Chapter Summaries

Lei Dong joined Cai Lin, Ancestor Huoyun, and the others in confronting Yun Ling, while in the Bodhi Ancient Tree’s Soul Space, Yun Ying and her allies struggled against the Bodhi Ancient Tree. The Bodhi Ancient Tree revealed that he had arranged for Yun Ying to come and offered her a chance to witness Xiao Yan’s path before making her final choice.

• Lei Dong concealed his identity and helped Cai Lin, Ancestor Huoyun, and their companions face Yun Ling, who challenged them all to attack together.
• Yun Ying, Soul Spirit, Zhong Meng, and Liu Di failed to harm the Bodhi Ancient Tree, so Zhong Meng and Liu Di began preparing a Dou Technique while Yun Ying and Soul Spirit tried to hold him off.
• The Bodhi Ancient Tree stopped the battle and asked Yun Ying what kind of world she would create as an Emperor; Yun Ying said she would destroy everything, but he questioned whether she truly believed that.
• The Bodhi Ancient Tree revealed that he had watched humanity repeat cycles of creation and destruction, but regarded Xiao Yan as an exception who continued to follow the Righteous Path.
• The Bodhi Ancient Tree said Yun Ying had come to make her own choice and presented her with a faint white glow, urging her to witness Xiao Yan for herself before deciding.

Hun Yan tried to protect Hun Ying from humiliation and later challenged the clan’s false accusation against her and Hun Qingge. He was killed by the Hun Clan Holy Guard, leaving Hun Ying to face arrest alone.

• Hun Ying received a Three-stage Dou Zhi Li result and endured the clan’s scorn, while Hun Yan tested at Five-star Dou Shi and saw Soul Spirit celebrated as a One-star Dou Wang.
• Hun Yan bought medicine for Hun Qingge and delivered it to Hun Ying, continuing to help them after they were driven from the Clan Leader’s Mansion.
• When Soul Spirit tried to force Hun Ying to crawl beneath her legs, Hun Yan intervened, sacrificed his bucket, and endured Soul Spirit’s kick to spare Hun Ying the humiliation.
• Hun Ying asked whether Hun Yan would speak for her if she were falsely accused, and Hun Yan admitted he might not risk his life, though Hun Ying believed his actions revealed his true feelings.
• A Hun Clan Holy Guard announced that Hun Qingge had been executed and Hun Ying would be arrested for an alleged plot; Hun Yan publicly challenged the accusation and was punished by having an arm severed.
• Hun Yan refused to accept the Holy Guard’s justification and was killed, while Hun Ying watched and wondered why he had stood up for her despite lacking strength.

Hun Yan tried to protect Hun Ying and her mother from the Soul Clan’s unjust rule, but Hun Wuyun killed him after he openly challenged the Clan Leader’s authority. Hun Ying was left confronting Hun Yan’s sacrifice as the clan’s persecution of her continued.

• Hun Ying scored Three-stage Dou Zhi Li and endured the clan’s mockery, while Hun Yan tested at One-star Dou Zong and visited Hun Ying’s mother with medicine.
• Hun Yan stopped Hun Ling from humiliating Hun Ying and promised that he would defend her if she were ever falsely accused.
• Hun Clan Holy Guards arrested Hun Ying and announced that Hun Qingge had been executed for allegedly colluding with an enemy clan and entering the forbidden ground.
• Hun Yan challenged the accusation and refused the Holy Guard’s warning to obey Hun Wuyun’s decree.
• Hun Wuyun severed Hun Yan’s arm and demanded that he accept the Clan Leader’s logic, but Hun Yan refused, so Hun Wuyun killed him.
• Hun Ying closed her eyes and wondered why Hun Yan had risked his bright future to stand up for her.

Hun Ying and Hun Yan endured scorn and hardship in the Soul Clan, but Hun Yan showed her kindness by bringing medicine for her mother and later risking his life to rescue her from a false accusation. As they fled through the night, Hun Ying finally heard the words she had needed: that she had done nothing wrong.

• Hun Ying received a third-stage test result, while Hun Yan struggled onto the platform and received a barely legible result of one.
• Hun Yan delivered medicine brewed from discarded herb scraps to Hun Ying for her sick mother, Hun Qingge.
• Hun Ling humiliated Hun Ying, and Hun Ying asked Hun Yan whether he would defend her if she were falsely accused; he said he might if he no longer wanted to live.
• The Clan Leader's decree falsely accused Hun Ying and Hun Qingge of treason, declared Hun Qingge beheaded, and ordered Hun Ying arrested; Hun Yan did not speak up in public.
• Hun Yan entered the dungeon, freed Hun Ying, and carried her out of the Clan Leader's grounds.
• As they fled, Hun Yan told Hun Ying he had saved her because it mattered to him and because neither of them had done wrong, and Hun Ying wept with gratitude.

