Chapter Summaries

Loa received the newly forged sword from Bob, named it Hidden Abyss, and discovered that it could grow stronger while reducing his Battle-qi consumption. After studying maps that pointed toward the Thunder Prison Sword Saint’s legacy, Loa planned a dangerous expedition into the Magical Beast Mountain Range’s core.

• Bob finished wrapping the sword’s grip and told Loa it rivaled the weapons of an ordinary Level Nine warrior.
• Loa named the sword Hidden Abyss after sensing its concealed wind, thunder, and starlight powers.
• Loa retired his old Thousand-Fold Steel sword and spent two days learning to use Hidden Abyss, which repaired and strengthened itself and reduced his Battle-qi consumption.
• Loa compared two maps and identified Thunderstorm Lake, Thunderclap Mountain, and Thunderclap Valley as possible lightning-related sites near the core region.
• Loa decided to investigate the marked danger zones in search of the Thunder Prison Sword Saint’s legacy.

Loa left Fenlai City and traveled through the Magical Beast Mountain Range to Blackstone Canyon, where he prepared to enter the dangerous core region the next day. He rested in the bear cave after clearing out its new residents.

• Loa left Fenlai City with a letter for Linley and traveled toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
• Loa crossed the mountain outskirts, using his sword force to deter beasts and hunting a wild boar for food.
• Loa reached Blackstone Canyon and learned that mercenaries were mining the Earth Vein Lizard's former lair for valuable ore.
• Loa killed five Bloodthirsty Arrow-Pigs that had occupied the bear cave and aired out the cave.
• Loa rested in the cave, planning to enter the core region the following morning.

After three days in the Magical Beast Mountain Range’s Core Region, Loa encountered and killed a seventh-level Velociraptor, a creature reminiscent of the one he had faced as a child. He claimed its Dragon Crystal Core and hurried away before a more powerful beast could arrive.

• Loa rested beside a lake and roasted meat after collecting ten sixth-level Magic Crystal Cores during his journey through the Core Region.
• A seventh-level Velociraptor appeared and attacked Loa with a roar and dragon breath, but he split the flames with a sword strike.
• Loa used his Thunder Shadow Step and Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Sword Force to wound the Velociraptor’s neck while evading its tail.
• Loa killed the Velociraptor with Wind Threads Turn to Dust, which disintegrated its head and severed its neck.
• Loa took the Level Seven Dragon Crystal Core and left the lakeside before a stronger beast could reach the corpse.

Loa reached Thunderstorm Lake and witnessed its periodic thunder tide lift Lake-Center Island above the water. He crossed the lake on wooden boards, survived an attack by an Electric Giant Eel, and landed on the island, where he began to investigate.

• Loa made camp beside Thunderstorm Lake and watched the water recede as lightning spread across the lake and raised Lake-Center Island into the air.
• Loa stayed awake through the night, observed the island rise even higher under the full moon, and planned a way to reach it.
• Loa cut dead Iron Birch into boards and used them to travel across the lake with Unpredictable Thunder Shadow Step.
• An Electric Giant Eel burst from the water and destroyed Loa’s first board as it tried to bite him.
• Loa struck the eel’s jaw with another board to propel himself toward the island, then landed on its rocky shore as the eel returned to the lake.
• Loa waited for the lake to grow still, kept his hand near Hidden Abyss, and turned to examine Lake-Center Island.

Loa found the island’s hollow empty and used Thunderlight Grass to make bait for the Thunder Giant Eel. He lured the Seventh-Level Magical Beast to the surface, killed it, and left with its Magic Crystal Core and meat.

• Loa found the island’s summit hollow scraped clean and concluded someone had taken whatever it once contained.
• Loa gathered Thunderlight Grass and mixed it with dried magical-beast meat to make seven bait balls.
• Loa scattered the bait around the island and waited until the Thunder Giant Eel rose to eat one.
• Loa struck the eel with Hidden Abyss, then pursued it underwater and withstood its powerful electrical discharge.
• Loa killed the Thunder Giant Eel, took its Magic Crystal Core and a section of meat, and returned to shore.

Loa spent seven days at Thunderstorm Lake cultivating and studying the thunder tide, which changed how he understood lightning and swordsmanship. After learning to conduct lightning through his battle-qi, he left Magnetic Island to continue his journey.

