to shock and disbelief. His attempt to eliminate Lu Chen becomes an unintended opportunity for Lu Chen’s advancement.
• Lei Aotian: Acts as the main activator of the formation and displays pride in the Thunder Clan’s power. His certainty that Lu Chen will die is undermined when Lu Chen survives.
• Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, and Tang Xiaoman: React with fear and helplessness, believing Lu Chen has been killed. Their shock emphasizes how overwhelming the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder appears.
• Thunder Clan disciples: Become increasingly enraged by Lu Chen’s humiliation of Lei Ren and convinced of their victory, only to have that confidence challenged at the end.

Significant Themes

• Defying conventional limits: Lu Chen seeks to transcend the highest established level of the Iron Bone Stage rather than accept its supposed endpoint.
• Turning danger into opportunity: The Thunder Clan’s strongest killing technique becomes a tool for Lu Chen’s cultivation.
• Overconfidence and misjudgment: The Thunder Clan assumes Lu Chen’s apparent weakness means he is easy to defeat, repeatedly underestimating him.
• Heavenly power versus human will: The chapter contrasts the overwhelming force of divine lightning with Lu Chen’s determination to withstand and exploit it.
• Suspense through reversal: Lu Chen’s apparent destruction is revealed to be a false victory, ending the chapter on a dramatic cliffhanger.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen mocks Lei Ren and thanks him sarcastically for providing the heavenly lightning needed for his breakthrough.
• He physically humiliates Lei Ren by kicking him off the formation platform, provoking the Thunder Clan’s fury.
• Lei Aotian responds by directing the formation’s lightning against Lu Chen, turning the conflict into an open confrontation between Lu Chen and the entire Thunder Clan.
• Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, and Tang Xiaoman watch helplessly, their concern contrasting with the Thunder Clan’s satisfaction.
• The chapter ends with everyone—especially the stunned Lei Ren—confronting the unexpected sight of Lu Chen’s hand emerging from the crater.

Chapter Summary: “What Kind of Monster Was He?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Thunder Clan’s Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Evil-Slaying Formation strikes Lu Chen with heavenly lightning.
• Everyone initially believes the attack has killed him, but Lu Chen unexpectedly crawls out of the crater alive.
• Though his clothes are burned and tattered, his body remains unharmed. The lightning has instead tempered his flesh and strengthened his physical power.
• Lu Chen even describes the heavenly lightning as pleasurable, shocking everyone watching.
• Elder Lei Ren and Lei Aotian refuse to accept that Lu Chen survived. They order the formation to unleash increasingly powerful lightning strikes.
• The second strike creates a crater twice as large as the first, leading everyone to believe Lu Chen has finally been destroyed.
• However, Lu Chen once again staggers out alive.
• As Lei Aotian angrily demands another attack, Lu Chen’s voice suddenly responds, leaving the Thunder Clan disciples frozen in disbelief.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Reveals extraordinary physical resilience and confidence. Rather than merely surviving the lightning, he benefits from it as bodily tempering. His true advantage is the Yin-Yang Cauldron in his dantian, which devours most of the lightning’s power and appears close to transforming again.
• Lei Aotian: Changes from confident executioner to increasingly desperate and enraged attacker. He cannot comprehend Lu Chen’s survival and repeatedly escalates the formation’s power.
• Elder Lei Ren: His earlier smugness collapses into shock and disbelief. He becomes determined to eliminate Lu Chen at any cost.
• Liu Yan’er, Tang Xiaoman, and Shen Li: Their emotions shift from terror and despair to astonishment. Tang Xiaoman is especially relieved because Lu Chen’s death would allow the Thunder Clan to seize the Beast Taming Sect’s treasures.
• Thunder Clan disciples: Their confidence erodes as the formation drains their vital energy while failing to kill Lu Chen.

