Chapter Summaries

After breaking through to Dou Emperor, Zhou Changqing learned his body had reached Six-Star Dou Emperor strength and agreed to refine pills for Zi Yan, who had guarded him during his two months of seclusion. He turned her last three medicinal herbs into thirty pills, leaving them floating before them.

• Zhou Changqing assessed his new One-Star Dou Emperor cultivation and Six-Star Dou Emperor body, realizing he could contend with newly advanced Dou Zong experts.
• Zi Yan congratulated Zhou Changqing on his fast breakthrough and asked him to refine more pills after revealing she had eaten all the ones he had given her.
• Zhou Changqing teased Zi Yan, then promised to refine her herbs and give her thunder qi after she became upset about guarding him for two months.
• Zi Yan discovered she had only three medicinal herbs left, and Zhou Changqing began refining them in his Golden Thunder Weapon-Refining Cauldron.
• Zhou Changqing combined the herbs’ medicinal essence with powdered sugar and formed thirty round pills in three colors.

Zhou Changqing gave Zi Yan refined medicinal pellets and Dou Emperor-level thunder qi before she left Thousand Thunder Valley for Jia Nan Academy. Zi Yan regretted parting and planned to return to the valley with stolen ingredients, while deciding she might look after Zhou Changqing’s friend Xiao Yan.

• Zhou Changqing gave Zi Yan three bottles of medicinal pellets he had made from ingredients, and she happily accepted them.
• Zi Yan told Zhou Changqing she had to return to Jia Nan Academy, and he learned she had never heard of Xiao Yan.
• Zhou Changqing teased Zi Yan about leaving, then gave her the promised thunder qi after they bickered.
• Zi Yan left Thousand Thunder Valley feeling reluctant to part from Zhou Changqing and considered how to sneak back soon.
• Zi Yan planned to take medicinal ingredients from the academy’s Medicine Vault and have Zhou Changqing turn them into pellets, and she decided to ask around for Xiao Yan.

Zhou Changqing entered the Thunder Sea in Thousand Thunder Valley to investigate its secrets, relying on his powerful body and lightning source to withstand its force. He began tempering his body inside the storm, enduring severe pain as he sensed his way forward with limited soul perception.

• Zhou Changqing judged that his Dou Emperor physique and lightning source gave him a chance to explore the Thunder Sea.
• Zhou Changqing stepped into the Thunder Sea, where the lightning burned away his robes and struck his body with intense pain.
• Zhou Changqing activated the Heavenly Dipper Gold-Tempering Art to capture and refine the invading lightning.
• Zhou Changqing realized the storm's intensity pushed his body-tempering efficiency to its limit, though he could barely keep pace with the lightning.
• Zhou Changqing closed his eyes and used his soul perception to navigate, but the violent energy reduced its range and caused him pain.

Zhou Changqing steadily tempered his body in the Thunder Sea until he discovered a lump of exceptionally pure lightning energy. He left the sea with the treasure, identified it as lightning essence, and recognized its potential to greatly strengthen his Dou Qi.

• Zhou Changqing ventured into the Thunder Sea for ten hours before turning back and barely making it out, then recovered after sleeping in his cave abode.
• Over the following month, Zhou Changqing increased the distance he could travel through the Thunder Sea by repeatedly tempering his body.
• With half the distance to the Thunder Sea’s center remaining, Zhou Changqing sensed an intensely bright white speck and carried it out using his Dou Qi.
• Zhou Changqing examined the lump and found it held immense, unusually pure lightning attribute energy that could be absorbed directly by someone with a lightning attribute.
• Zhou Changqing recognized the treasure as lightning essence, a prized object that had caused bloodshed at an auction in the Black-Corner Region a hundred years earlier.

Zhou Changqing explored the Thunder Sea, using lightning essence to accelerate his cultivation as he advanced toward its center. After two months of rapid progress, his perception touched the central region and was struck by a mysterious force that caused him intense pain.

• Zhou Changqing found lightning essence in the Thunder Sea, recognized its value, and stored it before returning to his cave abode.
• Zhou Changqing repeatedly entered the Thunder Sea, found more lightning essence, and used it to speed up his dou qi cultivation while tempering his body.
• Over two months, Zhou Changqing consumed three pieces of lightning essence and advanced to Five-Star Dou Emperor, while his physique reached Peak Dou Emperor level.
• Zhou Changqing sensed that the Thunder Sea's lightning was becoming less effective and continued toward its center to uncover its secret.
• When Zhou Changqing's perception reached the Thunder Sea's central region, a stabbing pain struck his soul, forcing him to recoil and wonder what had happened.

