Chapter Summaries

Xiao Hua wore down Yan Xuefeng with the Town Cloud Seal and repeated Fireball Talismans, then pressed his attack with a demonic spear tip. The fight ended with Yan Xuefeng’s magic power failing and his Lightning Gourd suppressed, while Xiao Hua continued striking his protective barrier.

• Yan Xuefeng used pills to restore his true qi and met Xiao Hua’s Town Cloud Seal with lightning from his Lightning Gourd.
• Xiao Hua trapped Yan Xuefeng beneath the Town Cloud Seal and repeatedly bombarded him with Fireball Talismans, draining his magic power.
• Xiao Hua retrieved the Town Cloud Seal and swallowed pills when it fell, while Yan Xuefeng prepared to counterattack.
• Xiao Hua rushed close and struck Yan Xuefeng’s protective barrier with a demonic spear tip, but Yan Xuefeng believed it was Xiao Hua’s final trump card.
• Yan Xuefeng countered with Fireball Talismans and lightning, but Xiao Hua blocked the attacks and struck him repeatedly with the spear tip.
• Xiao Hua covered Yan Xuefeng’s Lightning Gourd with the Spirit Crow Fire Net as Yan Xuefeng’s magic power began to fail.

Xiao Hua reached the Hall of Life and Death to sign a contract with Yan Xuefeng and enter the Thunder Competition Ground. After the contract was signed and the Hall’s mirror-like entrance opened, the story left him poised to go inside.

• Xiao Hua and his companions met Xu Ming’s group, who pointed them toward the Hall of Life and Death.
• Xiangyang warned Xiao Hua that entering the Thunder Competition Ground was dangerous, but Xiao Hua refused to reconsider.
• Qian Tian examined the Prajna Heavy Sword, accepted it from Xiao Hua, and confirmed Zhen Jie’s wager over the jade tablet.
• Xiao Hua identified himself to Zhen Hongwen and signed the life-and-death contract alongside Yan Xuefeng, with Wunai and Zhen Weisheng signing as their masters.
• Zhen Hongwen activated the Hall’s entrance and sent the contract through its mirror-like surface, which opened into red and blue sides.

Xiao Hua and Yan Xuefeng entered the Thunder Competition Ground and were placed in an illusion realm resembling an immortal paradise. Yan Xuefeng’s opening sneak attack failed against Xiao Hua’s protective magic treasure, and the two prepared to fight in the air.

• Zhen Hongwen warned Xiao Hua and Yan Xuefeng that the Thunder Competition Ground allowed no one to be held responsible for deaths, and they entered their assigned gates.
• The illusion realm appeared, and a bolt of lightning struck Xiao Hua while he admired the scenery.
• Xiao Hua’s protective magic treasure blocked the lightning, leaving Zhen Jie frustrated that Xiao Hua had gained a strong defensive advantage.
• Yan Xuefeng appeared in the sky with his magic power depleted from the failed sneak attack, while Xiao Hua used a flight talisman and approached with the Town Cloud Seal.
• Yan Xuefeng prepared to fight Xiao Hua with his Lightning Gourd and hoped to outlast him in a contest of magic power.

Xiao Hua used the Town Cloud Seal and repeated Fireball Talisman attacks to wear down Yan Xuefeng’s defenses, then revealed his speed and demonic spearhead in close combat. The Lightning Gourd fell silent as Yan Xuefeng’s magic power failed, while Xiao Hua’s Spirit Crow Fire Net covered the gourd and his repeated strikes battered Yan Xuefeng.

• Yan Xuefeng used the Lightning Gourd to break some of the spiritual strands beneath Xiao Hua’s Town Cloud Seal, but the seal still pinned him down.
• Xiao Hua repeatedly surrounded Yan Xuefeng with Fireball Talismans, draining his magic power and forcing him to rely on his protective lightning barrier.
• When the Town Cloud Seal fell, Xiao Hua swallowed pills and continued his talisman barrage as Yan Xuefeng prepared to counterattack.
• Xiao Hua rushed close and struck Yan Xuefeng’s barrier with a demonic spearhead, then blocked the Lightning Gourd’s bolts with his Spirit Crow Fire Net.
• Xiao Hua repeatedly struck Yan Xuefeng with the spearhead until Yan Xuefeng’s magic power failed and the Lightning Gourd stopped producing lightning.

