Recaps

Lin Yan developed his cultivation while helping Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio survive the Hunter Exam’s first stages. After defeating Johns in Trick Tower, he began recovering in confinement as Killua grew interested in cultivation and chose to train himself.

• Lin Yan crossed Swindler's Swamp with Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, using his growing Qi and keen senses to help the group survive its dangers.
• Lin Yan completed Foundation Establishment aboard the airship while Killua kept Hisoka away, then guided the group through Trick Tower’s route choice.
• Kurapika defeated a prisoner who falsely claimed to be part of the Phantom Troupe, while Lin Yan warned him about the cost of using his Scarlet Eyes.
• Leorio lost fifty hours in a candle wager, but Killua killed Scarface and Gon won his match, leaving Lin Yan to decide the final contest.
• Lin Yan defeated Johns by striking a vulnerable point with his Sword Finger, securing the team’s four-to-two victory before the group was confined for fifty hours.
• Lin Yan meditated in the stone chamber and explained cultivation to Killua, who wondered if it could help him escape his family’s imposed assassin nature.
• Lin Yan recognized Gon’s innate talent for drawing in natural energy, then watched Killua begin breathing practice to keep from falling behind.

Lin Yan helped his friends pass the Trick Tower, then used his cultivation and Gon’s fishing rod to take Hisoka’s badge and secure a deal for time to grow stronger. On Zevil Island, he reunited with Gon and Kurapika, while Killua faced his fear and Lin Yan rescued Leorio from a snake-filled cave.

• Lin Yan helped Kurapika learn to observe and restrain his hatred, then guided the group through the Labyrinth of Choices and out of the Trick Tower.
• Lin Yan drew Hisoka as his prey on Zevil Island and used Shibao’s ambush to take her badge and weapons.
• Lin Yan borrowed Gon’s fishing rod, disrupted Hisoka with gunpowder, and hooked Hisoka’s badge before fleeing to a riverbank.
• Lin Yan offered Hisoka his own badge and promised a future challenge, and Hisoka accepted the deal and gave him three badges from dead applicants.
• Lin Yan cultivated after the encounter, then found Gon, Killua, and Kurapika and helped Kurapika recover after he attacked a collector displaying Kurta clan eyeballs.
• Illumi Zoldyck’s appearance drove Killua into the forest, while Lin Yan searched for Leorio and found him trapped in a cave with Ponzu and Babon’s corpse.
• Lin Yan entered the cave, subdued the snakes with his pure-yang aura, destroyed the black rancor around Babon’s corpse, and carried the poisoned Leorio out.

Lin Yan helped Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio reach the final exam, where he won his match against Hanzo and guided his friends through theirs. After Illumi forced Killua to surrender and Killua was disqualified, Lin Yan led Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika to the Zoldyck home to remove Killua’s Nen Needle.

• Lin Yan saved Leorio from Babon’s venom, helped the group qualify for the fourth phase, and led them to a distressed Killua.
• Lin Yan helped Killua resist Illumi’s Nen Needle, then guided the exhausted group across the finish line before time expired.
• Lin Yan met Netero, explained his cultivation of the Dao, and repelled Illumi’s attempt to attack him.
• Lin Yan defeated Hanzo in the final exam’s first match, while Gon beat Pokkle and Kurapika forced Hisoka to surrender.
• Illumi revealed himself to Killua and threatened Gon and Lin Yan, causing Killua to surrender under the Nen Needle’s influence.
• Killua killed Bodoro and was disqualified, so Lin Yan persuaded Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika to accompany him to the Zoldyck home.
• Lin Yan and the newly licensed Hunters reached Kukuroo Mountain, where gatekeeper Zebro watched the guard dog Mike retreat from Lin Yan’s aura.

Lin Yan trained Gon and Killua at Heavens Arena while using their matches and betting to earn enough money for dragon-scale iron. After buying the iron and preparing a jade formation, he began to forge his artifact as Hisoka waited on the 200th Floor.

• Lin Yan trained Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika to open the Testing Gate, then helped them reach Killua and reunite before Leorio and Kurapika departed for their own goals.
• Lin Yan took Gon and Killua to Heavens Arena, where they registered for fights and Lin Yan resolved to earn money for a sword made from dragon-scale iron.
• Lin Yan coached Gon and Killua to fight with control, then manipulated their matches and betting odds as the trio climbed toward the 100th floor.
• Lin Yan created a Qi-Gathering Formation in his room, and Gon and Killua began absorbing aura through their closed aura nodes while Wing watched and resolved to learn from Lin Yan.
• Hisoka challenged Lin Yan on the 200th Floor, but Lin Yan collected his betting winnings and went to buy the dragon-scale iron.
• Lin Yan paid for the iron after demonstrating that he could carve it with True Qi, then bought thirty-six discarded jade stones for his artifact.
• Lin Yan inscribed the jade stones, arranged them around the dragon-scale iron in the Heavenly Dipper’s thirty-six positions, and prepared to awaken the Taotie core.