Chapter Summaries

After recovering from treating Xiao Yan’s Demonic Poison Spot, the group interrogated Iron Protector and learned about a Soul Hall branch in the distant Tianxin Empire, whose royal family guarded a rare ore valuable to Ice Attribute cultivators. Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian prepared to travel to the Black-Corner Region, while Xiao Shuang accepted their aid and set his sights on the Tianxin Empire.

• Xiao Yan awoke at peak two-star Dou Huang after refining the escaped poison, and he used Fallen Heart Flame to interrogate Iron Protector about the Soul Hall.
• Iron Protector revealed that he was a low-ranking Human Protector, identified Protector Wu as an Earth Protector, and disclosed a Soul Hall branch near Tian Zang Jian in the Tianxin Empire.
• Iron Protector described the Tianxin Empire’s Dou Zun royal family and its rare ore that could strengthen Ice Attribute Dou Qi, though Xiao Shuang suspected he was withholding information.
• Xiao Yan decided to seek Heavenly Flame intelligence in the Black-Corner Region, while Xiao Yi Xian arranged for the Poison Sect to support the Xiao Alliance and prepared to travel with him.
• Xiao Yi Xian gave Xiao Shuang a jade piece to summon her and accepted his Ice Crystal necklace as protection against her Calamity Poison Body acting up.
• Little Zi Yan prepared to return to Jia Nan Academy, and Xiao Yan gave Xiao Shuang a storage ring as Xiao Shuang planned to investigate the Tianxin Empire and its Soul Hall branch.

Xiao Shuang returned to Jia Ma Empire with Queen Medusa and learned that Tianxin Empire might hold a rare item capable of strengthening Ice Attribute Dou Qi. After discussing the possibility of traveling there with Yaoye, he heard from Hai Bodong that the item existed and that Hai Bodong had once sought it himself.

• Xiao Yan, Xiao Yi Xian, and Little Zi Yan departed, while Xiao Shuang and Queen Medusa returned to Jia Ma Empire.
• Jia Xingtian told Xiao Shuang that Jia Ma Empire had conquered Jinyan Empire and grown stronger.
• Xiao Shuang asked Yaoye and Jia Xingtian about Tianxin Empire and its rumored Ice Attribute treasure, and Jia Xingtian said Hai Bodong might know more.
• Xiao Shuang and Yaoye discussed his possible journey to Tianxin Empire and postponed having a child until he returned.
• Hai Bodong confirmed that Tianxin Empire possessed a rare item that could strengthen Ice Attribute Dou Qi and said he had once sought it.

Xiao Shuang decided to travel to the Tianxin Empire to seek Ice Gathering Ore by applying for an instructor position at Tianxin Academy. After leaving the Jia Ma Empire and reaching Tianxin Holy City, he began his application, and Xie Mo asked him to state his strength.

• Hai Bodong explained that Ice Gathering Ore strengthened Ice Attribute cultivators and could be earned by cultivating a talented student at Tianxin Academy.
• Xiao Shuang accepted Jia Xingtian and Hai Bodong’s encouragement to seek experience in the Tianxin Empire, while Yaoye worried about his safety.
• After several days with Yaoye, Xiao Shuang received travel supplies and a map from Jia Xingtian and flew away from the Imperial City.
• Xiao Shuang crossed the snowy border, registered for entry, and traveled to Tianxin Holy City.
• Xiao Shuang reached Tianxin Academy and applied to become an instructor, prompting guard leader Xie Mo to ask about his strength.

Xiao Shuang arrived at Tianxin Academy to apply for an instructor position and arranged to live in a pavilion by Evergreen Lake. He learned that his teaching assistant, Ling'er, faced being sold as a maidservant if she did not secure a position, and he reassured her that he would keep her as his assistant.

• Xiao Shuang revealed that he was around the strength of a Five-Star Dou Huang, and Xie Mo said he would easily pass the instructor assessment.
• Xie Mo showed Xiao Shuang around Tianxin Academy and sent him with Ling'er to arrange an instructor dormitory.
• Ling'er explained that the academy had few new instructor applicants and that she could lose her place and be sold as a maidservant if she remained unemployed.
• Xiao Shuang chose a pavilion by Evergreen Lake and received its keys before passing the instructor assessment.
• Ling'er offered to let Xiao Shuang choose another teaching assistant, but Xiao Shuang said he would keep her and gave her a key to the pavilion.

