Chapter Summaries

Nalan Yanran met Xiao Zhan in the capital and learned how the old bond between their families led to her engagement to Xiao Yan. She apologized for annulling it three years earlier and promised to return to Wutan City after the Three-Year Agreement to repay the Xiao Clan, while Xiao Zhan accepted her apology without forcing a match.

• Nalan Yanran asked Xiao Zhan to speak privately, then asked about her grandfather and Xiao Lin to understand the origins of the families' conflict.
• Xiao Zhan explained that Nalan Jie and Xiao Lin had been close comrades and had arranged for their descendants to marry if they were of different sexes.
• Nalan Yanran accompanied Xiao Zhan to the Mittel Auction House, where Ya Fei brought them to Xiao Yan's residence and Qing Lin said Xiao Yan was attending the Alchemist Convention.
• Nalan Yanran asked Ya Fei to speak with Qing Lin alone, then apologized to Xiao Zhan for her actions three years earlier.
• Nalan Yanran promised to return to Wutan City after the Three-Year Agreement and repay what she owed the Xiao Clan, and Xiao Zhan accepted her apology while acknowledging that she and Xiao Yan had no future together.

Xiao Yan reunited with Xiao Zhan in the imperial capital and learned that Wan'er Guniang had helped the Xiao Clan prosper through the Mittel Auction House. The chapter ended with Ya Fei and Qing Lin returning to find Xiao Yan back, while he still struggled to understand the extent of Wan'er Guniang’s involvement.

• Xiao Zhan told Nalan Yanran he would not force her to remain engaged to Xiao Yan, and she apologized before leaving.
• Xiao Yan returned from the Alchemist Convention, overheard Nalan Yanran speaking with Xiao Zhan, and entered the courtyard after she left.
• Xiao Yan reunited with Xiao Zhan and learned that his father had reached the Dou Ling realm with medicine from Wan'er Guniang.
• Xiao Zhan revealed that Ya Fei had delivered substantial resources to the Xiao Clan on behalf of a noble person, whom he believed was Wan'er Guniang.
• Ya Fei and Qing Lin returned, and Xiao Yan praised Qing Lin’s new clothes.

Yao Wan discovered that Xiao Zhan believed she had secretly helped the Xiao Clan, though Hai Bodong had arranged the aid using her name. She hurried to the Mittel Auction House Headquarters with Ya Fei to confront him, leaving Xiao Yan to wonder why she seemed so uneasy around his father.

• Xiao Zhan thanked Yao Wan for helping the Xiao Clan, but Yao Wan denied remembering any such aid and realized Ya Fei might know what happened.
• Yao Wan took Ya Fei from the courtyard and left for the Mittel Auction House Headquarters, while Xiao Zhan hinted at his hopes for Yao Wan and Xiao Yan.
• As they walked, Ya Fei silently acknowledged that she had carried out the aid arranged under Yao Wan's name and that it had made the Xiao Clan indebted to her.
• At the Headquarters, Yao Wan confronted Hai Bodong, demanding to know what he had done.

Xiao Yan cured Nalan Jie’s Brand Poison and questioned Nalan Su and Nalan Jie about the medicine that had suppressed it. They revealed that the mysterious expert who provided it was the Medicine Fairy, leaving Xiao Yan shocked.

• Xiao Zhan told Xiao Yan that Nalan Yanran had met him and apologized, prompting Xiao Yan to suspect she knew where he was staying.
• Xiao Yan decided to visit Nalan Yanran after curing Nalan Jie so he could test his suspicions.
• Xiao Yan went to the Nalan Residence, learned Nalan Yanran was away, and completed the removal of Nalan Jie’s Brand Poison.
• Nalan Jie gave Xiao Yan the promised medicinal ingredients, and Xiao Yan asked about the medicine that had suppressed the poison.
• Nalan Su and Nalan Jie revealed that the Medicine Fairy had supplied the pills, and Xiao Yan reacted with shock.

After learning that the Medicine Fairy had once examined Nalan Jie, Xiao Yan connected Wan Guniang to Nalan Yanran and decided to seek confirmation at the Nalan Family banquet. He dominated the Alchemist Convention and learned that the Mittel Family’s Great Elder also wanted to meet him there, leaving him to reflect that his ties to Nalan Yanran went beyond their Three-Year Agreement.

• Nalan Jie told Xiao Yan that the Medicine Fairy had examined him, prompting Xiao Yan to suspect that Wan Guniang had known Nalan Yanran for a long time.
• Xiao Yan accepted Nalan Jie's invitation to the Nalan Family's banquet and left to compete in the Alchemist Convention.
• Yao Wan confronted Hai Bodong for acting in her name, then left without pursuing the matter further.
• Xiao Yan again won the convention stage with the fastest pill formation and the best medicinal pill, while Liu Ling begrudgingly acknowledged his lead.
• Ya Fei invited Xiao Yan to the banquet on behalf of the Mittel Family's Great Elder, and Xiao Yan said he would attend to confirm something about Nalan Yanran.

