Chapter Summaries

Chen Cang refined an eighth-tier Bone-Regenerating Blood-Melting Pill and used its pill lightning to strengthen his Demon Puppet, which began evolving toward a Heavenly Demon Puppet. After learning that powerful people were approaching from the Imperial Capital, he left with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, planning to visit the Heavenly Snake Empire.

• Chen Cang refined the Bone-Regenerating Blood-Melting Pill, drawing four-colored pill lightning that he expected would be its limit.
• Chen Cang sent his Earth Demon Puppet to endure the lightning, and it absorbed the bolts until its arms turned gold and it began evolving into a Heavenly Demon Puppet.
• Chen Cang secured the pill, while Gu He watched in awe and Qing Lin expressed her confidence in him.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Chen Cang that powerful people were coming from the Imperial Capital and that her mother had settled peacefully in a village.
• Chen Cang left Gu He to handle matters and departed with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin on the Void Pegasus Beast, planning to travel to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Tagor, and the Heavenly Snake Empire.
• Chen Cang decided to visit the Heavenly Snake Mansion to learn about the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, without entrusting Qing Lin to them for training.

Chen Cang returned to the Snake-People Tribe with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin and reunited with Queen Medusa. He discovered that Zi Yan had grown unusually sleepy because she was nearing an advancement, which she expected to begin in about two months.

• Queen Medusa watched for Chen Cang’s arrival while explaining that she was preparing the Snake-People Tribe to leave the northwest and avoid provoking stronger forces.
• Chen Cang arrived at the Holy City with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, and Queen Medusa warmly welcomed them.
• Chen Cang asked about Zi Yan and learned that she had been sleeping excessively for more than a month.
• Chen Cang examined Zi Yan and confirmed that her sleepiness came from the immense energy in her body as she approached an advancement.
• Zi Yan woke, joked with Chen Cang, and told him her advancement would likely begin in about two months.

Chen Cang and his companions reached the Heavenly Snake Empire so Qing Lin could learn how to use her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. After the Heavenly Snake Mansion tried to secure Qing Lin for itself, Chen Cang attacked its summoned Mansion Master, leaving the confrontation poised to escalate.

• The Snake-People Tribe's Great Elder gave Chen Cang four pill recipes, and Chen Cang returned the favor by giving the tribe two Sect Breaking Pills.
• Chen Cang brought his companions to the Heavenly Snake Empire and explained that the Heavenly Snake Mansion could help Qing Lin develop her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
• Jin Lie, the Heavenly Snake Mansion's Second Elder, invited Chen Cang's group into the city, but Chen Cang declined and recognized Jin Lie's interest in Qing Lin.
• Jin Lie crushed a Jade Slip to summon the Heavenly Snake Mansion Master, who appeared and exclaimed that Qing Lin truly possessed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
• Chen Cang attacked the approaching Mansion Master with a streak of silver light.

Chen Cang used the Earth Demon Puppet to defeat Wan Qianshe’s assault and refused to leave Qing Lin with the Heavenly Snake Mansion. After his Soul Power convinced Wan Qianshe that he was an eighth-tier Alchemist, the Mansion Master apologized and offered compensation, leaving Chen Cang to consider the one item in the mansion he wanted.

• Chen Cang’s Earth Demon Puppet overwhelmed Wan Qianshe, breaking through his Heavenly Snake Astral Seal and knocking him onto the mountaintop.
• Wan Qianshe called off the fight, introduced himself, and asked Chen Cang to let Qing Lin stay at the Heavenly Snake Mansion as its Holy Maiden.
• Chen Cang refused, and the Snow Demon Heavenly Ape claimed he was an Eighth-Rank Alchemy Grandmaster.
• Chen Cang released his Soul Power, forcing most of the Heavenly Snake Mansion’s people to the ground and convincing Wan Qianshe of his strength.
• Wan Qianshe apologized and offered compensation, while Chen Cang focused on the one item in the Heavenly Snake Mansion that interested him.

