Chapter Summaries

Xia Mo explained that the Nalan Family was offering the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva to anyone who could cure Nalan Jie’s Scorching Poison, and Xiao Yan considered using his Heavenly Flame to treat him. After Ya Fei confirmed that the Nalan Family held the rare Soul Power-restoring treasure Xiao Yan needed, he decided to go with Xia Mo and see whether he could claim it.

• A maid told Ya Fei that Nalan Yanran wanted to see her, and Ya Fei left Xiao Yan and the others waiting while she handled the visit.
• Xia Mo told Xiao Yan that the Nalan Family possessed the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva, a rare medicine that could restore Soul Power.
• Xia Mo explained that Nalan Jie was suffering from Scorching Poison and that the Nalan Family was offering the treasure to an Alchemist who could cure him with a Heavenly Flame.
• Ya Fei returned and confirmed that the Mittel Auction House lacked a Soul Power-restoring treasure, but the Nalan Family had one.
• Xiao Yan told Xia Mo that they would go to the Nalan Family, where he would try to cure Nalan Jie so they could obtain the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan disguised themselves with Ice Silkworm Masks and received Ya Fei’s recommendation letter before preparing to visit the Nalan Family. After settling into a nearby estate, they set out to seek the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva.

• Xia Mo asked Ya Fei for a way to hide his appearance, and she gave him an Ice Silkworm Mask that transformed his face; Zi Yan bought another for herself.
• Ya Fei wrote Xiao Yan a recommendation letter to help the group avoid strict inspections.
• Xia Mo sold his stored goods to the Mittel Auction House for fifteen million gold coins and spent five million on medicinal herbs.
• Ya Fei arranged a quiet estate for the group, and Hai Bodong told her to direct Mite'er Tengshan to him if he asked.
• The next morning, Xia Mo and Xiao Yan planned to visit the Nalan Family for the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva while Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Lu Man stayed behind.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan entered the Nalan estate to examine Nalan Jie’s Scorching Poison after Ya Fei recommended them. The other Alchemists failed to help, and Xia Mo and Xiao Yan stepped forward to take their turn.

• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan wore Ice Silkworm Masks and approached the Nalan Family gates, where the steward admitted them after seeing Xia Mo’s Fourth-grade Alchemist badge and Ya Fei’s letter of recommendation.
• A maid led Xia Mo and Xiao Yan through the estate, where Xia Mo sensed hidden guards watching them.
• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan entered the hall and met Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran; Xiao Yan reacted to learning that Nalan Su was Nalan Yanran’s father.
• Nalan Su invited the Alchemists to try curing Nalan Jie’s Scorching Poison, but each one entered the side room and came out unsuccessful.
• As the other Alchemists prepared to leave, Xia Mo and Xiao Yan stepped forward and asked if it was their turn.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan examined the dying Nalan Jie and revealed that Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Flame, giving them a risky chance to expel the Scorching Poison. Nalan Su accepted the treatment, and Xiao Yan prepared to begin as everyone cleared the room.

• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan entered the side room to examine the unconscious Nalan Jie.
• Xia Mo judged Nalan Jie's condition severe, and Xiao Yan revealed two Azure Flames identified as a Heavenly Flame.
• Xia Mo explained that expelling the poison carried less than a fifty percent chance of success, while Xiao Yan warned Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran that Nalan Jie had little time left.
• Nalan Su agreed to let them treat Nalan Jie, and he sent the maids out and moved aside as Xiao Yan prepared to act.

Xia Mo took over from the injured Xiao Yan to use his Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame to slowly expel Nalan Jie's Scorching Poison. As Nalan Jie endured the treatment, Nalan Yanran reflected on her impending Three-Year Agreement with Xiao Yan and reaffirmed that she would honor its terms.

• Xiao Yan began treating Nalan Jie with the Green Lotus Core Flame, but Xia Mo noticed his injuries made the work too dangerous to continue.
• Xia Mo took over and used his Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, realizing Nalan Jie's deep poisoning would require three or four sessions.
• Nalan Jie awoke in agony, accepted the risk of treatment, and argued with Nalan Yanran before Xiao Yan ordered everyone to be quiet.
• Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran discussed the two men's Heavenly Flames and the thirteen days remaining until her Three-Year Agreement with Xiao Yan.
• Nalan Yanran said she would honor the agreement, accepting that she would become Xiao Yan's servant if she lost.

