Chapter Summaries

Nalan Chaoge and Xun'er entered the Library Pavilion after its two mysterious keepers opened the Space Barrier. Inside, Nalan Chaoge used his Byakugan to see through the hall’s restrictions, where a hidden battle skill scroll appeared before him.

• Hu Gan requested entry to the Library Pavilion, and two dust-covered keepers awakened and recognized the heavenly flames in Nalan Chaoge and Xun'er.
• The keepers opened the Space Barrier established by the dean, allowing Hu Gan, Nalan Chaoge, and Xun'er to enter.
• Hu Gan explained the Pavilion’s rules, and Nalan Chaoge and Xun'er stepped inside after the old men sealed the entrance behind them.
• Nalan Chaoge discovered that soul power could not be used in the Pavilion, so he activated his Byakugan to see through the dark passage.
• The two keepers noticed Nalan Chaoge’s unusual eyes and sensed an ancient emperor bloodline in Xun'er.
• Nalan Chaoge and Xun'er reached an apparently empty hall, where a mass of energy appeared and Nalan Chaoge identified a High Mysterious Tier fire-attribute battle skill scroll: Blazing Flames Filling the Sky.

Nalan Chaoge discovered that his strength let him open and search the Library Pavilion’s fleeing energy spheres, while Xun’er struggled until one sphere yielded an Earth Tier Battle Skill she could use as a bargaining chip. Xun’er demanded an Earth Tier cultivation method in exchange, leaving Nalan Chaoge searching the hall under her watchful eye.

• Nalan Chaoge extracted a High Mysterious Tier cultivation method from an energy sphere, then retrieved a Fifth Grade pill from the sphere Xun’er had been unable to open.
• Nalan Chaoge used his Byakugan and strength to catch and open sphere after sphere while Xun’er grew exhausted and asked him to help find something in exchange for a kiss.
• A sphere that Xun’er had waved away returned to her, and she extracted an Earth Tier Battle Skill called heavenly corpse bone vein.
• Xun’er revealed the Battle Skill and demanded an Earth Tier cultivation method, at least middle grade, in exchange; Nalan Chaoge realized she had brought him to help her obtain one.
• Nalan Chaoge refused to trade for the Battle Skill and resumed searching the spheres, while Xun’er stopped searching and waited for him to find what she wanted.

Nalan Chaoge searched the Library Pavilion and found the High-grade Earth-tier Nine Heavens Dragon Phoenix Art, while Xun'er gave him the Heavenly Corpse Bone Vein to settle her promised favor. As the time to leave ran out, Chaoge reached for a mysterious gray energy cluster, which enveloped him before he shattered it with a burst of power.

• Nalan Chaoge summoned more than a hundred Byakugan-equipped Shadow Clones to inspect the Library Pavilion's energy clusters.
• Nalan Chaoge remembered Xun'er's promise of a favor, and Xun'er gave him the Heavenly Corpse Bone Vein to settle their debt.
• One of Nalan Chaoge's clones found the High-grade Earth-tier Nine Heavens Dragon Phoenix Art, and Xun'er briefly examined it before returning it.
• With three minutes left, Nalan Chaoge spotted a newly appeared gray energy cluster and reached for it.
• The gray mist engulfed Nalan Chaoge, but he shattered it with a powerful surge of energy.

Nalan Chaoge and Xun'er competed over treasures in the Library Pavilion, where each visitor could take only one item. Xun'er secretly marked the Heavenly Poison Scripture for a future attempt, and Nalan Chaoge rescued her as they escaped the closing passage.

• Nalan Chaoge found the Heavenly Poison Scripture inside a poisonous gray energy cluster but learned that each visitor could take only one item from the Library Pavilion.
• Xun'er revealed that she wanted the Nine Heavens Dragon Phoenix Art, and she and Nalan Chaoge bargained over which treasures they would take.
• Nalan Chaoge gave Xun'er the Nine Heavens Dragon Phoenix Art, while she secretly sent a wisp of heavenly flame into the gray energy cluster to help her open it later.
• As the Library Pavilion space contracted, Nalan Chaoge and Xun'er ran for the closing passage, and he grabbed her waist to pull them both through the last gap.