Chen Cang and Queen Medusa cultivated in the Heavenly Snake Mansion’s blood pool, and Chen Cang broke through after five days. Medusa’s aura then began to surge as well, while Zi Yan hurried toward the passage to see what had happened.

• Wan Qianshe led Chen Cang and his companions into the forbidden grounds and revealed the Heavenly Snake Blood Pool.
• Chen Cang arranged for Xiao Yi Xian, Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and the two magical beasts to wait outside, then entered the pool with Queen Medusa.
• Chen Cang and Medusa cultivated in the blood pool for five days.
• Xiao Yi Xian sensed Chen Cang’s breakthrough, followed by a surge in Medusa’s aura.
• Zi Yan rushed toward the passage to check on Chen Cang and Medusa.

Chen Cang discovered three Soul Hall branch halls through his Soul Token and chose to report to the one in the Northern Heaven Desert. After his companions gained strength at the Heavenly Snake Blood Pool, he accepted Wan Qianshe’s parting gift and prepared to leave the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

• Chen Cang learned the locations of three Soul Hall branch halls and chose the Northern Heaven Desert branch as his destination.
• Chen Cang left the blood pool, while Xiao Yi Xian declined to enter it and the Snow Demon Heavenly Ape and Void Pegasus Beast underwent breakthroughs.
• The Void Pegasus Beast reached the sixth tier, gained the ability to speak, and flew swiftly through the sky as Zi Yan considered giving her a name.
• Chen Cang told Wan Qianshe that he and his companions had to leave before the agreed seven days were up.
• Wan Qianshe gave Chen Cang a Storage Ring containing cultivation methods and medicinal ingredients, and welcomed him and Qing Lin back to the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

Chen Cang and Queen Medusa watched over Zi Yan as she began advancing inside the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, revealing that her true form was an Ancient Void Dragon. Deep in the Magma World, an imprisoned Ancient Void Dragon sensed Zi Yan and recognized her as his child.

• Chen Cang and Queen Medusa took Zi Yan beneath the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower to advance in the Magma World.
• Zi Yan swallowed medicinal pills, fell asleep, and was enveloped in a huge purple cocoon that drew in natural energy.
• Chen Cang told Queen Medusa that Zi Yan was an Ancient Void Dragon, the foremost of the three great magical beast races.
• Chen Cang and Queen Medusa went into the magma to hunt Flame Lizardmen for fire cores while Zi Yan advanced.
• An immense purple-gold Ancient Void Dragon deep in the Magma World sensed Zi Yan and cried that she was his child, then roared in rage at being trapped.

After three months of cultivation, Chen Cang advanced to Four-Star Dou Zong and practiced Three Thousand Lightning Movement and the Three Thousand Lightning Illusory Body. Zi Yan completed her advancement but reverted to her child form, then sensed a mysterious presence calling to her from deep within the Magma World, leaving Chen Cang to consider what to tell her about the Old Dragon Emperor.

• Chen Cang reached Four-Star Dou Zong and practiced his lightning techniques by sparring with Queen Medusa in the Mountain Forest.
• Chen Cang and Queen Medusa went beneath the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower after sensing a change in the barrier around Zi Yan.
• Zi Yan emerged from her cocoon in a grown-up form, but touching Medusa caused her to revert to a little girl because of the transformation grass.
• Chen Cang promised to find transformation grass and refine a Transformation Pill so Zi Yan could grow up again.
• Zi Yan told Chen Cang and Medusa that something deep in the magma had called to her and seemed to guide her advancement, while Chen Cang considered whether to tell her about the Old Dragon Emperor.

Chen Cang brought his companions from Jia Nan Academy to the Central Plains, then traveled alone to a Soul Hall Branch Hall in the Northern Heaven Desert. There, he met a powerful elder who demanded that he bow.