• Loa stayed at Thunderstorm Lake, ate Peppercorn Numbing Eel, and continued cultivating his Two Forms Battle-qi and Lumbar Domain.
• Loa watched the thunder tide for several days and realized lightning could turn, split, and seek the path of least resistance.
• During the stronger sixth-day tide, Loa felt lightning flow through his body along the course of his battle-qi.
• On the seventh morning, Loa sent a tiny arc into the rock and understood that lightning could conduct inward rather than only strike head-on.
• Loa washed in the lake, packed his gear, and left Magnetic Island for his next stop.

Loa reached Thunderclap Mountain and Thunderclap Valley, using their distinctive sounds and lightning to refine his cultivation and investigate the valley’s dangerous core. After learning to match the valley’s electrical frequency, he entered the core without being attacked and set out to explore it the next morning.

• Loa studied the wind resonance in Thunderclap Mountain and adjusted the Wind-Thunder Heavenly Pillar Method, accelerating the tempering of his Lumbar Domain.
• At Thunderclap Valley, Loa discovered that the ground released lightning and that a Rank 8 strike guarded the valley’s black-rock core.
• Loa observed Thunderbirds and other lightning magical beasts, memorizing their electrical frequencies and blending them into his Two Forms Battle-qi.
• Loa matched the valley’s frequency, passed safely through its lightning defenses, and briefly entered the core area.
• Loa killed a Thunder Sheep for a meal, then walked deeper into the valley the following morning.

Loa discovered a lightning pool and a mysterious fruit, but a Level Eight Thunderfang Tiger guarding it forced him to flee. After surviving the beast’s furious lightning attack, he resolved to grow stronger before returning for the fruit.

• Loa entered Thunderclap Valley’s core zone and found a lightning pool, a strange fruit, and a Thunderfang Tiger beside it.
• Loa fled when the Thunderfang Tiger spotted him, using Unpredictable Thunder Shadow Step to escape its pursuit.
• The enraged Thunderfang Tiger unleashed Thunderclap Fury, blasting the core zone and nearly striking Loa.
• Loa hid in a rock crevice, assessed his injuries, and recognized the overwhelming gap between Level Seven and Level Eight.
• Loa decided to break through to Rank 7, finish tempering his Lumbar Domain, and return for the fruit before leaving Thunderclap Valley.

Loa completed the tempering of his fifth lumbar vertebra and broke through to the seventh rank, gaining liquid battle-qi and completing the Heavenly Pillar Method’s second domain. He tested his greatly increased physical strength, then set out toward Thunderclap Valley to confront the Thunderfang Tiger and claim the fruit.

• Loa finished tempering his fifth lumbar vertebra beneath the waterfall, linking his sacrococcygeal and lumbar domains.
• The vitality released by the completed domain compressed his battle-qi into liquid, marking his breakthrough to the seventh rank.
• Loa used Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Sword Force to stop the waterfall, then shattered its suspended curtain with a punch.
• Loa inspected his completed jade-colored bone chain and found that his physical strength and force transmission had greatly improved.
• Loa lifted and hurled a thousand-jin boulder, then headed toward Thunderclap Valley to face the Thunderfang Tiger and seek the fruit.

Loa fought the Thunderfang Tiger in Thunderclap Valley, revealing that his breakthrough had made his Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Sword Force powerful enough to shatter the beast’s lightning shield. As the guarded fruit began to ripen and a vast thundercloud formed overhead, Loa and the tiger prepared to resume their fight before other powerful creatures arrived.

• Loa entered Thunderclap Valley on January first and faced the Thunderfang Tiger in the Core Region.
• Loa used nine real shadows and Wind Threads Turn to Dust to break the tiger’s lightning shield, but the tiger escaped the attack and recognized him as an opponent.
• Loa and the Thunderfang Tiger fought across the Core Region until a massive thundercloud formed above the valley.
• Loa saw a pillar of lightning connect the pool’s green branch and ripening fruit to the cloud.
• Loa and the Thunderfang Tiger prepared to fight to the death as distant beast roars signaled that others might be approaching.

Loa fought the Thunderfang Tiger in a battle of wounds and life-or-death attacks, using Wind Threads Turn to Dust to break down its lightning and tear through its body. Both were gravely injured and faced each other ten zhang apart as the thundercloud continued to grow and approaching beasts roared nearby.