Xiao Shuang learned why Tianxin Academy had so few instructor applicants and accepted Ling'er as his teaching assistant, while preparing for the instructor assessment. The chapter ended with Ling'er waiting for him at dawn as the assessment was about to begin.

• Ling'er told Xiao Shuang that instructors were resigning because their rewards had become difficult to obtain, and she admitted she would lose her job if he withdrew.
• Xiao Shuang approved of Ling'er's honesty and told her to serve as his teaching assistant.
• Ling'er spent her savings preparing dinner, and Xiao Shuang gave her Gold Coins to pay her for her work.
• Xiao Shuang reviewed what he had learned about the Tianxin Empire and rested before the next day's assessment.
• At dawn, Xiao Shuang finished cultivating and found Ling'er waiting outside, ready for the instructor assessment.

Xiao Shuang underwent Tianxin Academy’s mentor examination, overwhelming the elders and defeating the Great Elder in a spar. He agreed to continue with the required Demonic Beast test, while the Great Elder promised Ice Gathering Ore if Xiao Shuang proved his teaching ability.

• Tianxin Academy’s Great Elder and the other elders agreed to offer their remaining Ice Gathering Ore to Xiao Shuang if his teaching ability proved outstanding.
• Xiao Shuang began the mentor examination by defending against a Three-Star Dou Huang and several Dou Wang elders, then overwhelmed them with an Ice Mirror and ice spikes without moving.
• The Great Elder challenged Xiao Shuang to assess his strength, and Xiao Shuang pierced through his Dou Qi attack before binding him with a vast, freezing ice tree.
• The Great Elder confirmed Xiao Shuang had passed the first examination and said he was Tianxin Academy’s strongest mentor.
• The Great Elder explained that Xiao Shuang still had to fight Demonic Beasts and could earn the Ice Gathering Ore within a year by cultivating exceptional students; Xiao Shuang said he wanted only the ore.

Xiao Shuang passed Tianxin Academy’s demonic-beast assessment and was assigned its unruly Heaven Tier class. When he confronted the students, the Great Elder revealed that Xiao Shuang was around their age and had defeated even him.

• Xiao Shuang incapacitated three catalyzed Fifth-Tier Demonic Beasts and passed the instructor assessment.
• The Great Elder appointed Xiao Shuang to teach the Heaven Tier class, and Ling'er explained the academy’s class rankings and warned him about its troublesome students.
• Xiao Shuang and Ling'er entered the classroom, where the students ignored them and mocked Ling'er for trying to quiet them.
• Xiao Shuang released his Dou Huang aura, challenged the students who rejected him, and threatened mild discipline without lasting injuries.
• The Great Elder entered and told the students that Xiao Shuang was around their age and had defeated him, leaving them stunned.

Xiao Shuang began teaching the Heaven Tier class, setting a goal for the students to defeat Fifth-Tier sparring demonic beasts through precise Dou Qi control. The students practiced hitting tiny targets with their Dou Qi, and Ning Zhiyan quickly began to master the exercise.

• The Great Elder confirmed that Xiao Shuang had defeated several elders in the instructor assessment and warned the students to respect him.
• Xiao Shuang told the class that his course would prepare them to defeat Fifth-Tier sparring demonic beasts, and he explained that their strength and the beasts’ actual combat power made the goal achievable.
• Xiao Shuang introduced precise Dou Qi control as the first lesson, while Ling'er explained the theory and Xiao Shuang corrected a student who dismissed it as useless.
• Xiao Shuang led the class to the training ground and assigned them to pierce the red dot on sheets of paper without damaging the rest.
• Ning Zhiyan repeatedly practiced, asked Xiao Shuang for advice, and eventually managed to hit the target with a controlled strand of Dou Qi.

Xiao Shuang taught his students practical combat, emphasizing efficient battle qi use and personal safety. Ning Xiyao and Ning Zhiyan defeated a Fourth-Tier sparring demonic beast with coordinated attacks, but they were declared unqualified after it suddenly rose and attacked Ning Zhiyan.