• Chen Cang left Jia Nan Academy with Medusa, Zi Yan, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin, leaving a letter for Xun'er and asking Qin Yuan to watch for the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva.
• The group traveled through a Space Wormhole to Xian City, where Medusa took the others to an inn while Chen Cang headed north to handle an important matter.
• Chen Cang reached a vast Soul Hall Branch Hall and sensed numerous protectors inside, including several powerful auras.
• A skeletal old man opened his eyes and demanded that Chen Cang bow before him.

Chen Cang arrived at the Northern Heaven Branch Hall, where the Extreme Ice Old Ghost learned that Chen Cang was an eighth-tier Alchemist and promptly treated him with deference. Chen Cang agreed to wait for an official verification, and the Extreme Ice Old Ghost introduced him to the Branch Hall’s other two Venerable Elders.

• The Extreme Ice Old Ghost introduced himself as Yin Tianfeng and inspected Chen Cang’s information while Chen Cang secretly read fragments of his memories.
• The Extreme Ice Old Ghost discovered that Chen Cang was suspected of refining an eighth-tier pill and changed his attitude from dismissive to respectful.
• Chen Cang confirmed that he had advanced to the eighth tier and explained that the Soul Hall could verify his status.
• The Extreme Ice Old Ghost exempted Chen Cang from ordinary Protector missions and said a higher-ranking official would verify his Alchemist tier within a month.
• Chen Cang agreed to stay at the Branch Hall, and the Extreme Ice Old Ghost introduced him to the Poison Venerable and Old Man Tianqing.

Chen Cang continued studying souls in the Soul-Seizing Plaza while waiting for an alchemist-rank confirmation. When Old Man Mu Gu arrived to assess him, Mu Gu’s jealousy turned their first meeting hostile, and Chen Cang answered his insult with one of his own.

• Chen Cang read the memories of souls in the plaza and learned that the Soul Hall transferred their collected soul origin once every ten years.
• Old Man Tianqing told Chen Cang that the person he was waiting for had arrived and escorted him from the plaza to the great hall.
• Chen Cang met Old Man Mu Gu, an eighth-tier alchemist and Three-Star Dou Zun, whom Tianqing warned him to approach cautiously.
• Old Man Mu Gu belittled Chen Cang, resenting the young alchemist’s talent and the favor he had received from the Soul Hall’s higher-ups.
• Chen Cang insulted Old Man Mu Gu in response and refused to show weakness.

Chen Cang and Old Man Mu Gu clashed over Chen Cang’s status as an Eighth-Rank Alchemy Grandmaster, testing their Soul Power before the Soul Hall’s observers. Chen Cang gained the advantage, but two hidden figures intervened and ended the duel.

• Old Man Mu Gu threatened Chen Cang, while Old Man Tianqing, Poison Venerable, and Extreme Ice Old Ghost moved to protect him.
• Old Man Mu Gu challenged Chen Cang’s spirit realm Soul Power and attacked with a Soul Great Hand Seal; Chen Cang countered with the Nine Nether Annihilation Soul Seal and raised the Soul Suppression Cauldron.
• Chen Cang and Old Man Mu Gu poured their Soul Power into a prolonged contest, and Chen Cang’s spear gradually wore down the opposing hand seal.
• Two hidden observers judged Chen Cang’s potential greater than Mu Gu’s and decided to intervene before Mu Gu was crippled.
• The two figures appeared and split the space, forcing Chen Cang and Old Man Mu Gu to withdraw their Soul Techniques.

Chen Cang convinced the Soul Hall’s Heavenly Venerates that he had earned his eighth-rank alchemist status through ten-thousand-year soul-cleansing marrow and Bodhi Seed’s inheritance. The Hall rewarded him and offered protection, while Old Man Mu Gu left vowing to make things difficult for him.

