Chapter Summaries

Loa and Wangcai encountered a Snowshadow Leopard in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and Wangcai killed it with his lightning. They took its Level Seven Magic Crystal Core and prepared to eat its roasted meat.

• A Snowshadow Leopard killed three brothers who had been beating the second brother, then followed Loa and Wangcai through the woods.
• Loa sensed the Snowshadow Leopard approaching while he and Wangcai ate dried meat.
• The Snowshadow Leopard lunged at Loa, but Wangcai kicked it away and struck it with paralyzing lightning.
• Wangcai killed the Snowshadow Leopard, cut out its Magic Crystal Core, and brought it to Loa.
• Loa praised Wangcai, took the core, and began cutting the roasted leopard meat for their meal.

Loa returned to Fenlai with Wangcai for the New Year after visiting Grandpa Jack’s grave, where he broke through to become an eighth-level Warrior. He reunited with Uncle Bob and revealed his new strength, while keeping the Fire Dragon gifts for Bob and Wot until after the festival.

• Loa returned to Wushan Town and meditated beside Grandpa Jack’s grave, breaking through to eighth-level Warrior by morning.
• Loa tested his new speed against Wangcai, then decided they would visit Bebe and the others after the New Year and headed to Fenlai.
• Loa arrived at his old home in Fenlai, found that Bob had kept the room clean, and put away two Jade Boxes holding level nine Fire Dragon hearts and Magical Cores for Bob and Wot.
• Bob came home late and was knocked down by Wangcai, who then carried him inside after Loa ordered the dog to give him an electric shock.
• Loa gave Bob mountain tea and told him he had reached eighth-level Warrior, leaving Bob stunned.

After stabilizing his cultivation, Loa visited Wot Lucas and delivered two ninth-level Fire Dragon hearts and Magic Crystal Cores so the Lucas Clan could make potions for Wot and Loa’s friend. The family accepted the arrangement, and Old Marquis Jeb invited Loa to choose a treasure from his private collection.

• Loa spent a week cultivating at home, then packed two Jade Boxes containing ninth-level Fire Dragon hearts and Magic Crystal Cores and went to the Lucas Clan estate.
• Wot opened one box, recognized the ingredients were from a ninth-level Fire Dragon, and called Kailai Lucas and Jeb Lucas to decide whether the clan could accept them.
• Loa told Kailai that the ingredients were a wedding gift for Wot and asked the clan to make two doses of the same potion for his friend as well.
• Kailai agreed to arrange the potions, and Jeb invited Loa to choose an item from his private collection.
• Loa accepted Jeb’s invitation and followed him to the collection, where Wot said no one else had been allowed inside.

Loa discovered the warblade Slaughter, the ancestral weapon of the Baruch Clan, in Jeb’s collection and awakened its immense killing aura. He accepted it from Jeb, then decided to keep it temporarily before returning it to Linley.

• Jeb showed Loa his collection, where Loa noticed an ancient warblade and recognized its extraordinary presence.
• Loa lifted the blade and awakened its blood energy, nearly knocking the weak Jeb off his feet.
• Jeb gave the warblade to Loa, who identified it as Slaughter, the Baruch Clan’s ancestral treasure.
• Loa took the blade home and sensed a vision of Baruch charging into battle with it.
• Loa stored Slaughter in his Space Ring and decided to return it to Linley when he visited him.

After a year of training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Loa returned to the Ernst Institute for the new term and reunited with his friends. He settled back in with Reynolds and George, then welcomed Linley and Bebe as the new year began.

• Loa assessed his progress and continued tempering his thoracic vertebrae while Wangcai trained toward becoming a Level Eight Magical Beast.
• On February ninth, Loa took Wangcai to the Ernst Institute and reunited with Reynolds and George in 1987 Dormitory.
• Loa brewed wild mountain tea for Reynolds and George, and George savored its sweet aftertaste.
• Linley returned with Bebe, and Wangcai surprised Bebe by speaking the rat language.
• Loa and Linley shared tea and smiled at their reunion as the new year began.

