Chapter Summaries

The Ye Family’s decision to enter the Danta public assessment stirred anger among alchemists and concern among the Five Great Clans. As Danta leaders prepared to attend the assessment, the Bai and Qiu Clans worried about their candidates, while the Dan Clan chose not to participate.

• The Cao Family announced that it would also send a family member to the public assessment, alarming alchemists who feared all Five Great Clans would compete for the available places.
• Elder Bai criticized the Ye Family’s decision in the Danta Elder Council, and Elder Mu Rong defended it as permitted by the rules.
• Great Elder Qiu Ling ordered Mu Rong to host the assessment and said the Chairman, the Three Great Heads, and the three great elders would attend.
• News of Mu Rong’s appointment reached the Five Great Clans, where the Bai and Qiu Clans worried their young candidates were not strong enough to stand out.
• The Dan Clan Head told Dan Xuan that the clan would skip the assessment, and Dan Xuan agreed.

After leaving seclusion, Ye Chen learned that the Pill Tower’s public assessment would draw an unprecedented gathering of its leaders and that Cao Ying would represent the Cao Clan. He discovered that candidates under twenty could qualify through exceptional Soul Value, and prepared to face the assessment ahead.

• Ye Chen emerged from alchemy with a ninety-percent Pill Formation Rate and planned to distribute some of his pills to his parents and family.
• The Third Elder told Ye Chen that the Pill Tower’s Three Great Heads and three Great Elders would attend the assessment, while the other clans besides the Cao Clan had not responded.
• Ye Zhong explained that Cao Xiu had left to travel and would miss the assessment, prompting Ye Chen to ask who the Cao Clan would send instead.
• Ye Zhong revealed that the Cao Clan had chosen Cao Ying, surprising Ye Chen because she was still under fourteen.
• Ye Zhong explained that candidates under twenty with a Soul Value above 500 could gain a special assessment qualification and were likely to become Pill Tower disciples.

Ye Chen prepared to leave for Sacred Pill City with Ye Zhong and entrusted Queen Medusa with protecting his family and Xiao Yi Xian. He revealed a Soaring Snake that carried their ship through the void, while the spectacle helped restore the Ye Family’s standing; they set off for Pill Tower’s assessment.

• Ye Zhong entrusted the Ye Family to the Second Elder and Third Elder while he took Ye Chen to Sacred Pill City.
• Ye Chen asked Queen Medusa to watch over his home and Xiao Yi Xian, whose Poisonous Body of Calamity cultivation had begun under Song Chun’er’s supervision.
• Ye Chen summoned a silver ship and called a small black snake out of his sleeve, revealing it as a Soaring Snake that fitted into the ship’s underside.
• Ye Chen and Ye Zhong boarded the ship, and the Soaring Snake carried it through a spatial void toward Sacred Pill City.
• The departure amazed the Ye Family and onlookers in Ye City, spreading the family’s name once more.

Ye Chen arrived at Sacred Pill City with Ye Zhong and discovered the sealed Star Domain above the city. His Acquired Archaic Star Body drew him into the Star Realm, where he encountered the Three Thousand Burning Flame and was struck by its overwhelming pressure.

• Ye Chen and Ye Zhong arrived at Sacred Pill City aboard a Space Ship carried by the Soaring Snake, drawing attention as members of the Ye Family.
• Ye Zhong took Ye Chen to Ye Courtyard and planned to bring him to the Pill Tower the next day to qualify as a Sixth Grade Alchemist.
• Ye Chen sensed that the night sky above Sacred Pill City concealed a seal, then became enveloped in starlight as his Acquired Archaic Star Body drew in star power.
• Ye Zhong sealed off the area around Ye Chen to keep anyone from disturbing him.
• Ye Chen's soul entered the Star Realm, where he saw the Three Thousand Burning Flame coiled around a giant dragon before its roar forced him out.

Qiu Ling reported unusual movement from the Three Thousand Burning Flame to Xuan Kongzi, who arranged for the Small Pill Tower to guard the Star Domain while the Pill Pagoda leaders attended the assessment. Xuan Kongzi revealed that the assessment was connected to the Pill Tower Old Ancestor, who had seen Ye Chen at the site where a terrifying expert left the Dou Qi Continent.

• Qiu Ling heard a dragon's roar and felt tremors in the Star Domain, then suspected someone had disturbed the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
• Qiu Ling warned Xuan Kongzi about the disturbance and proposed that the Great Elders guard the Star Domain instead of attending the assessment.
• Xuan Kongzi decided that the leaders would attend the assessment and said the Small Pill Tower would send an expert to protect the Star Domain.
• Qiu Ling asked why the assessment mattered so much, and Xuan Kongzi traced its importance to the Pill Tower Old Ancestor's appearance two years earlier.
• Xuan Kongzi told Qiu Ling that the Pill Tower Old Ancestor had seen Ye Chen where a terrifying expert had departed from the Dou Qi Continent.