Xiao Yan attended Nalan Jie’s recovery celebration at the Nalan Residence, where he reunited with Nalan Yanran while investigating why she had seemed familiar. Nalan Yanran admitted that Yao Wan had arranged her disguise, leaving Xiao Yan and her to face each other with their identities understood.

• Xiao Yan left Qing Lin at the courtyard and went to the Nalan Residence for Nalan Jie’s recovery celebration.
• Ya Fei introduced Xiao Yan to Mittel Tengshan, who praised his Alchemist Guild results and offered help through Ya Fei.
• Nalan Yanran watched Xiao Yan from a quiet corner, and he crossed the courtyard to speak with her.
• Xiao Yan asked Nalan Yanran why she had acted familiar and whether they had met before, then questioned her about her sword training.
• Nalan Yanran revealed that Yao Wan had arranged her disguise and said she hoped Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran could get along.
• Xiao Yan calmed down and sat with Nalan Yanran, noting that he had arrived as Yan Xiao rather than Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran discussed their past and the Three-Year Agreement, and Xiao Yan told her he had never hated her. After returning home, Xiao Yan asked Yao Wan about her connection to Nalan Yanran, and Yao Wan offered him compensation, leaving him to consider what to ask for.

• Nalan Yanran confirmed that her acquaintance with Yao Wan had begun because of Xiao Yan and said she regretted how she had acted three years earlier.
• Xiao Yan told Nalan Yanran he had never hated her, though they still expected to settle things at the Three-Year Agreement.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran drank together before parting, and Xiao Yan hurried back to his residence for the Alchemist Convention matches.
• Yao Wan waited for Xiao Yan and explained that she had helped Nalan Yanran because she pitied her.
• Yao Wan offered Xiao Yan compensation, and he asked whether he could choose anything.

Xiao Yan gave Yao Wan the Seven Illusions Cyan Spirit Saliva, and she discovered that her headaches came from a black-red flame growing inside her heart meridian. She considered asking Xiao Yan to examine it, leaving the strange fire’s nature and danger unresolved.

• Xiao Yan gave Yao Wan the Seven Illusions Cyan Spirit Saliva as a token of his concern for her health.
• Yao Wan accepted the herb and later found herself dwelling on Xiao Yan’s gesture before beginning to cultivate.
• Yao Wan realized her headaches followed her use of the Life Spirit Flame and investigated the flame within her heart meridian.
• Yao Wan discovered that remnants of the Yin Yang Dual Flames had caused part of the Life Spirit Flame to divide and form a black-red flame embodying death.
• Yao Wan decided she might ask Xiao Yan to examine the unfamiliar flame and possibly refine it.

Yao Wan delayed the awakening of her Yao Clan bloodline for another year while Xiao Yan won the Alchemist Convention and claimed its rewards. After Xiao Yan left the Guild, Jia Xingtian praised him and questioned Hai Bodong about his rapid cultivation breakthrough.

• Yao Wan checked the restriction suppressing her bloodline and realized it would likely hold until she turned twenty, leaving her nearly a year to accompany Xiao Yan to Canaan Academy after the Three-Year Agreement.
• Xiao Yan won the Alchemist Convention as Yan Xiao, defeating the Chu Yun Empire alchemist Yan Li along the way.
• Xiao Yan collected and inspected the Soul Fusion Pill formula from Fa Ma, then accepted the Alchemist Guild Honorary Elder token and declined to reveal his teacher's name.
• Jia Xingtian told Fa Ma and Hai Bodong that Yan Li had been dealt with and praised Yan Xiao, while wondering whether Hai Bodong's mysterious benefactor had aided his rapid breakthrough to Six Star Dou Huang.

Xiao Yan arrived at Yun Lan Mountain for his long-awaited Three-Year Agreement with Nalan Yanran, while powerful guests gathered and an unidentified cloaked figure drew their attention. The chapter ended as Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran faced each other and stated their names.

• Xiao Yan learned from a letter that Yao Wan and Qing Lin had already gone to Yun Lan Mountain with Father, then set out for the Three-Year Agreement.
• Jia Xingtian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong arrived at the gathering, where a mysterious cloaked guest sat among the VIPs.
• Nalan Jie and Nalan Su recognized Xiao Zhan among the guests and wondered why he had come to Yun Lan Mountain.
• Xiao Yan climbed the mountain and entered the plaza, where Nalan Yanran waited among the Yun Lan Sect disciples.
• Nalan Yanran opened her eyes as Xiao Yan approached, and they introduced themselves to each other.

