Chapter Summaries

Lin Changkong attacked Lu Jin with his True Qi, but Lu Jin trapped it inside his left arm and forced Lin Changkong to accept a draw. Lu Jin returned the strand of True Qi and ended the match with his trump card exposed, then encouraged Lu Ming from above.

• Lin Changkong revealed that he had cultivated True Qi and unleashed a golden sword python at Lu Jin.
• Lu Jin transformed his arm with thunderfire and swallowed the golden sword python, trapping Lin Changkong's True Qi inside his flesh.
• Lu Jin told Lin Changkong he would damage the True Qi with thunderfire unless Lin Changkong agreed to a draw.
• Lin Changkong accepted the draw, and Lu Jin cut open his arm to release the strand of True Qi for Lin Changkong to reclaim.
• Lin Changkong warned Lu Jin that his trump card would be less useful next time, while Lu Jin looked down at Lu Ming and silently encouraged him.

Lu Ming defeated Wang Chen and helped the Thunderfire Hall win Qingyuan Market’s top hall title, but he worried that Lin Changkong’s hostility would endanger his family. He resolved to grow stronger and considered retrieving the Flame of Life from the black ring’s space.

• Lu Ming combined his Perfection Realm Flame Blade, Minor Accomplishment Realm Golden Plasma Fire, and Perfection Realm Lesser Thunderlight to overwhelm Wang Chen.
• Lu Ming broke Wang Chen’s Golden Light Art and severely wounded him, while Gao Yu and Yuan Da defeated Lin Zhao and the other Golden Gang Sword Hall disciple.
• Lu Ming cut down the Golden Gang Sword Hall’s flag, and Zhou Xuan announced the Thunderfire Hall as Qingyuan Market’s top hall.
• Lin Changkong left with the defeated Golden Gang Sword Hall disciples, deepening the feud with the Thunderfire Hall.
• Lu Ming reflected on the threat to his family and considered whether his three rounds of bone refinement would let him retrieve the Flame of Life from the black ring.

Lu Ming recovered from the hall meet and entered the black ring space to obtain the Flame of Life. After it merged into his Fire Lotus Mark, it strengthened his divine ability bone and healed hidden injuries, while the other flame seeds remained beyond his reach.

• Thunderfire Hall gained many new disciples after Lu Ming’s victory, and Zhou Xuan raised the area’s Primordial Qi to the upper level.
• Lu Mengmeng brought Lu Ming food and guarded his room while he prepared to enter the black ring space.
• Lu Ming repeatedly attacked the barrier around the Flame of Life until it cracked and shattered.
• The Flame of Life merged into Lu Ming’s Fire Lotus Mark, strengthened his sixth strand of Glazed Heavenly Light, and healed his hidden injuries.
• Lu Ming tried to break the barrier around the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame but failed, then withdrew from the black ring space.

After absorbing the Flame of Life, Lu Ming learned that the Thunderfire Hall was rapidly growing but struggling to recruit instructors amid its feud with the Golden Gang Sword Hall. Hearing that Lu Jin’s old injuries had ended his hopes of advancing, Lu Ming realized the flame might heal him and asked him to hold out his hand.

• Lu Ming sensed the Flame of Life within his Fire Lotus Mark and reflected on the mysteries of the Buddha’s Fury Flame Lotus inheritance.
• Lu Ming welcomed Lu Jin, Lu Qingyan, and Lu Jinglei after Lu Mengmeng had dutifully kept them from disturbing him.
• Lu Qingyan told Lu Ming that a hundred disciples had joined the Thunderfire Hall and described plans to recruit instructors for the growing hall.
• Lu Jin explained that former Thunderfire Hall members hesitated to return because of the hall’s feud with the Golden Gang Sword Hall and Lin Changkong’s strength as a True Qi Master.
• Lu Qingyan revealed that Lu Jin’s hidden injuries had damaged his foundation and likely prevented him from advancing further.
• Lu Ming recalled the Flame of Life’s healing power and asked Lu Jin to hold out his hand.

