Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan arrived at the battlefield and saved Nalan Yanran from immediate danger, then joined Xiao Li and the others against Yan Luotian and the allied Dou Zongs. As the groups prepared to fight, Xiao Yan's sincere remarks enraged Xie Biyan and the others.

• Yan Luotian knocked Xiao Li down, but Xiao Yan appeared and blasted him away while carrying the gravely injured Nalan Yanran.
• Xiao Yan gave Nalan Yanran medicinal pills, then fought Yan Luotian with black chains as Xie Biyan, Xie Shan, and Elder Jin Yin moved to attack him.
• Xiao Li rose again and pierced Yan Luotian's shoulder, but Xie Biyan struck her back and Xie Shan destroyed Xiao Yan's chains.
• Xiao Li reunited warmly with Xiao Yan, while Xiao Yan handed Nalan Yanran to Nalan Jie and placed the coffin containing Xiao Yi Xian beside the fortress.
• Xiao Yan told Yan Luotian that his injuries made no difference and reminded Xie Biyan's group that Nalan Yanran had chased them; Xie Biyan lost his temper and threatened to kill him.

Xiao Yan confronted the Jin Yin Brothers and fought Xie Biyan and the other Dou Zongs while Xiao Li held off Yan Luotian. Just as Elder Jin was about to strike Xiao Yan from behind, a mysterious purple-clad girl kicked him into the ground and demanded to know where Xiao Yan had taken Sister Xiao Yi Xian.

• Xiao Yi Xian recognized the Jin Yin Brothers, and Xiao Yan recalled how their betrayal had nearly cost Xiao Yu her life.
• Xiao Yan attacked Elder Jin Yin, but Xie Biyan intervened and urged the brothers to join forces against him.
• Xiao Li fought Yan Luotian to a standstill, while Xiao Yan used secret techniques to battle Xie Biyan, Xie Shan, and Elder Jin Yin.
• Xie Biyan and the others coordinated their attacks, and Elder Jin moved behind Xiao Yan to strike his neck.
• A purple-clad girl kicked Elder Jin into the ground and asked Xiao Yan where he had taken Sister Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Yan fought Xie Biyan and the other Jia Nan Academy enemies until Zi Yan arrived and helped turn the battle in the Jia Ma Empire’s favor. Watching from afar, Yun Ying investigated the black Qi inside Xiao Yan and obtained five child flames to use in the conflict, while the black-haired woman questioned Yun Ying’s growing interest in him.

• Zi Yan found Xiao Yan by following his scent, then joined the fight after explaining that she had come because she ran out of candy and could not find Xiao Yi Xian.
• Zi Yan charged Elder Jin while Xiao Yan fought Xie Biyan, Xie Shan, and Elder Yin, giving Xiao Yan’s side an advantage.
• Yun Ying and the black-haired woman watched the battle and discussed Xiao Yan, while Yun Ying concluded that the black Qi within him was her Remnant Soul.
• Yun Ying asked whether a Nine-star Dou Sheng’s Remnant Soul could survive for a thousand years and attach itself to someone, and the black-haired woman said it was possible.
• Yun Ying asked the black-haired woman for five disposable child flames that could briefly raise a Dou Zong to peak strength, and she handed them over.

Xiao Li pushed Yan Luotian to his limit with a dangerous cultivation method, while Xiao Yan fought Xie Biyan, Xie Shan, and Elder Yin. Jia Xingtian and the other Jia Ma Empire Dou Zongs arrived, and the failed assault ended in a ceasefire as the allied forces withdrew.

• Yan Luotian deduced that Xiao Li's strength came from a method that left her near death, and Xiao Li revealed its danger before advancing to Peak Dou Huang.
• Elder Jin kept Zi Yan at a distance, while Xiao Yan injured Xie Shan and fought off Xie Biyan and Elder Yin.
• Jia Xingtian, Hai Bodong, Yun Shan, and Zi Yun arrived, giving the Jia Ma Empire the upper hand and prompting Xie Biyan to call off the battle.
• Xiao Jing fed the badly injured Xiao Li healing pills and warned Yan Luotian that attacking her could leave the Luoyan Empire alone against the Jia Ma Empire.
• Xie Biyan, Yan Luotian, Elder Jin, and their allies withdrew, while Xiao Yan restrained Zi Yan and promised her candy.
• Jia Xingtian explained that forcing the enemy to fight could lead to devastating losses, but Zi Yun complained that he should have killed them all.

