Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan reflected on Yao Chen’s advice to understand his path before acting, while Xiao Jing and Xiao Li returned to the Xiao Family with Yue Mei. Xiao Jing told Xiao Zhan that Yun Yun was pregnant with Xiao Yan’s child, then the family welcomed Qing Lin and the returning juniors, including Xiao Yan.

• Yao Chen asked Xiao Yan how strong he wanted to become and advised him to set aside the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame maps until he understood his Righteous Path.
• Xiao Jing and Xiao Li arrived at the Xiao Family with Yue Mei, who presented gifts from the Snake-people race to Xiao Zhan.
• Xiao Jing privately told Xiao Zhan that Yun Yun was pregnant with Xiao Yan’s child and had refused to return with them because she wanted to conceal it from Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Jing and Xiao Zhan welcomed Qing Lin, who arrived with Lv Man and Elder Qing from the Heavenly Snake Manor.
• Xiao Yan returned to the Xiao Family with the other juniors, and Xiao Zhan warmly welcomed them home.

The Xiao family welcomed Xiao Yan and the returning Jia Nan Academy students, and Xiao Jing privately asked Xiao Yan about his marriage preferences. Yao Chen then revealed her connection to the trouble between Xiao Yan and Yun Yun, leaving Xiao Jing to confront her over the harm Yun Yun was enduring.

• Xiao Mei greeted Qing Lin, while Xiao Yan introduced Xiao Yi Xian and Han Feng to Xiao Zhan and Xiao Jing as powerful academy teachers.
• Xiao Jing privately asked Xiao Yan about his engagement to Nalan Yanran and whom he would want to marry, and he named Yun Yun as his ideal.
• Xiao Yan handed Xiao Jing his mother's ring and left so Yao Chen could speak with her alone.
• Yao Chen emerged from the ring, introduced herself to Xiao Jing, and asked about Yun Yun's condition.
• Yao Chen admitted that her actions had caused the incident between Xiao Yan and Yun Yun, and Xiao Jing told her that what she had done was inappropriate.

Xiao Jing challenged Xiao Yan to confront the harsh realities that made his righteous path difficult, while Yun Ying helped him connect her advice to the academy’s debate over strength. Xiao Yan realized that people’s actions were shaped by their environment, and thanked Yun Ying for helping him understand.

• Xiao Jing told Xiao Yan that the children’s deaths in the Black Corner Region were not his fault, but that he needed to understand why the world made his righteous path so difficult.
• Xiao Jing explained to Yao Chen that Xiao Yan idealized people and outcomes because he did not want the world to be dangerous, then left him to reflect.
• Xiao Yan wandered through Wutan City and met Yun Ying, who invited him to talk over a meal.
• Yun Ying asked about the children’s restaurant and then about Xiao Jing’s drama; Xiao Yan said its protagonist’s actions were wrong but that he could not judge her because her clan’s environment had forced her toward evil.
• Yun Ying compared the Admiration of Strength and Fear of Strength factions, prompting Xiao Yan to review his notes and realize that the world’s conditions shaped people’s actions.
• Xiao Yan thanked Yun Ying for her guidance, and Yun Ying quietly became a little more interested in helping him.

Yun Ying helped Xiao Yan separate strength from good and evil, giving him a new way to consider his fear of power. Meanwhile, Han Feng agreed to refine pills for Yun Yun, and Xiao Jing welcomed two princesses before Hai Bodong arrived at the Xiao Family.

• Yun Ying told Xiao Yan that strength and weakness were tools whose morality depended on how people used them, and Xiao Yan thanked her before inviting her for a drink.
• Han Feng agreed to refine pregnancy-nourishing pills for Yun Yun after learning Yao Chen had caused the situation.
• Yao Ye and Yao Yue arrived at the Xiao Family, and Xiao Jing welcomed them and arranged rooms for them.
• Hai Bodong came to see Xiao Yan, and Xiao Jing stopped Xiao Zhan from patting his head by revealing his identity as the Ice Emperor.

