Chapter Summaries

Lin Ke revealed that he had bred nearly a hundred Mystic Flame Horned Beetle Sovereigns, prompting the Golden Wing Sect elders to promise him support and assign him a future task once his numbers approached a thousand. The elders then announced that the Cloud Frontier Heaven's Pride Grand Gathering would take place in three months, with its top ten gaining entry to the Cloud Dragon Secret Realm, an ancient True Dragon's nest.

• Grass Louse True Lord questioned Lin Ke about the Mystic Flame Horned Beetle Sovereigns he had found in the Poison Tempering Mountains, and Lin Ke revealed that he had bred his own.
• Lin Ke showed two of his beetles to the elders and explained that he had bred nearly a hundred using inexpensive materials.
• Grass Louse True Lord and Hua Wujiang promised to supply Lin Ke with materials and told him to expect another task once he had raised nearly a thousand beetles.
• Hua Wujiang announced that the Cloud Frontier Heaven's Pride Grand Gathering would be held in three months, despite the Demon Race's upheaval.
• Grass Louse True Lord explained that the gathering would help unite the Cloud Frontier against outside threats and that its top ten would enter the Cloud Dragon Secret Realm.

Hua Wujiang announced the upcoming Heavenly Prodigy Grand Assembly, whose winners would earn entry to the Cloud Dragon Secret Realm, and Lin Ke welcomed the chance to test himself against stronger opponents. Butterfly Transformation True Person warned him that powerful prodigies who had held back their cultivation would be among his rivals.

• Hua Wujiang told the elders that disciples would compete in the Heavenly Prodigy Grand Assembly for the right to enter the Cloud Dragon Secret Realm.
• Lin Ke eagerly anticipated the gathering as a chance to face stronger opponents and sharpen his skills.
• Butterfly Transformation True Person took Lin Ke to her temporary cave abode to explain the dangers posed by the assembly's exceptional competitors.
• Butterfly Transformation True Person described Mo Tianji, who had remained at Golden Core Late Stage and once killed a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Demon King.
• Butterfly Transformation True Person named Leng Yue, Fu Tan, rogue cultivators, and secluded prodigies as other formidable opponents.

Lin Ke learned that the Heavenly Pride Gathering would take place in three months and planned to use the month before the Golden Wing Sect’s selection to strengthen himself. Lin Xuanyuan revealed that the Cloud Dragon Secret Realm stirred fragmentary memories in him, leaving Lin Ke convinced they might be connected and determined to enter it.

• Butterfly Transformation True Person told Lin Ke that Zhuge Qi Tian could aim for the Cloud Dragon Secret Realm, while Lin Ke resolved to prepare for the Heavenly Pride Gathering.
• Butterfly Transformation True Person said the Golden Wing Sect’s internal disciple selection would begin in one month, and Lin Ke planned to refine his cultivation and skills before then.
• Lin Xuanyuan told Lin Ke that he had hazy memories of terrifying shadows perishing in the Cloud Dragon Secret Realm and thought visiting it might restore his memories.
• Lin Ke connected Lin Xuanyuan’s memories to the realm’s ties to True Dragons and decided he would have to visit it.

Lin Ke prepared to enter the Cloud Dragon Secret Realm with Lin Xuanyuan and cultivated while the Golden Wing Sect announced its selection trials for the Heavenly Pride Gathering. After days of training, Lin Ke reached the limit of the Golden Core early stage and was about to break through.

• Lin Ke told Lin Xuanyuan he would take him to the Cloud Dragon Secret Realm after defeating the other prodigies, and urged him and the Dream-Eating Gecko to cultivate.
• Lin Ke practiced the second refinement of the Five-Colored Glazed Body, while the Dream-Eating Gecko and Lin Xuanyuan trained separately.
• The Golden Wing Sect announced a ranking and fifteen-day arena challenge to select one hundred disciples for the Heavenly Pride Gathering.
• News of the Cloud Dragon Secret Realm drew prodigies to the Golden Wing Sect and other major sects across the Cloud Frontier.
• After several days of cultivation, Lin Ke reached the limit of the Golden Core early stage and prepared to break through.

