Chapter Summaries

Lu Qingyan took Lu Ming to the Qingchuan Merchant Association to preserve Thunderfire Hall’s escort partnership after Zhang Yue’s departure damaged its reputation. When Red Sand Hall challenged Thunderfire Hall’s standing, the association called for a disciple spar, and Lu Ming volunteered to face Luo An.

• Lu Qingyan explained that Zhang Yue’s departure and Red Sand Hall’s slander had made the Qingchuan Merchant Association question its partnership with Thunderfire Hall.
• Lu Qingyan and Lu Ming waited an hour for Steward Xu, who arrived with Zhu Lian of Red Sand Hall.
• Zhu Lian argued that Thunderfire Hall could not keep its second-ranked position without Zhang Yue, and Steward Xu proposed settling the partnership dispute through a disciple spar.
• Steward Xu selected Lu Ming to face Luo An, a Red Sand Hall disciple who had completed two rounds of bone refinement and practiced the Blazing Fire Palm.
• Lu Qingyan objected that Lu Ming had opened his bones less than half a month earlier, but Lu Ming volunteered to fight Luo An.

Lu Ming accepted Luo An’s challenge at the Qingchuan Merchant Association, where the contest drew a crowd and the attention of Zhou Fuling, Yan Zhizhi, and Li Shuang. As Luo An prepared to attack with his Blazing Fire Palm, the onlookers expected Lu Ming to be outmatched.

• Lu Ming persuaded Lu Qingyan to let him fight Luo An, and Lu Qingyan accepted Zhu Lian’s challenge on behalf of the Thunderfire Hall.
• Luo An vaulted into the open space and beckoned Lu Ming to fight, while Steward Xu’s guards cleared the area.
• Zhou Fuling, Yan Zhizhi, and Li Shuang watched from an upstairs room, and Yan Zhizhi mocked Lu Ming and argued with Li Shuang about Lu Jingyi.
• Zhou Fuling judged Luo An stronger and doubted Lu Ming could win, while Yan Zhizhi dismissed his chances.
• Luo An revealed his Blazing Fire Palm and threatened to break Lu Ming’s hands.

Lu Ming defeated Luo An with a Major Accomplishment Flame Blade, revealing his High-Grade Divine Ability Bone and securing the Thunderfire Hall’s merchant caravan arrangement. After Zhu Lian left with the injured Luo An, Lu Qingyan told Lu Ming he would soon leave to repair the Divine Ability Restriction at the medicine garden.

• Luo An attacked Lu Ming with his Blazing Fire Palm and Flying Sand Art, while Zhu Lian hoped the assault would cripple him.
• Lu Ming used his Flame Blade to cut through Luo An’s attack, then revealed its azure Major Accomplishment level and severed three of Luo An’s fingers.
• Zhou Fuling told Yan Zhizhi and Li Shuang that Lu Ming had awakened a High-Grade Divine Ability Bone, surprising them.
• Zhu Lian accused Lu Qingyan of hiding Lu Ming’s progress, but Steward Xu learned of Lu Ming’s High-Grade Divine Ability Bone and confirmed the Thunderfire Hall’s cooperation would continue.
• Zhu Lian took the injured Luo An and left, and Lu Qingyan checked on Lu Ming before saying he would soon go repair the medicine garden’s Divine Ability Restriction.

While waiting for Lu Qingyan, Lu Ming discovered that his Fire Lotus Mark could sense medicinal pills hidden in mud at the Half-Pill Shop. After Zhou Fuling identified and bought one promising pill for him, Lu Ming spent all three hundred grains of heavenly gold sand on ten mud balls, leaving Zhou Fuling and her companions doubtful of his judgment.

• Lu Ming visited the Half-Pill Shop and found that the Fire Lotus Mark reacted to some of the mud-covered pills.
• Zhou Fuling arrived with Li Shuang and Yan Zhizhi, recognized Lu Ming, and selected a mud ball using her knowledge of pill fragrance.
• The shopkeeper revealed that Zhou Fuling's choice contained a well-preserved Mid-Grade Bone-Tempering Pill, which Zhou Fuling gave to Lu Ming.
• Lu Ming asked Zhou Fuling whether she could identify more pills, then chose ten mud balls and paid the shopkeeper all three hundred grains of heavenly gold sand.
• Li Shuang frowned, Yan Zhizhi sneered, and Zhou Fuling stepped back, unimpressed by Lu Ming's apparent greed.