Xiao Jing received Hai Bodong and Zi Yun at the Xiao Family while Xiao Yan drank with Yun Ying, who secretly summoned Hun Miesheng and ordered him to establish a Yun funeral organization. Yun Ying vanished after Ya Fei encountered them, leaving Ya Fei to carry the unconscious Xiao Yan back to the Xiao Family.

• Hai Bodong and Zi Yun arrived at the Xiao Family, and Xiao Zhan learned that the many distinguished visitors had likely come because of Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Jing stopped Xiao Zhan from summoning Xiao Yan, saying he should be left alone to think while she received the guests.
• At a tavern, Yun Ying made the drunken Xiao Yan pass out and summoned Hun Miesheng, ordering him to establish a widely known funeral-services organization bearing the Yun surname.
• Yun Ying admitted she had attacked Mu Gu but ordered Hun Miesheng to spare him, then dismissed him and took the unconscious Xiao Yan from the tavern.
• Ya Fei encountered Yun Ying and Xiao Yan, but Yun Ying disappeared when Xiao Yan fell into Ya Fei's arms.
• Ya Fei carried Xiao Yan toward the Xiao Family after he drunkenly compared her figure unfavorably with Zi Yun's.

Xiao Yan woke after getting drunk and returned to the Xiao Family’s New Year preparations, where he reunited with family and guests. He continued to hesitate to speak honestly with Xiao Yi Xian, while Xiao Jing slipped away after the princesses praised her cooking.

• Yao Chen told Xiao Yan that Ya Fei had carried him home drunk while distinguished guests waited, and Xiao Yan decided to apologize to Xiao Zhan.
• Xiao Yan nearly confessed his feelings to Xiao Yi Xian but backed down and said he would tell her another time.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian found the Xiao Family courtyard crowded with guests, where Zi Yun stole food, children played with the Little Lion King, and children dragged Hai Bodong into tag.
• Xiao Yan apologized to Yao Ye and Yao Yue for failing to welcome them, then learned that Xun'er and the others had gone shopping while Xiao Ning lay beaten in a corner.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian helped Xiao Li cook as Yao Ye and Yao Yue praised Xiao Jing’s abilities, prompting Xiao Jing to leave after admitting everyone had flaws.

Xiao Jing discussed the growing tensions between the Jia Ma Empire and neighboring countries with Lv Man, while Han Feng gave generous return gifts to Lv Man and Zi Yun. After Xiao Mei, Xun'er, and Xiao Yu returned from an encounter with suspiciously powerful mercenaries, Xun'er wondered whether they had come for the Xiao Family, then decided the powerful guests in the courtyard meant there was little cause for concern.

• Lv Man told Xiao Jing that the Mulan Empire, Luoyan Empire, and Cloud Empire had been communicating more often, and Xiao Jing planned to alert Old Jia.
• Lv Man said the Heavenly Snake Manor Lord had rejected an alliance with the Jia Ma Empire, though Qing Lin's loyalty might eventually change his mind.
• Han Feng gave Xiao Jing a pill bottle, presented Lv Man with a Yin Yang Dragon Profound Pill, and gave Zi Yun a Form Transformation Pill.
• Xiao Mei, Xun'er, and Xiao Yu returned with supplies and said they had driven off suspicious men posing as mercenaries.
• Xun'er suspected the men might have come for the Xiao Family, but reconsidered after noticing the powerful outsiders gathered in the courtyard.

Wu Ya killed the mercenaries who had failed to attack the Xiao Family and revealed his plan to assassinate Xiao Jing to provoke a conflict between the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-people race. As the Xiao Family gathered for its annual performances, Xiao Yi Xian sensed poison before Wu Ya appeared and attacked the stage.

• Wu Ya poisoned the mercenaries who had returned after Xiao Yu defeated them.
• Wu Ya explained that Cloud and Luoyan planned to kill Xiao Jing and provoke the Snake-people race into rebellion.
• The Xiao Family held its annual performances, and Hai Bodong joined the children in a play.
• Ya Fei reassured Xiao Yan about his embarrassment, and Xiao Yi Xian sensed poison gathering in the courtyard.
• Wu Ya appeared above the stage, declared that the Xiao Family would be exterminated, and hurled dark-purple Dou Qi at the performers.

