Chapter Summaries

Nalan Chaoge used the Byakugan, Gentle Fist, and the Eight Inner Gates to overwhelm the Two-Star Dou Wang Sound King. After the Sound King escaped an Underworld Swamp and was kicked into a boulder, Nalan Chaoge attacked him with Explosive Tags and rushed in with a Rasengan as the Sound King begged for help.

• Nalan Chaoge unlocked the Byakugan and used it to read the Sound King's dou qi during their clash.
• Nalan Chaoge opened the Gate of Pain and battered the Sound King with Gentle Fist and Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, interrupting his techniques by sealing his acupuncture points.
• Nalan Chaoge kicked the Sound King away, but the Sound King formed Dou Qi Wings and escaped the Underworld Swamp with a spear.
• Nalan Chaoge struck the Sound King with Reverse Lotus, sending him into a boulder, then threw two Explosive Tags at him.
• Nalan Chaoge rushed toward the fallen Sound King with a Rasengan as the Sound King cried out for the Sect Master to save him.

Nalan Chaoge killed the Sound King despite Yuan Yi’s soul attack, but the Eight Gates Sect Master trapped him before he could escape. Nalan summoned Gamabunta and prepared to use a combined fire technique against Yuan Yi.

• Yuan Yi sensed his son Yuan Geng’s death and rushed toward Black Seal City, where he detected the Sound King fighting Nalan Chaoge.
• Nalan Chaoge endured Yuan Yi’s soul attack and struck the dying Sound King with a Rasengan before trying to flee.
• Yuan Yi intercepted Nalan Chaoge with a soul restraint and considered killing him rather than recruiting him.
• Nalan Chaoge summoned Gamabunta using his Tier 5 Demonic Core and asked the toad to hold Yuan Yi off.
• Gamabunta proposed using Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet, and Nalan Chaoge realized it might stop Yuan Yi.

Nalan Chaoge and Gamabunta fought Yuan Yi, but Nalan’s distraction disrupted their first combination attack and left them badly outmatched. After coordinating another attempt, they dodged Yuan Yi’s White Camel Heavenly Dragon Palm and launched Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet.

• Gamabunta explained that he and Nalan Chaoge could not defeat Yuan Yi without senjutsu, while Nalan wondered whether he could learn it at Mount Myōboku and decided he would.
• Gamabunta sprayed toad oil at Yuan Yi, but Nalan became distracted and failed to use Fire Release, allowing Yuan Yi to knock them hundreds of meters across the ground.
• Yuan Yi considered Nalan’s strange powers and feared that killing him might provoke a hidden great clan, but he resolved to end the battle quickly.
• Gamabunta and Nalan coordinated their next attack as Yuan Yi unleashed White Camel Heavenly Dragon Palm, and Gamabunta leaped aside to evade it.
• Nalan and Gamabunta used Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet against Yuan Yi.

Nalan Chaoge and Gamabunta escaped Yuan Yi’s attack after Nalan Chaoge ran out of Dou Qi, and Gamabunta vanished with him. Two months later, Nalan Chaoge remained missing while Nalan Yanran and Yaoye waited for his return.

• Nalan Chaoge combined Gamabunta’s toad oil with Fire Release to attack Yuan Yi from three directions, and Yuan Yi emerged from the flames badly injured.
• Nalan Chaoge ordered Gamabunta to flee, but Yuan Yi pursued them with the White Camel Heavenly Dragon Palm.
• Nalan Chaoge exhausted his Dou Qi and collapsed, while Gamabunta deflected the energy palm with his blade before vanishing with Nalan Chaoge.
• Yuan Yi’s attack destroyed part of a hill, and the Eight Gates lost a Dou Wang while Nalan Chaoge’s escape became a widely discussed story in the Black-Corner Region.
• After two months without news, Nalan Yanran and Yaoye continued waiting in Peace Town and vowed that Nalan Chaoge would return.

Mu Zhan sought to have Nalan Chaoge punished, and Hu Gan publicly expelled Nalan Chaoge from Jia Nan Academy despite protests from Yaoye, Nalan Yanran, and Wu Hao. After everyone else left, Hu Gan told Wu Tianlang that he had a hidden plan, leaving Wu Tianlang understanding his reasons.

• Mu Zhan denied arranging Nalan Chaoge’s ambush and asked Hu Gan to restore his reputation and punish Nalan Chaoge.
• Wu Hao testified that Nalan Chaoge had assisted the Enforcement Team and that the people killed outside Peace Town were wanted criminals.
• Hu Gan ruled that Nalan Chaoge had to be expelled for attacking Mu Zhan and breaking his limbs, despite Yaoye, Nalan Yanran, and Wu Hao objecting.
• Yaoye and Nalan Yanran decided they would leave the Academy with Nalan Chaoge once they learned where he was.
• After the others left, Wu Tianlang challenged Hu Gan, who quietly explained his plan and left Wu Tianlang understanding the ruling.

