Chapter Summaries

Yang Hao arranged for Ling Quan to smear Xiao Yan’s name out of jealousy, but Gu Qinghan and Gu Lie uncovered his scheme and punished him. Yang Hao was stripped of his command and disappeared after Gu Lie dealt with him.

• Jealous of Xiao Yan, Yang Hao concealed Xiao Yan’s strength and ordered Ling Quan to provoke him and damage his reputation.
• When Ling Quan failed to return, Yang Hao went to the Third Unit’s training ground, where Gu Qinghan, Gu Yao, and Gu Zhen arrested him.
• Gu Qinghan brought Yang Hao before Gu Lie, where Yang Hao found Ling Quan and the other soldiers hanging after being tortured.
• Yang Hao claimed he had merely neglected his duties, but Gu Lie accused him of risking his subordinates’ lives to satisfy his jealousy.
• Gu Lie removed Yang Hao from his post and ordered that his name never be mentioned; Yang Hao was never seen again.

Xiao Yan met Gu Lie, who apologized for the Black Seal Army’s earlier offense and explained that Yang Hao had manipulated Ling Quan and the others out of jealousy. After Gu Lie said Yang Hao had been punished, he hinted that his second matter involved asking Xiao Yan for a favor.

• Gu Qinghan told Xiao Yan that Gu Lie wanted to meet him and led him to Gu Lie’s residence.
• Gu Lie apologized to Xiao Yan on behalf of the Black Seal Army for the trouble caused by Ling Quan and the others.
• Gu Qinghan revealed that Yang Hao had concealed Xiao Yan’s strength and used his subordinates to drive Xiao Yan from the Gu Clan.
• Xiao Yan grew furious at Yang Hao for risking his subordinates’ lives, and Gu Lie told him Yang Hao would never cause trouble again.
• Gu Lie said he had another matter and asked Xiao Yan to do him a small favor.

Xiao Yan was appointed acting commander of the Black Seal Army’s Third Unit and confronted its soldiers over their conduct as well as their poor standing. Meanwhile, the Old Woman praised Xiao Yan after reading his background, then discovered that he already had several wives and children.

• Ling Quan continued commanding the Third Unit after Yang Hao disappeared, until Gu Qinghan arrived with Xiao Yan and announced that he would lead the unit through the Martial Competition.
• Ling Quan panicked and knelt to beg Xiao Yan for forgiveness, but Xiao Yan told him the earlier offense was over and introduced himself to the soldiers as their acting commander.
• Xiao Yan revealed that he was a Late stage Three-star Dou Sheng, then criticized the Third Unit for bullying weaker people and promised to improve both their strength and conduct.
• Gu Lie told the Old Woman that Xiao Yan had accepted the command, and she backed his appointment and praised his character while considering him a potential match for Gu Qinghan.
• The Old Woman read the information Gu Lie had gathered about Xiao Yan and discovered that he had several wives and children.

The old woman approved of Xiao Yan as a match for Gu Qinghan and ordered Gu Qinghan’s strength restored, while also directing Gu Yuan to send Xiao Yan into the Heavenly Tomb in a month. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan reformed the Third Unit through strict training and volunteer work, gradually improving its reputation among the Gu Clan residents.

• The old woman read Xiao Yan’s intelligence report and decided that his many wives did not diminish her favorable opinion of him, since he treated them with respect.
• The old woman ordered Gu Lie to summon Gu Qinghan and stop assigning her work so her suppressed strength could be returned to her.
• The old woman told Gu Lie to instruct Gu Yuan to send Xiao Yan into the Heavenly Tomb in one month, leaving Gu Lie anxious about carrying the message.
• Xiao Yan led the Third Unit in apologizing to residents, established grueling training, and organized volunteer work to repair the unit’s reputation.
• The Third Unit endured its training and continued volunteering despite mockery from the First and Second Units, and residents gradually began to view it more favorably.

Ling Quan and the Third Unit earned the city’s respect through their daily service, but Gu Jin attacked them and challenged Ling Quan to a wagered duel. Ling Quan injured Gu Jin with Eight Extremes Collapse before Xiao Yan intervened to stop Gu Jin from killing him.