After months of training in the Thunder Sea, Zhou Changqing found the source of a strange force that had injured his soul perception and excavated it. He uncovered a stone and two scrolls, but their nature remained unknown.

• Zhou Changqing reached the Thunder Sea’s center and spotted a fixed, flower-shaped formation of lightning.
• He used golden metal attribute dou qi and his soul perception to trace the Lightning Flower underground, where he found fine strands of lightning and reached its base.
• Zhou Changqing enclosed the Lightning Flower and the earth beneath it in a golden barrier, then launched the mass out of the ground with his strength.
• He carried the barrier sphere to a mountainside platform, removed the barrier, and blasted apart the soil and lightning.
• Zhou Changqing revealed a stone and two scrolls hidden beneath the Lightning Flower.

Zhou Changqing discovered that Mang Tianchi had created the Thunder Sea as a trial and left behind treasures for a successor. He obtained the high-grade earth-tier movement technique Azure Thunder Voidstep and a thunder-magnetic mystic crystal, which he hoped would help advance his physical body.

• Zhou Changqing read Mang Tianchi’s scroll and learned that the founder of Jia Nan Academy had created the Thunder Sea and left opportunities for a worthy successor.
• Zhou Changqing recognized Mang Tianchi as Jia Nan Academy’s founder and admired his decision to establish an academy for talented people regardless of their birth.
• Zhou Changqing examined the Azure Thunder Voidstep scroll and discovered it contained a high-grade earth-tier movement Dou Technique.
• Zhou Changqing identified the floating crystal as a thunder-magnetic mystic crystal that had gathered the lightning forming the Thunder Sea.
• Zhou Changqing valued the crystal’s accumulated lightning energy and unique material as a means to advance his physical body.

Zhou Changqing began using the thunder-magnetic mystic crystal’s immense lightning energy to temper his body and break through to the next physical realm. The Thunder Sea started to dissipate after he took its source, while his breakthrough began with excruciating pain.

• Zhou Changqing took the thunder-magnetic mystic crystal and two scrolls from the Thunder Sea, carefully protecting the unstable crystal with Dou Qi.
• Zhou Changqing realized the Thunder Sea was losing its central heart and would gradually disappear, then returned to his cave dwelling.
• The next day, Zhou Changqing set up eight enchantments around himself and prepared to use the crystal’s lightning energy to temper his body.
• Zhou Changqing released the crystal’s energy into his body, which burned his flesh and caused him unbearable pain.
• Zhou Changqing circulated the Heavenly Dipper Gold-Tempering Art to capture and refine the lightning, and golden radiance began restoring his shriveled muscles.

After months of absorbing the thunder-magnetic mystic crystal’s lightning energy, Zhou Changqing completed his physical transformation and gained a body comparable to a Dou Zong’s. He tested his new ability to tread the void and, above Thousand Thunder Valley, began driving his metal-lightning Dou Qi into every cell.

• Zhou Changqing finished refining the thunder-magnetic mystic crystal, whose lightning energy had been exhausted, and dismissed the barriers around his secluded training spot.
• After dressing at his cave dwelling, Zhou Changqing shattered space with a clenched fist and realized his physical strength rivaled a Dou Zong’s.
• Zhou Changqing walked into the air without using Dou Qi, discovering that his transformed body could tread the void by instinct.
• Zhou Changqing crossed a thousand meters with each step and arrived above the center of Thousand Thunder Valley, where the Thunder Sea had disappeared.
• Zhou Changqing circulated his Seven-Star Dou Huang cultivation and directed his metal-lightning Dou Qi into his flesh and every cell.

After breaking through to the Dou Zong realm, Zhou Changqing discovered that his transformed body could grow into a hundred-foot-tall giant and unleash tremendous strength at the cost of rapidly draining his Dou Qi. Back in his cave, he named the ability Law of Heaven and Earth.