Significant Themes

• Defying expectations: Lu Chen survives an attack believed capable of killing even a Nascent Soul ancestor, emphasizing his extraordinary nature.
• Power concealed beneath appearances: Although Lu Chen appears like a weak Foundation Establishment cultivator, his body and hidden treasures make him vastly more formidable.
• Lightning as destruction and refinement: The heavenly lightning is meant to execute him but instead strengthens and purifies his body.
• Arrogance turning into fear: The Thunder Clan’s certainty gradually becomes panic as their strongest weapon proves ineffective.
• Hidden artifacts and secrets: The Yin-Yang Cauldron is central to Lu Chen’s survival and hints at even greater future power.

Character Interactions

• Lei Ren and Lei Aotian command the Thunder Clan formation and repeatedly urge the disciples to kill Lu Chen.
• Lu Chen openly taunts the Thunder Clan by welcoming stronger lightning attacks.
• Liu Yan’er and the others anxiously watch the battle, knowing Lu Chen’s death would place them and the Beast Taming Sect’s possessions in danger.
• The chapter ends with Lu Chen answering Lei Aotian’s demand for another strike, reversing the power dynamic and terrifying the Thunder Clan.

Chapter Summary: “Heavenly Thunder Tempers the Body”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the Thunder Clan encampment in the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm, Lei Aotian and the Thunder Clan disciples prepare to use the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Evil-Slaying Formation to kill Lu Chen.
• Lei Aotian falsely accuses Lu Chen of trying to assassinate Lei Ting during her secluded breakthrough and of possessing the forbidden Spirit Devouring Great Art.
• Lei Ting emerges from seclusion before the formation can be fully activated. She is shocked to see Lu Chen battered by lightning but quickly realizes that Lei Aotian and the others are lying.
• At Lu Chen’s secret instruction, Lei Ting refrains from intervening while Lu Chen deliberately orders Lei Aotian to continue summoning heavenly thunder.
• Lei Aotian unleashes Five Thunders Strike the Crown, a powerful attack that consumes nearly all the Golden Core disciples’ vital energy. Everyone assumes Lu Chen has been killed.
• Lu Chen unexpectedly crawls out of the resulting crater alive. Rather than being destroyed, his body absorbs and is tempered by the lightning, allowing him to break through the limits of the Iron Bone Stage and enter a higher physical realm.
• Lu Chen taunts Lei Aotian and demands that he continue attacking. Enraged and humiliated, Lei Aotian sacrifices even more of his vital energy to activate Divine Thunder Shatters the Nine Heavens, an even stronger heavenly thunderbolt.
• The chapter ends as the devastating bolt descends toward Lu Chen.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Demonstrates extraordinary physical resilience and deliberately uses heavenly thunder to temper and strengthen his body. His confidence and provocative attitude intensify as he realizes the lightning is helping him break through.
• Lei Ting: Emerges from seclusion after beginning her breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm. She recognizes the conspiracy against Lu Chen and becomes furious at Lei Aotian, Lei Ren, and Lei Zhen for exploiting her absence and falsely blaming Lu Chen.
• Lei Aotian: Shifts from smug confidence to rage and desperation when his strongest attacks fail to kill Lu Chen. His reckless decision to use an even more powerful technique begins to seriously damage his own vital energy.
• Lei Ren and Lei Zhen: Continue supporting the false accusations against Lu Chen. Their certainty that he has died exposes their arrogance and ignorance of his true strength.
• Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, and Tang Xiaoman: Remain frightened by the overwhelming power of the formation and heavenly thunder, reflecting the danger of the confrontation.