Lin Ke risked overtaxing his mind to gather enough spiritual energy to complete his breakthrough from the early to the mid Golden Core stage. True Person Liuyun and the other elders used the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation to support him, and Lin Ke emerged with nine solid, glazed golden cores.

• Lin Ke released his suppression and used the Miaojiang Gu Art to transform his nine void cores into semi-real cores, beginning his mid Golden Core breakthrough.
• When the spirit power vortex ran dry, Lin Ke extended his mental power and used the Great Void Spirit-Consolidation Method to gather spiritual energy over a wider area.
• Azure Underworld Mountain's disciples and elders saw the enormous vortex and realized Lin Ke was breaking through, while True Person Liuyun recognized the danger of his method.
• True Person Liuyun and the other elders activated the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation and sent its stored spirit power to Lin Ke.
• Lin Ke absorbed nearly thirty percent of the formation's spirit power and stabilized his nine golden cores into solid, glazed forms, completing his breakthrough to the mid Golden Core stage.

After breaking through to the Mid Golden Core Stage, Lin Ke returned from the Golden Wing Sect Frontline to prepare for the Heavenly Pride Gathering. Back at the sect, he reunited with friends and went to Zhuge Qi Tian to ask about Divine Abilities.

• Lin Ke reached the Mid Golden Core Stage with the elders' help, and True Person Liuyun arranged for him to return to the sect with the next batch of disciples.
• Lin Ke said farewell to Butterfly Transformation True Person, Zhu Qingge, and the others, then gathered cultivation resources before leaving the Frontline.
• Lin Ke returned to the Golden Wing Sect and found his friends thriving at the Great Wilderness Market, while Huang Fuqi and Zong Ya had also advanced in their cultivation and skills.
• After settling back into Green Mulberry Garden, Lin Ke visited Zhuge Qi Tian in the Scripture Repository and learned that he had comprehended a Divine Ability.
• Lin Ke asked Zhuge Qi Tian about Divine Abilities as he prepared for the approaching Heavenly Pride Gathering and its formidable prodigies.

Lin Ke sought Zhuge Qi Tian’s advice on quickly learning a divine ability, but Zhuge Qi Tian urged him to rely on his vast reserves of power rather than pursue a skill he could not master in time. Lin Ke left with a plan to combine his existing spell arts, mental methods, and spirit insects for the Heavenly Prodigy Grand Assembly.

• Lin Ke asked Zhuge Qi Tian whether he should turn Mountain-Moving and Sea-Overturning into a divine ability or learn another one.
• Zhuge Qi Tian used the example of a child with a spear facing a grown man with a dagger to show that a stronger technique did not guarantee victory.
• Zhuge Qi Tian identified Lin Ke’s nine golden cores and enormous power reserves as his strengths, while noting that his limited cultivation experience left his understanding of spell arts comparatively shallow.
• Lin Ke realized he could not make up for his lack of comprehension by mastering a divine ability in the three months before the grand gathering.
• Zhuge Qi Tian advised Lin Ke to combine Mountain-Moving and Sea-Overturning with Heaven-Supporting and Firmament-Commanding, use Senior Dream-Eating’s mental methods, and draw on his spirit insects’ abilities.

Lin Ke learned from Zhuge Qi Tian to combine Mountain-Moving and Sea-Overturning with Heaven-Supporting and Firmament-Commanding to build momentum from heaven and earth. He then tried to complete the latter method on Golden Silkworm Peak, but a mysterious force disrupted his attempt to summon lightning.