Hun Ying and Hun Yan celebrated their wedding in Hun Ying’s Illusion Realm, where the dead gathered to bless them. The story left Xun’er anxiously searching for Brother Xiao Yan amid a fierce battle outside the Bodhi Ancient Tree.

• Hun Ling visited Hun Ying before the wedding and asked about the lives she had experienced in the Illusion Realm.
• Hun Ying and Hun Yan entered the wedding hall, where Hun Wuyun and Hun Qingge presided as the gathered guests blessed them.
• Hun Ying and Hun Yan completed the ceremony and went to their bridal chamber.
• Hun Yan lifted Hun Ying’s veil, and they playfully argued over who would take the lead before the lamps went out.
• Xun’er watched the fierce battle outside the Bodhi Ancient Tree and searched anxiously for Brother Xiao Yan.

Hun Ying chose to leave Xiao Yan’s reincarnations and have his memories of her erased, while the Bodhi Ancient Tree abandoned its plan to destroy the world and returned to its original state. Outside the visions, Yun Ling’s body collapsed, and Xiao Yan was taken into the Bodhi Ancient Tree as Yao Tianhuo awoke unharmed.

• Hun Ying left Xiao Yan’s reincarnation, asked the Bodhi Ancient Tree to erase his memories of her, and told it to send him into another life after he absorbed the Nihility Devouring Flame Sub-flame.
• The Bodhi Ancient Tree decided not to destroy the world, then resumed time as Zhong Meng and Liu Di’s attack struck it and shattered the space around them.
• Yun Ling’s body disintegrated under the strain of her power, ending the battle as Cai Lin and the others realized the immediate danger had passed.
• Cai Lin, Ancestor Huoyun, and Phoenix found the Bodhi Ancient Tree, and Yao Chen recognized the Soul Thread connecting Xiao Yan to it.
• Zi Yun placed Xiao Yan against the tree, which drew him inside; Yao Tianhuo then woke behind it, apparently unharmed.

Xiao Yan woke after the Bodhi Ancient Tree’s Hundred Generations of Reincarnation with fractured memories, a major breakthrough, and a changed Heavenly Flame. After reaffirming his faith in his Righteous Path, he planned to meet representatives of the Eight Ancient Clans at the Tianhe Alliance.

• Xiao Yan awoke at Starfall Pavilion, and Xun'er claimed to be his wife until Xiao Yi Xian challenged her and Xiao Yan recognized Xiao Yi Xian immediately.
• Yao Chen and Han Feng examined Xiao Yan and confirmed that he had reached late-stage Three-star Dou Sheng, his soul had reached the Heavenly Realm, and his memories would recover soon.
• Xiao Yan reunited with his children, then told Yao Chen that he remembered repeatedly failing to save an unnamed girl during the Hundred Generations of Reincarnation.
• Xiao Yan insisted that his Righteous Path was not wrong and blamed his failures on his own ability and methods, resolving not to repeat them.
• Yao Chen identified the new black flame within Xiao Yan’s Boundless Nether Heart Flame as the second-ranked Heavenly Flame, Nihility Devouring Flame, and concealed her suspicion that Yun Ling had been involved.
• Yao Chen told Xiao Yan that Eight Ancient Clans representatives wanted to meet him as the Tianhe Alliance’s ruler, and Xiao Yan agreed to visit the alliance the next morning.

After waking, Xiao Yan calmed the rival clan envoys and arranged private talks about their alliance proposals. His composed manner surprised those around him, while Lei Dong’s claim that Xun'er was his fiancée left the tension between them unresolved.

• Hai Bodong and Gu Qinghan watched the Yao, Yan, and Thunder Clan disciples argue while Xiao Yan remained unconscious.
• Xiao Yan entered the reception hall with Xun'er, apologized for keeping the visitors waiting, and asked each clan to appoint representatives.
• Xiao Yan sent the gathered disciples to watch Xiao Mei’s new play, then arranged to meet the representatives separately.
• Yao Tian, Huo Xuan, and Lei Dong introduced themselves and stated their clans’ interest in an alliance with the Tianhe Alliance.
• Lei Dong announced that he was Xun'er's fiancé, and Xun'er told Xiao Yan she had never accepted the elders’ decision.
• Xiao Yan stayed courteous despite Lei Dong’s hostility and invited the representatives to private discussions without yet choosing an ally.