Wu Ya attacked the Xiao Family gathering and tried to use poison and hostages to kill Xiao Jing, but Hai Bodong, Xiao Yi Xian, Han Feng, Lv Man, and Zi Yun overwhelmed him. Xiao Jing stopped Zi Yun from killing Wu Ya so she could learn why he had targeted her, and Wu Ya faced her question about his motive.

• Wu Ya attacked the platform and threatened to wipe out the Xiao Family, but Hai Bodong protected the children and confronted him.
• Wu Ya revealed he had poisoned the courtyard, but Xiao Yi Xian captured and dispersed the poison before Hai Bodong kicked him down.
• Wu Ya tried to take Han Feng and Lv Man hostage, but both women sent him flying with their strength.
• Wu Ya seized Zi Yun as a hostage, only to discover she was a Dou Zong who forced him to his knees.
• Xiao Jing and Xiao Yan stopped Zi Yun from killing Wu Ya, and Xiao Jing demanded to know why he wanted her dead.

Xiao Jing interrogated and killed Wu Ya, then urged Xiao Yan to understand how his righteous path could win others over. After the New Year celebration, the group departed Wutan City, and Xiao Jing returned to Jia Ma Holy City, where she told Yun Yun that Xiao Yan was already a Dou Ling and left her to confront the approaching Three-Year Pact.

• Xiao Jing extracted information from Wu Ya, explained that she had anticipated an attack on her, and killed him after the interrogation.
• Xiao Jing discussed stance and righteousness with Xiao Yan, who resolved to challenge wrongdoing even when others considered it right.
• The Xiao Family celebrated the New Year with fireworks, and Xiao Yan affirmed that the happiness of the people around him was the righteous path he pursued.
• Several days later, Xiao Yan and the others left Wutan City for school, while Qing Lin returned with Lv Man and Elder Qing and Xiao Jing set out for Jia Ma Holy City.
• Xiao Jing gave Yao Ye documents about Wu Ya and visited Yun Yun, delivering a pill from Yao Chen and revealing that Xiao Yan had reached the Dou Ling level.
• Yun Yun worried about how she would face Yanran if Xiao Yan fulfilled the Three-Year Pact and learned of her situation.

Zi Yan, the Inner Academy’s Seven-star Dou King, came to the Outer Academy seeking a fight with Xiao Yan, but he initially refused because he saw no point in it. He eventually agreed to duel her on one condition, leaving the terms of the fight unresolved.

• Lin Xiuyai, Lin Yan, and Liu Qing waited at the Outer Academy for Xiao Yan, but Zi Yan beat them and demanded to fight him.
• Xiao Mei and Xiao Yan returned with their companions, and Zi Yan stopped herself from striking the three students to ask which one was Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yu told Xiao Yan that Zi Yan was a transformed Magical Beast and the strongest student in the Inner Academy.
• Zi Yan challenged Xiao Yan because she was bored, but Xiao Yan refused, saying he would not fight for no reason.
• After Xiao Yu learned how the challenge had started, Xiao Yan agreed to fight Zi Yan but set one condition.

Xiao Yan fought Zi Yan in a public arena duel to make a name for himself and advance along his Righteous Path. Though he blocked her opening strike and battled her evenly with martial arts, Zi Yan began to gain the upper hand, so Xiao Yan used his Black Prison Dark Soul Lock.

• Xiao Mei spread word of Xiao Yan and Zi Yan's duel, drawing crowds from both the Outer and Inner Academies.
• Xiao Yan stepped into the arena, resolved to win, while Great Elder Su Qian warned him that Zi Yan would not hold back.
• Zi Yan rushed Xiao Yan with a powerful punch, but he caught it and surprised her by resisting her attack.
• Xiao Yan used Eight Extremes Collapse and launched a flurry of close-range attacks, impressing the spectators as he fought Zi Yan evenly.
• Zi Yan found an opening and kicked Xiao Yan to the edge of the arena, then charged again with her Dou Qi Wings.
• Xiao Yan decided to use his special power, and black chains emerged from his body as he invoked Black Prison Dark Soul Lock.