Loa returned the Baruch Clan’s heirloom saber to Linley, who was overwhelmed to have the Slaughter Blade back and pledged his family’s loyalty to Loa. Linley planned to take the saber home soon and surprise his father, Hogg.

• Loa opened the wooden box and revealed the Slaughter Blade to Linley, George, and Reynolds.
• Linley recognized the saber as the Baruch Clan’s heirloom and thanked Loa, promising that he and his clan would repay him whenever he needed help.
• Yale arrived and learned how Loa had recovered the saber and returned it to Linley.
• George explained that Linley belonged to the legendary Dragonblood Warrior Clan, and Linley admitted that his bloodline was too weak for him to transform.
• Yale suggested celebrating, and Linley later decided to take the saber home to surprise Hogg.

Linley returned to Wushan Town and brought the Baruch Clan’s ancestral Battle Blade Slaughter to his father, Hogg. Hogg restored the blade to its stand in the ancestral hall and ordered a town-wide celebration.

• Linley arrived at the Baruch Clan manor with Bebe and asked Hillman where Hogg was.
• Linley pulled Hogg to the ancestral hall and revealed the Battle Blade Slaughter.
• Hogg recognized the blade, wept with joy, and praised Linley for bringing it home.
• Linley told Hogg how Loa had returned the blade and how Linley had sworn to honor the Baruch Clan’s benefactor.
• Hogg placed the blade on its stand and told Hillman to prepare a celebration for the town.

Hogg told Hillman that he intended to investigate Lina’s death and avenge her, and Hillman agreed to help after Hogg promised to wait until Linley could stand on his own. Three months later, Loa continued training and studying the writing of the Four Supreme Planes, then heard a knock at his door.

• In the ancestral hall, Hogg told Hillman that Linley and Wharton had given him pride and that he had decided to investigate Lina’s death.
• Hillman warned Hogg that the investigation could cost him his life, but agreed to help after Hogg promised to wait until Linley was able to stand on his own.
• Three months passed as Loa trained, visited Myron and Cass, and received word that Linley had become a fourth-rank mage.
• After training with Wangcai, Loa began studying books about the Four Supreme Planes and heard a knock at the door.

Loa received the Flame Heart Potion from Wot and accepted an invitation to Wot and Tiya Millers's wedding. He gave the potion to Bob to help him break through to Rank 7 Warrior, and Bob agreed to rest before attempting it the next day.

• Wot introduced Loa to his fiancée, Tiya Millers, and gave Loa the Flame Heart Potion and their wedding invitation.
• Loa congratulated Wot and Tiya, promised to attend their wedding next month, and watched them leave.
• Wangcai asked whether it and Loa were married, so Loa stopped it before it could continue.
• Bob returned drunk from drinking with old Kama, and Loa dunked him in a water barrel to sober him up.
• Loa gave Bob the Flame Heart Potion, explaining that it could help him break through to Rank 7 Warrior.
• Bob eagerly accepted the potion and agreed to rest before attempting his breakthrough the next day.

Bob used Loa’s potion to break through to Rank 7 and gained the potential to reach higher levels. At Wot Lucas’s wedding, Loa watched the Fenlai Kingdom’s most powerful nobles and King Clayde arrive, and the ceremony began as Wot appeared at the hall doors.

• Bob took Loa’s potion, liquefied his battle-qi, and broke through to Rank 7.
• Loa explained that the potion had raised Bob’s talent ceiling, though reaching Saint level would depend on his insight and fortune.
• Loa left Wangcai at home and went to Wot Lucas’s wedding at the Lucas Clan residence.
• Duke Paterson, several high-ranking officials, and King Clayde arrived and took seats at the front of the hall.
• Clayde and Duke Paterson noticed Loa, who greeted them with a raised wine cup.
• When the auspicious hour arrived, the hall doors opened and Wot Lucas stood at the end of the aisle.

Wot and Tiya married in a ceremony attended by Fenlai’s nobles, where King Clayde offered Loa a marquisate and Loa declined. After the celebrations, Loa returned home and promised Wangcai they would set out on another journey soon.

