Chapter Summaries

Wang Yan confronted Dai Hao and three disciples who tried to rob him, then made them return his Spirit Stones after revealing that Venerable Gray Three was his master. He left the three disciples’ payment with Dai Hao and continued up the mountain, while Dai Hao hurried after him.

• Dai Hao stole Wang Yan’s Storage Bag, found its Spirit Stones, and claimed they were his while the other disciples backed him up.
• Wang Yan threatened to fetch his master, and Dai Hao returned the Storage Bag after learning Wang Yan was Venerable Gray Three’s disciple.
• The three disciples blamed Dai Hao, then paid Wang Yan five hundred Spirit Stones each to be released.
• Wang Yan recognized Dai Hao’s misfortune with the other disciples and tossed him the three bags of Spirit Stones.
• Wang Yan headed up the mountain, and Dai Hao hesitated before hurrying after him.

Wang Yan visited Venerable Gray Three’s cave abode to seek guidance on a cultivation method before advancing to the Core Condensation Realm. Bing Ning told him to return in two days, then called after him with an offer of a fire-type cultivation method.

• Wang Yan returned the Spirit Stones Dai Hao had been owed and entered the area reserved for Core Condensation Realm cultivators using Venerable Gray Three’s token.
• Wang Yan reached Venerable Gray Three’s cave abode and asked Bing Ning to request his master’s guidance on choosing a cultivation method.
• Wang Yan offered Bing Ning a Storage Bag of Spirit Stones, and she agreed to announce his arrival despite Venerable Gray Three’s cultivation.
• Bing Ning returned and told Wang Yan that Venerable Gray Three wanted him to come back in two days because he was at a critical point in his cultivation.
• As Wang Yan was leaving, Bing Ning called after him and offered him a fire-type cultivation method.

Wang Yan visited the Merit Hall with Dai Hao, bought a Qi Condensation Pill, and found the available core condensation cultivation methods too costly. Unable to decide whether to cultivate the difficult Heavenburning Art, he returned to Venerable Gray Three for guidance, and the chapter ended as he asked to see his master.

• Wang Yan considered the complicated Heavenburning Art, which required opening 108 meridians, but hesitated to cultivate it.
• Dai Hao returned three bags of Spirit Stones to Wang Yan, then accepted them as a loan after Wang Yan spoke of reaching the core condensation realm.
• Dai Hao led Wang Yan across the Iron Chain Bridge to the Main Peak, where Wang Yan admired the abundant fire spirit qi of Firecloud Divine Mountain.
• Wang Yan exchanged 1,500 merit points and 1,500 Spirit Stones for a Qi Condensation Pill, while Dai Hao obtained two pills before they parted ways.
• Wang Yan found the core condensation cultivation methods at the Merit Hall too expensive and returned to his own peak.
• Three days later, Bing Ning brought Wang Yan to Venerable Gray Three, who asked what he had come to discuss.

After receiving guidance from Venerable Gray Three, Wang Yan chose to cultivate the Heavenburning Art and spent more than a year preparing to advance. He finally reached the Core Condensation Realm, though his slow progress had nearly cost him his place on Yellow Cloud Peak.

• Bing Ning saw Wang Yan off after Venerable Gray Three advised him about cultivation and let him choose an art from the Library Vault.
• Wang Yan weighed a faster fifty-six-meridian art against the Heavenburning Art, which used 108 meridians and promised purer, stronger magic power, then chose the Heavenburning Art.
• Wang Yan studied and cultivated the Heavenburning Art while other rogue cultivators, including Ye Shisan and Liu Wushuang, advanced to the Core Condensation Realm ahead of him.
• After Wang Yan failed to advance with his third Qi Condensation Pill, Venerable Gray Three warned him that he would be expelled from Yellow Cloud Peak if he did not succeed.
• Wang Yan used his final Qi Condensation Pill and, after ten days of breakthrough cultivation, reached the Core Condensation Realm and produced Red-Light Flame in his palm.