• Mo Yu and Qiu Di confirmed that Chen Cang’s soul had reached the Spirit Realm and asked how he had advanced so quickly.
• Chen Cang claimed he had used ten-thousand-year soul-cleansing marrow and inherited Bodhi Seed’s alchemy knowledge.
• Qiu Di gave Chen Cang Soul Hall robes, a Life-Bound Soul Lock, rare cultivation resources, and a communication jade slip, and mentioned a possible task in two years.
• Chen Cang offered the Heavenly Venerates his remaining eleven drops of soul-cleansing marrow, which Qiu Di accepted.
• Old Man Mu Gu threatened Chen Cang and departed, while Chen Cang considered how difficult it would be to eliminate him.

Chen Cang refined the Soul Lock and consumed the origin-enhancing hu, advancing to Five-Star Dou Zong before leaving the Soul Hall Branch Hall. He returned to Xian City and reunited with his companions, then went to Queen Medusa’s room after speaking with Xiao Yi Xian.

• Chen Cang imprinted his soul on the Soul Lock, tested its abilities, and carefully inspected the treasures the Eighth and Ninth Heavenly Venerates had given him.
• Chen Cang extracted and consumed the origin-enhancing hu’s medicinal essence, raising his cultivation from Four-Star Dou Zong to peak Five-Star Dou Zong.
• Chen Cang thanked Old Man Tianqing, Extreme Ice Old Ghost, and Poison Venerable before departing the Branch Hall for Xian City.
• At the inn, Qing Lin spotted Chen Cang returning and welcomed him; he praised her rapid progress to Five-Star Dou Zhe.
• Chen Cang spoke with Xiao Yi Xian, then visited Queen Medusa, while Zi Yan arrived outside and noticed a spatial barrier rising around their room.

Chen Cang brought Medusa and the others to Sacred Pill City, where he bought a courtyard and planned to take the Pill Tower’s alchemist assessment. He secretly probed the Star Domain and saw the Three Thousand Burning Flame, but Pill Tower experts detected him, leaving him convinced that he would have to wait for the Pill Gathering to obtain it.

• Chen Cang exchanged soul points for three stalks of transformation grass for Zi Yan, the Void Pegasus Beast, and the Snow Demon Heavenly Ape, then set out with his companions for Sacred Pill City.
• After a month of travel, Chen Cang’s group arrived in Sacred Pill City, and he decided to take the Pill Tower’s alchemist assessment the next day.
• Unable to find an inn with rooms available, Chen Cang bought a large courtyard residence and assigned the Snow Demon Heavenly Ape and the Void Pegasus Beast to guard it.
• Chen Cang drank soul tea and discussed his cultivation progress with the Heavenly Fire Venerable, then cautiously sent his soul power into the Star Domain and saw the Three Thousand Burning Flame in the form of an enormous dragon.
• Pill Tower experts sensed Chen Cang’s spying, but he withdrew before they could identify him; afterward, he concluded that he could only pursue the Three Thousand Burning Flame through the Pill Gathering.

Chen Cang went to the Pill Tower Branch to obtain an Alchemist Badge and, with Dan Yun’s help, took a special assessment. After his Spirit Realm soul produced a record-breaking reading, he received a Rank 7 badge and returned to the residence in purple alchemist robes, where Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa admired his new look.

• Chen Cang met Dan Yun, a member of the Dan Family, who escorted him past the queue to the branch’s Special Testing Room.
• Deacon Han tested Chen Cang’s soul power, and the Soul Testing Stele displayed a value of 10086 after Chen Cang revealed his Spirit Realm soul.
• Han Li told Chen Cang that his soul was already at the level of an Eighth-Rank Alchemy Grandmaster, but Chen Cang declined to test for an eighth-rank badge before the Pill Gathering.
• Han Li awarded Chen Cang a seven-star badge and purple alchemist robes, while Dan Yun discussed Dan Chen’s hopes of attracting a master from the Pill Tower.
• Chen Cang left with Dan Yun, returned to his residence, and drew Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa’s admiring attention in his new robes.