• Xiao Shuang had his students practice precise battle qi control by piercing moving sheets of paper.
• Ning Xiyao urged her exhausted younger sister to rest, while worrying privately that the Ning Clan was being pressured by rival factions and the Royal Family was staying silent.
• Ning Xiyao and Ning Zhiyan overslept, arrived late to class, and were assigned to begin practical training against a Fourth-Tier sparring demonic beast.
• The sisters coordinated their attacks and brought the beast down while Xiao Shuang instructed the class to observe and prioritize safety.
• The beast suddenly got back up and lunged at Ning Zhiyan, so Xiao Shuang declared the sisters unqualified and stopped it with an ice spike.

Xiao Shuang taught the Heaven Tier class through dangerous sparring exercises, intervening when students made mistakes and holding whole teams accountable for poor cooperation. After class, he considered which Dou Ling students to cultivate first, including the solitary Shen Xiangyu, whose growth could help him earn the academy’s Ice Gathering Ore reward.

• Xiao Shuang failed Ning Xiyao and Ning Zhiyan for lowering their guard before confirming their sparring magical beast was defeated, then warned the class that he would not intervene unless lives were in danger.
• Xiao Shuang resumed the training and saved a student from a fourth-tier sparring magical beast, then failed the student’s entire team for poor cooperation and assigned them further practice.
• Xiao Shuang overheard two female students whispering about winning him over and told the class to focus on fighting.
• Xiao Shuang considered prioritizing Ning Xiyao, Ning Zhiyan, and Shen Xiangyu for cultivation because of their talent and potential to reach Dou Wang.
• Xiao Shuang learned from the Ning Clan sisters that Shen Xiangyu had no close friends, but decided not to offer her special attention and instead considered cultivating her for the academy’s reward.

After a training exercise, Xiao Shuang noticed Shen Xiangyu’s unusual Ice Attribute Dou Qi and learned from her records that she had returned from Tian Zang Jian with greatly increased strength. The Ning sisters befriended Shen Xiangyu, while Xiao Shuang later began helping them study their Dou Techniques at the training grounds.

• Xiao Shuang assessed the students after they defeated the training magical beasts and suspected Shen Xiangyu’s Dou Qi combined ice and fire attributes.
• Ning Xiyao and Ning Zhiyan invited Shen Xiangyu to dinner, befriended her, and treated her to an enormous meal.
• Xiao Shuang read Shen Xiangyu’s student file and wondered whether her survival and sudden improvement after Tian Zang Jian were connected to the Soul Hall.
• Shen Xiangyu reflected on her identity as a Spirit of Exotic Flame and resolved to return to Tian Zang Jian and devour her true body.
• Ning Xiyao and Ning Zhiyan visited Xiao Shuang for guidance, and he studied their Dou Techniques before taking them to the training grounds to demonstrate them.

Xiao Shuang corrected Ning Zhiyan and Ning Xiyao’s techniques, then accepted them as disciples and planned to train them in the Tianxin Mountain Range. He also asked them to invite Shen Xiangyu, hoping one of the three students would reach Dou Wang so he could claim the academy’s Ice Gathering Ore.

• Ning Zhiyan demonstrated her sword technique, and Xiao Shuang advised her to loosen her wrist and let her sword movements flow naturally.
• Ning Xiyao demonstrated a Water Attribute Dou Technique, and Xiao Shuang suggested pairing its long preparation time with whip techniques.
• Ning Zhiyan and Ning Xiyao asked Xiao Shuang to guide their cultivation, and he took them as disciples, giving each a fifth-grade pill.
• Ning Zhiyan offered Xiao Shuang an Earth Tier Low-grade Ice Attribute Dou Technique as a gift, and he announced he would take the sisters to train in the Tianxin Mountain Range.
• Xiao Shuang revealed that he wanted to cultivate a Dou Wang to qualify for the academy’s Ice Gathering Ore, then asked the sisters to invite Shen Xiangyu to join their training.

Xiao Shuang took Ning Xiyao, Ning Zhiyan, and Shen Xiangyu to the Tianxin Mountain Range, where he uncovered that Shen Xiangyu was a Spirit of Exotic Flame inhabiting the girl's body. Shen Xiangyu admitted her true body was trapped in Tian Zang Jian and asked Xiao Shuang for help, but he questioned why he should assist her.