Nalan Yanran woke from her wounds, reunited with Xiao Yan, and announced that she would marry him, unaware of the painful secret troubling Nalan Jie and Xiao Jing. Meanwhile, the threat of another invasion remained, and Yun Yun struggled to face Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran after learning Xiao Yan had returned.

• Nalan Yanran woke in the Nalan Family home, recovered from her injuries, and learned that Xiao Yan had arrived to visit Nalan Jie.
• Nalan Yanran reunited with Xiao Yan and declared that she would defeat him in the Three-Year Pact and marry him.
• Xiao Yan explained that Xiao Yi Xian's consciousness was inside his body, and Nalan Yanran teased her until Zi Yan defended her.
• Xiao Jing worried about how Xiao Yan and Yun Yun would resolve their situation, then told Gu He to prepare medicinal pills because she expected the allied armies to attack again.
• Yun Yun agonized over facing Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, while Yun Shan reminded her that she could not avoid them forever.

Xiao Yan prepared to visit the Misty Cloud Sect after Nalan Jie and Yue Mei hinted that something important awaited him there. Meanwhile, Xun'er remained in the Clan and asked Ling Ying about Xiao Yan's upcoming Three-Year Pact with Nalan Yanran.

• Nalan Yanran warned Xiao Yan that only a week remained before the Three-Year Pact, and Xiao Yan resolved to take the contest seriously.
• Nalan Jie suggested that Xiao Yan visit the Misty Cloud Sect, so Xiao Yan left the Nalan Family with Zi Yan.
• Xiao Yan met Yue Mei, gave her the sleeping Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python and the Spirit Melting Pill, and asked her to discourage Queen Medusa from forcing him into marriage.
• Yue Mei hinted that something important awaited Xiao Yan at the Misty Cloud Sect, then hurried away without explaining.
• Xun'er recalled that she had returned to the Clan willingly to protect Xiao Yan from provoking it, then asked Ling Ying about Xiao Yan's chances against Nalan Yanran; Ling Ying said they were hard to judge.

After learning that Nalan Yanran had become powerful enough to kill two Dou Zongs, Xun'er sent Ling Ying to watch over Xiao Yi Xian and Queen Medusa rather than interfere with Xiao Yan’s Three-Year Pact. Xiao Yan climbed Misty Cloud Mountain with Zi Yan and reached the sect’s gate, where a tiny figure rushed into his arms.

• Ling Ying told Xun'er that Nalan Yanran had defeated the Mulan Second Elders at the cost of severe injuries, and Xun'er asked him to watch Xiao Yi Xian and Queen Medusa.
• Yue Mei brought Xiao Jing an inventory list, and Xiao Jing approved it while explaining that she would dock Xiao Li’s pay for risking her life without thinking through better tactics.
• Yue Mei told Xiao Jing that Xiao Yan was heading to the Misty Cloud Sect, and Xiao Jing decided not to stop him from going.
• Xiao Yan and Zi Yan arrived at Misty Cloud Mountain, registered at the gate, and began climbing the mountain path.
• Xiao Yan and Zi Yan reached the mountaintop, where a tiny figure rushed out of the sect and crashed into Xiao Yan’s arms.

Xiao Yan visited the Misty Cloud Sect and learned that Yun Yun had a daughter, Yun Xiao, but Yun Yun concealed that he was the child’s father. The chapter ended with Xiao Yan demanding the identity of the man who had abandoned Yun Yun and their daughter, unaware that he was asking about himself.

• Yun Xiao rushed out with Zijing, met Xiao Yan at the mountain gate, and left without recognizing him as a stranger.
• Xiao Yan arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect to visit Yun Yun, while Yun Shan urged Yun Yun to face him rather than keep hiding the truth about Yun Xiao.
• Yun Leng guided Xiao Yan and Zi Yan to the main hall, where Xiao Yan explained Xiao Yi Xian’s condition and said he had met Yun Xiao.
• Xiao Yan remarked that he had thought Yun Yun was married, and Yun Yun blurted out that she had not married.
• Yun Yun claimed that Yun Xiao’s father had left after she became pregnant and never returned, so Xiao Yan demanded to know who the man was and vowed to catch him.