Mu Zhan demanded that Jia Nan Academy punish Nalan Chaoge, and Hu Gan declared him expelled despite Yaoye, Nalan Yanran, Wu Hao, and Wu Tianlang objecting. Hu Gan later revealed to Wu Tianlang that the expulsion was part of a hidden plan, while everyone believed Nalan Chaoge would return.

• Mu Zhan denied arranging the ambush and accused Nalan Chaoge of attacking him, while Yaoye challenged his claims and rejected his marriage threat.
• Wu Hao claimed that Nalan Chaoge had assisted the Enforcement Team and that its members could testify he had not left Peace Town without permission.
• Hu Gan ruled that Nalan Chaoge had to leave the academy for attacking Mu Zhan, and Yaoye and Nalan Yanran decided they would leave if he did.
• After the others left, Wu Tianlang questioned Hu Gan, who quietly explained his plan and left Wu Tianlang understanding his decision.

Nalan Chaoge learned that he had arrived in the Tagor Desert in year 666 and joined Xiao Li’s Desert Iron Mercenary Group under the name Yi Shui. After Xiao Li abandoned Qing Lin, Nalan Chaoge invited her to ride with him, leaving her stunned.

• Nalan Chaoge learned that a year and a half had passed and that he was in the Tagor Desert, where Xiao Yan would arrive in about six months.
• Nalan Chaoge met Xiao Li of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group and pretended his surname was Yi so Xiao Li would not connect him to Xiao Yan.
• Nalan Chaoge offered Xiao Li Qi Recovery Pills in exchange for traveling with the group, and Xiao Li accepted.
• Xiao Li ordered Qing Lin to give Nalan Chaoge her horse, then made her lead it on foot as the mercenaries rode onward.
• Nalan Chaoge asked Qing Lin her name and offered to let her ride with him, leaving her frozen in surprise.

Nalan Chaoge pulled Qing Lin onto his horse, discovered her disguise and learned she could sense snakes, while Qing Lin deduced several secrets about him. At an oasis, he suddenly accused her of lying and threatened her.

• Nalan Chaoge insisted that Qing Lin ride with him, and her exposed wrist revealed pale skin and green scales beneath her disguise.
• Nalan Chaoge pulled Qing Lin onto the horse and told her he would keep her secret, while she explained that she had disguised her appearance.
• Qing Lin inferred that Nalan Chaoge came from the Imperial Capital and was a skilled fighter using a false name.
• Qing Lin revealed that the mercenaries had taken her as a guide because she could sense snakes, and Nalan Chaoge realized why the party was searching the desert.
• Xiao Li spotted an oasis and led the party toward it, while Nalan Chaoge seized Qing Lin and threatened her for lying.

Nalan Chaoge exposed Qing Lin's plot to use Golden Horn Kui to kill him and the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, then learned she was retaliating against men who had abused her. He revealed his Dou Qi Wings and challenged her belief that the snakes could kill him.

• Nalan Chaoge caught Qing Lin lying about the Desert Iron Mercenary Group and showed her the Golden Horn Kui bait she had smeared on his clothes.
• Qing Lin explained that she had tried to kill him because their horse could not carry both of them through Snake Valley at a gallop.
• Nalan Chaoge used his Byakugan to discover that Qing Lin had baited the entire Desert Iron Mercenary Group and that Golden Horn Kui were hidden beneath the sand.
• Qing Lin revealed that A Gang had seen her body and that Xiao Ding had agreed to let him marry her, then declared that everyone who bullied her had to die.
• Nalan Chaoge warned Qing Lin about the group's preparations and revealed seven-colored Dou Qi Wings, showing that he was a Dou Wang.

Nalan Chaoge accepted Qing Lin as his little sister and protected her while they crossed the dangerous desert toward Stone Desert City. After the innkeeper rejected Qing Lin because of her heritage, Nalan Chaoge stopped her from leaving and promised that no one would bully her while he was there.

• Qing Lin was shocked when Nalan Chaoge displayed Dou Qi Wings, and he reassured her that he would deal with A Gang before declaring her his little sister.
• Nalan Chaoge rode toward the mercenaries, but Qing Lin warned him that an Exploding Lizard was nearby, so he turned back.
• An Exploding Lizard attacked the mercenaries and killed A Gang in a blast, saving Nalan Chaoge the trouble of confronting him.
• Nalan Chaoge used his Byakugan and kunai to handle dangers in the desert, then reached Stone Desert City with Qing Lin after nightfall.
• The innkeeper refused to let Qing Lin stay because she was half-human and half-snake, so she started to leave.
• Nalan Chaoge caught Qing Lin by the hand and promised that she would have a place with him and no one would bully her.

