Chapter Summaries

Xiao Heng learned that the Tianshan Blood Pool would open soon and set out for the Tianmu Mountain Range, hoping to improve his cultivation and meet Xiao Yan. On the way, he avoided the Wind Thunder Pavilion’s search and discovered a Golden Jade Bamboo Shoot guarded by a pack of Iron Bear Beasts, so he asked Old Yao to help him take it.

• Xiao Heng checked out, heard two men discuss the Tianshan Blood Pool, and learned that it could help cultivators break through to the Dou Zong realm.
• Xiao Heng decided to travel to the Tianmu Mountain Range and then head to the Central Region with Xiao Yan; he checked Xiao Yi Xian’s earring and found no unusual fluctuations.
• Xiao Heng learned that more than twenty days remained before the Blood Pool opened and traveled cautiously while the Wind Thunder Pavilion raised its reward for information about him.
• Xiao Heng explored the primeval forests, encountered a pack of Iron Bear Beasts guarding a Golden Jade Bamboo Shoot, and concluded he needed help to obtain it.
• Xiao Heng summoned Old Yao and asked him to retrieve the shoot while Xiao Heng and the Heavenly Demon Puppet distracted the beasts.

Xiao Heng tried to obtain the pandas’ treasured item, first offering Shape-Shifting Pills and then using a panda cub to draw the clan away. He escaped with the cub while the Bear King and some of her clan pursued him, leaving Heavenly Flame Venerable and Old Yao to take advantage of the distraction.

• Xiao Heng offered the Bear King Shape-Shifting Pills in exchange for her treasure, but she refused after one of her clan members warned her not to trust him.
• Xiao Heng snatched a panda cub and used it to escape the Bear King and the other five Seventh-Rank pandas, who were afraid to attack while he held it.
• Xiao Heng proposed the trade again as he fled, but the Bear King refused to be threatened and continued chasing him.
• An explosion in the bamboo forest drew four pandas back, while Xiao Heng and the Bear King kept pursuing each other.
• The four pandas found Xiao Heng’s Heavenly Demon Puppet carrying a second cub and chased it in another direction.
• Xiao Heng kept fleeing with the first cub and silently left the rest of the plan to Old Yao.

Xiao Heng and Old Yao used a decoy and the Heavenly Demon Puppet to steal a golden-jade bamboo shoot from the pandas’ guarded platform. They escaped after Xiao Heng offered Bear King pills as compensation, and left the bamboo forest with the treasure.

• Old Yao’s Storage Ring slipped past the pandas’ defenses, and he stole the golden-jade bamboo shoot from the guarded platform before escaping through a spatial crack.
• The pandas abandoned their pursuit of the Heavenly Demon Puppet and returned to the forest after hearing the clan’s alarm.
• Xiao Heng tossed the panda cub to its rescuers, evaded Bear King’s attack, and offered him a Shape-Shifting Pill and a healing pill before escaping.
• Bear King confirmed his clan members were safe, accepted the pills, and ordered the pandas to let Xiao Heng go and accept the loss.
• Old Yao returned the bamboo shoot to Xiao Heng, and the two left the area with the Heavenly Demon Puppet.

Xiao Heng consumed the Golden Jade Bamboo Shoot raw and endured its violent energy as he cultivated in seclusion. He broke through to Eight-Star Dou Zong, then used three Lotus Seeds to make a final push toward Nine-Star Dou Zong.

• Xiao Heng decided to cultivate with the Golden Jade Bamboo Shoot before heading to the Tianmu Mountain Range, and arranged for the Heavenly Demon Puppet and Yao to guard him.
• Xiao Heng ate the Golden Jade Bamboo Shoot whole, unleashing intense pain as its energy rampaged through his body and strengthened his physique.
• Xiao Heng circulated his cultivation method for several days, gradually absorbing the bamboo shoot’s energy while the Heavenly Flame Venerable watched over the cave.
• Xiao Heng broke through from Seven-Star to Eight-Star Dou Zong and continued pushing toward Nine-Star, drawing energy from the Spirit Gathering Array.
• Xiao Heng ate three Lotus Seeds to boost his energy and renewed his attempt to break through the Nine-Star Dou Zong barrier.

