Chapter Summaries

Lu Yunxiao sent Xiao Ding’s men to search underground for the Heavenly Flame and decided to confront the Sand Mercenary Group after hearing they were interfering. He arrived at their main hall with Qing Lin and an old man, leaving Robb wary as he demanded an explanation.

• Lu Yunxiao told Xiao Ding to focus the Heavenly Flame search underground and said he would handle the Sand Mercenary Group.
• Lu Yunxiao invited Qing Lin to visit the Sand Mercenary Group with him.
• Moxing persuaded Robb to seize the area the Desert Iron Mercenary Group was exploring, and Robb agreed to act the next day.
• Lu Yunxiao broke into the Sand Mercenary Group’s main hall with Qing Lin and an old man, sending one of its Dou Masters flying.
• Robb suppressed his anger and asked Lu Yunxiao why he had forced his way into the compound.

Lu Yunxiao warned Robb that the Sand Mercenary Group must not interfere with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's search, then used Hai Bodong's strength to force Robb to comply. The Sand Mercenary Group was allowed to remain, and Robb ordered its members to stay inside.

• Lu Yunxiao told Robb to keep the Sand Mercenary Group out of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's search and threatened to destroy it if Robb interfered.
• Moxing attacked Lu Yunxiao, who sent him flying into a wall with a wave of dou qi.
• Hai Bodong revealed his Dou Emperor aura, forcing Robb to the ground and making him beg for his life.
• Lu Yunxiao ordered Hai Bodong to withdraw his aura, and Robb promised to restrain the Sand Mercenary Group.
• Lu Yunxiao, Qing Lin, and Hai Bodong left the hall, and Robb ordered his members to stay inside and out of the desert.

Lu Yunxiao searched the desert with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group for the Heavenly Flames while Xiao Ding and Xiao Li discussed their brother Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran. After a squad found signs of an underground passage, the group hurried toward it, as a red-robed woman with a purple snake tail appeared nearby and flew off.

• Xiao Li and Xiao Ding discussed the Sand Mercenary Group’s fear of Lu Yunxiao and defended Xiao Yan’s prospects after his talent returned.
• Lu Yunxiao joined Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, heard them mention Xiao Yan, and set aside his thoughts about Nalan Yanran’s broken engagement.
• Lu Yunxiao asked whether the mercenaries had found the Heavenly Flames, and a runner reported that the Fourth Squad had found traces of an underground passage.
• Xiao Ding led Lu Yunxiao, Hai Bodong, and the others toward the discovery.
• A red-robed woman with a purple snake tail appeared in the desert and sped away in one direction.

Lu Yunxiao and Hai Bodong followed the mercenaries’ underground tunnels to a vast magma cavern, where Lu Yunxiao located the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake. After Hai Bodong rescued four trapped mercenaries, Lu Yunxiao drew the snake out of the magma with a sword strike.

• Lu Yunxiao examined the unusually hot excavation site and entered the tunnels with Hai Bodong, while Xiao Ding’s group guarded the entrance.
• Lu Yunxiao sensed concentrated Fire Element energy and led Hai Bodong through the passages into a cavern filled with flowing magma.
• Lu Yunxiao found four unconscious mercenaries and asked Hai Bodong to carry them back to safety.
• After Hai Bodong returned, Lu Yunxiao used his soul perception to locate the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake beneath the magma.
• Lu Yunxiao slashed the magma with his Dragon Slaying Sword, provoking the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake to emerge.

Lu Yunxiao and Hai Bodong defeated the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake and made it lead them through the magma. They found the Green Lotus Core Flame deep beneath the magma lake, leaving Lu Yunxiao ready to claim it.

• Lu Yunxiao ordered Hai Bodong to subdue the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake without killing it, and Hai Bodong quickly overwhelmed the beast.
• Lu Yunxiao used a Soul Contract Stone to bind the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake, then ordered it to lead the way to the Heavenly Flame.
• Lu Yunxiao protected himself with the Star Spirit Gold while Hai Bodong formed an icy barrier, and they followed the snake down through the magma.
• The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake led Lu Yunxiao and Hai Bodong to an azure lotus bearing the Green Lotus Core Flame.
• Lu Yunxiao recognized the Green Lotus Core Flame and rejoiced at finding it.

Lu Yunxiao harvested the Green Lotus Core Flame and eleven Earthfire Lotus Seeds, then returned to the surface with Hai Bodong. Before he could leave, Queen Medusa appeared and demanded that he hand over the Heavenly Flame.