• Zhou Changqing’s cells absorbed Dou Qi, causing him to grow into a golden giant and form golden armor over his naked body.
• Zhou Changqing tested his strength by punching a mountain, annihilating it and briefly tearing a vast hole in space.
• Zhou Changqing withdrew the Dou Qi from his cells, returned to normal size, and went back to his cave abode.
• Zhou Changqing considered how his body had changed after breaking through to the Dou Zong realm and named his gigantification ability Law of Heaven and Earth.

Zhou Changqing celebrated his strength by slowly roasting a Blue Spring Horned Ox in Thousand Thunder Valley. Zi Yan returned to find the Thunder Sea gone and arrived just as the ox was nearly ready to eat.

• Zhou Changqing recovered his Dou Qi, then hunted a Tier 4 bovine magical beast to roast.
• Zhou Changqing spent hours cooking the Blue Spring Horned Ox over a large fire and prepared to season it.
• Zhou Changqing sensed Zi Yan approaching and recognized her familiar aura.
• Zi Yan arrived and asked Zhou Changqing what had happened to the Thunder Sea.
• Zi Yan spotted the roasted ox, remembered Zhou Changqing's cooking, and eagerly eyed the food.

Zhou Changqing and Zi Yan feasted on a roasted Demon Bull and discussed what to do after the Thunder Sea vanished. Zhou Changqing remembered a dangerous lightning-filled place he might seek out once he grew stronger, while Zi Yan recommended Jia Nan Academy as their next destination.

• Zhou Changqing roasted a Demon Bull and shared the meat and Green Plum Wine with Zi Yan, and they ate the whole beast.
• Zi Yan asked why the Thunder Sea had disappeared, and Zhou Changqing explained that he had taken the stone sustaining it.
• Zhou Changqing said he would find a better place to cultivate and remembered a perilous lightning-filled location he hoped to visit when he was stronger.
• Zi Yan said Thousand Thunder Valley had seemed familiar and, when Zhou Changqing asked whether she had somewhere to recommend, suggested Jia Nan Academy.

Zhou Changqing agreed to visit Jia Nan Academy with Zi Yan, but on the way they sensed a powerful heavenly-flame-like disturbance and hurried toward the Inner Academy. They reached its spatial barrier and saw that someone had broken in.

• Zi Yan told Zhou Changqing that Xiao Yan was an eight-star Dou Ling and had placed second in the Strong Ranking tournament, and Zhou Changqing agreed to visit Jia Nan Academy.
• Zi Yan traded materials stolen from the Inner Academy treasury for thunder qi, which she absorbed while cultivating beside Zhou Changqing.
• The next day, Zhou Changqing and Zi Yan sensed extraordinary energy fluctuations and rushed toward the Inner Academy.
• They reached the basin hidden behind the Spatial Boundary Mirror, where Zi Yan spotted signs of an intruder and hurried down toward the Inner Academy.

Xiao Yan was caught in the Inner Academy battle and confronted by a Dou Huang seeking revenge for his son. Just as the old man trapped Xiao Yan and sent a blood spear toward him, an unseen rescuer stopped the attack.

• Xiao Yan tried to stay hidden while the Inner Academy's experts fought overhead, but a stray attack forced him into the air.
• The red-robed old man recognized Xiao Yan as the killer of his son and pursued him, while Xiao Yan evaded a deadly strike with Three Thousand Lightning Movement.
• The old man overwhelmed Xiao Yan with blood threads, trapped him in a cage, and hurled a blood spear at him.
• An unseen person spoke beside Xiao Yan and halted the spear inches from his abdomen.

Zhou Changqing arrived just in time to save Xiao Yan from Fan Lao’s blood cage and spear, revealing that he had reached the Seven-Star Dou Huang realm. He and Xiao Yan mocked Fan Lao’s attempt to make him stay out of their dispute, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Zhou Changqing stopped Fan Lao’s blood spear and destroyed the blood cage with lightning, freeing Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan asked Yao Lao about Zhou Changqing’s strength, and Yao Lao revealed that Zhou Changqing was a Seven-Star Dou Huang.
• Fan Lao, Lin Xiuya, and Liu Qing were shocked by Zhou Changqing’s effortless defense, while Fan Lao warily introduced himself and asked Zhou Changqing not to interfere.
• Xiao Yan put an arm around Zhou Changqing and ridiculed Fan Lao for thinking his status as Blood Sect sect master would intimidate them.

Zhou Changqing intervened when Fan Lao threatened Xiao Yan and proved strong enough to fight the Blood Sect Master on even terms. Their battle shifted the advantage in the clash between Jia Nan Academy and the Black-Corner Region, leaving the outcome undecided.

