Chapter Summaries

Lu Yunxiao and Queen Medusa reconciled after arguing over his favoritism toward Yun Yun, then grew closer. Yun Yun arrived in the Imperial Capital for the Alchemist Grand Assembly and, after hearing how little Lu Yunxiao had taught Nalan Yanran, headed to the Mittel Family to confront him.

• Lu Yunxiao comforted Queen Medusa as she accused him of favoring Yun Yun, and he urged her to win her sisters over rather than dominate them.
• Queen Medusa demanded to take Yun Yun's place, but Lu Yunxiao refused, and the two spent the night together.
• Lu Yunxiao helped Queen Medusa dress the next morning and promised to treat her well.
• Yun Yun arrived at Nalan Manor and reunited with Nalan Yanran before asking about Lu Yunxiao.
• Nalan Yanran told Yun Yun that Lu Yunxiao stayed with the Mittel Family and instructed her only two hours each week, so Yun Yun took her there to confront him.

Lu Yunxiao was feeding Queen Medusa when Hai Bodong announced that a guest wanted him to welcome her, and Lu Yunxiao rashly told him to send her away. He discovered the guest was Yun Yun, apologized as she twisted his ear, and secretly held her hand while Nalan Yanran remained unaware of their affection.

• Lu Yunxiao lovingly fed Queen Medusa while Ya Fei asked him to feed her too and Qing Yanjing watched.
• Hai Bodong told Lu Yunxiao that a guest had specifically asked him to come welcome her, and Lu Yunxiao refused without asking who she was.
• Qing Yanjing sensed that Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran were waiting outside, and Lu Yunxiao realized they had likely heard his insult.
• Lu Yunxiao rushed out to greet Yun Yun, who scolded him and twisted his ear for telling her to get lost.
• Yun Yun softened as Lu Yunxiao held her hand, while Nalan Yanran failed to notice their affectionate exchange.

Yun Yun arrived to watch Lu Yunxiao compete in the Alchemist Grand Assembly and learned that Queen Medusa had become his wife. After Lu Yunxiao stopped the two women from clashing, he took Yun Yun aside as the others went to the main hall.

• Yun Yun scolded Lu Yunxiao for forgetting his scheduled battle with Liu Ling and tightened her grip on his hand.
• Queen Medusa revealed herself as a Dou Zong and demanded that Yun Yun stop disciplining her husband; Lu Yunxiao confirmed that he and Queen Medusa had been together.
• Queen Medusa and Yun Yun clashed their auras until Lu Yunxiao stepped between them and ordered them to stop.
• Lu Yunxiao sent Queen Medusa and Yun Yun toward the main hall with Qing Yanjing and Ya Fei, then took Yun Yun aside.
• Lu Yunxiao told Yun Yun that everyone except Senior Disciple Sister already knew about their relationship and led her toward the Mittel Family garden.

Lu Yunxiao and Yun Yun argued about Queen Medusa getting close to him and about his promise to guide Nalan Yanran. Yun Yun remained determined to claim the position of first wife, while Lu Yunxiao defended his choices and drew her close in the corridor.

• Yun Yun confronted Lu Yunxiao about what happened with Queen Medusa, and he admitted he had been unable to resist her.
• Yun Yun complained that Queen Medusa had taken the position meant for her, but Lu Yunxiao said she would need to win the others over herself.
• Yun Yun insisted she would not surrender her claim to be Lu Yunxiao's first wife, especially not to Queen Medusa.
• Yun Yun questioned whether Lu Yunxiao had properly guided Nalan Yanran, and he listed the training and resources he had provided.
• Yun Yun apologized after Lu Yunxiao challenged her accusation, and he pulled her against a corridor pillar as she warned that someone might see them.

Lu Yunxiao and Yun Yun reunited privately, but Yun Yun persuaded him to keep their relationship hidden until Nalan Yanran’s Three-Year Agreement was over. They discussed the upcoming alchemy competition and Lu Yunxiao’s ambition to unite the Jia Ma Empire’s factions under the Misty Cloud Sect, leaving Yun Yun astonished when he offered her the position of Sect Master.

• Lu Yunxiao kissed Yun Yun, but she stopped him from revealing their relationship because Nalan Yanran might be distracted before the Three-Year Agreement.
• Lu Yunxiao took Yun Yun to his room, where they kissed and embraced while waiting for the competition.
• Yun Yun asked about the alchemy competition, and Lu Yunxiao dismissed Liu Ling and said he had surpassed Gu He.
• Lu Yunxiao told Yun Yun he had rejected Yao Ye, and Yun Yun warned that the princess might be pursuing him for political reasons.
• Lu Yunxiao said he planned to unite the Jia Ma Empire’s forces under the Misty Cloud Sect and asked Yun Yun to support him.
• Lu Yunxiao assured Yun Yun that the Misty Cloud Sect would remain the foundation and said she would still be its Sect Master, astonishing her.

