Chapter Summaries

Jiang Lan entered a cavern rich in spiritual energy and found Spirit Vein Ore guarded by a Raging-Horn Savage Bull. He fought the beast by dodging its attacks and repeatedly striking the same weak spot in its armor, gaining the advantage as it grew increasingly frantic.

• Jiang Lan entered the underground chamber and discovered Spirit Vein Ore and a massive Raging-Horn Savage Bull guarding it.
• Jiang Lan attacked the Savage Bull with Earth-Cracking Leg, but his first kick barely cracked its armor.
• The Savage Bull countered with its horns, hooves, and tail, sending Jiang Lan crashing into a cave wall, but he got back up.
• Jiang Lan used Wind-Walking Step to circle behind the Savage Bull and repeatedly kick the same spot, widening the crack in its armor.
• The enraged Savage Bull rampaged through the chamber, and Jiang Lan recognized its chaotic movements as an opportunity to win.

Jiang Lan killed the Savage Bull, upgraded Indestructible Diamond Body to level 36, and collected the five pieces of Spirit Vein Ore. After returning home, he arranged to meet Gu Changqing the next afternoon to hand over the ore and anticipated joining the Guardian Manor.

• Jiang Lan exploited the Savage Bull’s exposed flank, shattered its shell, and killed it with Iron Mountain Fist and Earth-Cracking Leg.
• Jiang Lan upgraded Indestructible Diamond Body to level 36 and learned that the next upgrade required one piece of Spirit Vein Ore.
• Jiang Lan collected all five pieces of Spirit Vein Ore and left the cave after finding nothing else he needed.
• Jiang Lan returned home, told Shen Qingqiu that the mission went smoothly, and messaged Gu Changqing that he had obtained the ore.
• Gu Changqing arranged to meet Jiang Lan at the same place at two the next afternoon, and Jiang Lan looked forward to joining the Guardian Manor.

Jiang Lan passed Gu Changqing’s assessment and officially joined the Guardian Manor, gaining access to monthly Spirit Vein Ore, a mining area, and organizational gatherings. At home, he used his remaining ore to raise his Indestructible Diamond Body to level 38 and discovered the next upgrade required only three pieces.

• Jiang Lan brought Spirit Vein Ore to Gu Changqing, who took one piece for the task and confirmed Jiang Lan had passed the assessment.
• Gu Changqing gave Jiang Lan an Identity Token and explained the Guardian Manor’s resources, mining area, missions, and Monday gatherings.
• Jiang Lan returned home and used four pieces of Spirit Vein Ore to advance his Indestructible Diamond Body from level 36 to level 38.
• Jiang Lan noticed his next upgrade required three pieces of ore instead of the four he had expected and wondered how the requirement would change.
• Shen Qingqiu returned from work, and Jiang Lan told him that joining the Guardian Manor would bring extra resources to help improve his strength.

Jiang Lan discovered that the Guard Token brought him to a customizable virtual space and a communal hall where he encountered a powerful Guardian Manor member. The man recognized Jiang Lan as a newcomer and was surprised that the organization had recruited someone at the divine strength realm.

• At dinner, Shen Qingqiu seemed troubled and asked Jiang Lan how strong he had become; Jiang Lan estimated he was near the peak of the divine strength realm.
• Shen Qingqiu left for his room, and Jiang Lan realized that their growing strength gap was making Shen Qingqiu feel insecure.
• Jiang Lan activated the Guard Token and found himself in a realistic virtual room whose furnishings and scenery changed according to his thoughts.
• Jiang Lan left his private room and entered a mall-like communal hall with named storefronts and exercise equipment.
• Jiang Lan encountered a man whose strength he could not gauge, and the man asked whether Jiang Lan was new before remarking on his divine strength realm.

Jiang Lan learned how the Inner Domain shops and contribution-point missions worked, then returned on Monday to browse the wares. After finding cultivation items that could improve talent, he chose a mission to clear a ferocious beast nest as a way to earn contribution points.