The Pill Tower Old Ancestor’s past encounter with Ye Chen and the Dead Rabbit explained why he had drawn Ye Chen’s attention and why Xuan Kongzi planned to observe him during the assessment. After Ye Chen’s Star Power transformed the plants in Ye Courtyard, he went with Ye Zhong to a special Pill Pagoda testing room, where he planned to demonstrate his alchemy up to the peak of Sixth Grade.

• The Pill Tower Old Ancestor recalled seeing the Dead Rabbit leave the Dou Qi Continent and finding Ye Chen in the Mysterious Valley, where Ye Chen’s unusual talents convinced him that the young man was a natural anomaly.
• The Pill Tower Old Ancestor told Xuan Kongzi that Ye Chen was extraordinary, but the Dead Rabbit’s glance had damaged his reincarnated body, forcing him to seek another vessel.
• Xuan Kongzi decided to use Ye Chen’s assessment to study him and potentially recruit him if his talent proved exceptional.
• Ye Chen discovered that his transformation of the Star Power amplifier had changed the plants throughout Ye Courtyard, and Ye Zhong reproached him before telling him to prepare for the journey.
• Ye Zhong brought Ye Chen to a special testing area, where they met Danta Elder Han Li, a Steward Elder and Ye Zhong’s friend.
• Ye Chen followed Han Li into the testing room and planned to begin at Sixth Grade Initial, continuing to the peak of Sixth Grade.

Ye Chen advanced to a Sixth Grade Alchemist and later went with Dan Xuan and Song Qing to the Sacred Pill City Alchemist Trade Fair. As their groups crossed at the entrance, Ye Chen noticed a young girl among the people coming out.

• Ye Chen received his Sixth Grade Alchemist badge, and Han Li told Ye Zhong that Ye Chen had a strong chance of becoming a Pill Tower Core Disciple.
• Ye Chen cultivated in Ye Courtyard until Dan Xuan and Song Qing visited him.
• Song Qing invited Ye Chen and Dan Xuan to explore the Sacred Pill City Alchemist Trade Fair, and Ye Chen agreed to seek rare medicinal materials.
• The three friends entered the Trade Fair after the guards checked their badges and clan patterns.
• As they entered, Ye Chen noticed a young girl in a group preparing to leave.

Ye Chen, Dan Xuan, and Song Qing entered Sacred Pill City's alchemist Trade Fair, where they learned more about Cao Ying and searched for rare ingredients. Ye Chen failed to find the fresh dragon-type beast cores needed for the Yin Yang Profound Dragon Pill.

• Song Qing became captivated by a girl in black, and Dan Xuan identified her as Cao Ying, the Cao Clan Enchantress.
• Dan Xuan told Ye Chen that Cao Ying possessed extraordinary Soul Power and Dou Qi talent despite her young age.
• Ye Chen, Dan Xuan, and Song Qing entered the Trade Fair and learned that its stalls were divided among three graded areas.
• The three explored the third-grade area and found valuable ingredients, but Ye Chen found no overlooked bargains.
• Ye Chen explained that he needed two Rank Six dragon-type Magical Beast cores from beasts dead no more than seven days to refine the Yin Yang Profound Dragon Pill.

Ye Chen and his companions prepared for the Pill Tower’s public assessment, which drew an enormous crowd to Sacred Pill City. As the assessment began, Ye Chen arrived with Ye Zhong, and more than a dozen figures appeared above the stone platform.

• Song Qing declared that he was confident he would secure a slot, while Ye Chen believed he, Song Qing, and the Cao Clan Enchantress would be chosen.
• Ye Chen left his room wearing his Pill Tower robes and a badge showing his peak Sixth Grade alchemist rank, then set out with Ye Zhong.
• Ye Chen and Ye Zhong arrived at the packed assessment venue in the North District of the Inner Domain.
• Ye Zhong explained that the preliminary checks covered Pill Tower-issued rank badges and age, followed by tests of alchemical knowledge and ability.
• A bell silenced the crowd, and more than a dozen figures appeared above the stone platform.

Ye Chen attended Danta’s assessment, observed its mysterious leaders, and passed the initial screening as a peak Sixth Grade Alchemist. The assessment moved on to identifying medicinal materials in Danta’s well-stocked warehouse.