Significant Themes

• Turning danger into opportunity: Lu Chen transforms an attempted execution into a method of bodily cultivation.
• Physical refinement and breaking limits: The chapter emphasizes that extreme trials can push a cultivator beyond established boundaries, with Lu Chen’s body advancing through the lightning’s destructive power.
• Deception and betrayal: Lei Aotian and the others fabricate accusations and attempt to kill Lu Chen while Lei Ting is secluded, revealing internal treachery within the Thunder Clan.
• Arrogance versus true strength: The Thunder Clan repeatedly assumes Lu Chen is dead, only to be proven wrong, while Lu Chen’s calm defiance exposes their overconfidence.
• Trust and silent cooperation: Lu Chen and Lei Ting communicate mentally and coordinate their responses, suggesting deep familiarity and mutual trust.

Character Interactions

• Lei Aotian accuses Lu Chen before Lei Ting, attempting to manipulate her against him.
• Lei Ting questions Lu Chen directly, while Lu Chen subtly signals her to let the attack continue.
• Lu Chen repeatedly provokes Lei Aotian by asking him to summon stronger lightning.
• Lei Ting watches Lu Chen survive attacks that should have killed him, shifting from concern to astonishment and anger toward the conspirators.
• The chapter closes with Lei Aotian and Lu Chen locked in escalating opposition: Lei Aotian attacks out of rage, while Lu Chen welcomes the thunder as a means of cultivation.

Chapter Summary: Defying the Strongest Heavenly Thunder with Flesh and Blood

Key Plot Points and Events

• Enraged after Lu Chen survives the earlier attack, Lei Aotian sacrifices more of his vital energy to activate the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Evil-Slaying Formation and summon an even stronger bolt of heavenly thunder.
• Lu Chen deliberately uses the heavenly thunder to temper his body. Although the strike drives him into the ground and appears devastating, its power strengthens his divine consciousness and is absorbed into his flesh, bones, blood, and meridians.
• Lu Chen breaks through into the Limit-Breaking Realm, gaining Extreme-Breaking Power and experiencing a complete physical rebirth.
• His charred skin peels away, revealing jade-like skin beneath, confirming that he has survived and transformed through the heavenly thunder.
• Lei Ren realizes that Lu Chen intentionally endured the thunder to refine his body and is horrified by the feat.
• Lu Chen exposes the conflict within the Thunder Clan, claiming that Lei Ren and Lei Aotian framed him and intended to harm Lei Ting.
• Lei Ting confronts Lei Ren and Lei Aotian, revealing that she heard their earlier plans. They deny the accusations and attempt to portray Lu Chen as someone sowing discord.
• Lei Aotian orders the Thunder Clan disciples to attack Lu Chen again. They consume pills to restore and stimulate their vital energy, activating an even more powerful version of the formation.
• As an immense thunder vortex gathers overhead, Lei Ting angrily objects, while Lu Chen welcomes the challenge.
• The supreme heavenly thunder descends, and Lu Chen shocks everyone by raising his fist and confronting it directly with nothing but his physical strength.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Completes a major breakthrough, transforming his body through heavenly thunder and gaining confidence in his new Extreme-Breaking Power. His playful defiance and willingness to face impossible danger become even more pronounced.
• Lei Aotian: Becomes desperate and increasingly reckless. He exhausts his vital energy, uses pills to forcefully recover, and prioritizes killing Lu Chen over preserving himself or the clan’s resources.
• Lei Ting: Moves from shock and concern to open confrontation with her clan members. She clearly sides with Lu Chen and directly accuses Lei Ren and Lei Aotian of attempting to harm her.
• Lei Ren: Suffers severe injury from Lu Chen’s earlier punch and becomes increasingly agitated when the conspiracy is exposed.
• Thunder Clan disciples: Initially trust Lei Ren and Lei Aotian, but are manipulated into joining another dangerous attack without understanding the full truth.
• Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, and Tang Xiaoman: Experience fear and amazement as Lu Chen survives the heavenly thunder and breaks through.

