Chapter Summaries

A powerful foreign group led by a young man arrived at the City Lord's Mansion, where Yun Fan and the Misty Cloud Sect were confronting Mu Tie. The young man revealed that the Misty Cloud Sect had broken an agreement he made with them three years earlier, leaving Yun Fan facing his anger.

• Black Flame surrounded Yun Fan and the Misty Cloud Sect members as an unseen speaker mocked Yun Shan and the sect.
• More than a hundred powerful figures arrived at the mansion, and their aura suppressed Yun Fan's group and weakened their formation.
• Yun Fan cautiously introduced himself and invoked Yun Shan's name, but the young leader said he had met Yun Shan before.
• The young leader accused the Misty Cloud Sect of breaking their public agreement within six months of his departure and declared that he detested their betrayal.

Wei Yang returned to confront the Misty Cloud Sect, while Xiao Yan and Xiao Li revealed themselves as members of the Xiao Family it had once targeted. After Wei Yang effortlessly killed Yun Fan’s guards, Mu Tie reclaimed authority at Ghost Suppressing Pass, and Xiao Li captured the fleeing Meng Li.

• Yun Fan recognized Wei Yang, and Mu Tie and the Misty Cloud Sect party recalled his identity and the agreement made three years earlier.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Li confronted Yun Fan over the Misty Cloud Sect’s attempt to wipe out their family, prompting Yun Fan to order their deaths.
• Wei Yang burned more than a dozen Misty Cloud Sect elites to ash, then freed Mu Tie and gave him medicine and orders to secure the pass.
• Mu Tie asked to take Meng Li for punishment, and Wei Yang agreed.
• Meng Li ordered the Blade and Axe Battalion to attack Mu Tie and tried to flee, but Xiao Li seized him and brought him back with his limbs broken.

Xiao Li revealed that he had once escaped Ghost Suppressing Pass with Mu Tie’s help, while the rebels outside the City Lord’s Mansion were defeated. Xiao Yan confronted Yun Fan, who fled the hall, and Xiao Yan and Xiao Li pursued him.

• Xiao Li reminded Mu Tie that he had helped him leave Ghost Suppressing Pass more than two years earlier, surprising Mu Tie to learn Xiao Li had become a Dou Wang.
• Su Mei’s forces killed the several thousand soldiers attacking the City Lord’s Mansion, and Mu Tie took the defeated Meng Li away.
• Wei Yang ordered Xiao Yan to finish Yun Fan before the group left the next morning, and Xiao Yan confronted the Misty Cloud Sect elder.
• Yun Fan attacked Xiao Yan, then tried to flee; Xiao Yan used Suction Palm to drag him back, but Yun Fan threw his sword to break free and escaped into the sky.
• Xiao Li pursued Yun Fan as Xiao Yan vanished after him, and a moment later Yun Fan crashed onto the plaza in a cloud of dust.

Xiao Yan killed Yun Fan and learned from Wei Yang that the Soul Hall was manipulating the Misty Cloud Sect to provoke a devastating war and harvest souls. As they traveled toward the Imperial Capital, Xiao Yan learned that the Soul Hall operated under the constraints of an even more powerful force, but still targeted exceptional souls like Elder Yao and Wei Yang.

• Xiao Yan killed the wounded Yun Fan with Emerald Green Flame after declaring his intent to take revenge on the Misty Cloud Sect and Yun Shan.
• The next morning, Xiao Yan, Xiao Li, and Wei Yang departed Ghost Suppressing Pass for the Imperial Capital as Xiao Yan and Xiao Li discussed the Misty Cloud Sect's persecution of the Xiao Family.
• Xiao Yan learned that Yun Yun had been stripped of authority and that Yun Shan controlled the Misty Cloud Sect, while Xiao Li suspected the sect was plotting to overthrow the dynasty.
• Wei Yang revealed that the Soul Hall was using Yun Shan as a pawn and might trigger a large-scale war between empires to harvest the resulting souls.
• Elder Yao explained that a greater force constrained the Soul Hall, which generally followed rules for ordinary souls but would target exceptional souls such as his and Wei Yang's.

Elder Yao warned Wei Yang and Xiao Yan that the Soul Hall would target them, while Xiao Yan vowed to grow strong enough to fight it and find his missing father. Meanwhile, Yun Shan revealed his plan to seize control of the Jia Ma Empire and expand the Misty Cloud Sect’s power, ordering an attack on the Mittel Family and a search for the Xiao Family Remnants.

• Elder Yao warned Wei Yang and Xiao Yan that the Soul Hall would try to capture their souls because of their talent.
• Xiao Yan vowed to punish the Soul Hall and find his missing father, while Wei Yang said they needed to become Dou Zuns first.
• Yun Leng reported that Yun Fan had not yet sent news from Ghost Suppressing Pass, and Yun Shan ordered him to take control within five days.
• Yun Shan announced his ambition to conquer the Jia Ma Empire and expand the Misty Cloud Sect across the Southwest Region.
• Yun Shan ordered Yun Du and Yun Sha to destroy the Mittel Family and search for the Xiao Family Remnants.