• Lin Ke worried that Zhuge Qi Tian's defensive approach would leave him unable to seize opportunities, but Zhuge Qi Tian explained that the two methods could build momentum for both offense and defense.
• Zhuge Qi Tian advised Lin Ke to combine mental attacks with sword control techniques, resolving Lin Ke's confusion about his fighting style.
• After returning to Golden Silkworm Peak, Lin Ke focused on cultivating Mountain-Moving and Sea-Overturning and Heaven-Supporting and Firmament-Commanding.
• Lin Ke used Heaven-Supporting and Firmament-Commanding to summon wind and clouds above the Green Mulberry Garden, then tried to gather lightning.
• The lightning became chaotic and dissipated before Lin Ke could complete Lightning Descends, and he sensed that a formidable force had deliberately stopped him.

Lin Ke struggled to cultivate the Lightning Descends form of the Heaven-Supporting and Firmament-Commanding Method, concluding that heaven and earth were obstructing him. He used his Yin-Yang Golden Core to seize and destroy the hidden force, and Five-Colored Divine Light appeared in the clouds.

• Lin Ke repeatedly failed to condense lightning while cultivating the Heaven-Supporting and Firmament-Commanding Method and suspected the Great Dao of heaven and earth was blocking him.
• After three days of attempts, Lin Ke conjectured that heaven and earth did not want him to obtain the method's power.
• Lin Ke released his Yin-Yang Golden Core and spread black and white energy through the clouds to capture the force preventing the Violet Lightning from forming.
• Lin Ke tightened the energy into a Taiji pattern and used Yin-Yang Power to rend and slay the trapped force.
• The clouds dispersed, and Five-Colored Divine Light shone from within the suspended black and white energies.

Lin Ke mastered all five forms of the Heaven-Supporting and Firmament-Commanding Method and used his knowledge of climatology to develop destructive wind arts. He successfully created a vast, rotating storm over Golden Silkworm Peak and wondered whether his experiment had worked.

• Five-colored lightning struck down a charred, snake-shaped creature, and Lin Ke used the lightning to master Lightning Descends, Thunder Roars, and Rain Arrives.
• Lin Ke learned that developing offensive arts from the five weather images depended on the cultivator’s own understanding, and he planned to apply his knowledge of climatology.
• Lin Ke manipulated spirit-power pressure differences to intensify a breeze into a gale that swept through the mulberry grove, then used the Cloudglow Formation talisman to stabilize the area.
• Lin Ke simulated a tropical cyclone by creating low pressure and rising warm, moist air, forming a huge vortex of clouds and wind.
• Lin Ke saw that the storm’s winds could snap trees and move rocks, and he wondered if his experiment had succeeded.

Lin Ke investigated a strange creature from the heavens that had blocked his lightning, then gave it to Lin Xuanyuan, who absorbed it and broke through to the mid Golden Core stage. Lin Xuanyuan’s new lightning power also strengthened Lin Ke’s Golden Core, preparing him to cultivate his lightning art more effectively.

• Lin Ke examined the creature that had stopped his heavenly lightning, and the Dream-Eating Gecko suspected it had come from the heavens.
• Lin Xuanyuan recognized fragments of its use to his breakthrough, so Lin Ke gave him the creature.
• Lin Ke mastered his wind-commanding art over the next two days, but paused his training when Lin Xuanyuan prepared to break through.
• Lin Xuanyuan absorbed the creature and, with Lin Ke guarding him, broke through to the mid Golden Core stage while awakening the ability to command lightning.
• Lin Ke’s Golden Core also gained some lightning-control ability through their symbiotic cultivation, aiding his efforts to master drawing lightning and commanding thunder.

Lin Ke cultivated in seclusion as the Golden Wing Sect’s prodigies prepared for the disciple trial. When the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking was updated, Lin Ke placed fifty-sixth, putting him among the sect’s top prodigies as the competition began.

• Lin Ke spent ten days refining his cultivation and Spell Arts while prodigies across the Golden Wing Sect prepared for the selection.
• Lin Ke and his friends gathered in Green Mulberry Garden to await the updated ranking, and Lin Ke admitted he did not know whether he would make the list.
• At noon, the disciples’ Disciple Tokens announced that the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking had been updated, with Zhuge Qi Tian retaining first place.
• Lin Ke appeared at fifty-sixth place, delighting his friends but leaving them concerned about the challenges ahead.
• The updated ranking officially began the Golden Wing Sect’s half-month prodigy disciple trial.