Lu Yunxiao and Yun Yun discussed who would lead the Misty Cloud Sect after the factions were annexed, and he promised to use his hidden strength to secure their obedience. He invited Yun Yun to stay at the Mittel Family residence, where she accepted despite Queen Medusa’s initial discomfort.

• Yun Yun told Lu Yunxiao that she could not manage the Misty Cloud Sect alongside the other annexed factions, and he offered to handle the work while she held the Sect Master title.
• Lu Yunxiao hinted that he had hidden power and kissed Yun Yun before they returned to the hall.
• Lu Yunxiao invited Yun Yun to stay at the Mittel Family residence, and Queen Medusa reluctantly agreed after he challenged her objection.
• Yun Yun accepted the invitation after Nalan Yanran encouraged her to stay, and Ya Fei went to arrange a room.

Lu Yunxiao spent time teaching Nalan Yanran to condense sword qi before the Alchemist Grand Assembly began in the Jia Ma Empire's Imperial Capital. On the morning of the assembly, he dressed with Yun Yun, ate breakfast with his companions, and prepared to set out.

• Lu Yunxiao offered to help Nalan Yanran understand sword qi and demonstrated its condensation while Yun Yun and Queen Medusa followed them.
• Three days later, the Alchemist Grand Assembly began, drawing alchemists from across the empire to the Alchemist Guild.
• Yun Yun urged Lu Yunxiao to prepare, and the two helped each other dress for the assembly.
• Lu Yunxiao ate breakfast with Yun Yun and the others, praised Ya Fei's attentiveness, and invited Qing Lin to come along.
• Lu Yunxiao set off for the Alchemist Grand Assembly with his companions.

Lu Yunxiao took Qing Lin and the others to the Alchemist Grand Assembly at the Royal Plaza. After pushing through the crowded Alchemist Guild, the group reached the plaza, where Imperial City Guards under Yao Ye maintained security.

• Lu Yunxiao encouraged Qing Lin to relax from her diligent cultivation and invited her to watch him compete at the Alchemist Grand Assembly.
• Lu Yunxiao led Qing Lin, Yun Yun, Queen Medusa, Ya Fei, and Qing Yanjing through the streets toward the Alchemist Guild, drawing envious stares from passersby.
• Lu Yunxiao forced a path through the crowded guild entrance, and Queen Medusa silenced the alchemists who cursed at them.
• Lu Yunxiao's group exited through the guild's rear entrance and headed toward the Royal Plaza.
• The group saw the plaza and its Imperial City Guard security, which Yao Ye commanded.

Lu Yunxiao and his companions arrived at the Alchemist Grand Assembly venue and took seats in the VIP section, where Queen Medusa’s human legs revealed her advancement to Dou Zong. As more guests arrived, Lu Yunxiao spotted an ordinary-looking youth and recognized him with a mocking smile.

• Lu Yunxiao led his group into the plaza and guided them to the VIP seats before the assembly began.
• Jia Xingtian and Fama noticed Queen Medusa’s human legs and were shocked by her apparent strength; Lu Yunxiao calmed her and the two men apologized.
• Lu Yunxiao introduced Qing Lin to Jia Xingtian and Fama, who praised her and made her blush.
• Gu He and Liu Ling arrived with two women, two Tier 4 Alchemists, and an ordinary-looking youth whom Lu Yunxiao recognized.

Yao Ye and Yao Yue joined the VIP gathering, where Yao Ye continued pursuing Lu Yunxiao and Yao Yue openly rebuked him for rejecting her sister. Lu Yunxiao saw through their exchange as a calculated attempt to pressure him and decided he would never consider Yao Ye as a partner.

• Yao Ye and Yao Yue arrived at the VIP seats and greeted Jia Xingtian, Fama, Yun Yun, and Queen Medusa.
• Yao Ye spoke warmly to Lu Yunxiao and hinted that family matters deserved his attention, while he maintained his distance.
• Yao Yue criticized Lu Yunxiao for ignoring her sister’s feelings, prompting Jia Xingtian, Yun Yun, and Queen Medusa to intervene.
• Yao Ye apologized on Yao Yue’s behalf and sat beside Lu Yunxiao, but he recognized the exchange as a scheme to make him feel indebted to her.
• Lu Yunxiao resolved never to consider Yao Ye again, while Queen Medusa, Ya Fei, and Qing Yanjing recognized that the royal sisters’ ploy had failed.