Significant Themes

• Defying conventional limits: Lu Chen treats heavenly thunder—normally a deadly force to be avoided—as a tool for advancement.
• Rebirth through suffering: The shedding of his burned skin symbolizes a complete transformation and the emergence of a stronger self.
• Courage versus desperation: Lu Chen calmly embraces danger, while Lei Aotian’s increasingly extreme actions reveal panic and desperation.
• Truth and manipulation: The Thunder Clan’s false accusations and internal deception begin to collapse as Lei Ting exposes what she witnessed.
• The power of the physical body: Lu Chen’s breakthrough emphasizes that overwhelming physical strength can challenge even terrifying supernatural forces.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chen taunts Lei Aotian and refers to his intimate relationship with Lei Ting, embarrassing her and shocking the Thunder Clan.
• Lei Ren angrily questions Lei Ting’s relationship with Lu Chen and condemns her association with an outsider.
• Lei Ting rebukes Lei Ren and Lei Aotian, accusing them of plotting against her and rejecting their attempts to blame Lu Chen.
• Lei Aotian and the other disciples unite against Lu Chen, while Lei Ting opposes their attack.
• The chapter ends with Lu Chen silently answering the Thunder Clan’s renewed hostility by punching directly into the descending heavenly thunder.

Chapter Summary: “The Terror of a Single Punch!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lei Aotian, determined to eliminate Lu Chen and conceal his own plot against him, consumes a pill to force out his potential and activates the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Evil-Slaying Formation.
• He sacrifices his vitality—and persuades other Thunder Clan disciples to do the same—to summon an exceptionally powerful bolt of heavenly lightning.
• The lightning strikes at Lu Chen, but Lu Chen has just broken through into the legendary Limit-Breaking Realm. He confronts the attack directly and destroys the massive bolt with a single punch.
• His punch also tears a huge hole through the thunderclouds, leaving everyone present stunned by his overwhelming physical strength.
• Lu Chen then attacks the formation platform itself. He shatters its lightning barrier, sends the enormous platform flying, and crashes it into a pavilion.
• The Thunder Clan disciples on the platform are thrown out and severely injured. Lei Aotian vomits blood and realizes that Lu Chen had deliberately hidden his true strength.
• Lu Chen asks Lei Ting how she will deal with Lei Ren, Lei Aotian, and Lei Zhen, who had plotted against her but left no conclusive evidence behind.
• Lei Ting captures Lei Ren and, despite the protests of the other disciples, kills him by snapping his neck.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: His breakthrough into the Limit-Breaking Realm dramatically increases his physical power. He becomes confident enough to test himself against heavenly lightning and effortlessly destroys an attack that even Lei Ting would not dare face directly. His strength may now rival that of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
• Lei Aotian: His desperation and arrogance lead him to activate a dangerous formation at great personal cost. After seeing Lu Chen destroy it with one punch, he becomes terrified and recognizes that he has vastly underestimated his opponent.
• Lei Ren: His scheme against Lei Ting collapses completely. Once captured and injured, he begs for his life, but Lei Ting executes him without mercy.
• Lei Ting: She shifts from restraint to decisive retaliation. Although she lacks enough evidence to punish all the conspirators under clan law, she personally kills Lei Ren in response to his attempt on her life.
• Lei Zhen and the Thunder Clan disciples: They are frightened and deeply regret supporting Lei Aotian. Their injuries also leave them at a major disadvantage in the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm, where resources must be fought over.
• Shen Li and Tang Xiaoman: Their shock is intensified because they know Lu Chen’s true identity and understand how astonishingly quickly his strength is growing.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and hidden strength: Lu Chen’s single punch exposes the vast gap between his apparent cultivation and his actual combat ability.
• Desperation and consequences: Lei Aotian’s attempt to force victory damages both himself and his allies, while those who followed him suffer severe injuries and lose their chance to compete for treasures.
• Justice versus evidence: The Thunder Clan’s rules require proof of conspiracy, but the lack of evidence prevents formal punishment. Lei Ting instead delivers her own form of justice.
• Betrayal and retaliation: Members of the same clan turn against one another, and Lei Ting responds to betrayal with lethal decisiveness.
• The danger of misjudgment: The Thunder Clan assumes Lu Chen is vulnerable, only to discover that their strongest formation is ineffective against him.