Nalan Chaoge and Xun'er left the Library Pavilion with high-grade Earth Tier treasures, prompting the elders to bar them from entering again. On a mountain behind Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan reconsidered Yao Chen's motives and began to suspect that his teacher had chosen him for a hidden purpose.

• Hu Gan learned that Nalan Chaoge and Xun'er had obtained the Nine Heavens Dragon Phoenix Art and the Heavenly Corpse Bone Vein, then told them they could not enter the Library Pavilion again through the tournament.
• Xun'er told Hu Gan and Hu Jia that both she and Nalan Chaoge had taken high-grade Earth Tier cultivation methods, leaving Hu Gan stunned.
• Xiao Yan reflected on his sealed teacher, his destroyed clan, and the possibility that Nalan Chaoge would seek revenge.
• Xiao Yan realized that Yao Chen had concealed his knowledge of Nalan Chaoge and questioned why Yao Chen had chosen him as a disciple.
• Xiao Yan recalled that Yao Chen could place techniques in his mind without his consent and began to suspect that Yao Chen had selected him for a hidden purpose.

Xiao Yan nearly killed himself over the Xiao Family’s destruction, but Yao Chen revealed he had survived in the Na Ring and offered to help him grow stronger. Xun’er brought Xiao Yan a high Earth Tier cultivation method, while explaining that the Soul Hall—not Nalan Chaoge—had destroyed the Xiao Family, leaving Xiao Yan suspicious of how much he could still trust her.

• Xiao Yan regretted his role in the Xiao Family’s destruction and swung the Black Heavy Ruler toward his own head.
• Yao Chen spoke from the Na Ring, explaining that he had hidden a thread of consciousness there and needed medicinal herbs to restore his soul.
• Xiao Yan agreed to work with Yao Chen, who revealed he had once intended to take Xiao Yan’s body but now planned to have Xiao Yan refine him a new one.
• Xun’er arrived with a high Earth Tier cultivation method she had obtained from the Library Pavilion with Nalan Chaoge, and Xiao Yan accepted it.
• Xiao Yan told Xun’er he knew a soul body had destroyed the Xiao Family, and Xun’er identified it as belonging to the Soul Hall and urged him not to confront it prematurely.

Nalan Chaoge gave Kimimaro manuals on Shikotsumyaku and the moves of Dance of Bones, while urging Xiao Yi Xian to place in the tournament’s top five so she could retrieve the Heavenly Poison Scripture. After a two-day break, Jia Nan Academy began the second match of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament, a free-for-all to determine who advanced.

• Nalan Chaoge gave Kimimaro Heavenly Corpse Bone Vein and his illustrated Dance of Bones manual to practice.
• Nalan Chaoge told Xiao Yi Xian about the Heavenly Poison Scripture and urged her to reach the top five to enter the Library Pavilion and retrieve it.
• Nalan Chaoge advised Xiao Yi Xian to seek a sonic dou technique for Xiao Lü, who had taken the Yin Yang Profound Dragon Gall.
• Hu Gan and Wu Tianlang discussed the likely top contenders as the plaza filled for the second match.
• Hu Gan announced that the match was a free-for-all, with the last contestants standing advancing and the final five earning access to the Library Pavilion.

The second round of Jia Nan Academy’s Inner Academy Selection Tournament began with Yang Chao’s sixty-six followers dominating the arena and Yang Chao selling promises of advancement. The match opened in a burst of attacks, with more than a dozen contestants already eliminated.

• Hu Gan explained the arena’s elimination rules and warned contestants against deliberately inflicting serious injuries.
• Xiao Yan and Xun’er stood together while Hu Jia threatened to have her group attack Xiao Yan and tried to draw Xun’er to her side.
• Yang Chao offered to help Hu Jia eliminate Xiao Yan in exchange for a date, then promised his followers a deputy leader position for knocking Xiao Yan out.
• Yang Chao offered other contestants places in the top fifty for two million gold coins, and Su Qian explained that the challenge would force the others to unite against him.
• Hu Gan began the second-round match, and blasts of Dou Qi sent more than a dozen contestants out of the arena.