• Wot and Tiya exchanged vows and rings, then shared a kiss before the guests at their wedding.
• At the banquet, Clayde and the nobles toasted Loa, and Wot and Tiya thanked him for attending and for his gift.
• Clayde offered Loa a marquisate to join the Fenlai Kingdom, but Loa declined while saying he might consider the kingdom first in the future.
• Loa noticed Els was absent and suspected Clayde and Paterson worked together, then left the wedding party early.
• Loa returned home near midnight, found Wangcai lonely, and promised they would travel again soon.

Caesar tried to recruit Loa into the Wild Thunder Squadron, then challenged him to a duel after Loa refused. Loa easily subdued Caesar and spared him when Clayde intervened, while a Temple Knight of the Radiant Church watched with interest.

• Caesar visited Loa and invited him to join the Wild Thunder Squadron, but Loa declined.
• After Caesar insulted Loa and demanded a fight, Loa agreed to meet him at Little Ming Mountain.
• Caesar attacked Loa at full strength, but Loa evaded his strikes and forced him to one knee with overwhelming physical power.
• Caesar launched Tiger Hunt, but Loa pinned him with Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Sword Force and held a qi sword to his forehead.
• Clayde arrived and begged Loa to spare Caesar, who apologized after Loa withdrew his sword.
• A Temple Knight of the Radiant Church watched Loa, and they exchanged glances and a nod.

After defeating Clayde, Loa caught the attention of Kafka and the Radiant Church’s Glory Legion, whose commander Marcus invited him to dinner. Loa agreed to spar with Marcus at the legion’s garrison, wagering that he would receive several bottles of the Church’s special wine if he won.

• Loa left Clayde and agreed to have a drink with Kafka another day before returning home to Wangcai and Bob.
• Kafka reported Loa’s strength and potential to become a Saint to Marcus, who urged him to invite Loa to meet that evening.
• Kafka visited Loa at home and persuaded him to join him for dinner with Marcus.
• Marcus welcomed Loa, shared special wine and Level Nine Magical Beast meat, and asked to exchange blows with him.
• Loa agreed to spar Marcus, wagering that he would receive several bottles of wine if he won, and the three headed to the Glory Legion’s garrison.

Loa fought Commander Marcus at the Glory Legion’s encampment and defeated him with his Wind Threads Turn to Dust technique. Marcus accepted the loss and offered Loa a place in the legion, but Loa chose to remain independent while agreeing to visit and spar again.

• Loa opened the match with Unpredictable Thunder Shadow Step, and Marcus blocked his attacks with his saber.
• Loa unleashed Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Sword Force and Startling Thunder, but Marcus countered with Glory Shield and Light Cross Slash.
• As their fight intensified, Kafka told Jamie that Loa had not fought at full strength when he faced Caesar.
• Marcus used Aurora Star River Fall, but Loa’s Wind Threads Turn to Dust dispersed the saber Qi and shaved off Marcus’s beard.
• Marcus admitted defeat, promised Loa his wine, and offered him a deputy commander position, but Loa declined to join the legion.
• Kafka teased Marcus about his new look, and Marcus kicked him as the knights laughed.

After defeating Marcus, Loa joined the Dawson Chamber of Commerce as a guest elder to stop other powers from recruiting him and preserve his freedom. The announcement deterred rival recruiters, leaving him relieved as he headed home.

• Loa reflected on his fight with Marcus and decided to take a nominal position with the Dawson Chamber of Commerce to ward off recruiters.
• Myron asked Loa about his strength, and Loa said his battle-qi was eighth level but he could fight on par with a peak ninth-level expert.
• Loa told Myron and Yale that he wanted to join the chamber in a nominal role so he could keep adventuring freely.
• Myron offered Loa thirty million gold coins upon joining and another hundred million when he reached the Saint level, and Loa accepted the title of guest elder.
• The Dawson Chamber of Commerce announced Loa's appointment, prompting other powers to stop their recruitment efforts.
• Loa declined Myron's dinner invitation and walked home, relieved to have gained some peace and quiet.

