Chapter Summaries

Yaoye survived Lamu’s poisoned crossbow bolt thanks to the Heavenly Silkworm Robe, then left to find Nalan Chaoge after distant explosions shook the desert. Underground, Nalan Chaoge learned that Medusa had entered a sealed passage and resolved to stop her from evolving.

• Yaoye revealed that the Heavenly Silkworm Robe had blocked Lamu’s poisoned bolt, though its embedded Magic Core shattered in the process.
• Yaoye urged Nalan Yanran to take control of the leaderless army, but raced toward the distant explosions when she thought Nalan Chaoge might be there.
• Nalan Chaoge and Qing Lin waited near the magma cavern, where Qing Lin sensed Medusa and a powerful companion moving through the passage beneath the magma.
• Qing Lin lost her ability to sense Medusa when the Queen reached a barrier, leading Nalan Chaoge to suspect she was preparing to evolve.
• Nalan Chaoge decided Medusa’s successful evolution would make her a future enemy and took Qing Lin to stop her.

Nalan Chaoge and Qing Lin reached the magma lake where Medusa was evolving, but he struggled to find a way down and the lake suddenly erupted. As they took shelter in A Zi’s tunnel, Qing Lin spotted Medusa rising with the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake attacking her.

• A Zi carried Nalan Chaoge and Qing Lin into the cavern above the magma lake, where Qing Lin pointed out Medusa below.
• Nalan Chaoge tested the magma with his Dou Qi and realized his energy would not protect him for long, then told Qing Lin to wait behind.
• Qing Lin refused to leave him, so Nalan Chaoge called her his little sister and she agreed to wait for him.
• The magma surged into the tunnel, and Nalan Chaoge carried Qing Lin to safety before blocking the entrance with an Earth Flow Wall.
• Nalan Chaoge used Byakugan to watch the cavern while Qing Lin saw Medusa rising, with the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake attacking her and her energy barrier going berserk.

Medusa tried to seize the green lotus core flame but suffered a sneak attack from the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake and lost much of her dou qi to the lotus roots. As she transformed into her original Purple Nether Flame Snake form and rushed out, Nalan Chaoge prepared to act from the tunnel.

• The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake ambushed Medusa during her evolution, shattering her energy shield and allowing the green lotus core flame to engulf her.
• Medusa used the Clear Spirit Cold Spring and her dou qi to withstand the flames, but the green lotus roots drained nearly half her strength when she approached.
• Medusa reached for the green lotus core flame while the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake attacked her with magma projectiles from outside the flame's range.
• Medusa deflected the projectiles, transformed into the Sixth-Order Purple Nether Flame Snake, and charged toward the exit.
• Qing Lin warned Nalan Chaoge that Medusa was badly injured, and Nalan Chaoge hesitated before forming hand seals to ambush her.

Nalan Chaoge and Manda attacked the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake in the magma cavern while Medusa fled from it. The snake outmaneuvered them, biting Manda and lunging to swallow Nalan Chaoge.

• Qing Lin sent Manda to shield Nalan Chaoge from falling magma as Medusa and the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake appeared in pursuit.
• Nalan Chaoge prepared to attack the wounded Medusa, but the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake fired a magma bullet at him, forcing him to dodge behind an earthen wall.
• Nalan Chaoge rode Manda into the magma and attacked the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake with fire ninjutsu and summoned toad oil, setting the cavern ablaze.
• The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake struck Nalan Chaoge from behind and wrapped its tail around Manda as Manda tried to catch him.
• The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake bit Manda's neck with one head and lunged to swallow Nalan Chaoge with the other.

Nalan Chaoge was nearly killed by the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, but Medusa's Purple Nether Flame Snake rescued him. After activating Sage Mode, he overwhelmed the beast and prepared a Sage Art attack, leaving the battle poised for a decisive strike.

• The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake knocked Nalan Chaoge toward the magma, but Medusa's Purple Nether Flame Snake struck the beast and caught him in her mouth.
• Nalan Chaoge emerged unharmed, activated Sage Mode, opened the Eight Inner Gates, and created two clones.
• Nalan Chaoge ordered Manda and Medusa to retreat, then he and his clones attacked the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake at close range.
• Nalan Chaoge and his clones drove the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake into a brutal beating while Medusa watched in surprise.
• Nalan Chaoge and his clones formed hand seals and combined Wind Release, Fire Release, and toad oil to unleash Sage Art: Goemon.