Lu Ming struck a remarkable bargain at a half-pill shop, finding five valuable pills and earning Zhou Fuling’s suspicion that he possessed a rare pill-sensing talent. He gave the pills to Lu Qingyan to sell, and they left with two High-Grade Bone Refining Pills for Lu Ming.

• Lu Ming watched as the shopkeeper washed five usable pills from the mud balls, including a half-finished Dharma Pattern Pill, astonishing the onlookers.
• Zhou Fuling questioned Lu Ming about how he had chosen the mud balls, but he claimed he had simply been lucky and left; she later wondered if he could sense pill Qi.
• Lu Ming met Lu Qingyan and handed him the five pills, explaining that he had bought them at a half-pill shop.
• Lu Qingyan warned Lu Ming not to risk returning to the shop, then exchanged the pills for two High-Grade Bone Refining Pills despite Lu Ming suggesting he get a Dharma Pattern Pill instead.
• Lu Qingyan gave Lu Ming the pills, and they headed back to the hall.

Lu Ming perfected his second bone refinement and advanced both Flame Blade and Lesser Thunderlight to major accomplishment before beginning to cultivate Golden Plasma Fire. He left with Lu Jin and the others for the medicinal herb garden ahead of the Rain Fog Period, recalling that he had met Jingyi there during the earlier chaos.

• Lu Ming completed his second bone refinement and reached major accomplishment in Flame Blade and Lesser Thunderlight.
• Lu Jin taught Lu Ming how to cultivate Golden Plasma Fire using a Lesser Geng Metal Stone, and Lu Ming endured the painful process.
• Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei warned Lu Jin that the Rain Fog Period would begin soon, so Lu Jin decided they would leave for the medicinal herb garden and bring Lu Ming.
• Over the next two days, Lu Ming condensed his first strand of Golden Plasma Fire, astonishing Lu Qingyan with how quickly he learned it.
• Lu Ming set out with his family for the medicinal herb garden and remembered meeting Jingyi there amid the earlier chaos.

Lu Ming accompanied Lu Jin and the others to the Thunderfire Hall’s medicinal garden as black rain mist approached, and learned that the garden’s Moon Spirit Grass could potentially benefit from the Flame of Life. The group repaired the garden’s Divine Ability Restriction before nightfall, but the black rain mist soon engulfed the mountain.

• Lu Ming arrived at the medicinal garden with Lu Jin, Lu Qingyan, and Lu Jinglei, where Qian Shan learned Zhang Yue had left the Thunderfire Hall and Lu Ming had awakened a High-Grade Divine Ability Bone.
• Lu Jin asked when the black rain mist would arrive, and Qian Shan estimated it would reach the garden that night with little chance of Rain Spawn appearing.
• Qian Shan reported that about fifty Moon Spirit Grass plants would mature this year, while Lu Ming considered whether the Flame of Life could improve the herbs’ growth.
• Lu Jin oversaw the repairs to the garden’s Divine Ability Restriction, which Lu Qingyan and the others completed before dark.
• The black rain mist swept over the mountain after the restriction was activated, plunging the garden into silence and cold.

As black rain fog surrounded the medicinal garden, Lu Jin explained the Black Rain Zone’s origins and why cultivation and rare treasures thrived in its fog. Lu Ming recognized a familiar yellow light in the darkness as the Rain Spawn appeared, leaving everyone braced for its arrival.

• Lu Ming and Lu Jin watched the black fog beyond the medicinal garden as Lu Jin described how Black Rain Zones formed and spread.
• Lu Jin explained that the fog made Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi seek refuge in cultivators, speeding cultivation and helping rare resources appear.
• Lu Ming took a High-Grade Bone Refining Pill and began cultivating while Lu Jin and the others kept watch.
• Two hours later, Lu Jin sensed the Rain Spawn approaching, and a warm yellow light appeared in the fog.
• Lu Ming recognized the light from the rainy night when he and Jingyi had nearly been deceived, as Lu Qingyan, Lu Jinglei, Qian Shan, and the others prepared for a fight.