Xiao Yan confronted Yun Yun about the man who had abandoned her and Yun Xiao, but Yun Yun urged him to focus on his Three-Year Pact with Nalan Yanran. As Xiao Yan prepared to leave, Yao Chen appeared and insisted that she and Yun Yun had an agreement that could no longer be ignored.

• Xiao Yan grew angry after Yun Yun described how her husband had abandoned her and Yun Xiao, and he vowed to find the man and make him answer for it.
• Yun Yun told Xiao Yan to stay out of her personal affairs and said that Xiao Xiao was happy without her father.
• Zi Yun entered the hall, and Yun Yun erupted at Xiao Yan, urging him to take the upcoming Three-Year Pact seriously because Nalan Yanran cared deeply for him.
• Xiao Yan apologized to Yun Yun and left with Zi Yan, while Yun Yun resolved to let their relationship end without revealing the truth.
• Yao Chen appeared and reminded Yun Yun of their agreement; Yun Yun denied remembering it, but Yao Chen insisted that she had to address the accident she had caused.

Yao Chen insisted that she would honor her agreement with Yun Yun after Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran’s Three-Year Pact, while Zi Yun urged Yun Yun to stop hiding the truth about Xiao Xiao’s father. As Xiao Yan left the Misty Cloud Sect, he began to suspect the truth, then encountered Yun Xiao and Zijing in Jia Ma Holy City.

• Yao Chen told Yun Yun not to take blame for her and reaffirmed that she would fulfill their agreement after the Three-Year Pact.
• Zi Yun realized Xiao Yan was Xiao Xiao’s father and challenged Yun Yun’s decision to conceal the truth, urging her to face the consequences.
• Yun Yun admitted she had been avoiding the problem, while Xiao Yan wondered whether he was the man Yun Yun had kept him from seeking.
• Xiao Yan wandered through Jia Ma Holy City with Zi Yan and spotted Yun Xiao and Zijing ahead in the crowd.
• Zijing discovered he had run out of money after ordering Yun Xiao roasted meat, and Xiao Yan offered to pay.

Xiao Yan met Yun Xiao at a street stall and, with Zijing's help, spent time with her without revealing that he was her father. As Xiao Yan took Yun Xiao shopping, Yao Ye and Yao Yue spotted them, and Yao Yue hurried her sister away; Xiao Yan decided to focus on making up for the time he had missed with Yun Xiao.

• Xiao Yan paid for roasted meat and was struck by guilt when Yun Xiao said she did not know him and hid behind Zijing.
• Zijing told Yun Xiao that Xiao Yan was a friend of Yun Yun, helping her feel safe enough to accept Xiao Yan's offer to go shopping with them.
• Xiao Yan carried Yun Xiao on his shoulders, while Zijing reflected on his own absent father and quietly helped the two grow closer.
• Yao Ye and Yao Yue saw Xiao Yan walking with Yun Xiao, but Yao Yue covered Yao Ye's mouth and dragged her back toward the Imperial Palace.
• Xiao Yan noticed the sisters had been nearby, then offered Yun Xiao candied hawthorn and resolved to make up for what he owed her.

Xiao Jing told Xiao Zhan and Xiao Li that Xiao Yan was Xiao Xiao’s father, and explained that he had not known about Yun Xiao and the child. As Zijing left with the sleeping Xiao Xiao, Xiao Yan asked him to tell Yun Yun that he would not run from his responsibilities.

• Yao Yue brought Yao Ye back to the Imperial Palace to study, and Xiao Jing learned they had seen Xiao Yan shopping with Yun Xiao.
• Xiao Jing arrived at Xiao Li’s ward and caught Xiao Zhan and Gu He discussing how Gu He could pursue her.
• Xiao Zhan and Xiao Jing discussed Xiao Yan’s relationship with Yun Xiao and decided to wait until the Three-Year Pact ended before acknowledging the truth publicly.
• Xiao Jing told Xiao Li that Xiao Xiao was Xiao Yan’s daughter, and stopped Xiao Li from rushing off to confront him.
• Xiao Jing asked Xiao Zhan to prepare to apologize to the Nalan Family after the Three-Year Pact, while Xiao Li agreed not to interfere in Xiao Yan’s situation.
• As Zijing left with the sleeping Xiao Xiao, Xiao Yan asked him to tell Yun Yun that he would never run from his responsibilities.

Xiao Yan accepted that he would face his responsibility to Yun Yun and resolved to win the Three-Year Pact before telling Nalan Yanran. On the day before the pact, Nalan Yanran reached Dou Huang, but the chapter ended with news that Yun Xiao had disappeared.

