Recaps

Xiao Fan, Xiao Yan, and Han Xian began competing to refine the fifth-grade Dragon Strength Pill, each struggling to control the demanding process. As Xiao Fan neared the final stage, a hairline crack appeared in his cauldron beneath the heat of his Heavenly Flame.

• Elder Hao allowed Xiao Fan to examine the pill formula, barred other students from interfering, and officially started the contest.
• Han Xian displayed his Phantom Gold Flame and began refining before Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan finished regulating their conditions.
• Xiao Fan began refining with his Heavenly Flame and quickly caught up to Han Xian, whose distraction caused his first batch of medicinal liquid to burn away.
• Xiao Yan ruined his first attempt by overheating an ingredient, then carefully began a second attempt while Xun'er and Pan Gate's members watched.
• Han Xian ruined his medicinal liquids during fusion a second time, while Xiao Fan added the final ingredient and a fine crack formed in his cauldron.

Xiao Fan refined the Dragon Strength Pill on his first attempt, impressing the spectators and Elder Hao. He blocked the pill’s energy ripple long enough to collect the finished pill, though his Medicine Cauldron shattered.

• Xiao Fan’s progress astonished the spectators, while Hu Jia, Xun'er, Yue Yao, Lin Yan, and Han Yue reacted to his skill and its implications for Pan Gate.
• Xiao Fan fused the medicinal essences into liquid and carefully controlled the Green Lotus Core Flame as he began condensing the pill.
• The Dragon Strength Pill took shape and released its fragrance, prompting Elder Hao and the spectators to recognize Xiao Fan’s talent.
• Xiao Fan blocked the fifth-grade pill’s energy ripple, but cracks spread across his Medicine Cauldron.
• Xiao Fan pulled the finished pill into a jade bottle just before the Medicine Cauldron collapsed into fragments.

Xiao Fan gave Elder Hao the fifth-grade pill he had refined and gained permission to take an ingredient from the academy storehouse. As Han Xian made his final attempt and Xiao Yan neared the end of his refinement, Xiao Yan’s cauldron cracked, leaving the onlookers wondering whether cauldrons had to be sacrificed to make fifth-grade pills.

• Xiao Fan offered his first fifth-grade pill to Elder Hao, who accepted it and promised him one ingredient from the storehouse.
• Xiao Fan returned to the Pan Gate group, where Yue Yao congratulated him and Hu Jia learned he was a fifth-grade alchemist.
• Han Xian, shaken by Xiao Fan’s success, began his third and final attempt to refine the Dragon Strength Pill.
• Xiao Yan reached the final stage of his refinement, and Xiao Fan told Hu Jia he believed Xiao Yan would beat Han Xian.
• Xiao Yan’s medicine cauldron cracked, prompting students to wonder if making a fifth-grade pill required sacrificing a cauldron.

Xiao Yan completed his pill despite his medicine cauldron exploding, and the elders verified that he had won the contest against Han Xian. The Medicine Gang agreed to surrender five territories, while Xiao Fan negotiated a reduced academy fee for Pan Gate’s alchemists.

• Xiao Yan protected the nearly finished pill when his medicine cauldron exploded, then retrieved it from the flames as the spectators watched.
• Elder Hao and two other elders inspected Xiao Yan’s pill and confirmed it was genuine.
• Han Xian’s refinement failed for the third time, so he conceded and promised to hand over the Medicine Gang’s five territories within three days.
• Elder Hao declined Xiao Yan’s offer of the pill and told him that alchemists had to give the academy twenty percent of their pill-selling income.
• Xiao Fan negotiated with Elder Hao, who agreed to lower the share to ten percent for the two fifth-grade alchemists as long as the Medicine Gang did not find out.

Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan recruited five alchemists to take over Pan Gate’s pill production, then left the Inner Academy to train. As they departed, Yue Yao asked Xun'er to keep her feelings from Xiao Yan and said he could pretend he had never met her once two years had passed.

• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan asked Hu Jia to help find alchemists as Pan Gate’s pill sales overwhelmed them.
• Hu Jia handed the Medicine Gang’s former trading spots over to Pan Gate, and the new locations brought in members and fire energy.
• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan selected five trustworthy alchemists and gave them the formulas for Pan Gate’s three pills.
• After confirming the alchemists could manage production, Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan told Xun'er and Yue Yao they were leaving to train in the mountains.
• Xun'er asked Yue Yao whether she would keep enduring the situation, and Yue Yao said not to tell Xiao Yan about her feelings and that he could pretend he had never met her after two years.

Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan found a swamp suited to training in Three Thousand Lightning Movement, an Earth Tier movement technique Yao Lao explained was difficult to master. After testing how their current movement techniques performed in the sludge, they received the scroll and learned they had to refine its wind lightning power to master it.

• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan searched the mountains for a secluded training ground while Yao Lao explained the power and difficulty of Three Thousand Lightning Movement.
• The two found a swamp between two mountains, and Yao Lao approved it as a suitable place to train.
• Xiao Fan crossed only a short distance through the sludge before attacking the Magical Beasts that shot water arrows at him.
• Xiao Yan tried to move through the swamp with Explosive Step, got trapped in the sludge, and had to use his Flying Dou Technique to escape.
• Yao Lao showed them the silver Three Thousand Lightning Movement scroll and explained that mastering it required refining the wind lightning power within.

Yao Lao gathered the power of wind and lightning from the storm and divided it between Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan so they could cultivate Three Thousand Lightning Movement. Both refined it with their Heavenly Flames, and Xiao Yan briefly stood in midair before his lightning power failed and he fell.

• Yao Lao explained the dangers of refining the power of wind and lightning and waited for a storm to form over the mountain.
• Yao Lao drew wind and lightning from the sky into the Three Thousand Lightning Movement scroll and split the power into two portions.
• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan absorbed and refined their portions of wind and lightning power with their Heavenly Flames.
• Yao Lao explained that the human figures contained in the power showed the movements needed to master Three Thousand Lightning Movement.
• Xiao Yan tried circulating the power, rose into the air, then lost his footing when the lightning beneath him vanished and plummeted down the mountain.

Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan trained in Three Thousand Lightning Movement under Yao Lao’s guidance, learning to restrain its power and refine their speed. After more than a month, Xiao Yan reached the first stage, Lightning Flash, while Xiao Fan had already moved on to studying Shadow Prison.

• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan tested their newly learned movement technique, leaving furrows in the marsh as they raced through the air.
• Yao Lao warned them that their noisy, uncontrolled movement fell short of Lightning Flash and instructed them to channel the wind lightning power into speed.
• Xiao Fan practiced across the marsh while Xiao Yan recovered, and the thunder and furrows gradually diminished as their control improved.
• Xiao Yan crossed the threshold into Lightning Flash after more than a month of training, leaving an afterimage as he moved over twenty meters.
• Yao Lao told Xiao Yan that Xiao Fan had reached Lightning Flash half a month earlier and was now studying Shadow Prison; Xiao Yan went to find his senior brother.

Xiao Fan learned from Yao Lao that his current strength limited how fully he could wield Shadow Prison, despite his deep understanding of it. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan gained an insight into an unending attack rhythm from watching the wind move through the forest, and Yao Lao protected his moment of inspiration.

• Xiao Fan studied Shadow Prison by restraining a fourth-order magical wolf and wondered why his control still felt inadequate.
• Yao Lao explained that Xiao Fan’s strength prevented him from using the middle Earth Tier Dou Technique at a more advanced level.
• Xiao Fan released the wolf and gave it a pill before leaving with Yao Lao.
• Xiao Yan reflected on two months of cultivation and watched a fierce wind send waves through the forest canopy.
• Xiao Yan sensed an artistic conception in the flowing waves and began swinging his Xuan Heavy Ruler to follow their rhythm.
• Xiao Fan and Yao Lao recognized Xiao Yan’s insight, and Yao Lao sealed off the area with spiritual power to keep him undisturbed.

Xiao Yan mastered a new understanding of the Xuan Heavy Ruler while training, and Yao Lao suggested he might eventually create his own Dou Technique. Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan followed the roar of a Dou Wang-level Magical Beast and discovered Han Yue and five other Inner Academy students fighting a Snow Demon Ape over a treasure.

• Xiao Yan stood motionless for over two hours before grasping the essence of the ruler and unleashing a sweeping attack that shattered trees.
• Yao Lao praised Xiao Yan’s talent and said that continued practice might let him create his own Ruler Dou Technique, while Xiao Fan encouraged him.
• After hearing a powerful beast’s roar, Xiao Fan asked Xiao Yan to investigate, and Xiao Yan replenished his energy before they flew toward it.
• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan concealed their auras and found a wounded Snow Demon Ape fighting a group in a mountain valley.
• Xiao Yan recognized Han Yue among the six Inner Academy students, and he and Xiao Fan chose to watch the fight while waiting for an opportunity.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Fan discovered that Han Yue, Lin Xiuya, Yan Hao, and others were confronting a Snow Demon Ape guarding earth core body tempering milk. Xiao Yan coveted the rare treasure, but Xiao Fan warned that the ape’s berserk bloodline could make it far stronger if awakened.

