Chapter Summaries

Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan gathered herbs in the Primordial Forest, shared a meal, and became closer as friends. Zi Yan told Xiao Shuang about a time-slowing space that Jia Nan Academy would open next year, leaving him interested in qualifying to enter it.

• Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan gathered herbs by distracting demonic beasts, then divided their harvest back at their cave.
• Xiao Shuang tried grilling meat, and Zi Yan tasted it and reassured him that it was edible.
• Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan ate fruit together and discussed his plans to enter the Inner Academy next year.
• Zi Yan told Xiao Shuang about a secluded space where time passed more slowly and which Jia Nan Academy would open next year to three selected students.
• Zi Yan explained that entrants had to become Guest Elders, could not be above Dou Wang, and would face black lightning inside the space.

Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan waited out a beast tide before setting out to steal a Pure Heart Snow Jade Ginseng that could help Xiao Shuang break through to Da Dou Shi. They reached the herb’s guardian, a Twin-Winged Snow Spirit Tiger, and Zi Yan attacked it while Xiao Shuang prepared to take the ginseng.

• Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan hid in a cave from the beast tide, preserved their food, and took turns cultivating and keeping watch.
• After the beast tide subsided, Xiao Shuang emerged with several Magic Cores and reached the nine-star Dou Shi level through cultivation and battles.
• Zi Yan offered Xiao Shuang a Pure Heart Snow Jade Ginseng, and they agreed that she would distract its powerful guardian while he took the herb.
• Xiao Shuang recognized the guardian as a Twin-Winged Snow Spirit Tiger and asked Zi Yan whether she could handle it.
• Zi Yan launched a surprise attack, but the Twin-Winged Snow Spirit Tiger evaded her, spoke to her, and fought back.

Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan fought the Twin-Winged Snow Spirit Tiger to obtain the Pure Heart Snow Jade Ginseng. After the tiger overwhelmed Zi Yan, Xiao Shuang released his stored medicinal power and briefly reached Dou Wang strength, leaving the battle against the wounded tiger underway.

• Zi Yan battled the Twin-Winged Snow Spirit Tiger while Xiao Shuang used Frosty Snow Step to reach the Pure Heart Snow Jade Ginseng.
• The tiger struck Zi Yan back and pursued her after discovering the ginseng had vanished, while Xiao Shuang watched from nearby.
• Zi Yan’s purple-eyed glare briefly froze the tiger, and Xiao Shuang decided to help her.
• Xiao Shuang unleashed his stored medicinal power, manifested frost-white Dou Qi Wings, and pierced the tiger’s right wing with his spear.
• Xiao Shuang fought the tiger at Dou Wang level, blocked its energy beam with an ice shield, and wounded its face as he adapted to his newfound strength.

Xiao Shuang used the medicinal power surging through his body to fight the Twin-Winged Snow Spirit Tiger, breaking its defenses and defeating it. He claimed the beast’s magic core after killing it.

• The medicinal power temporarily raised Xiao Shuang to the Dou Wang realm and allowed him to condense Dou Qi Wings.
• The Twin-Winged Snow Spirit Tiger healed its wounds, then attacked Xiao Shuang to protect the Pure Heart Snow Jade Ginseng.
• Xiao Shuang pierced through the beast’s White Spirit Guard with exploding phantom spears and blocked its pillar of light with an ice shield.
• The Twin-Winged Snow Spirit Tiger tried to flee through the ice mist, but Xiao Shuang caught up and pierced one of its wings.
• The Twin-Winged Snow Spirit Tiger charged at Xiao Shuang after he reminded it of the Demonic Beasts it had killed, and Xiao Shuang pierced its head and took its magic core.

Xiao Shuang used the Pure Heart Snow Jade Ginseng to break through to one-star Da Dou Shi while Zi Yan guarded him. Afterward, they prepared the Twin-Winged Snow Spirit Tiger’s remains and discussed the upcoming Inner Academy Selection Competition.

• Xiao Shuang stored the Fifth-Tier Magic Core and asked Zi Yan to carry and process the Twin-Winged Snow Spirit Tiger’s body while he returned to the cave.
• Zi Yan removed the tiger’s claws and wings, disposed of its body in a nearby lake, and stood guard as Xiao Shuang began his breakthrough.
• Xiao Shuang absorbed the ginseng’s energy, stabilized the conflicting Dou Qi from his two cultivation techniques, and condensed a Dou Crystal to become a one-star Da Dou Shi.
• Zi Yan congratulated Xiao Shuang and gave him the tiger’s wings; he let her keep its claws, and she told him where the body had been left.
• Xiao Shuang planned to reach five-star Da Dou Shi before the Inner Academy Selection Competition, and Zi Yan invited him to visit her at the Inner Academy.