Xiao Heng stabilized his breakthrough to Nine-Star Dou Zong and reached the Tianmu Mountain Range to assess whether it could serve his purposes. He found the mountain barely suitable, then accepted Jin Shi’s invitation to visit the Golden Rat Clan while continuing to conceal his identity.

• Xiao Heng broke through to Nine-Star Dou Zong but suffered injuries, and Little Grass helped stabilize his realm.
• Xiao Heng learned that nine days had passed and flew to the Tianmu Mountain Range after deciding to meet Xiao Yan and inspect the mountain.
• Xiao Heng used his Third Eye to examine the mountain’s spirit and found it barely met Little Grass’s requirements, but chose to inspect the Wind Thunder Pavilion’s territory before deciding.
• Jin Shi of the Golden Rat Clan confronted Xiao Heng, who introduced himself as Long and said he was waiting for someone.
• Jin Shi invited Xiao Heng up the mountain to rest until the Tianshan Blood Pool closed, while suspecting Xiao Heng might belong to a powerful Magical Beast race.

Xiao Heng waited at the Tianshan Blood Pool and met Nalan Yanran after she emerged, revealing his identity and warning her that the Wind Thunder Pavilion was hunting him. Their conversation left Nalan Yanran reflecting on her past with Xiao Yan and admitting that, despite her regrets, she still had feelings for him.

• Jin Shi mistook Xiao Heng for someone related to the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, and Xiao Heng let him believe they were connected while saying he had come only to wait for someone.
• After half a month, Nalan Yanran emerged from the Tianshan Blood Pool and thanked Jin Shi for the opportunity.
• Xiao Heng revealed his identity to Nalan Yanran, asked after Yun Yun, and learned that she and Nalan Yanran were at the Flower Sect.
• Xiao Heng told Nalan Yanran that the Wind Thunder Pavilion was hunting him and warned her not to mention him when she left.
• Nalan Yanran described her progress and regretted her past choices involving Xiao Yan, while Xiao Heng told her not to dwell on the past.
• Nalan Yanran admitted she had been immature and said that although loving Xiao Yan might have been her greatest mistake, she did not know what else she could do.

Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Zong in the Tianshan Blood Pool and reunited with Xiao Heng, who helped him remove Jin Shi’s fire poison. After catching up on their troubles and Xiao Heng’s clash with the Wind Thunder Pavilion, Xiao Yan asked about the Ancient Clan.

• Nalan Yanran left, and the other Tianshan Blood Pool entrants departed while Xiao Yan remained inside.
• Xiao Yan emerged from the blood pool and broke through to Dou Zong, drawing congratulations from Jin Shi.
• Xiao Yan recognized Xiao Heng, and Jin Shi invited them into the Golden Rat Clan’s territory.
• Xiao Yan inspected Jin Shi’s medicinal ingredients and, with Xiao Heng’s help, began treating Jin Shi’s fire poison.
• Xiao Heng and Xiao Yan shared news of their recent encounters, including Xiao Yan’s conflict with the Tianming Sect and Xiao Heng’s clash with Fei Tian.
• Xiao Yan asked Xiao Heng for information about the Ancient Clan.

Xiao Heng told Xiao Yan about the Ancient Clan, Xun Er’s background, and the connections surrounding the Xiao Family, then gave him a powerful cultivation scroll. The next morning, Xiao Heng and Xiao Yan continued treating Jin Shi’s Fire Poison, and Jin Shi pledged the friendship of the Gold Devouring Rat Clan.