• Lu Yunxiao cut the green lotus free with a jade ruler, leaving its energy-devouring stem behind, while Hai Bodong helped him remove eleven Earthfire Lotus Seeds.
• Lu Yunxiao and Hai Bodong swam to shore, and the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake slipped into Lu Yunxiao's sleeve.
• Lu Yunxiao emerged from the cave and promised Xiao Ding a Profound-tier Dou Skill after they returned, saying he needed to deal with the Heavenly Flame first.
• Queen Medusa appeared in midair and demanded that Lu Yunxiao hand over the Heavenly Flame.
• Hai Bodong shielded Lu Yunxiao from Queen Medusa's pressure, and Lu Yunxiao used Star Spirit Gold to raise his aura to the Dou Ling level and stay standing.

Lu Yunxiao faced Queen Medusa, who demanded the Green Lotus Core Flame, while Hai Bodong and Lu Yunxiao’s Spirit Pets failed to stop her. As Medusa struck at Lu Yunxiao, he said he would give her the Heavenly Flame.

• Hai Bodong warned that Queen Medusa was hostile, and Xiao Ding and the others trembled in fear of her.
• Medusa demanded the Heavenly Flame from Hai Bodong and threatened to destroy him, leaving him too frightened to fight confidently.
• Lu Yunxiao asked the system how to keep the Green Lotus Core Flame from being refined and put away his Peak Dou Zong Experience Card.
• Lu Yunxiao provoked Medusa, and Hai Bodong charged to meet her but was wounded and sent flying after their clash.
• Medusa attacked Lu Yunxiao, sent the Starry Sky Flood Dragon and Snow Demon Ape flying, and closed in on him.
• As Medusa struck at him, Lu Yunxiao said he would give her the Heavenly Flame.

Lu Yunxiao let Queen Medusa escape with the Green Lotus Core Flame, trusting that the System had marked it so nobody else could refine it. He planned to reclaim both Medusa and the flame later, while Hai Bodong warned him against provoking her again.

• Lu Yunxiao used the Green Lotus Core Flame to counter Queen Medusa's charge, seriously injuring her before Hai Bodong and two fifth-tier Spirit Pets could reach them.
• Queen Medusa suppressed the flame's backlash, threatened Lu Yunxiao, and fled rather than risk fighting Hai Bodong and the Spirit Pets while wounded.
• The System told Lu Yunxiao it had marked the Green Lotus Core Flame and ensured that nobody but him could refine it.
• Lu Yunxiao revealed that he had let Medusa take the flame so he could later claim her as his wife without using the Soul Contract Stone.
• Hai Bodong scolded Lu Yunxiao for recklessly provoking Medusa and urged him to abandon the flame, while Lu Yunxiao secretly intended to pursue her later.

After Medusa took the Heavenly Flames, Lu Yunxiao rewarded Xiao Ding and brought Qing Lin with him. Back in Mo City, Lu Yunxiao reached the peak of Nine Star Dou Master and settled into life with Qing Lin, who insisted on serving him.

• Lu Yunxiao gave Xiao Ding a Mysterious-tier Mid-grade Dou Skill as promised and asked to take Qing Lin with him.
• Xiao Ding agreed, and Qing Lin happily left with Lu Yunxiao and Hai Bodong.
• Three days after returning to Mo City, Lu Yunxiao reached the Nine-Star Dou Master Peak while studying the Earthfire Lotus Seed.
• Qing Lin brought Lu Yunxiao water and insisted she wanted to keep serving him, despite his asking her to be his little sister rather than a servant.

Lu Yunxiao arranged to travel to Wu Tan City while Hai Bodong took Qing Lin to the Imperial Capital, where they would reunite later. After the system assigned him a check-in mission in Wu Tan City, Lu Yunxiao departed there alone on the Starry Sky Flood Dragon.

• Lu Yunxiao asked Qing Lin about her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and her control of the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake, and encouraged her to keep growing stronger.
• Lu Yunxiao told Hai Bodong he planned to visit Wu Tan City, and they agreed Hai Bodong would take Qing Lin to the Imperial Capital before Lu Yunxiao joined them.
• The system activated a Wu Tan City check-in mission, offering a random physique-seal unlock and a random Earth-tier Low-grade Cultivation Technique or Dou Skill.
• Qing Lin asked to accompany Lu Yunxiao, but he comforted her and insisted she travel with Hai Bodong instead.
• Lu Yunxiao gave Hai Bodong a Tier 5 Spirit Recovery Clear Pill prescription, then departed for Wu Tan City on the Starry Sky Flood Dragon.

Lu Yunxiao arrived in Wu Tan City and went to Jia Nan Academy’s recruitment grounds, where he reunited with Mentor Ruolin and the older students. His arrival interrupted Xiao Yan’s request for a year of leave, and Lu Yunxiao turned to Xiao Yu as he explained why he had come.

