Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan and Yao Chen found a way to delay Xiao Yi Xian’s poison by asking the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King to seal her poison-infused Dou Qi, and the pair returned toward the Snake-people race. At the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran continued training for the Three-Year Pact before overhearing Yun Leng mention the Mo Family and the Snake-people race.

• Xiao Yi Xian agreed to let Xiao Yan help her, and he discovered that the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King could seal her poison-infused Dou Qi and buy her time.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian set out for the Snake-people race, while Hai Bodong and Nalan Jie flew ahead.
• Xiao Yi Xian rode on Xiao Yan’s back and thanked him, then struck him when he called them friends.
• Nalan Yanran finished training and resolved to win the Three-Year Pact and marry Xiao Yan.
• Nalan Yanran went to find food and overheard Yun Leng anxiously talking about the Mo Family and the Snake-people race.

After recovering from his injuries, Xiao Yan went to find Xiao Jing and Xiao Li, only to discover that the Colored Little Snake had wrecked the main hall while searching for him. The Seven Great Chiefs concluded that the snake had become attached to Xiao Yan, and Yue Mei left Queen Medusa in his care.

• Xiao Yan recovered his appearance with Yao Chen's pills, though Yao Chen warned him not to use Dou Qi while his internal injuries healed.
• Xiao Yi Xian rejoiced to see Xiao Yan safe, and Yao Ye escorted him to find Xiao Jing.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Ye found Xiao Jing, Xiao Li, and the Seven Great Chiefs injured amid the wreckage of the main hall, while the Colored Little Snake cried nearby.
• The Colored Little Snake charged into Xiao Yan's chest, making him cough blood, then settled down and fell asleep against him.
• Xiao Jing suggested the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python was attached to Xiao Yan because he fed it Heavenly Flames and had saved Queen Medusa.
• Yue Mei asked Xiao Yan to take care of Her Majesty the Queen.

Xiao Yan agreed to take the Colored Little Snake with him, while the Jia Ma Empire and Snake-people race prepared for reconciliation. When Mo Cheng’s men slaughtered much of Mo City and abducted Qing Lin, Xiao Jing led the Snake-people race to strike the Mo Family, with Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong joining her.

• Yue Mei and the other Snake-people leaders asked Xiao Yan to care for Queen Medusa, and he agreed after Xiao Jing reassured him about the Snake-people race.
• Xiao Yan planned to leave for the Monster Mountain Range with Xiao Yi Xian, while Yao Ye arranged to travel with them toward Jia Ma Holy City.
• A dying Desert Iron Mercenary Group member reported that Mo Cheng’s forces had massacred much of Mo City and abducted Qing Lin after defeating Little Spirit.
• Yao Ye explained that Mo Cheng had targeted Qing Lin for her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, and Xiao Jing asked Yue Mei for troops to attack the Mo Family.
• Xiao Jing urged Jia Xingtian to keep the imperial family out of the operation so the Snake-people race could destroy the Mo Family without giving the Misty Cloud Sect grounds to undermine reconciliation.
• Hai Bodong and Xiao Yan volunteered to accompany Xiao Jing, who ordered them to depart at once.

Mo Cheng prepared to defend the Mo Family from the approaching Snake-people race by transplanting Qing Lin’s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, while Nalan Yanran entered his estate to investigate. She rescued Qing Lin from Mo Cheng, but he transformed into a monster and attacked them before Xiao Yan arrived to protect them.

• Mo Cheng learned that Xiao Jing, Yue Mei, Mo Bass, and the Snake-people race were approaching Yan City, so he ordered the Mo Family to prepare for battle and entered a Secret Chamber to take Qing Lin’s eyes.
• Nalan Yanran used the Mo Family guards’ departure to search Mo Cheng’s courtyard and found Qing Lin chained up as Mo Cheng prepared to remove her eyes.
• Nalan Yanran severed Mo Cheng’s arm, knocked him into the wall, and freed the unconscious Qing Lin.
• Mo Cheng transformed into a five-meter-tall monster and lunged at Qing Lin, forcing Nalan Yanran to shield her.
• Xiao Yan appeared with a greatsword and blocked Mo Cheng’s attack, protecting Nalan Yanran and Qing Lin.

Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong stopped Mo Cheng, while Xiao Jing took charge of the captured Mo Family members and punished Mo Cheng. After Xiao Yi Xian joined Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, the group prepared to travel together, but a high-level Dou Huang and an Eight-winged Black Python Emperor appeared.

• Xiao Yan struggled to hold off Mo Cheng until Hai Bodong froze him, and Xiao Jing checked that Qing Lin was safe.
• Yue Mei reported that most of the Mo Family had been captured, and Xiao Jing ordered the prisoners kept alive but disabled after Xiao Yan left.
• Xiao Jing severed Mo Cheng's magical beast limbs and warned Nalan Yanran to keep the Mo Family affair secret, especially from anyone at the Misty Cloud Sect except Sect Master Yun.
• Xiao Yi Xian joined Xiao Yan, and she and Nalan Yanran greeted each other while each recognized the other as a rival for Xiao Yan's affection.
• Nalan Yanran agreed to travel partway with Xiao Yan toward the Monster Mountain Range, but Hai Bodong sensed approaching danger.
• A green-haired woman and an Eight-winged Black Python Emperor appeared overhead, and Hai Bodong warned that the woman was a high-level Dou Huang.

Lv Man and Bai Ya arrived in Yan City to take Qing Lin because of her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, and fought the people protecting her. Yun Yun returned in time to stop Lv Man, while another unfamiliar woman appeared beside Hai Bodong.

• Jia Xingtian sensed two unidentified Dou Huang in Yan City, but relaxed when he realized Xiao Jing's group had gained help.
• Lv Man and Bai Ya introduced themselves and demanded that Xiao Jing hand over Qing Lin; Hai Bodong blocked Lv Man's first attack.
• Hai Bodong trapped Lv Man and Bai Ya in an ice cage, but they escaped unharmed, and Bai Ya began fighting him.
• Lv Man rushed for Qing Lin while Bai Ya held Hai Bodong back; Xiao Jing wounded Lv Man before Lv Man struck her into a ruined house.
• Xiao Yan attacked Lv Man, but she sent him flying; Xiao Yi Xian caught him, and Lv Man also knocked Mo Bass aside.
• Lv Man tried to seize Qing Lin from Nalan Yanran, but Yun Yun returned and forced her to retreat, while an unfamiliar purple-haired woman appeared beside Hai Bodong.

Yun Yun and Zi Yun drove Bai Ya and Lv Man away from the Mo Family, while Xiao Yan was overwhelmed after accidentally seeing Zi Yun was going commando. After Nalan Yanran revealed evidence of Yun Leng’s wrongdoing, Xiao Jing asked Yun Yun whether she was prepared to personally destroy the Misty Cloud Sect.

• Zi Yun revealed herself as the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, reunited Xiao Yan with the Little Lion King, and challenged Bai Ya while Yun Yun and Hai Bodong backed her.
• Bai Ya and Lv Man retreated when they realized they could not overcome the three Dou Huangs, and Zi Yun accidentally made Xiao Yan faint with a nosebleed.
• Nalan Yanran told Yun Yun what she had overheard about Yun Leng, and Yun Yun concluded that the Misty Cloud Sect’s elders had helped conceal its wrongdoing.
• Yun Yun told Nalan Yanran to stay away from the Misty Cloud Sect and accepted responsibility for failing to supervise it.
• Xiao Jing warned Yun Yun that the Mo Family’s destruction would be blamed on the Snake-people race, then asked whether Yun Yun would personally destroy the Misty Cloud Sect.

Xiao Jing warned Yun Yun that the Misty Cloud Sect’s crimes could lead to its destruction, leaving Yun Yun torn between her sect and the Jia Ma Empire. Zi Yun sealed Xiao Yi Xian’s dangerous poison, and Xiao Yan’s group prepared to travel to Jia Ma Holy City with Qing Lin.

• Xiao Jing pressed Yun Yun to choose between the Jia Ma Empire and the Misty Cloud Sect, but Yun Yun said she needed more time and left to be alone.
• Xiao Jing told Mo Bass to take the wounded Mo Cheng away, and Xiao Yan regained consciousness.
• Xiao Yan asked Zi Yun to use the Purple Crystal Seal on Xiao Yi Xian, suppressing her Dou Qi and stabilizing her deadly poison.
• Xiao Jing directed Xiao Yan to take Qing Lin to Jia Ma Holy City, and Nalan Yanran, Zi Yun, and Hai Bodong joined the journey.
• Zi Yun transformed into the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King and offered to carry the group to Jia Ma Holy City.