• Xiao Heng explained that Xun Er was the daughter of the Ancient Clan’s leader and that the Xiao Family also descended from a Dou Di bloodline.
• Xiao Heng told Xiao Yan about his ties to Burning Flame Valley, Starfall Pavilion, and the Pill Tower, and reminded him that strength made connections count.
• Xiao Heng gave Xiao Yan the Earth Class, High Level Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body scroll but warned him that creating a clone divided the main body’s strength.
• Xiao Heng left Xiao Yan to read while he studied an old book from Little Grass’s collection through the night.
• Xiao Heng gave Jin Shi another pill, and Xiao Yan prepared medicinal liquid to continue reducing Jin Shi’s Fire Poison.
• Jin Shi thanked Xiao Heng and Xiao Yan and promised that the Gold Devouring Rat Clan would regard them as friends and aid them when possible.

Xiao Heng and Xiao Yan left the Golden Rat Clan and traveled to the Wind Thunder Mountain Range, where Xiao Heng decided the region’s dense Wind Thunder Force could help him break through to Dou Zun. After choosing a concealed spot for Little Grass to prepare a Spirit Devouring Array, the two disguised themselves and headed into the crowd.

• Jin Shi completed his treatment, thanked Xiao Heng and Xiao Yan, and bid them farewell as they departed the Tianmu Mountain Range.
• Xiao Heng explained that his refined wings no longer carried the Heavenly Demon Phoenix’s aura, then told Xiao Yan he had his own reason for visiting the Wind Thunder Pavilion.
• Xiao Heng considered exploiting the Wind Thunder Mountain Range’s spiritual energy and discussed his interest in the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion with Xiao Yan.
• At the Wind Thunder Mountain Range, Xiao Heng used his Third Eye to inspect the dense wind and lightning energy and chose the region as the site for his plan.
• Xiao Heng asked Little Grass to locate nodes for a Spirit Devouring Array, then he and Xiao Yan disguised their faces and descended toward the crowds.

Xiao Heng infiltrated the Wind Thunder Pavilion and used Little Grass to obtain information and begin setting up the Spirit Devouring Array. Little Grass took control of his body to place the array nodes and started teaching him how to inscribe the patterns.

• Xiao Heng split up from Xiao Yan, followed a Wind Thunder Pavilion disciple into a forest, and searched his memories with Little Grass’s help.
• Xiao Heng learned the pavilion’s layout, guard positions, and the locations of its experts before leaving with a map in mind.
• Little Grass showed Xiao Heng the Spirit Devouring Array’s 108 nodes and the planned core location on Wind Thunder Peak.
• Little Grass used a technique that hid Xiao Heng from the pavilion’s disciples and Dou Zong experts, then took control of his body.
• Little Grass promised Xiao Heng a scroll for the concealment technique and began teaching him how to inscribe the Spirit Devouring Array’s patterns.

Xiao Heng and Little Grass completed a concealed Spirit Devouring Array throughout the Wind Thunder Mountain Range, which would eventually let Xiao Heng use Earthcore to break through to Dou Zun. As Xiao Heng turned his attention to the Four Pavilions Grand Meet, Wang Chen challenged Xiao Yan and threatened the group.

• Little Grass taught Xiao Heng about array nodes and used his cultivation to place the first 108 nodes across the mountain range.
• Xiao Heng reached the main peak, watched the four Venerables, and secretly infused Earthcore with his aura before burying it as the array's final node.
• Little Grass completed and concealed the Spirit Devouring Array, which would stimulate the mountain's spirit before gradually extracting it over the next one or two years.
• Xiao Heng noticed Xiao Yan on the stone platform and saw Yellow Springs Venerable looking furious.
• Wang Chen confronted Xiao Yan with bloodstained daggers and demanded that he kneel and kowtow to his master or face the Yellow Springs Pavilion's retaliation.

Xiao Yan defeated Wang Chen in their agreed duel, revealing that he had reached the Dou Zong realm. When Xiao Yan tried to leave, Yellow Springs Venerable broke his word and threatened to stop him.

