Chapter Summaries

Hu Gan brought the new students through a hidden gate into the Inner Courtyard, where Grand Elder Su Qian explained that they had to cross a forest while older students hunted them for their Fire Energy. The Fire Energy Hunting Competition began, leaving the new students to flee or fight their way to the Inner Academy.

• Hu Gan opened a hidden silver gate and led the new students into the Inner Courtyard, where Su Qian, Qin Elder, and senior students awaited them.
• Hu Gan introduced the top five contestants and highlighted Chen Xiao's age and strength, impressing Su Qian and Qin Elder.
• Su Qian handed each student a crystal card showing five Fire Energy points and warned them to protect it.
• Su Qian explained that older students could attack the newcomers in the forest and plunder their Fire Energy, with greater rewards for those who arrived sooner.
• Su Qian announced the start of the Fire Energy Hunting Competition and told the new students to run for their lives.

Chen Xiao raced through the forest during the Fire Energy Hunting Competition and defeated the Black Devil Team and White Devil Team to seize their fire energy. After raising his Fire Crystal Card total to three hundred and forty-five, he continued toward the Inner Academy and the reward for the fastest clear.

• Grand Elder Su Qian reviewed the new students’ backgrounds with Hu Gan and Qin Elder, then sent supervisors into the forest to prevent serious injuries.
• Chen Xiao flew ahead alone, aiming to reach the end of the forest quickly and claim the reward for the fastest clear.
• Chen Xiao defeated Du Tao and the Black Devil Team, taking most of their fire energy and learning about Fu Jun and the wealthy White Devil Team.
• Chen Xiao defeated the White Devil Team and transferred their fire energy, bringing his total to three hundred and forty-five.

After winning the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, Chen Xiao entered Jia Nan Academy’s Inner Academy and received a valuable Azure Fire Crystal Card. Settled in a temporary residence, he prepared to use an Earth Fire Lotus Seed as bait to draw out a powerful target.

• Su Qian declared Chen Xiao the competition’s sole winner and awarded him an Azure Fire Crystal Card and one hundred days of fire energy.
• Chen Xiao transferred his fire energy to the Azure Fire Crystal Card, bringing its balance to five hundred and forty-five days, and followed Su Qian into the Inner Academy.
• Su Qian showed Chen Xiao the vast basin containing the Inner Academy and explained that stronger students awaited him there.
• Su Qian settled Chen Xiao in a small pavilion reserved for the top five new students, then left to oversee the ongoing competition.
• Chen Xiao chose and cleaned a room, then placed an Earth Fire Lotus Seed on his desk as bait for a powerful target.

Chen Xiao met Zi Yan, who offered to help him defeat the Snow Demon Sky Ape in exchange for the Earth Fire Lotus Seed. As they set out to find the beast, Chen Xiao made her a sweet, icy drink from an Earth Lotus Fruit, and she loved it.

• Chen Xiao planned to visit Arena Elder Xi Ziliang about the fifth-rank Magical Beast, but Zi Yan suddenly appeared and offered to help for the Earth Fire Lotus Seed.
• Chen Xiao agreed to Zi Yan's offer after she claimed she could easily defeat fifth-rank Magical Beasts, and they headed into the mountains behind the Inner Academy to find the Snow Demon Sky Ape.
• Zi Yan praised Chen Xiao's Ice Attribute for keeping the heat away and told him she ate medicinal herbs to grow.
• Chen Xiao mashed an Earth Lotus Fruit, sweetened it, and added crushed ice to make Zi Yan a smoothie.
• Zi Yan tasted the drink and exclaimed that it was delicious.

Chen Xiao and Zi Yan searched the deep mountains for the Snow Demon Sky Ape and spent the night in Zi Yan’s cliffside cave. The next morning, Chen Xiao broke through to Five Star Dou Ling.

• Zi Yan drank the Earth Lotus Fruit, introduced herself to Chen Xiao, and offered to protect him in the Inner Academy.
• Zi Yan led Chen Xiao to a cliffside cave for the night, saying nearby Magical Beasts feared her.
• Chen Xiao told Zi Yan he was searching for the Snow Demon Sky Ape because its territory might contain valuable things.
• After a peaceful night, Chen Xiao felt his Dou Qi surge and began breaking through while Zi Yan watched.
• Chen Xiao opened his eyes at sunrise after advancing to Five Star Dou Ling.

Chen Xiao and Zi Yan found the Snow Demon Sky Ape’s valley, where Zi Yan easily defeated the beast and they searched its cave. They uncovered an underground stalactite world and found only a small amount of diluted Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, leaving Zi Yan convinced someone had taken the rest.