Xiao Yan's group reached Jia Ma Holy City, where Nalan Yanran vouched for them at the gates and took Zi Yun and Qing Lin shopping for clothes. Xiao Yan encouraged Xiao Yi Xian to join them despite her fears, and she agreed, leaving him and the Little Lion King to wait.

• Zi Yun landed outside Jia Ma Holy City and changed back into human form, prompting Nalan Yanran to take her aside and make her wear more clothes.
• Nalan Yanran led the group to the city gates, vouched for them with the guards, and presented the Little Lion King as her obedient pet.
• Xiao Yan's group entered the bustling capital, where Hai Bodong left to visit the Miter Auction House.
• Nalan Yanran took Zi Yun shopping for clothes and invited Qing Lin to join them, while Xiao Yan noticed Xiao Yi Xian's envy.
• Xiao Yan reassured Xiao Yi Xian that her sealed Dou Qi made shopping safe and promised to help if anything went wrong, so she joined Nalan Yanran and the others.

Xiao Yan spent the day shopping with Nalan Yanran and the others while Zi Yun and Little Lion King rested nearby. When Mu Zhan recognized the cub and tried to remove it from Jia Ma Holy City, Zi Yun revealed her overwhelming power and left him frozen in fear.

• Xiao Yan shared roasted meat with Zi Yun and Little Lion King, then learned that Zi Yun had brought Gold Coins but could not count.
• Mu Zhan approached Zi Yun, but she ignored him, and Xiao Yan refused to give Mu Zhan her name or help him persist.
• Little Lion King approached Xiao Yan for more meat, and Mu Zhan recognized it as a Purple Crystal Winged Lion King cub.
• Mu Zhan warned that the cub could bring a dangerous beast to Jia Ma Holy City and tried to drag Xiao Yan away to escort it out.
• Zi Yun released her pressure, stopped Mu Zhan in place, and made him realize she was a Dou Huang.

Nalan Yanran confronted Xiao Yi Xian over her feelings for Xiao Yan and realized she needed to build a closer relationship with him than their engagement alone provided. Outside the clothing shop, Zi Yun threatened Mu Zhan for grabbing Little Lion King, nearly clashed with Jia Xingtian, and Xiao Yan revealed that she was the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King in human form.

• Nalan Yanran asked Xiao Yi Xian how she saw Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yi Xian admitted her feelings while provoking Nalan Yanran with Xiao Yan’s promises to her.
• Nalan Yanran realized she had few memories with Xiao Yan beyond their engagement and decided she needed to create a closer bond with him.
• Nalan Yanran bought Qing Lin’s clothes, and she and Xiao Yi Xian sensed Zi Yun’s Dou Qi and rushed outside with Qing Lin.
• Zi Yun threatened Mu Zhan for grabbing Little Lion King, and Jia Xingtian arrived to confront her as their Dou Qi clashed.
• Xiao Yan intervened between Zi Yun and Jia Xingtian, then privately told Jia Xingtian that Zi Yun was the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King in human form.

Jia Xingtian stopped the disturbance on Commercial Street and brought Xiao Yan, Zi Yun, and Mu Zhan to the Imperial Palace. He began a secret briefing for Mu Zhan, but the chapter ended before revealing its subject.

• Jia Xingtian ordered Yao Ye to withdraw the troops and invited Xiao Yan’s group to a quiet place to talk.
• Jia Xingtian sent Nalan Yanran home after saying that her grandfather, Nalan Jie, had been feeling unwell.
• Jia Xingtian asked Mu Zhan to come along, and Xiao Yan calmed Zi Yun after she confronted Mu Zhan over his furtive glance.
• Xiao Yan’s group followed Jia Xingtian into the Imperial Palace and settled in a reception room.
• Jia Xingtian told Mu Zhan to keep the coming information secret and lead the Mu Family in a future task, then began discussing business.

Hai Bodong reunited with Miter Tengshan and learned how the Misty Cloud Sect had woven influence through the Jia Ma Empire, explaining Jia Xingtian’s reluctance to oppose it. After Dou Emperor auras briefly clashed and faded, Hai Bodong decided to bring Ya Fei to the Imperial Palace to speak with Jia Xingtian.