Yun Shan prepared to eliminate the Mittel Family and hunt the Xiao Family Remnants under orders from the Soul Hall, learning that Xiao Yan had become a Dou Emperor. As Xiao Yan and Wei Yang sensed a Dou Emperor-level battle near the Imperial Capital, they raced ahead, fearing the Misty Cloud Sect had attacked his family.

• Yun Shan ordered his followers to eliminate the Mittel Family and find every member of the Xiao Family, while the Soul Hall Guardian warned him not to let any escape.
• The Soul Hall Guardian revealed that Xiao Yan had been spotted in the Black Corner Region and was reportedly no weaker than a Dou Emperor, but Yun Shan dismissed him as an ant.
• Wei Yang sensed Dou Emperor-level battle fluctuations near the Imperial Capital, and Xiao Yan suspected the Misty Cloud Sect had acted.
• Wei Yang took Xiao Yan and sped toward the Imperial Capital, while Xiao Yan told Xiao Li to bring the others after them.
• Xiao Li urged the Tiger Eagle Beasts to fly faster, hoping they would reach the Xiao Family in time.

The Misty Cloud Sect threatened the Mittel Family, demanding that it surrender the Xiao Family remnants. Hai Bodong refused to sacrifice Xiao Ding and his clansmen, choosing to stand with them and fight the sect.

• The Misty Cloud Sect sent a signal over Jia Ma Holy City and demanded that the Mittel Family hand over the Xiao Family remnants.
• Mitell Tengshan asked what the Mittel Family should do, and Hai Bodong said they would fight rather than surrender.
• Xiao Ding offered to let the Mittel Family hand him and most of the Xiao Family survivors over while secretly rescuing the others.
• Hai Bodong vowed to protect Xiao Ding and the Xiao Family, even at the cost of his life and the Mittel Family.
• Hai Bodong argued that the Misty Cloud Sect was using the Xiao Family as an excuse to purge the empire's factions, and Mitell Tengshan fell silent.

The Mittel Family prepared to resist the Misty Cloud Sect’s invasion of the Imperial Capital, while Ya Fei and Hai Bodong arranged for the family’s survival. The Misty Cloud Sect surrounded the manor, and Hai Bodong led the defenders out to face its army.

• Ya Fei told Mitell Tengshan that she had secretly sent younger members of the Mittel and Xiao Families out of the Imperial Capital, then ordered the family to kill any invaders.
• A force of at least a thousand Misty Cloud Sect members swept into the Imperial Capital and surrounded the Mittel Family’s manor.
• Xiao Ding revealed that he had advanced to the Dou Ling level, and Hai Bodong urged him and Ya Fei to escape if the battle went badly.
• Hai Bodong told Xiao Ding and Ya Fei to care for the younger clansmen and pass along his farewell to Wei Yang and Xiao Yan if he died.
• Hai Bodong, Mitell Tengshan, and the stronger Mittel Family members went to the manor’s perimeter to confront the Misty Cloud Sect army.

The Misty Cloud Sect launched a bloody assault on the Mittel Family, while Jia Xingtian hesitated to intervene against Yun Shan. Yaoye urged him to act and, hearing him mention Wei Yang, reflected on how far she still felt beneath him.

• Yun Du and Yun Sha appeared as apparent Dou Emperors and joined the Misty Cloud Sect's attack on the Mittel Family.
• Hai Bodong and Mitell Tengshan fought Yun Du, Yun Sha, Yun Fu, and Yun Xu as the battle erupted across Jia Ma Holy City.
• Yaoye urged Jia Xingtian to ally with the Alchemist Guild and the Three Great Families, but he chose to wait for a turning point.
• Jia Xingtian recalled Wei Yang's past victory over Venerable Soul Devourer's forces and wondered when he would return.
• Yaoye remembered Wei Yang and felt that her power and achievements could never make her his equal.

As the Mittel Family and the Misty Cloud Sect fought a bloody battle in the Imperial Capital, the Alchemist Guild and the Nalan and Mu Families hesitated to intervene, wary of Yun Shan. The battle remained unresolved as reinforcements raced toward the city.

• Fa Ma and another Alchemist Guild elder watched the fighting and chose to wait, lamenting Wei Yang’s absence and fearing the Guild would fall under Misty Cloud Sect control.
• Nalan Jie ordered Nalan Su to wait and rejected the idea of groveling to protect the Nalan Family, while the Mu Family also refrained from aiding the Mittel Family.
• Two figures rushed toward the Imperial Capital as more than a dozen flying magical beasts carrying a powerful force followed behind them.
• Misty Cloud Sect disciples attacked the Mittel Family manor, but the family’s trained guards held them at the perimeter in a bloody close-quarters battle.
• Yun Fu and Yun Du forced Mitell Tengshan back, while Hai Bodong remained locked in a stalemate against Yun Du and Yun Sha.