• Ling Quan completed his assigned tasks and reflected on how Xiao Yan’s leadership had changed the Third Unit’s reputation and conduct.
• Gu Jin of the Second Unit smashed Lin Yu’s cabinet and kicked Ling Quan after mocking the Third Unit’s work.
• Ling Quan challenged Gu Jin to a duel and accepted Gu Jin’s wager that the loser would crawl between the winner’s legs.
• Gu Jin overwhelmed Ling Quan in the duel, but Ling Quan used Eight Extremes Collapse to injure him before collapsing himself.
• Gu Jin prepared to kill Ling Quan, but Xiao Yan appeared, stopped his attack, and identified himself as the Third Unit’s acting commander.

Xiao Yan explained how Ling Quan’s kindness had led the spectators to protect his dignity after his fight with Gu Jin. Later, Gu Qinghan nearly confessed her feelings to Xiao Yan, but fear of being rejected and losing her place beside him stopped her.

• Ling Quan thanked Xiao Yan for saving him, and Xiao Yan told him the spectators had denied hearing his wager with Gu Jin because they remembered his recent help.
• Xiao Yan met Gu Qinghan, whose strength had risen to the late stage One-star Dou Sheng, and walked with her while recounting his work with the Third Unit.
• Gu Qinghan reflected on her feelings for Xiao Yan and the Gu Clan’s possible marriage alliance, then asked what he thought of her.
• Xiao Yan praised Gu Qinghan and encouraged her to ease the pressure she put on herself, moving her to tears.
• Gu Qinghan began to confess her feelings but stopped when she feared Xiao Yan would reject her and distance himself; she told him it was nothing.

Xiao Yan intensified the Third Unit’s training while securing Gu Clan support for an alliance with the Tianhe Alliance. Gu Qinghan then refused her political marriage to Xiao Yan but insisted on joining the group sent to the alliance, and the old woman accepted her choice.

• Ling Quan led the Third Unit to ask Xiao Yan to make them stronger, but they fled when he described harsher training, so he bound them with chains and began putting them through it.
• Xiao Yan asked Gu Lie for fifty portions of medicinal ingredients to support the Third Unit’s training, and Gu Lie agreed to provide them.
• Gu Lie told Xiao Yan that the Gu Clan had decided to support the alliance, and they agreed that Gu Qinghan would lead younger clan members to the Tianhe Alliance.
• Gu Qinghan told Gu Lie she refused the political marriage because Xiao Yan would not agree, while promising the alliance would proceed and asking to go to the Tianhe Alliance.
• Gu Lie informed the old woman of Gu Qinghan’s refusal, and she revealed she had anticipated it and approved Gu Qinghan’s decision to follow Xiao Yan.

The Black Seal Army’s internal competition began as Gu Zhen warned Gu Heng not to underestimate Xiao Yan’s Third Unit. Xiao Yan brought the unit to the venue asleep and chained together, but they woke and assembled with startling discipline and pressure, leaving the other units eager to see what they could do.

• Gu Zhen told Gu Heng that Xiao Ning and his brothers were formidable fighters trained by Xiao Yan, and advised him to watch the Third Unit.
• Gu Heng accepted Gu Zhen’s warning as Gu Lie arrived at the venue and waited for the competition to begin.
• Xiao Yan arrived with the sleeping Third Unit dragged behind him on a chain, explaining that he had let them rest after their harsh training.
• Xiao Yan shouted for the Third Unit to wake, and Ling Quan led them into a swift, orderly formation before reporting to Xiao Yan.
• Gu Lie announced that the Black Seal Army internal competition had officially begun.

Gu Yuan and the elders watched Xiao Yan’s Third Unit compete and were astonished by how much stronger its soldiers had become. Ling Quan fought Gu Jin to a standstill before surviving a deadly attack and overpowering him with Xiao Yan’s modified Eight Extremes Collapse, and the tournament continued after Xiao Yan stopped the match and treated him.

• Gu Yuan, the elders, and Gu Lie watched the Third Unit narrowly lose its tournament matches while showing strength far beyond expectations.
• Ling Quan fought Gu Jin evenly until Gu Jin used the Sea-Overturning Seal, leaving Ling Quan battered but still standing.
• Ling Quan activated the third layer of Xiao Yan’s modified Eight Extremes Collapse and drove Gu Jin back, but Xiao Yan knocked him unconscious and declared his forfeit.
• Xiao Yan explained that Ling Quan would recover, and Gu Qinghan reported the situation so Gu Lie could resume the tournament.
• The First and Second Units watched Xiao Yan with newfound interest, and Gu Lie quietly urged Gu Qinghan to marry Xiao Yan so he could become the Black Seal King.