After stabilizing his Core Condensation Realm, Wang Yan visited Venerable Gray Three to ask about repairing the Immortal Card Artifact and prepare for the Four-Peak Core Condensation Tournament. Venerable Gray Three lent him a supreme-grade Spirit Artifact and promised it as a reward if Wang Yan placed in the top three.

• Wang Yan tried to wake Card Fairy, but she remained asleep, leaving him unsure which treasures could repair the Immortal Card Artifact.
• Wang Yan left seclusion and headed to Venerable Gray Three's Cave Abode, where disciples congratulated him and addressed him as martial uncle.
• Venerable Gray Three praised Wang Yan for reaching the Core Condensation Realm but warned that he had little time to learn spells and prepare for the tournament.
• Venerable Gray Three lent Wang Yan the supreme-grade Truefire Moon Wheel and promised to give it to him if he placed in the top three.
• Venerable Gray Three began guiding Wang Yan on what he needed to know in the Core Condensation Realm.

After Bing Ning urged Wang Yan to aim for second place in the Four Peaks Competition, he searched for ways to repair his Immortal Card Artifact and visited Ye Shisan, who had become High Person Golden Cloud’s disciple. Wang Yan learned that Ye Shisan was also entering the competition, but Ye Shisan did not know what second place would earn.

• Bing Ning told Wang Yan that Venerable Gray Three wanted him to take second place in the Four Peaks Competition.
• Wang Yan bought a low-grade Flying Sword, failed to find Fire Spirit Liquid, and discovered that the Flame Spirit Pearl cost more Merit Points and Spirit Stones than he could afford.
• Wang Yan visited Ye Shisan at Earth Cloud Peak and learned that High Person Golden Cloud had accepted him as a disciple after discovering his dual Immortal Roots and body-refining talent.
• Wang Yan and Ye Shisan revealed that they were both entering the Four Peaks Competition.
• Wang Yan asked Ye Shisan about the reward for second place, and Ye Shisan was surprised by the question.

Wang Yan learned about the Four Peaks Competition rewards and realized that Ye Shisan and Venerable Gray Three were aiming for different prizes. After returning to Yellow Cloud Peak, he registered as a Core Condensation Realm cultivator and prepared to move into a permanent cave abode.

• Wang Yan asked Ye Shisan about the competition rewards and learned that first place offered a Flame Spirit Pearl, while second place offered Millennium Spirit Milk that could extend lifespan.
• Wang Yan realized Venerable Gray Three wanted the Millennium Spirit Milk and that Ye Shisan’s master, High Person Golden Cloud, was interested in the Flame Spirit Pearl.
• Wang Yan left Earth Cloud Peak, reflected on Ye Shisan’s drive and their shared past, then hurried back toward Yellow Cloud Peak.
• A Cultivation Realm disciple told Wang Yan that his temporary cave abode lease had expired, and Wang Yan paid the overdue rent before entering his abode.
• The next morning, Wang Yan registered his advancement, collected his rewards, and chose a permanent cave abode in the Core Condensation Realm residential area.
• Wang Yan planned to cultivate new divine abilities, refine Immortal Cards, and repair his Ironwood Shield Card.

Wang Yan repaired and upgraded his Ironwood Shield with black mother iron ore, then refined a batch of Immortal Cards while preparing for the Four Peaks Competition. After Venerable Gray Three summoned him, Wang Yan joined the other core condensation disciples, and they set out for Firecloud Divine Mountain.

• Wang Yan fused black mother iron ore into his Ironwood Shield, repairing it and raising it to a High-Grade Spirit Artifact.
• Wang Yan refined several spell and Magic Artifact Cards, then fell asleep from mental exhaustion after working for more than half a month.
• Venerable Gray Three sent Wang Yan a voice transmission telling him to come prepare to depart.
• Wang Yan met Dai Hao and three other core condensation cultivators at Venerable Gray Three's Cave Abode, where ten disciples gathered.
• The next morning, Venerable Gray Three led Wang Yan and the other disciples toward Firecloud Divine Mountain.