• Zijing returned Yun Xiao to Yun Yun and relayed Xiao Yan's promise not to run from his responsibility; he urged Yun Yun to consider Xiao Xiao's sake.
• Xiao Yan told Xiao Yi Xian he could not return her feelings, then resolved to tell Nalan Yanran the truth after the Three-Year Pact and win it first.
• At Xiao Li's bedside, Xiao Jing and Xiao Zhan questioned Xiao Yan, who declared he would face his responsibility to Yun Yun after resolving his other responsibility by winning the pact.
• Six days later, Nalan Yanran broke through to Dou Huang; Jia Xingtian and Hai Bodong discussed possible threats during the pact, and Xiao Jing reported that Lv Man had come on behalf of Heavenly Snake Manor.
• Nalan Yanran left seclusion to eat, but a servant told her that Yun Xiao had gone missing and that the Misty Cloud Sect had requested help searching for her.

Xiao Jing and Jia Xingtian halted alliance talks with Heavenly Snake Manor after Yun Xiao vanished from the Misty Cloud Sect, prompting an empire-wide search and heightened security. Meanwhile, Queen Medusa awakened and learned that the Snake-people race had prospered with Jia Ma Empire's support before asking where Xiao Yan was.

• Lv Man and Qing Lin met with Xiao Jing and Jia Xingtian to discuss an alliance between Heavenly Snake Manor and the Jia Ma Empire.
• A guard reported that Yun Xiao had disappeared from the Misty Cloud Sect, and Xiao Jing and Jia Xingtian suspected an unknown abductor with extraordinary power.
• Jia Xingtian ordered the empire onto high alert and asked every city to distribute Yun Xiao's portrait while alliance talks were postponed.
• Xiao Jing told Yao Ye and Yao Yue to remain in the Imperial Palace, and Yao Yue explained that the abductor might target them too.
• Queen Medusa awakened in Chisha City, heard Yue Mei describe the Snake-people race's improved relations with the Jia Ma Empire, and asked where Xiao Yan was.

Queen Medusa declared that she would marry Xiao Yan and initially prepared to seize him from Jia Ma Holy City, but Yue Mei’s honest explanation made her reconsider the political and personal complications. When news arrived that Yun Xiao had vanished, Medusa ordered Chisha City placed on alert and agreed to help search for Xiao Yan’s daughter.

• Queen Medusa told Yue Mei that she intended to bring Xiao Yan back and marry him, then ordered the Snake-people leaders to prepare the wedding.
• Yue Mei warned Medusa that interrupting Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran’s engagement could endanger relations with the Jia Ma Empire, and Medusa agreed she could not risk her people’s position.
• After dismissing the other leaders, Medusa asked Yue Mei why Xiao Yan refused to marry her, and Yue Mei said Medusa’s proud, self-centered manner made her poorly suited to marriage.
• Mo Bass reported that Jia Ma Holy City had issued an alert after Yun Xiao disappeared, and Yue Mei identified her as Yun Yun’s daughter.
• Medusa inferred that Yun Xiao was Xiao Yan’s daughter, decided to remain in Chisha City because an unknown strongman might threaten it, and ordered the city placed on full alert while agreeing to help search for Yun Xiao.

After Yun Xiao disappeared from the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Shan concluded that her abductor had a purpose, while Yun Leng escaped the sect after apparently being threatened. Xiao Yan followed Yun Leng to a meeting with Yan Luotian, who had Yun Xiao; Xiao Yan rescued her and prepared to confront him.

• Yun Shan urged Yun Yun to stop the fruitless search and reasoned that Yun Xiao's abductor likely intended to use her as leverage.
• Xiao Jing reported that Yun Leng had attacked the gate guards and escaped, and Yun Yun and Yun Shan suspected his flight was connected to Yun Xiao's disappearance.
• Zijing told Xiao Yan that Yun Xiao had vanished from the sect, and Xiao Yan noticed Yun Leng leaving Jia Ma Holy City and secretly followed him.
• Yun Leng met Yan Luotian in a deserted region, where Yan Luotian revealed the sleeping Yun Xiao and accused Yun Leng of breaking their agreement.
• Xiao Yan seized Yun Xiao from Yan Luotian and handed her to Yun Leng before facing Yan Luotian with his Black Xuan Heavy Ruler.

