Chapter Summaries

Chen Cang found a suspicious stretch of desert and hired the Sand Mercenary Group to dig for the green lotus core flame. The mercenaries broke through into a magma cavern, where a huge snake erupted from the molten rock and attacked them.

• Chen Cang found an area east of Stone Desert City where Sandfish Lizards would not go and confirmed that unusually dense fire energy lay beneath it.
• Queen Medusa examined the disturbed sand after Chen Cang left, sensing that something unusual was underground.
• Chen Cang returned with the Sand Mercenary Group and hired its members to dig through the desert.
• As the mercenaries dug deeper, Sha Luo joined them underground, and one tunnel finally broke into a cavern filled with magma.
• A giant snake burst from the magma and lunged at the mercenaries in the tunnel.

Chen Cang drove off the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake after copying its memories and learned the location of the green lotus core flame. He returned to Stone Desert City and found a letter confirming that everything was ready.

• Sha Luo withdrew the Sand Mercenary Group after Chen Cang warned him about a powerful creature in the magma and paid the workers.
• Chen Cang sent the Void Pegasus Beast away and lured the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake out of the magma to read its memories.
• Chen Cang used his speed and defense to evade the snake’s attacks while copying all of its memories.
• Chen Cang struck the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, breaking a fang and forcing it to retreat into the magma.
• Chen Cang learned where the green lotus core flame was, camouflaged the tunnel entrance, and returned to Stone Desert City.
• Chen Cang found an unsigned letter in his inn room and concluded that everything was ready.

Chen Cang learned from the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake that Queen Medusa had discovered the Green Lotus Core Flame and left to prepare for her evolution. He then arranged a major venture in Stone Desert City, prompting Medusa to enter seclusion after hearing about his promised rewards.

• Chen Cang warned a girl heading to the desert's edge that Snake-People had been appearing nearby.
• Chen Cang found Queen Medusa's new passage near the Green Lotus Core Flame and learned from the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake's memories that she had inspected the flame before leaving.
• Chen Cang concluded Medusa was preparing to pursue the Green Lotus Core Flame and decided to make her act sooner.
• Hua She'er reported that a mysterious expert had killed Snake-People causing trouble and that Chen Cang was recruiting human experts with valuable pill rewards.
• Queen Medusa stopped studying the ancient texts and told Hua She'er she would enter seclusion for a few days.

Hai Bodong learned that Chen Cang had survived and suspected Queen Medusa was involved, so he sent trusted people to investigate the commission. Meanwhile, Medusa returned to Stone Desert City to claim the Heavenly Flame, as Chen Cang met the first person willing to accept his commission and anticipated Medusa’s next attempt.

• Hai Bodong returned to Desert City, heard rumors that Chen Cang was alive, and decided to send trusted people to investigate the commission.
• Queen Medusa went back to Stone Desert City in disguise and prepared to take the Heavenly Flame before anyone else could claim it.
• News about Chen Cang’s background spread across the Jia Ma Empire, revealing his exceptional strength and causing factions to take interest in him.
• Lei Zang met Chen Cang at the inn and said he had accepted the commission partly to form a friendship with him.
• Chen Cang recognized that Lei Zang had another motive and, recalling Medusa’s repeated attempts to take the green lotus core flame, expected her to try again that night.

Chen Cang traveled to the Underground Cave as Queen Medusa collected the green lotus core flame, then confronted her and read part of her memories. He learned that she had not yet reached Peak Dou Emperor, complicating his plan to force her into an early evolution, and turned his attention to the cave’s remaining treasures.

• Chen Cang told Lei Zang that they were going to see a Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, while intending to pressure Queen Medusa into collecting the green lotus core flame.
• As tremors and surging energy grew stronger, Chen Cang rode the Void Pegasus Beast to the Underground Cave and waited for Medusa.
• Queen Medusa emerged in her Purple Nether Flame Snake form, badly injured and carrying the green lotus core flame, then ignored Chen Cang’s demand to leave it behind and charged past him.
• Chen Cang read part of Queen Medusa’s memories and learned that she was a Nine-Star Dou Emperor still progressing toward Peak Dou Emperor, rather than being desperate to evolve immediately.
• Chen Cang reconsidered his plan to make Medusa evolve early and headed underground with the Void Pegasus Beast to claim the cave’s remaining treasures.

Chen Cang ventured into the magma with the Void Pegasus Beast and retrieved eleven earth fire lotus seeds and the Lotus Platform from the green lotus. He used the Lotus Platform to cultivate and swallowed a seed, then Shopkeeper Liao spotted the Lord of Stone Desert City and a group approaching the inn to see him.