• Fan Lao threatened Zhou Changqing to make him abandon Xiao Yan, but Zhou Changqing refused and asked Xiao Yan whether he should kill Fan Lao.
• Xiao Yan told Zhou Changqing to beat Fan Lao, then retreated while taunting the Blood Sect Master.
• Fan Lao chased Xiao Yan, but Zhou Changqing blocked him and sent him flying with a lightning-charged attack.
• Fan Lao donned his Blood-Devouring Armor and fought Zhou Changqing in a fierce aerial battle.
• Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing checked on Xiao Yan, who told them Zhou Changqing was his same-age friend and brother.
• Jia Nan Academy's experts welcomed Zhou Changqing's arrival as the Black-Corner Region's forces realized the balance of the battle had shifted.

Su Qian and the academy elders fought to contain Han Feng and the Black-Corner Region attackers as Zhou Changqing’s arrival shifted the battlefield. Han Feng focused on breaking the seal around the heavenly flame, while the clashes remained unresolved.

• Su Qian drove the Gold and Silver Elders back and offered them a chance to withdraw, but they refused and resumed their attack.
• Han Feng pressed Dean Hu Gan, who held him off and warned that the academy would retaliate after the battle.
• Han Feng recognized that Zhou Changqing’s arrival had freed three high-ranking Dou Wang and disrupted his side’s advantage, so he aimed to release the sealed heavenly flame.
• Zi Yan joined five academy elders against Elder Ban, easing their pressure and bringing their fight to a stalemate.
• The Black-Corner Region fighters began to feel pressure in other clashes and showed signs of losing ground.

Zhou Changqing fought Fan Lao to test his strength, but found the Four-Star Dou Emperor far too weak to challenge him. He overwhelmed Fan Lao and left the battle poised to seek a stronger opponent.

• Zhou Changqing revealed his Seven-Star Dou Huang cultivation and metal-lightning dual attributes, shocking Fan Lao.
• Fan Lao warned Zhou Changqing that he had trump cards and unleashed Blood Demon Hand.
• Zhou Changqing countered Fan Lao’s Blood Demon Hand with Thunder Python Mountain-Crushing Force and charged through without slowing.
• Fan Lao used Ten Thousand Blood Devouring Force in a fist clash, but Zhou Changqing crushed through it with Ten Thousand Jun Force.
• Zhou Changqing shattered Fan Lao’s bones and sent him flying.

Zhou Changqing defeated Fan Lao, leaving Xiao Yan, Lin Xiuya, and Liu Qing to corner the wounded Dou Emperor. As the battle paused, the beast sealed beneath the tower broke through its barrier and revealed its flaming eyes.

• Zhou Changqing defeated Fan Lao, and the Black-Corner Region fighters realized the battle had turned against them.
• Xiao Yan, Lin Xiuya, and Liu Qing pursued Fan Lao, and Xiao Yan attacked him as he tried to beg for mercy.
• Fan Lao used Blood Escape twice and called for Han Feng and Elder Ban to save him, but neither came to his aid.
• Zhou Changqing turned toward the fight around Zi Yan while Xiao Yan continued chasing Fan Lao.
• The seal on the tower spire shattered, and a flame-wreathed beast appeared as Su Qian reacted in shock.

Su Qian and the academy Elders tried to reseal the Fallen Heart Flame while the Black-Corner Region experts waited for their chance to seize it. The flame burst from the tower in the form of a giant transparent python, and Zhou Changqing watched as it attacked the barrier.

• Su Qian ordered the Elders to form a sealing formation around the broken tower tip, while Han Feng held back and waited for the academy and flame to weaken each other.
• Zhou Changqing reunited with Xiao Yan and Zi Yan, and Zi Yan let Xiao Yan's Brute Force King remark go after Zhou Changqing soothed her.
• Xiao Yan fixed his attention on the tower, believing the Fallen Heart Flame was essential to his breakthrough to Dou Wang.
• The Elders' combined Dou Qi strengthened the barrier, but the Fallen Heart Flame's piercing hiss shattered the tower tip and sent invisible flames crashing into the seal.
• The Fallen Heart Flame emerged as a massive transparent python, stunning the Black-Corner Region experts as Zhou Changqing considered its strength.