Xiao Yan fought Yan Luotian after discovering he had reached peak Dou Zong, but Xie Biyan ambushed and severely wounded him before he could finish Yan Luotian. Yao Chen appeared to protect Xiao Yan, but Medusa arrived just as Xie Biyan attacked and declared that no one could touch her future husband.

• Yan Luotian overwhelmed Xiao Yan with his strength, but Xiao Yan activated several techniques and fought back with the Flame Splitting Wave Ruler and Eight Extremes Collapse.
• Xiao Yan battered Yan Luotian and prepared a finishing strike, but Xie Biyan appeared behind him and pierced his chest with a poisoned claw.
• Xie Biyan moved to kill the wounded Xiao Yan, and Yao Chen revealed herself to shield him and confront the attackers.
• Yao Chen tried to stall Xie Biyan, but he saw through her and charged at her as she prepared to use the Bone Spirit Cold Flame.
• Medusa appeared between them, kicked Xie Biyan away, and declared that her future husband was not for him to touch.

Queen Medusa arrived in time to confront Xie Biyan and Yan Luotian, protecting Xiao Yan while Yao Chen treated his poisoning. She drove Yan Luotian away from Yun Leng and Yun Xiao, admitting she had saved Yun Xiao for Xiao Yan’s sake and to gain Yun Yun’s favor.

• Queen Medusa appeared at the fight, ordered Yao Chen to protect Xiao Yan, and reminded Xie Biyan and Yan Luotian of the Snake-people they had killed.
• Queen Medusa attacked Xie Biyan, whose poisonous mist failed to stop her, and wounded him in their close combat.
• Yan Luotian seized Yun Leng and threatened Yun Xiao, but Queen Medusa claimed she did not care if they died because of Yun Leng’s past crimes against the Snake-people.
• Queen Medusa struck Yan Luotian and sent him flying, then explained that she had saved Yun Xiao for Xiao Yan’s sake and to gain Yun Yun’s favor.

Yan Luotian and Xie Biyan trapped Queen Medusa, Yao Chen, Xiao Yan, and Yun Leng behind a blood-red barrier while escaping with Yun Xiao. As Yao Chen treated the injured and identified the array tied to the Soul Hall, Yun Ying watched Xiao Yan and hinted that he would be an exceptional source of amusement.

• Xie Biyan fought Queen Medusa while Yan Luotian activated a blood-red sealing barrier, and Xie Biyan used Black Poison Prison to hold Medusa long enough for Yan Luotian to seize Yun Xiao.
• Xiao Yan attacked Yan Luotian after Yao Chen finished purging his poison, but Yan Luotian escaped with Yun Xiao as Xie Biyan withdrew beyond the barrier.
• Queen Medusa could not break the rule-based barrier, and Yao Chen concluded that it would likely last until the next day.
• Yun Leng told Yao Chen that Yan Luotian had made him set up arrays throughout the Misty Cloud Sect and Jia Ma Holy City, then drew the Myriad Souls Devouring Spirit Array.
• Yao Chen treated Xiao Yan and Yun Leng while concluding that the Soul Hall was behind the enemies' sudden increase in strength.
• Outside the barrier, Yun Ying watched the unconscious Xiao Yan and told the black-haired woman to keep watching him.

The Three-Year Pact began under a cloud of worry, with Xiao Yan and Yun Xiao both missing. Yan Luotian returned Yun Xiao as bait, triggering a blood-red formation around the Misty Cloud Sect and Jia Ma Holy City, then revealed that Yun Yun alone could kill her daughter to break it.

• Nalan Yanran waited on the battle platform for Xiao Yan while Yun Yun and the gathered experts worried over Yun Xiao, Yun Leng, and Xiao Yan's disappearances.
• Yan Luotian appeared above the Misty Cloud Sect and produced an unconscious Yun Xiao, claiming he had brought her home.
• Yun Yun caught Yun Xiao despite Hai Bodong's warning, activating a blood-red barrier that trapped the Misty Cloud Sect and Jia Ma Holy City.
• Yan Luotian revealed his peak Dou Zong strength as the Jin Yin Brothers, Xie Shan, and Xie Biyan arrived and unleashed a formation filled with vengeful souls.
• Yan Luotian explained that Yun Xiao served as the formation's core and that only Yun Yun, the last person to touch her, could kill her and break the formation.