Chapter Summaries

Zhong Taiyue welcomed Lu Ming and his family warmly after learning of Lu Ming’s talent and Lu Jin’s achievements, then brought them to the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall’s examination. Lu Ming met the hall’s senior masters and his cousin Zhong Quan, while Zhong Taiyue continued trying to draw him toward the hall.

• Zhong Taiyue praised Lu Ming’s talent, rebuked his jealous cousins, and softened toward Lu Qingyan.
• Zhong Ying told Zhong Taiyue that Lu Jin had become a True Qi Master and defeated Lin Changkong, strengthening the Thunderfire Hall.
• Zhong Taiyue invited Lu Ming to view the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall’s divine abilities, and Lu Ming agreed to attend its examination.
• Zhong Taiyue led Lu Ming and the others into the crowded training hall, where the disciples greeted him.
• Zhong Taiyue introduced the True Qi Master Qiu Feng, the Feather Robe Master Xiao Gong, and Lu Ming’s eldest cousin Zhong Quan.

Zhong Taiyue introduced Lu Ming to Zhong Quan, who welcomed him after learning of his cultivation talent, and showed him the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall’s powerful Divine Abilities. When Zhong Ling and Zhong Xia challenged Lu Ming to demonstrate his abilities, he asked to test the hall’s arts, and Zhong Taiyue agreed.

• Zhong Taiyue introduced Lu Ming as Zhong Ying’s son and asked Zhong Quan to look after him in Fengyang Prefecture.
• Zhong Taiyue revealed that Lu Ming had condensed ten Divine Ability Dharma Marks in half a year, and Zhong Quan responded with admiration and offered to help him.
• Zhong Quan explained that the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall had three Upper Divine Abilities that could be fused into a killing move rivaling a Quasi-Grandmaster Divine Ability.
• Zhong Ling and Zhong Xia challenged Lu Ming to demonstrate his talent, and Lu Ming asked Zhong Taiyue for permission to try the hall’s Divine Abilities.
• Zhong Taiyue agreed to let Lu Ming test them.

Lu Ming visited Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall and challenged its disciples to demonstrate his talent and protect his mother from the Zhong Clan’s scorn. After defeating Huang Qiang’s Great Golden Bell with one strike, he asked whether anyone stronger would face him.

• Zhong Taiyue announced that Lu Ming had condensed ten Divine Ability Dharma Marks in half a year and invited the hall’s disciples to challenge him.
• Huang Qiang volunteered, boasting that Lu Ming would have to break his Great Golden Bell to win.
• Lu Ming revealed that he had cultivated Thunderfire Whip to Major Accomplishment and charged Huang Qiang’s golden bell.
• Lu Ming shattered the Great Golden Bell with one blow and sent Huang Qiang flying into the crowd.
• Lu Ming, intent on displaying his prowess before the Zhong Clan, asked the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall disciples if anyone stronger would challenge him.

Lu Ming challenged the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall’s disciples and fought Qiu Chu, the second hall master’s son, in a fierce duel. After more than twenty exchanges, Lu Ming was still holding his own, and Zhong Taiyue asked Zhong Quan if he had noticed anything.

• Lu Ming asked whether anyone stronger would fight him, and Qiu Chu stepped forward to defend the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall’s honor.
• Zhong Quan warned Lu Ming that Qiu Chu had seventeen Divine Ability Dharma Marks and a High-Grade Divine Ability Bone.
• Qiu Chu said Lu Ming would win if he lasted twenty exchanges, then blocked Lu Ming’s Thunderfire Whip with his Great Golden Bell and struck him back.
• Lu Ming activated his Sun-Shining Golden Body and exchanged repeated blows with Qiu Chu, keeping pace beyond twenty exchanges.
• The Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall’s disciples watched in silence as Lu Ming held his own, and Zhong Taiyue asked Zhong Quan whether he had noticed anything.

Lu Ming defeated Qiu Chu by revealing that he had cultivated the Upper Divine Ability Thunderfire Whip to the Perfection Realm, astonishing the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall. Impressed by his talent, Zhong Taiyue tried to persuade Lu Ming to stay and bet that he could not grasp the basics of three Upper Divine Abilities in one month, but Lu Ming accepted.