• Jiang Lan met Zhang Tie, who explained that members could use shops in the Inner Domain and earn contribution points through missions or trades.
• Jiang Lan discovered that thinking about leaving the Inner Domain returned him to his room, then waited until Monday to visit again.
• Jiang Lan browsed shops selling weapons and cultivation techniques before finding the Spirit of Plants and Trees shop.
• Jiang Lan read about a Spirit Source Fruit and Marrow-Cleansing Pill that could improve spiritual affinity and talent.
• Jiang Lan searched the mission board and chose a mission to clear a deep Wilderness Zone nest containing peak fifth-tier beasts, with a possible sixth-tier beast.

Jiang Lan accepted a mission to kill a peak-fifth tier Ferocious Beast and traveled to its cave, where he killed a giant python with ease. As he prepared to leave, he sensed a sixth-tier presence approaching the cave.

• Jiang Lan accepted the mission and received its location and intelligence directly in his consciousness.
• Jiang Lan told Shen Qingqiu he would be away for a day or two, then left for the Deep Wilderness Zone.
• Jiang Lan followed the mission coordinates to a cave and found a peak-fifth tier giant python inside.
• Jiang Lan killed the python with a series of powerful attacks and collected its Essence Blood, Beast Core, and tongue for the mission.
• Jiang Lan sensed a familiar sixth-tier aura rapidly approaching from outside the cave.

Jiang Lan fought and killed a Tier Six Ferocious Beast after discovering he could withstand its attacks and gradually break through its armor. He collected its essence blood and beast core, but wondered how little they would be worth in the inner region compared with his growing strength.

• Jiang Lan faced a heavily armored Tier Six Ferocious Beast in the cave and survived its powerful charge with only dull pain.
• Jiang Lan dodged the beast’s attacks and used Earth-Cracking Leg and Iron Mountain Fist to crack its armor during a running battle.
• Jiang Lan broke the beast’s right front leg, knocked it down, and struck its temple until it stopped moving.
• Jiang Lan processed the corpse and collected its essence blood and beast core, then wondered how many contribution points they would earn.

Jiang Lan used his monthly Spirit Vein Ore allocation to upgrade his Indestructible Diamond Body to level 39, then went to the Inner Domain to choose another mission. He accepted an escort mission that could bring him closer to earning enough contribution points to buy a Spirit Source Fruit.

• Jiang Lan returned home with torn clothes, and a Guardian Manor messenger delivered his monthly allocation of two pieces of Spirit Vein Ore.
• Jiang Lan combined the allocation with his saved ore and upgraded his Indestructible Diamond Body to level 39, raising his strength above two thousand.
• Jiang Lan entered the Inner Domain and received 200 contribution points after the mission panel confirmed his previous mission was complete.
• Jiang Lan reviewed the available missions and chose to escort supplies from the Spirit Vein Mining Area to the Base City for 350 contribution points.
• Jiang Lan calculated that the escort reward, together with another clearing mission and 50 more points, could let him buy a Spirit Source Fruit.

Jiang Lan traveled from Central Base City to a mining area near Jiangnan Base City to escort a shipment of processed Spirit Vein Ore. After loading three heavy crates onto his back, he set off toward the Guardian Manor outpost in Jiangnan Base City.

• Jiang Lan accepted the escort mission and learned that the mining area lay about two hundred kilometers west of Jiangnan Base City.
• Jiang Lan told Shen Qingqiu he was going out, then ran toward Jiangnan Base City at full speed.
• Jiang Lan showed his Guardian Manor Token to the mining area guard, who called for manager Meng Weidong.
• Meng Weidong guided Jiang Lan through the spiritually rich mining area and explained that the shipment needed an escort because fifth-tier ferocious beasts prowled along the route.
• Meng Weidong helped Jiang Lan secure three crates of processed Spirit Vein Ore, and Jiang Lan hoisted them onto his back before departing.

Jiang Lan completed an ore escort mission to Jiangnan Base City, fighting off ferocious beasts along the way and learning that beasts across Blue Star had become unusually restless. After collecting his receipt, he left the city to continue home, planning to save contribution points for a Spirit Source Fruit for Shen Qingqiu.

• Jiang Lan encountered a Red-Maned Lion, an Iron-Clad Bear, and two other fifth-tier ferocious beasts on the way to Jiangnan Base City, defeating the lion and bear while the others fled.
• Jiang Lan entered Jiangnan Base City and delivered three crates of ore to the Guardian Manor outpost.
• Sister Zhou checked the ore, gave Jiang Lan a receipt, and told him ferocious beasts across Blue Star had recently become restless.
• Jiang Lan left the outpost and headed out of the city, thinking about saving contribution points to obtain a Spirit Source Fruit for Shen Qingqiu.