• Chen Cang and the Void Pegasus Beast traveled through the magma, followed at a distance by the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake.
• Chen Cang found the green lotus, collected its eleven earth fire lotus seeds, and cut off its Lotus Platform.
• Chen Cang returned to the inn and discovered that cultivating on the Lotus Platform made his Dou Qi circulate more than three times as fast.
• Chen Cang swallowed an earth fire lotus seed and began absorbing its energy to advance his cultivation.
• Shopkeeper Liao saw the Lord of Stone Desert City, a lavishly dressed middle-aged man, and their guards arrive at the inn to see Chen Cang.

Gu He and Old General Huang met Chen Cang in Stone Desert City and tried to recruit him for the Misty Cloud Sect and the Imperial Family. Chen Cang declined to choose a faction for now, and the chapter ended with Gu He testing his alchemist aptitude.

• Lei Zang introduced himself to Chen Cang as an elder of the Mittel Family, while Gu He revealed that the Misty Cloud Sect had sent him to meet Chen Cang.
• Gu He introduced Old General Huang, and the city lord described the danger and civilian casualties caused by the Snake-People.
• Gu He and Old General Huang discovered that Chen Cang had reached two-star Dou Ling and invited him to join their respective factions.
• Chen Cang said he would not decide hastily and might visit the Imperial Capital before choosing a place that suited him.
• Gu He offered to test Chen Cang's alchemist aptitude, and Chen Cang froze when he saw the crystal ball's color.

Chen Cang reflected on how he had gained a wood attribute and accepted Gu He's offer to guide him while postponing the question of discipleship until Chen Cang reached the Imperial Capital. After visiting Gu He, Chen Cang examined the Lotus Platform again but could not resolve the mystery of his connection to it or his ability to read memories.

• Chen Cang told Gu He that Master Mo had taught him alchemy, though he had neglected the subject and his teacher had only reached the peak of the third rank.
• Gu He offered to take Chen Cang as his disciple, but Old General Huang persuaded him to wait until Chen Cang reached the Imperial Capital and could choose fairly among the factions.
• Gu He agreed to stay in Stone Desert City for two days and answer Chen Cang's questions about alchemy and Dou Qi cultivation.
• Chen Cang returned to the inn, examined the Lotus Platform, and wondered whether the earth fire lotus seeds had given him a wood attribute.
• Chen Cang considered testing the seeds on Xun'er but decided against it because the golden emperor burning heaven flame already made her condition dangerous.
• Chen Cang suspected that his ability to read the memories of things with a spirit was another secret within him, and decided to wait until he was stronger to understand it.

Chen Cang returned to Wutan City after leaving Tagor and prepared to practice alchemy and ready himself for a long journey. His return reunited him with Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian, while his gifts to Xiao Xun'er hinted at his interest in beast flames.

• After Gu He departed, Chen Cang left Tagor and headed for the Magical Beast Mountain Range to pursue a safer Heavenly Flame option.
• In Wutan City, Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian became close friends while waiting for Chen Cang to return.
• Chen Cang quietly arrived at the Xiao Clan and visited Xiao Xun'er, giving her an Earth Fire Lotus Seed and a bracelet made from a Frost Land Turtle's magic core.
• Chen Cang returned to his residence and found Xiao Yi Xian staring at the Void Pegasus Beast; he greeted her and took something from his Storage Ring.

Chen Cang gave Xiao Yi Xian the Poison Scripture, then spent five months advancing his alchemy to the Fourth Rank while neglecting his cultivation. After hearing that Ya Fei had arrived in Wutan City and Jia Nan Academy’s recruitment would take place in Blackflame City, he decided to take Xiao Yi Xian to see it.

• Chen Cang gave Xiao Yi Xian the Poison Scripture and reassured her that he valued her and wanted her to grow at her own pace.
• Chen Cang refined a Qi-Replenishing Powder pill with a Frost Land Turtle Beast Flame, becoming a First-Rank Alchemist.
• Over the next five months, Chen Cang focused on pill refinement, reaching the peak of Three-Star Dou Ling and learning to refine Fourth-Rank Pills with ease.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Chen Cang that Ya Fei had arrived in Wutan City two months earlier and had brought him a better pill cauldron from Mittel Auction House headquarters.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Chen Cang that Jia Nan Academy’s annual recruitment would take place in Blackflame City, and Chen Cang decided to go with her.