Loa completed tempering his thoracic vertebrae, broke through to mid-stage level eight, and assessed his new strength. After deciding to postpone work on his cervical vertebrae, he prepared to travel to the O'Brien Empire and its capital, Chiyan City.

• Loa finished tempering his twelfth thoracic vertebra, expelling impurities and breaking through to mid-stage level eight.
• Loa discovered that his organs, strength transmission, and breathing had improved, bringing his offense close to Saint level while leaving him vulnerable to fatal attacks.
• Loa practiced with Hidden Abyss, then decided to consolidate his gains before attempting the more dangerous cervical vertebrae.
• Wangcai asked whether Loa could defeat a Saint, and Loa explained that he might trade his life for one but could still die from a Saint's attack.
• Loa decided to travel north through the Magical Beast Mountain Range to the O'Brien Empire and continue toward its capital, Chiyan City.

Loa left home with Wangcai to cultivate in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, deepening his understanding of wind as they traveled north. Nearly three months into the journey, they settled in a cabin beside a frozen lake to wait out heavy snow.

• Loa packed Wangcai’s bed, bowl, and toys into his Space Ring before leaving home with the dog.
• Loa said goodbye to Bob, promised to write, and asked him to tell Loa’s friends where he had gone.
• A month later, Loa used wind to capture and hurl away a level nine Wild Wind Lightning Eagle that attacked him.
• Loa and Wangcai traveled slowly through the Magical Beast Mountain Range, where Loa practiced his wind abilities and sparred with other cultivators.
• As winter set in, Loa built a cabin beside a frozen lake and used airflow to keep the snow and cold outside while he rested with Wangcai.

Loa celebrated the Yulan Festival by fishing, then began tempering the final region of his Heavenly Pillar Method, the Cervical Domain. His first session greatly strengthened his Spiritual Force, but the painful process still had a long way to go.

• Loa caught a large fish through the ice and explained to Wangcai that he enjoyed waiting for a bite.
• At the Ernst Institute in Fenlai City, Linley entered his fifth year and was recognized alongside Dixie as one of its two peerless geniuses.
• Loa painted the mountain’s sea of clouds using Spiritual Force and reflected on his growing ability.
• Loa devised a high-frequency Wind-Thunder Tempering technique inspired by cicada song to train his Cervical Domain.
• With Wangcai keeping watch, Loa completed a ten-minute training session that left him trembling but sharply increased his Spiritual Force.

After a year of travel, Loa broke through to the late stage of his Battle-qi realm while Wangcai developed a powerful new ability and killed a Golden Money Leopard. A white-clad stranger witnessed Wangcai’s power and followed him to Loa, who sensed someone watching but found no trace.

• Loa reached the late stage of his Battle-qi realm after cultivating beneath a waterfall.
• Wangcai killed a Seventh-Level Golden Money Leopard with purple lightning empowered by his understanding of Judgment.
• A white-clad man watched Wangcai’s attack, then followed him through the forest to Loa.
• The stranger studied Loa from a distance and disappeared into the woods without revealing himself.
• Wangcai returned with the leopard, and Loa praised him before sensing that someone had been watching.

Loa confronted Olivier Achisoren, the O'Brien Empire's genius Sword Saint, after detecting him following them through the forest. Loa and Olivier began a duel, each revealing extraordinary speed and swordsmanship as the clash started.

• Loa sensed someone following him and forced Olivier Achisoren to reveal himself by firing a sword ray that Olivier blocked with one hand.
• Olivier asked how Loa had detected him, but Loa refused to explain unless Olivier defeated him.
• Loa recognized Olivier as the O'Brien Empire's genius Sword Saint and challenged him to fight; Wangcai retreated to watch from behind a boulder.
• Loa attacked with Unpredictable Thunder Shadow Step and the Nine Heavens Wind-Thunder Sword Force, surprising Olivier with his mastery of force.
• Olivier drew his sword and used tremendous speed to surround Loa with thirty-six afterimages, while Loa prepared to counter with Hidden Abyss.