Chapter Summaries

Zhou Changqing ambushed Jia Lie Ao, Aoba Le, and Cheer Xu in the street, maiming them before killing them. He left their surviving guard alive to carry a warning to the three families, then escaped.

• Zhou Changqing watched Jia Lie Ao, Aoba Le, and Cheer Xu walk toward a restaurant with their guards.
• Disguised by a white mask, Zhou Changqing killed two guards and wounded another as he attacked the group.
• Zhou Changqing severed the three young men's legs and revealed his identity to them.
• Jia Lie Ao, Aoba Le, and Cheer Xu begged for mercy, but Zhou Changqing killed them and threatened their clans.
• Zhou Changqing spared the surviving guard long enough to deliver his warning, then severed the guard's legs and fled using Thunderclap Flash.

After Zhou Changqing killed the heirs of three powerful families, the Xiao Clan and Mittel Auction House blocked his pursuers while he escaped to the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Back at the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao examined Zhou Changqing’s weapons, and Xiao Yan wondered whether Zhou might establish a new weapon-refining profession.

• A wounded guard informed the Jia Lie, Ao Ba, and Cheer Families that Zhou Changqing had killed their heirs, and the three families launched a citywide hunt.
• Xiao Zhan mobilized the Xiao Clan, while Mittel Auction House sent its strongest fighters to the city gates and stopped the three families from pursuing Zhou Changqing.
• Zhou Changqing escaped through the East City Gate and disappeared into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
• Xiao Yan showed Yao Lao Zhou Changqing’s Dragon-Patterned Great Halberd, fiery-red iron inner armor, and metal hand crossbow, and Yao Lao praised their Magic Core Armament design.
• Xiao Yan asked Yao Lao about Weapon Refiners, then wondered whether Zhou Changqing could become the founder of weapon refining on the Dou Qi Continent.

Zhou Changqing searched the Magical Beast Mountain Range for the wolf-type and leopard-type beasts that killed his parents, intent on taking revenge. After reaching Five-Star Dou Master, he heard roars of both types in the rain and rushed toward them to investigate.

• Zhou Changqing explained that he had left Wutan City early to pursue revenge for his parents rather than wait to join Jia Nan Academy.
• Zhou Changqing used the location and beast descriptions he had gathered to search the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
• Zhou Changqing cultivated while searching and broke through to Five-Star Dou Master.
• Zhou Changqing heard wolf-type and leopard-type magical beasts roar nearby, packed his tent, and charged through the rain toward the sounds.

Zhou Changqing found the Flame Wolf and Silver Lightning Leopard that had killed his parents fighting in the rain. Their final clash left both beasts gravely wounded, and the chapter ended with Zhou Changqing still concealed nearby as they lay near death.

• Zhou Changqing spotted two magical beasts fighting and identified them as the Flame Wolf and Silver Lightning Leopard from the distinctive injuries shown in his drawings.
• Zhou Changqing confirmed that the beasts were his parents’ killers and hid in the grass, planning to strike only after they were both seriously wounded.
• The Flame Wolf and Silver Lightning Leopard continued fighting despite their injuries, determined to kill each other as they neared the end of their lives.
• The Flame Wolf and Silver Lightning Leopard unleashed their ultimate attacks simultaneously; the leopard’s lightning pierced the wolf, while the wolf’s fireball engulfed the leopard.
• The rain extinguished the flames, revealing the Silver Lightning Leopard near death and the Flame Wolf collapsed and twitching after its head was pierced.

Zhou Changqing killed the Flame Wolf and Silver Lightning Leopard, avenging his parents and vowing to hunt their kin. As he prepared to leave, energy leaking from the leopard’s magic core drew a massive lightning bolt that struck nearby and sent him flying.

• Zhou Changqing revived the dying Flame Wolf with a healing pill, then killed it with his Magic Core Heavy Sword and collected its magic core as an offering for his parents.
• Zhou Changqing confronted the dying Silver Lightning Leopard and threatened to hunt down every Silver Lightning Leopard nearby, including its offspring.
• Zhou Changqing killed the Silver Lightning Leopard with his Heavy Sword and collected its magic core, then admitted he would have hunted the nearby Flame Wolves and Silver Lightning Leopards regardless.
• The Silver Lightning Leopard’s cracked magic core released lightning energy toward the sky, drawing a massive bolt that struck near Zhou Changqing and blasted him backward.

After surviving a heavenly thunder strike only to be overwhelmed by its lingering lightning, Zhou Changqing fought to stay alive by combining his metal and lightning cultivation techniques. The new circulation successfully formed and began absorbing the lightning, but an unusual energy transformed his metal dou qi as his body remained in peril.