Xiao Hua defeated Yan Xuefeng in the Thunder Competition Ground and spared his life, winning Qian Tian’s approval and the wager’s prizes. He returned to the Hall of Life and Death with Yan Xuefeng, while his decision to show mercy concealed his wish to avoid drawing attention from Yan Lei Ridge and the sect elders.

• Xiao Hua overwhelmed Yan Xuefeng with close-range attacks and shattered his protective magic treasure.
• Xiao Hua seized Yan Xuefeng by the neck as Yan Xuefeng begged for his life, and Qian Tian declared Xiao Hua the winner.
• Zhen Hongwen opened a red pillar of light, and Xiao Hua carried Yan Xuefeng out of the illusion.
• Xiao Hua returned Yan Xuefeng alive to the Hall of Life and Death and explained that they had no reason to fight to the death.
• Qian Tian awarded Xiao Hua the Prajna Heavy Sword and jade pendant, praised his mercy, and left with Qian Diheng.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Hua defeats Yan Xuefeng in the Life and Death Pavilion, winning a jade token.
• Wu Nai scolds Xiao Hua for relying on external objects and not using cultivation methods, embarrassing him in front of other sect elders.
• Xiao Hua is interrogated by two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators about any senior cultivators near the East Ridge Medicine Garden.

Character Developments

• Xiao Hua: Wins a jade token but is scolded by Wu Nai for his fighting methods. He remains defiant and secretive about his true abilities.
• Wu Nai: Scolds Xiao Hua for not using proper cultivation methods and relying on external objects. He expresses his disappointment in Xiao Hua's progress.
• Cui Hongshen: Shows interest in the gift Xiao Hua mentioned but refuses to listen when Xiao Hua offers to reveal it.

Significant Themes

• The importance of proper cultivation methods and techniques over relying on external objects.
• The embarrassment and disappointment Xiao Hua feels after being scolded by Wu Nai.
• The secrecy and mystery surrounding Xiao Hua's true abilities and the gift he mentioned.

Character Interactions

• Wu Nai and Xiao Hua: Wu Nai scolds Xiao Hua for his fighting methods, causing Xiao Hua to feel embarrassed and wronged.
• Xiao Hua and Cui Hongshen: Xiao Hua teases Cui Hongshen about the gift he mentioned, piquing Cui Hongshen's interest but refusing to reveal it.
• Xiao Hua and the two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators: Xiao Hua is interrogated about any senior cultivators near the East Ridge Medicine Garden, remaining honest but cautious.

Xiao Hua learned that cultivators were searching East Ridge for Senior Brother Gan and suspected he might have gone to nearby Night Kite Valley, then secretly removed the underground formation. Months later, he decoded part of the ancient fire art in Yan Xuefeng’s jade ring and realized it could complement the Luan family’s Lingmou Zhu Fire.

• Xiao Hua overheard two cultivators discussing their search for Senior Brother Gan and their concern that he might have entered Night Kite Valley.
• The cultivators warned Xiao Hua to stay inside while East Ridge’s formation remained closed, then gave him several pills and departed.
• Xiao Hua sealed his cave formation, dismissed any connection to the missing Senior Brother Gan, and burrowed underground to remove the formation.
• Xiao Hua used puppets to restore East Ridge Medicine Garden after the Origin of Fire’s removal calmed its scorching spiritual energy.
• Qian Diheng gave Xiao Hua a jade slip that helped him understand the ancient writing in Yan Xuefeng’s jade ring.
• Xiao Hua compared the incomplete Divine Fire art with Lingmou Zhu Fire and concluded that the two arts could work together to nurture spirit fire.

A mysterious spirit beast infiltrated Xiao Hua’s cave and attacked his soul, but Little Yellow devoured it before it could finish opening a crack in Xiao Hua’s mind. Xiao Hua then lost control of his body and was pulled into a strange place beneath an immense black cloud.

• A palm-sized spirit beast slipped through East Ridge Medicine Garden’s formations and approached Xiao Hua while he cultivated.
• The beast sent black soul threads into Xiao Hua’s forehead, but the Dharma Eye’s silver light disrupted its attack and sealed a crack in his mind.
• Xiao Hua summoned Little Yellow, who exposed the hidden spirit beast with his silver eye and devoured its black qi.
• Little Yellow fell asleep on Xiao Hua’s shoulder while Xiao Hua remained unable to move or locate his body.
• A vast suction force transported Xiao Hua’s awareness to a strange place beneath a black cloud with thick strips hanging from it.