Xiao Yan arrived at Yun Lan Sect to face Nalan Yanran in their Three-Year Agreement, and both declared the duel would end only when one of them died. Their fight began with Nalan Yanran’s blinding speed testing Xiao Yan’s defenses, and he narrowly dodged her attacks before countering with his Mystic Heavy Ruler.

• Xiao Yan arrived at Yun Lan Sect’s plaza as Xiao Zhan, Nalan Jie, Jia Xingtian, and Fa Ma watched.
• Yao Wan woke after Qing Lin told her the agreement was beginning, then urged Qing Lin to study Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran’s battle.
• Yun Leng tried to set rules for the duel, but Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran declared that they would fight to the death.
• Xiao Yan drew his Mystic Heavy Ruler, while Nalan Yanran summoned her sword and prepared to fight.
• Nalan Yanran launched two rapid thrusts, and Xiao Yan blocked them with his ruler.
• Xiao Yan dodged Nalan Yanran’s next charge and swung his Mystic Heavy Ruler at her.

Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran tested each other in a fierce duel, revealing Nalan Yanran’s exceptional sword intent and Xiao Yan’s rare secret art. Xiao Yan activated the first transformation of the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations, and the battle continued with both fighters’ full strength still uncertain.

• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran exchanged powerful blows, and neither gained an advantage in their initial clashes.
• Nalan Yanran unleashed sword intent and five sword auras, while Xiao Yan evaded them without using a Dou Technique.
• Xiao Yan activated the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations, and an azure flame lotus swallowed Nalan Yanran’s sword auras.
• Yun Leng identified Xiao Yan’s power as a secret art, while Gu He suspected the azure flame resembled the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame.
• Xiao Yan’s aura surged after the transformation, and Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma remarked on his secret art and Nalan Yanran’s remarkable sword intent.

Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran pushed their duel to a new level as Nalan Yanran’s speed and sword techniques forced Xiao Yan to defend. After Xiao Yan turned the fight around by dropping his Mystic Heavy Ruler, the two unleashed a devastating clash of sword qi and Azure Flame, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Nalan Yanran used a rapid sword technique based on the Yun Lan Sect’s Flying Willow Body Technique, alarming Jia Xingtian with its implications for the sect’s strength.
• Nalan Yanran knocked the Mystic Heavy Ruler from Xiao Yan’s hand, but Xiao Yan’s speed surged, and he struck her with Eight Extremities Collapse.
• Nalan Yanran survived by manifesting Dou Qi Armor, while Xiao Yan recovered his ruler with Suction Palm.
• Nalan Yanran charged again as Xiao Yan threw his ruler and rushed forward, and she gathered a powerful storm of sword qi around her blade.
• Xiao Yan coated his Mystic Heavy Ruler with Azure Flame, and his attack collided with Nalan Yanran’s sword qi, sending a destructive shockwave across the square.

Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran fought to a stalemate until she prepared a decisive sword technique and he attempted to fuse three Heavenly Flames. As a three-colored fire lotus bloomed in his palm, Yao Wan recognized the move as Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus.

• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran traded close-range attacks until the shattered arena collapsed beneath them.
• Xiao Yan crippled Nalan Yanran's sword hand, while both fighters lost their Dou Qi Armor and suffered injuries.
• Nalan Yanran recalled the Shadow Chasing Sword scroll Xiao Yan had given her and gathered sword intent for a decisive attack.
• Xiao Yan decided to counter by combining the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire, and Netherworld Poison Flame.
• Xiao Yan's three Heavenly Flames formed a glasslike fire lotus, which Yao Wan recognized as Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus.

Xiao Yan fused three flames into the Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus and defeated Nalan Yanran's ultimate sword strike, unleashing an explosion that threatened Yun Lan Mountain. Yao Wan halted the destruction and rescued the unconscious Nalan Yanran, revealing herself as the famed Medicine Fairy.

• The spectators recognized Xiao Yan as Yan Xiao as he formed a three-colored fire lotus, while Xiao Zhan silently cheered him on.
• Nalan Yanran unleashed her trump-card move, Absolute Sword—Chasing Shadow, and Xiao Yan sent his Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus against it.
• The fire lotus overwhelmed Nalan Yanran's sword energy and unleashed a destructive blast across the plaza.
• Yao Wan stopped the explosion with a golden array and emerged carrying the unconscious Nalan Yanran unharmed.
• Nalan Jie and Nalan Su identified Yao Wan as the Medicine Fairy, startling the gathered guests.

Yao Wan confirmed Xiao Yan had defeated Nalan Yanran in the Three-Year Agreement and confronted the Yun Lan Sect over the result. Yun Yun summoned the former Sect Master Yun Shan from seclusion, and Yao Wan began discussing a trade with the Yun Lan Sect while demonstrating her overwhelming power.