Character Interactions

• Lei Aotian openly challenges Lu Chen through the lightning formation, while Lu Chen responds with calm confidence and destroys the attack.
• Lu Chen humiliates Lei Aotian and his allies by punching the formation platform out of the sky.
• Lei Ting and Lu Chen discuss the fate of the conspirators, revealing both their shared awareness of the attempted murder and the limitations imposed by clan law.
• Lei Ting confronts Lei Ren directly, mocking the double standard that allowed him to target her while expecting protection for himself.
• The surviving Thunder Clan disciples plead and question Lei Ting, but she ignores them and kills Lei Ren, shocking everyone present.

Chapter Summary: “Dog-Eat-Dog Begins”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lei Ting shocks everyone by killing Elder Lei Ren without hesitation after discovering that he had plotted against her.
• Lei Ren’s Golden Core attempts to escape with his Divine Soul, but Lei Ting captures it and destroys the soul with lightning, ensuring his complete death.
• The Thunder Clan disciples are stunned because Lei Ren had been respected as a kind and helpful elder, especially by the younger generation. His betrayal reveals the clan’s hidden internal power struggle.
• Lei Ren had secretly supported Lei Aotian, hoping Lei Ting would die so Lei Aotian could become the Thunder Clan’s heir.
• Lei Aotian and Lei Zhen attempt to flee after witnessing Lei Ren’s death, but Lei Ting uses heavenly lightning to knock them from the sky.
• Lu Chen realizes that Lei Ting has reached the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm and can now summon heavenly thunder at will.
• Lei Ting orders Lei Yan and the other disciples to bring Lei Aotian and Lei Zhen before her. Though hesitant, they obey, showing that her authority is being reestablished.
• Lei Zhen immediately confesses and blames Lei Aotian and Lei Ren, claiming Lei Aotian ordered him to use sleeping incense and help incapacitate everyone in the valley.
• Lei Aotian angrily denies the accusation and insists that he has been framed, refusing to admit that he intended to kill Lei Ting.

Character Developments

• Lei Ting: Demonstrates her ruthless decisiveness and growing strength. She no longer hesitates to punish traitors, even influential elders, and her authority over the Thunder Clan becomes undeniable.
• Lu Chen: Gains greater respect for Lei Ting after witnessing her decisiveness and recognizes her breakthrough to the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm.
• Lei Ren: Is exposed as a hypocritical traitor who secretly supported Lei Aotian. His attempt to survive through his Golden Core fails.
• Lei Aotian: Reveals himself as ambitious and ruthless, willing to plot against Lei Ting for the position of heir. After being captured, he relies on denial and refuses to confess.
• Lei Zhen: Panics under pressure and quickly betrays Lei Aotian to save himself, exposing the conspiracy.
• Lei Yan and the other Thunder Clan disciples: Their faith in Lei Ren is shaken. Although initially reluctant to obey Lei Ting, they begin accepting her authority.
• Liu Yan’er, Shen Li, and Tang Xiaoman: Are shocked to learn that the apparently united Thunder Clan is deeply divided by internal rivalries.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal beneath outward unity: The Thunder Clan appears united, but its elders and factions are secretly competing for power.
• Ambition and succession: Lei Aotian’s desire to become heir drives him and Lei Ren to plot against Lei Ting, despite her importance to the clan’s future.
• Justice and decisive action: Lei Ting believes treason against her justifies immediate punishment, rejecting the idea that status or clan position should protect a traitor.
• Survival and cowardice: Lei Zhen’s confession shows how fear can quickly destroy loyalty, while Lei Aotian tries to survive through denial.
• Hidden identities and appearances: Lei Ren’s respected public image concealed his cruel nature, emphasizing the danger of judging people by reputation.