Over the year in Sacred Pill City, Chen Cang and his companions grew stronger, and he prepared to travel through the Pill Region while secretly laying bait for the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. Meanwhile, Ling Ying informed the girl at Jia Nan Academy of Chen Cang's progress, and Xiao Yan discovered a cave after Yao Lao sensed an opportunity.

• Chen Cang refined Transformation Pills for Zi Yan, the Void Pegasus Beast, and the Snow Demon Heavenly Ape, though only the Snow Demon Heavenly Ape took his pill immediately.
• After a year of cultivation, Chen Cang reached peak Eight-Star Dou Zong, Medusa reached Seven-Star Dou Zong, Qing Lin reached Five-Star Dou Ling, and Xiao Yi Xian reached Two-Star Dou Zong.
• When Xiao Yi Xian's woeful poison body nearly erupted, Chen Cang used the Heavenly Capital Fire Seal to suppress it for three years and decided to prepare her Poison Pill.
• Chen Cang announced a trip through the Pill Region and learned that the Snow Demon Heavenly Ape had discreetly spread a story about seeing a dragon-shaped creature in the sky.
• Ling Ying told the girl at Jia Nan Academy that Chen Cang was an Eight-Star Dou Zong, and she said she would visit the Pill Region on her way back to her clan.
• Xiao Yan followed Yao Lao's directions down a cliff and found a stone door leading into a cave.

Chen Cang and his companions traveled through the Pill Region while strengthening themselves, then stopped at an inn in Yunli City. There, Chen Cang discovered that the innkeeper served as a contact for Sound Valley and used Senior Su Youzi’s token to request a meeting.

• Chen Cang took the group to Yunli City, where they chose to stay at the Miaoyin Inn.
• Chen Cang read the memories of people inside the inn and realized the innkeeper was connected to Sound Valley.
• Chen Cang explained that the innkeeper was a contact point for Sound Valley, a secluded faction among the Central Plains’ major powers.
• Chen Cang gave the innkeeper Senior Su Youzi’s bronze token and asked him to report it to the person in charge.
• Chen Cang led the group upstairs, and Qing Lin reassured Zi Yan that Sound Valley could find them by asking around.

Chen Cang led his companions to destroy the Black Fire Sect and gathered its spoils as a gift for the declining Ye Family. After the group reached Ye City, they arrived at the Ye Family’s gates.

• The innkeeper decided to report Chen Cang’s claim of being a Rank 7 Intermediate Alchemist to Sound Valley.
• Chen Cang chose to attack the Black Fire Sect near Ye City and present its spoils to the Ye Family.
• Chen Cang’s Earth Demon Puppet struck down a Six-Star Dou Zong, while Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin joined the battle for practice.
• The group annihilated the Black Fire Sect’s fighters, and Chen Cang collected their souls and valuables as Zi Yan looted the treasury.
• Chen Cang led the group to Ye City, where they arrived at the Ye Family’s main gates.

Chen Cang visited the declining Ye Family to borrow its Yang Fire Ancient Altar so Xiao Yi Xian could condense a Poison Pill, offering to eliminate the Black Fire Sect in return. He secured access to the altar and prepared to begin, while Ye Zhong hoped to earn Chen Cang’s favor despite the Black Fire Sect already being destroyed.

• Ye Zhong welcomed Chen Cang and his companions into the Ye Family residence and learned Chen Cang had studied at Jia Nan Academy.
• Chen Cang asked to borrow the Yang Fire Ancient Altar for Xiao Yi Xian’s Poison Pill and offered to deal with the Black Fire Sect.
• A guard informed Ye Zhong that the Black Fire Sect had been destroyed, leaving him grateful but disappointed that he had lost the chance to gain Chen Cang’s favor.
• Ye Zhong warned Chen Cang about the Ice River Valley, then led the group to the altar and explained that earth-core flames had stopped emerging.
• Ye Zhong cleared the area, Chen Cang sent White Ape after him, sealed the Heavenly Fire Venerable’s Storage Ring, and told Xiao Yi Xian to begin.