Xiao Yan defeated Zi Yan in a destructive duel, then refused Su Qian’s offer to enter the Inner Academy and revealed that he had fought to recruit allies. He called on the students to reject the world’s rule that the strong could freely take everything from the weak, and vowed to pursue that cause.

• Xiao Yan used black chains to flip the arena platform and hurl it at Zi Yan, who shattered it with her strength.
• Xiao Yan boosted his power with the Heavenly Flames Three Profound Transformations and clan markings, then outmaneuvered Zi Yan by launching himself between stone fragments.
• Xiao Yan concealed colliding violet and azure flames inside a boulder; Zi Yan sensed the danger, and Xiao Yan withdrew the flames before they could erupt, prompting her to concede.
• Su Qian declared Xiao Yan the winner and offered him immediate entry to the Inner Academy, but Xiao Yan declined.
• Xiao Yan told the gathered students he had fought to recruit people for his cause and urged them to reject the strong preying on the weak.
• Xiao Yan declared that he would seek friends to change the world’s rule of the strong preying on the weak and would not retreat from that path.

Two years later, Yun Leng cared for Yun Xiao and reflected on his past while she secretly escaped the Misty Cloud Sect with Zijing. At the sect, Yun Yun learned that Chu Yun and Falling Wild Goose were openly threatening the Jia Ma Empire and agreed to send disciples to the border.

• Yun Leng caught Yun Xiao sneaking through a hall, put her to bed, and reflected on why he could not tell her about his past actions.
• Yun Xiao climbed out a window, but Zijing caught her before she hit the ground.
• Yun Xiao persuaded Zijing to take her down the mountain, and he carried her away in his Purple Crystal Winged Lion King form.
• Zi Yun told Yun Yun that Zijing had taken Yun Xiao down the mountain again, while Yun Yun thought about Xiao Yan and the approaching Three-Year Pacts.
• Yun Shan told Yun Yun that Chu Yun and Falling Wild Goose were openly opposing the Jia Ma Empire, and Yun Yun agreed to send Misty Cloud Sect disciples to help at the border.

Zijing took Yun Xiao to the Miter Auction House, where she met Ya Fei and Hai Bodong, then brought her to the Imperial Palace to visit Xiao Jing. The adults continued to keep Yun Xiao’s parentage from her, while her curiosity about Xiao Yan grew.

• Zijing carried Yun Xiao around Jia Ma Holy City and took her to the Miter Auction House, where she admired the displays and declined Ya Fei’s offer of a gift because her mother had told her not to take things from others.
• Ya Fei and Hai Bodong discussed when Yun Yun would tell Xiao Yan about Yun Xiao, and Ya Fei explained that Yun Yun did not want to hurt Nalan Yanran while she remained in the Gate of Life and Death.
• Zijing hurried Yun Xiao out after she casually remarked on Hai Bodong’s youthful appearance, then asked where she wanted to go next.
• Yun Xiao asked to visit Xiao Jing, so Zijing carried her to the Imperial Palace, where Yao Ye and Yao Yue met them at the gates.
• Yao Ye said Zijing reminded her of Xiao Yan, and Yao Yue noticed Yun Xiao’s confusion at the name but stopped Yao Ye from explaining further.

Jia Xingtian and Xiao Jing rejected Yao Ye’s request to fight at the border because her death could endanger the Jia Ma Empire’s morale. After a family visit at the Imperial Palace, Yun Yun cared for Yun Xiao at the Misty Cloud Sect while thinking of Xiao Yan, who was in the Black Corner Region and entered a shop called Yihongyuan.

• Xiao Jing reported that Snake-people leaders would help defend the border and that Gu He had prepared frontline pills, then relayed Yao Ye’s request to join the fight.
• Jia Xingtian refused to let Yao Ye go to the border, and Xiao Jing explained that the future royal heir could not risk undermining the people’s confidence in the Empire.
• Yun Xiao arrived with Zijing, played with Jia Xingtian, and left the Imperial Palace with him after Xiao Jing promised to visit her at the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Yun Yun carried the sleeping Yun Xiao to bed and thought of Xiao Yan, while Xiao Yan sensed something in the direction of the Jia Ma Empire and entered Yihongyuan in the Black Corner Region.