Nalan Chaoge defended Qing Lin after a waiter at the Jia Ma Inn insulted her, then attacked the waiter and killed him. He and Qing Lin were arrested by soldiers, while the crowd blamed Qing Lin and assumed Nalan Chaoge was doomed.

• The waiter insulted Qing Lin and threatened Nalan Chaoge with the Jia Ma Imperial Family’s authority, but Qing Lin urged Nalan Chaoge not to fight.
• Nalan Chaoge punched the waiter through the inn’s door, shocking the mercenaries gathered in the street.
• Qing Lin tried to take the blame and stay behind, but she discovered the waiter was dead as Nalan Chaoge pretended they had nothing to do with it.
• A second waiter shouted that Nalan Chaoge had committed murder, and Nalan Chaoge struck him down with a red streak from his sleeve.
• Soldiers arrived and took Nalan Chaoge and Qing Lin away as the crowd predicted his punishment and blamed Qing Lin.

Nalan Chaoge remained at the City Lord's Mansion after revealing his Nalan identity, protecting Qing Lin while waiting for Medusa to seek the green lotus core flame. Meanwhile, Yaoye and Nalan Yanran worried about his disappearance, and the chapter ended as a maid arrived with news she hesitated to share.

• The Desert Iron Mercenary Group expelled Qing Lin, while Nalan Chaoge welcomed the notice as part of his plan to separate her from the group.
• Lamu recognized Nalan Chaoge's military token but kept him and Qing Lin at the City Lord's Mansion while sending a report to the Jia Ma Imperial Family.
• Stone Desert City waited for the City Lord's Mansion to punish Nalan Chaoge, but no action came over the next two days.
• Nalan Chaoge stayed comfortably at the mansion to protect Qing Lin and await Medusa's fight over the green lotus core flame.
• In Jia Ma Holy City, Yaoye and Nalan Yanran discussed their worry for Nalan Chaoge and confirmed they had received no news of him.
• A maid approached Yaoye and Nalan Yanran with a report but hesitated to speak.

After learning that a powerful man carrying the Nalan Family's Lion Seal had attacked a Jia Ma Imperial Family waystation, Yaoye became convinced it was Xiao Ge and set out for Stone Desert City with Nalan Yanran. Mu Chen saw Yaoye leave the Holy City and ordered the Mu Family to track her down and kill her.

• A maid told Yaoye and Nalan Yanran that Lamu had reported a powerful culprit with a Nalan Family Lion Seal smashing up the imperial waystation in Stone Desert City.
• Yaoye recognized the report as likely referring to Xiao Ge and ordered Lamu to keep him safe until she arrived.
• Yaoye insisted on leaving the Holy City, but Nalan Yanran offered to go with her and bring Xiao Ge back.
• Yaoye and Nalan Yanran departed aboard a Heavenly Winged Horse after preparing to travel to Stone Desert City.
• Mu Chen noticed Yaoye had left the city and ordered the Mu Family to watch for her and kill her on sight.

Nalan Chaoge learned more about Qing Lin’s abilities and watched her deduce his true identity. When Qing Lin sensed the powerful Snake-Person he was seeking, Nalan Chaoge realized Medusa had arrived.

• Nalan Chaoge asked Qing Lin about controlling Snake Clan members, and she explained that she could communicate with snakes and erase their memories.
• Qing Lin’s enchantment briefly affected Nalan Chaoge, who recognized the danger of her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
• Qing Lin reasoned that Nalan Chaoge belonged to the Nalan Family and correctly guessed his name.
• Nalan Chaoge praised Qing Lin and told her to stay with him as his maid.
• Qing Lin sensed the powerful Snake-Person’s arrival and trembled until Nalan Chaoge soothed her with Dou Qi.

Nalan Chaoge and Qing Lin escaped the City Lord’s Mansion and located Medusa’s hidden underground passage in the desert. He summoned Manda to help him reach her, and Qing Lin used her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils on the giant snake.

• Qing Lin unleashed a mass of ordinary snakes in the City Lord’s Mansion, letting her and Nalan Chaoge leave amid the chaos.
• Nalan Chaoge carried Qing Lin across the desert, where she pinpointed the place Medusa’s presence had vanished beneath the sand.
• Nalan Chaoge used his Byakugan to spot a buried passage and decided to pursue the injured Medusa.
• Nalan Chaoge spent his last Tier 5 Demonic Core to summon Manda and asked the giant snake to help him.
• As Manda lowered his head toward Nalan Chaoge, Nalan Chaoge gave the signal and Qing Lin released a brilliant light from her pupils.