• Chen Xiao and Zi Yan found the Snow Demon Sky Ape’s valley, and Chen Xiao attacked the beast before Zi Yan stepped in.
• Zi Yan overwhelmed the Snow Demon Sky Ape, threw it into a cliff, and subdued it after it fled through the valley.
• Chen Xiao and Zi Yan entered the cave and uncovered a hidden opening beneath loose sand and fur.
• Chen Xiao and Zi Yan followed Zi Yan’s sense of a treasure through an underground world of glowing stalactites.
• Chen Xiao recognized the small pool in a stalactite basin as diluted Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, and Zi Yan said someone had taken the rest.

Chen Xiao and Zi Yan collected the remaining Earth Core Body Tempering Milk from the Snow Demon Sky Ape’s lair and returned to the Inner Academy. Chen Xiao weighed three possible pre-payments and chose Three Thousand Lightning Movement, but needed Grand Elder Su Qian’s approval before traveling to the Black-Corner Region.

• Chen Xiao let Zi Yan take some of the remaining Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, and she left a few drops for the Snow Demon Sky Ape.
• Zi Yan questioned the Snow Demon Sky Ape, which claimed no one had entered the cave before them, and she translated its answer for Chen Xiao.
• Chen Xiao paid Zi Yan one Earth Fire Lotus Seed for her help, and she told him where she usually stayed before leaving.
• Chen Xiao considered pre-paying for Three Thousand Lightning Movement, Heavenly Cold Qi, or the Heaven Jade Fruit, then chose Three Thousand Lightning Movement because its follow-up took the least time.
• Chen Xiao decided not to extract Three Thousand Lightning Movement yet because he needed Grand Elder Su Qian’s approval to travel to the Black-Corner Region.

Chen Xiao entered the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, endured its heart flame, and refined his Dou Qi despite his Ice Attribute. After cultivating on the tower’s third level, he found Zi Yan waiting outside his room because the new students’ Fire Energy Hunting Competition was nearly over.

• Chen Xiao entered the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower and suppressed the heart flame burning through his meridians with his Ice Attribute Dou Qi.
• Elder Liu observed that Chen Xiao lasted twenty-one minutes, explained the tower’s limited benefits for Ice Attribute cultivators, and advised him to use it to refine his Dou Qi.
• Chen Xiao found a cultivation room on the third level and cultivated until noon, reducing his Dou Qi quantity while improving its quality.
• Chen Xiao left his room and found Zi Yan waiting with a half-eaten medicinal herb, reminding him that he had told her to come find him when the Fire Energy Hunting Competition ended.

Grand Elder Su Qian gave Chen Xiao a three-year cultivation plan focused on building his experience, condensing Dou Qi, and tempering himself in the Black-Corner Region. Chen Xiao then introduced Zi Yan to Rong Rong, while Fu Jun’s attempt to confront him ended in shock when he recognized Chen Xiao’s companion.

• Su Qian identified Chen Xiao’s lack of accumulated experience and toughness, then advised him to study in the Grand Elder’s library, periodically cultivate in the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, and regularly enter the Black-Corner Region.
• Su Qian warned Zi Yan that she was not suited to visit the Black-Corner Region without supervision, and she denied wanting to go.
• Chen Xiao told Zi Yan he had found Rong Rong to help her avoid chewing medicinal ingredients directly.
• Fu Jun arrived with Rong Rong, intending to complain to Chen Xiao and recover some face, but froze when he saw Chen Xiao and recognized the girl beside him as the Brute Force King.

Chen Xiao had Chen Rong refine Zi Yan’s herbs into tasty pellets, then used Pre-pay to obtain the Three Thousand Lightning Movement scroll. Meanwhile, Sister Xun Er prepared to take Qing Lin away from the Xiao Family and called for Xiao Zhan to speak before they left.

• Chen Xiao had Chen Rong refine Zi Yan’s herbs into pellets, and Zi Yan made Chen Rong agree to keep refining them in exchange for protection.
• Chen Xiao declined to join Zi Yan in gathering more herbs and returned to the pavilion.
• Chen Xiao used Pre-pay to obtain the Three Thousand Lightning Movement scroll and planned to train for it while waiting for a thunderstorm.
• Sister Xun Er finished teaching Qing Lin, told her to pack for their departure the next morning, and sent Old Ling to bring Xiao Zhan for a frank conversation.

After half a month of peaceful cultivation, Chen Xiao seized a sudden mountain thunderstorm to refine the Wind and Thunder Power required for the Three Thousand Lightning Movement. He achieved its first major step, then Zi Yan told him that Su Qian had summoned them back because two guests had arrived.

