Chapter Summaries

After six years of cultivation, Xiao Ming had reached Dou King Eight Star, become Jia Nan Academy’s only Grade Six Alchemist, and joined its elders. He reflected on his slower progress and the many valuable rewards he had obtained through nearly three hundred Life Simulations.

• Xiao Ming emerged from cultivation and complained that six years had brought him only to Dou King Eight Star.
• Xiao Ming attributed his slower cultivation to the difficulty of breaking through from Dou Spirit Peak, the Heavenly Flame Refining Pagoda’s limited benefit for Dou Kings, and the time he devoted to alchemy.
• Xiao Ming surpassed Elder Huo’s Alchemy Technique, became Jia Nan Academy’s only Grade Six Alchemist, and reached Mortal Realm Perfection in his Soul Realm.
• Xiao Ming reviewed the pills, recipes, techniques, treasures, and talents he had gained from nearly three hundred Life Simulations.
• Xiao Ming recalled that some simulations offered worthless rewards, including a blade of grass, a gold coin, and an item of Zi Yan’s clothing.

Zi Yan sought Xiao Ming’s help against a powerful Snow Demon Sky Ape guarding Earth Core Body Tempering Milk. Xiao Ming and Zi Yan confronted the ape, which warned them to leave, and Xiao Ming assessed its strength before the fight began.

• Zi Yan rushed into Xiao Ming, begged him to avenge her, and explained that a Fifth Tier Magical Beast had thwarted her.
• Xiao Ming agreed to help Zi Yan claim the treasure and proposed that they split the loot evenly.
• Xiao Ming and Zi Yan flew to a valley where a Snow Demon Sky Ape guarded Earth Core Body Tempering Milk.
• Xiao Ming identified the ape’s strength and its awakened Berserk Bloodline, while Zi Yan explained that she had already taken the treasures guarded by weaker beasts.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape warned Xiao Ming and Zi Yan to leave, and Zi Yan challenged it while boasting that Xiao Ming would defeat it in fewer than ten moves.

The Snow Sky Demon Ape attacked Zi Yan, but she evaded its strikes with her spatial abilities. Xiao Ming took over the fight and battered the beast with a giant hand of fire; after activating its Berserk Bloodline, it emerged stronger, prompting Zi Yan to warn him to be careful.

• The Snow Sky Demon Ape lunged at Zi Yan, but she vanished using her spatial abilities and left its attack to miss.
• Zi Yan prepared to dive down and fight the beast, but Xiao Ming stopped her and said he would handle it.
• Xiao Ming summoned a giant crimson hand that overwhelmed the Snow Sky Demon Ape's ice attack and smashed it into a mountain wall.
• The injured Snow Sky Demon Ape released blood-red mist and activated its Berserk Bloodline, growing stronger as the valley froze around it.
• Zi Yan flew in front of Xiao Ming and warned him that the transformed beast had increased speed, strength, and other attributes.

Xiao Ming defeated the berserk Snow Demon Sky Ape with the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame and offered it a chance to become his subordinate. The Snow Demon Sky Ape accepted after Xiao Ming promised to heal it and provide form transformation grass.

• The Snow Demon Sky Ape charged at Xiao Ming, but its attacks struck afterimages created by his Illusion Separation Five Elements movement technique.
• Xiao Ming transformed the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame into a giant fire python, which caught the falling Snow Demon Sky Ape and pinned it in the forest.
• Zi Yan praised Xiao Ming and urged him to collect the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, but Xiao Ming went to inspect the injured Snow Demon Sky Ape first.
• Xiao Ming asked the Snow Demon Sky Ape to become his subordinate and offered to heal it and give it form transformation grass.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape weighed the offer against its resentment and agreed to become Xiao Ming's subordinate.

Xiao Ming and Zi Yan followed the Snow Demon Sky Ape into its valley to find the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk. They discovered the pool below was diluted, and Zi Yan sensed the true treasure inside the massive stalactite above.

• Zi Yan objected when she thought Xiao Ming was giving away the Form Transformation Grass she had found, but Xiao Ming gave the Snow Demon Sky Ape healing medicine instead.
• After recovering, the Snow Demon Sky Ape froze the nearby fire and led Xiao Ming and Zi Yan into its valley and hidden cave.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape showed them an underground cavern filled with glowing stalactites and a pool he claimed was Earth Core Body Tempering Milk.
• Xiao Ming identified the pool as diluted Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, and Zi Yan realized the undiluted treasure must be above them.
• Xiao Ming and Zi Yan flew to the top of the largest stalactite, where Zi Yan sensed the treasure at its root.

Xiao Ming collected the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk and gave Zi Yan her share before helping the Snow Demon Sky Ape take human form. The transformed beast became Xiao Ming’s subordinate and received the name Xue Tian, and the group set off for the Inner Academy.

