Chapter Summaries

Yan Qingshan received a detailed map from Xuelan and identified a suspicious sandy region east of Stone Desert City as the likely location of the Green Lotus Core Flame. He planned to seek out its guardian, the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake, and subdue it as a powerful trump card.

• Xuelan gave Yan Qingshan a map of the area east of Stone Desert City and explained that one sandy region stayed warm at night despite having no apparent resources.
• Yan Qingshan recognized the warm, barren region as a likely clue to the Green Lotus Core Flame's hiding place.
• Yan Qingshan decided he was not ready to pursue the Heavenly Flame and instead targeted its guardian, the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake.
• Yan Qingshan resolved to subdue the fourth-order Magical Beast to gain a trump card and build his own backing.

Yan Qingshan left Stone Desert City and pushed into the Tagore Desert to temper his Wood-attribute Dou Qi in its harsh conditions. After most of his Dou Qi was spent and his cultivation bottleneck began to loosen, Qingling helped him rest and tend to his injuries.

• Yan Qingshan warned Xuelan not to ask what he was looking for, while Qingling massaged him and Xuelan argued with him.
• Xuelan kicked at Yan Qingshan, but he used his Dou Qi to stop her and catch Qingling; he then gave Xuelan a scroll as a gift before sending her away.
• Xuelan read the scroll and realized its ingredients cost at least five thousand Gold Coin.
• Yan Qingshan and Qingling left Stone Desert City with two desert beasts and entered the Tagore Desert.
• Yan Qingshan walked barefoot through the desert to refine his Wood-attribute Dou Qi, while Qingling followed with supplies.
• After most of his Dou Qi was depleted and his bottleneck loosened, Yan Qingshan called Qingling, who set up a sunshade and treated his face and body.

Yan Qingshan searched the desert for the underground source of the Green Lotus Core Flame but could not find a safe way to reach it. He settled in a woodland outside Stone Desert City to cultivate, and two months later his growing power began to resonate with the surrounding plants.

• Yan Qingshan used Qingling’s cool water and a Qi Return Pill to recover his Dou Qi and felt close to reaching seven-star Dou Zhe.
• After walking through the desert for a day and night, Yan Qingshan reached the map’s destination and detected an unknown heat source underground, but found no safe way to dig toward it.
• Yan Qingshan took Qingling and the camel beasts to a woodland with a salty pool and decided to camp there.
• Over ten days, Yan Qingshan used medicinal liquid made from local plants to protect his body and stabilize his seven-star Dou Zhe cultivation.
• After two months of cultivation beneath a poplar, Yan Qingshan’s azure-green radiance spread through the woodland and caused the surrounding plants to glow with vitality.

Yan Qingshan and Qingling led the Desert Rock Serpents into battle against a swarm of Yellow Sand Demonic Scorpions. Yan Qingshan killed the Demonic Scorpion King, turning the fight in their favor.

• Qingling explained that the Yellow Sand Demonic Scorpions had attacked after her Rock Snakes investigated their sandy territory.
• Yan Qingshan ordered Qingling to lead the Rock Snakes toward the Demonic Scorpion King while he used Shuguang to analyze the enemy.
• Yan Qingshan and the Rock Snakes broke through the scorpion swarm and surrounded the Demonic Scorpion King, while Qingling kept the other snakes fighting off attackers.
• The Demonic Scorpion King overpowered the Rock Serpent King and targeted its eyes, but Yan Qingshan severed the scorpion's tail with Roaring Lion's Roar.
• The Rock Serpent King bit the wounded Demonic Scorpion King, and Yan Qingshan finished it with a powerful strike that shattered its armor and killed it.

After defeating the Yellow Sand Demonic Scorpion King, Yan Qingshan followed Qingling to the cave where it had emerged and entered the underground passages with her and the Rock Snakes. They searched for the source of the heat, and Yan Qingshan reached a passage glowing red as the chapter ended.

