Ch. 281Peak Dou Zong
Yan Qingshan led Nalan Yanran through the Gate of Life and Death, where they discovered the remains of Misty Cloud Sect elders and passages sealed by Ancient Devouring Worms. After risking his life to retrieve an energy core associated with Yun Potian, Yan Qingshan returned with Nalan Yanran and later failed to break through from peak Dou Zong to Dou Zun.
- Yan Qingshan revealed that the Gate of Life and Death was a master-acknowledging treasure, told Nalan Yanran he was a Dou Zong, and had her lead him toward the strange presence she had sensed.
- Yan Qingshan broke through a light screen and found the remains and energy crystals of two Misty Cloud Sect Dou Zong elders, then deduced that the crystals came from the lingering energy and souls of the dead.
- Yan Qingshan found Ancient Devouring Worms inside the crystal walls and decided not to force his way farther because their numbers and the rapidly repairing barriers would drain his strength.
- Nalan Yanran found Yun Potian's jade token near a deeper barrier, so Yan Qingshan used Heavenly Flames to break through and searched for the founding patriarch's remains.
- Yan Qingshan returned exhausted with a dense energy core after discovering Yun Potian had pushed even farther into the passages, then left with Nalan Yanran.
- Yan Qingshan and Nalan Yanran recovered atop a cliff, but Yan Qingshan could not advance from peak Dou Zong to Dou Zun.