• Qiu Chu broke their agreement to stop after twenty exchanges and unleashed a fusion technique of Flood Dragon Mystic Gang and Great Golden Bell at Lu Ming.
• Lu Ming countered with his Perfection Realm Thunderfire Whip and overwhelmed Qiu Chu's attack, prompting Qiu Feng to intervene before the whip could strike his son.
• Qiu Feng recognized Lu Ming's Upper Divine Ability at the Perfection Realm, leaving Zhong Taiyue and the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall disciples stunned by his talent.
• Zhong Taiyue asked Zhong Ying to help persuade Lu Ming to stay at the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall, but she and Lu Qingyan left the decision to Lu Ming.
• Lu Ming agreed to learn the hall's three Upper Divine Abilities and accepted Zhong Taiyue's bet to grasp their basics within one month.

Lu Ming began cultivating the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall’s Great Golden Bell under Zhong Taiyue’s guidance and showed remarkable talent absorbing its materials. Zhong Taiyue agreed to help him find rare materials and left to arrange a meeting with a noble young lady at his birthday banquet.

• Lu Ming stayed with his family in the Zhong Clan courtyard and attended a banquet, where he met relatives from the other branches.
• Zhong Taiyue introduced the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall’s three Upper Divine Abilities, and Lu Ming chose to learn the Great Golden Bell first.
• Zhong Taiyue used Holy Gold Powder to guide Lu Ming’s cultivation, and Lu Ming absorbed a gourdful in less than an hour.
• Zhong Taiyue speculated that Lu Ming might have a Mutated High-Grade Divine Ability Bone after hearing how quickly he progressed.
• Lu Ming asked Zhong Taiyue to help find materials for his Four Aspects Divine Banner Great Spirit Restriction, and Zhong Taiyue agreed.
• Zhong Taiyue told Lu Ming about his upcoming birthday banquet and hurried off to arrange a meeting with a Zhao Clan granddaughter.

Lu Ming attended Zhong Taiyue’s birthday banquet, where his grandfather tried to arrange a meeting between him and Zhao Qian. The encounter ended with Lu Ming unexpectedly spotting Zhou Fuling among the guests, and she smiled when their eyes met.

• Lu Ming attained initial mastery of the Great Golden Bell in three days, prompting Zhong Taiyue to arrange a meeting between him and a noble young lady at the birthday banquet.
• Zhong Quan brought Lu Ming and Lu Mengmeng to the celebration and introduced Lu Ming to Zhao Qian, who showed little interest in him.
• Zhao Qian noticed the arrival of Huo Qing, the prefecture lord’s youngest son, who was escorting a radiant young woman.
• Lu Ming recognized the young woman as Zhou Fuling, and she spotted him and smiled.

Zhou Fuling arrived at the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall and revealed that Lu Ming was her junior brother, astonishing the gathered families with her Great Shang Imperial Domain background. She reunited warmly with Lu Ming and Lu Mengmeng, while Zhong Quan realized his grandfather’s matchmaking plan was likely doomed.

• Zhou Fuling followed Huo Qing to greet Zhong Quan, and Huo Qing introduced her as a distinguished guest.
• Huo Qing revealed that Zhou Fuling’s family came from the Great Shang Imperial Domain, stunning Zhong Quan, Zhao Qian, and the others.
• Zhou Fuling told Zhong Quan she had come to find her junior brother, then walked through the crowd to Lu Ming.
• Zhou Fuling greeted Lu Ming as her junior brother, and the onlookers were shocked to learn of their relationship.
• Lu Mengmeng rushed to hug Zhou Fuling, and Zhong Quan remembered her earlier words about Lu Ming’s beautiful companions and reconsidered his grandfather’s plan.

At the birthday gathering, Lu Ming reunited with Zhou Fuling, who revealed their close connection through alchemy and her preserved herb bracelet. She brought him news of the Spirit Fire he had been seeking, leaving him eager to learn where it was.