Character Interactions

• Lei Ting and Lei Ren have their final confrontation, ending with Lei Ting destroying both his body and Divine Soul.
• Lei Ting confronts Lei Yan when the latter questions her killing of Lei Ren, forcing Lei Yan to recognize her authority.
• Lei Ting captures and interrogates Lei Aotian and Lei Zhen after stopping their escape.
• Lei Zhen turns against Lei Aotian, accusing him of organizing the plot, while Lei Aotian furiously attempts to silence and discredit him.
• Lu Chen observes the conflict and characterizes the exchange between Lei Aotian and Lei Zhen as “dogs biting dogs,” highlighting the collapse of their alliance.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lei Ting, the Thunder Clan’s foremost younger-generation genius, executes Elder Lei Ren after discovering his plot against her.
• Lei Aotian and Lei Zhen attempt to flee, but Lei Ting strikes them down with heavenly lightning.
• Lei Zhen, terrified, betrays Lei Aotian and reveals that Lei Aotian and Lei Ren had conspired to harm Lei Ting.
• Lei Yan and several Thunder Clan disciples challenge Lei Ting, arguing that she lacks proof and should not kill Lei Aotian.
• Lei Ting reveals that Lei Yan has feelings for Lei Aotian, explaining her defense of him.
• Despite Lei Yan’s objections, Lei Ting kills Lei Aotian effortlessly by crushing him from a distance, destroying both his body and Golden Core.
• Lei Zhen is spared but banished from the valley. The other Thunder Clan disciples are intimidated into silence.
• Lei Ting orders Lu Chen to kill anyone who causes further trouble while she returns to seclusion to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.
• Just as she is about to resume cultivation, Qin Ziyi arrives after tracking down Lu Chen. She attacks through the thunderclouds and confronts him, intending to reclaim her seven stolen natal flying swords.
• Lu Chen notices that Qin Ziyi has reached the Nascent Soul Realm, ending the chapter on a tense confrontation.

Character Developments

• Lei Ting: Demonstrates absolute authority, ruthlessness, and decisiveness. She eliminates threats without hesitation and firmly establishes control over the Thunder Clan. Her trust in Lu Chen grows, and she prepares for a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm.
• Lei Aotian: Revealed as a conspirator who helped plot against Lei Ting. His cowardice becomes clear when he tries to deny the accusation, but he is ultimately killed by Lei Ting.
• Lei Zhen: Abandons Lei Aotian immediately to save himself. He survives but is psychologically broken and banished.
• Lei Yan: Exposes her emotional attachment to Lei Aotian by defending him. Her shock and anger at Lei Ting’s execution suggest future conflict within the Thunder Clan.
• Lu Chen: Remains an amused observer during the Thunder Clan’s internal conflict. He approves of Lei Ting’s decisiveness and is entrusted with protecting her secluded cultivation.
• Qin Ziyi: Reappears with increased strength, having reached the Nascent Soul Realm. She remains determined to defeat Lu Chen and recover her stolen swords.

Significant Themes

• Power and authority: Lei Ting proves that strength, rather than clan seniority or political objections, determines who commands respect.
• Betrayal and self-preservation: Lei Zhen sacrifices his ally to survive, while Lei Aotian’s attempt to deny the plot fails.
• Internal clan conflict: The Thunder Clan’s supposed unity is undermined by jealousy, factionalism, and romantic loyalties.
• Ruthless justice: Lei Ting treats anyone who plots against her as deserving death, reinforcing the dangerous rules of the cultivation world.
• Rivalry and escalating power: Qin Ziyi’s arrival introduces a new threat and signals that Lu Chen’s confrontation with her will be far more dangerous now that she has advanced realms.