• Hai Bodong reunited with Miter Tengshan, learned that the Miter Auction House had become one of Jia Ma Holy City's three great families, and declined to explain his childlike appearance.
• Tengshan told Hai Bodong that former Misty Cloud Sect Disciples held positions throughout the Miter Auction House and other factions, leading Hai Bodong to conclude that the sect’s network made it dangerous to confront.
• Hai Bodong suspected the Misty Cloud Sect had accepted Nalan Yanran as Yun Yun’s Personal Disciple to bind the Nalan Family to the sect.
• Ya Fei entered, met Hai Bodong, and was stunned to discover that the legendary Ice Emperor looked like a young child.
• Dou Emperor auras from Zi Yun and Jia Xingtian confronted each other before fading, and Hai Bodong inferred that Xiao Yan had helped prevent a fight.
• Hai Bodong decided to take Ya Fei to the Imperial Palace to speak with Jia Xingtian, leaving her alarmed.

After the Mo Family’s destruction, Jia Xingtian arranged for Yao Ye to manage the empire’s response and for negotiations with the snake-people race to move forward. Ya Fei and Hai Bodong arrived at the palace, where Xiao Yan’s reunion with Ya Fei stirred jealousy in Xiao Yi Xian and renewed Mu Zhan’s misguided hopes.

• Xiao Yan reported the Mo Family’s destruction, and Jia Xingtian tasked Yao Ye with spreading the facts and serving as an envoy to the snake-people race.
• Jia Xingtian questioned Zi Yun about her identity, and she burned her tongue by drinking hot tea before he ordered cooled tea for her.
• A maid announced that Ya Fei and a child had come to see Jia Xingtian, and Xiao Yan recognized Ya Fei as an older acquaintance from his hometown.
• Hai Bodong and Ya Fei entered the room, and Jia Xingtian invited Ya Fei to represent the Mittel Family in the discussion.
• Ya Fei sat beside Xiao Yan, prompting Xiao Yi Xian to pinch him and exchange a guarded look with Ya Fei.
• Mu Zhan greeted Ya Fei, and he mistakenly took her polite response as proof that she was interested in him.

Jia Xingtian explained why the Jia Ma Imperial Family could not easily punish Misty Cloud Sect and ordered a secret count of its retired disciples. After the others left, he privately asked Hai Bodong what he thought of Xiao Yan.

• Jia Xingtian described Misty Cloud Sect's crimes and the difficulty of proving them, while Zi Yun suggested fighting the sect outright.
• Xiao Yan proposed using Yun Yun's anger and position as Sect Master, but Jia Xingtian explained that she lacked the trust and authority to control Misty Cloud Sect.
• Jia Xingtian told Mu Zhan and Ya Fei to secretly count retired Misty Cloud Sect disciples in their clans' territories, and asked Xiao Yan to notify General Nalan without telling Nalan Yanran.
• Jia Xingtian dismissed the group after directing Yao Ye to prepare for reconciliation with the Snake-people and meet Leader Xiao Jing.
• Jia Xingtian kept Hai Bodong behind, asked where Yun Yun had gone, and then asked him what he thought of Xiao Yan.

Jia Xingtian learned from Hai Bodong that Xiao Yan was trustworthy and skilled in alchemy, then planned to connect Xiao Yan’s Three-Year Pact to a matter for the Jia Ma Empire. Outside the palace, Ya Fei teased Xiao Yan, provoking Xiao Yi Xian’s jealousy and leaving her frustrated by his obliviousness.

• Hai Bodong told Jia Xingtian that Xiao Yan knowingly risked his life to do what he believed was right and was the only person he completely trusted.
• Jia Xingtian explained the Three-Year Pact between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, then asked whether Xiao Yan had contributed to the Jia Ma Empire; Hai Bodong praised Xiao Yan’s alchemy before nearly revealing a secret pill.
• Ya Fei flirted with Xiao Yan outside the Imperial Palace, but Xiao Yi Xian stepped between them and quickly led Xiao Yan and the others away.
• Mu Zhan questioned Ya Fei about her relationship with Xiao Yan, and she rebuffed him before leaving; Mu Zhan grew resentful and vowed that Xiao Yan would pay.
• Xiao Yi Xian confronted Xiao Yan, then reflected that she was jealous because he remained oblivious to her feelings and concluded that his dullness would keep giving her a headache.