• Ye Chen recognized Mu Rong among Danta’s leaders and learned that the kindly President Xuan Kong stood beside two mysterious figures, including the woman Xuan Yi.
• Mu Rong announced the assessment, and Danta barred an examinee whose alchemist badge had not been issued by Danta.
• Ye Chen showed his peak Sixth Grade Alchemist badge and entered the square, where he saw more than a thousand young alchemists who had passed the preliminary screening.
• Danta began testing the examinees’ knowledge of medicinal properties by having them search its medicinal material warehouse for ingredients listed on their scrolls.
• Ye Chen entered a jade-lined passage and noted that its White Jade walls and floor helped preserve medicinal materials.

Ye Chen identified and selected Black Sky Star in the Danta medicinal herb test, then became the first to reach the Soul Stone assessment. His extraordinary age and rank drew attention, and he met fellow examinee Gao Ming as the next test awaited.

• Ye Chen chose Black Sky Star from the Medicinal Herb Repository and passed the stage after the Danta Elder approved his selection.
• The Danta Elder praised Ye Chen’s alchemy foundations as Ye Chen moved on to the next test.
• Ye Chen arrived first at the Soul Stone assessment, where spectators noticed his Sixth Grade Peak Alchemist badge and marveled at his youth.
• Other examinees entered and gathered around the venue while Ye Chen waited for the next test to begin.
• Gao Ming introduced himself to Ye Chen, recognized him as the Ye Family’s Eldest Young Master, and regarded him as a serious rival.

Ye Chen, Song Qing, and Gao Ming discussed the other young alchemists before Mu Rong began the Pill Tower's Soul Value assessment. As the test continued, Ye Chen watched the scores and told Gao Ming that ranking in the top fifty mattered more than reaching a particular Soul Value.

• Gao Ming introduced Mu Xuan, a twenty-nine-year-old Sixth Grade Advanced alchemist from the Pill Cauldron Sect, as a strong competitor.
• Song Qing and Gao Ming noticed Cao Ying, and Ye Chen identified her as the genius girl from the Cao Clan.
• Mu Rong announced that only the top fifty of the 235 examinees would advance and began the Soul Value test.
• The examinees took turns testing their Soul Values, with the highest score so far remaining below 600.
• Gao Ming asked Ye Chen what Soul Value could earn the Pill Tower's favor, and Ye Chen replied that the top-fifty ranking was what mattered.

The Soul Value assessment continued as Gao Ming, Cao Ying, and Song Qing demonstrated increasingly impressive talent. Cao Ying took the lead with 806, while Song Qing scored 785 and caught Mu Rong’s attention as a potential disciple of the Pill Tower.

• Ye Chen predicted Gao Ming would pass the round, and Gao Ming scored 625, the highest result at that point.
• Gao Ming remained among the top ten as the Soul Value test continued.
• Cao Ying scored 806, stunning the crowd and leaving Gao Ming discouraged.
• Song Qing was spurred on by Cao Ying’s result and scored 785, earning Mu Rong’s praise and interest.
• Song Qing thanked Mu Rong, unaware that he had nearly been selected as a Core Disciple of the Pill Tower.

Ye Chen’s Soul Value test revealed overwhelming soul power, shocking the Pill Tower’s leaders and elders. Xuan Kongzi claimed him as his chosen successor, while Xuan Yi asked to train Cao Ying and Tian Leizi rejected Xuan Kongzi’s attempt to appease him with Song Qing.

• Ye Chen was called to take the Soul Value test, drawing the attention of the examinees and Pill Tower leaders.
• Ye Chen greeted Mu Rong, then placed his palm on the testing tablet and entered a state of complete stillness.
• A powerful soul storm erupted around Ye Chen, startling Mu Rong and astonishing Cao Rui, Old Dan, Tian Leizi, Xuan Yi, and Xuan Kongzi.
• Xuan Kongzi declared that Ye Chen was his reserved successor, and Xuan Yi asked to take Cao Ying as her student.
• Xuan Kongzi suggested Song Qing could be trained as one of the eight great elders, but Tian Leizi refused.

Ye Chen achieved a Soul Value of 1021, surpassing Cao Ying by a wide margin and astonishing the Pill Pagoda assessors and examinees. Xuan Kongzi exempted Ye Chen, Cao Ying, and Song Qing from the remaining assessments and announced that five additional Core Disciple spots were available.

• Qiu Ling claimed Song Qing as his disciple, preventing the Dan and Cao families from taking him under their wing.
• Ye Chen scored 1021 in the soul assessment, more than two hundred points higher than Cao Ying.
• Song Qing celebrated Ye Chen's result, while Cao Ying accepted the challenge and resolved not to admit defeat.
• Ye Zhong rejoiced that Ye Chen might restore the Ye Family's former glory, and Mu Rong praised Ye Chen after the test.
• Xuan Kongzi announced that Ye Chen, Cao Ying, and Song Qing could skip the remaining assessments and that five Core Disciple spots would be awarded to other examinees.