Xiao Yan discussed possible alliances with the Yao and Yan Clans, proposing that both clans inspect the Tianhe Alliance before committing. He left with the Yan Clan’s agreement to send people to assess the alliance, while the Yao Clan’s response remained pending.

• Xiao Yan urged Yao Tian and Yao Ling to consider an alliance, but advised postponing it until the Yao Clan had inspected the Tianhe Alliance.
• Yao Tian and Yao Ling left after Xiao Yan proposed that the Yao Clan send people to assess the alliance over time.
• Huo Zhi eagerly asked Xiao Yan to show his Heavenly Flames, and he revealed Boundless Nether Heart Flame without identifying its secret final flame.
• Xiao Yan asked Huo Xuan and Huo Zhi to consider an alliance with the Yan Clan, and Huo Xuan admitted his clan saw little need for one.
• Xiao Yan proposed that the Yan Clan inspect the Tianhe Alliance before deciding, and Huo Xuan agreed.

Xiao Yan tried to secure the Thunder Clan’s alliance by easing Lei Dong’s hostility and proposing that a representative observe the Tianhe Alliance. Lei Dong accepted on the condition that he become Xiao Yan’s second deputy, leaving the two ready to cooperate.

• Xiao Yan thanked Lei Dong for helping him in the Barbaric Ancient Region, then drew him into a conversation about Xun’er’s childhood in the Xiao Family.
• Xiao Yan described the happy life Xun’er had shared with his family, softening Lei Dong’s hostility toward him.
• Xiao Yan explained his aim of changing the world and asked the Thunder Clan to ally with the Tianhe Alliance, but Lei Dong challenged the proposal’s benefits.
• Xiao Yan suggested that the Thunder Clan send a representative to live in the Tianhe Alliance and judge its value firsthand.
• Lei Dong realized Xiao Yan had made similar arrangements with the Yao Clan and Yan Clan, accepted the proposal, and demanded a deputy position beside Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan agreed to cooperate with Lei Dong and offered his hand.

Xiao Yan learned that the Soul Clan had supposedly destroyed the Stone and Spirit clans, threatening the alliances he was building, but Yun Ying said both clans had arrived at the Tianhe Alliance to negotiate. The chapter revealed that Yun Ying was secretly the Soul Clan’s leader and ordered Hun Ming punished for exposing the clans’ destruction; Hun Ming’s attempt to share a secret about Lei Dong was cut off.

• Xiao Yan and Zijing discussed the alliances with the Yao, Yan, and Thunder clans, and Zijing reported that the Stone and Spirit clans had allegedly been wiped out by the Soul Clan.
• Xiao Yan worried that the other ancient clans might launch a war against the Soul Clan and endanger the Tianhe Alliance.
• Yun Ying returned from seclusion after breaking through to six-star Dou Zun and told Xiao Yan that the Stone and Spirit clans had arrived to discuss an alliance.
• After Xiao Yan left to meet the visitors, Yun Ying ordered Hun Ming not to be allowed to live or die for revealing the clans’ destruction, and threatened Hun Miesheng over his subordinates’ loose talk.
• Hun Miesheng had Hun Ming dragged away for punishment, interrupting his attempt to reveal a secret about Lei Dong.

Xiao Yan asked Lei Dong to verify two delegations claiming to represent the Shi and Ling Clans, despite reports that the Soul Clan had destroyed them. Their identities remained uncertain, and Xiao Yan decided they should temporarily persuade everyone that the delegations were genuine while investigating further.

• Lei Dong told Xun'er he had agreed to become Xiao Yan's assistant so he could judge whether Xiao Yan was worthy of her, and Xun'er defended her feelings for Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan found Lei Dong and asked whether he had met people from the Shi and Ling Clans, then explained that representatives from both clans had arrived to discuss an alliance with the Tianhe Alliance.
• Lei Dong confirmed that the Soul Hall Great Heavenly Venerate had claimed the two clans were destroyed, but said he had no reason to believe the report was a lie.
• Xiao Yan introduced himself to the delegations, whose leaders were Ling Rumeng and Shi Man, and arranged accommodations while Lei Dong assessed them.
• Lei Dong said the delegates were probably genuine but that he could not be certain; he also warned that confirmation of the clans' destruction could trigger war among the Eight Ancient Clans.
• Xiao Yan and Lei Dong agreed to keep their doubts private for now and make others believe the Shi and Ling Clan delegations were real while they investigated.