Chen Cang used a connection to bypass the long Jia Nan Academy registration lines, then impressed the recruitment team by shattering two strength-testing crystal balls. Instructor Yan Xin welcomed him and let him return to Wutan City while the recruitment team finished its work.

• Chen Cang told Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian that he planned to join Jia Nan Academy, and Xiao Xun'er realized it was his true destination.
• Chen Cang claimed to be Wang Xiaomei, the cousin of Wang Si, and persuaded Shen Longxing to take him into the registration square.
• Chen Cang passed the age test, but shattered two strength-testing crystal balls when he tried to demonstrate his Dou Qi.
• Yan Xin recognized Chen Cang as the genius from Wutan City and welcomed him to Jia Nan Academy.
• Yan Xin gave Chen Cang permission to return to Wutan City ahead of the recruitment team, while Shen Longxing set off to find the real Wang Xiaomei.

Chen Cang left the Xiao Clan for Jia Nan Academy, where he discovered a valuable spear technique in a fellow student's memories during the journey. The Griffin Beast convoy stopped before he could finish drawing inspiration from it.

• Chen Cang asked Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yi Xian to buy Azure Nether Fruit if the Mittel Auction House found any, then left for Jia Nan Academy with the Void Pegasus Beast.
• Chen Cang impressed Instructor Yan Xin by leaping onto her Griffin Beast and revealed that he had reached Dou Ling.
• Yan Xin led the ten Griffin Beasts toward Jia Nan Academy, and Chen Cang spent the journey examining his fellow travelers' memories.
• On the thirteenth day, Chen Cang discovered the Low Earth Tier spear technique Azure Dragon Turbid Star Art in an unremarkable new student's memories.
• Chen Cang drew inspiration from the technique for Heavenly Flame Dragon Soaring and became absorbed in his thoughts until he noticed the Griffin Beasts had stopped.

Chen Cang and the recruitment party crossed the Black Domain Great Plains after witnessing a Black Storm and the brutal conflicts that followed, then traveled through the Black-Corner Region toward Jia Nan Academy. Yan Xin warned Chen Cang about powerful local factions and Medicine Emperor Han Feng before the group reached the academy at dusk.

• Yan Xin explained that a Black Storm was brewing over the Black Domain Great Plains, and the recruitment party watched it ravage the plains from a safe distance.
• After the storm subsided, Yan Xin led the group onward, and the students saw Black Bandits attack caravans and other travelers retaliate with equal brutality.
• Yan Xin told the shaken new students that survival in the Black-Corner Region demanded they adapt to its ruthless ways, while Chen Cang watched the violence without reacting.
• The party crossed the plains and reached Black Seal City, where Yan Xin warned Chen Cang about the Eight Gates leader Yuan Yi and Medicine Emperor Han Feng.
• Chen Cang told Yan Xin he was an Alchemist, and the Griffin Beasts carried the party north until they arrived at Jia Nan Academy at dusk.

Chen Cang joined Jia Nan Academy and chose to enter its Law Enforcement Team while waiting for the Inner Academy selection. He left with a uniform and learned how missions, Contribution Points, and team membership worked.

• Yan Xin assigned Chen Cang to her Black Tier Class Seven and promised to help him enter the Inner Academy selection.
• After the opening ceremony, Chen Cang went to the Law Enforcement Team hall and asked to join.
• Wu Tianlang welcomed Chen Cang without an assessment and introduced him to his adopted son, Wu Hao.
• Wu Tianlang used Chen Cang's Dou Ling strength to teach Wu Hao that greater talents existed beyond him.
• Chen Cang accepted the team uniform, toured the premises, and learned that members earned Contribution Points through missions and risked expulsion if they fell short of monthly dues.

Chen Cang pursued a Jia Nan Academy mission to kill Qiu Hanyi, discovering that his target was Kui Muti of the Nightmare Demon Tribe and that the tribe possessed a mysterious Sacred Cauldron. After provoking Kui Muti outside the inn, Chen Cang struck him down and planned to seek out the cauldron.

• Chen Cang learned that the academy had assigned him three progressively harder missions and set out to find his final target, Qiu Hanyi.
• Chen Cang arrived in Starlight City and spent the day reading the memories of its residents while waiting for Qiu Hanyi.
• Chen Cang read the memories of Qiu Hanyi, whose true name was Kui Muti, and discovered he came from the Nightmare Demon Tribe.
• Chen Cang learned that the tribe's Sacred Cauldron passed down cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, and decided to seek it out.
• Chen Cang dropped a window prop to provoke Kui Muti, then slapped him away when he charged up at the inn.