Xiao Yan and his companions visited the Nalan Family, where he reunited with Nalan Yanran and Nalan Jie. After privately relaying Jia Xingtian’s instructions, Xiao Yan questioned whether the family’s steward was really the same man he had met ten years earlier.

• Xiao Yi Xian urged Xiao Yan to carry out Jia Xingtian’s task, and Xiao Yan led the group to the Nalan Family.
• The steward welcomed Xiao Yan as Nalan Yanran’s future son-in-law and escorted the group inside, while Xiao Yi Xian worried about Nalan Yanran’s feelings for him.
• Nalan Yanran happily pulled Xiao Yan into Nalan Jie’s room, where Nalan Jie recognized Zi Yun as a Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.
• Xiao Yan asked Nalan Jie about his health, and Nalan Jie assured him that his exhaustion was unrelated to Xiao Yi Xian.
• Nalan Jie sent Nalan Yanran and the others out so he and Xiao Yan could speak privately about Jia Xingtian’s instructions.
• Xiao Yan asked whether the steward was the same man he had met ten years earlier, then said he suspected he was not.

Xiao Yan’s suspicion that Nalan Jie’s steward had been replaced led Nalan Jie to suspect the Misty Cloud Sect was secretly manipulating the Nalan Family. Nalan Jie pretended to give the steward a confidential order so he could use him as bait, then went to inform Jia Xingtian while Xiao Yan waited and considered Yao Chen’s demanding training goals.

• Xiao Yan explained that the steward had failed to recognize him despite meeting him ten years earlier, and Nalan Jie concluded the steward might have been replaced.
• Nalan Jie suspected the Misty Cloud Sect had planted the steward to interfere with imperial investigations and implicate the Nalan Family.
• Nalan Jie told the steward to secretly compile a list of former Misty Cloud Sect disciples in the family, then left through the window to contact Jia Xingtian.
• Yao Chen explained to Xiao Yan that Nalan Jie was using the order to fish for evidence before dealing with the steward.
• Yao Chen planned to strengthen Xiao Yan for the Three-Year Pact, reminding him that he had three years to reach Dou Wang and sixth-tier alchemy.

Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yi Xian discussed their feelings for Xiao Yan, with Xiao Yi Xian insisting that she would not use her tragic past to win his sympathy. Nalan Yanran reconsidered her rivalry with Xiao Yi Xian, but their conversation ended with their competitive banter returning.

• Zi Yun decided to find a safe place for Little Lion King to grow before it advanced from a Third-tier to a Fourth-tier Magical Beast.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Nalan Yanran how Xiao Yan had saved her and explained why she loved him, leaving Nalan Yanran unable to dismiss her feelings.
• Nalan Yanran asked what Xiao Yi Xian would do if Xiao Yan married someone else, and Xiao Yi Xian said she might give up someday but wanted to fight for him while she still could.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Nalan Yanran not to hold back out of pity, saying she wanted Xiao Yan to choose her sincerely rather than accept her feelings as charity.
• Nalan Yanran felt ashamed of her former attempt to use her marriage contract to force Xiao Yan into marrying her, then resolved to compete with Xiao Yi Xian without letting sympathy decide the outcome.
• Nalan Yanran teased Xiao Yi Xian about becoming her steward if she married Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yi Xian objected as their rivalry resumed.

Nalan Jie praised Xiao Yan and explained why he had kept Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran’s engagement despite Xiao Lin’s wish to dissolve it. Xiao Yan then left for the Miter Auction House with Xiao Yi Xian, Nalan Yanran, and Qing Lin, while Zi Yun stayed behind with the sleeping Little Lion King.

• Nalan Jie told Xiao Yan that Old Jia would watch the Nalan Family steward and asked him to visit Hai Bodong at the Miter Auction House.
• Nalan Jie apologized for Nalan Yanran’s past treatment of the Xiao Family and revealed that Xiao Lin’s letter had asked him to dissolve the engagement, but he had chosen Xiao Yan as his grandson-in-law after meeting him as a child.
• Nalan Jie urged Xiao Yan to spend time with Nalan Yanran during the Three-Year Pact, but Xiao Yan said he had no plans to marry.
• Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran insisted on accompanying Xiao Yan to the Miter Auction House, and Qing Lin joined them while Zi Yun stayed to watch the Little Lion King.
• After the group left, Nalan Jie arranged cold roasted meat for Zi Yun and her son.