Chapter Summaries

Yao Wan settled her dealings with Hai Bodong and asked Qing Lin what she wanted to do after Yao Wan left. Qing Lin chose to follow her, and Yao Wan agreed, leaving the next developments to Xiao Yan’s side.

• Hai Bodong accepted the Imperial Zenith Pill and promised to help Yao Wan in the future before returning to the imperial capital.
• Yao Wan told Qing Lin she was leaving and offered to arrange a safe life for her elsewhere.
• Qing Lin learned that people had targeted her because of her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and declined Yao Wan’s offer to send her to them.
• Qing Lin asked to follow Yao Wan, explaining that she did not want to burden Xiao Yan, and Yao Wan agreed.
• Yao Wan told Qing Lin to call her “miss” and said she would take her along wherever she went.

Xiao Yan met Nalan Yanran in disguise at the entrance to a secret realm, mistaking her for a relative of Wan Guniang. They entered the underground grotto-heaven together, leaving their strained reunion unresolved.

• Xiao Yan arrived at the Bloodline Guidance location and found a woman in a moon white dress who reminded him of Wan Guniang and Nalan Yanran.
• Yao Lao recognized Nalan Yanran’s disguise but stayed silent, while Xiao Yan assumed she was Wan Guniang’s sister and introduced himself as Yan Xiao.
• Nalan Yanran realized that the masked man was Xiao Yan, but remembered Yao Wan’s instruction to get along with him and hid her identity as Qing Ran.
• Nalan Yanran agreed to explore the secret realm with Xiao Yan and offered to let him choose first if they found anything, since the remains were connected to his predecessor.
• Xiao Yan followed the cloth fragment’s guidance to a mountain cave, and he and Nalan Yanran opened its stone door to reveal a vast underground grotto-heaven lit by an enormous Blue Crystal.

Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran explored a hidden ruin, where signs of a past fire and an enormous blue crystal deepened the mystery of Xiao Yan’s clan. As they continued inward, Nalan Yanran asked Xiao Yan how he had met Yao Wan, and he began to answer.

• Xiao Yan sent a flame beast through the Cave Hall to check for traps, then led Nalan Yanran deeper into the ruin.
• Xiao Yan asked Yao Lao about the enormous blue crystal, but Yao Lao said they needed to inspect it further before confirming what it was.
• Xiao Yan noticed that the cave walls and pillars had been melted by a powerful fire, while he and Nalan Yanran wondered what the ruin held.
• Nalan Yanran asked whether the ruin truly belonged to Xiao Yan’s predecessors, and Xiao Yan insisted that he had not lied to her.
• Nalan Yanran asked Xiao Yan how he had met Yao Wan, and Xiao Yan began to tell her.

Xiao Yan told Nalan Yanran how Yao Wan had supported him through his years of hardship and admitted that she was the most important person to him. After Nalan Yanran doubted his chances with Yao Wan, the two reached a sealed passage in the Cave Hall and entered the secret realm’s deeper section.

• Xiao Yan recounted how Yao Wan had stood by him while he could not cultivate, helped him recover, and became more important to him than any resources.
• Nalan Yanran guessed that Xiao Yan hoped she would put in a good word with Yao Wan, but he said he had only spoken casually and asked her to keep his words secret.
• Nalan Yanran challenged Xiao Yan for pursuing Yao Wan despite expecting rejection, and Xiao Yan said he would not give up before trying.
• Xiao Yan used the bloodstained cloth marked with “Xiao” to dissolve the light sealing the deeper passage, then checked for traps with beast spirits.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran entered the depths of the Cave Hall as a woman watched them through the Blue Crystal above.

Yao Wan searched the Life Spirit Crystal for Strange Fire remnants and found the dying Yin Yang Dual Flames. Hoping to transform her Life Spirit Flame into an independent Strange Fire, she pressed the embers into her chest and began to suffer their effects.

• Yao Wan explained to Qing Lin that they had come to observe Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, then gave Qing Lin a cloak to keep warm.
• Yao Wan absorbed energy from the Life Spirit Crystal with her Life Spirit Flame and searched deeper for Strange Fire remnants.
• Yao Wan found the nearly extinguished Yin Yang Dual Flames embedded in the crystal and drew them into her palm.
• Yao Wan pressed the Yin Yang Dual Flames into her chest to ignite her Life Spirit Flame, and black-and-white flames burst from her eyes.

Yao Wan absorbed the remnants of the Yin Yang Dual Flames while Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran discovered the Xiao Clan’s hidden inheritance and chose a Dou Technique. The Seven-Colored Little Snake left them and appeared beside Yao Wan, who woke and wondered why it was there.