• Xiao Yan accepted Wang Chen's challenge and blocked his daggers before breaking his attacks with a punch.
• Wang Chen revealed his half-step Dou Zong strength, but Xiao Yan used the Six Harmonies Roaming Body Ruler to overpower him and send him flying.
• Wang Chen unleashed the Yellow Springs Blood Art and Yellow Springs Corpse Arm, but Xiao Yan countered with Six Harmonies Fire and defeated him.
• Xiao Yan held Wang Chen at swordpoint and spared him while Yellow Springs Venerable watched.
• Yellow Springs Venerable ordered Xiao Yan to stop as he tried to leave, and Xiao Yan accused him of targeting a junior after the duel.

Xiao Yan faced Yellow Springs Venerable’s demand to endure a palm strike, but he secured Venerable Wind’s protection by revealing his connection to Venerable Yao. Venerable Wind declared that Starfall Pavilion would fight Yellow Springs Pavilion rather than let anyone harm Xiao Yan, leaving Yellow Springs Venerable torn between retreat and war.

• Yellow Springs Venerable demanded that Xiao Yan endure one palm strike, while Lin Yan prepared to retaliate against Wang Chen if Xiao Yan died.
• Xiao Yan gave Venerable Wind his Storage Ring, and Venerable Wind sensed something inside it and forbade anyone from touching him.
• Venerable Wind asked Xiao Yan about his relationship with the person connected to the ring, and Xiao Yan answered that he was his master and disciple.
• Xiao Yan showed Venerable Wind the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, proving his connection to Venerable Yao, and Venerable Wind offered to protect him as an elder.
• Yellow Springs Venerable threatened Venerable Wind, who declared that Starfall Pavilion would fight Yellow Springs Pavilion if necessary.
• Yellow Springs Venerable hesitated over whether to back down or risk a war, knowing Yellow Springs Pavilion was likely weaker.

Venerable Thunder and Sword Venerable defused the confrontation between Venerable Wind and Yellow Springs Venerable, and the Four Pavilions Conference continued. Feng Qing'er invited Xiao Yan into the finals, where he faced her and noticed Xiao Heng watching from a tree.

• Venerable Thunder and Sword Venerable persuaded Venerable Wind and Yellow Springs Venerable to stand down, and Venerable Thunder promised to host a banquet.
• Venerable Wind welcomed Xiao Yan warmly and learned his name, while Mu Qingluan wondered why her teacher treated him so well.
• Venerable Thunder restarted the competition, and Venerable Wind warned Mu Qingluan that Feng Qing'er was exceptionally strong.
• Feng Qing'er asked Venerable Thunder to let Xiao Yan join the finals, and Xiao Yan accepted her challenge.
• Xiao Yan stepped onto the stage, declined Feng Qing'er's offer to rest, and spotted Xiao Heng in a tree.

Xiao Yan and Feng Qing'er faced off as the Arena's strongest contenders, prompting the others to form alliances against them. Xiao Yan overwhelmed the four Dou Emperors who attacked him, defeating one and countering the remaining three as the battle continued.

• Xiao Yan and Feng Qing'er exchanged taunts before agreeing to settle their hostility through combat.
• Tang Ying and Mu Qingluan joined forces, while the other four competitors formed a separate alliance; the two groups chose to target Feng Qing'er and Xiao Yan respectively.
• Xiao Heng watched from a tree and judged Tang Ying and Sword Venerable more favorably.
• The competitors launched a coordinated attack, and four peak Dou Emperors sent their techniques toward Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan used Flame Splitting Wave Ruler to shatter the four attacks, then struck down the man who countered with Ice Storm.
• Xiao Yan blocked the remaining three attackers with Six Body Merging Travel Ruler and prepared to counterattack.

Feng Qing'er fought Tang Ying and Mu Qingluan, demonstrating the advantage of her Dou Zun strength against their combined attacks. After her Colored Phoenix attack overwhelmed Tang Ying, an old man intervened and erased the strike, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Xiao Yan unleashed Six Body Merging Travel Ruler and Six Harmonies Fire, sending the three people beside him flying.
• Tang Ying and Mu Qingluan attacked Feng Qing'er together, but she absorbed their opening techniques with her wind and lightning storm.
• Tang Ying and Mu Qingluan raised their strength to half-step Dou Zun and launched powerful techniques, with Mu Qingluan breaking through Feng Qing'er's crimson barrier and forcing her to retreat.
• Feng Qing'er emerged unharmed and summoned a Colored Phoenix, then sent its attacks against Tang Ying and Mu Qingluan.
• Tang Ying's Sword River weakened the colored radiance but failed to stop it, and an old man appeared to erase the attack before it hit him.