Nalan Chaoge and Qing Lin struggled to control Manda after he attacked them, with Nalan Chaoge using Rashomon to hold off his tail while Qing Lin completed her technique. Qing Lin collapsed, but Manda became docile around her, leaving Nalan Chaoge with a powerful new ally.

• Qing Lin used her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils while Nalan Chaoge trapped Manda in an Underworld Swamp.
• Manda struck at Nalan Chaoge and Qing Lin with his tail, forcing Nalan Chaoge to retreat with her.
• Nalan Chaoge summoned Rashomon to block Manda's attack as Qing Lin branded his head with a green flower.
• Qing Lin collapsed after the technique, and Manda became docile whenever he looked at her.
• Nalan Chaoge recovered from the effort and celebrated successfully controlling Manda.

After Qing Lin subdued Manda, Nalan Chaoge took her underground to hide near the magma where Medusa was seeking the Heavenly Flame. They concealed themselves within striking distance, watching for Medusa’s movements.

• Qing Lin awoke and confirmed that the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had bound Manda to her.
• Qing Lin sensed interconnected underground passages and another python, which Nalan Chaoge identified as the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake guarding the Heavenly Flame.
• Nalan Chaoge decided to descend underground before dawn exposed their disappearance and drew the attention of other factions.
• Qing Lin nicknamed Manda A Zi, then ordered him to carry her and Nalan Chaoge beneath the yellow sand.
• A Zi dug a separate passage and hid a few dozen meters from the underground magma while Qing Lin and Nalan Chaoge watched for Medusa.

Yaoye and Nalan Yanran arrived at Stone Desert City's City Lord's Mansion after Lamu fabricated a report blaming Medusa for a snake attack. Yaoye demanded to know where Nalan Chaoge was, and Lamu led them toward the rear courtyard while secretly signaling his aide to attack.

• Venomous snakes suddenly appeared in the City Lord's Mansion, then vanished, leaving snake corpses behind.
• Lamu ordered a false battle report claiming that Medusa had attacked with a massive force and invented thousands of casualties to claim compensation.
• Yaoye and Nalan Yanran entered the mansion, and a messenger identified Yaoye as Jia Ma's Grand Princess.
• Yaoye ignored Lamu's excuses and asked where Nalan Chaoge was, while Nalan Yanran explained that he carried the Nalan Family's Lion Seal.
• Lamu said Nalan Chaoge was in the rear courtyard, led Yaoye and Nalan Yanran toward him, and secretly signaled his aide to strike.

Yaoye and Nalan Yanran searched for Nalan Chaoge in Stone Desert City, but found he had already left. Lamu trapped them in a cage and branded them rebels, leaving Yaoye preparing to sacrifice herself so Nalan Yanran could escape.

• Lamu told Yaoye and Nalan Yanran that a young man called Yi Shui had been brought to the guarded rear courtyard.
• Yaoye and Nalan Yanran found Nalan Chaoge’s room empty, with cold tea and neatly folded bedding.
• Lamu knelt to trigger a trap that dropped an iron cage around the two women as crossbowmen aimed poisoned bolts at them.
• Yaoye declared her identity and offered the soldiers rewards to seize Lamu, but he claimed they were impostors and ordered his men to capture them.
• Yaoye told Nalan Yanran to take the explosive-tag kunai and escape when the cage opened, while Nalan Yanran urged Yaoye to leave instead.
• Yaoye refused to yield the kunai and said Nalan Chaoge should be told she would be his woman again in her next life.

Nalan Yanran and Yaoye escaped their iron cage and fought Lamu’s men, but Yaoye took a poisoned crossbow bolt meant for Nalan Yanran. Nalan Yanran killed the last attacker and wept as Yaoye appeared to be dying.

• Nalan Yanran and Yaoye attacked the guards as the cage rose, killing all twelve crossbowmen and the dark-skinned brute.
• Yaoye decided that she and Nalan Yanran would find Lamu, seize command of the troops, and force him to reveal where Xiao Ge was.
• Lamu returned with two armed guards, rejected the chance to surrender, and ordered them to fire.
• Yaoye threw an Explosive Tag-wrapped kunai while Nalan Yanran struck, killing Lamu and one guard, but the final guard shot a crossbow bolt.
• Yaoye took the bolt for Nalan Yanran, who killed the last guard and turned to support her in tears.