• Loa and the Thunderfang Tiger exchanged brutal attacks without retreating, leaving both badly wounded.
• Loa stepped into the tiger’s lightning-charged pounce and slashed its throat while it pierced his chest.
• The tiger struck Loa’s waist with its dying Shear attack, but his Lumbar Domain bones endured the blow.
• Loa unleashed Wind Threads Turn to Dust against the tiger’s final lightning charge, dissolving its lightning and shredding its body with sword threads.
• Loa and the Thunderfang Tiger were hurled apart and remained alive, wounded, and facing each other as more beast roars approached.

Loa consumed half of the fruit, healed his injuries, and comprehended a lightning execution technique that annihilated the Thunderfang Tiger’s body and soul. Exhausted, he hid from two Saint-level beasts, but their clash buried him beneath the Thunder Pool, where he lost consciousness.

• Loa and the Thunderfang Tiger each swallowed half of the fruit, rapidly recovering from their injuries and gaining renewed vitality.
• Loa combined his lightning insights with his understanding of life and death to create the Nine Heavens Execution Platform, which used Yang Thunder to destroy the Thunderfang Tiger’s body and Yin Thunder to annihilate its soul.
• After Loa’s battle-qi and mental energy were nearly depleted, a Saint-level Thunder Dragon named Bai'erluosi and the Saint-level Blood-Eyed Mane Lion arrived and argued over the valley.
• Loa concealed himself in the Thunder Pool while Bai'erluosi and the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion fought, and falling rocks buried the pool and pinned him beneath the debris.
• As the two Saints’ voices faded, Loa’s vision darkened and he lost consciousness beneath the Thunder Pool.

Loa woke beneath the rubble of Thunderclap Valley fully healed and stronger, with his cultivation and techniques advanced during his unconsciousness. After leaving the ruined valley and recovering at a waterfall, he chose to investigate Silent Extinction Gorge first, then possibly Thunder Magnet Mountain.

• Loa woke buried beneath rubble, discovered his injuries had healed, and found his battle-qi and lightning techniques had grown stronger while the Wind-Thunder Heavenly Pillar Method tempered two thoracic vertebrae.
• Loa blasted his way out of the lightning pool, found the Thunderfang Tiger's corpse missing, and retrieved a strengthened Hidden Abyss.
• Loa saw that the battle between the Saint magical beasts had devastated Thunderclap Valley and then went to a nearby waterfall to wash and change.
• Loa examined his maps and considered whether the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion had gone to Thunder Magnet Mountain to attack Bai'erluosi's nest.
• Loa decided to travel east to Silent Extinction Gorge first and set out with Hidden Abyss at his waist.

Loa reached Annihilation Canyon and sensed the lethal aura of the Edict of Destruction, then continued toward Thunder-Magnetic Mountain after mistaking distant tremors for an earthquake. At the mountain, Bai'erluosi and the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion died in a clash that left Tuopuyale fleeing, while a faint spark of lightning appeared in the forgotten egg in the dragon's lair.

• Loa arrived at Annihilation Canyon, recognized the deadly power of the Edict of Destruction, and chose not to comprehend it before walking through the canyon.
• Loa set off toward Thunder-Magnetic Mountain and felt distant tremors, which he thought might be an earthquake.
• The Blood-Eyed Mane Lion and Tuopuyale confronted Bai'erluosi after killing her child, and Bai'erluosi attacked them in grief and rage.
• Bai'erluosi detonated her Magic Crystal Core while holding the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion, triggering his core to explode as well and severely injuring Tuopuyale.
• Tuopuyale fled, and five Saint magical beasts arrived, confirmed Bai'erluosi and the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion were dead, and left Thunder-Magnetic Mountain unclaimed.
• After the five Saints departed, a faint flash of lightning appeared in a crack in the forgotten egg inside the dragon's lair.

Loa reached Thunder-Magnetic Mountain and followed the maps to a hidden refuge beneath Bai'erluosi’s empty lair. He found the Thunder Prison Sword Saint’s legacy, including a Space Ring, and discovered a cracked dragon egg that briefly showed a spark of lightning as they fell into the refuge.