After the Black Seal Army tournament, Gu Yuan sent Xiao Yan into the Gu Clan’s Heavenly Tomb with a token, asking him to apologize to Xiao Xuan on his behalf. The chapter revealed that Gu Yuan had once been Xiao Xuan’s close friend and had failed to help him, while the former Gu Clan Leader rebuked Gu Yuan for his past inaction and present reluctance to face his regret.

• The Third Unit finished last in the tournament, but Xiao Yan praised Ling Quan and the others for giving their best, then explained that talent differences did not justify pushing themselves beyond reason.
• Gu Lie asked how Xiao Yan had improved the Third Unit so quickly, and Xiao Yan described his intense physical training and personalized pills; Gu Lie praised his abilities but regretted that Xiao Yan would not marry Gu Qinghan or join the Gu Clan.
• Gu Yuan took Xiao Yan toward the Gu Clan’s Heavenly Tomb and told him that he and Xiao Xuan had been close friends despite their clans being enemies.
• Gu Yuan explained that Xiao Xuan had tried to gather the Xiao Clan’s bloodline power to reach Dou Di, but his failed breakthrough left him wounded and the Soul Clan’s invasion destroyed the Xiao Clan.
• Gu Yuan gave Xiao Yan a token to enter the Heavenly Tomb and asked him to apologize to Xiao Xuan, then left without facing him himself.
• The former Gu Clan Leader confronted Gu Yuan and condemned his past failure to help Xiao Xuan and his present lack of courage, while Gu Yuan admitted that she might be right.

Xiao Yan followed Gu Yuan’s Token into the Heavenly Tomb, where he discovered graves and powerful Remnant Souls from several ancient clans. After the souls recognized him as a Xiao Clan descendant and offered to lead him to a waiting figure, Hun Diao attacked him, and Ling Qingya intervened to protect him.

• Xiao Yan followed Gu Yuan’s Token through the forest and found a graveyard containing tombs from several ancient clans, but none from the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Yan bowed to the dead, awakening powerful Remnant Souls who emerged from their graves and questioned how he had entered the Heavenly Tomb.
• Xiao Yan introduced himself as a Xiao Clan descendant, and the Gu Clan Remnant Souls agreed to take him to a person who had been waiting for him.
• Ling Qingya offered to escort Xiao Yan, but he politely rejected her advances because he already had a wife, drawing laughter from the other Remnant Souls.
• Hun Diao suddenly attacked Xiao Yan, and Ling Qingya repelled him and confronted him for breaking their rule against involving younger generations in old grudges.

Xiao Yan and the graveyard’s Remnant Souls destroyed Hun Diao after he attacked him, but Xiao Yan then discovered signs of a hidden formation around Hun Wuya’s grave. After Xiao Yan revealed that the Ling and Shi Clans had been exterminated and showed images of their supposed juniors, the ancestors sensed something was wrong, and Hun Diao reappeared as a blood-red formation trapped the souls.

• Hun Diao threatened Xiao Yan, and Ling Qingya and the other Remnant Souls attacked and apparently tore him apart with a Soul storm.
• Xiao Yan asked about a Soul Formation he had sensed near Hun Wuya’s grave, while Ling Qingya explained that Soul Clan descendants regularly visited their ancestors and lamented that Ling Clan descendants had stopped coming.
• Xiao Yan told Ling Qingya and the Shi Clan ancestor that the Soul Clan had supposedly exterminated their clans, then showed them images of Shi Man and Ling Rumeng, whom the ancestors suspected were impostors.
• Hun Wuya’s tombstone and the graveyard’s four corners glowed red as a formation bound every soul with blood-red chains.
• Hun Diao appeared again and revealed that he had survived the Remnant Souls’ attack.

Xiao Yan defeated Hun Diao after Hun Diao tried to seize his body, but the Soul of the Heaven Tomb intervened to protect him. Xiao Yan and the remnant souls held off one attack, then faced a second overwhelming assault just as an enraged voice demanded silence.