Xiao Yan accompanied Xun'er and Gu Qinghan into the Gu Clan’s Ancient Realm, where Gu Lie welcomed Xun'er and reconsidered his opinion of Xiao Yan after sensing his strength. After Xiao Yan and Xun'er went to meet her father, Gu Lie kept Gu Qinghan behind and proposed Xiao Yan as her marriage match.

• Xiao Yan arranged agreements with the Shi and Ling Clans, then prepared to visit the Gu Clan with Xun'er and Gu Qinghan.
• Xiao Yan, Xun'er, and the Gu Clan group passed through the Ancient Realm Gate and arrived in the Gu Clan’s vast main city.
• Gu Lie welcomed Xun'er and learned that Xiao Yan was a Late stage Three-star Dou Sheng, prompting him to abandon his plan to insult Xiao Yan.
• Xun'er took Xiao Yan through a Space Gate to meet her father while Gu Qinghan and the Black Seal Army remained behind.
• Gu Lie dismissed Gu Zhen and the others, then told Gu Qinghan he had selected someone for her to marry and asked what she thought of Xiao Yan.

Gu Lie urged Gu Qinghan to prepare for a possible engagement with Xiao Yan, arguing that the alliance would benefit the Gu Clan and that Xun'er’s feelings were not reciprocated. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan met Gu Yuan at the Gu Clan Leader's Mansion and asked him to form an alliance with the Tianhe Alliance.

• Gu Lie proposed Gu Qinghan as a suitable marriage candidate for Xiao Yan and told her that Xun'er’s love was unrequited.
• Gu Qinghan reluctantly agreed to consider what she should do if an engagement alliance became necessary.
• Xun'er led Xiao Yan through the heavily guarded Clan Leader's Mansion to meet Gu Yuan and the Gu Clan Elders.
• Gu Yuan welcomed Xun'er home, asked about her trip to the Bodhi Ancient Tree, and thanked Xiao Yan's family for caring for her.
• Xiao Yan told Gu Yuan that he had come to request an alliance agreement between the Gu Clan and the Tianhe Alliance.

Xiao Yan asked Gu Yuan to ally the Gu Clan with the Tianhe Alliance, but Gu Yuan delayed his answer while the Elders debated the alliance and Xun’er’s feelings for Xiao Yan. The Elders proposed that Gu Qinghan marry Xiao Yan instead, leaving Gu Yuan helpless as he reflected on his daughter’s unrequited love.

• Gu Yuan questioned Xiao Yan about the Gu Clan, then invited him to rest without agreeing to the alliance; Xiao Yan accepted the delay and left with a guard.
• Xun’er urged Gu Yuan to ally with Xiao Yan, and Gu Yuan agreed that the alliance would benefit the Gu Clan but told her to keep her distance from Xiao Yan within the clan.
• Gu Nanhai reported that the Ling Clan and Shi Clan had also approached the Tianhe Alliance, and Gu Yuan ordered the Elders to watch for possible Soul Clan attacks.
• Gu Nanhai argued against Xun’er marrying Xiao Yan because of his family background and her engagement to Lei Dong, then revealed that the Elders proposed Gu Qinghan as Xiao Yan’s marriage partner.
• Gu Yuan reluctantly accepted the Elders’ plan and privately lamented that Xiao Yan saw Xun’er only as a sister.

Xiao Yan explored the Gu Clan Main City, where an old woman gave him Essence Stone accessories and praised his humility. After he left, she revealed her insight and scolded Gu Lie over the clan’s past failures; Gu Lie then told her the Elders had arranged Gu Qinghan’s marriage and asked for her consent.

• A Gu Clan guard warned Xiao Yan that the younger generation might resent him, and Xiao Yan reflected on the strength of the Eight Clans and the difficulty of forming an alliance without relying on power.
• Xiao Yan visited a stall in the Gu Clan Main City and discovered that its accessories were made from rare Essence Stone.
• The old woman praised Xiao Yan’s humility, gave him a bundle of accessories, and wondered whether he was descended from the Xiao Clan after he departed.
• Gu Lie approached the old woman and respectfully endured her anger over the Gu Clan’s failure to support the Xiao Clan against the Soul Clan.
• Gu Lie told the old woman that the Elders had arranged a marriage for Gu Qinghan and asked for her consent, shocking her.