Xiao Shuang trained with Zi Yan in the Primordial Forest, grew stronger, and returned to Jia Nan Academy to enter the Inner Academy Selection Competition. Vice Principal Hu Gan then offered Xiao Shuang, Lin Xiuyai, and Liu Qing the title of Guest Elders in exchange for a promise to help them reach Dou Ling within a year.

• Xiao Shuang fought four Third-Tier Demonic Beasts and gathered herbs with Zi Yan, improving his Dou Qi control and reaching two-star Da Dou Shi.
• Xiao Shuang left the Primordial Forest after promising Zi Yan he would pass the selection and find her in the Inner Academy.
• Xiao Shuang traveled to Jia Nan City and told Instructor Ruolin he had reached four-star Da Dou Shi, qualifying him for the Inner Academy Selection Competition.
• Hu Gan summoned Xiao Shuang, Lin Xiuyai, and Liu Qing and offered to make them Guest Elders, promising to help them reach Dou Ling within a year.

Hu Gan brought Xiao Shuang, Lin Xiuyai, and Liu Qing into a time-distorting space filled with Black Demon Lightning to cultivate. Lin Xiuyai and Liu Qing advanced to Da Dou Shi, while Xiao Shuang reached three-star Da Dou Shi.

• Hu Gan revealed that the special space in the Primordial Forest let three years pass inside for every year outside and offered exceptional cultivation conditions.
• Hu Gan opened the space with a Space Lock and black lightning, and Su Qian stabilized it after Xiao Shuang and the others entered.
• Xiao Shuang, Lin Xiuyai, and Liu Qing began absorbing the weakened Black Demon Lightning, which became pure energy as they refined it.
• Xiao Shuang refined each strand within minutes, while Lin Xiuyai and Liu Qing needed hours and rest between strands.
• Lin Xiuyai and Liu Qing adjusted their condition and broke through to Da Dou Shi, while Xiao Shuang reached three-star Da Dou Shi through continued cultivation.

Xiao Shuang, Lin Xiuyai, and Liu Qing cultivated in the Black Demon Lightning space, where Xiao Shuang broke through to Dou Ling first. Lin Xiuyai and Liu Qing later reached Dou Ling as well, and all three resumed cultivating together.

• Xiao Shuang absorbed Black Demon Lightning and medicinal energy until his Dou Crystal filled and he prepared to break through.
• The Thousand Hundred Elders watched over the students and repaired cracks in the unstable space as Xiao Shuang broke through to Dou Ling.
• Lin Xiuyai absorbed the Black Demon Lightning for several days and successfully advanced to Dou Ling.
• Liu Qing endured strikes from the Black Demon Lightning while tempering his body, then broke through to Dou Ling.
• Xiao Shuang, Lin Xiuyai, and Liu Qing returned to cultivating together.

After three years of cultivation inside the Black Demon Lightning space, Xiao Shuang returned to Jia Nan Academy and entered the Inner Academy, where Zi Yan arranged for him to share her spacious residence. Zi Yan lent him Fire Energy for the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower and began explaining how its cultivation related to the Strong Ranking.

• Lin Xiuyai and Liu Qing stabilized at Six-star Dou Ling while Xiao Shuang reached Eight-star Dou Ling during their cultivation in the Black Demon Lightning space.
• Hu Gan picked up Xiao Shuang and told him that members of the Xiao Family had enrolled at Jia Nan Academy; Xiao Shuang later saw Xun'er, Xiao Mei, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Yu at Instructor Ruolin's pavilion.
• Xiao Shuang traveled to the Inner Academy, where he received a spacious residence and learned that he, Lin Xiuyai, and Liu Qing had been named Guest Elders and given crimson Fire Crystal Cards.
• Xiao Shuang found Zi Yan waiting in his residence, and she announced that she would live there too.
• Zi Yan lent Xiao Shuang Fire Energy, raising his card's balance to one thousand days, then told him that cultivation in the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower was connected to the Strong Ranking.

Xiao Shuang registered for the Strong Ranking Competition with Zi Yan and visited the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, where he resisted its Heart Fire thanks to his Ice Dou Qi. Zi Yan took him to the sixth floor and led him toward her number one cultivation room.

• Zi Yan explained that Strong Ranking places granted access to special cultivation rooms and registered herself and Xiao Shuang for the competition.
• Xiao Shuang saw Lin Xiuyai and Liu Qing among the students gathering to register for the competition, which would begin in three days.
• Xiao Shuang followed Zi Yan to the underground Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower and found that its Heart Fire repeatedly ignited inside him.
• Xiao Shuang used his Ice Dou Qi to suppress the Heart Fire, surprising Zi Yan, who explained that it tested new students' resistance.
• Zi Yan led Xiao Shuang to the sixth floor and brought him to her number one cultivation room.