• Ling Qingya and the other remnant souls were trapped by Hun Diao's Soul Binding Lock, and Hun Diao revealed he planned to seize Xiao Yan's body.
• Xiao Yan protected himself with the Leaving Fire Prison Robe, revealed his Late stage Three-star Dou Sheng strength, and drove Hun Diao back with flame-covered chains.
• Hun Diao tried to use the bound remnant souls as hostages, but Xiao Yan blocked his path with a Ten Thousand Zhang Flame Wall and cut him down with the Leaving Fire Blade.
• Hun Diao's soul rejoined after Xiao Yan's flames failed to destroy it, and the Soul of the Heaven Tomb appeared, saying Hun Diao had signed a contract of Eternal Servitude.
• Xiao Yan and the remnant souls joined forces to repel the Soul of the Heaven Tomb's first attack, but its second attack descended as an enraged voice shook the space and demanded quiet.

Xiao Xuan saved Xiao Yan and his companions from the Soul of the Heaven Tomb, then discovered that Xiao Yan was her long-awaited descendant. She took him to her mausoleum, learned that the Xiao Clan had dwindled into the Xiao Family, and began recounting her history with Gu Yuan.

• Xiao Xuan appeared and forced the Soul of the Heaven Tomb to retreat after it swallowed Hun Diao's remnant soul.
• Xiao Xuan examined Xiao Yan, confirmed he was a descendant of the Xiao Clan, and enthusiastically welcomed him while teasing him about his strength and depleted yang energy.
• Xiao Yan gave Ling Qingya and the other remnant souls Projection Crystals to thank them for helping him.
• Xiao Xuan brought Xiao Yan to the mausoleum Gu Yuan had built for her and asked about the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Yan explained that the Xiao Clan had become the Xiao Family in Wutan City, and Xiao Xuan lamented its decline before recalling how she and Gu Yuan had become sworn siblings.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Xuan discussed the Xiao Clan’s destruction, and Xiao Yan rejected the idea of reviving the clan while explaining his opposition to the Eight Clans’ unchecked power. Xiao Xuan supported his goal, gave him the Xiao Clan’s Dou Di bloodline through a Blood Exchange, and then confronted the Soul of the Heaven Tomb.

• Xiao Xuan told Xiao Yan how her reckless attempt to break through had helped bring about the Xiao Clan’s destruction, and Xiao Yan argued that neither her choice nor the Soul Clan’s actions could be judged apart from their consequences.
• Xiao Yan said he would not revive the Xiao Clan and despised the Eight Clans’ ability to oppress the weak outside the rules; he revealed that his forces had largely restrained Central Continent.
• Xiao Xuan approved of Xiao Yan’s effort to challenge the Eight Clans and offered to help him, then learned that Fen Jue let him fuse multiple Heavenly Flames.
• Xiao Xuan took Xiao Yan to the mausoleum’s Blood Pool and used the Xiao Clan’s stored Dou Di bloodline to perform a Blood Exchange that would transform his talent.
• After finishing the Blood Exchange, Xiao Xuan left the mausoleum and demanded to know what the Soul of the Heaven Tomb was trying to do.

Xiao Xuan battled what appeared to be the Soul of the Heaven Tomb, but its confrontation was an illusion that distracted her while Hun Diao invaded Xiao Yan’s soul during the Blood Exchange. Hun Diao tried to devour Xiao Yan, only to be stopped by an unknown voice inside the Soul Space.

• Xiao Xuan destroyed the Soul of the Heaven Tomb’s attacks and killed the Ancient Insect Emperor, believing she had thwarted its plan to seize Xiao Yan’s body.
• Xiao Xuan realized the Soul of the Heaven Tomb had used an illusion to distract her while Hun Diao’s Remnant Soul approached the Blood Pool.
• Hun Diao’s soul passed through a Soul Barrier and merged with Xiao Yan’s soul, leaving Xiao Xuan unable to remove him without endangering Xiao Yan.
• Hun Diao entered Xiao Yan’s Soul Space and attempted to devour his dormant soul so he could take over his body.
• An unknown voice stopped Hun Diao just as he reached Xiao Yan’s soul.

Soul Spirit destroyed Hun Diao inside Xiao Yan’s Soul Space and altered Xiao Yan’s soul before he awakened from his Blood Exchange at Mid Four-star Dou Sheng. Xiao Yan reunited with Xiao Xuan and said Hun Diao was gone, but that a Hun clan secret technique had appeared in his mind.