Jiang Lan returned to the Inner Domain, learned how much his sixth-tier materials could earn, and accepted a mission to clear a ferocious beast den. He killed the peak-fifth-tier Rock-Tusked Boar and collected its materials, bringing him close to having enough contribution points to buy the Spirit Source Fruit.

• Jiang Lan received 350 contribution points for completing the escort mission, bringing his total to 550.
• Jiang Lan met Zhang Tie, who told him that sixth-tier essence blood and Beast Cores could each sell for roughly 30 to 50 contribution points.
• Jiang Lan accepted a mission to clear a ferocious beast den and left the Inner Domain.
• Jiang Lan told Shen Qingqiu he was leaving the city again, then traveled to a mountain cave in the Deep Wilderness Zone.
• Jiang Lan killed the peak-fifth-tier Rock-Tusked Boar with a kick and a punch, then collected its tusk, essence blood, and Beast Core.

Jiang Lan discovered that the Inner Domain could transport physical objects and used it to trade for a Spirit Source Fruit for his younger aunt. He returned to reality with the fruit safely in hand.

• Jiang Lan received 200 Contribution Points for completing his extermination mission, bringing his total to 750.
• Jiang Lan confirmed that objects could move between reality and the Inner Domain by retrieving his Essence Blood and Beast Core there.
• Jiang Lan sold his Sixth Tier Essence Blood and Beast Core to Bai Qing for 85 Contribution Points.
• Jiang Lan bought a Spirit Source Fruit from Bai Qing for 800 Contribution Points, leaving him with 35.
• Jiang Lan transported the Spirit Source Fruit out of the Inner Domain and found it on his table in reality.

Jiang Lan gave Shen Qingqiu a Spirit Source Fruit to improve his spiritual qi affinity and talent. After consuming it, Shen Qingqiu advanced from middle meridian opening to middle gang condensation and resolved to work hard.

• Jiang Lan presented Shen Qingqiu with a Spirit Source Fruit he had obtained through the organization.
• Shen Qingqiu ate the fruit and followed Jiang Lan’s instructions to let its energy circulate naturally.
• The fruit’s energy raised Shen Qingqiu’s cultivation from middle meridian opening to middle gang condensation.
• Shen Qingqiu embraced Jiang Lan and thanked him, then said he would work hard before going upstairs to shower.

Jiang Lan comforted Shen Qingqiu after his breakthrough, and they spent the night sleeping in each other’s arms. The next day, Jiang Lan visited the Spirit Vein Mining Area, where two hours of cultivation completed his system upgrade progress.

• Shen Qingqiu visited Jiang Lan because he could not sleep, and Jiang Lan held him until they fell asleep together.
• Shen Qingqiu woke up clinging to Jiang Lan, then prepared breakfast and asked to take time off to cultivate.
• Jiang Lan told Shen Qingqiu he would visit the mining area and left after breakfast.
• Meng Weidong let Jiang Lan cultivate in an unused mining tunnel for two hours under the area’s weekly-use rule.
• Jiang Lan’s upgrade progress reached 5/5, and he left the mining area after thanking Meng Weidong.

Jiang Lan upgraded his Indestructible Diamond Body to level 40, then met Zhao Xuan and Lin Wan for a barbecue. He heard about a Three-School Alliance ranking tournament planned for next month and considered entering to unwind.

• Jiang Lan upgraded his Indestructible Diamond Body to level 40, raising his defense, vitality, and agility.
• Jiang Lan agreed to meet Zhao Xuan and Lin Wan after seeing their messages in the group chat.
• Zhao Xuan marveled at Jiang Lan's build and told him he had reached the early Blood Exchange Realm; Lin Wan said she was at peak Condensed Astral Force.
• Zhao Xuan told Jiang Lan and Lin Wan that the Academy was preparing a ranking tournament with Tianshu and Zhenwu for sometime next month.
• After leaving his friends, Jiang Lan considered entering the tournament to unwind.