• Shen Xiangyu agreed to join Ning Xiyao and Ning Zhiyan on a trip to the Tianxin Mountain Range.
• Xiao Shuang gathered supplies, then set off with the Ning sisters and Shen Xiangyu after arranging a carriage.
• After three days of travel, Xiao Shuang told the Ning sisters to hunt Third-Tier Demonic Beasts while he questioned Shen Xiangyu.
• Xiao Shuang deduced that Shen Xiangyu had changed after entering Tian Zang Jian and was not the original girl.
• Shen Xiangyu revealed that she was a Spirit of Exotic Flame whose true body, the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, remained trapped in Tian Zang Jian.
• Shen Xiangyu asked Xiao Shuang to help her, but he asked why he should do so.

Xiao Shuang learned that Shen Xiangyu was the Bone Spirit Cold Flame and that a stronger Nine Nether Wind Flame threatened to devour her in Tian Zang Jian. He agreed to accompany her there while cautiously weighing the danger, and continued training Ning Xiyao and Ning Zhiyan in the Tianxin Mountain Range.

• Shen Xiangyu revealed that she was the eleventh-ranked Bone Spirit Cold Flame and described the Nine Nether Wind Flame, which was slowly devouring her true body in Tian Zang Jian.
• Xiao Shuang teased Shen Xiangyu about eating her, then agreed to accompany her to Tian Zang Jian after she mentioned a nearby valley with abnormal space.
• Ning Xiyao and Ning Zhiyan reported defeating six Third-Tier Demonic Beasts and one Fourth-Tier Demonic Beast, then rested while Xiao Shuang guarded the camp.
• The next morning, Xiao Shuang sent Ning Zhiyan to collect magic cores from the demonic beasts he had killed overnight and gave the sisters and Shen Xiangyu cultivation pills from his friend, a Sixth-Grade Alchemist.
• Ning Xiyao and Ning Zhiyan took the pills and continued through the Tianxin Mountain Range with Shen Xiangyu and Xiao Shuang.

Xiao Shuang and his disciples traveled deeper into the Tianxin Mountain Range seeking treasures that could speed their cultivation, and Ning Xiyao and Ning Zhiyan both advanced to Six-star Dou Ling. Xiao Shuang challenged the Snow Demon Sky Ape over its Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, then exposed Xu Li, who had been lurking nearby and demanded they join forces.

• Ning Xiyao broke through to Six-star Dou Ling while Xiao Shuang guarded her from attacking demonic beasts, and Ning Zhiyan later reached the same rank.
• Xiao Shuang led the group deeper into the Tianxin Mountain Range to search for treasures guarded by powerful demonic beasts.
• Xiao Shuang discovered that the Snow Demon Sky Ape guarded Earth Core Body Tempering Milk and challenged it to a fight for a share.
• Xiao Shuang and the Snow Demon Sky Ape exchanged powerful attacks, then recognized that a concealed Dou Huang was waiting to take advantage of their battle.
• Xiao Shuang struck the hidden figure from a tree, and Xu Li emerged and tried to recruit him to kill the Snow Demon Sky Ape.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape offered to share the treasure with Xiao Shuang if defeated and challenged Xu Li, who angrily identified himself as a member of the Xu Family.

Xiao Shuang stopped Xu Li from escaping with news of the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, allowing the Snow Demon Sky Ape to kill him. The Snow Demon Sky Ape then led Xiao Shuang into its cave to collect their agreed share, revealing that the true treasure lay above the milky-white liquid in a stalactite hollow.

• Xu Li refused to fight alongside Xiao Shuang and tried to retreat after learning the Snow Demon Sky Ape guarded the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape attacked Xu Li, but Xu Li used its strike to propel himself toward an escape.
• Xiao Shuang kicked Xu Li back and refused to let him carry news of the treasure to the Xu Family.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape activated its Berserk Bloodline and tore Xu Li to pieces while Ning Xiyao told Ning Zhiyan and Shen Xiangyu to keep the incident secret.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape agreed to give Xiao Shuang half the treasure and led him through its cave to an underground cavern.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape explained that the true Earth Core Body Tempering Milk was above the white liquid collected in a hollow beneath a massive stalactite.

Xiao Shuang obtained Earth Core Body Tempering Milk from the Snow Demon Sky Ape and prepared a medicinal pool for his disciples. Ning Xiyao endured the marrow-washing process with help from a Fifth-grade Pill, and after several days her aura began to rise.