Wang Yan and the Yellow Cloud Peak disciples arrived for the Four Peaks Competition, where Venerable Gray Three explained the rules and introduced them to golden core stage cultivators Huang Ling and True Person Long Yu. As the competition was about to begin, the powerful cultivators sensed that a nascent soul realm Martial Uncle had emerged from seclusion.

• Wang Yan learned that the Four Peaks Competition would begin with lots-drawn matches between peaks, followed by rotating challenges that determined the peak and individual winners.
• Venerable Gray Three led the disciples to a Firecloud Boat and introduced them to Martial Uncles Huang Ling and True Person Long Yu.
• True Person Long Yu praised Wang Yan and promised him an additional reward if he won glory for Yellow Cloud Peak.
• Venerable Gray Three, Huang Ling, and True Person Long Yu sensed that their Martial Uncle had come out of seclusion and hurried to meet him.

The Firecloud Sect opened its Four Peaks Competition, and Ye Shisan faced Xu Shao in the first match. Ye Shisan overwhelmed Xu Shao with his Earth Spirit Gold Staff and Earth Gang Shield, sending him flying across the arena.

• Ling Daozi opened the competition and announced the rule against killing fellow disciples.
• The draw selected Ye Shisan of Earth Cloud Peak to fight Xu Shao of Heaven Cloud Peak in the first match.
• Ye Shisan confidently took the arena while Wang Yan predicted he would win.
• Xu Shao questioned Ye Shisan’s advancement, but Ye Shisan immediately charged with his Earth Spirit Gold Staff.
• Ye Shisan broke through Xu Shao’s defense and knocked him dozens of zhang across the arena.

Ye Shisan defeated Xu Shao, and Lan Huo Lang won Yellow Cloud Peak’s next match before the peak suffered two more losses. Wang Yan then drew Yue Yang of Heaven Cloud Peak and faced him on the arena after rejecting Daoist Fire Tiger’s warning and taunt.

• Ye Shisan overwhelmed Xu Shao, and Ling Daozi declared Ye Shisan the winner.
• Lan Huo Lang defeated Feng Lan by a single move, giving Yellow Cloud Peak its first victory.
• Yellow Cloud Peak lost its next two matches, leaving Venerable Gray Three frustrated with the team’s poor results.
• The taiji wheel paired Wang Yan with Yue Yang, and Daoist Fire Tiger told Yue Yang to use his full strength.
• Wang Yan and Yue Yang met on the arena, exchanged words about Wang Yan rejecting Daoist Fire Tiger, and Ling Daozi began their match.

Wang Yan and Yue Yang fought in the arena, trading fire spells as Wang Yan used his Immortal Cards to conserve magic power and wear Yue Yang down. After blocking Yue Yang’s flaming blades, Wang Yan secretly placed a formation beneath him, and its explosion engulfed Yue Yang, leaving his condition uncertain.

• Wang Yan and Yue Yang opened with matching Fire Fist Spells that collided and canceled each other out.
• Wang Yan unleashed repeated Fire Fist Spells while Yue Yang used Fire Escape to dodge, and the spectators mistook Wang Yan’s sustained attacks for wasteful magic use.
• Wang Yan’s Immortal Cards let him keep attacking with little magic power, while Yue Yang gradually spent his reserves dodging.
• Yue Yang summoned eight flaming blades, but Wang Yan’s Truefire Moon Wheel knocked them away and protected him.
• Wang Yan’s punch concealed formation runes that flew past Yue Yang, and the formation exploded beneath him after he landed, engulfing him in flames.

Wang Yan used simultaneous spells and multiple treasures to trap Yue Yang and drive him to the edge of the arena, despite Yue Yang’s powerful defenses. Yue Yang swallowed a pill that restored and greatly boosted his magic power, leaving the duel poised to escalate.