After surviving the spirit beast’s attack, Xiao Hua woke to find his soul threads strengthened and the Dharma Eye imprint advanced, though he could not see through his own body with it. Two cultivators then arrived at the East Ridge Medicine Garden, and a Dry Thunder Palace disciple questioned him about the Foundation Establishment visitors.

• Xiao Hua was drawn into dark clouds through the black pillar, then returned to his body and slept for nine days while the spirit beast’s soul threads fused with his own.
• Xiao Hua woke, stored the spirit beast’s carcass, and discovered that the Dharma Eye imprint had taken on a faint shape.
• Xiao Hua found that his soul threads had grown thicker and stronger, but his Dharma Eye showed him a complete, opaque person rather than the inner details he expected.
• Xiao Hua opened the East Ridge Medicine Garden’s formation to two cultivators, including a Golden Core cultivator, and greeted them.
• Uncle-Master Gan asked Xiao Hua whether two Foundation Establishment seniors had visited the medicine garden and what they had said.

Xiao Hua concealed his connection to Qian Yuhua’s death while a Golden Core cultivator used a soul treasure to search East Ridge. The search found no trace of Qian Yuhua, and the cultivator left after warning Xiao Hua that East Ridge was not truly safe.

• Xiao Hua told Uncle-Master Gan that the two seniors who had stayed at East Ridge had been looking for someone.
• The Golden Core cultivator and Uncle-Master Gan searched East Ridge, then used a soul treasure that drew black threads toward Xiao Hua’s cave dwelling.
• Xiao Hua nearly fled but led the cultivators into his cave dwelling, where the soul threads revealed no trace of Qian Yuhua.
• The soul threads returned to the soul treasure, and the Golden Core cultivator explained that it had been refined from a Night Kite’s shell.
• The Golden Core cultivator advised Xiao Hua to cultivate diligently and move to Myriad Thunder Valley after reaching Foundation Establishment.

Xiao Hua reflected on what he had learned about Foundation Establishment and the two cultivators who had visited, then focused on advancing his cultivation. Wu Nai summoned him to Myriad Thunder Valley, where she questioned his slow progress and asked him to explain the difficult cultivation problem he had claimed to ponder.

• Xiao Hua observed that the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators had two meridians and wondered how their cultivation differed from his own extra meridian.
• Dry Thunder Palace investigated Qian Yuhua's death but avoided searching Night Kite Valley, while Xiao Hua continued tempering the Fire Marrow Blazing Crystal flames in his meridians.
• Wu Nai sent Xiao Hua a voice transmission summoning him to Myriad Thunder Valley, and he reluctantly left East Ridge Medicine Garden after storing his puppets.
• Zhen Thunder Palace inspected East Ridge Medicine Garden, rewarded Xiao Hua with medicinal pills, and hinted that other disciples might be assigned there as the garden expanded.
• Wu Nai and Zhuo received Xiao Hua at her cave abode, where Wu Nai mocked his lack of Foundation Establishment and demanded to hear about the difficult cultivation problem he had mentioned.

Xiao Hua asked Wu Nai and Zhuo about tempering a third meridian, then joined Cui Hongcheng and Dui Qimeng during their visit to Myriad Thunder Valley. The gathering grew tense over how Xiao Hua addressed Dui Qimeng and Cui Hongcheng, and the chapter ended with Xiangyang explaining that Xiao Hua had come after receiving his message.

• Xiao Hua asked whether Golden Core cultivators could temper a third meridian, and Zhuo explained why cultivators generally used only two.
• Cui Hongcheng arrived with Dui Qimeng, who greeted Wu Nai and Zhuo and presented them with a Ximing Fruit more than six thousand years old.
• Dui Qimeng asked Xiao Hua to call her Junior Sister, but Xiao Hua called her Martial Uncle and then Fellow Daoist, irritating Wu Nai and Cui Hongcheng.
• Yan Qinglian and Xiangyang arrived, and Yan Qinglian began chatting with Dui Qimeng to ease the tense atmosphere.
• Cui Hongcheng questioned why Xiao Hua had come, and Xiangyang said Xiao Hua had arrived after receiving his message.