The selection battle descended into chaos as Yang Chao’s large faction tried to clear the arena, while Xiao Yan and Xun'er fought alongside the other leading teams. Xiao Yan struck Yang Chao, but Yang Chao used Spatial Traversal to eliminate Xun'er; with only thirty-odd contestants left, Yang Chao sent his followers away and prepared to face Xiao Yan.

• Yang Chao kept his followers grouped to eliminate opponents, but Hu Jia and Wu Hao joined forces and shattered his formation.
• Xiao Yi Xian and Kimimaro intercepted Hu Jia and Wu Hao while Xiao Yan attacked Yang Chao and knocked him toward the arena boundary.
• Yang Chao used Spatial Traversal to appear behind Xun'er and force her out of the arena.
• Xun'er left after warning Yang Chao and encouraging Xiao Yan, while the remaining contestants dwindled to thirty-odd.
• Yang Chao ordered his remaining followers to leave and turned to face Xiao Yan.

The final round of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament narrowed to three forces, with Xiao Yan standing alone against Yang Chao’s team and Hu Jia and Wu Hao’s group. Yang Chao’s team launched a coordinated assault, but Xiao Yan drove back several attackers before Kimimaro trapped him in the Dance of the Willow.

• The remaining students formed three forces: Yang Chao’s team, Hu Jia and Wu Hao’s group, and Xiao Yan alone.
• Yang Chao told Xiao Yi Xian, Kimimaro, and three other students to attack Xiao Yan while he pretended he would hold Xiao Yan off.
• Yang Chao accused Xiao Yan of using hidden force in a sneak attack and suggested Xiao Yan might try to kill him after the tournament.
• Yang Chao’s six teammates charged Xiao Yan, who deflected Kimimaro’s Bone Bullets, evaded Xiao Yi Xian’s poison, and blasted three students out of the field.
• Kimimaro struck Xiao Yan with a bone spike and followed with the Dance of the Willow, leaving Xiao Yan struggling against his close-range attacks.

Xiao Yan fought Kimimaro, Xiao Yi Xian, and Yang Chao in the selection tournament, but Xun'er helped him avoid elimination and he unleashed an Earth-tier technique that threatened the plaza. Su Qian, Wu Tianlang, and Hu Gan shielded the crowd, while Nalan Chaoge protected the area behind Xiao Yan; the blast left the fighters battered, with the outcome still obscured by dust.

• Xiao Yan struck Kimimaro, but Kimimaro countered with Dance of the Larch while Yang Chao attacked from the void and Xiao Yi Xian poisoned Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan expelled the poison toward Hu Jia and Wu Hao's groups, knocking down five teammates, but Hu Jia and Wu Hao survived.
• Yang Chao blasted Xiao Yan out of the arena, but Xun'er used Blowing Fire Palm to propel him back toward it.
• Xiao Yan retrieved the Black Heavy Ruler and unleashed Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, prompting Hu Gan, Su Qian, and Wu Tianlang to shield the plaza.
• Nalan Chaoge protected the area behind Xiao Yan as the fighters defended themselves from the blast; dust concealed the aftermath, though the combatants appeared battered.

The selection tournament ended when Hu Gan stopped the fight and allowed all six remaining students to enter the Library Pavilion, after Xiao Yi Xian’s poison forced the elders to intervene. During a new Inner Academy demonstration, Yan Hao challenged Nalan Chaoge over his old promise and began a test against Nalan Chaoge’s twenty clones.

• Xiao Yi Xian released her poisonous mist during the six-way fight, prompting Hu Gan to halt the match before anyone was seriously hurt.
• Hu Gan declared that Xiao Yan, Xiao Yi Xian, Kimimaro, Hu Jia, Wu Hao, and Yang Chao had all passed, and Yang Chao collapsed after suffering internal injuries.
• Hu Gan announced that Yan Hao would demonstrate his progress, and Yan Hao asked to choose Nalan Chaoge as his opponent.
• Yan Hao reminded Nalan Chaoge of the challenge he had accepted two years earlier and said he wanted to stand up for his former instructor, Hank.
• Nalan Chaoge agreed to the challenge and created twenty clones, telling Yan Hao to destroy them all within two hours to win.
• Yan Hao drew his Eight-Sided Hammer as Hu Gan watched anxiously and Nalan Chaoge’s clones winked at him.