• The heavenly thunder's aftershocks shattered Zhou Changqing's inner armor and filled his body with lightning, leaving him badly burned and unable to move.
• As his consciousness neared its limit, Zhou Changqing recalled his past and resolved to survive, grow powerful, and make up for the losses of both his lives.
• Zhou Changqing used his will to guide his metal and lightning dou qi along a newly devised circulation route combining the Dormant Thunder Method and Steel-Condensing Force.
• The two kinds of dou qi connected into a complete circuit and began capturing the lightning arcs in his body.
• The merged lightning energy absorbed the stray arcs, while a mysterious fluctuation turned his metal dou qi into golden radiance that seeped into his flesh.

After refining the lightning that had entered his body, Zhou Changqing discovered that heavenly thunder had strengthened his physique and raised his cultivation to Eight-Star Dou Shi. He tried to reproduce the tempering effect, but his metal-attribute Dou Qi did not change.

• Zhou Changqing refined the lightning arcs inside his body, repairing his injuries and absorbing their energy into his Dou Qi.
• After recovering, Zhou Changqing retrieved the cracked silver magic core and dug a cave to shelter from another strike.
• Zhou Changqing noticed that heavenly thunder had left his body more muscular, balanced, and faintly metallic, and suspected it had tempered him like a weapon.
• Zhou Changqing found that refining the lightning had raised his cultivation to Eight-Star Dou Shi.
• Zhou Changqing directed his Dou Qi into his flesh to test whether he could temper his body, but his metal-attribute Dou Qi showed no change.

After discovering that his own dou qi could not directly temper his body, Zhou Changqing created a method he named the Heavenly Dipper Gold-Tempering Art. Examining his dou qi afterward, he found that the heavenly thunder had subtly changed the source of his lightning attribute deep within his soul.

• Zhou Changqing realized that body tempering required an external stimulus and set aside an untested idea for reproducing the effect.
• Zhou Changqing studied the technique formed by merging the Dormant Thunder Method and the Steel-Condensing Force, judging it to be Profound Tier Low Grade.
• Zhou Changqing named his new technique the Heavenly Dipper Gold-Tempering Art.
• Zhou Changqing found that his gold and lightning dou qi remained balanced despite his earlier refinement of lightning arcs.
• Zhou Changqing examined his soul and discovered subtle changes to the source of his lightning attribute, giving his dou qi a mysterious new quality.

After a lightning strike transformed the source of Zhou Changqing’s Lightning Attribute Dou Qi, he stabilized his cultivation and spent nearly half a month hunting Flame Wolves and Silver Lightning Leopards while preparing a way to survive another strike. When a storm gathered, he tested a lightning rod and black jin iron coil on a bound Flame Wolf, and heavenly thunder descended toward the peak.

• Zhou Changqing realized the lightning that had sent him to the Dou Qi Continent had transformed his Lightning Attribute Dou Qi, then cultivated to stabilize his new strength.
• He hunted Flame Wolves and Silver Lightning Leopards, built a cenotaph for his adoptive parents, and advanced toward Nine-Star Dou Shi.
• Zhou Changqing prepared a platform on the tallest nearby peak and arranged a bound Flame Wolf, a black jin iron coil, and a lightning rod for his fourth thunder experiment.
• As a storm broke, Zhou Changqing retreated below the summit and watched a massive bolt of heavenly thunder strike toward his apparatus.

Zhou Changqing tested whether the coil could weaken heavenly thunder enough for him to temper his body, then endured a strike himself and confirmed that the method strengthened him while keeping his gold-and-silver Dou Qi balanced. He left the experiment markedly tougher and close to reaching Nine-Star Dou Shi.

• Zhou Changqing found that the first Flame Wolf survived the coil-weakened thunder and felt his fingers strengthen when he absorbed the resulting energy.
• He repeated the experiment with two more Flame Wolves, confirmed the results, and took the final wolf’s place beneath the Lightning Rod.
• Zhou Changqing endured the weakened heavenly thunder and used the Heavenly Dipper Gold-Tempering Art to refine the electrical energy throughout his body.
• He checked that his gold-and-silver Dou Qi vortex remained balanced because his lightning attribute Dou Qi converted the thunder into metal attribute Dou Qi.
• Zhou Changqing found that his unreinforced body could now rival a Middle-Rank Dou Zhe and that he was one step from Nine-Star Dou Shi.