Three Four-Armed Rain Spawn were drawn to the herb garden by Lu Ming’s Sub-Heaven-Grade Divine Ability Bone, but Lu Jin’s presence kept them from attacking. Lu Ming chose to remain and cultivate through the Black Rain Fog, only for six warm lights to appear in the fog the following night.

• A Four-Armed Rain Spawn and its Spawn Beast approached the Azure Light Restriction, then two more arrived after its call.
• Lu Jin explained that the Rain Spawn were attracted to Lu Ming’s Sub-Heaven-Grade Divine Ability Bone, and the three creatures retreated after sensing Lu Jin’s killing intent.
• Lu Ming decided to stay at the herb garden and cultivate during the Black Rain Fog, with Lu Jin guarding him.
• The next day, Lu Ming began his third round of bone refining and practiced Flame Blade, Lesser Thunderlight, and Golden Plasma Fire while Lu Jin advised him.
• When the fog returned that night, six warm yellow lights appeared within it, and Lu Ming realized more Rain Spawn had gathered.

Lu Jin killed six Rain Spawn outside the herb garden and gave Lu Ming their Rain Pearls, which accelerated his bone refinement without causing the usual mental side effects. After realizing Lu Ming could likely resist the pearls’ corruption because of his Divine Ability imprint, Lu Jin allowed him to keep using them and admitted he had used Lu Ming as bait to lure the Rain Spawn.

• Lu Jin left the Azure Light Restriction and killed six four-armed Rain Spawn with his Thunderfire abilities.
• Lu Jin refined the Rain Pearls and explained that their purified Primordial Qi could aid Lu Ming's bone refinement.
• Lu Ming absorbed a Rain Pearl and found that it boosted his progress without conflicting with his Bone-Tempering Pill.
• Lu Jin questioned Lu Ming about the Rain Pearl's effects, and Lu Ming showed no irritation, confusion, or hallucinations.
• Lu Jin suspected Lu Ming's Divine Ability imprint had protected him and agreed to let him absorb more Rain Pearls.
• Lu Ming realized Lu Jin had waited to use him as bait, and Lu Jin admitted it.

Lu Ming returned to Thunderfire Hall after making rapid progress during the Rain Fog Period, including mastering the basics of Golden Plasma Fire, and prepared for the hall assembly. Meanwhile, Lin Changkong decided that Golden Gang Sword Hall would help Red Sand Hall undermine Thunderfire Hall at the assembly.

• Lu Ming completed much of his third round of bone refining and condensed a flame core in his Golden Plasma Fire, earning praise from Lu Jin and Qian Shan.
• Lu Jin took Lu Ming back to Thunderfire Hall as the Rain Fog Period ended and the hall assembly approached.
• Lu Ming reunited with Zhong Ying and Lu Mengmeng, then settled in to prepare for the assembly.
• Lin Changkong asked Xu Xiong about preparations for the assembly and revealed that he planned to support Red Sand Hall against Thunderfire Hall.
• Lin Changkong declared that Golden Gang Sword Hall would prevent Thunderfire Hall from rising again.

Qingyuan Market held its annual Divine Ability Hall meet, where the Thunderfire Hall faced pressure to defend its standing without Zhang Yue. As the competition began, Li Yan worried about the Thunderfire Hall and Jingyi’s suspicion that she had interfered with Lu Ming.

• The Divine Ability Halls gathered at the lake to compete for the top hall seat and the promised increase in Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi concentration.
• Lu Jin assigned himself to defend the upper flag and named Gao Yu, Yuan Da, and Lu Ming as defenders of the lower flag; Lu Ming was nearing completion of his third bone refinement.
• Market Master Zhou Xuan and Yan Jing discussed the Yuan Qi Earth Veins prize, while Li Yan joined their conversation and watched the Thunderfire Hall’s ship with concern.
• Li Yan worried that the Red Sand Hall would exploit Zhang Yue’s absence to challenge the Thunderfire Hall.
• Jingyi sent Li Yan a letter asking whether she had said something to Lu Ming, and Li Yan chose not to answer.