• Yao Wan used her Life Spirit Flame to devour the remnants of the Yin Yang Dual Flames, filling the Cave Hall with life energy.
• Xiao Yan showed Nalan Yanran the Xiao Clan’s vast collection of Qi Methods and Dou Techniques and invited her to choose a reward.
• Nalan Yanran selected the Earth-Rank Low-Level Shadow Chasing Sword, then discussed the Yun Lan Sect’s declining swordsmanship with Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran discovered that their Storage Rings could not take in the inheritance scrolls, and the Seven-Colored Little Snake darted out of Xiao Yan’s sleeve.
• Yao Wan woke to find the Seven-Colored Little Snake wrapped around her wrist and drawing in the life energy from her body.

Yao Wan refined the remnants of the Yin Yang Dual Flames to transform her Life Spirit Flame into an independent Strange Fire while Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran waited and cultivated. After both advanced by one star, Yao Wan told them the Life Spirit Crystal held enough energy for them to reach the next major realm.

• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran followed the little snake into the Cave Hall and found Yao Wan refining Strange Fire Embers.
• Yao Lao explained that the sealed Strange Fire remnants had melted the cave’s medicinal stores and formed the Life Spirit Crystal, and he told Xiao Yan to ask Yao Wan about the secrets of his clan later.
• Nalan Yanran urged Xiao Yan to cultivate while they waited, and Yao Wan sent them pure energy from the Life Spirit Crystal.
• Yao Wan absorbed the last of the Yin Yang Dual Flames and completed the Life Spirit Flame’s transformation, then withdrew its spreading life aura.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran each broke through by one star, and Yao Wan said the Life Spirit Crystal could help them reach the next major realm.

Yao Wan urged Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran to cultivate in the crystal cavern, then explained the Xiao Clan relic’s connection to the ancient Xiao clan and its flight from the Hun Clan. Xiao Yan accepted that she had kept the history from him and was left to digest it, with Yao Wan promising to tell him more when he reached Central State.

• Yao Wan told Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran that the Blue Crystal held energy from the Yin Yang Dual Flames and urged them to cultivate toward a major breakthrough.
• Yao Wan brought Qing Lin down from the crystal opening, and Xiao Yan carried her safely to the cavern floor.
• Yao Wan offered to modify Nalan Yanran’s movement Dou Technique, and Nalan Yanran gave it to her before Xiao Yan and Yao Wan went to speak privately.
• Xiao Yan showed Yao Wan the bloodstained cloth bearing the character Xiao, and she said his Father had given it to her as an inheritance object connected to the ancient Xiao clan.
• Yao Wan told Xiao Yan that the ancient Xiao clan had fled toward the Northwest Continent after being driven from Central State by the Hun Clan.
• Xiao Yan accepted Yao Wan’s reason for withholding the history, and she promised to tell him more when he reached Central State.

Xiao Yan and Yao Wan discussed Qing Ran and the Seven-Colored Little Snake before joining Nalan Yanran and Qing Lin. As they cultivated and organized the Xiao Clan’s inherited techniques, Xiao Yan found the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations, a secret method that could temporarily boost his strength.

• Xiao Yan asked Yao Wan whether she and Qing Ran were real sisters, and Yao Wan confirmed they had a connection without explaining further.
• Yao Wan warned that the Seven-Colored Little Snake had absorbed a great deal of Life Spirit Crystal energy and would sleep for several days.
• Qing Lin woke and spoke with Nalan Yanran, who tried to teach her how to draw Dou Qi into her body.
• Yao Wan told Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran to cultivate while she guided Qing Lin and improved Nalan Yanran’s Flying Willow Body Technique.
• Yao Wan taught Xiao Yan a Blood Sacrifice Method so his Storage Ring could collect the Xiao Clan’s restricted Qi Methods and Dou Techniques.
• While sorting the clan’s inheritance, Xiao Yan found the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations secret method.

Yao Wan modified Nalan Yanran’s Dou Technique but continued experiencing unexplained bouts of exhaustion and dizziness, while Xiao Yan and the others settled into regular cultivation and training. The chapter left Yao Wan still troubled by the symptoms as she sparred with Nalan Yanran using Xiao Yan’s fighting style.

• Yao Wan complained of feeling dazed, and Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran, and Qing Lin made her stop working and rest.
• Xiao Yan realized Nalan Yanran was irritated because he had told her that her elder sister would belong to him, and Yao Lao advised him to carry on.
• Yao Wan soon resumed her routine, Qing Lin began cultivating Dou Qi, and Xiao Yan practiced the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations.
• Xiao Yan considered fusing two Heavenly Flames as weapons, but Yao Lao warned him to focus during his dangerous cultivation.
• Yao Wan imitated Xiao Yan’s fighting style while sparring with Nalan Yanran, then felt her discomfort return.

Yao Wan trained Nalan Yanran in a new movement technique and the Shadow Chasing Sword, while speculating about the lost inheritance of the Yun Lan Sect. In the imperial capital, Hai Bodong returned to the Mittel Auction House and arranged support for the Xiao Clan of Wutan City, leaving Mittel Tengshan curious about his reasons.