Xiao Yan met with Su Mei’s intermediary to discuss an alliance while reflecting on how Evil Prison had reshaped the Black Corner Region. The chapter ended with Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning confronting a group of attackers sent by the remaining hostile factions.

• Xiao Yan received Su Mei’s reply through Hong Shuang, then sent her two letters and warned that her choice would determine her outcome.
• Hong Shuang reflected on how Xiao Yan had built Evil Prison into a force that controlled much of the Black Corner Region and left only five resistant factions.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning walked through the newly lit streets, where Xiao Yan saw his vision gradually taking shape.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning lured hidden watchers into a dark area, and Xiao Yan killed one attacker with a flame technique.
• Five Black-robed Persons surrounded Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning, and Xiao Yan assigned Xiao Ning three Dou Wangs while he took the two Dou Huangs.

The five remaining faction leaders in the Black Corner Region formed an alliance against Xiao Yan after learning of his hidden network and the destruction of their probing force. Su Mei outwardly agreed to join them, but secretly favored Xiao Yan as she considered the private letter he had sent her.

• Su Mei revealed that Xiao Yan had sent the faction leaders letters asking them to remain neutral, exposing their mutual distrust.
• Old Man Yin Gu urged the leaders to unite, and Tie Wu, Su Mei, and the leaders of Black Skull Tomb and the Blood Sect declared themselves against Xiao Yan.
• The leaders realized that Xiao Yan had secretly built multiple factions across the Black Corner Region, including Heavenly Doctor's Hall, before gathering them under Evil Prison.
• A Rakshasa Gate member reported that two Dou Huang and four Dou Wang had been found dead after attacking Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning, prompting Old Man Yin Gu to call for an alliance.
• The faction leaders accepted Old Man Yin Gu as their alliance leader, while Su Mei privately considered Xiao Yan's separate letter and resolved that she did not need to choose.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian discussed her worsening Calamitous Poison Body and the search for Bodhi Body Transformation Saliva, revealing how deeply they cared for each other. Xiao Yi Xian left to deal with a faction causing trouble and challenged Xiao Yan to a bet about whether they would find the cure.

• Xiao Yan urged the injured Xiao Ning to take pills, warning him not to sell them for money.
• Xiao Yi Xian returned to Heavenly Doctor's Hall and reported that most factions had been brought under control, while some had been dealt with for refusing to surrender.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Xiao Yan that her Calamitous Poison Body was worsening, and Xiao Yan vowed to save her by finding Bodhi Body Transformation Saliva.
• Xiao Yi Xian revealed that she knew Xiao Yan was seeking a way to trade lives and explained that his sacrificing himself would only bring her pain.
• Xiao Yan embraced Xiao Yi Xian, but a Hall member interrupted them to report that a faction was breaking Evil Prison's rules.
• Xiao Yi Xian left to handle the trouble after betting that she would grant Xiao Yan a wish if they found Bodhi Body Transformation Saliva, while he promised to grant hers if they did.

Su Qian learned that Xiao Yan had transformed much of the Black Corner Region and decided to bring Jia Nan Academy’s faculty to witness the result. Meanwhile, Queen Medusa demanded that Xiao Yan give her the Spirit Melting Pill and marry her, but he refused, leaving him trapped with her in his sealed room.

• Su Qian received Xiao Yan’s letter asking for help and reflected on what Jia Nan Academy should teach its students beyond strength.
• Su Qian explained that Xiao Mei’s work and Xiao Yan’s convictions had made him question the academy’s purpose, then ordered the faculty to travel to the Black Corner Region in three days.
• Queen Medusa demanded the Spirit Melting Pill and told Xiao Yan she would take him to marry her, but Xiao Yan refused to give it to her.
• Xiao Yan said he would rather run until Queen Medusa fell asleep, so Queen Medusa sealed the room’s space and taunted him to struggle.