Lu Ming used the Flame of Life to heal some of Lu Jin’s long-standing hidden injuries, giving the family hope that Lu Jin might eventually become a True Qi Master. Lu Jin then told Lu Ming that Zhou Xuan’s niece had summoned him to collect his reward, the Pattern-Transforming Lesser Yuan Pill.

• Lu Ming examined Lu Jin’s scarred arm and resolved to help Thunderfire Hall and the Lu Clan recover their strength.
• Lu Ming revealed the Flame of Life to Lu Jin, Lu Qingyan, and Lu Jinglei and explained that it could heal wounds.
• Lu Ming used the Flame of Life on Lu Jin’s arm, and the flames began clearing his hidden injuries and easing the flow of his Primordial Qi.
• After Lu Ming ran out of Primordial Qi, Lu Jin confirmed that many injuries in his arm had improved and said his Primordial Qi flowed more smoothly.
• Lu Jin told Lu Ming that Zhou Xuan’s niece had invited him to the workshop office to receive the Pattern-Transforming Lesser Yuan Pill.

Lu Ming met Zhou Fuling and went with her to see Zhou Xuan, who rewarded him with the promised Pattern-Transforming Lesser Yuan Pill. Zhou Xuan then asked whether Lu Ming could sense pill Qi, leaving his other purpose for the meeting unrevealed.

• Zhou Fuling waited for Lu Ming at Thunderfire Hall and teased him about his reputation as the “Thunderfire Killing Prodigy.”
• Zhou Fuling told Lu Ming that Zhou Xuan wanted to discuss an opportunity with him, and Lu Ming agreed to accompany her to the market office.
• Thunderfire Hall disciples gossiped about Lu Ming leaving with Zhou Fuling and speculated about their relationship.
• Lu Ming thanked Zhou Xuan for making superior Primordial Qi available to Thunderfire Hall.
• Zhou Xuan gave Lu Ming the promised Pattern-Transforming Lesser Yuan Pill, which Lu Ming hoped to use to break through within a month.
• Zhou Xuan asked Lu Ming whether he had a talent for sensing pill Qi.

Lu Ming used the Fire Lotus Mark to identify pills hidden in golden pellets, convincing Zhou Xuan that he had talent for the Pill Dao. Zhou Xuan offered to teach him if he met a condition, but had not yet revealed what it was.

• Zhou Xuan asked Lu Ming to test whether he could sense Pill Qi using a Pill Qi Disc.
• Lu Ming used the Fire Lotus Mark to pick out four golden pellets containing pills.
• Zhou Fuling crushed the pellets and confirmed that each one held an intact pill.
• Zhou Xuan offered to teach Lu Ming the Pill Dao, and Lu Ming wondered whether the offer meant Zhou Xuan wanted him to marry into his family.
• Zhou Xuan said he had one condition for teaching Lu Ming and handed him a piece of purple jade.

Lu Ming considered Zhou Xuan’s offer to teach him alchemy in exchange for cultivating the Upper Divine Ability Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner before the Black Rain Season. Zhou Xuan promised that success could secure protection for the Thunderfire Hall from the Great Golden Crow Hall, and Lu Ming left to consult his family.

• Zhou Xuan asked Lu Ming to cultivate the Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner to Major Accomplishment within six months, explaining that it was part of a Great Divine Ability Restriction and that he lacked its method of use.
• Lu Ming hesitated over the demanding cultivation, but Zhou Xuan warned that the Great Golden Crow Hall’s Divine Ability Grandmaster could threaten the Thunderfire Hall as Lu Ming grew stronger.
• Zhou Xuan said an important woman could prevent any Divine Ability Grandmaster from directly attacking the Thunderfire Hall if Lu Ming satisfied her requirements.
• Lu Ming asked to discuss the offer with his family, then returned the jade slip and departed.
• Zhou Fuling asked whether Lu Ming would agree, and Zhou Xuan said he was only one of several candidates for Her Highness’s plan in the mysterious Black Rain Zone.

Lu Ming and his family weighed the dangers of Zhou Xuan’s offer and decided to tentatively accept while waiting to learn more about the benefactor’s plans. Meanwhile, Lin Changkong resolved to wait for Lu Jin to weaken and hinted that he had prepared a gift for Thunderfire Hall.

