Chapter Summaries

Yao Wan agreed to accompany Xiao Yan to the Ancient Relic, using a jade fragment to locate it and breaking through a vast natural barrier to reveal an entrance. They entered the crack together, where Xiao Yan lost his Dou Qi control and could no longer sense Yao Wan.

• Yao Wan agreed to travel with Xiao Yan, while Xiao Yan said his teacher had already informed Nalan and Xian'er of his departure.
• Yao Wan used the jade fragment to guide them northwest toward the Ancient Relic, and Xiao Yan struggled to keep up with her rapid flight.
• At the boundary between the Southern Region and Western Region, Yao Wan found the relic's location beneath a vast waterfall and lake.
• Yao Wan smashed the water barrier with her stone hammer, exposing a deep crack and an unusual current of air.
• Yao Wan warned Xiao Yan about the relic's dangers, then entered the crack first with Xiao Yan following close behind.
• Xiao Yan passed through a strange force that left him unable to control his Dou Qi, and he lost all sense of Yao Wan.

Xiao Yan followed Yao Wan’s Life Spirit Flame through the void to a vast, inhabited Ancient Relic and found her in a bustling town. After reuniting, Yao Wan explained that the relic’s laws had suppressed her cultivation to Initial Stage Dou Zong.

• Xiao Yan used a wisp of the Life Spirit Flame to follow Yao Wan through the void toward the Ancient Relic.
• Xiao Yan reached the enormous relic and discovered towns and people living among its ruins.
• Xiao Yan found Yao Wan in the crowd, took her hand, and led her to a quiet place to talk.
• Yao Wan told Xiao Yan that the Ancient Relic’s laws had restrained her after she entered.
• Yao Wan revealed that her cultivation had fallen to Initial Stage Dou Zong, leaving Xiao Yan shocked.

Yao Wan’s strength was suppressed to Initial Stage Dou Zong inside the Ancient Relic, but she chose to continue onward as Xiao Yan promised to protect her. When Shi Yu, a peak Dou Zong from the Spirit Devouring Clan, attacked her, Xiao Yan intervened with a Five-Colored Fire Lotus.

• Yao Wan explained that the Ancient Relic restricted both her Dou Qi and Soul Power, and she refused Xiao Yan’s suggestion that she return.
• Xiao Yan promised to protect Yao Wan, who struggled to accept his offer after having protected him many times before.
• Xiao Yan sensed an ominous presence approaching, and Yao Wan flew to confront it despite her weakened strength.
• Shi Yu attacked Yao Wan with Demonic Qi, but she revealed her Ash Extinction Flame and destroyed his seal and chains.
• Shi Yu recognized Yao Wan’s Heavenly Flame as a threat and launched a full-power attack, so Xiao Yan told her to fall back and sent a Five-Colored Fire Lotus toward Shi Yu’s Demon Statue.

Xiao Yan and Yao Wan struck Shi Yu with a Destruction Fire Lotus, but the Spirit Devouring Clan expert survived by using a Demon Cocoon. Unable to defeat them together, Shi Yu fled, leaving them concerned that a dangerous enemy had escaped.

• Xiao Yan caught Yao Wan when the Fire Lotus's blast swept her away, then stepped back once the flames faded.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Wan discovered that Shi Yu had survived the Fire Lotus inside a Demon Cocoon.
• Yao Wan proposed distracting Shi Yu while Xiao Yan prepared another Fire Lotus, but Shi Yu tried to stall them by appealing to fairness.
• Shi Yu gave up on the fight and fled, and Xiao Yan and Yao Wan could not catch him.
• Yao Yan cursed the Ancient Relic for restricting her cultivation, and Xiao Yan asked whether she was all right.

Xiao Yan and Yao Wan learned that they had arrived in the Forgotten Ruins, an unfamiliar land divided between humans and the Spirit Devouring Clan. The City Lord revealed a legend about outsiders and a thousand-year cycle, leaving Yao Wan uneasy and looking to Xiao Yan for guidance.

• Xiao Yan and Yao Wan accepted the Tianxing City Lord's invitation after repelling the Spirit Devouring Clan and entered his manor to ask about the region.
• The City Lord explained that the land was called the Forgotten Ruins, and neither Xiao Yan nor Yao Wan had heard of it before.
• The City Lord said the Spirit Devouring Clan occupied the western and southern regions, while humans in the east and north resisted them under Heaven Sword Palace and the Azure Cloud Sword Saint.
• The City Lord told Xiao Yan and Yao Wan a legend that outsiders arriving in the Forgotten Ruins would bring a thousand-year cycle to an end.
• Yao Wan felt uneasy about the legend and turned to Xiao Yan for his opinion.