Lin Ke prepared to defend his fifty-sixth place on the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking as the Golden Wing Sect’s Trial Conference began. The top hundred entered their arenas, Zhuge Qi Tian’s appearance surprised the crowd, and challengers began fighting for the ranked positions, including Lin Ke.

• Lin Ke learned he had been ranked fifty-sixth and agreed to defend his position, encouraged by Han Fu, Shi Ping, and the others from Green Mulberry Garden.
• Hua Wujiang opened the Trial Conference at Year Festival Square, where the top hundred disciples entered their arenas.
• Zhuge Qi Tian appeared in the first-ranked arena, and disciples recognized the short cultivator as the Scripture Repository’s keeper.
• Hua Wujiang announced that disciples could challenge the top hundred, and battles began across the lower-ranked arenas before spreading to others.
• Lin Ke received a challenger.

Lin Ke faced Mo Sanyin of the Rotten Bamboo Forest, whose nine poisonous Jade Rakshasas formed the Nine Sons Life-Taking Gu. Lin Ke sent Lin Xuanyuan to fight them, and the alligator repelled their first assault and used lightning to clear much of their poison mist.

• Mo Sanyin introduced his nine Golden Core Jade Rakshasas and challenged Lin Ke to withstand his Nine Sons Life-Taking Gu.
• Lin Ke summoned Lin Xuanyuan, intending to test the alligator's strength against Mo Sanyin's spirit insects.
• Mo Sanyin sent the Jade Rakshasas at Lin Xuanyuan, who enlarged himself and swept them away with his tail.
• The Jade Rakshasas attacked from different angles and filled the arena with corrosive poison mist.
• Lin Xuanyuan released a bolt of lightning that split the mist and revealed the nine Jade Rakshasas.

Lin Xuanyuan destroyed four of Mo Sanyin’s nine Jade Rakshasas before Mo Sanyin intervened, and Lin Ke defended the beast’s actions as permitted by the trial rules. After the elder rebuked him, Mo Sanyin merged with his five surviving spirit insects and challenged Lin Ke to continue the match.

• Mo Sanyin formed the Jade Rakshasas into a blood-colored ring that drained Lin Xuanyuan’s spirit power, but Lin Xuanyuan shattered the formation with his Gold-Shattering Cry.
• Lin Xuanyuan destroyed four Jade Rakshasas and bound the remaining five until Mo Sanyin attacked with Demon-Suppressing Palm and rescued them.
• Mo Sanyin accused Lin Ke of owing him an explanation, but Lin Ke argued that spirit-insect casualties were normal during the sect trial.
• The presiding elder warned Mo Sanyin to stop making an unreasonable scene, prompting Mo Sanyin to merge with his five surviving Jade Rakshasas.
• Mo Sanyin transformed and flew toward Lin Ke, and the elder allowed the match to continue.

Lin Ke overwhelmed Mo Sanyin’s insect techniques with his sword and Dragon-Elephant Prison-Suppressing Force, then faced him again after Mo Sanyin transformed into a giant fly. The chapter ended as Lin Ke struck with a terrifying punch and Mo Sanyin sensed he was about to be killed.

• Lin Ke recalled Lin Xuanyuan and attacked Mo Sanyin with a Flying Sword, cutting through his insect-transformed arm before Mo Sanyin regenerated and knocked the sword aside with scales.
• Mo Sanyin used Thousandfold Shadow to surround Lin Ke with hundreds of copies, but Lin Ke’s Dragon-Elephant Prison-Suppressing Force shattered the illusions and scattered the venom.
• Mo Sanyin trapped Lin Ke’s Flying Sword with Insect Armor and sent a transparent body after him, but Lin Ke’s punch broke its bone spike and arm, forcing Mo Sanyin to retreat.
• Lin Ke explained that his Mental Power had detected Mo Sanyin’s true body, while Mo Sanyin’s injuries prevented his arm from regenerating.
• Mo Sanyin refused to yield, fused completely with Jade Rakshasa, and transformed into a giant fly before lunging at Lin Ke.
• Lin Ke abandoned his Flying Sword and punched toward Mo Sanyin’s head; Mo Sanyin sensed the blow could blast him into a rain of blood.