• Lu Ming told Lu Jin, Lu Qingyan, and Lu Jinglei about Zhou Xuan’s offer to teach him the Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner in exchange for reaching Major Accomplishment before the Black Rain Season.
• Lu Ming argued that the Lu Clan needed protection and proposed cultivating the ability while delaying a final decision until they could assess Zhou Xuan’s benefactor; Lu Jin agreed to support him.
• Lu Jin told Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei to watch Golden Gang Sword Hall and Red Sand Hall, and urged Lu Ming to focus on forming his Divine Ability Dharma Mark.
• Xu Xiong warned Lin Changkong that Thunderfire Hall was gaining influence and suggested informing Jiang Ling, but Lin Changkong refused to ask her for help.
• Lin Changkong claimed Lu Jin was concealing his injuries and said he would wait for Thunderfire Hall to falter before sending them a grand gift.

Lu Ming broke through the Divine Ability Barrier with the Pattern-Transforming Lesser Yuan Pill and became a Great Divine Ability Practitioner. After condensing three Divine Ability Dharma Marks, he realized that his breakthrough was still continuing.

• Lu Ming continued cultivating, mastered Palm Thunder, healed Lu Jin's hidden injuries, and studied alchemy basics with Zhou Fuling.
• Lu Ming swallowed the Pattern-Transforming Lesser Yuan Pill when his Primordial Qi began stirring and broke through the Divine Ability Barrier.
• Lu Ming's Divine Ability Bone formed its first and second Divine Ability Dharma Marks as Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi surged into him.
• Lu Ming activated his Divine Ability imprints and condensed a third Divine Ability Dharma Mark, becoming more than ten times stronger than before.
• Lu Ming discovered that Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi was still pouring into his body after the third Dharma Mark formed.

Lu Ming completed his breakthrough as a Great Divine Ability Practitioner, condensing four Divine Ability Dharma Marks with the help of his Fire Lotus Mark. The Lu family celebrated and shared cultivation pills, but the chapter ended with news that bandits had attacked the herb garden and destroyed much of its Moon Spirit Grass.

• The Fire Lotus Mark helped Lu Ming inscribe a fourth Divine Ability Dharma Mark, completing his breakthrough.
• Lu Ming revealed his four marks to Lu Jin, Lu Qingyan, and Lu Jinglei, who were astonished.
• Lu Jin warned Lu Ming to keep the number of his marks secret and gave him four Dharma Pattern Pills.
• Lu Ming gave one Dharma Pattern Pill each to Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei so they could improve their cultivation.
• Zhong Ying reported that Qian Shan had returned badly injured and that bandits had destroyed much of the Moon Spirit Grass in the herb garden.

The Peach Mountain Band raided Thunderfire Hall’s herb garden and stole its mature Moon Spirit Grass, prompting the Lu family to suspect Golden Gang Sword Hall had arranged the attack. Lu Jin set out to inspect the damage, while Lu Ming asked him to bring back immature Moon Spirit Grass so he could test his newfound ability to cultivate herbs.

• Qian Shan reported that the Peach Mountain Band had looted the mature Moon Spirit Grass after a planted spy sabotaged the Azure Light Restriction.
• Lu Qingyan explained the band’s strength and noted that most herb fields survived, though the raiders threatened to return at next year’s harvest.
• Lu Qingyan, Lu Jinglei, and Lu Ming suspected Lin Changkong and Golden Gang Sword Hall had hired the band to undermine Thunderfire Hall.
• Lu Jin assigned the others their duties, then prepared to inspect the herb garden while Lu Ming went to seek information from Market Master Zhou Xuan.
• Lu Ming asked Lu Jin to bring back immature Moon Spirit Grass so he could try cultivating it with the Flame of Life.

Lu Ming began cultivating the Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner after breaking through to become a Great Divine Ability Practitioner. As its scorching Fire Qi burned and was healed by his Flame of Life, he discovered that the process also strengthened his flesh and bones.