• Yan Qingshan collected the scorpion venom and gave four Magic Cores to the Rock Serpent King and three First-order Rock Snakes, while the Rock Snakes fed on the fallen Magical Beasts.
• Qingling showed Yan Qingshan the sand pit where the Demonic Scorpion King had emerged, and he suspected the cave connected to underground passages formed by magma activity.
• Yan Qingshan and Qingling used the Rock Snakes to widen the cave entrance, then descended into the underground passage with a rope and Moonlight Stone.
• Yan Qingshan had Qingling send the Rock Snakes through the branching passages to find one carrying extreme heat.
• Yan Qingshan and Qingling followed a hot passage until red light appeared ahead, and Yan Qingshan reached it drenched in sweat.

Yan Qingshan lured the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake away from its magma lake and led it through the underground passages to a cold pool, hoping to create an opportunity for Qingling to contract with it. The snake prepared to unleash a powerful attack as Yan Qingshan faced it beside the pool.

• Qingling sensed a powerful creature beneath the magma, and Yan Qingshan identified it as the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake.
• Yan Qingshan flew over the lava lake to awaken the snake, then enraged it with a falling stalactite and powder before fleeing with Qingling.
• Yan Qingshan used more powder to keep the snake pursuing them through the passage and chose a cold, damp route.
• Yan Qingshan crossed a shallow pool, sent Qingling to hide, and turned to confront the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake.
• Yan Qingshan saw the snake gather energy for an attack and told Qingling to hide behind the bend.

Yan Qingshan used bait, sedatives, freezing powder, and a rock serpent swarm to weaken the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake so Qingling could subdue it. Qingling formed a contract with the snake, but a pale green signal spread outward as she nearly collapsed into Yan Qingshan’s arms.

• The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake flooded the passage with magma, but Yan Qingshan and Qingling escaped through a narrow tunnel before he lured the snake back with taunts and a Purple Smoke Fruit.
• Yan Qingshan fed the snake tampered Purple Smoke Fruits, using their scent and Anorexia Flower to conceal Drunken Dragon Grass that made it drowsy.
• Yan Qingshan threw Saltpeter Powder mixed with an ice-attributed Magic Core into the pool, freezing the snake and slowing it down.
• A hidden rock serpent swarm knocked the exhausted Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake back into the freezing pool as Yan Qingshan kept his distance.
• Qingling used the method Yan Qingshan taught her to awaken three flower-shaped marks in her pupils and form a contract with the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake.
• Pale green light spread outward after the contract, and Yan Qingshan caught Qingling as she nearly collapsed from weakness.

Yan Qingshan gathered data and materials to plan the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake’s advancement to a fifth-tier magical beast, while Qingling recovered and strengthened her bond with it. The snake brought back a fragment of the Green Lotus Core Flame, and Yan Qingshan began considering whether he could absorb its unusual Wood Attribute life energy.

• Yan Qingshan put Qingling to sleep with a Qi Nurturing Pill, then had Shuguang collect samples from the trapped Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake to devise an advancement plan.
• Yan Qingshan examined and sampled the Fire Spirit Snake while it was weakened by Drunken Dragon Grass, and Qingling later woke and confirmed that their plan had succeeded.
• Yan Qingshan explained that the Fire Spirit Snake might advance to the fifth tier but could fail, and Qingling readily agreed to whatever he decided.
• Qingling and Yan Qingshan returned to the lava lake with the Fire Spirit Snake, which recovered in the lava and brought back materials from its lair.
• Yan Qingshan identified a jade-green fragment as part of a Green Lotus Core Flame, and learned that the Fire Spirit Snake had bitten it off after nearly being burned by the flame.
• Yan Qingshan noticed that the fragment contained abundant Wood Attribute life energy as well as Fire Attribute energy and considered absorbing it.