• The Snow Demon Sky Ape showed Xiao Shuang the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk and let him collect a quarter of it in jade bottles.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape gave Xiao Shuang herbs for preparing the liquid and explained how to use them to absorb the milk's energy.
• Xiao Shuang led Ning Xiyao, Ning Zhiyan, and Shen Xiangyu deeper into the Tianxin Mountain Range, where he prepared a cave and medicinal pool.
• Ning Xiyao entered the pool, but the pain of tempering her bones became too intense, so Xiao Shuang gave her a Fifth-grade Pill to help her endure.
• After several days of cultivation, Ning Xiyao's aura rose sharply, then fell as she suppressed the sudden increase in strength.

Ning Xiyao and Ning Zhiyan used Earth Core Body Tempering Milk and a Fifth-grade Pill to strengthen their cultivation, with Zhiyan reaching Nine-star Dou Ling. After sending them to battle Demonic Beasts to stabilize their strength, Xiao Shuang began cultivating with the remaining Earth Core Body Tempering Milk.

• Ning Xiyao advanced from Six-star Dou Ling to the peak of Eight-star Dou Ling, then yielded the pool to Ning Zhiyan.
• Ning Zhiyan endured the body-tempering pain, took Xiao Shuang's Fifth-grade Pill, and advanced to the peak of Eight-star Dou Ling.
• Xiao Shuang added frozen Earth Core Body Tempering Milk to the pool, helping Ning Zhiyan break through to Nine-star Dou Ling.
• Ning Xiyao reassured Ning Zhiyan after she realized she had stood up from the pool unclothed, and Xiao Shuang encouraged her to keep cultivating.
• Xiao Shuang sent Ning Xiyao and Ning Zhiyan to fight three Fourth-Tier Demonic Beasts, then gave Shen Xiangyu the remaining drops from one bottle of Earth Core Body Tempering Milk.
• Xiao Shuang prepared the pool and began cultivating with the second bottle, allowing its energy to flood his body as his advancement began.

Xiao Shuang used Earth Core Body Tempering Milk to advance to Eight-Star Dou Emperor, then returned to Tianxin Academy and prepared to travel with Shen Xiangyu to Tian Zang Jian. Before leaving, he arranged for Ning Xiyao, Ning Zhiyan, and Ling'er to handle his teaching duties.

• Xiao Shuang absorbed the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk and Ice Attribute medicinal herbs, reaching Eight-Star Dou Emperor after several days of cultivation.
• Xiao Shuang led Ning Xiyao, Ning Zhiyan, and Shen Xiangyu out of the Tianxin Mountain Range and told the Ning sisters to keep the remaining Earth Core Body Tempering Milk secret.
• Shen Xiangyu withdrew from Tianxin Academy and stayed at Xiao Shuang's residence instead of returning to the Shen Family.
• Xiao Shuang investigated the Xu Family and Tian Zang Jian, then agreed to travel to Tian Zang Jian with Shen Xiangyu.
• Xiao Shuang appointed Ning Xiyao, Ning Zhiyan, and Ling'er to cover his classes and gave them Ice Crystals and medicinal pills.
• Xiao Shuang and Shen Xiangyu left Tianxin Academy to head for Tian Zang Jian.

Xiao Shuang accompanied Shen Xiangyu into Tian Zang Jian to help the Bone Spirit Cold Flame confront the Nine Nether Wind Flame. As the two Heavenly Flames fought, Xiao Shuang used ice mist to weaken the Nine Nether Wind Flame, which struggled to burn it away.

• Xiao Shuang carried Shen Xiangyu to Tian Zang Jian and descended with her into the abyss.
• Shen Xiangyu summoned the Bone Spirit Cold Flame's powerful true body and gave up her body to release part of its origin.
• Xiao Shuang rested before the Bone Spirit Cold Flame began its battle with the Nine Nether Wind Flame, while promising to help it.
• The Bone Spirit Cold Flame and Nine Nether Wind Flame transformed and clashed, with the Bone Spirit Cold Flame forced onto the defensive.
• Xiao Shuang shouted "Condense" and spread ice mist over the Nine Nether Wind Flame, weakening its flames.
• The Nine Nether Wind Flame's tornado scattered some of the mist, but Xiao Shuang gathered it again as the opponent failed to evaporate it.