• Soul Spirit bound Hun Diao, tore off his arm, and revealed that she had founded the Soul Hall before destroying and absorbing his soul.
• Soul Spirit touched Xiao Yan’s meditating soul with purple light, saying she had given an opponent a chance to meet an old acquaintance.
• After three months of absorption, Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi erupted and his strength settled at Mid Four-star Dou Sheng.
• Xiao Yan regained consciousness with azure eyes and called Xiao Xuan “Ancestor,” convincing her that he was still himself.
• Xiao Xuan examined Xiao Yan and asked whether Hun Diao’s soul remained inside him, and Xiao Yan said it was gone but that a Hun clan secret technique had appeared in his mind.

After settling his old scores in the Heavenly Tomb, Xiao Yan prepared to leave, but Ling Qingya and the other remnant souls asked to accompany him so they could meet Xiao Mei, whose dramas had captivated them. Xiao Yan agreed to take them out after they promised not to interfere in the Eight Clans’ affairs, then followed Gu Yuan’s Token toward the tomb’s exit.

• Ling Qingya and the Thunder Clan ancestor argued over which drama’s tragic leads were more moving while the gathered souls watched Xiao Mei’s Projection Crystals.
• After the battle between Xiao Yan, Xiao Xuan, and the Soul of the Heaven Tomb, Xiao Yan appeared before the gathered souls and said his business there was finished.
• Ling Qingya asked Xiao Yan for more Projection Crystals, and he promised to bring them future dramas made by Xiao Mei.
• Ling Qingya and the other remnant souls asked Xiao Yan to take them out of the Heavenly Tomb so they could meet Xiao Mei, and Xiao Xuan told Xiao Yan he could gather them without using the Soul of the Heaven Tomb as a foundation.
• Xiao Yan agreed to take the souls out after they promised not to interfere in the Eight Clans’ affairs, gathered them into a Soul Crystal, and headed for the exit using Gu Yuan’s Token.

After emerging from the Heavenly Tomb transformed by the Blood Exchange, Xiao Yan reunited with Xun'er and met Gu Yuan. Xiao Xuan briefly took control of Xiao Yan's body to reconcile with Gu Yuan, then left Xiao Yan to explain what she needed.

• Xun'er repeatedly asked Gu Yuan to enter the Heavenly Tomb, but he told her Xiao Yan had already come out.
• Xun'er rushed to greet Xiao Yan, became overwhelmed by his changed bearing, and fainted in his arms.
• Xiao Yan returned Gu Yuan's token, confirmed the Blood Exchange had succeeded, and apologized for not delivering Gu Yuan's apology.
• Xiao Yan let Xiao Xuan take control of his body, and she revealed herself to Gu Yuan, who broke down in tears.
• Xiao Xuan scolded Gu Yuan for his lingering guilt and asked him to prepare something, then yielded control back to Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan awkwardly gave Gu Yuan his seat back and offered to explain Xiao Xuan's request.

Xiao Yan told Gu Yuan that Xiao Xuan’s damaged soul needed a new body, and proposed using Fire as the Body rather than capturing a powerful Soul Clan Dou Sheng. Gu Yuan took Xiao Yan to Starfall Pavilion to seek Yao Tianhuo’s help, where Xiao Yan’s demeanor changed as he prepared to explain the plan.

• Xiao Yan explained that refining the Soul of the Heaven Tomb had restored less than thirty percent of Xiao Xuan’s soul, and Gu Yuan offered to capture a strong Dou Sheng for her new body.
• Xiao Yan proposed Fire as the Body, and Gu Yuan agreed after learning that Yao Tianhuo had achieved it to an extraordinary degree.
• Gu Yuan took Xiao Yan to Starfall Pavilion, where they arrived before Yao Chen, Feng Xian, and Yao Tianhuo without warning.
• Xiao Yan introduced Gu Yuan and asked Yao Tianhuo for help, while Gu Yuan sent Yao Chen and Feng Xian away to keep Xiao Xuan’s revival secret.
• After Gu Yuan sealed the space, Xiao Yan’s eyes and aura changed, and he greeted Yao Tianhuo as a junior.