Wei Yang and another powerful figure arrived in Jia Ma Holy City as the Mittel Family faced defeat, and Wei Yang killed Yun Du with a single attack. The battle paused in shock as the newcomers turned their attention to the Misty Cloud Sect.

• Jia Xingtian admitted that he could not oppose Yun Shan, while Yaoye feared the Misty Cloud Sect would take control of the empire if the Mittel Family fell.
• A distortion opened in the sky above Jia Ma Holy City, and two figures emerged, one radiating an aura stronger than Yun Shan's.
• Jia Xingtian and Fama recognized the black-aura figure as Wei Yang, while the city watched the arrivals in shock.
• The two newcomers exchanged casual remarks and said they had come to deal with the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Yun Du challenged the arrivals, and Wei Yang shot a black beam through Yun Du's head, killing him instantly.

Wei Yang killed Yun Du with a newly invented technique, then revealed himself alongside Xiao Yan in the Imperial Capital. Wei Yang challenged Yun Shan to a one-on-one fight the next day, while Xiao Yan declared his return to settle the Xiao Family’s debts with the Misty Cloud Sect.

• Wei Yang killed Yun Du instantly with a beam he named the Light of Annihilation, terrifying everyone who witnessed it.
• Wei Yang and Xiao Yan descended into the Imperial Capital, and onlookers recognized the returning Honorary Elder and Xiao Family heir.
• Wei Yang challenged Yun Shan to fight him one-on-one the next day.
• Xiao Yan announced that he had returned to collect the Xiao Family’s debts from the Misty Cloud Sect.
• The Alchemist Guild and other city residents erupted in celebration and anticipation of the coming confrontation.

Wei Yang and Xiao Yan returned to the Imperial Capital and confronted the Misty Cloud Sect over its attack on the Xiao Family. As the Misty Cloud Sect’s reinforcements arrived, the Royal Family, Alchemist Guild, Nalan Family, and Mu Family surrounded them, while beastly roars sounded in the distance.

• Jia Xingtian, Yaoye, Fama, the Nalan Family, and the Mu Family decided to mobilize their forces in support of Wei Yang.
• Xiao Yan thanked Hai Bodong for protecting the Xiao Family, and Hai Bodong revealed that he had been waiting for Wei Yang to return.
• Xiao Yan accused the Misty Cloud Sect of breaking its word and threatened to avenge the Xiao Family; Yun Sha fired a signal for help.
• Five Misty Cloud Sect Dou Wangs arrived, but Royal Family soldiers and forces from the Nalan Family and Mu Family moved to encircle them alongside experts from the Alchemist Guild.
• The Misty Cloud Sect reinforcements were surrounded as deep beastly roars sounded from the distant sky.

Xiao Yan’s allies arrived in force to support the Mittel Family against the Misty Cloud Sect, turning the battle into a massacre. Yun Shan never appeared, while Wei Yang kept their hidden reserves concealed as he watched for the Soul Hall Guardian.

• More than a dozen Dou Wangs and over a hundred fighters arrived above the Imperial Capital, surrounding Yun Sha and the Misty Cloud Sect experts.
• Hai Bodong recognized Xiao Yan’s force, and Xiao Yan ordered his allies to kill the Misty Cloud Sect attackers without leaving anyone alive.
• Yun Sha urged his disciples to fight to the death and charged at Xiao Yan, while Lin Yan and the others attacked the remaining Misty Cloud Sect Dou Wangs.
• The Misty Cloud Sect disciples were overwhelmed as the Royal Family, Nalan Family, and Mu Family joined the Mittel Family’s forces.
• Wei Yang waited for Yun Shan to intervene, but Yun Shan never appeared; Medusa, Zi Yan, Xiao Li, Elder Yin Gu, and others remained hidden outside the city.

After Xiao Yan’s side defeated the Misty Cloud Sect forces, Empress Yaoye captured the surviving disciples and ordered them held for trial. Wei Yang reunited with Jia Xingtian, Hai Bodong, and Fa Ma, then agreed to return to the Alchemist Guild.

• The remaining Misty Cloud Sect disciples surrendered to Yaoye’s soldiers, who shackled them and took them away for trial.
• Xiao Yan watched the surrender without intervening, while Wei Yang confirmed Yun Shan had not appeared.
• Wei Yang greeted Fa Ma, Jia Xingtian, and Hai Bodong after the battle.
• Fa Ma asked Wei Yang to stay at the Alchemist Guild, and Wei Yang agreed.
• Fa Ma and the Guild elders escorted Wei Yang back to the Alchemist Guild to hear about his years away.