After Feng Qing'er defeated Tang Ying and Mu Qingluan, Xiao Yan faced her in the tournament and broke her Wind Kill Finger with his Buddha's Rage Fire Lotus. Feng Qing'er and Xiao Yan both raised their strength to three-star Dou Zun, leaving their decisive battle poised to continue.

• Feng Qing'er defeated Tang Ying and Mu Qingluan, while Xiao Yan swiftly beat his four opponents.
• Xiao Yan and Feng Qing'er began their match, trading blows with his Black Heavy Ruler and her colored silk.
• Feng Qing'er unleashed Wind Kill Finger, but Xiao Yan countered it with his two-colored Buddha's Rage Fire Lotus.
• Feng Qing'er used Bloodline Devouring Spirit to rise from one-star to three-star Dou Zun.
• Xiao Yan activated Heavenly Fire Three Profound Transformations: Glazed Transformation, reached three-star Dou Zun, and unfurled crimson wings.

Xiao Yan countered Feng Qing’er’s Demon Phoenix Sacred Image with a three-Heavenly-Flame Buddha’s Rage Fire Lotus. The blast engulfed the skies above Lei Feng and cracked Feng Qing’er’s Demon Phoenix Bell.

• Feng Qing’er summoned the Demon Phoenix Sacred Image and sent it charging at Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan suppressed the trembling blood inside his Storage Ring, evaded the phoenix, and combined three Heavenly Flames into a fire lotus.
• Feng Qing’er entered the black phoenix and formed the Demon Phoenix Bell to defend against Xiao Yan’s attack.
• Xiao Yan launched the fire lotus into the bell, causing a massive explosion that filled the skies with flames.
• The Demon Phoenix Bell developed a crack as Xiao Heng watched the blast in astonishment.

Xiao Yan defeated Feng Qing'er, but she accused him of possessing Ancient Phoenix Blood Essence and demanded to inspect his Storage Ring. Xiao Heng intervened and proposed a mutual inspection, leaving the dispute unresolved as the crowd watched.

• Xiao Yan shattered Feng Qing'er's black bell, overcame her Three Thousand Lightning Phantom Body, and declared victory.
• Feng Qing'er tried to attack Xiao Yan with black flames, but he restrained her with Heavenly Flames and threatened to kill her.
• Feng Qing'er sensed Ancient Phoenix Blood Essence and demanded to inspect Xiao Yan's Storage Ring, while Venerable Wind stood in his defense.
• Xiao Heng appeared in disguise and challenged Feng Qing'er's right to demand an inspection without consequences.
• Xiao Heng proposed that Feng Qing'er and Xiao Yan inspect each other's Storage Rings, and the crowd turned its attention to Feng Qing'er.

Xiao Heng forced Venerable Thunder to end Feng Qing’er’s accusation and declare Xiao Yan the victor of the Four Pavilions Tournament. After the group left the Wind Thunder Pavilion, Xiao Heng revealed his identity and collected the two drops of Ancient Phoenix Blood Essence from Xiao Yan.

• Xiao Heng offered Xiao Yan’s Storage Rings for inspection and demanded that Feng Qing’er do the same, while Venerable Wind backed his challenge.
• Venerable Thunder declared Xiao Yan the tournament’s victor and ended the dispute, and Venerable Wind took Xiao Yan, Xiao Heng, and their companions away.
• On the journey back, Xiao Heng removed his disguise, and Lin Yan and Venerable Wind recognized him as the Xiao Heng who had killed Fei Tian.
• Xiao Heng asked Xiao Yan for the Ancient Phoenix Blood Essence, and Xiao Yan showed him the two drops as Mu Qingluan realized Feng Qing’er’s suspicions had been correct.