The hall meet began as the Divine Ability Halls’ tower ships raced toward the lake’s central mountain and their flag guardians took their positions. Lu Ming’s appearance on Thunderfire Hall’s platform surprised the gathered spectators, while Golden Gang Sword Hall’s master revealed that his hall intended to target Thunderfire Hall.

• Zhou Fuling met the Li and Yan Clans’ young scions, including Yan Qing and Li Mu, and watched the halls’ tower ships gather on the lake.
• Yan Qing dismissed Lu Ming as too inexperienced to compete, but Zhou Fuling wondered whether he had a hidden advantage or had been sent out unprepared.
• Lu Jin carried Lu Ming, Gao Yu, and Yuan Da to Thunderfire Hall’s mountain platform as the flag guardians took their positions; Lu Mengmeng cheered for her brother.
• Li Yan and the young scions noticed Lu Ming’s presence and questioned the risk of sending him to compete so soon after he opened his bones.
• Lin Changkong saw Lu Ming guarding Thunderfire Hall’s lower flag and considered why Lu Jin had chosen him, while privately recognizing that Golden Gang Sword Hall had marked Thunderfire Hall as prey.

The hall assembly’s lower-tier contests ended, and the Thunderfire Hall prepared to defend its position against the Red Sand Hall. Before the expected challenge began, Lin Changkong unexpectedly declared that the Golden Gang Sword Hall would challenge the Thunderfire Hall, leaving Lu Ming and the others to wonder whether the two halls had joined forces against them.

• Gao Yu told Lu Ming and Yuan Da to focus on holding off the Red Sand Hall’s fighters long enough to force a draw.
• The lower-tier hall contests wound down as spectators awaited the battles among the four third-tier halls.
• Lin Changkong announced that the Golden Gang Sword Hall would challenge the Thunderfire Hall, shocking the crowd and Qingyuan Market’s leaders.
• Gao Yu grew angry at the unexpected challenge, while Lu Ming suspected the Golden Gang Sword Hall and Red Sand Hall might be working together against the Thunderfire Hall.

The Golden Gang Sword Hall exhausted Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei while avoiding a decisive fight, then the Red Sand Hall challenged the weakened Thunderfire Hall. As the Red Sand Hall moved to take the flags, Lu Ming faced Lü Xiao, Gong Peng, and Gong Hu on the lower platform and warned them he was furious.

• Lu Jin challenged Lin Changkong, but Lin sent Xu Xiong and Zhao Yu to fight Lu Jinglei and Lu Qingyan instead.
• Xu Xiong and Zhao Yu prolonged the fight until Lu Jinglei and Lu Qingyan had spent much of their Primordial Qi, then withdrew and called the match a draw.
• Shi Tong announced the Red Sand Hall's challenge, and its fighters landed on the Thunderfire Hall's three flag platforms.
• Zhu Lian taunted the weakened Lu Qingyan, who and Lu Jinglei condensed their Thunderfire Whips to continue fighting.
• Lü Xiao, Gong Peng, and Gong Hu confronted Lu Ming on the lower flag platform, and Lu Ming warned them he would strike hard because he was angry.

Lu Ming confronted the Golden Gang Sword Hall and Red Sand Hall after their joint attack on Thunderfire Hall, then revealed that he had mastered Flame Blade to the Perfection Realm. He defeated Gong Hu in a single clash, leaving the assembly stunned by his strength and talent.

• Gong Hu attacked Lu Ming with his Major Accomplishment Blazing Fire Palm while Lü Xiao and Gong Peng charged Gao Yu and Yuan Da.
• Lu Ming stopped hiding his abilities and transformed his Flame Blade into its one-zhang, dark-gold Perfection Realm form.
• Gong Hu met Lu Ming's strike with Blazing Fire Palm, but Lu Ming's blade shattered it and severed Gong Hu's arm.
• Gao Yu, Yuan Da, and the assembly's spectators reacted with shock as they realized Lu Ming had reached the Perfection Realm in Flame Blade within a month.
• Zhou Xuan praised Lu Ming's talent, while Li Yan, Yan Qing, Yan Zhizhi, Li Shuang, and Zhou Fuling took notice of him.