• Lu Yunxiao entered Wu Tan City, noticed the Xiao Clan’s rise, and asked a young woman for directions to Jia Nan Academy’s recruitment site.
• At the recruitment grounds, Xiao Yan asked Mentor Ruolin for a year of leave, but she refused because the academy had no such precedent.
• A commotion outside the tent startled Robb, who returned in alarm after recognizing Lu Yunxiao.
• Lu Yunxiao entered the tent and was warmly greeted by Mentor Ruolin and the older students, while Xue Ni rushed over hoping to hug him.
• Lu Yunxiao told Mentor Ruolin that he had come to handle matters in the Jia Ma Empire and visit Wu Tan City at Xiao Yu’s invitation.

Lu Yunxiao visited Xiao Yu and Mentor Ruolin, then met Xiao Yu’s younger brother and other Xiao Clan members, including Xiao Yan. He recognized Xiao Yan’s strength and began to repeat what Xiao Yu had said about him.

• Lu Yunxiao congratulated Mentor Ruolin on becoming a Xuan-rank mentor and answered the students’ questions about the Inner Court.
• Lu Yunxiao let Robb off for his earlier mistake, and Robb gratefully said he had only been surprised to see him.
• Xiao Yu introduced Lu Yunxiao to Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei, and Lu Yunxiao noted their Dou Qi levels.
• Xiao Yu introduced Xiao Yan, and Lu Yunxiao recognized his Four-Star Dou Practitioner strength.
• Xiao Yan wondered how Lu Yunxiao knew him as Lu Yunxiao began to say that Xiao Yu had called him a lecherous little perv.

Lu Yunxiao reunited with Gu Xun'er after nine years, and the two quietly revealed their mutual longing as they met again at Jia Nan Academy. Xiao Yan’s request for a year of leave remained unresolved when Mentor Ruolin proposed a test involving Lu Yunxiao.

• Xiao Yu introduced Xiao Xun'er to Lu Yunxiao, who recognized her talent and praised her beauty while privately reacting to seeing her again after nine years.
• Gu Xun'er and Lu Yunxiao exchanged emotional looks, each suppressing the urge to embrace the other, until Xiao Yu interrupted them.
• Xiao Yan asked Mentor Ruolin again for a year of leave and insisted that he had no choice but to take it.
• Mentor Ruolin offered to approve Xiao Yan’s leave if he passed a test, then called Lu Yunxiao over.

Lu Yunxiao agreed to help Mentor Ruolin handle Xiao Yan's request for a year off, and she made the leave conditional on Xiao Yan withstanding twenty moves from him. Lu Yunxiao revealed that he had reached the Nine-Star Dou Master Peak, leaving Xiao Yan and the others shocked as the test loomed.

• Mentor Ruolin asked Lu Yunxiao what to do about Xiao Yan's request for a year off, and he initially told her to approve it.
• Mentor Ruolin persuaded Lu Yunxiao to help her, and he agreed because she had treated him well.
• Mentor Ruolin told Xiao Yan he could take leave if he withstood twenty moves from Lu Yunxiao.
• Xiao Yu explained that Lu Yunxiao was a Dou Master who could challenge opponents above his level, making the test seem impossible for Xiao Yan.
• Lu Yunxiao revealed that he had recently reached the Nine-Star Dou Master Peak, astonishing Mentor Ruolin, Xiao Yan, and the others.

Lu Yunxiao proposed fighting Xiao Yan with both of them at Four-Star Dou Practitioner level, requiring Xiao Yan to withstand twenty moves to earn a year of leave. Mentor Ruolin accepted, and the two went to an open square to begin their test.

• Lu Yunxiao interrupted Xiao Yan's acceptance and proposed suppressing his strength to Four-Star Dou Practitioner level for their test.
• Lu Yunxiao persuaded Mentor Ruolin that surviving twenty moves would prove Xiao Yan deserved a year of leave.
• Xiao Yan accepted the challenge, determined to defeat Lu Yunxiao, while Gu Xun'er dismissed his confidence.
• Mentor Ruolin led everyone to an open square, where Lu Yunxiao and Xiao Yan faced each other to fight.

Lu Yunxiao dominated his barehanded match against Xiao Yan, defeating him in ten moves. Xiao Yan recognized Lu Yunxiao’s imitation of Eight Extremes Collapse and demanded to know how he had learned it.