Yan Qingshan and Qingling waited in the woods while the Fire Spirit Snake advanced, and Yan Qingshan cultivated until Xuelan arrived with a warning. He suspected the Mo Clan was behind the Sand Mercenary Group’s search for Mixed-blood Snake-people, including Qingling.

• Yan Qingshan and Qingling left the lava lake after confirming the Fire Spirit Snake’s advancement was underway, then settled in the woods nearby.
• Over nearly two months, Yan Qingshan cultivated to the Nine-star Dou Practitioner stage while he and Qingling lived in a cabin protected by snake kings.
• Yan Qingshan heard a familiar voice and flew with Qingling to meet Xuelan, who had ridden into the desert searching for them.
• Xuelan warned Yan Qingshan that the Sand Mercenary Group had taken Mixed-blood Snake-people from Stone Desert City and that its leader, Robb, was cooperating with strangers who knew Qingling had left with Yan Qingshan.
• Yan Qingshan suspected the strangers were from the Mo Clan and wondered why they had come to the Tagore Desert to search for Mixed-blood Snake-people.

Yan Qingshan intercepted Mo Cheng and the Sand Mercenary Group as they searched the desert for Qingling, disguising himself as a Dou King to drive them away. When Mo Cheng saw through the disguise and attacked, Yan Qingshan scattered medicinal powder and mist among the riders before flying toward the Desert Region, leaving a confrontation ahead.

• Mo Cheng pressured Robb and led the Sand Mercenary Group into the desert to search for the Mixed-blood Snake-person whose Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had awakened.
• Robb questioned whether they were searching in the right direction, but Mo Cheng rebuked him and continued toward Yan Qingshan and the others.
• Yan Qingshan appeared in the sky with purple wings and ordered the search party to leave his place of seclusion.
• Mo Cheng recognized that Yan Qingshan was not a Dou King and lunged at him, while Yan Qingshan dodged and threw Porcelain Bottles that spread medicinal powder and white mist over the riders.
• Yan Qingshan warned Mo Cheng to turn back, then flew toward the depths of the Desert Region after his disguise failed.

Yan Qingshan’s traps stopped Mo Cheng and the pursuing Sand Mercenary Group in the desert, first drawing Yellow Sand Demonic Scorpions and then dropping the pursuers into a pit swarming with Black Sand Fire Ants. The chapter ended with Yan Qingshan launching another ambush using numerous snake-type Magical Beasts.

• Mo Cheng killed fleeing pursuers, forced Robb and the Sand Mercenary Group to continue the chase, and dismissed Yan Qingshan as a mere Dou Zhe.
• Yan Qingshan’s poison powder attracted a swarm of Yellow Sand Demonic Scorpions, which Robb ordered Shaluo, Moxing, and the mercenaries to slaughter.
• Robb guided Mo Cheng’s force across a sand slope, where Yan Qingshan’s trap collapsed the dune and dropped the pursuers into a pit filled with Black Sand Fire Ants.
• Mo Cheng killed the queen ant and rescued Mo Clan members, but the swarm surged toward the trapped mercenaries.
• Yan Qingshan appeared overhead, taunted Mo Cheng, and sent numerous snake-type Magical Beasts attacking the pursuers.

Yan Qingshan lured Mo Cheng into a series of traps, using snake-type magical beasts and a magma eruption to devastate Mo Cheng’s forces and leave him badly injured. As Mo Cheng attempted to escape, Yan Qingshan revealed Qing Lin and the newly advanced Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake, which engulfed Mo Cheng in magma fire.

• Yan Qingshan kept Mo Cheng occupied in the air while Qing Lin’s controlled snakes and Fire Ants attacked the forces in the sand pit.
• Mo Cheng descended to rescue his trusted Mo Clan subordinates, triggering Yan Qingshan’s underground magma trap and suffering severe burns.
• Yan Qingshan revealed Qing Lin, whose Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils drew out the surrounding snake-type magical beasts.
• The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake rammed Mo Cheng away when he charged toward Qing Lin.
• Mo Cheng unleashed his Mountain Breaking Arm, but the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake struck first and engulfed him in Magma Flame.