• Yao Wan tested Nalan Yanran’s physical improvement, then showed her a swift sword technique and taught her a modified movement Dou Technique and the Shadow Chasing Sword.
• Nalan Yanran named the movement technique Light Feather Crossing Flight as she trained under Yao Wan.
• Nalan Yanran explained that the Yun Lan Sect had lost much of its inheritance after Old Ancestor Yun Potian’s death, leaving the Azure Cloud Swordplay as its last remnant.
• Hai Bodong returned to the imperial capital and ordered Mittel Tengshan to assist the Xiao Clan of Wutan City and cooperate with them even at reduced profit.
• Mittel Tengshan asked Hai Bodong about his connection to the Xiao Clan, and Hai Bodong told him to say their help came at the request of a noble person.

Hai Bodong warned Mittel Tengshan that the Xiao Family would become powerful and then met Jia Xingtian, who questioned his return and his mysterious benefactor. Elsewhere, Yao Wan dreamed that Xiao Yan burned away in Black-Red Flame, then woke from the disturbing vision.

• Hai Bodong told Mittel Tengshan to cultivate ties with the Xiao Family, believing it would rise to prominence under Xiao Yan.
• A powerful aura reached Hai Bodong’s courtyard, but he dispersed it and sent Mittel Tengshan away before Jia Xingtian entered.
• Jia Xingtian questioned Hai Bodong about his strength, his benefactor, and the Xiao Family, while Hai Bodong denied any interest in challenging the imperial family.
• Yao Wan dreamed that Xiao Yan ignited in Black-Red Flame and turned to ash as she tried to save him.
• Yao Wan woke from the dream and realized she might have drifted into it while cultivating.

Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran rested together and discussed how Yao Wan had shaped Nalan Yanran’s life. After nearly a year of cultivation, Nalan Yanran reached Dou Ling first, and Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Ling with the help of the Life Spirit Crystals, leaving two months until the Three-Year Agreement.

• Nalan Yanran told Xiao Yan that Yao Wan had taught and guided her after Nalan Yanran made a regrettable choice, while still acknowledging that she had her own teacher.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran compared their experiences as people constrained by their families, then wondered why Yao Wan had chosen to help Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran spent nearly a year cultivating in the Xiao Clan Ruins, with Nalan Yanran reaching Dou Ling before Xiao Yan.
• Yao Lao said Xiao Yan should break through to Dou Ling before heading to the capital for the Three-Year Agreement.
• Xiao Yan drew energy from the Life Spirit Crystals, broke through to Dou Ling, and sent a shockwave through the mountain cave.

After Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Ling, Yao Wan took him and Qing Lin to the Gama Imperial Capital, where they reunited with Ya Fei and went to meet Hai Bodong. Yao Wan’s lingering ailment remained unexplained, and Hai Bodong revealed his increased strength as he welcomed them.

• Yao Wan returned to the Xiao Clan Ruins, found Xiao Yan and Qing Lin after Xiao Yan’s breakthrough to Dou Ling, and admitted she had sent Nalan Yanran back to the imperial capital.
• Yao Wan’s head began to ache again, and Xiao Yan sent Flame Mantra Energy into her, but it seemed to disappear without effect.
• Yao Wan took Xiao Yan and Qing Lin to the imperial capital, where Xiao Yan recalled visiting the Nalan Family as a child and Yao Wan said she had always been by his side.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Wan arrived at the Mittel Auction House, where Ya Fei recognized them and said Hai Bodong had asked her to bring them to him.
• Yao Wan greeted Hai Bodong and congratulated him on reaching six-star Dou Emperor.

Xiao Yan reunited with Hai Bodong and learned about his breakthrough, then watched Nalan Yanran help Ya Fei deal with Mu Zhan's harassment. After Ya Fei explained the dispute, Xiao Yan promised to stop Mu Zhan from pestering her and asked whether she could find soul-nourishing treasures.

• Hai Bodong told Yao Wan that the Imperial Zenith Pill had helped him advance to Six Star Dou Huang, with enough medicinal power left to possibly reach Seven Star.
• Hai Bodong noticed Xiao Yan had become a Dou Ling, and the two discussed his rapid progress.
• Xiao Yan saw Nalan Yanran intervene when Mu Zhan confronted Ya Fei at the Mittel Auction House, then watched Nalan Yanran leave.
• Yao Wan gave Ya Fei and Xiao Yan a chance to speak privately, and Ya Fei explained that Mu Zhan had returned and continued pestering her.
• Xiao Yan promised to deal with Mu Zhan whenever he encountered him, then asked Ya Fei to help find Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that could nourish the soul.