• Xiao Yan and Lu Yunxiao agreed to fight barehanded, and Mentor Ruolin started the match.
• Xiao Yan’s opening punch was overwhelmed by Lu Yunxiao’s Metal Attribute Dou Qi, and Lu Yunxiao explained that Xiao Yan’s Fire Element was too ordinary to counter it.
• Xiao Yan launched several close-combat Dou Techniques, but Lu Yunxiao blocked them with ease.
• Xiao Yan attacked with Eight Extremes Collapse, but Lu Yunxiao used Tide-Watching Fist to break through its hidden force and send him flying.
• Lu Yunxiao caught up to Xiao Yan and struck him down with a move Xiao Yan recognized as Eight Extremes Collapse.
• Xiao Yan spat blood and demanded to know how Lu Yunxiao knew Eight Extremes Collapse.

Lu Yunxiao revealed that he had learned Xiao Yan’s Eight Extremes Collapse after seeing it once, then defeated Xiao Yan and left him determined to surpass him. After the recruitment ended, Gu Xun’er persuaded Lu Yunxiao to accept Xiao Yu’s invitation to stay at the Xiao Clan with Mentor Ruolin and the other students.

• Xiao Yan demanded to know how Lu Yunxiao knew Eight Extremes Collapse, and Lu Yunxiao said he had copied it after watching Xiao Yan use it once.
• Lu Yunxiao praised Xiao Yan’s incomplete technique, accepted his victory, and left Xiao Yan stunned by the gap between them.
• Xiao Yan admitted defeat and vowed to defeat Lu Yunxiao someday, while Old Yao urged him to grow stronger through experience, Heavenly Flames, and the Flame Mantra.
• Xue Ni and the other female students surrounded Lu Yunxiao and questioned him about his talents, but he turned to Mentor Ruolin to confirm that recruitment was over.
• Xiao Yu invited Mentor Ruolin and Lu Yunxiao to stay at the Xiao Clan, and Lu Yunxiao agreed after Gu Xun’er supported the suggestion.

Gu Xun'er invited Lu Yunxiao to walk with her after the recruitment ended, surprising everyone at the Xiao residence. She brought him to a teahouse, where they sat alone together, still unsure what to say after nine years apart.

• Xiao Yu welcomed the Jia Nan Academy mentors to stay at the Xiao residence, hoping to strengthen the Xiao Clan's standing and ties with Lu Yunxiao.
• Gu Xun'er invited Lu Yunxiao to take a walk, leaving Xiao Yu, Xiao Yan, Xiao Ning, and the others astonished.
• Lu Yunxiao accepted Gu Xun'er's invitation, and the two left the tent together as the others speculated about their relationship.
• Gu Xun'er led Lu Yunxiao into a familiar teahouse and ordered their usual tea and snacks.
• Lu Yunxiao and Gu Xun'er sat facing each other in a private room, but neither spoke.

Lu Yunxiao reunited with Gu Xun'er after nine years, revealed that he was her long-lost Brother Gu Xiao, and comforted her as she confessed how much she had missed him. Their reunion ended with Gu Xun'er clinging to him and Lu Yunxiao realizing she might see him as more than an older brother.

• Gu Xun'er used the pastries and their conversation about siblings to hint that she recognized Lu Yunxiao as her missing older brother.
• Gu Xun'er attacked Lu Yunxiao with a flurry of punches, and he embraced her and apologized for leaving her for nine years.
• Gu Xun'er tearfully told Lu Yunxiao how much she had missed him and asked why he had left; he assured her that she had done nothing wrong and promised not to hide again.
• Gu Xun'er vowed not to let Lu Yunxiao disappear from her sight, then held on to him when he tried to step away.
• Lu Yunxiao realized Gu Xun'er might have romantic feelings for him and wondered whether their sibling relationship was changing.

Lu Yunxiao reunited with Gu Xun'er after nine years, and their affection for each other became clear as they embraced and talked. He asked her to keep his return secret from the Gu Clan, including Gu Yuan, until he was strong enough to protect himself.

• Gu Xun'er showed Lu Yunxiao the Yin Pendant, and the two joined it with his Yang Pendant to form the Taiji Yin-Yang Jade Pendant.
• Gu Xun'er told Lu Yunxiao how much she had missed him, and they embraced and shared a tender reunion.
• Gu Xun'er asked where Lu Yunxiao had been for nine years, and he explained that he had stayed around the Jia Ma Empire and only learned she was at Jia Nan Academy through Xiao Yu.
• Gu Xun'er said she had left the Ancient Realm to search for Lu Yunxiao, and he was moved by her devotion.
• When Gu Xun'er mentioned that her father and the Gu Clan had been searching for him, Lu Yunxiao asked her to conceal his return from everyone, including Gu Yuan.