After leaving Tianxing City, Yao Wan and Xiao Yan decided to seek out Heaven Sword Palace and the Azure Cloud Sword Saint, though Yao Wan feared they might not be able to return. A sudden storm forced them to shelter in the forest, where Xiao Yan noticed Yao Wan curling up by the fire and wondered if she felt cold.

• Yao Wan and Xiao Yan declined the Tianxing City Lord's offer to stay and left the manor.
• As they flew above Tianxing City, Yao Wan warned that returning from the Forgotten Ruins might not be possible because her connection to her main body was weakening.
• Yao Wan proposed visiting Heaven Sword Palace to meet the Azure Cloud Sword Saint, but she and Xiao Yan did not know which direction to travel.
• Dark clouds and thunder forced Yao Wan and Xiao Yan to take shelter from the storm in a forest beneath a cliff.
• Xiao Yan lit a fire and noticed Yao Wan silently hugging her legs beside it, wondering whether she felt cold.

During a storm in the Forgotten Ruins, Xiao Yan and Yao Wan shared a vulnerable conversation by a bonfire, drawing closer as they comforted each other. Yao Wan allowed Xiao Yan to sit beside her, and later leaned against his shoulder after he fell asleep.

• Xiao Yan draped his coat over Yao Wan and sat beside her as they sheltered from the cold and rain.
• Yao Wan admitted she felt less strong than she had expected, and Xiao Yan said he understood her pain rather than pitying her.
• Xiao Yan told Yao Wan he cared about her and would protect her, while she teased him about whether he could actually win against her.
• Xiao Yan asked to sit closer, and Yao Wan tacitly let him, saying she bet he would not dare do anything.
• After Xiao Yan fell asleep beside the bonfire, Yao Wan briefly leaned against his shoulder before pulling away.

Yao Wan and Xiao Yan traveled through the Forgotten Ruins after surviving a night of storms, sharing a quiet moment in a field of indigo flowers before continuing toward a city. They found the city empty and infested with the Spirit Devouring Clan’s Demonic Qi, with no sign of its inhabitants.

• Xiao Yan woke beside Yao Wan but pretended to remain asleep as they waited out the storm, then they resumed their journey after the weather cleared.
• Unable to determine their direction in the Forgotten Ruins, Yao Wan and Xiao Yan chose a route and traveled across the mountains and forest.
• Yao Wan admired a plain of indigo flowers, and Xiao Yan hinted that the flower he liked was rare and difficult to find.
• Yao Wan scolded Xiao Yan for not practicing the body-tempering techniques she had given him, and the two bickered as they traveled.
• Yao Wan and Xiao Yan reached a city overrun by the Spirit Devouring Clan’s Demonic Qi and found it deserted despite searching for hours.

Xiao Yan and Yao Wan searched the ruined Cen City but found no survivors, then discussed Xiao Yan’s resolve to fight for more than just his own clan. As they prepared to leave, human experts from Heaven Sword Palace arrived, and Xiao Yan recognized their Dou Venerate leader as Yao Lao.

• Yao Wan concluded that the Life Spirit Flame had found no survivors in Cen City, and Xiao Yan reflected on the suffering caused by the Spirit Devouring Clan.
• Xiao Yan told Yao Wan that protecting only the Xiao Clan was no longer enough, and she affirmed his choice while explaining her own selfish outlook.
• Yao Wan suggested they head toward the central region of the Forgotten Ruins to find other human cities and forces resisting the Spirit Devouring Clan.
• Three human experts, led by a Dou Venerate, arrived in Cen City and mistook Xiao Yan and Yao Wan for possible enemies before sensing a Heavenly Flame.
• Xiao Yan recognized the red-haired Dou Venerate and exclaimed, “Yao Lao, why are you here?”

Xiao Yan and Yao Wan encountered a complete, peak-strength version of the Heavenly Flame Honored One in the Forgotten Ruins, who accepted Xiao Yan’s proof of their connection and escorted them toward Heaven Sword Palace. Along the way, he explained how locals sensed direction and perceived the Forgotten Ruins and the Dou Qi Continent as separate worlds.

• Xiao Yan recognized the Heavenly Flame Honored One but realized this was not the remnant soul he knew, and the elder confirmed they had never met.
• Xiao Yan demonstrated the Five Round Li Fire Method, convincing the Heavenly Flame Honored One that he had taught Xiao Yan the technique in the past.
• The Heavenly Flame Honored One invited Xiao Yan and Yao Wan to Heaven Sword Palace after suspecting they had come from outside the Forgotten Ruins.
• The Heavenly Flame Honored One explained that locals navigated by sensing ley lines and that only Dou Venerates and stronger experts clearly perceived the difference between the Forgotten Ruins and the Dou Qi Continent.
• The group traveled past human cities and dangerous Natural Barriers as Xiao Yan and Yao Wan observed the defensive line separating human territory from the wilderness.