Xia Mo used the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame to begin expelling the Scorching Poison from Nalan Jie, who learned the treatment would require multiple sessions. Xia Mo and Xiao Yan left the Nalan residence and planned to return the next day.

• Xia Mo carefully burned the Scorching Poison from Nalan Jie's bones with the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, while the flames also destroyed a strange black substance.
• Nalan Jie endured the painful treatment and asked whether the poison could be completely expelled; Xia Mo said the progress looked promising but they had to proceed gradually.
• Xia Mo withdrew the Heavenly Flame and told Nalan Su that the treatment would take at least three sessions.
• Xia Mo said he would return the next day, declined Nalan Jie's offer to stay, and left the Nalan residence with Xiao Yan.
• Nalan Yanran watched Xiao Yan with surprise and irritation, then returned to the residence with Nalan Su after the two young men disappeared into the crowd.

After treating Nalan Jie’s Scorching Poison, Xia Mo purified the poison trapped in his own body and gained a small amount of energy. Xiao Yan discovered that the remaining poison in his body had become a controllable weapon, though he remained wary of its dangers.

• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan returned to the Mittel Family manor and told Hai Bodong that Nalan Jie would need at least three treatments to fully remove the Scorching Poison.
• Xia Mo burned the Scorching Poison inside his body into a bead, extracted its pure energy, and sealed the poison in a jade bottle.
• Xia Mo absorbed the purified energy, while Xiao Yan noticed that Scorching Poison still remained in his right middle finger.
• Xiao Yan tested the poison and discovered that it had mixed with his Dou Qi without causing discomfort and could be concentrated in his finger.
• Xiao Yan pierced Hai Bodong’s Ice Mirrors with his poisoned finger, and Xia Mo encouraged him to treat the ability as a trump card called Poison Finger.

Xia Mo, Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Xiao Yan visited the Alchemist Association as the Imperial Capital prepared for its tournament. Meanwhile, Hai Bodong reunited with Mittel Tengshan, who concealed his return, punished Leo, promoted Ya Fei, and warned the family not to antagonize Xia Mo and Xiao Yan.

• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan discussed whether to enter the Alchemist Tournament before visiting the Alchemist Association with Zi Yan and Qing Lin.
• Hai Bodong told Mittel Tengshan that Queen Medusa had once inflicted the Serpent Seal Curse on him, but the seal had been broken and his strength was recovering.
• Mittel Tengshan ordered the family to keep Hai Bodong's return secret and secured medicinal herbs for him.
• Mittel Tengshan stripped Leo of his elder position and assigned him to manage a border branch, while appointing Ya Fei to manage the headquarters auction house.
• Hai Bodong warned Mittel Tengshan that Xia Mo and Xiao Yan were dangerous allies to lose, so Mittel Tengshan ordered the family not to provoke them.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan explored the Alchemist Association’s trading hall, where Xue Mei exchanged a valuable pill recipe for a Peach Blossom Fire seed. As they prepared to leave, they noticed an unremarkable stall and became interested in items displayed by an alchemist apprentice.

• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan toured the trading hall and Xia Mo traded for herbs while rejecting an overpriced offer for ingredients.
• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan watched Xue Mei trade a Fourth-grade Pill Recipe for the Peach Blossom Fire seed.
• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan left the crowd and stopped at a neglected counter run by an alchemist apprentice.
• Xiao Yan focused on a black fragment of broken jade while Xia Mo’s gaze settled on another item.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan visited the Alchemist Association in Black Rock City after Xia Mo acquired a mysterious grayish-white ball. Otto welcomed them and recognized Xiao Yan, and the chapter left them outside Frank’s room while he scolded Xue Mei for trading away a fourth-grade prescription.

• Xia Mo traded medicinal herbs and a strange grayish-white ball for two third-grade Spirit Awakening Pills.
• Xia Mo and Zi Yan examined the ball but could not determine what made it unusual.
• Xia Mo asked about the Black Rock City branch president and led his companions to the western district with Xiao Yan.
• Otto hurried to greet Xia Mo, then recognized the disguised Xiao Yan and marveled at both young men’s strength.
• Otto brought them to Frank’s chamber, where Frank was scolding Xue Mei for trading a fourth-grade prescription for a Peach Blossom Fire seed.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan reunited with Frank and Otto in Jia Ma Holy City, where they learned what the Alchemist Tournament offered its champion. Xiao Yan became interested in competing for the Spirit Merging Pill formula, while Queen Medusa secretly asked Xia Mo to obtain it for her.

• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan removed their masks and greeted Frank and Otto, then Xia Mo persuaded Frank to stop scolding Xue Mei for trading away a fourth-grade formula for the Peach Blossom Fire seed.
• Lin Fei challenged Xiao Yan for supporting Xue Mei, but Xiao Yan teased her until she blushed and stomped her foot.
• Xiao Yan asked about the Alchemist Tournament’s practical rewards, and Otto explained that its champion became an honorary elder with rare privileges and protection from powerful factions.
• Otto revealed that the champion would also receive the sixth-grade Spirit Merging Pill formula, which could restore Soul Power and heal a soul body's wounds.
• Queen Medusa sent Xia Mo a message asking him to win the Spirit Merging Pill formula for her in exchange for one future request.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan agreed to compete in the Alchemist Tournament, with Otto and Frank handling their registration under the names Mo Qi and Yan Xiao. After leaving the Alchemist Association, Xia Mo headed alone to the Nalan Family to continue treating the poison and make use of the Scorching Poison.

• Xia Mo weighed Queen Medusa’s interest in the Spirit Merging Pill and considered how obtaining its formula might affect their relationship.
• Xiao Yan agreed to enter the tournament, hoping the Spirit Merging Pill might help restore Old Yao’s Soul Power.
• Xia Mo agreed to participate on the condition that Xiao Yan and he registered as Yan Xiao and Mo Qi.
• Otto and Frank agreed to change their registered names and told them the tournament would begin in three days and was limited to Alchemists under thirty.
• Xia Mo left his companions and went to the Nalan Family to carry out that day’s poison removal.

Xia Mo treated Nalan Jie’s Scorching Poison and accepted rare medicinal herbs from the Nalan Clan before leaving. At the gate, he met Liu Ling, whose jealousy grew as Nalan Yanran praised Xia Mo’s junior brother and watched Xia Mo depart.

• Xia Mo completed another treatment, drawing more of Nalan Jie's Scorching Poison into his Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, and said two more sessions should clear it.
• Nalan Su gave Xia Mo the rare medicinal herbs he requested, while Nalan Jie tried to recruit him by offering further support.
• Xia Mo left the Nalan Clan residence and encountered Nalan Yanran arriving with Liu Ling, a three-ripple alchemist and Gu He's disciple.
• Liu Ling questioned Xia Mo about his Heavenly Flames and teacher, but Xia Mo declined to answer and left.
• Nalan Yanran confirmed Xia Mo had Heavenly Flames and praised his junior brother's fire control and alchemy, making Liu Ling clench his fist in jealousy.

Xia Mo refined Scorching Poison, practiced making Fourth-grade Pills, and then treated Nalan Jie at the Nalan Family. After Nalan Yanran asked about Xiao Yan and Liu Ling showed his displeasure, Xia Mo left the estate.

• Xia Mo stored the concentrated Scorching Poison, and he and Xiao Yan agreed that curing Nalan Jie was the best way to obtain the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva.
• Xia Mo began practicing alchemy while Xiao Yan returned to his own room to practice.
• Xia Mo refined Qi Gathering Powder and, after several attempts, successfully made a Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill; two days of practice improved his success rate.
• After resting overnight, Xia Mo went to the Nalan Family and removed more of Nalan Jie's poison.
• Nalan Yanran asked Xia Mo about Xiao Yan, while Liu Ling watched with hostility, and Xia Mo later left the Nalan Family.

Xia Mo consumed the Earth Fire Lotus Seed and endured its scorching energy as it strengthened his meridians and body. His cultivation reached five-star Dou Ling, but the seed kept releasing energy after his body stopped absorbing it, leaving him transforming into his true form amid intensifying Purple-Gold Light.

• Xia Mo asked the Heaven Swallowing Python to guard him before taking the Earth Fire Lotus Seed from his Storage Ring.
• Xia Mo swallowed the seed, and its scorching energy damaged his meridians before jade-like liquid reinforced them with a protective green layer.
• Xia Mo struggled to guide the energy through his cultivation method, while green mist strengthened his body and fed his Monster Core.
• Xia Mo's body and Monster Core reached their absorption limit at five-star Dou Ling, but the Earth Fire Lotus Seed continued releasing energy.
• Xia Mo failed to stop the energy, slumped into his true form, and began glowing with increasingly intense Purple-Gold Light.