Zhou Changqing fought the Gold-Binding Bear, his longtime sparring partner, and showed that he had grown strong enough to overpower it. After a half-hour brawl, he spared the battered bear and left, declaring their sparring was over.

• The Gold-Binding Bear roared at Zhou Changqing, who taunted it before charging into a contest of strength.
• Zhou Changqing shoved the bear back ten meters, then kicked its jaw and sent it crashing through two trees.
• The Gold-Binding Bear reinforced itself with metal attribute Dou Qi, and Zhou Changqing did the same before they began fighting at close range.
• Zhou Changqing used his greater agility to land more blows, gradually forcing the bear onto the defensive.
• After half an hour, Zhou Changqing stopped fighting and spared the exhausted bear, saying it could no longer keep up with him.

After weeks of cultivation and lightning tempering, Zhou Changqing broke through to One-Star Great Dou Master and tested his new Dou Qi Armor. He decided to leave his mountain base to replenish weapon-forging supplies while seeking a place with rich mineral deposits, special metals, and frequent thunderstorms.

• Zhou Changqing's lightning tempering greatly strengthened his body, letting him overpower a peak Tier 2 Gold-Binding Bear, while his Dou Qi remained at peak nine-star Dou Shi.
• Zhou Changqing compressed his fully solidified Dou Qi vortex and absorbed surrounding energy until it transformed into a gold-and-silver Dou Crystal, making him a One-Star Great Dou Master.
• Zhou Changqing formed Dou Qi Armor and found that it offered far stronger defense and combat enhancement than a Dou Qi Veil.
• Zhou Changqing decided not to return to Wutan City until he forged a Tier 3 Mid-Grade Magic Core Armament, estimating that his current strength could only match Jia Lie Bi.
• Zhou Changqing prepared to leave his cave because his weapon-forging materials and lightning equipment were nearly exhausted, and considered searching for a place with mineral deposits, special metals, and frequent thunderstorms.

Zhou Changqing traveled to Water-Storage City and settled in the nearby mountains to cultivate by drawing down lightning. Five months later, a large group approached the city with a prison wagon carrying humanoid creatures resembling women.

• After paying his respects at his parents' graves, Zhou Changqing traveled through Black Rock City and took aerial transport to Water-Storage City.
• Zhou Changqing bought supplies in Water-Storage City, then chose a mountain peak twenty li away as his cultivation base.
• Zhou Changqing dug a cave and set up a lightning-attracting apparatus on the summit.
• Two days later, Zhou Changqing used a thunderstorm to draw lightning onto the Lightning Rod and began tempering his body.
• Five months later, a group of around forty or fifty people advanced toward Water-Storage City with more than a dozen humanoid creatures resembling women locked in an iron prison wagon.

Ling Sha and three Snake-People ambushed a mercenary convoy transporting captive snake women, killed the guards, and freed the prisoners. As Ling Sha prepared to lead them away, she sensed someone hiding near a mountain.

• A mercenary youth asked his captain if they could keep some of the captive Snake-People women, but the captain warned him that the shipment belonged to the Jia Family's Dou Ling head.
• The captain stopped the convoy when four black-robed figures approached, then let them pass after they showed no sign of attacking.
• A giant blue-violet snake ambushed the captain while the three other black-robed figures overwhelmed the mercenaries, leaving the captain badly wounded and his crew nearly wiped out.
• Ling Sha revealed herself as a Snake-People commander, defeated the captain, and killed him with a sword strike through the heart and a slash to the neck.
• Ling Sha cut open the prison wagon and freed the snake women, then warned them to leave before Water-Storage City's human Dou Ling discovered them.
• Ling Sha sensed someone hiding near a mountain, and the unseen observer called out in alarm before deciding to run.

Zhou Changqing fled after Ling Sha sensed him near the rescued snake-women, but she caught up and attacked. He survived her strike and revealed strength approaching the Dou Ling realm, leaving Ling Sha shocked by his abilities.

• Zhou Changqing blasted open the cave entrance and escaped with Thunderclap Step as Ling Sha pursued him.
• Ling Sha sent the rescued snake-women back to the tribe while she chased Zhou Changqing through the mountain forest.
• After fleeing ten li, Zhou Changqing turned to fight Ling Sha and used Lightning Slash to clash with her energy serpent.
• Zhou Changqing realized Ling Sha was at least a Mid-Rank Dou Ling and recalled how five months of training had raised him to Seven-Star Great Dou Master with strength near the Dou Ling realm.
• Ling Sha crossed the crater and praised Zhou Changqing while regarding him with killing intent, shocked by his age and strength.