Xiangyang asked Helpless to let him travel with Qinglian and take Xiao Hua along to gain experience, while Cui Hongshen stayed behind to support Myriad Thunder Valley. He apologized to Cui Hongshen and Xiao Hua for the humiliation they had endured, but Xiao Hua refused to let him bow, and Helpless admitted that he was the one who should apologize to Xiangyang.

• Xiangyang asked Helpless for leave to travel with Qinglian and invited Xiao Hua to join them; Helpless approved and told him not to hurry back.
• Cui Hongshen offered to look after Helpless and said he would not trouble Xiao Hua, while Xiangyang urged him to uphold Myriad Thunder Valley's honor and harmony.
• Xiangyang told Cui Hongshen and Xiao Hua that he regretted the trouble he had caused them and bowed to apologize to Cui Hongshen.
• Xiao Hua stopped Xiangyang from bowing and said he had always been proud to have him as a Senior Brother.
• Xiangyang used his magical power to try to bow to Xiao Hua, but Xiao Hua held his arm firm and said accepting the apology would give him a heart knot too.
• Helpless admitted that he had been too harsh on Xiangyang and said he was the one who should apologize.

Wu Nai ordered Xiao Hua to leave East Ridge Medicine Garden in ten days and accompany Xue Xue on her Foundation Establishment trial, while Xiangyang would travel with them. After handing the garden over to Liu Jing and the other Zhen Thunder Palace disciples, Xiao Hua heard Liu Jing ask about deaths at East Ridge.

• Xiao Hua helped Xiangyang rise and reassured him about his son, Xiang Zhili.
• Wu Nai told Xiao Hua that new disciples would take over East Ridge Medicine Garden and that Xiao Hua would leave in ten days to accompany Xue Xue on her trial.
• Wu Nai scolded Xiao Hua for neglecting Dao cultivation and for not striking Yan Xuefeng more ruthlessly.
• Xiao Hua returned to East Ridge Medicine Garden and waited until Liu Jing and nine Zhen Thunder Palace disciples arrived to take it over.
• Xiao Hua handed Liu Jing the garden token and showed the group the prepared herb fields.
• Xiao Hua brought Liu Jing to his cave dwelling, where Liu Jing asked whether disciples and senior predecessors had died near East Ridge.

Xiao Hua learned more about the Thunder Control Sect’s disciples and prepared to leave East Ridge Medicine Garden for an experience trip with Xue Xue. As Qian Diheng gave him another storage bag of Foundation Establishment Pills, Xiao Hua set out with his companions.

• Liu Jing told Xiao Hua that many Zhen family direct-line disciples had stagnated in cultivation while disciples from Cultivation families advanced quickly, and Xiao Hua asked how Rogue Cultivators were doing.
• Xun Shu and Xue Xue arrived at East Ridge Medicine Garden, and Xue Xue explained that her master had sent her on the experience trip while going into seclusion.
• Xiao Hua entrusted East Ridge Medicine Garden to Liu Jing and prepared to leave with Xue Xue and Xun Shu.
• Qian Diheng arrived using Zhe Lei Evasion and gave Xiao Hua a storage bag containing several more Foundation Establishment Pills.

Xiao Hua accepted gifts from Qian Diheng and Xun Shu, then left the Thunder Control Sect with Xiangyang, Yan Qinglian, and Xue Xue to gain experience. The group chose the Qiang He Sea as their destination, and Xiao Hua and Xue Xue were left to find a place to rest together.

• Qian Diheng and Xun Shu gave Xiao Hua pills, and he agreed to save them a share of anything good he found.
• Wu Nai advised Xiao Hua to learn from Xiangyang and Xue Xue, while Cui Hongshen offered him pills; Xiao Hua declined and addressed him as Senior Cui.
• Xiao Hua, Xue Xue, Xiangyang, and Yan Qinglian left the Thunder Control Sect to travel together.
• When the group had no destination in mind, Xue Xue suggested visiting the Qiang He Sea, and the others agreed.
• At night, Xiangyang and Yan Qinglian went to find a cave together, leaving Xiao Hua and Xue Xue to choose their own place to rest.
• Xue Xue asked about Xiao Hua's past with Hongxia, then realized he had not established his foundation when they were together.