• Zhou Fuling greeted Lu Ming warmly and explained that she had taught him alchemy, making him her junior brother.
• Zhong Quan and the others learned that Lu Ming was studying alchemy under Zhou Fuling's fourth uncle, while Huo Qing offered him help in Fengyang Prefecture.
• Lu Ming and Zhou Fuling left the gathering to talk privately, and he promised to weave her another herb bracelet.
• Zhou Fuling told Lu Ming she had news about the Spirit Fire, and he excitedly asked where it was.

Lu Ming learned that obtaining the Netherwater Flame would require five hundred thousand Heavenly Gold Sand and a century-old high-grade spirit herb, and Zhou Fuling agreed to help him meet the cost. At Zhong Taiyue’s birthday banquet, Zhong Taiyue mistook Zhou Fuling for a young lady of the Zhao Clan and assumed she was being matched with Lu Ming.

• Zhou Fuling told Lu Ming about the Netherwater Flame and explained that its owner would sell it at an alchemy masters’ gathering, with five hundred thousand Heavenly Gold Sand as the first requirement.
• Zhou Fuling offered to lend Lu Ming the two hundred thousand Heavenly Gold Sand he lacked, and Lu Ming accepted.
• Zhou Fuling revealed that Lu Ming also needed a high-grade spirit herb at least a hundred years old, and said Fourth Uncle was searching for one.
• Zhong Quan summoned Lu Ming to the birthday banquet so Zhong Taiyue could introduce him to Fengyang Prefecture’s powers.
• Zhong Taiyue mistook Zhou Fuling for a young lady of the Zhao Clan and joked about her suitability as Lu Ming’s match, prompting Zhou Fuling to tease him about interrupting their meeting.

Lu Ming reunited with Zhou Fuling at Zhong Taiyue’s birthday banquet, where his grandfather discovered her connection to Zhou Xuan and learned of Lu Ming’s talent for alchemy. After meeting the prefectural capital’s influential guests, Lu Ming learned of the feud between the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall and Blazing Radiance Hall and urged Zhong Quan to destroy their rival when they were strong enough.

• Lu Ming teased Zhou Fuling that her beauty had made the Zhao Clan’s young lady seem ordinary, and Zhong Taiyue mistakenly assumed Zhou Fuling was that young lady.
• Zhong Taiyue brought Lu Ming to meet Prefect Huo Shanhe and Zhou Xuan, and Zhou Xuan revealed that Lu Ming had studied alchemy under him in Qingyuan Market.
• Zhou Fuling and Zhou Xuan praised Lu Ming’s alchemy talent, astonishing and delighting Zhong Taiyue.
• Lu Ming noticed that Blazing Radiance Hall had not yet arrived, and Zhong Quan explained that the rival halls had a long-running feud and traded insults at celebrations.
• Lu Ming advised Zhong Quan to wait until the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall was strong enough, then wipe out Blazing Radiance Hall and raid its hall.

Lu Ming attended Zhong Taiyue’s birthday banquet, where Lü Huan of the Blazing Radiance Hall arrived uninvited to provoke his old rival. Lü Huan presented a huge golden bell as an insult, and Zhong Taiyue ordered Zhong Quan and Qiu Chu to stop it from reaching the banquet.

• Zhou Fuling left Huo Qing’s side and joined Lu Ming, Lu Mengmeng, Lu Qingyan, and Zhong Ying at their table.
• Lü Huan appeared above the banquet and challenged Zhong Taiyue, reviving their feud over a Heavenly Gold vein.
• Huo Shanhe explained the history of the conflict to Zhou Xuan, while the guests watched in anticipation.
• Lü Huan’s five young disciples brought in a giant golden bell, which he revealed as a mocking birthday gift for Zhong Taiyue.
• Zhong Taiyue ordered Zhong Quan and Qiu Chu to take three of the finest young disciples and prevent the bell from reaching the banquet.

At the birthday banquet, the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall fought the Blazing Radiance Hall to stop them from presenting a golden bell. Lü Wu revealed that he had reached nineteen Divine Ability Dharma Marks, but Zhong Quan then disclosed that he had reached the same level a month earlier.