• Wang Yan detonated a hidden Fire Blast Technique beneath Yue Yang while attacking with Fire Fist Spells, revealing that he could control two Immortal Cards at once.
• Wang Yan sent the Truefire Moon Wheel after Yue Yang, who blocked it with a gourd treasure while further Fire Blast explosions pushed him toward the arena’s edge.
• Wang Yan attacked with the Mother-and-Son Flying Rings and other treasures as Yue Yang unleashed his Blazing Flame Gourd and Wang Yan defended with the Ironwood Shield.
• The six son rings broke through Yue Yang’s red barrier and struck his armor, while Wang Yan detonated more Fire Blast Techniques and left Yue Yang injured and low on magic power.
• Yue Yang swallowed a red pill that restored his magic power and raised it close to the early Core Condensation Realm, alarming Wang Yan.

Yue Yang used a pill to boost his magic power and turn the fight against Wang Yan, forcing him into an aerial battle. Wang Yan struck back with a sudden attack that sent Yue Yang off the platform and down the cliff.

• Yue Yang took a pill, greatly increasing his magic power, and used the Blazing Flame Gourd to knock away Wang Yan’s weapons.
• Yue Yang rode the Blazing Flame Gourd through the air and bombarded Wang Yan with red beams, driving him into retreat.
• Wang Yan mounted a Flying Sword and evaded the beams by anticipating them with his powerful spiritual sense.
• Yue Yang summoned a huge firebird that pursued Wang Yan and scorched his clothes with its attacks.
• A streak of red light pierced the firebird, struck Yue Yang, and knocked him off the platform and over the cliff.

Wang Yan defeated Yue Yang with a concealed strike from the Truefire Moon Wheel, earning praise and gifts from Yellow Cloud Peak while deepening Yue Yang’s resentment. As Wang Yan meditated between matches, a mysterious red-glowing figure appeared silently at his cabin doorway.

• Ling Daozi caught the falling Yue Yang, stopped his bleeding, and declared Wang Yan the winner despite Yue Yang’s protest.
• Yue Yang realized Wang Yan had concealed the Truefire Moon Wheel’s attack while luring him into range, and he returned to Heaven Cloud Peak humiliated.
• Venerable Gray Three praised Wang Yan, and True Person Long Yu and Huang Ling rewarded him with Flame Spirit Pearl powder and a Fire Spirit Pearl.
• Daoist Fire Tiger rebuked Yue Yang and regretted not recruiting Wang Yan, while Double-Sword Daoist privately recognized Wang Yan’s ability.
• Yellow Cloud Peak won its next two matches against Mystery Cloud Peak, bringing its first-round qualifiers to four.
• While Wang Yan meditated in the cabin, a red-glowing figure appeared silently at his doorway, startling him.

A Nascent Soul Realm cultivator discovered the Immortal Card Artifact in Wang Yan’s dantian, gave him a token, and warned him to keep their meeting secret. As the Four Peaks Competition’s second round began, Wang Yan was sent into the successive battles after Lan Huo Lang.

• A red-lit Nascent Soul Realm cultivator restrained Wang Yan, sensed the Immortal Card Artifact in his dantian, and gave him a token to use if he reached the Golden Core Stage.
• The cultivator warned Wang Yan not to tell anyone about their meeting, and Wang Yan resolved to leave the Firecloud Sect once his cultivation was strong enough.
• The first-round results left Heaven Cloud Peak and Earth Cloud Peak tied with six advancing disciples each, while Yellow Cloud Peak had five and Mystery Cloud Peak had three.
• Ling Daozi opened the second round, and High Person Golden Cloud sent Golden Tiger to fight while Daoist Fire Tiger chose Heaven Cloud Peak’s weakest disciple.
• Golden Tiger quickly defeated his opponent, and Venerable Gray Three sent the depleted Lan Huo Lang into the next match before telling Wang Yan to prepare to fight afterward.