Yan Qingshan escaped with the Green Lotus Core Flame while Queen Medusa arrived too late to claim it. After she found traces of the stolen flame and left Stone Desert City in fear, Yan Qingshan absorbed a remnant root and advanced to Dou Master.

• Yan Qingshan collected Mo Cheng's Storage Ring and severed his Blazing Mountain-Breaking Rhinoceros arm, then spared an injured Mo Clan survivor by giving him a healing pill.
• Yan Qingshan had Qingling tell the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake to bring the Green Lotus Core Flame out of the magma, and the group split up to escape before Queen Medusa arrived.
• Queen Medusa reached the cave, discovered that the Green Lotus Core Flame had been taken, and found small roots left behind in the magma.
• Queen Medusa learned that the Sand Mercenary Group might have been wiped out, but restrained herself from attacking Stone Desert City.
• Yan Qingshan absorbed the remaining Green Lotus root in a mountain forest and advanced from Dou Zhe to Dou Master.

Yan Qingshan broke through to become a One-star Dou Master and considered how to broaden his limited combat skills. He gave Xuelan a wind-attributed cultivation technique and Dou Technique, leaving her to accept her role as his guard.

• Yan Qingshan checked Shuguang’s analysis after his breakthrough and realized he needed more practical Dou Techniques for ordinary combat.
• Xuelan was astonished that Yan Qingshan had become a Dou Master shortly after turning sixteen.
• Yan Qingshan offered to find Xuelan a better cultivation technique after learning she was wind-attributed.
• Yan Qingshan gave Xuelan a Storage Ring containing the Profound-tier Low-grade Wind Spirit Art and Wind Spirit Sword Technique, and she accepted his offer to become his guard.
• Yan Qingshan promised to seek stronger wind-attributed techniques for Xuelan, then left as she and Qingling began whispering together.

Yan Qingshan entered Yancheng with the gravely injured Mo Ran, learning about the Mo Clan’s power and its ties to the Misty Cloud Sect. At the Mo Clan headquarters, Mo Lan confronted Mo Lin over the missing Grand Elder Mo Cheng as a Misty Cloud Sect guest was due to arrive.

• Yan Qingshan learned that the injured man was Mo Ran of the Mo Clan and decided to keep him alive for now.
• Yan Qingshan drove into Yancheng, where a young woman of the Mo Clan rode past the gate with her companions without regard for the soldiers or crowd.
• Yan Qingshan heard townspeople criticize the Mo Clan for monopolizing Yancheng’s industries and currying favor with the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Yan Qingshan settled his carriage at an inn and began carrying out his plan.
• Mo Lan demanded that Mo Lin explain where Mo Cheng had gone, but Mo Lin insisted he knew nothing.
• The Mo Clan’s leaders worried because Mo Cheng had been missing for nearly ten days and a Misty Cloud Sect guest was expected soon.

Yan Qingshan confronted the Mo Clan over Mo Cheng’s death and the destruction of his cultivation retreat, forcing Patriarch Mo Lan to acknowledge the clan’s weakness and offer compensation. Mo Lan led him into the clan’s treasure vault, where Yan Qingshan began inspecting its valuable contents.

• Mo Lin revealed that Mo Cheng had left after the Bloodline Wheel sensed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils near the Eastern Province, and Mo Lan ordered a search of the Tagore Desert.
• Yan Qingshan entered the council hall with Mo Ran, who recounted Mo Cheng’s fate and then killed himself after asking the clan to spare his family.
• Yan Qingshan presented Mo Cheng’s severed Mountain Breaking Arm and demanded compensation for the destruction of his cultivation retreat.
• The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake appeared beside Yan Qingshan, convincing Mo Lan that the Mo Clan could not challenge him, so Mo Lan agreed to provide an apology gift.
• Mo Lan led Yan Qingshan into the Mo Clan’s treasure vault, where Yan Qingshan examined its stores of treasures and cultivation methods.