Xiao Shuang cultivated in Training Room No. 1, where he grew stronger by absorbing energy tempered by Heart Fire. After Zi Yan returned, he expelled the Fire Poison from his body, and the two left the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower together ahead of the Strong Ranking Competition.

• Zi Yan brought Xiao Shuang to Training Room No. 1 and explained that its abundant energy cost thirty days' worth of Fire Energy per day.
• Xiao Shuang used his Fire Crystal Card to cultivate, converting the room's tempered energy into Ice Attribute Dou Qi and strengthening his Dou Crystal.
• Zi Yan returned several days later, took Xiao Shuang's card, and told him the Strong Ranking Competition was three days away.
• Xiao Shuang sensed Fire Poison in his body and expelled it, surprising Zi Yan, who had brought him an Ice Spirit Flower.
• Xiao Shuang thanked Zi Yan for caring about him, and they left the tower together as he reassured her about her lonely reputation.

Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan attended the Inner Academy's Strong Ranking Competition, where participants drew lots to determine their opponents. Xiao Shuang drew Zhu Qiao, a Three-star Dou Ling, and their match began.

• Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan entered the central plaza through a special passage and watched from the platform reserved for the top-ranked student.
• Great Elder Su Qian opened the competition, explained the rules, and warned participants not to kill their opponents.
• Xiao Shuang drew Blue seventeen, while Zi Yan received a bye because no lots remained when her turn came.
• Su Qian announced the first matches, and two participants fought in a brief battle that favored the Four-star Dou Ling.
• Xiao Shuang faced Zhu Qiao, whose Earth Attribute Dou Qi gave him strong defenses, and the match began.

Xiao Shuang, Liu Qing, and Lin Xiuyai each won their first-round matches with little difficulty. The competition continued with all three advancing after their opponents conceded.

• Xiao Shuang defeated Zhu Qiao with one Ice Breaking Finger and accepted his concession.
• Zi Yan complained that she had not been given a match, and Xiao Shuang teased her about being too strong to lose.
• Liu Qing defeated Yao Sheng by breaking through his Black Water Realm and tearing apart his black Dou Qi defense.
• Lin Xiuyai overcame Yan Hao's hammer attacks and forced him to concede.

Zi Yan and Xiao Shuang each won their Strong Ranking matches decisively. Xiao Shuang defeated Han Yue and left her wondering when such a powerful newcomer had appeared in the Inner Academy.

• Zi Yan knocked her burly opponent out of the arena with one punch and won her match.
• Xiao Shuang entered the arena to face Han Yue as Zi Yan watched from the platform.
• Xiao Shuang shattered Han Yue’s ice shield and energy sword with his spear phantom.
• Xiao Shuang struck Han Yue out of the arena, winning the match and leaving her disappointed by her loss.

Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan secured their places in the Strong Ranking, then spent half a year searching the deep mountains and cultivating. Xiao Shuang reached Nine-star Dou Ling and began a long seclusion in Training Room No. 1, where he advanced to Dou Wang.

• Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan discussed the Strong Ranking rewards and agreed to join next year's Fire Energy Hunt Competition together.
• Lin Xiuyai forfeited to Zi Yan, and Liu Qing fought Xiao Shuang before losing; the competition filled the vacant Strong Ranking positions, with Zi Yan first and Xiao Shuang seventh.
• After the competition, Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan searched the deep mountains, angered magical beasts, and spent half a year there as Xiao Shuang's Dou Qi condensed to Nine-star Dou Ling.
• Xiao Shuang gathered enough Fire Energy with Zi Yan's help and entered Training Room No. 1 to cultivate for half a year.
• Xiao Shuang assimilated the tempered energy into his Dou Crystal until its final spike withdrew, marking his breakthrough to Dou Wang.

Yaoye and Jia Xingtian discussed the Xiao Family’s mysterious origins and resolved to support it, while Xiao Yan escaped the Misty Cloud Sect after killing Yun Leng. Jia Xingtian and Hai Bodong helped him evade pursuit, but Yun Yun confronted him at the edge of the forest.