Xia Mo absorbed the Earth Fire Lotus Seed’s energy while the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame refined it, leaving him asleep inside a purple-gold cocoon. He awakened after advancing to Six-Star Peak Dou Ling and destroyed his room with the energy released during his breakthrough.

• The Heaven Swallowing Python guarded Xia Mo’s cocoon while Zi Yan reassured it that he was only asleep from absorbing too much energy.
• The Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame refined the green energy in Xia Mo’s meridians and poured it into his Monster Core, steadily raising his aura.
• Xiao Yan found the cocoon, and Zi Yan explained that Xia Mo was about to advance, so Xiao Yan and Qing Lin guarded the room.
• The energy filled Xia Mo’s Monster Core, whose heartbeat synchronized with his true heart and triggered a powerful eruption.
• Xia Mo woke, shattered the room with the breakthrough’s energy ripple, and identified his new strength as Six-Star Peak Dou Ling.

After waking from a breakthrough that raised him to peak six-star Dou Ling, Xia Mo reunited with his worried friends and went with Xiao Yan to the Alchemist Association. There, they encountered a royal carriage, and Xia Mo recognized the girl who emerged as the Little Princess of the Royal Family.

• Xia Mo woke after absorbing the Earth Fire Lotus Seed’s energy, thanked the Heaven Swallowing Python for guarding him, and revealed that he had reached peak six-star Dou Ling.
• Xiao Yan, Zi Yan, Qing Lin, Hai Bodong, and Lu Man welcomed Xia Mo back and told him they had kept watch over him for two days.
• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan ate, then headed to the Alchemist Association to learn about the tournament, while Zi Yan and Qing Lin went off to explore the streets.
• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan reached the crowded association and saw a royal carriage surrounded by guards, each of whom was a Da Dou Shi.
• A girl in a purple gown stepped out of the carriage, and Xia Mo recognized her as the Little Princess of the Royal Family.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan visited Otto to learn how the Alchemist Tournament would work and received a list of its strongest contestants. Otto led them to the association’s preliminary assessment, where they encountered the little princess and Liu Ling.

• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan entered the Alchemist Association and met Otto in the western section.
• Xiao Yan asked Otto about the tournament, and Otto explained that contestants would compete together as increasingly strict conditions eliminated weaker Alchemists.
• Otto gave Xiao Yan an internal list of strong contestants, including the little princess ranked fifth and thirteen Third-grade Alchemists.
• Otto told Xia Mo and Xiao Yan they had to pass a preliminary assessment to keep their recommendations valid, then led them to an inner hall.
• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan entered the hall, where they saw the little princess and Liu Ling among the other contestants.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan attended the Alchemist Association’s internal test, where Master Chemir announced a timed medicinal-herb refinement challenge. Xia Mo began refining a Black Iron Spirit Leaf with his Purple-gold Flame, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Otto introduced Xia Mo and Xiao Yan to Vice President Chemir, who encouraged them and sent them to the test.
• Chemir explained that contestants had to refine the prepared herbs as purely and quickly as possible or be disqualified.
• Liu Ling approached Xia Mo and Xiao Yan before they entered their examination rooms and questioned Xiao Yan’s participation and Heavenly Flame.
• Xia Mo entered his room, identified the Black Iron Spirit Leaves, and prepared his medicine cauldron.
• Xia Mo used his Purple-gold Flame to refine an Ironwood Spirit Leaf, controlling the flames by sensing them as the hourglass ran down.

Xiao Yan emerged just as the refinement round ended, and Qie Mi'er introduced a machine to measure the purity of the Ironwood Spirit Leaves. Xia Mo then scored a perfect ten, leaving Qie Mi'er stunned.

• Xia Mo and Liu Ling emerged among the first contestants, while Xiao Yan remained behind the last curtain as the hourglass ran out.
• Qie Mi'er was about to end the round when Xiao Yan finally walked out, drawing relief from Otto and skepticism from Liu Ling and the little princess.
• Qie Mi'er unveiled the Purity Measurement Instrument and explained that contestants needed at least four points to pass.
• Several contestants tested their refined Ironwood Spirit Leaves, earning both passing and failing scores.
• Xia Mo said he had refined his leaves nine or ten times, and the instrument displayed a perfect score of ten.