Yan Hao fought Nalan Chaoge’s clones, then tried to kill himself after deciding he could never avenge Instructor Hank. Nalan Chaoge saved him and offered to help him reach Dou Zong within three years, leaving Yan Hao kneeling in the plaza while Wu Hao wondered whether Nalan Chaoge could help him grow stronger too.

• Yan Hao destroyed Nalan Chaoge’s clones in the arena while the real Nalan Chaoge refined a healing pill for Yang Chao in the dormitory.
• Nalan Chaoge revealed that he was a Two-Star Dou Zong and challenged Yan Hao to reach Dou Zong within three years if he wanted to be worthy of opposing him.
• Yan Hao gave up on revenge and tried to kill himself, but Nalan Chaoge saved him.
• Yan Hao declared his loyalty to Instructor Hank, and Nalan Chaoge offered to help him become a Dou Zong within three years if he followed him.
• Yan Hao knelt in the plaza for two days, while Wu Hao recalled Nalan Chaoge’s offer to help him become stronger.

Su Qian and Hu Gan discussed why they were letting Nalan Chaoge make Yan Hao kneel, believing he might help Yan Hao become a Dou Zong. As students gathered to enter the Library Pavilion, Xun'er offered Nalan Chaoge her heavenly flame origin so he could find another way to retrieve the Heavenly Poison Scripture.

• Hu Gan showed Su Qian the high-quality Sect Breaking Pill Nalan Chaoge had refined, and they agreed to wait and see whether he could help Yan Hao become a Dou Zong within three years.
• On the third morning, Yan Hao had disappeared from the plaza, and students gathered for their Library Pavilion entry.
• Yang Chao begged Nalan Chaoge to let him follow him, but Nalan Chaoge refused, and Xun'er chased Yang Chao away.
• Nalan Chaoge reminded Xun'er that she still owed him help retrieving the Heavenly Poison Scripture, which she had left inside an energy sphere in the Library Pavilion.
• Xun'er offered Nalan Chaoge a wisp of her Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame's origin and took his hand to pass it to him.

Xun'er tried to kill Nalan Chaoge by forcing golden emperor burning heaven flame into his body, but Nalan Chaoge summoned Yao Chen and confronted her in his mental world. He gained the upper hand and demanded a kiss as compensation, while sensing an unexpected commotion outside.

• Xun'er secretly transferred a wisp of golden emperor burning heaven flame into Nalan Chaoge, then sealed his body and questioned him about his identity and secrets.
• Xun'er decided to kill Nalan Chaoge, blaming him for the Xiao Family's deaths, and flooded his body with more heavenly flame.
• Nalan Chaoge's system refused to absorb the child flame, so he called on Yao Chen to keep the two flames from killing him.
• Nalan Chaoge confronted Xun'er in his mental world and fought off her fire dragons with four dragons of his own.
• Xun'er offered to stop fighting, but Nalan Chaoge demanded a kiss as compensation and sensed something unusual happening outside.

Nalan Chaoge and Xun'er fought inside his soul and struck a bargain that ended with Xun'er kissing him so she could return to reality. The tournament crowd overheard their exchange, and Xiao Yan walked away after telling Xun'er he trusted her, while she vowed to kill Nalan Chaoge.

• Hu Gan opened a path for the tournament finalists, leaving Xun'er and Nalan Chaoge standing hand in hand before the crowd and shocking Xiao Yan.
• Yang Chao mocked Xiao Yan about Xun'er and Nalan Chaoge, prompting Xiao Yan and Yang Chao to draw their weapons.
• Inside Nalan Chaoge's soul, he threatened Xun'er and demanded a kiss in exchange for letting her return to her body.
• Xun'er kissed Nalan Chaoge, and they returned to reality as the finalists passed by after hearing their conversation.
• Xiao Yi Xian revealed that everyone had heard them, and Xun'er left a wisp of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame in Nalan Chaoge's palm.
• Xun'er tried to explain herself to Xiao Yan, but he avoided her hand and walked away, saying that he trusted her.