• Xiao Ming carefully collected the pure Earth Core Body Tempering Milk and gave Zi Yan a bottle, then filled four bottles with the diluted milk from the bluestone hollow.
• Xiao Ming gave the Snow Demon Sky Ape the promised Form Transformation Grass and warned him that taking human form could be dangerous.
• After struggling through the transformation, the Snow Demon Sky Ape succeeded, knelt before Xiao Ming, and called him Master.
• Xiao Ming named the transformed Snow Demon Sky Ape Xue Tian, and Xue Tian accepted the name.
• Xiao Ming, Zi Yan, and Xue Tian headed back toward the Inner Academy.

Xiao Ming left the cave with Zi Yan and Xue Tian and returned to Jia Nan Academy, where he prepared to travel back to the Jia Ma Empire. Zi Yan eagerly asked to join him, and Xiao Ming agreed on the condition that she follow his instructions.

• Xiao Ming asked Xue Tian to collapse the cave entrance, and Xue Tian buried it beneath fallen rocks before flying away with Xiao Ming and Zi Yan.
• Elder Su stopped the group at the Inner Academy barrier, and Xiao Ming introduced Xue Tian as a Snow Demon Sky Ape who had taken human form using Form Transformation Grass.
• Xiao Ming arrived at his courtyard and reunited with his cousin Xiao Shan, who had graduated from the Inner Academy as a Three Star Dou Spirit.
• Xiao Ming explained that he planned to return to the Jia Ma Empire to seek the Nether Poison Flame, the Green Lotus Core Flame, and Seven Illusory Green Spirit Saliva for Elder Huo.
• Zi Yan asked to accompany Xiao Ming, and he agreed as long as she obeyed him and did not wander off; she ran to tell Great Elder Su Qian.

Xiao Ming discussed the Xiao clan members traveling with him to the Jia Ma Empire and offered Xiao Yu a pill if she reached Dou Shi. After chatting with Xiao Shan and Xue Tian, he was met by Great Elder Su Qian, who asked whether he was leaving the Inner Academy.

• Xiao Ming invited Xiao Shan and Xue Tian inside and served them Fire Cloud Tea.
• Xiao Shan told Xiao Ming that Xiao Yu and Xiao Hu would travel with them after arranging leave.
• Xiao Shan reported that Xiao Hu was a Six Star Dou Shi and Xiao Yu was a Seven Star Dou Zhe, and Xiao Ming promised Xiao Yu a Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill if she reached Dou Shi that year.
• Xiao Shan lamented Xiao Yan's decline and recalled that the Fourth Grade Medicinal Pill Scroll Xiao Ming sent had failed to solve the problem.
• Zi Yan returned with Great Elder Su Qian, who asked Xiao Ming whether he was leaving the Inner Academy for the Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Ming prepared to return to the Jia Ma Empire with Zi Yan, Xiao Shan, and Xue Tian, borrowing a Griffon Beast for the long journey. After reaching the Outer Academy, the group met Xiao Yu and Xiao Hu at the Flight Station, where Xiao Yu asked where Xiao Ming was.

• Xiao Ming told Su Qian he planned to leave the next day, and Su Qian approved Zi Yan accompanying him and let him borrow a Griffon Beast.
• Xiao Ming found Zi Yan asleep after she had drunk all the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, then carried her along with Xiao Shan and Xue Tian toward the Outer Academy.
• Xiao Ming obtained a Griffon Beast and flew with his companions to the Outer Academy.
• At the Jia Nan City Flight Station, Xiao Yu and Xiao Hu greeted Xiao Shan, and Xiao Yu asked why Xiao Ming was not with them.

Xiao Ming said goodbye to Hu Jia and Elder Huo before leaving Jia Nan Academy to return to the Jia Ma Empire. He reunited with Xiao Shan, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Hu at the Flight Station and prepared to set off home.

• Xiao Shan told Xiao Yu and Xiao Hu that Xiao Ming had gone to bid farewell to his teacher, and they waited for him by the flying magical beasts.
• Xiao Ming met Hu Jia at Elder Huo's residence and told her he was returning to the Jia Ma Empire, possibly for several years.
• Hu Jia warned Xiao Ming to be careful, and Xiao Ming went inside to see Elder Huo.
• Xiao Ming gave Elder Huo a Breaking Sect Pill, accepted his teacher's reminders, and flew to the Flight Station.
• Xiao Ming met Xiao Shan, who confirmed that Xiao Yu and Xiao Hu were aboard the Griffon Beast, and said they were ready to go home.

Xiao Ming and his companions traveled back to the Xiao Family in Wu Tan City, where he reunited with Xiao Yu and Xiao Hu and heard about Xiao Yan’s past conflict with Xiao Yu. As the Griffon Beast arrived, Xiao Ming realized the clan’s Dou Qi test was taking place that day.