Jiang Lan accepted a mission to investigate abnormal spiritual energy in the Deep Wilderness Zone outside Hedong Base City for a reward of 400 contribution points. He planned to train with Shen Qingqiu that afternoon and travel to the mission site the next day.

• Shen Qingqiu returned home after advancing to late gang condensation and told Jiang Lan he wanted to practice actual combat.
• Jiang Lan agreed to spar with Shen Qingqiu at the Training Room that afternoon.
• Jiang Lan entered the Inner Domain and found an investigation mission concerning abnormal spiritual energy and Ferocious Beasts withdrawing from the Deep Wilderness Zone.
• Jiang Lan accepted the mission, which offered 400 contribution points and warned of irregular spiritual energy pulses.
• Jiang Lan returned home for lunch and decided to visit the Wilderness Zone the next day.

Jiang Lan sparred with Shen Qingqiu and coached him on improving his saber technique. After about half an hour of practice, Shen Qingqiu tired, and Jiang Lan called the session to an end.

• Shen Qingqiu arrived in his training uniform and went with Jiang Lan to a private Training Room for a sparring session.
• Shen Qingqiu attacked Jiang Lan with his short saber, and Jiang Lan deflected his strikes and pointed out that his attacks had gaps between them.
• Jiang Lan guided Shen Qingqiu through a saber strike, teaching him to transfer force from his waist through his shoulder and arm.
• Shen Qingqiu's strikes became smoother, and Jiang Lan tapped him when he left openings as they continued sparring.
• Shen Qingqiu tried a kick, but Jiang Lan caught his ankle and steadied him when he fell; Shen Qingqiu accused him of doing it on purpose.
• After practicing for another half hour, Shen Qingqiu's stamina waned, and Jiang Lan stopped the session.

Jiang Lan traveled to a mission site near Hedong Base City and discovered an ancient structure buried in the wilderness, built from a material unlike anything he had seen. He found a strange blue-lit door and suspected the site might be connected to the source of the Inner Domain's technology.

• Jiang Lan left Shen Qingqiu and hurried toward the mission area outside Hedong Base City.
• Jiang Lan found the area unnaturally quiet, with ferocious beasts having fled and the spiritual qi growing denser as he went deeper.
• Jiang Lan uncovered a smooth, extremely hard grayish-white structure partly buried in a collapsed mountainside.
• Jiang Lan entered the structure through a gap and explored its clean corridors, passing several cave-ins and a blocked passage.
• Jiang Lan reached a metal-like door covered in pulsing blue patterns and wondered whether the Guardian Manor had obtained Inner Domain technology from places like this.

Jiang Lan entered a chamber filled with dense Spiritual Qi and fought an Energy Body guarding a floating blue sphere and twelve processed pieces of Spirit Vein Ore. He discovered that the Energy Body’s chest light was vulnerable and pressed his attack as its glow dimmed.

• Jiang Lan opened the chamber door and found a floating blue sphere and twelve polished pieces of Spirit Vein Ore.
• Jiang Lan approached the platform, causing an Energy Body to form from Spiritual Qi and attack him.
• Jiang Lan found that ordinary strikes did not hurt the Energy Body, then identified the light in its chest as its weak spot.
• Jiang Lan struck the chest light with Earth-Cracking Leg and Iron Mountain Fist, weakening the Energy Body.
• Jiang Lan dodged the Energy Body’s shock wave, then landed another hit and continued striking it.

Jiang Lan defeated the energy construct, collected Spirit Vein Ore and a mysterious sphere, then escaped as the buried structure collapsed. Back in Central Base City, he used the ore to advance Indestructible Diamond Body twice and gained enough strength to challenge a mid-Sixth Tier Ferocious Beast.

• Jiang Lan destroyed the energy construct by striking the light on its chest, then collected twelve pieces of Spirit Vein Ore and took the sphere from the platform.
• Jiang Lan photographed the wall patterns, but the structure began collapsing, forcing him to flee before the mountainside buried the entrance again.
• Jiang Lan returned to Central Base City, reassured Shen Qingqiu that he was unharmed, and brought the ore to his room.
• Jiang Lan used the ore to advance Indestructible Diamond Body to level 41 and then level 42, raising his stats and perception.
• Jiang Lan saw that all his stats exceeded two thousand and judged that he could likely defeat a mid-Sixth Tier Ferocious Beast in a head-on fight.