At the alchemy competition’s VIP seats, Lu Yunxiao dismissed Gu He’s confidence in Liu Ling and challenged him publicly. Liu Ling’s fear left Gu He furious and disappointed as the competition had yet to begin.

• Yao Ye praised Lu Yunxiao’s chances of winning, while Yao Yue insisted that she would take the championship.
• Fama declared that Lu Yunxiao was likely to win, leaving the little princess unconvinced.
• Gu He arrived with Liu Ling and said his disciple had a chance to take first place.
• Lu Yunxiao mocked Liu Ling and challenged him to step forward, but Liu Ling recoiled in fear.
• Lu Yunxiao taunted Gu He over Liu Ling’s reaction, and Gu He called his disciple useless.

Lu Yunxiao challenged Gu He’s confidence in alchemy and argued that cultivation was essential to advancing as an alchemist. As the Alchemist Grand Assembly continued, he challenged Gu He to an alchemy duel after the competition, while Xiao Yan watched and focused on his coming Three-Year Agreement with Nalan Yanran.

• Gu He scolded Liu Ling for cowering before Lu Yunxiao, then insisted Liu Ling could still win the alchemy competition.
• Lu Yunxiao argued that cultivation set the limits of alchemy and said Gu He could not become a high-tier Tier 6 Alchemist without breaking through to Dou Emperor.
• Xiao Yan asked his teacher whether Lu Yunxiao was right, and his teacher agreed that cultivation was essential and urged him to leave the Jia Ma Empire after the Three-Year Agreement.
• Xiao Yan watched Lu Yunxiao and Gu He clash, thinking about defeating Nalan Yanran and noting his dislike of the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Lu Yunxiao challenged Gu He to an alchemy duel after the Alchemist Grand Assembly and asked whether Gu He dared to accept.

Lu Yunxiao challenged Gu He to an alchemy contest, and Gu He accepted, while Fama and Jia Xingtian judged the outcome uncertain and suspected Lu Yunxiao was also a Tier 6 Alchemist. As the rivals prepared to face off, Yun Yun and Queen Medusa argued over Yun Yun’s place beside Lu Yunxiao.

• Gu He accepted Lu Yunxiao’s challenge and said he would teach him a lesson on behalf of his teacher.
• Liu Ling hoped Lu Yunxiao would lose, while Fama told Jia Xingtian that Lu Yunxiao’s alchemy might surpass his own and could be Tier 6.
• Jia Xingtian saw the rivalry between Lu Yunxiao and Gu He as potentially beneficial to the imperial family.
• Yun Yun told Ya Fei that Lu Yunxiao’s resentment toward Gu He was too deep to stop, and she expected Gu He to lose.
• Queen Medusa criticized Yun Yun’s claim to be Lu Yunxiao’s original wife, but Yun Yun stood her ground and Queen Medusa turned toward Lu Yunxiao.

Lu Yunxiao challenged Gu He over the Alchemist Grand Assembly, while Xiao Yan and Old Yao tried to gauge his strength. After Old Yao sensed Lu Yunxiao’s Tier 7 Soul Power, he suspected Lu Yunxiao was tied to a powerful clan and warned Xiao Yan never to offend him.

• Queen Medusa resented Lu Yunxiao for favoring Yun Yun as Lu Yunxiao and Gu He exchanged hostile words.
• Gu He led Liu Ling away and warned Lu Yunxiao that he would have to beat Liu Ling at the Alchemist Grand Assembly first.
• Xiao Yan asked Old Yao about Lu Yunxiao’s level, and Old Yao said Lu Yunxiao’s Soul Power had reached the Tier 7 Realm, even surpassing Gu He’s.
• Xiao Yan suspected Lu Yunxiao and Xiao Xun’er had known each other for a long time, prompting Old Yao to suspect Lu Yunxiao was connected to Xiao Xun’er’s clan.
• Old Yao solemnly warned Xiao Yan not to offend Lu Yunxiao, but Xiao Yan wondered why since he intended to defeat him.

Xiao Yan learned from Old Yao that Lu Yunxiao had reached the high-level Dou Ling realm and vowed to keep striving to surpass him. As Lu Yunxiao watched the crowds gather, Fama officially opened the seventh Alchemist Grand Assembly.

• Old Yao told Xiao Yan that Lu Yunxiao's strength and bloodline made him difficult to match, and urged Xiao Yan to cultivate the Flame Mantra.
• Xiao Yan steadied himself and vowed to overcome Lu Yunxiao through his own efforts.
• Xiao Yan and Lu Yunxiao exchanged greetings as Xiao Yan's group passed, while Lu Yunxiao watched Qing Lin nearby.
• Fama rang the bell, addressed the assembled alchemists, and declared the seventh Alchemist Grand Assembly open.