• Xiao Ming reunited with Xiao Yu and Xiao Hu aboard the Griffon Beast, checked that Xue Tian had stayed behind, and confirmed Zi Yan had caused no trouble.
• Xiao Yu told Xiao Ming that Xiao Yan had once barged into the hot spring pool, prompting Xiao Shan and Xiao Hu to question Xiao Yan’s conduct.
• Xiao Ming promised Xiao Yu a gift if she reached Dou Shi this year and Xiao Hu one if he entered the Inner Academy.
• During the journey, Zi Yan asked Xiao Ming to seek medicinal ingredients, but he refused to raid guarded stores and gave her a Vermillion Fruit instead.
• Xiao Shan estimated that the Griffon Beast would reach Wu Tan City in twenty minutes, and Xiao Ming noted that the Xiao Family’s Dou Qi test was scheduled for that day.
• At the Xiao Family testing square, Xiao Yun received a Sixth Stage Dou Qi rating and an Intermediate rank.

At the Xiao Family's annual test, Xiao Yan remained at Dou Qi Power Stage Three and endured his clansmen's mockery while Xiao Zhan argued with the elders over his treatment. A Jia Nan Academy flying Magical Beast arrived, and a girl aboard asked Xiao Ming why his family seemed so weak.

• The Great Elder praised the Xiao Family's rising strength and Xiao Ning's progress, while the Second Elder criticized Xiao Zhan for spending family resources trying to cure Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan tested at Dou Qi Power Stage Three, drawing jeers from the crowd and concern from Xiao Zhan.
• A flying Magical Beast bearing Jia Nan Academy's cabin arrived over the training ground and stirred alarm among the Xiao Family.
• A little girl aboard the beast asked Xiao Ming whether the Xiao Family was his and why its clansmen looked so weak.

Xiao Ming returned to the Xiao Family with Zi Yan and his companions, where the clansmen welcomed him with excitement and respect. As the family celebrated his arrival, Xiao Yan watched from the edge of the crowd and reflected on how differently he was treated after losing his talent.

• Xiao Ming told Zi Yan that Wu Tan City and the Xiao Family lacked powerful experts, then directed Xiao Shan to land the Griffon Beast carefully.
• Xiao Zhan and the elders recognized the incoming Griffon Beast and cleared a landing area near the Magic Stone Tablet platform.
• Xiao Ming and Zi Yan came down from the Griffon Beast, followed by Xiao Yu, Xiao Hu, and Xiao Shan, while the clansmen tried to identify them.
• Xiao Zhan and the elders welcomed Xiao Ming, and the Xiao Family members celebrated his return and praised his contributions to the clan.
• Xiao Yan watched Xiao Ming receive the clan's admiration and recalled how the clansmen had turned against him after his Dou Qi disappeared.

Xiao Ming returned to Wu Tan City and accepted the Xiao Family’s new position of Supreme Elder, while the city’s families reacted to his strength and influence. As the Xiao Family prepared for a banquet, Ya Fei planned to visit him, and Gu Xun'er learned of his return.

• Xiao Ming accepted the Xiao Family’s Merit Book honor and the position of Supreme Elder, but declined to manage family affairs.
• Xiao Ming introduced Zi Yan and Xue Tian as Dou Wang experts, and news of his return spread throughout Wu Tan City.
• Jialie Bi discussed the Jialie Family’s losses to the Xiao Family, ordered preparations to enter the gambling-house business, and planned to visit the Xiao Family with gifts.
• The Aoba Family and other Wu Tan City families prepared gifts and visiting cards for the Xiao Family.
• Ya Fei confirmed Xiao Ming’s return with Gu Ni and invited him to accompany her to the Xiao Family that night.
• Gu Xun'er asked Elder Ling about the Xiao Family’s commotion, and he told her that Xiao Ming had returned after eight years away.

Gu Xun'er confirmed that Xiao Ming had returned to the Xiao Family as a powerful young Dou Wang, while Wu Tan City's forces gathered for his welcome banquet and competed to win the family's favor. Xiao Ming arrived at the banquet with Xiao Shan and Xue Tian, and the hall fell silent as the guests watched him.

• Gu Xun'er learned from Ling Ying that Xiao Ming was at least a Five Star Dou King, then accepted an invitation to the Xiao Family's banquet.
• Wu Tan City's merchants and other local forces arrived at the Xiao Family with valuable gifts, while Ya Fei and Gu Ni joined the gathering.
• Xiao Ming gave Zi Yan a pill, allowed her to leave in search of medicinal herbs, and told Xue Tian to prepare to guard the Xiao Family.
• Xiao Shan escorted Xiao Ming and Xue Tian to the banquet hall, where the guests fell silent and watched Xiao Ming enter.