Nalan Chaoge killed the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake with Sage Art: Goemon and discovered that its two heads held separate fifth-rank magic cores. After Medusa revealed the Green Lotus Core Flame, Nalan Chaoge reconsidered his assumption that he had to kill her to obtain it.

• Nalan Chaoge finished off the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake with Sage Art: Goemon and cut open its head to retrieve a fifth-rank magic core.
• Nalan Chaoge realized the snake had a second magic core and extracted it from its other head.
• Qing Lin emerged from the cave, and Nalan Chaoge moved to shield her as Medusa approached.
• Medusa transformed into human form and presented the Green Lotus Core Flame, asking whether it was what Nalan Chaoge had come for.
• Nalan Chaoge decided that meeting Medusa first had changed events and that he did not have to kill her to obtain the flame.

Nalan Chaoge convinced Medusa he did not want the heavenly flame and urged her to evolve before human experts came looking for it. Medusa revealed that the Snake-People Tribe’s stolen flame divine sense had been divided into four portions, prompting Nalan Chaoge to suspect it was connected to the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame and the Netherworld Demonic Saint.

• Nalan Chaoge reassured Medusa that he had no interest in the heavenly flame and advised her to evolve immediately.
• Medusa questioned why evolving there was best, and Nalan Chaoge warned that Hai Bodong had spread news of the flame, which would draw human experts within six months.
• Medusa reacted furiously to Hai Bodong’s name and explained that someone had stolen the Snake-People Tribe’s flame divine sense during her seclusion.
• Medusa said the stolen divine sense had been divided into four portions, with one held by a missing elder, another by Hai Bodong, and two still unaccounted for.
• Nalan Chaoge deduced that the divine sense was linked to the fragment map and the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, and wondered about the Netherworld Demonic Saint’s connection to the Medusas.

Nalan Chaoge told Medusa where she might find the missing Snake-People Tribe elder and asked her to help Qing Lin grow stronger. Medusa agreed to take Qing Lin in and, in exchange for Nalan Chaoge’s help, accepted his demand for four Tier 5 Demonic Cores.

• Medusa said she had cursed Hai Bodong, locking his strength at the Dou Ling level and causing him to age rapidly.
• Nalan Chaoge told Medusa that Elder Mo might be in a cave on the eastern edge of the Magical Beast Mountain Range and offered to lead her there after her evolution.
• Nalan Chaoge revealed Qing Lin’s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and asked Medusa to help Qing Lin grow stronger.
• Medusa persuaded Qing Lin to stay with the Snake-People Tribe and cultivate, and Qing Lin agreed.
• Nalan Chaoge and Medusa agreed to exchange his help finding Elder Mo for four Tier 5 Demonic Cores.

Nalan Chaoge negotiated with Medusa, who asked him to protect her during her evolution in exchange for four Tier 5 Demonic Cores. While considering the heavenly flame and his system’s limitations, he persuaded the system to adjust its requirements so he could unlock the flame-collecting function at [a]-rank; the chapter ended with the prospect of using collected flame energy to summon tailed beasts and ninja.

• Medusa offered Nalan Chaoge four Tier 5 Demonic Cores if he protected her until her evolution was complete.
• Nalan Chaoge questioned whether he could trust Medusa, and she explained that she would evolve at the cavern’s bottom to keep the heavenly flame from endangering her tribe.
• Nalan Chaoge remembered the system’s lost heavenly flame collection function and called on the system for advice.
• The system told Nalan Chaoge that full repairs required SSS-Rank, but he asked it to restore only the flame collection function.
• The system adjusted its requirements, making the collection function available at [a]-rank and allowing collected heavenly flame energy to summon tailed beasts and ninja.

Nalan Chaoge agreed to help Medusa absorb the heavenly flame after her evolution, and left with Qing Lin while Medusa prepared underground. Meanwhile, Yaoye and Nalan Yanran became lost in the desert and were confronted by Mo Bass, chief of the Ink Snake Tribe.

• Nalan Chaoge accepted Medusa's offer of two Tier 5 Demonic Cores and agreed to help her absorb the heavenly flame after her evolution.
• Medusa said she needed a month to recover and would take three to six months to evolve, then swallowed Nalan Chaoge's recovery and healing pills.
• Nalan Chaoge left the underground chamber with Qing Lin, intending to wait for Medusa's evolution and obtain the remaining cores before others arrived.
• Yaoye and Nalan Yanran rushed into the desert searching for Nalan Chaoge, lost their bearings, and realized they had no food or water.
• As Yaoye and Nalan Yanran tried to navigate by the sun, Mo Bass appeared behind them and revealed himself as chief of the Ink Snake Tribe.