Chen Cang killed Kui Muti, a Nightmare Demon Tribe student, and spent three months training and completing Law Enforcement Team missions. After earning 100,000 Contribution Points, he exchanged them for a Gilded Halberd, cold marrow branches, and magic cores.

• Chen Cang endured Kui Muti's illusion mist, reflected his dagger attack with Swallow Return Strike, and killed him.
• Chen Cang stored Kui Muti's corpse as mission proof and left Starlight City with the Void Pegasus Beast.
• Over the next three months, Chen Cang trained, refined pills, and completed eleven missions assigned by Wu Tianlang, killing targets no stronger than Six-Star Dou Lings.
• Wu Tianlang awarded Chen Cang 100,000 Contribution Points and gave him the Law Enforcement Team exchange catalog.
• Chen Cang chose a Gilded Halberd, cold marrow branches, and magic cores above the third rank, asking Wu Tianlang to distribute the cores' attributes evenly.

Chen Cang joined the final ranking matches of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament after being exempted from the elimination rounds. When the contest began, he claimed the number-one ranking and invited the other students to challenge him.

• Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan and the elders exempted Chen Cang from the first two days of elimination, allowing him to enter the top-fifty ranking matches directly.
• Instructor Yan Xin brought Chen Cang to the packed square and told him that seven of the other finalists were Da Dou Shi, including Wang Si, who had advanced to a One-Star Great Dou Master.
• Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan announced that the fifty finalists had earned admission to the Inner Academy and urged them to compete for higher rankings and better cultivation benefits.
• A referee explained that contestants would choose numbered ranking plaques and could challenge others to take their places.
• The other students made way for Chen Cang to choose first, and he took number one, telling them he would await their challenges.

Chen Cang dominated the final ranking competition, offering guidance to the top students before Hu Gan declared the selection tournament over. Three days later, Chen Cang and the other four top-ranked students followed Hu Gan to the Library Pavilion, where they arrived at its secluded valley entrance.

• After the other forty-nine students settled their rankings, Han Xu, Jiang Yongsong, An Bo, and Wang Si challenged Chen Cang, who defeated them and gave each pointers.
• More than forty other students sought Chen Cang's guidance, and Hu Gan announced the conclusion of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.
• Three days later, Han Xu escorted Chen Cang to Hu Gan's study, where the other three top-five students were waiting.
• Hu Gan revealed a hidden passage behind a bookcase and led the five students through it toward the Library Pavilion.
• The group crossed a suspension bridge and reached a valley where the Library Pavilion stood.

Chen Cang and the other top five students entered the Library Pavilion to claim one reward each, and Chen Cang obtained the azure nether fruit he needed. He left early so he could continue reading Elders Qian and Bai’s memories while the others searched for Wang Si’s preferred cultivation method.

• Hu Gan brought Chen Cang and the other four top students to the Library Pavilion, where Elders Qian and Bai opened the Space Lock and explained the reward rules.
• Inside the Pavilion, the five agreed to watch for items that matched one another’s needs, and Wang Si rejected an earth-attribute cultivation method because he wanted a metal-attribute one.
• Han Xu found an azure nether fruit for Chen Cang, who broke its energy layer and claimed it as his reward.
• After the other three students found items they wanted, Chen Cang asked them to keep helping Wang Si and wait until the hour ended while he left the Pavilion.
• Hu Gan scanned Chen Cang to confirm he had taken only one item, then told him to wait nearby until the others came out.

As Chen Cang prepared for the Inner Academy, he experimented with a medicinal bath and broke through to Five-Star Dou Ling before sinking into a sudden enlightenment. Eleven days after the selection tournament, the students gathered to leave, but Chen Cang overslept and arrived after Hu Gan sent someone to fetch him.

• Hu Gan warned Han Xu and the others that the Inner Academy held someone even more terrifying than Chen Cang, prompting them to take its dangers seriously.
• Chen Cang wrote letters to the Tianxing Empire and the Xiao Clan, considered forming a faction, and thought about asking his childhood friend to help him.
• Chen Cang used his modified Bone Tempering Powder in a medicinal bath and broke through to Five-Star Dou Ling, then became immersed in ideas about uniting the body, soul, and Dou Qi.
• After eleven days, Hu Gan announced that the top fifty contestants would head to the Inner Academy and gathered them in the square the next morning.
• When Chen Cang failed to appear, Hu Gan sent someone to check on him; Chen Cang woke from his prolonged meditation, tidied up, and joined Wang Si and the Void Pegasus Beast.