Wei Yang returned to the Alchemist Guild, where its members welcomed him and he promised to teach and demonstrate alchemy. After Xiao Yan declared his return and vowed vengeance on the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Shan prepared to wait for him on Misty Cloud Mountain, while a woman in the Forbidden Hall recognized his aura.

• Fa Ma welcomed Wei Yang back and told him that his old courtyard and herb garden had been maintained; Wei Yang agreed to answer the alchemists' questions the next day.
• The Alchemist Guild members greeted Wei Yang, and he promised to refine pills publicly for them to observe.
• Xiao Yan surveyed the aftermath at the Mitel Estate, vowed to repay the Misty Cloud Sect for the Xiao Family's blood debt, and descended to reunite with Xiao Ding.
• Yun Shan reacted to Xiao Yan's aura and, grieving the sect's losses, challenged Xiao Yan to come to Misty Cloud Mountain.
• A white-robed woman in the Forbidden Hall sensed Xiao Yan's return and recognized his aura.

After learning that several Misty Cloud Sect experts had died, Yun Shan revealed that Wei Yang and Xiao Yan had returned and judged them dangerous enough to threaten the sect. He ordered the mountain placed on the highest alert and prepared to wait for the two to come to them.

• Yun Leng reported that the soul tablets of Elders Yun Du, Yun Sha, Yun Fan, and others had shattered.
• Misty Cloud Sect elders suspected the Three Great Families and the Royal Family, but Yun Shan said Wei Yang and Xiao Yan had returned.
• Yun Shan told the hall that Wei Yang had likely reached the Dou Zong realm and Xiao Yan had combat strength on the level of a Dou Emperor.
• Yun Shan rejected plans to march on the Imperial Capital and said Wei Yang and Xiao Yan would come to Misty Cloud Mountain themselves.
• Yun Shan ordered Misty Cloud Mountain placed on the highest alert and commanded the sect to kill anyone who trespassed.

Yun Shan and the black-mist Soul Hall Guardian planned how to deal with Wei Yang, whom they feared because he was a Dou Zong and possessed a Heavenly Flame. The Guardian agreed to recruit another Soul Hall Guardian for an upfront payment, leaving Yun Shan to gather the required items.

• The black-mist Soul Hall Guardian reported that Xiao Yan had returned with allies from the Black Corner Region, including the Mad Lion Gang and the Heavenly Yin Sect.
• Yun Shan dismissed Xiao Yan as a lesser threat and insisted that Wei Yang had to die, while the Guardian warned that Wei Yang’s Heavenly Flame made him dangerous.
• The Guardian offered to hold Wei Yang back while Yun Shan dealt with Xiao Yan, but Yun Shan rejected any plan that might let Wei Yang escape.
• Yun Shan persuaded the Guardian to recruit another Soul Hall Guardian, and they agreed that Yun Shan would pay most of the cost upfront.
• The Guardian claimed they could divide Wei Yang’s fortune after killing him but ruled out Yun Shan claiming the Heavenly Flame; Yun Shan went to fetch the payment.

Yun Shan and the Soul Hall plotted to capture Xiao Yan and Yao Chen while using Yun Shan to stall Wei Yang. In the imperial capital, Wei Yang reconsidered his overconfidence before Medusa and Zi Yan arrived, and he confronted Zi Yan about stealing medicinal ingredients.

• Yun Shan gave the black mist a Storage Ring, then agreed to help capture Xiao Yan alive and stall Wei Yang while the Soul Hall dealt with Xiao Yan and Yao Chen.
• Wei Yang worried that the Soul Hall might target him and regretted sending Single-Horn away, recognizing that his confidence had made him careless.
• Medusa and Zi Yan appeared in Wei Yang's courtyard after traveling together for nearly two months.
• Zi Yan told Wei Yang that Xiao Yan had scolded her and offered him a jade box of stolen medicinal ingredients.
• Wei Yang took the box and warned Zi Yan that stealing was wrong and could bring serious consequences, especially if she carried the habit to the Central Plains.

Wei Yang reprimanded Zi Yan and Queen Medusa for stealing from the Alchemist Guild and made them return what they had taken. The next day, he taught the guild elders about alchemy, but Fa Ma remained unable to advance toward becoming a Sixth Grade Alchemist because his soul power had reached its limit.

• Wei Yang lectured Zi Yan about stealing and refused to excuse her behavior.
• Queen Medusa admitted that she and Zi Yan had taken items from the Alchemist Guild's treasure vault.
• Wei Yang ordered Zi Yan to return everything, and she left with Queen Medusa to do so.
• Wei Yang demonstrated flame control and shared his alchemy insights with Fa Ma and the guild elders.
• Fa Ma explained that his soul realm could not advance without a breakthrough, leaving him with little chance of successfully refining a Sixth-Grade Pill.