Yaoye and Nalan Yanran were cornered in the desert by Mo Bass, a Snake-People chief, and tried to escape together. When Mo Bass pursued them, an enormous purple python burst from the ground, interrupting the fight.

• Mo Bass recognized Yaoye as the Jia Ma Empire’s Eldest Princess and threatened to capture her and Nalan Yanran.
• Yaoye offered herself in exchange for Nalan Yanran’s escape, but Nalan Yanran refused to abandon her and attacked Mo Bass as they fled together.
• Mo Bass revealed himself as a Dou Wang and took to the air in pursuit of the two women.
• Yaoye pushed Nalan Yanran away and rose to face Mo Bass, but the ground suddenly collapsed and an enormous purple python burst out.
• Yaoye shouted at A Zi for burrowing into their path instead of taking a detour.

Nalan Chaoge reunited with Yaoye after two years and found her battling Mo Bass. When Mo Bass attacked, Nalan Chaoge countered his black serpents and ordered Manda to fight him.

• Manda appeared between Mo Bass and Yaoye, carrying Nalan Chaoge and Qing Lin in his mouth.
• Yaoye recognized Nalan Chaoge, warned him that Mo Bass was a Snake-People Tribe expert, and then reunited with him tearfully.
• Mo Bass interrupted their reunion and threatened Yaoye and Nalan Chaoge, prompting Yaoye to offer to hold him off while they escaped.
• Mo Bass sent two black serpents formed from his tattoos after them, but Nalan Chaoge destroyed them with Explosive Tags.
• Nalan Chaoge ordered Manda to attack Mo Bass, and Manda swept his tail across to intercept him.

Nalan Chaoge learned that the Mu Family might exploit Yaoye’s absence to move against the Jia Ma Imperial Family, so he arranged for her and Nalan Yanran to hide until his six-month agreement ended. As Mo Bass transformed and gained the advantage over Manda, Nalan Chaoge called on Qing Lin to suppress him.

• Manda and Mo Bass fought while Nalan Chaoge, Yaoye, and Nalan Yanran caught up nearby.
• Nalan Chaoge suspected the Mu Family was behind Lamu’s rebellion and warned that it might use Yaoye to force Jia Xing Tian to abdicate.
• Yaoye explained that the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast’s old injuries had flared up, while Nalan Yanran said the Misty Cloud Sect would likely stay neutral.
• Nalan Chaoge decided Yaoye should hide for six months because Mu Family spies would block her return to the Holy City, and Yaoye agreed to send her grandfather a message.
• Mo Bass transformed into a huge black snake and drove Manda underground, so Nalan Chaoge called on Qing Lin to use her eyes and Earth Release: Underworld Swamp.

Nalan Chaoge and his allies defeated Mo Bass, and Qing Lin used her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to control him. After Qing Lin collapsed from the effort, Nalan Chaoge declared her his younger sister and Yaoye welcomed her, but Qing Lin recoiled when the scales on her arm were revealed.

• Nalan Chaoge trapped Mo Bass in a swamp while Qing Lin’s eyes weakened him and Manda pinned him down.
• Nalan Chaoge struck Mo Bass with the Fiery Poison Seal Whip, and Yaoye rescued him from Mo Bass’s tongue before he unleashed more attacks.
• Nalan Chaoge repeatedly whipped the trapped Mo Bass until he was near death, and Qing Lin used her pupils to control him.
• Qing Lin collapsed from the strain of controlling two fifth-order magical beasts, and Nalan Chaoge gave her pills to help her recover.
• Nalan Chaoge introduced Qing Lin as his younger sister, and Yaoye offered to be her big sister.
• Qing Lin pulled her hand away and turned aside after her sleeve revealed the snake scales on her arm.

Nalan Chaoge reassured Yaoye and Nalan Yanran about his agreement with Medusa and planned to keep the group hidden for half a year. When Nalan Yanran said she had to attend Mo Cheng’s birthday in Salt City, Qing Lin offered to accompany her, leaving Nalan Chaoge alarmed.

• Yaoye comforted Qing Lin, and Nalan Yanran welcomed her as a friend and younger sister.
• Nalan Chaoge said Yaoye had to stay hidden from the Mu Family and that the group would return to the Holy City in half a year.
• Nalan Yanran and Yaoye panicked when Nalan Chaoge revealed that Medusa was nearby and evolving, but he insisted he could handle her.
• Nalan Yanran said she had to attend an outer sect deacon’s birthday, and Nalan Chaoge realized it was Mo Cheng’s birthday.
• Qing Lin offered to accompany Nalan Yanran to Salt City, and Nalan Chaoge was stunned by the suggestion.