After Xuan Kongzi promised the examinees the maximum number of Pill Pagoda slots, Ye Chen and Song Qing met Cao Ying, whose calculated charm and shifting behavior unsettled them. Song Qing stopped dwelling on his special recruitment and resolved to work hard so he would not fall behind anyone.

• Xuan Kongzi promised the remaining examinees the maximum number of Pill Pagoda slots, and Mu Rong led the top fifty Soul Value candidates away for the soul manipulation test.
• Song Qing asked Ye Chen whether their exemption from the later tests meant they were already Core Disciples, and Ye Chen urged him to stay calm.
• Ye Chen greeted Cao Ying, who flirted with him while ignoring Song Qing, provoking Ye Chen to criticize her manners.
• Cao Ying immediately apologized sweetly to Song Qing, and Ye Chen recognized that she had engineered the exchange to create tension between them.
• Song Qing coolly accepted her apology, reconsidered his own talent, and resolved that he would not be weaker than anyone.

Ye Chen, Cao Ying, and Song Qing accepted offers to become Core Disciples of the Pill Tower, with Xuan Kongzi taking Ye Chen as his student. The chapter ended as the Soul Power control assessment was about to begin, with its results set to combine with the later fire control assessment to determine the five winners.

• Sheng Yao brought Ye Chen, Cao Ying, and Song Qing before the Pill Tower's leaders, who offered to accept them as Core Disciples.
• Ye Chen, Song Qing, and Cao Ying agreed to follow the leaders' arrangements for their apprenticeships.
• Qiu Ling accepted Song Qing as his disciple, and Xuan Yi accepted Cao Ying as hers.
• Xuan Kongzi accepted Ye Chen as his disciple and told him he would later go to the Pill Tower's true location.
• The Pill Tower's Soul Power control assessment was introduced, with participants using Soul Power alone to catch Soul Measuring Pearls and earn a ranking.

Xuan Kongzi gave Ye Chen the ancient soul skill Soul Handprint and explained that the Pill Tower possessed rare methods for cultivating Soul Power. He agreed to pass Ye Chen one after he became a Seventh Grade Alchemist and reached peak Dou Emperor, then began asking him about the Soul Realm.

• The five additional candidates chosen by the Pill Tower were admitted, including Gao Ming, while Xuan Kongzi took Ye Chen to the Chairman's study.
• Xuan Kongzi gave Ye Chen the Mystic Tier High-Level soul skill Soul Handprint and explained how ancient alchemists used soul skills in battle.
• Ye Chen asked for a Soul Cultivation Method, and Xuan Kongzi promised to pass one to him after he reached Seventh Grade Alchemist and peak Dou Emperor.
• Ye Chen resolved to advance quickly, while keeping the Star Vein Diagram and Star Domain secret from Xuan Kongzi.
• Xuan Kongzi asked Ye Chen what he knew about the Soul Realm, and Ye Chen began answering based on what his ancestor had told him.

Xuan Kongzi explained Soul Realm and its importance to alchemy, teaching Ye Chen about the limits of talent and the realms needed to refine high-grade pills. He left Ye Chen encouraged to pursue his potential despite the rare opportunity required to reach the Heavenly Realm.

• Xuan Kongzi told Ye Chen that modern alchemists rarely understand or control Soul Power, and warned that an easy path could limit his growth.
• Ye Chen reflected on how Xiao Yan's hardships and Cao Ying's sheltered success shaped their different strengths as alchemists.
• Xuan Kongzi explained that a pill's spirituality depended on an alchemist's Soul Realm, not simply their Soul Value or skill.
• Xuan Kongzi said Ye Xun had been an exceptional Seventh Grade Alchemist who never reached Eighth Grade because he lacked the necessary Soul Realm.
• Xuan Kongzi explained that Spirit Realm could be cultivated but Heavenly Realm depended on opportunity, then reassured Ye Chen that his youth gave him time to advance.

Ye Chen studied the Soul Handprint taught by Xuan Kongzi and practiced its demanding seals. After three hours, he successfully unleashed its first form, Soul Profound Seal Palm, and left a palm print on a metal pillar.

• Ye Chen received the Soul Handprint’s information from the scroll and learned it was a three-form Mystic Tier High-Level Soul Skill whose power increased with each form.
• Ye Chen reflected on the lost inheritance of ancient soul cultivation methods, then focused on learning the skill through practice.
• Ye Chen’s first attempt to form the Soul Handprint failed because of a flaw in his Soul Power control.
• Ye Chen repeatedly practiced the hand seals until he formed Soul Profound Seal Palm and struck a metal pillar, leaving a clear palm print.