• Yaoye recalled that the Xiao Family had once arrived through a spatial tear and told Jia Xingtian she expected Xiao Yan and Xiao Shuang to help the family rise again.
• Yaoye urged Jia Xingtian to protect the Xiao Family, citing her marriage agreement with Xiao Shuang, and Jia Xingtian sensed Xiao Yan returning toward the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Xiao Yan continued fusing Heavenly Flames as Yun Shan ordered Yun Yun to stop him, while Jia Xingtian prepared to help him escape.
• After Xiao Yan killed Yun Leng, Yun Shan declared a feud with him, and Jia Xingtian withdrew until Xiao Yan reached the nearby mountains.
• Jia Xingtian gave Xiao Yan a map and a letter from Yaoye for Xiao Shuang, while he and Hai Bodong intercepted the Misty Cloud Sect pursuers.
• Xiao Yan fled through the forest but stopped at its edge when Yun Yun blocked his way.

Xiao Shuang broke through to Dou Wang and joined Zi Yan in the Fire Energy Hunt Competition, where they waited for the hunters to be defeated before intervening. As the new students battled the remaining older-student teams, Bai Shan approached them and attacked Zi Yan after pretending to surrender his Fire Energy.

• Xiao Shuang completed his breakthrough to Dou Wang, formed Dou Qi Wings, and left the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower.
• Zi Yan told Xiao Shuang they could join the Fire Energy Hunt Competition only after the hunters were defeated, and they entered the forest as observers.
• Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan watched Xiao Yan and the other new students defeat older-student teams, then planned to intercept them near the finish line.
• Several days later, the new students prepared to take on the Black Fiend Squad and White Fiend Squad, while Bai Shan left his teammates and headed toward Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan.
• Xiao Shuang knocked Bai Shan from the branches with an ice spike, and Zi Yan demanded his Fire Energy.
• Bai Shan pretended to hand over his Fire Crystal Card, then suddenly produced a spear and swung it at Zi Yan.

Zi Yan defeated Bai Shan, and Xiao Yan’s new students beat the Black Fiend Squad and the White Fiend Squad to win the Fire Energy Hunt Competition. Xiao Shuang then took over as the final challenger, and Su Qian offered the new students extra Fire Energy if they could defeat him and Zi Yan.

• Zi Yan shattered Bai Shan’s spear, took his Fire Spirit Card, and knocked him unconscious.
• Xun’er and the new students defeated the Black Fiend Squad, then recovered before racing toward the forest exit to face the White Fiend Squad.
• Xiao Yan and the new students defeated Luo Hou’s White Fiend Squad after Xiao Yan formed a Two-colored Fire Lotus.
• Xiao Shuang froze and shattered Xiao Yan’s Fire Lotus, then revealed that he would take over the competition as its final challenger; Zi Yan said she had dealt with the teammate who fled.
• Su Qian congratulated the new students, awarded them Fire Energy, and offered an additional fifty days to each for defeating Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan, who would suppress their strength.
• Xiao Yan accepted the challenge on behalf of the new students.

Xiao Yan and the new students challenged Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan, but the Strong Ranking students defeated them and claimed the promised fire energy. After the new students entered the Inner Academy, Xiao Yan told Xiao Shuang that he had won the Three-Year Pact and hinted that he had more to discuss.

• Su Qian set the fighters' strength limits, and Xiao Yan, Xun'er, Wu Hao, Hu Jia, and the new students attacked Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan.
• Xiao Shuang countered the group's coordinated attacks, while Zi Yan knocked down the new students and defeated Hu Jia.
• Xiao Shuang defeated Xiao Yan, and Su Qian ended the battle and awarded Xiao Shuang and Zi Yan the fire energy promised to the winners.
• Su Qian gave the new students an hour to recover before they entered the Inner Academy.
• Xiao Yan visited Xiao Shuang's pavilion and told him that he had won the Three-Year Pact.

Xiao Shuang discussed his return to the Jia Ma Empire with Xiao Yan and planned to establish a Jia Nan Academy recruitment office for protection from the Misty Cloud Sect. Su Qian approved the plan and offered instructors and a Dou Wang elder, while Zi Yan asked to go with Xiao Shuang and was refused.

• Xiao Yan told Xiao Shuang about the Xiao Family's conflict with the Misty Cloud Sect, and Xiao Shuang said he would return to the Jia Ma Empire to establish an academy recruitment office.
• Xiao Yan offered to refine a Rank Six pill to heal the Royal Family's guardian beast, and Xiao Shuang paid him with Magic Cores, including one from a Fifth-Tier Twin-Winged Snow Spirit Tiger.
• Old Yao identified the pill as the Primordial Bone Sculpting Pill and told Xiao Yan he had at least an eighty percent chance of refining it.
• Xiao Shuang asked Su Qian to approve the recruitment office, and Su Qian agreed to send instructors and a Dou Wang-level elder with him.
• Zi Yan asked to accompany Xiao Shuang, but Su Qian refused and sent Xiao Shuang out of the room.