• Yao Wan caught the unconscious Nalan Yanran, gave her and Xiao Yan medicinal pills, and told Xiao Yan to rest.
• Yao Wan declared Xiao Yan the winner of the Three-Year Agreement, and the gathered spectators accepted the result.
• Yun Yun returned and greeted Yao Wan as an acquaintance, then blew a flute to summon Yun Shan.
• Yun Shan emerged from seclusion and arrived at the plaza, where he greeted Yao Wan with unusual courtesy.
• Yao Wan told Yun Shan that she had come to make a trade with the Yun Lan Sect, and he felt the force of her overwhelming power.

Yao Wan exposed Yun Shan’s connection to the hidden figure who had enabled his breakthrough to Dou Zong, then pursued and killed Protector Wu. She returned to the Yun Lan Sect and promised Yun Shan a reward for the sect after Nalan Yanran woke.

• Yao Wan questioned Yun Shan about how he had reached Dou Zong, leading Jia Xingtian and the others to suspect he had received a Dou Zong Breakthrough Pill.
• Protector Wu ordered Yun Shan to attack Yao Wan, but Yun Shan stayed still and Yao Wan severed their connection with her Soul Power.
• Protector Wu fled the Yun Lan Sect, but Yao Wan intercepted him and shattered his soul with her stone hammer.
• Yao Wan returned to the Yun Lan Sect, told Yun Shan the chief evil had been executed, and offered the sect a reward after Nalan Yanran woke.

Yao Wan and Xiao Yan left the Yun Lan Sect after she defeated Protector Wu and returned to the Xiao Clan, where they spoke privately about her eventual departure for Central State. Before they planned to travel to Canaan Academy, Yao Wan showed Xiao Yan an unusual red-black flame emerging from the Life Spirit Flame, startling him and Yao Lao.

• Yun Shan offered Yao Wan a place to stay, but she declined and asked him to tell Nalan Yanran that she might return later.
• Yao Wan, Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan, and Qing Lin returned to Wutan City, where Xiao Zhan thanked Yao Wan and the Xiao Clan celebrated Xiao Yan's victory in the Three-Year Agreement.
• Yao Wan went alone to the Xiao Clan's Back Mountain, where Xiao Yan joined her and asked whether he annoyed her; she explained that she was tired and would eventually return to Central State.
• Xiao Yan told Yao Wan he would find her in the future, and she agreed to stay with him a while longer before they headed to Canaan Academy.
• Yao Wan summoned the Life Spirit Flame and revealed a strange red-black flame within it, alarming Xiao Yan and prompting Yao Lao to appear.

Yao Wan revealed that a nameless black-red flame had formed inside her Heart Meridian after she devoured the Yin Yang Dual Flames’ remnants, and Yao Lao warned that Xiao Yan could not safely refine it for her. Xiao Yan instead used Flame Mantra Energy to help Yao Wan separate and suppress the flame, and she said she had dreamed about him when she first sensed it.

• Yao Wan explained that the black-red flame had emerged inside her Heart Meridian after she devoured the remnants of the Yin Yang Dual Flames.
• Yao Lao warned that Xiao Yan attempting to refine the flame could endanger Yao Wan, and advised that she would eventually need to refine it herself.
• Yao Lao suggested that Flame Mantra Energy could suppress the flame, so Xiao Yan and Yao Wan joined hands to try it.
• Yao Wan used Flame Mantra Energy to separate the black-red flame from the Life Spirit Flame and seal it, easing her discomfort.
• Yao Wan thanked Xiao Yan and told him she had dreamed about him after first sensing the nameless flame.

After leaving the Gama Empire for Canaan Academy, Xiao Yan traveled through the Black-Corner Region with Yao Wan and Nalan Yanran before arriving at the academy town. He entered alone to verify his student status and learned that Xun'er had rejected a suitor because of him.

• Yao Wan told Xiao Yan about a dream in which a black-red flame consumed him, and he secretly rejoiced that he had been the only other person in it.
• After settling matters with the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan declined to accompany Yao Wan into Yun Lan Sect, where he spoke briefly with Yun Yun before departing with Yao Wan and Nalan Yanran.
• Yao Wan took the group to Black Seal City's auction to seek a Demon Flame Fragment Map piece, spending heavily on treasures.
• When robbers attacked them on the road, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran fought together and killed the attackers.
• At the town near Canaan Academy, Xiao Yan separated from Yao Wan and Nalan Yanran and went to verify his enrollment with the law enforcement team.
• Students recognized Xiao Yan and told him that Xun'er had rejected a suitor because she missed him, prompting him to decide to confront her about using him as a shield.