• Loa crossed a devastated battlefield and identified Thunder-Magnetic Mountain as Bai'erluosi’s lair.
• The two maps glowed, pointed toward the summit, and led Loa to climb the mountain while avoiding signs of Bai'erluosi.
• Loa found Bai'erluosi’s empty cave and a cracked, apparently lifeless dragon egg; the maps then disintegrated and opened a concealed passage beneath the floor.
• Loa fell into the hidden refuge with the egg and found a hall containing a greatsword, jade boxes, and a defensive magic array that shattered when he drew his sword.
• Loa identified the greatsword as Thunder Prison, claimed a Space Ring, and read the Thunder Prison Sword Saint’s writings about his legacy, the Supreme Planes, and the Rasky Family’s Battle Qi Manual.

Loa discovered Thunder Source Essence and a bowl of Life Source Liquid among the Thunder Prison Sword Saint’s treasures, but a cracked egg absorbed all the liquid and hatched into a purple, puppy-like creature. After deciding to form a contract with the unusual beast, Loa gathered the legacy treasures and left the hall with the sleeping creature.

• Loa found Thunder Source Essence and stored it in his spatial ring.
• Loa opened the third jade box and discovered a bowl filled with Life Source Liquid.
• The cracked dragon egg rolled toward the bowl, paralyzed Loa with purple lightning, and absorbed all the liquid.
• Loa shook the egg, causing its shell to crack open and reveal a purple, puppy-like hatchling.
• The hatchling ate the eggshells, climbed onto Loa, and fell asleep; Loa decided to form a contract with it.
• Loa stored the remaining treasures and left the hall carrying the sleeping hatchling.

Loa cared for the newborn cub he had found in Thunder Dragon Cave, named it Wangcai, and formed a magical beast contract with it. After Wangcai called him “Mama,” Loa taught it to call him “Big Brother,” then set off for home with the cub.

• Loa traveled away from Thunder-Magnetic Mountain through the night, feeding the sleeping cub dried meat when it woke.
• By a river, Loa grilled fish and fed most of it to the hungry cub.
• Loa named the purple cub Wangcai, and the two playfully called back and forth.
• Loa used a Magical Beast Contract Scroll to bond himself and Wangcai, allowing him to sense the cub’s emotions.
• Wangcai called Loa “Mama,” but Loa corrected it and taught it to say “Big Brother” before heading home.

After three months of traveling and training, Loa watched Wangcai kill a fourth-level wind wolf, then faced the wolf pack led by the Wind Wolf King he had fought the previous year. As the thousand-wolf hunt began, Loa drew Hidden Abyss and prepared to show Wangcai a real fight.

• Loa trained with Hidden Abyss and circulated his battle-qi, noting that he had tempered three of his twelve thoracic vertebrae.
• Wangcai killed a fourth-level wind wolf with a headbutt and Thunder Fangs.
• A pack of at least a thousand wind wolves surrounded Loa and Wangcai, led by the scarred Wind Wolf King, now a seventh-level magical beast.
• Loa recognized the Wind Wolf King, which also recognized and hated him for the sword strike that had nearly killed it.
• Loa told Wangcai he would show him a real fight, then drew Hidden Abyss as the wolves began their attack.

Loa fought the Wind Wolf pack while Wangcai awakened a powerful bloodline ability and joined the battle. Loa killed the Wolf King and the remaining wolves, collected the Magic Crystal Cores, and left with the exhausted Wangcai.

• Loa cut down the charging Wind Wolves, then pierced their wind-blade assault and attacked the pack’s rear ranks.
• Wangcai awakened his bloodline’s power, unleashed a roar that frightened the Wind Wolves, and charged into the fight beside Loa.
• The Wolf King and ten elite Wind Wolves combined their magic into a giant wind blade, but Loa halted it with Nine Heavens Execution Platform and killed all eleven.
• Loa rescued Wangcai from the surrounding wolves and slaughtered the rest of the pack.
• Loa treated Wangcai’s wounds, collected the eleven Magic Crystal Cores from the Wolf King’s pit, and left with Wangcai in his arms.

After nearly a year in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Loa returned to Fenlai City with Wangcai and settled back into his old home. Bob welcomed him and offered to get food while Loa planned to stay and rest for a while.

• Loa entered Fenlai City with Wangcai, who eagerly explored the sights and asked about the people, food, and animals.
• Loa returned to his courtyard in Cast Iron Alley and explained to Wangcai that home was a safe place to rest.
• Loa showed Wangcai the well and outhouse while settling his belongings from the Space Ring.
• Bob arrived, welcomed Loa home, and met Wangcai, whom Loa introduced as his magical beast.
• Loa told Bob he was not leaving for now, and Bob went to get them something to eat.