Yan Qingshan searched the Mo Clan’s vault and took several valuable texts, Nashi Stone, and Gold Coins before agreeing to end the matter peacefully. He returned safely to the inn, where Xuelan and Qingling awaited him.

• Mo Lan explained the Azure Wood Sword Aura, and Yan Qingshan took it along with a set of Profound-tier Mid-grade Lightning Attribute Dou Skills.
• Yan Qingshan inspected the Mo Clan’s Evil Blood Art but returned it after Mo Lan warned that it was the clan’s foundation.
• Yan Qingshan found a Fourth-grade Alchemist’s notebook, and Mo Lan agreed to let him take it.
• Yan Qingshan collected a pile of Nashi Stone and one million Gold Coins, then told Mo Lan that the matter was settled.
• Yan Qingshan slipped back to the inn, reunited with Xuelan and Qingling, and changed out of his disguise.

Yan Qingshan discovered a Spirit Nurturing Stone among the ores he obtained from the Mo Clan, then traveled with Xuelan, Qingling, and their caravan to Wutan City. There, he visited the Mitel Auction House and saw its overseer, Ya Fei, hosting an auction.

• Yan Qingshan identified a hidden Spirit Nurturing Stone in an ore and explained its great value to Xuelan and Qingling.
• News spread that Xiao Yan's cultivation had stagnated and regressed, weakening the Xiao Family's standing in Wutan City.
• Yan Qingshan brought Xuelan's family and their followers from Stone Desert City toward Wutan City, intending to build the foundation of his own force.
• Yan Qingshan, Xuelan, and Qingling entered Wutan City and headed to the Mitel Auction House while the caravan arranged lodging.
• Yan Qingshan entered the auction hall and recognized Ya Fei, the beautiful overseer and chief auctioneer, presenting an item to the crowd.

Yan Qingshan met Ya Fei after the auction and revealed that he was the person who had made a deal with the Mittel Family in Black Rock City. He paid one million Gold Coins and other treasures for the items he wanted, then left with Xuelan and Qingling while Ya Fei agreed to arrange their delivery.

• Yan Qingshan took Xuelan and Qingling to a private room to escape the auction crowd’s leering gazes.
• Yan Qingshan sent a maid to summon Ya Fei, who left the city’s influential family leaders to meet him.
• Ya Fei met Yan Qingshan in the private room and learned that he had been the Mittel Family’s contact in Black Rock City.
• Yan Qingshan presented one million Gold Coins and other valuables, requesting a Wood Attribute Earth-tier Dou Skill and three additional sets of cultivation methods and matching Dou Skills.
• Ya Fei agreed to arrange the items’ delivery, and Yan Qingshan told her to bring them to the Myriad Medicine Hall in Qingshan Town before leaving with Xuelan and Qingling.

Yan Qingshan returned to Myriad Medicine Hall, reunited with Xiao Yi Xian, and saved a poisoned mercenary. He arranged for Boss Yao to strengthen the hall’s influence before planning to enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range with Xiao Yi Xian.

• Ya Fei and Gu Ni discussed Yan Qingshan’s strength and Ya Fei considered how to respond after losing their encounter.
• Yan Qingshan arrived at Myriad Medicine Hall and saw Xiao Yi Xian struggling to treat a mercenary whose Phosphorus Wood Jackal poison had begun causing severe bleeding.
• Yan Qingshan embraced Xiao Yi Xian, then used Dou Qi to purge the poison and save the mercenary.
• Yan Qingshan gave Boss Yao a low-level Black Rank Fire Cloud Art and ordered him to bring Qingshan Town’s other two mercenary groups under Myriad Medicine Hall’s influence.
• Yan Qingshan told Boss Yao that he and Xiao Yi Xian would enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range the next day and that the Mittel Family might soon send people to Qingshan Town.