Nalan Chaoge arrived in time to help Xiao Yi Xian enter the Library Pavilion, while Yang Chao gave up his chance to enter so he could speak with its Gray Robe Elders. As the others searched for treasures and Nalan Chaoge hoped Xiao Yi Xian would find the Heavenly Poison Scripture, Xun'er confronted him again.

• Nalan Chaoge gave Xiao Yi Xian a scroll to suppress her Woeful Poison Body and whispered instructions to her before she entered the Library Pavilion.
• The Gray Robe Elders recognized Yang Chao as a descendant of Yang Fengxue, and Yang Chao claimed kinship with them after laughing at Xiao Yan.
• Yang Chao gave up his two-hour chance to enter the Library Pavilion so he could stay and talk with the Gray Robe Elders.
• The group entered the Library Pavilion to choose treasures while Yang Chao sat outside and chatted with the elders.
• Nalan Chaoge hoped Xiao Yi Xian would find the Heavenly Poison Scripture, but Xun'er suddenly asked him how he wanted to die.

Nalan Chaoge confronted Xun'er over her repeated attempts to kill him, then revealed that he had placed a Transcription Seal inside her body. He warned that if she tried to kill him, his strongest Fire Attribute Battle Skill would activate and kill them both.

• Xun'er told Nalan Chaoge she wanted to kill him to prove she had nothing to do with him and protect Xiao Yan.
• Nalan Chaoge challenged Xun'er’s reasoning and pointed out that her insistence on proving her innocence only made the rumors seem more credible.
• Xun'er revealed that she had planted the origin of her child flame inside Nalan Chaoge so she could burn him to ashes at will.
• Nalan Chaoge explained that he had sealed a Fire Attribute Battle Skill into Xun'er using Transcription Seal, with her attempt to kill him as its activation condition.
• Nalan Chaoge warned Xun'er that activating the golden emperor burning heaven flame inside him would cause them both to perish, leaving her dumbfounded.

Xiao Yi Xian waited in the Library Pavilion for the gray energy mass containing the Heavenly Poison Scripture while the others searched for treasures. When it finally appeared, Kimimaro’s bone spike pierced it and was instantly poisoned and burned to ash by the golden emperor burning heaven flame.

• Hu Jia caught an energy orb and obtained the high mysterious tier battle skill God Beating Whip, then began cultivating it.
• Kimimaro searched the energy orbs with his bone spikes and found the high mysterious tier sonic dou technique Dragon Sky Phenomenon.
• Xiao Yan overheard Xiao Yi Xian explain that she was waiting for a technique related to the woeful poison body and moved closer to her.
• Xiao Yi Xian sensed the gray energy mass appear and sent her energy and Kimimaro’s bone spike after it.
• Kimimaro severed his connection to the spike after the gray mass poisoned it, and the spike crumbled to ash from the golden emperor burning heaven flame.

Xiao Yan seized the Heavenly Poison Scripture while Xiao Yi Xian and Kimimaro pursued it, then fought to retrieve the scroll inside as the Library Pavilion began closing. Xiao Yi Xian escaped with the scripture after opening a sealed Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, and she realized Xiao Yan wanted it because he knew of another person with the woeful poison body.

• The Heavenly Poison Scripture’s poison gas, mixed with Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, burned Kimimaro’s bone spike and struck Xiao Yi Xian when she tried to seize it.
• Xiao Yan grabbed the energy mass and used Mysterious Yellow Flame to push back its poison gas, while Kimimaro, Xiao Yi Xian, Hu Jia, and Wu Hao confronted him.
• Xiao Yan reached a scroll inside the energy mass, and Kimimaro and the others retreated as the Library Pavilion recalled its energy orbs and the exit deadline approached.
• Xiao Yi Xian opened a scroll sealing Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, caught the Heavenly Poison Scripture that shot from the energy mass, and fled with Kimimaro, Wu Hao, and Hu Jia.
• The Gray Robe Elder swallowed the pursuing flames in a fold of space, and Xiao Yan emerged just before the Library Pavilion doors closed.
• Xiao Yi Xian recalled Nalan Chaoge’s instructions and realized Xiao Yan had wanted the scripture because he knew another person with the woeful poison body.