• Zhong Quan, Qiu Chu, and three Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall disciples confronted Lü Wu, Lü Wen, and the other bell carriers from the Blazing Radiance Hall.
• Zhong Quan and Lü Wu exchanged blows while Qiu Chu and the other disciples fought their respective opponents, with the banquet guests watching.
• Huo Qing told Zhou Fuling that Lü Wu and Lü Wen had recently advanced with medicinal pills, and Lu Ming watched the battle with concern.
• Lü Wu revealed his nineteen Divine Ability Dharma Marks and struck Zhong Quan with the Blazing Radiance Wing Slash Technique, but Zhong Quan’s golden bell withstood the attack.
• Zhong Quan revealed that he had also reached nineteen Divine Ability Dharma Marks a month earlier, drawing cheers from the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall disciples.

At Zhong Taiyue’s birthday banquet, Lü Wen defeated Qiu Chu and sent the Great Golden Bell toward the tables, but Lu Ming intervened and revealed that he had joined the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall and mastered the Great Golden Bell. The chapter ended with Lu Ming facing Lü Wen, whose foundation of eighteen Divine Ability Dharma Marks far exceeded the strength others believed Lu Ming had.

• Zhong Quan revealed his foundation of nineteen Divine Ability Dharma Marks, while Lü Wen defeated Qiu Chu with eighteen and shattered Qiu Chu’s golden bell.
• Lü Wen took the bell and hurled it toward the banquet tables as Zhong Taiyue held back to avoid breaking the rules.
• Lu Ming kicked the bell outside the banquet area and told Lü Wen to keep it.
• Lu Ming explained that he had joined the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall and demonstrated his mastery of the Great Golden Bell, preventing Lü Huan from accusing him of breaking the rules.
• Lü Wen challenged Lu Ming, while Huo Qing doubted Lu Ming could overcome the gap in their strength and Zhou Fuling worried about the fight.

Lu Ming fought Lü Wen at the banquet, using his Perfection Realm Thunderfire Whip to withstand Lü Wen’s stronger Primordial Qi and Major Accomplishment Blazing Radiance Body. As Lü Wen launched his Blazing Radiance Wing Slash Technique, Lu Ming activated the Transformation Technique, and the chapter left the result of the clash unresolved.

• Lü Wen attacked Lu Ming with his Major Accomplishment Realm Blazing Radiance Body, but Lu Ming met the blow with his Perfection Realm Thunderfire Whip and remained standing.
• Lü Wen recognized Lu Ming’s Perfection Realm Upper Divine Ability, drawing surprise from Zhou Fuling, Huo Qing, and the banquet guests.
• Lü Wen and Lu Ming exchanged dozens of blows, leaving Lü Wen’s palms mangled while both fighters spent Primordial Qi.
• Lü Wen unleashed his Blazing Radiance Wing Slash Technique, and Lu Ming considered hiding his other powerful abilities to avoid attracting attention.
• Lu Ming activated the Transformation Technique, causing his vitality to vanish rapidly as Lü Wen’s attack descended.

Lu Ming used the Transformation Technique to defeat Lü Wen and destroy the golden bell, foiling the Blazing Radiance Hall’s attempt to humiliate the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall. After the banquet’s clash ended, Zhou Fuling secretly gave Lu Ming a pill to restore his vitality, though she denied being worried about him.

• Lu Ming dissolved his vitality with the Transformation Technique, replenished it with the Flame of Life, and used the Thunderfire Whip to shatter Lü Wen’s flaming wing attack.
• Lü Huan intervened to deflect Lu Ming’s whip, but Lu Ming struck the golden bell and smashed it, ending the contest in the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall’s favor.
• Zhong Taiyue mocked Lü Huan, who left the banquet with Lü Wu, Lü Wen, and the other Blazing Radiance Hall members.
• Zhong Quan thanked Lu Ming, while Lu Ming reassured him and later told Lu Qingyan and Zhong Ying that he was unharmed.
• Lu Mengmeng gave Lu Ming a pill from Zhou Fuling to restore his essence blood and vitality, and Lu Ming offered to accompany her around the city as thanks.