At the Alchemist Grand Meeting, Lu Yunxiao stunned the crowd by descending through the air with an advanced movement technique. He denied Yao Yue’s guess that he was a Dou Zong, leaving the contestants assembled in the square.

• Fama directed the contestants to take their places, and Liu Ling and Yao Yue showed off their movement techniques as they descended from the VIP seats.
• Xiao Yan used the Suction Palm and Blazing Palm to move through the air toward the center of the square.
• Lu Yunxiao reassured Qing Lin, then walked down through the air, astonishing the audience and the other contestants.
• Xiao Yan asked Old Yao about Lu Yunxiao’s display, and Old Yao explained that it likely came from an exceptional earth-tier movement Dou Skill.
• Lu Yunxiao landed on a central stone platform, drawing thunderous cheers from the crowd.
• Yao Yue asked if Lu Yunxiao was a Dou Zong, and he calmly denied it.

Lu Yunxiao entered the first round of the alchemy examination, where contestants had to deduce an incomplete prescription and refine a Tier 2 pill with only two attempts. After the round began, he calmly prepared to refine the pill in a way that stunned spectators and guests.

• Yao Yue asked Lu Yunxiao about his movement technique, but he dismissed her and advised her to study the difficult test prescription.
• Yao Yue boasted she would take first place, then frowned when she saw the challenge was more difficult than she expected.
• Fama announced the rules for the first round, and thousands of contestants summoned their cauldrons as the examination began.
• Lu Yunxiao brought out the fifth-tier Nether River Cauldron and summoned the Amethyst Winged Lion King's Purple Fire.
• Lu Yunxiao sent several medicinal ingredients into his cauldron at once, stunning the contestants and guests who noticed.

Lu Yunxiao began refining six medicinal ingredients at once, having deduced the incomplete pill formula and each ingredient’s refinement requirements after a brief observation. As he calmly extracted and stored the essences, Yao Yue began refining her own ingredient, while Gu He remained confident about their future duel.

• Yao Yue, Xiao Yan, and Gu He reacted with alarm or scorn when Lu Yunxiao began purifying six ingredients at once.
• Queen Medusa threatened Gu He for insulting Lu Yunxiao, and Yun Yun and the other women also glared at him.
• Fama explained that Lu Yunxiao had likely understood the pill formula and its refinement limits during his brief observation, then warned Gu He about their arranged duel.
• Queen Medusa dismissed Gu He’s confidence and predicted he would lose the Pill King title after their competition.
• Lu Yunxiao filled the cauldron with Soul Power and purified all six ingredients with ease, even reminding Yao Yue to begin.
• Yao Yue slowly started refining an ingredient, while Lu Yunxiao extracted medicinal essences and stored them in Jade Bottles.

Lu Yunxiao swiftly refined a flawless pill in the first round of the Alchemist Grand Assembly, stunning the other contestants and judges. The round ended with more than a hundred unfinished alchemists eliminated, while Lu Yunxiao, Yao Yue, Xiao Yan, Liu Ling, and the others advanced.

• Lu Yunxiao refined all six medicinal herbs and fused their essences into a pill while the other contestants were still working through their ingredients.
• Yao Yue and Liu Ling recognized Lu Yunxiao's exceptional speed, while Liu Ling resolved to beat him by producing a higher-quality pill.
• Lu Yunxiao completed a lustrous pill with Pill Cloud and placed it on a jade plate, distracting nearby contestants and prompting praise from Jia Xingtian and Fama.
• Gu He argued that quality mattered more than speed, and Fama criticized him for letting jealousy cloud his judgment.
• The final grain of sand fell, eliminating every contestant who had not finished, while Yao Yue, Xiao Yan, Liu Ling, and the others showed that they had successfully refined pills.
• Yao Yue waved her finished pill at Lu Yunxiao and told him that she had succeeded too.

After passing the preliminary round, Lu Yunxiao and the other contestants tested their Bone-Generating Pills, and Lu Yunxiao’s pill produced the brightest light by far. The test then revealed another contestant whose pill outshone Xiao Yan’s, drawing everyone’s attention.

• Fama announced that the surviving contestants had passed the preliminary test and introduced a machine to verify their pills.
• Lu Yunxiao and Yao Yue agreed to test their pills, and the leading contestants placed theirs into the machines.
• Lu Yunxiao’s pill produced a vivid bluish-green light that surpassed Xiao Yan’s and Liu Ling’s results, earning Fama’s praise.
• Liu Ling reacted with fury at being outperformed by both Lu Yunxiao and Xiao Yan.
• An unknown contestant’s pill produced a green light brighter than Xiao Yan’s, making Fama and the crowd turn toward that corner.