Xiao Ming attended a banquet welcoming him back, where Ya Fei tried to charm him but found him unmoved. The feast continued as Xiao Zhan offered Xiao Ming two toasts, the second thanking him as a father for helping Xiao Yan when he was ill.

• The Great Elder welcomed Xiao Ming and seated him beside Ya Fei and Gu Ni at the main table.
• Xiao Zhan introduced Ya Fei of the Mitel Auction House and Master Gu Ni, and Ya Fei praised Xiao Ming in a flirtatious tone.
• Xiao Ming remained calm and unresponsive to Ya Fei, who then turned her attention to Xiao Shan.
• Xiao Ming began the banquet by taking the first bite, and the guests drank and offered him toasts.
• Xiao Zhan toasted Xiao Ming for his contributions to the family, then toasted him again as a father for helping Xiao Yan when he fell ill.

Xiao Zhan asked Xiao Ming, a Grade Six Alchemist, to examine Xiao Yan, then announced the Xiao Family’s plan to unify Wu Tan City. With Xue Tian revealed as a resident Dou Wang guest elder, the city’s factions submitted, while Xiao Ming ordered the Jia Lie and Aoba Families to leave within ten days.

• Xiao Zhan asked Xiao Ming to examine Xiao Yan the next morning, and Xiao Ming agreed while warning that he could not promise a cure.
• Xiao Yan felt moved by his father and brothers’ support, while Xiao Yu mocked him and Gu Xun’er remained indifferent.
• Gu Ni eagerly sought advice from Xiao Ming after learning he was a Grade Six Alchemist.
• Xiao Zhan announced that the Xiao Family intended to unite Wu Tan City, and Xiao Ming had Xue Tian demonstrate his Dou Wang strength.
• The city’s factions pledged to follow the Xiao Family, and Xiao Ming ordered the Jia Lie and Aoba Families to leave within ten days.

Xiao Ming secured the Xiao Family’s position in Wu Tan City and prepared to treat Xiao Yan, who arrived with Xiao Zhan the next morning. The chapter ended with Xiao Yan awkwardly calling Xiao Ming Cousin, while Xiao Ming remained unconcerned about earning his acknowledgment.

• Xue Tian injured Jialie Bi, and Jialie Bi and Oba Pa agreed to withdraw their families from Wu Tan City within ten days.
• Ya Fei and Gu Ni took their leave, and Gu Ni thanked Xiao Ming for his guidance and offered him a gift.
• Xiao Ming confirmed that Xue Tian would stay with the Xiao Family as its guardian.
• Zi Yan gave Xiao Ming a rare Blood Python Branch to refine into pills, but Xiao Ming kept it for himself.
• Xiao Zhan brought Xiao Yan to see Xiao Ming, and Xiao Yan awkwardly called him Cousin before his planned treatment.

Xiao Ming examined Xiao Yan after Xiao Zhan asked him to find the cause of Xiao Yan's regressing Dou Qi, but found no abnormality in his body. Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan left discouraged, while Xiao Ming told Zi Yan that Xiao Yan's condition had another cause and that his talent would return soon.

• Xiao Yan told Xiao Ming that his Dou Qi began falling after his Qi Cyclone shattered more than two years earlier, despite repeated examinations by healers and a Fourth Grade Alchemist.
• Xiao Ming examined Xiao Yan and concluded that his body was healthy, leaving Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan doubtful and distressed.
• Xiao Ming examined Xiao Yan again with greater force but claimed he still could not find the cause, and Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan left.
• Yao Chen, hidden in Xiao Yan's Na Ring, realized that Xiao Ming's Soul Power had nearly exposed him and credited the Bone Flame Ring with concealing him.
• Zi Yan questioned Xiao Ming after noticing how seriously he had examined Xiao Yan, and Xiao Ming said Xiao Yan's regression had another cause and his talent would soon return.

Na Lan Yan Ran told Yun Yun she intended to break off her engagement to the Xiao Family, and Yun Yun agreed to accompany her to Wu Tan City. Meanwhile, a Shadow Guard reported to an old man in the Imperial City that Xiao Ming had returned as a Grade Six Alchemist, leaving the old man shocked by the news.

• Yun Yun asked Na Lan Yan Ran why she seemed troubled after returning home.
• Na Lan Yan Ran explained that her family wanted her to acknowledge her engagement to someone in the Xiao Family of Wu Tan City, where Xiao Ming lived.
• Na Lan Yan Ran insisted she wanted to break off the engagement, and Yun Yun supported her decision and offered to go with her the next day.
• A Shadow Guard reported to an old man in the Imperial City that Xiao Ming was a Grade Six Alchemist and that a Dou Wang had returned with him.
• The old man questioned the report, and the Shadow Guard said Xiao Ming had attended a banquet where the Xiao Family Clan Leader publicly declared his rank without being contradicted.