Lin Ke defeated Mo Sanyin, then chose to rest instead of accepting more challenges so he could keep his strength and study other fighters. He watched Yu Feng lose platform fifty-five to a red-robed challenger whose Bloodfang Ants revealed a powerful flying-ant swarm.

• Lin Ke defeated Mo Sanyin and raised his ranking by one place.
• Lin Ke declined further challenges for the day, despite jeers from the crowd, and the elder granted his request to rest.
• Lin Ke stayed in Year Festival Square and went to platform fifty-five to observe its fighters.
• Yu Feng initially gained the advantage over a red-robed challenger using Bloodfang Ants, but the challenger revealed powerful flying ants.
• The challenger defeated Yu Feng, taking platform fifty-five and knocking Yu Feng off the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking.

Lin Ke watched Qu Tong defeat her opponent at Arena No. 39, then was confronted by Qu Binli and the Azure Lightning Peak disciples. Qu Tong apologized for their behavior and said she would act only on Azure Lightning Peak's behalf, leaving her intentions toward Lin Ke unclear.

• Lin Ke watched Qu Tong defeat a challenger with a violet lightning strike, then assessed her as a potential adversary because of her ties to Azure Lightning Peak and Qu Binli.
• Qu Binli recognized Lin Ke, called out to Qu Tong, and blocked Lin Ke from leaving with the help of other Azure Lightning Peak disciples.
• The disciples taunted Lin Ke about his ranking and past defeats, and Lin Ke released his aura, scattering them and silencing Qu Binli.
• Lin Ke criticized Qu Tong for allowing the confrontation, but Qu Tong said the disciples' actions were not hers or Azure Lightning Peak's and apologized on their behalf.
• Qu Tong told Lin Ke she would act only for Azure Lightning Peak and would not disgrace its Lineage Branch for personal reasons, shocking Qu Binli and the other disciples.

Lin Ke accepted Qu Tong’s challenge to fight in three days and settle Azure Lightning Peak’s grievance. Back at Green Mulberry Garden, he began strengthening the Mystic Flame Horned Beetle Sovereigns with fire essence to improve his combat power for the trials.

• Qu Tong agreed to leave Lin Ke’s personal dispute with Qu Binli alone but challenged Lin Ke to a fair match in three days on behalf of Azure Lightning Peak.
• Lin Ke accepted Qu Tong’s challenge, and the platform elder agreed to witness the match.
• Lin Ke left Year Festival Square and returned to Green Mulberry Garden to cultivate, deciding that the Mystic Flame Horned Beetle Sovereigns were his best route to greater fighting strength.
• Lin Ke diluted a drop of precious fire essence with spirit power and let hundreds of Mystic Flame Horned Beetle Sovereigns absorb the resulting flames.

Lin Ke discovered that Mystic Flame Horned Beetle Sovereigns had to fight and devour one another to break through their limits and metamorphose. After a brutal battle left only nine survivors, their shells began to split as their transformation started.

• Lin Ke fed Fire Essence to the Mystic Flame Horned Beetle Sovereigns until nearly a hundred reached the limit of what they could absorb.
• The beetles suddenly became violent and attacked one another, devouring the life essence and power of those they killed.
• Lin Ke realized the beetles were being raised through the Illusionless Gu Sect's Gu Arts, in which the strongest survivors consumed their kin and transformed.
• Lin Ke put away the beetles that had not reached their limits and watched the battle, which ended with only nine survivors.
• The nine survivors reached a critical point, and fissures opened in their shells as their metamorphosis began.