• Han Yue, Yan Hao, Lin Xiuya, and the others gathered to take on the Snow Demon Ape, with Lin Xiuya assigning Han Yue to watch their surroundings.
• Xiao Yan recognized Lin Xiuya and Yan Hao as top Strong Ranking experts and was surprised by their strength.
• The Snow Demon Ape warned the group to retreat and revealed that it was guarding earth core body tempering milk.
• Xiao Yan recalled the treasure’s cultivation and body-tempering benefits and considered taking advantage of the fight to obtain it.
• Xiao Fan told Xiao Yan that the Snow Demon Ape’s berserk bloodline could multiply its strength once awakened.

Lin Xiuya and Yan Hao led the others in a fierce battle against the Snow Demon Ape, while Lin Xiuya prepared a powerful sword attack. After dodging the beast’s deadly strike with Dou Qi Wings, Lin Xiuya revealed that he had apparently advanced to Dou Wang.

• Lin Xiuya and Yan Hao attacked the Snow Demon Ape as the others surrounded it and launched Dou Techniques.
• Lin Xiuya’s sword and Yan Hao’s hammer wounded the beast, but the fight settled into a stalemate.
• Lin Xiuya gathered dou qi to form a gigantic sword while Yan Hao and the others kept the Snow Demon Ape occupied.
• The Snow Demon Ape blasted the group with snow-white energy, then charged at Lin Xiuya as he prepared his attack.
• Lin Xiuya formed Dou Qi Wings to evade the beast and struck it with the gigantic sword, sending it crashing into the valley.
• Yan Hao recognized Lin Xiuya’s wings as a sign of the Dou Wang realm, and the others wondered if he had advanced during the battle.

Lin Xiuya’s attack failed to finish the Snow Demon Ape, which suddenly targeted Han Yue. Xiao Fan rescued her and joined the group as they faced the still-raging beast.

• Lin Xiuya exhausted his Dou Qi after freezing the Snow Demon Ape, but warned Yan Hao and the others to stay alert.
• After lying motionless for several minutes, the Snow Demon Ape sprang toward Han Yue, struck Lin Xiuya aside, and pursued her.
• Just as the Snow Demon Ape attacked Han Yue, Xiao Fan appeared and carried her to safety.
• Han Yue introduced Xiao Fan to Yan Hao and the others, who recognized him as a powerful new student and Fifth-Rank Alchemist.
• The group found the injured Lin Xiuya, who congratulated Xiao Fan on his class defeating the White Fiend Team.

Xiao Fan declined to join Lin Xiuya's group in attempting to take the treasure guarded by the Snow Demon Ape. He and Xiao Yan planned to exploit the beast's weakened state that night, though Yao Lao warned them it would remain a Dou Wang-level threat.

• Xiao Fan identified the Snow Demon Ape and warned Lin Xiuya's group that its strength rivaled a five-star Dou Wang, so they abandoned their attempt to seize the treasure and returned to the Inner Academy.
• Xiao Fan promised Lin Xiuya he would keep the location secret, then stayed behind while the group departed.
• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan met Yao Lao in a distant cave and discussed obtaining the earth core body tempering milk while Medusa remained asleep.
• Yao Lao explained that the Snow Demon Ape would weaken after using its violent bloodline, but it would still be a Dou Wang-level opponent.
• Xiao Fan proposed distracting the weakened Snow Demon Ape while Xiao Yan entered its valley lair to take the treasure, and Xiao Yan objected that the plan was reckless.

Xiao Fan drew the Snow Demon Ape away from Xiao Yan and used the Nine Solar Transformations to fight it. He reached peak Dou Ling and wounded the ape, but could only hold it off for a limited time while hoping Xiao Yan's part of their plan went smoothly.

• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan agreed that Xiao Fan would hold off the weakened Snow Demon Ape while Xiao Yan carried out the rest of their plan.
• At night, Xiao Fan lured the Snow Demon Ape out of the valley, while Xiao Yan slipped away in another direction.
• The Snow Demon Ape struck Xiao Fan from the air, but he recovered and used two Radiant Sun Transformations to raise his strength to peak Dou Ling.
• Xiao Fan attacked with his Thousand-Flame Spear and black chaos flames, cutting the Snow Demon Ape's arm and forcing it to take him seriously.
• Xiao Fan traded blows with the Snow Demon Ape and estimated that he could sustain his enhanced strength for only about fifteen more minutes.

While Xiao Fan held off the Snow Demon Ape, Xiao Yan searched its lair and found the earth core body tempering milk. Guided by Yao Lao, he collected the concentrated liquid hidden inside a stalactite, then took only half of the diluted pool below before leaving the rest behind.