• Chen Xiao spent half a month refining his Dou Qi, studying in Su Qian's office, and waiting in the mountains for a thunderstorm.
• Zi Yan joined Chen Xiao on a mountain peak and explained that the deep-mountain weather was unpredictable; a storm soon gathered around them.
• Chen Xiao opened the Three Thousand Lightning Movement scroll during the storm, captured its escaping energy figures, and endured the lightning arcs spreading through his meridians.
• Chen Xiao refined the Wind and Thunder Power into a lightning-shaped source that responded to his Dou Qi, completing the first difficult step of cultivation.
• Zi Yan appeared beside Chen Xiao and told him that Su Qian had sent word for them to return because two guests had arrived.

Chen Xiao reunited with Xun Er and Qing Lin at the Inner Academy and caught them up on his plans and experiences. Xun Er told him she had secured the Tou She Ancient God Jade from the Xiao Family and gave him a detailed scroll about Ice Attribute Spiritual Objects.

• Chen Xiao returned to the Small Pavilion, reunited with Xun Er and Qing Lin, and washed up before they talked.
• Chen Xiao explained that he had declined to form an academy faction and planned to enter the Black-Corner Region.
• Xun Er said she had traded useful items for Xiao Yan with Xiao Zhan and had obtained the Tou She Ancient God Jade.
• Xun Er gave Chen Xiao a scroll detailing Ice Attribute Spiritual Objects, where they might be found, and precautions for refining them.

Chen Xiao received information about Ice Attribute Spiritual Objects and a powerful Dou Technique from Xun Er before accompanying her and Qing Lin on a final walk through Jia Nan Academy. After bidding them farewell, he headed for the Black-Corner Region.

• Xun Er explained that refining most Ice Attribute Spiritual Objects did not require a Naling, and that Heavenly Cold Qi was a consumable resource rather than a true spiritual object.
• Xun Er gave Chen Xiao a black scroll containing the Emperor Seal Technique and warned him not to open it before reaching Dou Wang.
• Chen Xiao promised to meet Xun Er at her Coming-of-Age Ceremony in the Central Continent, and Ling Ying silently watched their exchange.
• Chen Xiao took Xun Er and Qing Lin around Jia Nan Academy at night, showing them its grounds and landmarks.
• As Xun Er and Qing Lin prepared to leave, Chen Xiao embraced Xun Er and whispered instructions that made her blush before they said their farewells.
• After watching Xun Er and Qing Lin disappear, Chen Xiao turned toward the Black-Corner Region.

After six months of surviving in the Black-Corner Region, Chen Xiao tracked down a Wind and Lightning Pavilion disciple who had betrayed the pavilion and killed Elder Yang Jian. Chen Xiao killed him, recovered a silver scroll that crumbled in his hands, and learned that one Pre-pay was available again.

• Chen Xiao entered the Black-Corner Region and killed a Scarface Man who tried to extort him at a town entrance.
• After half a year of training, Chen Xiao pursued a fleeing Six-Star Dou Ling who mistook him for a Wind and Lightning Pavilion pursuer.
• The young man confessed that he had attacked Elder Yang Jian after being bewitched by Liu Ru Yan, then killed her and fled the pavilion.
• The young man launched a desperate attack, but Chen Xiao dodged with Three Thousand Lightning Movement and killed him with an Ice Spear.
• Chen Xiao looted the young man's Storage Ring and found several valuable supplies and four scrolls.
• The silver scroll crumbled when Chen Xiao touched it, and his Pre-pay information updated to show one available Pre-pay.

Chen Xiao returned to the Inner Academy and announced that he planned to place in the top three of the Strong Ranking Tournament. He then Pre-paid a Heaven Jade Fruit and ate it to increase his strength.

• Chen Xiao watched Mu Boshan and Cao Hui spar, and Cao Hui gave up after failing to break Mu Boshan’s defense.
• Chen Xiao told his friends he had reserved a spot in the Strong Ranking Tournament’s top three.
• Zi Yan asked Chen Xiao to help persuade Grand Elder Su to let her go to the Black-Corner Region, and he agreed to ask.
• Fu Tong and Mu Boshan remarked on Chen Xiao’s rapid growth, while Cao Hui recalled a formidable alchemist known as the Demoness.
• Chen Xiao Pre-paid a Heaven Jade Fruit, opened the wooden box it appeared in, and ate the fruit.

Chen Xiao refined the Heaven Jade Fruit, reached the peak of Eight-Star Dou Ling, and learned what the Strong Ranking Tournament’s top-ten rewards offered. He traveled to Maple City to investigate Han Feng’s forces while training, as the tournament began back at Jia Nan Academy.