Xiao Yan agreed to treat Nalan Jie’s Brand Poison in exchange for the Nalan Family’s Seven Illusions Cyan Spirit Saliva. After Nalan Yanran unexpectedly recognized and ushered in the masked alchemist Yan Xiao, Xiao Yan began treating her grandfather and discovered the poison had not reached his bones.

• Ya Fei told Xiao Yan that the Nalan Family possessed the soul-nourishing Seven Illusions Cyan Spirit Saliva and explained that Nalan Jie’s Brand Poison could only be completely cured with a Heavenly Flame.
• Xiao Yan agreed to try curing Nalan Jie in exchange for the medicinal ingredient, and Ya Fei gave him an invitation from the Mittel Family.
• At the Nalan Family, Nalan Yanran recognized Xiao Yan behind his Yan Xiao disguise and personally led him to Nalan Jie, surprising Xiao Yan and the other alchemists.
• Xiao Yan used the Netherworld Poison Flame to probe Nalan Jie’s body and found that the Brand Poison remained in his flesh and blood instead of reaching his bones.

Xiao Yan removed part of Nalan Jie's Brand Poison and grew curious about the mysterious expert who had once suppressed it with pills. After seeing Xiao Yan off, Nalan Yanran reflected on how she had changed and faced the coming Three-Year Agreement, while Xiao Yan later visited the Alchemist Guild and learned the Convention champion would receive a Soul Fusion Pill.

• Xiao Yan used the Netherworld Poison Flame to absorb some of Nalan Jie's Brand Poison and discovered traces of a pill that had once kept it under control.
• Xiao Yan told Nalan Jie that a complete cure would take two more days, then left with Nalan Yanran escorting him out.
• Xiao Yan found Nalan Yanran familiar, while she thanked him and watched him leave the Nalan Family.
• Nalan Su teased Nalan Yanran about Xiao Yan and asked whether she was ready for the Three-Year Agreement; she said she had to accept the consequences of her past mistake.
• Xiao Yan visited the Alchemist Guild, encountered the alchemist who had helped him before, and learned that the Alchemist Convention champion's reward was a Soul Fusion Pill.

Xiao Yan considered refining a Soul Fusion Pill for Yao Wan, but Queen Medusa suddenly awakened and confronted him. Unable to attack because of Yao Wan’s restriction, she agreed to protect Xiao Yan in exchange for the pill and returned to his wrist as a Seven-Colored Little Snake.

• Xiao Yan discussed refining a Soul Fusion Pill for Yao Wan with Yao Lao, who agreed not to stop him.
• Queen Medusa awakened, noticed Qing Lin’s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, and demanded to see Yao Wan.
• When Queen Medusa tried to attack Xiao Yan, Yao Wan’s restriction prevented her from controlling her body.
• Xiao Yan explained the restriction and offered to exchange a Soul Fusion Pill for Queen Medusa’s protection.
• Queen Medusa accepted the deal and transformed into a Seven-Colored Little Snake on Xiao Yan’s wrist.

Xiao Yan told Yao Lao he planned to give Queen Medusa the Soul Fusion Pill, hoping to prove his value and earn her willing assistance rather than rely on the restriction binding her. Meanwhile, Yao Wan caught Ling Ying spying on Xiao Yan and sent him away with a provocative message for his Young Miss.

• Xiao Yan told Yao Lao that he would give Queen Medusa the Soul Fusion Pill and try to turn their transaction into an alliance.
• Xiao Yan fed the Seven-Colored Little Snake Amethyst Accompanying Source, and Yao Lao said Xiao Yan had reminded him of Girl.
• Ling Ying secretly approached the courtyard, but Yao Wan detected him and confronted him with an angry Soul Fluctuation.
• Ling Ying explained that he was watching Xiao Yan on his Young Miss's orders, and Yao Wan gave him a Healing Pill.
• Yao Wan told Ling Ying to report that Xiao Yan was about to forget his Young Miss, and Ling Ying left to relay the message.

Xiao Yan continued treating Nalan Jie while preparing for the Alchemist Convention, and Nalan Yanran’s familiar manner toward him deepened his suspicions. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhan arrived in the imperial capital and unexpectedly reunited with Nalan Yanran, leaving their encounter tense with memories of the past.

• Yao Wan let Ling Ying leave the imperial capital, then reflected on her exhaustion and resumed meditating.
• Xiao Yan signed up for the Alchemist Convention and continued expelling Nalan Jie’s Brand Poison, avoiding the Nalan Family’s attempts to show him goodwill.
• Xiao Yan asked after Nalan Yanran and met her friend Liu Ling, then left with her; Liu Ling questioned whether Yan Xiao truly had a Heavenly Flame.
• Xiao Zhan entered the imperial capital at the Mittel Family’s invitation, intending to see Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran.
• Nalan Yanran recognized Xiao Zhan near the Nalan Residence and greeted him, while he struggled to recognize her after three years apart.