• Xiao Yan entered the Mountain Valley and hurried deeper into the Snow Demon Ape's territory while Yao Lao warned that Xiao Fan could not hold the ape off for long.
• Xiao Yan found the Snow Demon Ape's lair and uncovered a concealed passage beneath the ground where it slept.
• Xiao Yan followed Yao Lao through an underground chamber to a stalactite and discovered a pool of diluted earth core body tempering milk beneath it.
• Yao Lao showed Xiao Yan how to open the stalactite and carefully collect the concentrated earth core body tempering milk without touching or damaging it.
• Xiao Yan left a small amount of the concentrated milk inside the stalactite and took only half of the diluted pool below.

Xiao Fan fought to keep the wounded Snow Demon Ape from returning to the mountain valley, but the beast restored its strength and pushed him into a brutal clash. Xiao Yan emerged from the valley and rushed to help his Senior Brother as Yao Lao watched the battle.

• Xiao Fan dodged the Snow Demon Ape's attacks and recalled how he had accidentally struck its vulnerable lower body while trying to stall it.
• The Snow Demon Ape healed itself with white energy, regained its peak strength, and charged Xiao Fan with renewed fury.
• Xiao Fan met the Snow Demon Ape head-on with his Thousand-Flame Spear, and their repeated collisions devastated the surrounding woods.
• Xiao Yan emerged from the mountain valley and saw the ruined battlefield as Yao Lao observed Xiao Fan's fight.
• Yao Lao urged Xiao Yan to help his Senior Brother, and Xiao Yan sped toward the battle while recognizing the gap between their strengths.

Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan escaped the Snow Demon Ape with the earth core body tempering milk, and Yao Lao used some of it to treat Xiao Fan's injuries. Xiao Fan then cultivated and broke through to the Seven-Star Dou Ling realm.

• Xiao Yan returned with the earth core body tempering milk, and Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan escaped the enraged Snow Demon Ape using Three Thousand Lightning Movement.
• After Xiao Fan's secret technique wore off, he rested in a cave while Yao Lao made medicinal liquid from the diluted earth core body tempering milk to heal him.
• Xiao Fan inspected his system panel and realized his Dou Qi had nearly reached the threshold for a breakthrough.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Lao watched as an energy vortex formed around Xiao Fan, who gathered Dou Qi and broke through to the Seven-Star Dou Ling realm.

After Xiao Fan reached Seven-Star Dou Ling, Yao Lao prepared separate body-tempering medicinal baths for him and Xiao Yan. Xiao Fan absorbed a mixture of Blood Spirit Fruit and Earth Core Body Tempering Milk overnight, strengthening his meridians as dawn broke.

• Xiao Fan awoke to find Yao Lao preparing a medicinal bath for Xiao Yan and learned that the mixture would temper Xiao Yan's body.
• Xiao Fan observed Yao Lao balance potent fire-attributed herbs with Earth Core Body Tempering Milk and gained a deeper understanding of medicinal properties.
• Yao Lao prepared a different bath for Xiao Fan, adding a Blood Spirit Fruit to help stabilize his recent breakthrough and strengthen his body.
• Xiao Yan entered his bath and endured its painful effects as he began absorbing the medicinal liquid.
• Xiao Fan thanked Yao Lao for supporting him and Xiao Yan, then entered his own bath.
• Xiao Fan absorbed the violent energy of the Blood Spirit Fruit and the restorative Earth Core Body Tempering Milk through the night, and opened his eyes at dawn.

Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan returned to the Inner Academy after their successful training and learned that Pan Gate had grown while they were away. Xiao Fan reunited with Zi Yan, who had been waiting for him to refine medicinal pellets, and the chapter ended with her sharing one with Yue Yao.

• Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Ling as Xiao Fan finished tempering his body, and the two decided to return to the Inner Academy.
• Yang Yong told Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan that Pan Gate had expanded, Xun'er had reached Dou Ling, and Zi Yan had arrived looking for Xiao Fan and knocked down several members.
• Xiao Fan learned that rumors claimed he had abandoned Zi Yan, then explained his relationship with her to Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Fan returned to the courtyard, where Zi Yan confronted him for being away and he led her to the Alchemy Room to refine medicinal pellets.
• Zi Yan left with two bottles of pellets and gave one to Yue Yao before skipping away happily.

Xiao Fan returned to Pan Gate and learned how much the faction had grown while he and Xiao Yan were away. Lin Yan explained the Strong Ranking Tournament and its rewards, then revealed that he had come because he needed something from Xiao Fan.