The old woman angrily confronted Gu Lie over Gu Qinghan’s proposed marriage alliance with Xiao Yan, then decided to test Xiao Yan herself. She and Gu Lie found Ling Quan and Black Seal Army soldiers publicly accusing Xiao Yan of not paying for a bowl of Liangfen, and watched as the confrontation unfolded.

• The old woman made Gu Lie kneel and scolded him for the Gu Clan arranging Gu Qinghan’s marriage alliance.
• Gu Lie told the old woman that Xiao Yan, the Tianhe Alliance’s Executor, was Qinghan’s proposed partner, and she said Xiao Yan seemed quite good.
• The old woman ordered Gu Lie to pack up her stall and followed Xiao Yan to test him, while Gu Lie followed carrying her belongings.
• The old woman and Gu Lie saw Ling Quan and several Black Seal Army soldiers surround Xiao Yan and accuse him of eating without paying.
• Ling Quan claimed Xiao Yan had paid for only one of two bowls of Liangfen, and Xiao Yan faced the soldiers’ demand that he pay for the extra bowl.

Xiao Yan used Ling Quan’s claim that he was defending justice to get the shop assistant paid and released, then confused Ling Quan with an absurd argument about whether he had eaten an extra bowl of Liangfen. Ling Quan agreed to lend Xiao Yan money for another bowl, leaving the crowd stunned as Xiao Yan reflected that the best way to prove his innocence was never to try to prove it.

• Xiao Yan recognized that Ling Quan had dragged the shop assistant into the accusation and decided to resolve the dispute without blaming the coerced worker.
• Xiao Yan pressured Ling Quan to pay for the allegedly unpaid Liangfen and let the shop assistant return to work, and Ling Quan eventually agreed.
• The old woman praised Xiao Yan’s conduct and instructed Gu Lie to improve discipline among the grassroots Black Seal Army.
• After paying the shop assistant, Ling Quan resumed accusing Xiao Yan, who claimed he might have eaten two bowls and asked Ling Quan to lend him money for another.
• Ling Quan, bewildered by Xiao Yan’s appeals to justice, agreed to lend him the money while the onlookers stared in disbelief.

Xiao Yan manipulated Ling Quan into paying for two bowls of liangfen while publicly clearing his name, then left Ling Quan exposed before Gu Lie. Gu Lie seized Ling Quan and sentenced him and the Black Seal Army soldiers to three months of personal discipline, while Xiao Yan returned to the restaurant for more liangfen.

• Xiao Yan stalled Ling Quan by slowly eating a bowl of liangfen, then pretended to forget whether he had eaten one bowl or two.
• Xiao Yan persuaded Ling Quan to lend him money for another bowl and then loudly declared that he had eaten only one bowl earlier.
• Xiao Yan thanked Ling Quan, gave him a Sixth Grade Pill, and told the crowd that justice had been served before leaving with the bowl and stool.
• Ling Quan ordered the Black Seal Army to find Xiao Yan, but Gu Lie appeared behind him and grabbed him by the head.
• Gu Lie told Ling Quan and the Black Seal Army soldiers that he would personally teach them how to behave for three months.
• Xiao Yan remained in the restaurant, happily eating another bowl of liangfen.

Xiao Yan shared liangfen with an elderly woman and explained why he had avoided retaliating against the Black Seal Army, earning her approval. Gu Qinghan took him to a Bonfire Party and shyly asked him to dance, while Xun'er stayed in her bedroom and imagined accepting Xiao Yan’s invitation.

• The shop assistant apologized to Xiao Yan and compensated him with a large bowl of liangfen, which he shared with the elderly woman who had given him jewelry.
• Xiao Yan explained to the elderly woman that he had avoided fighting Ling Quan to keep his Gu Clan friends from being caught between him and their own people.
• Gu Qinghan arrived to escort the elderly woman home, and the woman encouraged her to show Xiao Yan around the Gu Clan.
• Gu Qinghan apologized for Ling Quan’s actions, then took Xiao Yan to a Bonfire Party and asked him to dance; he accepted, and she placed her hand in his.
• A maid invited Xun'er to the Bonfire Party, but Xun'er refused and murmured that she would accept if Xiao Yan were there.