Zhou Changqing fought Ling Sha, a powerful Snake-Person commander who decided to kill him after recognizing his extraordinary talent. With Ling Sha preparing a deadly technique, he surrendered and claimed he had forged his Magic Core Armament and the weapons sold in Water-Storage City, but she dismissed the claim as a lie.

• Ling Sha realized Zhou Changqing was a teenage High-Rank Great Dou Master whose talent and combat strength made him a threat, and resolved to kill him.
• Zhou Changqing attacked Ling Sha with his lightning-charged Heavy Sword and Thousand-Jun Severing Mountains, but their clash showed that her strength far exceeded his.
• Zhou Changqing's Nine Slashes of Raging Thunder cut into Ling Sha's Spirit Snake Shield, revealing his rare Magic Core Armament.
• Ling Sha gathered her Dou Qi into a tiny, terrifying snake and prepared to unleash her strongest Dou Technique.
• Zhou Changqing dropped his Heavy Sword and surrendered, then claimed he had forged his weapon and the Magic Core Armaments sold in Water-Storage City.
• Ling Sha disbelieved Zhou Changqing's claim and regarded it as an attempt to save his life.

Ling Sha chose to take Zhou Changqing to the Snake-People Tribe after he proved he could forge Magic Core Armaments, despite his offer to make her Tier 4 weapons. Zhou Changqing agreed under pressure but warned her that he would resist being forced to work like a machine, and they set off across the desert.

• Zhou Changqing revealed a large pile of weapons and armor, convincing Ling Sha that he had forged the Magic Core Armaments.
• Ling Sha decided not to kill Zhou Changqing and asked him to visit the Snake-People Tribe.
• Zhou Changqing offered to forge Ling Sha a set of Tier 4 Magic Core Armaments, but she still insisted on taking him with her.
• Ling Sha threatened to take Zhou Changqing by force, and he agreed to go after warning her against imprisoning him or forcing him to forge weapons.
• Ling Sha assured Zhou Changqing that the Snake-People Tribe would treat him well if he met their requirements, and the two traveled into the desert.

After nearly half a month of travel, Ling Sha brought Zhou Changqing to her Snake-People tribe and presented him to its chief. Zhou Changqing recognized the chief as Yue Mei, one of the tribe’s powerful leaders.

• Zhou Changqing endured the desert journey with Ling Sha, deciding to wait for a chance to escape rather than provoke her into guarding him more closely.
• Ling Sha led Zhou Changqing into the vast Snake-People settlement, where its inhabitants showed him open hostility.
• After traveling through the settlement for nearly a day, Ling Sha brought Zhou Changqing to the chief’s enormous tent.
• The chief appeared before them with a powerful aura, and Ling Sha explained how she had captured Zhou Changqing.
• Zhou Changqing identified the chief as Yue Mei, the only female among the Snake-People’s Eight Chiefs.

Yue Mei tested Zhou Changqing’s Magic Core Armament and confirmed its power before asking him to demonstrate how he forged it. Zhou Changqing began refining metal with his dual-attribute Dou Qi, leaving the materials molten inside his cauldron.

• Ling Sha presented Zhou Changqing’s tier-three longsword to Yue Mei, who tested its power with a strike that Zhou Changqing blocked using a purple crystal membrane.
• Yue Mei confirmed the sword could amplify a wielder’s strength, then returned it to Ling Sha because its tier was too low for her.
• Yue Mei asked Zhou Changqing to demonstrate his forging technique and promised him favorable treatment in the tribe.
• Zhou Changqing suspended several metal blocks and formed a massive gold-and-silver cauldron with his dual-attribute Dou Qi.
• Zhou Changqing refined the metals with lightning-like arcs for an hour until they melted into pools of molten iron.

Zhou Changqing forged a tier 3 mid-grade Magic Core Weapon, impressing Yue Mei with his improved Weapon Refining Technique. Yue Mei welcomed him into the tribe with generous rewards, while privately warning herself to keep the talented human focused on serving her people.

• Zhou Changqing spent four hours inscribing artifact patterns into molten metal and forged a sword powered by a purple magic core.
• The completed sword flew to Yue Mei, who inspected it and placed it in her Storage Ring.
• Yue Mei offered Zhou Changqing a place in the tribe, high-ranking treatment, materials, and whatever resources or techniques he wanted in exchange for forging weapons.
• Yue Mei sent Ling Sha to take Zhou Changqing to rest, then privately hoped he would behave and provide weapons for the tribe.