Yao Wan, Xiao Yan, and Heavenly Flame Honored One diverted to a city under attack by the Spirit Devouring Clan, where Shi Jiao and Shi Xiao led the assault. Heavenly Flame Honored One engaged Shi Xiao while Xiao Yan and Yao Wan fought off the Demonic Shadows, and the chapter ended with Shi Jiao targeting Xiao Yan and Yao Wan silently regarding her as a dead woman.

• Yao Wan questioned Heavenly Flame Honored One about the Spirit Devouring Clan, and he directed the group toward Heaven Sword Palace.
• The group detected a city being sealed by Demonic Qi and changed course to help its defenders.
• Shi Jiao drained the city's inhabitants while arguing with Shi Xiao, who went to intercept the approaching human experts.
• Heavenly Flame Honored One confronted Shi Xiao and told Xiao Yan and Yao Wan to handle the other Spirit Devouring Clan members.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Wan defeated the Demonic Shadows, and Shi Jiao appeared and flirted with Xiao Yan.
• Yao Wan remained silent as she regarded Shi Jiao as a dead woman.

Yao Wan and Xiao Yan stood together against Shi Jiao, who revealed her Six Star Dou Zun strength. Xiao Yan’s five-colored Heavenly Flame wounded her but failed to defeat her, and Shi Jiao turned her attack toward Yao Wan.

• Xiao Yan refused to leave Yao Wan behind, and she agreed to face Shi Jiao with him.
• Shi Jiao raised her strength to Six Star Dou Zun and attacked them with a vortex of black vines.
• Xiao Yan used the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations and struck Shi Jiao with the Flame Splitting Devouring Wave Ruler.
• Shi Jiao appeared beside Xiao Yan after blocking his strike, so he detonated a five-colored fire lotus and Yao Wan pulled him out of its blast.
• Shi Jiao emerged wounded but alive, then targeted Yao Wan as Xiao Yan's weak point.

Xiao Yan took Shi Jiao’s attack meant for Yao Wan, and Yao Wan used the life-burning Ash Extinction Flame to cut through Shi Jiao’s Blood Tide. With Xiao Yan still badly wounded, the two fused her flame into his six-flame fire lotus and prepared to attack Shi Jiao.

• Xiao Yan stepped in front of Yao Wan and was struck by Shi Jiao, while Yao Wan caught him and used the Life Spirit Flame to tend his wounds.
• Enraged by Shi Jiao’s taunts, Yao Wan transformed her flame into the Ash Extinction Flame, which threatened Shi Jiao and began turning Yao Wan’s hair white.
• Shi Jiao unleashed a Blood Tide to drown Xiao Yan and Yao Wan, but Yao Wan’s sword aura split the tide and the Demon Cloud as the Ash Extinction Flame burned Shi Jiao.
• Yao Wan planned to escape with Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan proposed merging her Heavenly Flame with his fire lotus.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Wan fused five Heavenly Flames with the Ash Extinction Flame, creating a six-flame fire lotus that dried the Blood Tide and drove back the Demon Cloud.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Wan unleashed the fire lotus toward Shi Jiao.

Xiao Yan and Yao Wan fused their Soul Power and Strange Fires to create the Ash Extinction Fire Lotus, which annihilated Shi Jiao and devastated the Spirit Devouring Clan forces. Shi Xiao retreated after the attack wounded him, and Heavenly Flame Honored One went to find Xiao Yan and Yao Wan.

• Xiao Yan and Yao Wan synchronized their Soul Power and combined their Strange Fires into a black-red Fire Lotus, while Xiao Yan realized Yao Wan endured burning pain when using the Ash Extinction Flame.
• Shi Jiao attacked Xiao Yan with a blood blade, but Xiao Yan sent the Ash Extinction Fire Lotus to meet it.
• The Fire Lotus exploded, killing Shi Jiao and burning away the Demon Clouds, Demonic Qi, and nearby Spirit Devouring Clan members.
• The explosion's destructive ripples struck Shi Xiao, but Heavenly Flame Honored One kept attacking him with the Fallen Heart Flame.
• Shi Xiao gave up the fight and retreated, while Heavenly Flame Honored One went to search for Xiao Yan and Yao Wan.

After defeating the Spirit Devouring Clan attacker, Xiao Yan carried the unconscious Yao Wan to Heaven Sword Palace, where Han Shanshan prepared to treat them. The chapter ended with Xiao Yan insisting that Han Shanshan examine Yao Wan before tending to his own severe injuries.

• Xiao Yan found Shi Jiao gone and discovered that Yao Wan had collapsed from the backlash of using the Ash Extinction Flame.
• The Heavenly Flame Honored One said Yao Wan was exhausted but not in danger, then took Xiao Yan and Yao Wan toward Heaven Sword Palace.
• Xiao Yan carried Yao Wan across several thousand li to Sword Mountain despite his own injuries and exhaustion.
• The Heavenly Flame Honored One brought them to the Medicine Department and introduced its Tier-7 Alchemist Hall Master, Han Shanshan.
• Han Shanshan led them to a quiet courtyard and asked to examine Xiao Yan, but he insisted that she treat Yao Wan first.