Nalan Chaoge released Mo Bass after Qing Lin used her eyes to control him, then parted from Nalan Yanran and returned underground with Yaoye and Qing Lin. Above them, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li found snake scales at the site of the explosion, while Nalan Chaoge worried that Xiao Yan or Yao Chen might uncover what was hidden below.

• Nalan Chaoge let Qing Lin send Mo Bass away, revealing that her eyes could track and control him.
• Nalan Yanran agreed to go alone to Salt City, while Nalan Chaoge and Qing Lin arranged to return to the Holy City in half a year for the Three-Year Pact.
• Nalan Chaoge, Yaoye, and Qing Lin returned to the underground magma and concealed the entrance with an Explosive Tag.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li found bloodied snake scales near the explosion site, including a purple scale that suggested Medusa had been involved in a fight.
• The Sand Mercenary Group and other parties searched the area but found nothing, while Nalan Chaoge watched from below and worried Yao Chen might discover them.

Nalan Chaoge hid Yaoye and Qing Lin in the Underground Magma Cave while Mu Chen searched the desert, then left to change the map marking the underground magma’s location. After spending the night with Yaoye, he emerged and redeemed Konan’s Angel Form so he could fly.

• Nalan Chaoge sensed Mu Chen searching for them with his soul power and rushed with Yaoye and Qing Lin into the Underground Magma Cave.
• Nalan Chaoge warned Yaoye and Qing Lin not to approach Medusa’s evolution in the magma and left them in a cool hollow with food, water, pills, and supplies.
• Nalan Chaoge returned with provisions, told Yaoye about his experiences and expulsion from Jia Nan Academy, and spent the night with her while Qing Lin gave them privacy.
• Yaoye woke to find Nalan Chaoge gone and resolved to cultivate harder so she could keep up with him.
• Nalan Chaoge emerged from the cave and redeemed Konan’s Angel Form to gain wings and fly.

Nalan Chaoge traveled to Desert City seeking Hai Bodong, but a gang lured him into a trap by pretending to sell maps of heavenly flames. The chapter ended with Nalan Chaoge appearing behind Boss Liu as blood burst from the man's neck.

• Nalan Chaoge entered Desert City and paid a passerby to direct him to a map shop.
• Nalan Chaoge found a lavish shop whose proprietors claimed to have maps concerning all twenty-three heavenly flames, including the green lotus core flame.
• The woman led Nalan Chaoge into a room, then shut him inside with Boss Liu and the passerby who had robbed him into the trap.
• Boss Liu ordered the men to finish Nalan Chaoge and began explaining their ruthless methods, but Nalan Chaoge appeared behind him as blood gushed from his neck.

Nalan Chaoge killed the people who tried to ambush him, then tracked down the mapmaker Hai Bodong. When Nalan Chaoge hinted he wanted a map from the Tagor Desert, Hai Bodong recognized that his secret had been uncovered and confronted him.

• Nalan Chaoge used a Clone to avoid the ambush, killed Boss Liu and the guide, and learned where the mysterious mapmaker was.
• Nalan Chaoge killed the woman with a Kunai, then left the building and set its floor ablaze.
• Nalan Chaoge entered the map shop and watched Hai Bodong work while searching a stack of old maps, but found no mysterious fragment.
• Nalan Chaoge asked Hai Bodong for a map from the Tagor Desert, causing Hai Bodong's pen to snap.
• Hai Bodong shut the shop door and unleashed an icy aura as he confronted Nalan Chaoge.

Nalan Chaoge confronted Hai Bodong over the stolen Snake-People map and demanded his help, but Hai Bodong attacked instead. As the battle escalated, Nalan Chaoge prepared to counter Hai Bodong’s barrage of spiral ice spikes.

• Nalan Chaoge revealed that he knew Hai Bodong had stolen a treasure from the Snake-People Tribe and asked whether Hai Bodong had deciphered the map.
• Hai Bodong recognized that Nalan Chaoge knew his secret and attacked him, filling the shop with freezing mist and firing ice spikes.
• Nalan Chaoge used Byakugan to evade the first attack and paper wings to shield himself from another wave, but the icy water froze his Dou Qi and the wings scattered.
• Hai Bodong charged at a figure he sensed in the mist, but Nalan Chaoge had used Red Eye to create a false image, causing Hai Bodong to smash a shelf instead.
• Nalan Chaoge demanded the map and Hai Bodong’s help, but Hai Bodong laughed and unleashed dozens of spiral ice spikes, prompting Nalan Chaoge to prepare an offensive counter.