After Lu Ming’s victory at Zhong Taiyue’s birthday banquet raised his profile, he said goodbye to Zhou Fuling and received his grandfather’s praise and concern. The chapter ended with Zhong Taiyue agreeing to search for the rare hundred-year-old high-grade spirit herb Lu Ming needed for Netherwater Flame.

• Zhao Qian regretted missing her chance to get closer to Lu Ming after seeing him with Zhou Fuling, though she doubted he could become a Divine Ability Grandmaster.
• Zhou Fuling told Lu Ming to meet her at the prefectural office the next day, and he teased her before she left with Zhou Xuan and Huo Shanhe.
• Zhong Taiyue praised Lu Ming for defending him at the banquet and asked Zhong Ying to bring Lu Ming and Lu Mengmeng to visit more often.
• Zhong Taiyue warned Lu Ming about the harm of burning his essence blood and vitality, then recognized Zhou Fuling’s gift as a high-grade Life-Restoring Pill.
• Lu Ming asked Zhong Taiyue to find a hundred-year-old high-grade spirit herb within a few days, and Zhong Taiyue promised to ask his contacts.

Lu Ming and Zhou Fuling went to the Spirit Herb Pavilion to find a hundred-year-old high-grade spirit herb, but the only one available had been reserved by Huo Qing. When Lü Wu and Lü Wen confronted Lu Ming there, Zhou Fuling stepped in to defend him.

• Lu Ming brought Lu Mengmeng to meet Zhou Fuling, who revealed she had arranged the visit to help him find a hundred-year-old high-grade spirit herb.
• After buying pastries at Clearwater Tower, the three went to the Spirit Herb Pavilion and learned its stock had been bought up by alchemists seeking the Netherwater Flame.
• Pavilion Master Jiang said the last high-grade spirit herb was reserved by Huo Qing, who was expected to collect it that day.
• Huo Qing arrived with Lü Wu, Lü Wen, and a sharp-faced young man, and Lü Wu and Lü Wen challenged Lu Ming over his earlier victory against them.
• Zhou Fuling stepped between Lu Ming and the Lü brothers and threatened to cripple them if they attacked him.

Lu Ming and Zhou Fuling competed with Song Ren for the Spirit Herb Pavilion’s last hundred-year-old high-grade spirit herb, but Lu Ming stopped Zhou Fuling before she was drawn into an inflated bid. They left without the herb, and Lu Ming considered asking his grandfather for help or using the Flame of Life.

• Lü Wu and Lü Wen reacted angrily to Zhou Fuling, but Huo Qing warned them that she was not someone they could provoke.
• Huo Qing explained that Song Ren also needed the hundred-year-old spirit herb, and he agreed to let Song Ren and Zhou Fuling compete for it by bidding.
• Zhou Fuling and Song Ren raised their bids until Song Ren offered two hundred thousand Heavenly Gold Sand for the azure lotus.
• Lu Ming took Zhou Fuling and Lu Mengmeng away, leaving Song Ren to buy the herb at an inflated price.
• Zhou Fuling became upset with Lu Ming for stopping her, but he apologized and explained that he could not stand seeing her manipulated.
• Lu Ming said he might ask his grandfather for a hundred-year-old spirit herb and considered whether the Flame of Life could grow one.

Lu Ming failed to find a hundred-year-old high-grade spirit herb, but Zhong Taiyue obtained two herbs that were nearly a hundred years old. Lu Ming used the Flame of Life to mature one of them, giving him the required herb and a chance to compete for the Netherwater Flame.

• Lu Ming and Zhou Fuling searched medicine shops for a hundred-year-old high-grade spirit herb but found that the stock had sold out.
• Zhou Fuling explained that alchemists would compete for the Netherwater Flame through pill refinement, while Lu Ming still lacked the required herb to enter.
• Zhong Taiyue gave Lu Ming a Scarlet Pattern Fruit and an Eight-Leaf Azure Serpent Grass, both said to be around ninety-nine years old.
• Lu Ming used the Flame of Life on the Scarlet Pattern Fruit and spent the next two days exhausting himself to force it to mature.
• Lu Ming completed a new flame pattern on the fruit, sensed its medicinal potency surge, and gained his ticket to compete for the Netherwater Flame.