The Double-Sword Daoist defeated Golden Tiger and another Earth Cloud Peak disciple, proving he still had strength to spare. When Yellow Cloud Peak hesitated over sending Wang Yan against him, Wang Yan argued that waiting could leave him unable to reach the top three, and Venerable Gray Three let him take the field.

• Daoist Fire Tiger sent the Double-Sword Daoist to face Golden Tiger after Golden Tiger had won three matches.
• The Double-Sword Daoist wore down Golden Tiger with icy sword attacks until Golden Tiger conceded, giving Heaven Cloud Peak the victory.
• The Double-Sword Daoist defeated another Earth Cloud Peak disciple without seeming to expend much magic power.
• Venerable Gray Three ordered Dai Hao to fight next, but Wang Yan objected that delaying would risk his chances against Ye Shisan.
• Venerable Gray Three changed his mind, and Wang Yan flew into the arena as the Double-Sword Daoist watched him with excitement.

Wang Yan faced the Double-Sword Daoist in a prolonged exchange of fire spells and sword techniques, while conserving his magic power and waiting for an opening. When the Daoist began charging a powerful technique, Wang Yan took the fight high into the sky and unleashed a colossal Fire Fist Spell as the chapter ended.

• Wang Yan entered the arena to cheers and calmly faced the Double-Sword Daoist, who admitted he had long wanted to fight him.
• Wang Yan attacked with the Mother-and-Son Flying Rings, but the Double-Sword Daoist deflected the rings and their six child rings with his twin swords.
• Wang Yan retreated while laying Fire Traps and striking with flaming fists, as the Double-Sword Daoist advanced through the explosions and sword beams.
• The Double-Sword Daoist noticed Wang Yan's magic power had scarcely diminished and began chanting to charge a powerful technique.
• Wang Yan flew a thousand feet into the sky, then hurled a fiery fist over a hundred feet across toward the pursuing Double-Sword Daoist.

Wang Yan defeated the Double-Sword Daoist with two immense Fire Fist Spell attacks before Ling Daozi intervened to save the defeated cultivator. The next match began against Yu Qian, whose swords and vines attacked Wang Yan as the fight continued.

• Wang Yan used two powerful Fire Fist Spells to overwhelm the Double-Sword Daoist, and Ling Daozi crushed the final flaming fist before it could injure him further.
• Ling Daozi declared Wang Yan the winner, and the Double-Sword Daoist thanked him, accepted healing pills from Daoist Fire Tiger, and left the arena.
• Venerable Gray Three, True Person Long Yu, and Huang Ling praised Wang Yan as Ling Daozi announced that Mystery Cloud Peak's disciple would fight next.
• Yu Qian introduced herself to Wang Yan, and Ling Daozi began their match.
• Yu Qian sent green flying swords and vines at Wang Yan, who burned the vines and retreated as the sword rays formed a net above him.

Wang Yan won several consecutive arena matches by relying on powerful fire techniques and magic artifacts, while conserving his Immortal Cards when opponents tried to wear him down. After clearing six rounds, he faced Ye Shisan of Earth Cloud Peak.

• Wang Yan defeated Yu Qian with Red-Light Flame attacks, and she conceded before his Mother-and-Son Flying Rings could strike.
• Wang Yan used repeated fire spells and Fire Blast Technique Cards to overwhelm another Heaven Cloud Peak disciple, winning while spending another Immortal Card.
• High Person Golden Cloud sent an Earth Cloud Peak body refiner to fight Wang Yan and ordered Ye Shisan to wait until the next round.
• Wang Yan defeated the body refiner after using two Immortal Cards, drawing attention from spectators who wondered about his apparently deep reserves of magic power.
• Mystery Cloud Peak's last female disciple, Lan Xuan, conceded immediately, and Wang Yan later defeated a Heaven Cloud Peak disciple using the Mother-and-Son Flying Rings and Truefire Moon Wheel.
• After Wang Yan cleared his sixth round, Ye Shisan descended from Earth Cloud Peak to face him.