Lu Ming used his Perfection Realm Flame Blade to defeat Red Sand Hall’s fighters at the lower flag, turning a match Thunderfire Hall had seemed likely to lose into its first victory. The result revived Thunderfire Hall’s chance to keep the second hall seat, though Red Sand Hall could still contest the middle flag and rely on Shi Tong to beat Lu Jin.

• Lu Ming charged Lü Xiao and burned away his Flying Sand Art before attacking with his Flame Blade.
• Lü Xiao used Red Sand Iron-Melting Hand to block Lu Ming’s strike, but Lu Ming cut off both his hands and nearly struck his head before the Flame Blade ran out of power.
• Gao Yu and Yuan Da moved to confront Gong Peng at Lu Ming’s instruction, and Gong Peng surrendered.
• The fighters’ surrenders gave Thunderfire Hall the victory at the lower flag, shifting the contest for the second hall seat back in its favor.

After Lu Ming’s victory reversed the Thunderfire Hall’s fortunes, Shi Tong withdrew rather than risk a battle with Lu Jin, securing the Thunderfire Hall’s place as the second hall. Lu Ming then proposed challenging the Golden Gang Sword Hall for the first hall’s seat.

• Lu Ming’s victory at the lower flag let Lu Qingyan give up the middle flag while putting the Red Sand Hall’s upper-flag contest in doubt.
• Lu Jin prepared to fight Shi Tong, but Shi Tong feared being left vulnerable to the Mountain Moving Hall and ordered the Red Sand Hall to retreat.
• The Thunderfire Hall’s disciples and spectators celebrated its survival, while Lin Changkong seethed that the Golden Gang Sword Hall’s intervention had failed to secure a victory.
• Lu Ming remained angry at the Golden Gang Sword Hall and asked Lu Jin whether their earlier draw meant they could challenge for the first hall’s seat.
• Lu Ming suggested that the Thunderfire Hall aim for first place, and Lu Jin asked what he wanted to do.

Lu Ming completed his third round of bone refining and recovered his strength, then challenged the Golden Gang Sword Hall to fight for the leading hall’s seat. The chapter ended with him landing on its lower-banner platform and publicly declaring the challenge.

• Lu Ming’s Divine Ability Bone rang with Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound as he completed his third round of bone refining and his Primordial Qi surged.
• Zhou Xuan, Yan Jing, Li Yan, and the younger clan members were astonished by Lu Ming’s cultivation speed, while Yan Qing acknowledged his ability and Zhou Fuling considered him suitable for His Highness’s requirements.
• Lu Jin agreed to stop Lin Changkong and aim for a draw at the upper banner, leaving the lower-banner match to decide the contest.
• Lu Ming asked Gao Yu and Yuan Da to hold off the Golden Gang Sword Hall’s other fighters while he faced Wang Chen.
• Lu Ming landed on the Golden Gang Sword Hall’s lower-banner platform and announced that the Thunderfire Hall challenged it.

Lu Ming faced Wang Chen in the contest for the leading hall, while Lu Jin confronted Lin Changkong on the upper platform. The battles remained unresolved as Wang Chen revealed an Incomplete Mark and Lin Changkong revealed that he had reached the True Qi Realm.

• Lu Ming and Wang Chen began fighting on the lower platform while Gao Yu and Yuan Da engaged Golden Gang Sword Hall disciples.
• Wang Chen used Golden Pattern Body and Golden Sword Finger to match Lu Ming’s Perfection Realm Flame Blade, then strengthened his sword light with an Incomplete Mark.
• Lu Ming recognized that his Flame Blade alone might not defeat Wang Chen and summoned his Middle Divine Ability, Golden Plasma Fire.
• Lu Jin refused Lin Changkong’s demand that he yield, saying he would not let the spirit of a youth in his family be diminished.
• Lin Changkong formed a golden snake of True Qi, revealing to Zhou Xuan, Li Yan, and Yan Jing that he had advanced beyond the Feather Robe Realm.