Han Shanshan treated the unconscious Xiao Yan and Yao Wan, discovering that Yao Wan’s silver hair came from depleted vitality and that Xiao Yan had several Heavenly Flames protecting him. Yao Wan woke and learned Xiao Yan had collapsed because he had pushed himself too hard while worrying about her.

• Han Shanshan examined Yao Wan and told Xiao Yan she was only overexerted and would wake after resting, though her vitality had been depleted.
• Xiao Yan collapsed from his injuries and exhaustion, and Heavenly Flame Honored One carried him to the next room.
• Heavenly Flame Honored One told Han Shanshan that Xiao Yan and Yao Wan had killed a Spirit Devouring Clan Demon General.
• Han Shanshan treated Xiao Yan, found several Heavenly Flames in his body, and gave him a pill to keep his injuries from worsening.
• Yao Wan woke and asked about Xiao Yan, and Han Shanshan told her he had collapsed from worrying about her.

Yao Wan recovered at Heaven Sword Palace while Han Shanshan cared for her and Xiao Yan, and she avoided discussing her feelings or physical condition. After three days, Han Shanshan said Xiao Yan was recovering quickly, and he woke as Yao Wan sat beside his bed.

• Han Shanshan told Yao Wan that Xiao Yan had exhausted himself carrying her to Heaven Sword Palace and revealed that she had not told him about Yao Wan's condition.
• Yao Wan introduced herself as Yao Wan and said she and Han Shanshan were of the same clan, stirring memories Han Shanshan did not explain.
• Han Shanshan treated Xiao Yan's mild internal injuries and checked on Yao Wan while both recovered in a small courtyard.
• Yao Wan stayed out of Xiao Yan's room so he could rest, while Han Shanshan visited them each day for three days.
• On the fourth day, Han Shanshan said Xiao Yan was recovering unusually quickly and might wake that day or the next.
• Xiao Yan's fingertips moved, and he opened his eyes to see Yao Wan beside his bed.

After waking from several days of unconsciousness, Xiao Yan reunited with Yao Wan and learned he needed more time to recover. He asked to wash her hair, leaving them together beside a spring as he gently let down her silver locks.

• Xiao Yan woke and accepted a gentle healing pill from Han Shanshan, who warned him to rest before fighting again.
• Han Shanshan left Yao Wan to care for Xiao Yan, and the two discussed whether the Forgotten Ruins had been built from their memories.
• Xiao Yan touched Yao Wan's silver hair, accidentally pulled out a few strands, and apologized, but Yao Wan urged him to focus on advancing to Dou Venerate.
• Xiao Yan asked Yao Wan for help, then brought her to a clear spring and began taking down her hair to wash it.

Xiao Yan washed Yao Wan’s long silver hair beside a spring and asked whether it could return to its former color. Yao Wan urged him to begin cultivating the Glass Body Sculpting Art, then reclaimed the Divine Sense she had left in its Scroll, leaving Xiao Yan unaware of the private message it carried.

• Xiao Yan gently washed Yao Wan’s silver hair while she asked whether he had washed the other girls’ hair and told him he should do so too.
• Yao Wan said her hair probably could not turn back, then reminded Xiao Yan to cultivate the Glass Body Sculpting Art.
• Yao Wan opened the golden Scroll and absorbed the Divine Sense she had left inside, causing a trace of vitality to appear in her silver hair.
• Xiao Yan asked how much the recovered Divine Sense could help Yao Wan, and she gave him a vague answer.
• Yao Wan’s recovered Divine Sense replayed a message she had left for Xiao Yan, but she kept its contents from him.

Yao Wan recovered the Divine Sense she had left for Xiao Yan and personally taught him the Glass Body Sculpting Art, helping him open his bone meridians. As Xiao Yan cultivated by the Medicine Department’s Spirit Spring, Han Shanshan revealed that people born in the Forgotten Ruins could not make progress through cultivation.

• Yao Wan recovered her Divine Sense and began teaching Xiao Yan the Glass Body Sculpting Art.
• Yao Wan aligned Xiao Yan’s spine to open his bone meridians, then explained how he could cultivate using Heaven and Earth Energy.
• Yao Wan and Xiao Yan discussed the destroyed Evil Core, their merged Strange Fires, and the need for Xiao Yan to obtain the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame to balance the Ash Extinction Flame.
• Han Shanshan found Xiao Yan cultivating at the Spirit Spring with a glazed shell covering his body while Yao Wan guarded him.
• Han Shanshan told Yao Wan that people born in the Forgotten Ruins could cultivate for hundreds or thousands of years without advancing.