• Xiao Fan gave Yue Yao a dangerous pill and warned her not to take it.
• Xiao Fan talked Hu Jia into blaming Xiao Yan for neglecting Pan Gate, and Xiao Yan endured Hu Jia's scolding when he came downstairs.
• Hu Jia reported that Pan Gate had grown to five Dou Ling and more than forty Da Dou Shi, making it one of the Inner Academy's first-rate factions.
• Lin Yan returned and explained that the Strong Ranking Tournament was for the Inner Academy's top hundred students, with the top ten earning a chance to temper themselves in the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower.
• Xiao Yan resolved to claim a top-ten place after learning about the Heart Fire tempering, and Lin Yan told Xiao Fan that he needed something from him.

Lin Yan asked Xiao Yan to refine a fifth-grade pill for the upcoming strong ranking tournament, and Xiao Yan secured Lin Yan’s green wood immortal vine in exchange for favorable terms. Xiao Fan then went with Yue Yao to the Arena, reflecting on Pan Gate’s influence and Yue Yao’s role in managing its logistics.

• Lin Yan asked Xiao Fan to refine a fifth-grade pill, hoping to improve his standing in the strong ranking tournament.
• Xiao Fan directed Lin Yan to negotiate with Xiao Yan, who promised to return unused ingredients and provide the pill even if all three attempts failed.
• Lin Yan agreed to Xiao Yan’s terms and gave him the green wood immortal vine.
• Xiao Yan entered the pill-refining room to make Lin Yan’s pill while Xiao Fan decided to visit the Arena and look for Wu Hao.
• Xiao Fan and Yue Yao walked toward the Arena, where Xiao Fan noticed other students’ wariness of Pan Gate and learned more about Yue Yao’s logistics work.

Xiao Fan and Yue Yao visited the Inner Academy’s Arena, where he observed its will-testing entrance, learned about betting on matches, and watched a battle. The chapter left him expecting the lightning-attribute cultivator to defeat his stronger but overconfident opponent.

• Xiao Fan and Yue Yao entered the Arena, passing through its imposing gate without difficulty as two hidden elders praised Xiao Fan and wondered how he had shielded Yue Yao from its pressure.
• Xiao Fan and Yue Yao watched battles from the stands, and Yue Yao explained that students bet on the matches and that Hu Jia had reprimanded a Pan Gate student who lost all his fire energy gambling.
• Xiao Fan questioned why the academy tolerated betting, and Yue Yao argued that resisting such distractions tested students’ willpower.
• Xiao Fan asked Yue Yao why she resisted cultivation, but she dodged the question and he agreed to stop pressing her.
• Xiao Fan watched a Seven-Star Great Dou Master lightning-attribute cultivator defend against an Eight-Star Great Dou Master fire-attribute cultivator and predicted that the lightning fighter would win after conserving his strength.

Xiao Fan watched a thunder-attribute cultivator defeat his fire-attribute opponent, then met He Feng, who explained the Arena’s customs and its connection to the Inner Academy’s Strong Ranking. Xiao Fan accepted He Feng’s match-list token and gave him a pill before he and Yue Yao left the Arena without seeing Wu Hao.

• The thunder-attribute cultivator waited for his opponent’s Dou Qi to run low, then counterattacked and forced the fire-attribute cultivator to concede.
• Xiao Fan asked Yue Yao about Wu Hao, and she said he fought almost every day but might still be preparing.
• He Feng approached Xiao Fan, introduced himself, and offered to show Xiao Fan and Yue Yao around the Arena.
• He Feng explained that the darker central platform was reserved for Strong Ranking challenges, where winners also received a share of the wagers.
• He Feng gave Xiao Fan a token listing the day’s scheduled fights, and Xiao Fan found that Wu Hao was not competing that day.
• Xiao Fan gave He Feng a pill in return, then watched matches with Yue Yao before they left the Arena.

Xiao Yan successfully refined Lin Yan’s pill, then planned to challenge Bai Cheng to reclaim his pride and earn a place on the Strong Ranking. As their match drew a packed Arena, Han Xian secretly gave Bai Cheng a Beast Strength Pill, and the chapter ended before the fight began.

• Xiao Yan gave Lin Yan the pill after failing twice, and Lin Yan teased him about his soot-covered mishap.
• Xiao Yan told Pan Gate he would challenge Bai Cheng to secure a Strong Ranking place and prepare for the Strong Ranking Tournament.
• News of the challenge spread through the Inner Academy, and Bai Cheng accepted while privately seething over Pan Gate’s rise.
• Han Xian visited Bai Cheng and left him a Beast Strength Pill with side effects, which Bai Cheng placed in his Storage Ring.
• Students packed the Arena on the day of the match, eager to see Xiao Yan face Bai Cheng.