Character Interactions

• Lei Zhen openly accuses Lei Aotian before Lei Ting, leading to their confrontation.
• Lei Yan challenges Lei Ting’s authority because of her affection for Lei Aotian.
• Lei Ting kills Lei Aotian in front of Lei Yan and the Thunder Clan disciples, silencing opposition.
• Lei Ting entrusts Lu Chen with enforcing order in the valley.
• Qin Ziyi confronts Lu Chen directly, setting up the next major conflict.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Ziyi suddenly arrives at the Thunder Clan’s base to kill Lu Chen and reclaim the seven natal flying swords he took from her.
• Lu Chen is shocked to discover that Qin Ziyi has broken through to the genuine Nascent Soul Realm. Her Supreme Chaos Spiritual Root, Innate Sword Body, and Sword Dao cultivation make her overwhelmingly powerful for her level.
• Lei Ting, despite being only at the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm, steps forward to protect Lu Chen. Qin Ziyi effortlessly defeats her with a single attack, sending her crashing through a training hall.
• Qin Ziyi taunts Lu Chen, demanding that he kneel, beg for mercy, and surrender her swords. Lu Chen refuses and insists that Qin Ziyi must defeat him first.
• Qin Ziyi summons a Chaos Sword formed from Chaos Sword Qi and launches an apparently devastating strike.
• Lu Chen avoids the sword attack and counters with a powerful punch. Although Qin Ziyi dodges, his blow creates a massive crater and shocks everyone present.
• The chapter ends with Lu Chen and Qin Ziyi engaging in a high-speed battle, leaving the Thunder Clan disciples stunned that Lu Chen can contend with a true Nascent Soul cultivator.

Character Developments

• Lu Chen: Despite appearing to possess only Foundation Establishment-level spell cultivation, Lu Chen reveals the terrifying strength of his body cultivation. Having reached the legendary Limit-Breaking Realm and mastered Blood-Qi Dragon Transformation, he can physically challenge Qin Ziyi despite her superior realm. His confidence and refusal to submit reinforce his belief that he is inferior to no one.
• Qin Ziyi: She has undergone a major power increase by breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm. Her previous defeat by Lu Chen has intensified her hatred and desire for revenge, but her confidence now borders on contempt as she believes victory is guaranteed.
• Lei Ting: Lei Ting demonstrates loyalty and courage by risking herself to protect Lu Chen. Her effortless defeat exposes the gap between Half-Step Nascent Soul and true Nascent Soul power, while also strengthening her determination to achieve the breakthrough herself.
• The Thunder Clan disciples: Their perception of Lu Chen changes from disbelief and ridicule to shock. They initially assume he is doomed, but his first counterattack proves that his hidden strength is far beyond his apparent cultivation realm.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength versus outward appearance: Lu Chen’s low visible spell-cultivation level conceals his extraordinary body-cultivation power.
• Defiance and self-confidence: Lu Chen refuses to kneel or surrender, embodying the chapter’s central assertion that he is not inferior to anyone.
• The gap between cultivation realms: Qin Ziyi’s effortless defeat of Lei Ting illustrates the overwhelming difference between Half-Step Nascent Soul and genuine Nascent Soul cultivation.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Lei Ting knowingly risks her life to shield Lu Chen, showing her growing loyalty despite the danger.
• Underestimation and reversal: The observers expect Qin Ziyi to crush Lu Chen, but his unexpected ability to withstand her attack overturns their assumptions.

Character Interactions

• Qin Ziyi confronts Lu Chen with hostility over the stolen flying swords, while Lu Chen answers her threats with calm resistance.
• Lei Ting directly challenges Qin Ziyi to protect Lu Chen, leading to a one-sided battle that highlights Qin Ziyi’s superior realm.
• Qin Ziyi and Lu Chen exchange taunts before attacking one another, transforming their personal grudge into a spectacular clash between sword cultivation and body cultivation.
• Lei Ting witnesses Lu Chen’s true combat strength and becomes both alarmed and impressed, realizing that his hidden power may rival that of a Nascent Soul ancestor.