• Lu Ming saw Zhou Fuling demonstrate her Azure Jade Wings and Mystic Jade Body, and she tested his strength after learning he had become a Great Divine Ability Practitioner.
• Lu Ming told Zhou Fuling he had condensed two Divine Ability Dharma Marks, and she went to inform Zhou Xuan of his breakthrough.
• Zhou Xuan began teaching Lu Ming the Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner by drawing golden runes on his body with a secret divine ability material.
• Lu Ming guided the painful Sun-Shining Fire Qi through his body, while his Flame of Life healed the burns it caused.
• Lu Ming noticed that the healed areas glowed gold and seemed to have grown stronger.

Lu Ming discovered that the Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner could temper his body when paired with the Flame of Life, and Zhou Xuan began teaching him pill Dao cultivation. The chapter left Lu Ming urging Zhou Xuan to act against the Peach Mountain Band, while offering Thunderfire Hall’s help.

• Lu Ming confirmed that he could endure the Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner’s fire Qi and use it to temper his body with the Flame of Life’s healing.
• Zhou Xuan explained how pill Dao Divine Abilities worked and demonstrated refining Bone-Tempering Pills with the True Explanation of Six Refinements of Clear Qi.
• Zhou Xuan gave Lu Ming a lotus leaf containing the pill Dao Divine Ability and instructed him to meet daily for help cultivating the Sun-Shining Golden Flame Banner.
• Lu Ming told Zhou Xuan about the Peach Mountain Band’s raid on Thunderfire Hall’s herb garden and urged him to retaliate, offering Thunderfire Hall’s assistance.

Lu Ming returned to the Thunderfire Hall after speaking with Zhou Xuan about the Peach Mountain Band and the suspected collusion of the Golden Gang Sword Hall. With the Moon Spirit Grass delivery only five days away and all the mature stalks destroyed, he hinted that his emerald-green flame might still let the hall fulfill its order.

• Zhou Xuan said he would lock down Qingyuan Market and strengthen patrols, but could not punish the Golden Gang Sword Hall without evidence of collusion with the Peach Mountain Band.
• Zhou Fuling urged Zhou Xuan to help Lu Ming, and Zhou Xuan said he had already hinted that evidence could give him grounds to act.
• Lu Ming learned that Li Yan had offered to accept immature Moon Spirit Grass, but Lu Jin had refused to avoid causing trouble for her within the Li Clan.
• Lu Jin showed Lu Ming the immature Moon Spirit Grass left after the raid, while Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei offered to return their Dharma Pattern Pills to save resources.
• Lu Ming declined the pills and revealed a mysterious emerald-green flame, suggesting the Thunderfire Hall might still deliver Moon Spirit Grass in five days.

Lu Ming discovered that the Flame of Life could mature Moon Spirit Grass, restoring Thunderfire Hall’s supply and giving the Lu Clan hope of escaping its financial crisis. After producing one hundred top-grade plants, Lu Ming set out with Lu Jin, Lu Qingyan, and Lu Jinglei to deliver them to the Li Clan, where Lin Changkong planned to seize the future supply contract.

• Lu Ming used the Flame of Life to mature a three-leaf Moon Spirit Grass into a top-grade four-leaf plant, and Lu Jin confirmed its exceptional medicinal power.
• Lu Ming ripened twenty plants in three hours, then told Lu Jin that Zhou Xuan had offered to punish the Golden Gang Sword Hall if they could provide evidence against it.
• Over the following days, Lu Ming cultivated, practiced his abilities, healed Lu Jin, and ripened all sixty plants in the herb garden.
• Lu Ming had Lu Jin bring back younger Moon Spirit Grass and ripened another forty plants, bringing their delivery to one hundred.
• Lu Qingyan reported that Lin Changkong intended to claim the Li Clan’s future Moon Spirit Grass supply, and Lu Ming and the others went to make their delivery.

The Li Clan began its annual purchase of Moon Spirit Grass, where Lin Changkong secured acceptance of Golden Gang Sword Hall’s herbs and challenged Thunderfire Hall’s hundred-plant delivery. The chapter ended with Lin demanding that Thunderfire Hall’s goods be inspected publicly.