• Chen Xiao refined the Heaven Jade Fruit and advanced to the peak of Eight-Star Dou Ling while Zi Yan stood guard.
• Zi Yan explained that the tournament’s top ten could become elder candidates and receive Heart Flame Origin Tempering, then asked to accompany Chen Xiao to the Black-Corner Region, but he refused.
• Chen Xiao left for the Black-Corner Region and reached Maple City after two days of practicing Three Thousand Lightning Movement.
• Chen Xiao spent over a month training around Maple City and observing Han Feng’s forces without attracting their attention.
• The Strong Ranking Tournament began in Jia Nan Academy’s Inner Academy.

Chen Xiao returned to the Inner Academy in time to claim a place in the Strong Ranking Tournament, then advanced to the top ten with little difficulty. After the tournament’s elimination rounds, the exhibition matches left him facing a string of female challengers.

• Chen Xiao arrived at Central Plaza just before the tournament began and said he had defeated Senior Ge, the Strong Ranking’s fiftieth-ranked student, to claim his spot.
• Su Qian opened the tournament, and Elder Xi Ziliang explained the elimination rules and oversaw the drawing of opponents.
• Zi Yan defeated her first-round opponent with one punch, while Chen Xiao eliminated his Six-Star Dou Ling opponent with a single thrust.
• Chen Xiao defeated a Seven-Star Dou Ling in the second round, and he and Zi Yan advanced to the top ten without fighting in the third round.
• After the top ten were decided, Chen Xiao defeated four female senior students who challenged him during the exhibition matches.

Chen Xiao and the other Strong Ranking top ten entered the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower to undergo Heart Flame Origin body tempering. Though his Ice Attribute Dou Qi made the process especially dangerous, Chen Xiao endured until his Ice Soul Talisman supplied enough energy for him to succeed, leaving Su Qian and the elders astonished.

• Su Qian led the top ten through a guarded passage to the tower’s lowest level and warned them about the risks of Heart Flame Origin tempering.
• The elders released ten Heart Flame Origins, which entered the students; Chen Xiao suffered the most because his Ice Attribute Dou Qi clashed violently with the flame.
• Chen Xiao endured the pain and rapidly diminishing Dou Qi as the Heart Flame tempered his bones, meridians, and muscles.
• After Chen Xiao’s Dou Qi ran out, his Ice Soul Talisman activated and fueled him until he extinguished the Heart Flame Origin nearly an hour later.
• Chen Xiao opened his eyes and spat out blood, then reassured the concerned Su Qian that he was fine.

After completing Heart Flame Origin Tempering, Chen Xiao and Zi Yan asked Su Qian to let them travel to the Black-Corner Region together. Su Qian agreed, warned Chen Xiao about using Three Thousand Lightning Movement, and gave him a Heaven Jade Fruit that completed his Pre-pay continuation.

• Chen Xiao watched Zi Yan and the others finish tempering, while five of the nine failed and three Fire Attribute students continued to endure it.
• Su Qian encouraged the five students who had failed, then brought Chen Xiao and Zi Yan to his study to hear their request.
• Su Qian agreed to let Zi Yan travel with Chen Xiao because he trusted Chen Xiao to protect her, and warned him not to use Three Thousand Lightning Movement carelessly in the Central Plains.
• Chen Xiao explained that he had obtained Three Thousand Lightning Movement from a Wind and Lightning Pavilion Traitor and had already killed him, and Su Qian praised his actions.
• Su Qian gave Chen Xiao a Heaven Jade Fruit, and accepting it completed the Pre-pay continuation and restored one available Pre-pay use.

Chen Xiao arranged to upgrade his Fire Crystal Card and prepare for a trip to the Black-Corner Region with Zi Yan. A letter from Xiao Yi Xian reported that she had left the Magical Beast Mountain Range for the Chu Yun Empire, while the Heaven Jade Fruit crumbled as Chen Xiao prepared to seek Heavenly Cold Qi.

• Chen Xiao asked Su Qian to upgrade his Azure Fire Crystal Card, and Su Qian agreed to pre-pay the needed fire energy from Chen Xiao’s future monthly allowance.
• Chen Xiao told Zi Yan to prepare a loose black robe before they traveled to the Black-Corner Region in three to five days.
• Cao Hui told Chen Xiao that his clan had sent an elder to Canaan City to exchange for the pill formula he had found.
• Cao Hui gave Chen Xiao a letter from Xiao Yi Xian, who wrote that she had left the Small Mountain Valley and was heading to the Chu Yun Empire.
• Chen Xiao took out the Heaven Jade Fruit to pre-pay for Heavenly Cold Qi, and the fruit and its wooden box crumbled into fragments.