Xiao Hua and Xue Xue spent the night together in a cave, where he assured her he would not begin dual cultivation without her master’s approval. After receiving a restricted pink jade slip from Xue Xue, they rejoined Xiangyang and Yan Qinglian, and Xue Xue asked to visit her relatives at Misty Mountain; Xiangyang warned that the visit might violate sect rules.

• Xiao Hua used puppets to dig a cave, then set up a protective array so he and Xue Xue could rest there.
• Xiao Hua promised Xue Xue he would not formally begin dual cultivation without her master’s consent, and they cultivated separately through the night.
• Xue Xue gave Xiao Hua a pink jade slip with a restriction that she told him not to break.
• Xiangyang’s communication talisman summoned Xiao Hua and Xue Xue, and they rejoined Xiangyang and Yan Qinglian.
• As the group neared a Teleportation Array, Xue Xue asked Xiao Hua to visit her relatives at Misty Mountain, and he agreed.
• Xiangyang told Xiao Hua that the Thunder Control Sect forbade disciples from contacting their Lineages without permission.

Xiao Hua and his companions set out for Misty Mountain, while Fairy Yingzhuo visited Fellow Daoist Dongshan and tasted Qiongyu Liquid. Dongshan promised to share a cultivation method after investigating unusual spiritual energy, as Yingzhuo continued helping him search for someone and gather rare materials.

• Yan Qinglian and Xiangyang reassured Xue Xue that traveling to Misty Mountain did not violate the Thunder Control Sect's prohibition, and Xiao Hua agreed to visit Ling Zhengyi.
• Fairy Yingzhuo visited Fellow Daoist Dongshan as he refined Qiongyu Liquid with Samadhi True Fire.
• Fairy Yingzhuo tasted the Qiongyu Liquid, and Fellow Daoist Dongshan gave her its refining method.
• Fairy Yingzhuo reported leads on the person Dongshan was investigating and said she had gathered most of the materials he requested; Dongshan warned her not to act prematurely.
• Fairy Yingzhuo asked about abnormal spiritual energy and a method to advance her cultivation, and Dongshan said he would explain a suitable secret method after investigating the changes.

Fairy Yingzhuo left Fellow Daoist Dongshan, who soon departed in secret, while the story shifted to Misty Mountain, where Ling Zhengyi discussed his children’s prospects with Ling Feiyun. Ling Zhengyi explained how Xue Xue entered the Thunder Control Sect and revealed his hesitation about sending Ling Feiyun to the Shanghua Sect’s selection.

• Fairy Yingzhuo took her leave after speaking with Fellow Daoist Dongshan, who later emerged with his face concealed and flew away.
• Ling Zhengyi spoke with Ling Feiyun on a lofty peak at Misty Mountain and learned that Feiyun was thinking about his sister, Xue Xue.
• Ling Feiyun said he hoped to join the Thunder Control Sect and reunite with Xue Xue, but Ling Zhengyi explained that her Hidden Lightning Physique had helped her gain acceptance.
• Ling Zhengyi said he had planned to send Ling Feiyun to the Shanghua Sect’s disciple selection but had become hesitant, prompting Feiyun to ask what concerned him.

Pu Jianyuan brought Zhan Yu and Qian Yuming to Misty Mountain and confronted Ling Zhengyi over a magical artifact lost in Yanlin Mountain Marsh. Ling Zhengyi questioned Pu about Flying Phoenix Ridge’s awakened bloodlines, then Pu accused him of arranging for someone else to take the artifact.

• Ling Zhengyi led Pu Jianyuan, Zhan Yu, and Qian Yuming through Misty Mountain and showed them its ancient hall and mysterious murals.
• The visitors examined the hall and discussed its resemblance to Flying Phoenix Ridge’s buildings before sharing spiritual tea and fruit.
• Ling Zhengyi asked whether Flying Phoenix Ridge’s disciples had awakened their true spirit bloodlines and said none of Misty Mountain’s disciples had awakened theirs.
• Pu Jianyuan said he had come to reclaim his inherited magical artifact and brought Zhan Yu and Qian Yuming as witnesses.
• Ling Zhengyi denied taking the artifact and invoked his heart oath, while Pu Jianyuan argued that the oath did not rule out Ling having another cultivator take it.