• Lu Ming and the Thunderfire Hall group arrived at the Li Clan estate, where Li Yan recognized that Lu Ming had become a Great Divine Ability Practitioner.
• Lin Changkong offered seventy Moon Spirit Grass plants and sought the Li Clan’s entire second-half quota of four hundred plants; Li Shuang confirmed his plants were mature, and Li Yan accepted them.
• Li Shuang inspected the other gardens’ deliveries, while Lu Ming stated that Thunderfire Hall had brought one hundred plants; Li Shuang reported that they met the standard without opening the chests.
• After Li Yan declared the first-half quota filled, Lin Changkong questioned how Thunderfire Hall could provide a hundred mature plants after its herb garden was attacked and objected that its chests had not been inspected publicly.

Lu Ming challenged Lin Changkong’s demand to inspect the Thunderfire Hall’s Moon Spirit Grass, then revealed a box of one hundred excellent mature plants. After settling the dispute, Lu Ming challenged the Golden Gang Sword Hall to compete for the Li Clan’s order of four hundred plants.

• Lin Changkong pressed for the Thunderfire Hall’s herb box to be opened, while Li He tried to persuade him to drop the dispute by offering the Golden Gang Sword Hall the next order.
• Lu Ming objected to the proposed deal and kicked open the herb box, revealing one hundred mature, four-leaf Moon Spirit Grass plants.
• Li Shuang examined the plants and confirmed they were rare, top-grade Moon Spirit Grass, leaving Lin Changkong and the gathered herb gardeners astonished.
• Li Yan asked Lin Changkong whether he still objected, and he accepted the Thunderfire Hall’s herbs but claimed the Golden Gang Sword Hall could handle the next order.
• Lu Ming said the Thunderfire Hall also wanted to compete for the order and proposed comparing both halls’ Moon Spirit Grass.

Lu Ming secured Thunderfire Hall the Li Clan’s contract to supply four hundred stalks of high-quality Moon Spirit Grass, angering Lin Changkong, who vowed not to let the hall grow in peace. Li Yan then shared Jingyi’s request that Lu Ming attend the Spirit Fish Banquet, leaving him wondering what the banquet was.

• Lu Ming assured Li He that Thunderfire Hall could supply four hundred stalks of Moon Spirit Grass of comparable quality, and Li He awarded the contract to Thunderfire Hall.
• Lin Changkong left with Xu Xiong and rejected the idea of attacking Thunderfire Hall’s herb garden again, but vowed to keep troubling the hall.
• Li Yan asked Lu Jin whether Thunderfire Hall could fulfill the contract, and Lu Jin confirmed that it could.
• Li Yan gave Lu Ming Jingyi’s Flying Crane Letter, in which Jingyi asked her mother to help him attend the Spirit Fish Banquet.
• Li Yan told Lu Ming she had promised Jingyi to help him attend, and Lu Ming asked whether the banquet was for eating fish.

Li Yan offered Lu Ming a place at the Spirit Fish Banquet, where he could gain strength by catching Golden Pupil Spirit Fish, and he accepted the conditions despite the debt it would create. On the journey home, Lu Ming and his family discussed the favor, his Moon Spirit Grass commitment, and their ongoing conflict with Lin Changkong.

• Li Yan explained the Spirit Fish Pond, the benefits of Golden Pupil Spirit Fish, and that Jingyi was one of only three people to gain the Golden Pupil ability in fifteen years.
• Li Yan offered Lu Ming a place at the banquet in four days, requiring him to give the Li Clan his first three Golden Pupil Spirit Fish or pay ten thousand Heavenly Gold Sand if he failed to catch them.
• Lu Ming accepted the place because he needed to improve his strength, and Li Yan told him Li Shuang would collect him for the banquet.
• Lu Ming told Lu Jin and the others about the banquet on their way home, and Lu Jin remarked that the Li Clan's growing favor might prove a worthwhile investment.
• Lu Ming assured Lu Jin he could ripen the four hundred Moon Spirit Grass plants he had promised, while the family discussed Lin Changkong's failed attempt to take the order.
• Lu Ming warned that Lin Changkong would not let the matter go and privately vowed to kill him once he became strong enough.