Chapter Summaries

Xia Mo’s Ironwood Spirit Leaf test result stunned the Alchemist Guild, and Liu Ling, the Little Princess, and Xiao Yan also passed with strong scores. Qie Mi’er announced that the Alchemist Tournament would begin the next day, while resolving to learn more about Xia Mo and Xiao Yan before the Misty Cloud Sect could recruit them.

• Xia Mo perfectly refined Ironwood Spirit Leaf ten times, leaving Qie Mi’er and the hall astonished.
• Qie Mi’er praised Mo Qi’s ability, and Otto acknowledged that Mo Qi’s talent and foundation exceeded his expectations.
• Liu Ling scored seven points, the Little Princess and several seeded contestants passed, and Xiao Yan shocked the crowd with eight refinements.
• Qie Mi’er congratulated the successful contestants and urged them to defend their empire’s honor in the tournament beginning the next day.
• Qie Mi’er noticed Xia Mo and Xiao Yan’s composure and decided to ask Otto about their origins before the Misty Cloud Sect could recruit them.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan left the Alchemist Association’s internal assessment after achieving exceptional results, and Otto agreed to conceal their identities so Xiao Yan could compete. Their performance stunned Frank, Xue Mei, and Lin Fei, leaving Otto confident that both could help Black Rock City in the competition.

• Xia Mo said he wanted to focus on alchemy, while Xiao Yan asked Otto to conceal his identity so he could remain in the competition; Otto agreed to alter both contestants’ records.
• Frank, Xue Mei, and Lin Fei met the pair outside the assessment hall, and Xia Mo and Xiao Yan understated how well they had done.
• Liu Ling congratulated Xia Mo, then left after telling Xiao Yan he would see him at the competition; the Little Princess invited the pair to a gathering, but Xia Mo declined.
• Otto told Frank and the others that Liu Ling had refined the Ironwood Spirit Leaf six times, Xiao Yan eight times, and Xia Mo ten times, astonishing them.

Xia Mo went to the Nalan Family to continue treating Nalan Jie’s Scorching Poison, but was drawn into a gathering where he and Xiao Yan met the Mittel Clan leader, Mittel Tengshan. The chapter ended with Tengshan warmly offering the two young alchemists help through Ya Fei.

• Xia Mo arrived at the Nalan Family and declined Nalan Yanran’s invitation to join the gathering.
• Xia Mo found Xiao Yan and Ya Fei at the gathering, and Ya Fei persuaded him to meet the Mittel Clan leader.
• Ya Fei introduced Xia Mo and Xiao Yan to Mittel Tengshan, who welcomed them and congratulated them on their Alchemist Association assessment results.
• Mittel Tengshan offered the two help through Ya Fei, while Xia Mo realized Hai Bodong had returned to the Mittel Clan and told Tengshan about them.

Mu Zhan returned to the Imperial Capital and attacked Xiao Yan after seeing him with Ya Fei, while Xia Mo stepped aside with her. The hall watched as Xiao Yan met Mu Zhan’s first blow, and the confrontation remained unresolved.

• Nalan Jie, Nalan Su, and Nalan Yanran discussed Mu Zhan’s return and worried that his interest in Ya Fei could spark trouble with Xia Mo and Xiao Yan.
• The Little Princess and Liu Ling recognized Xia Mo and Xiao Yan among the guests, and the Little Princess predicted that something interesting would happen.
• Mu Zhan rode to the Nalan Clan estate, entered the gathering, and searched the hall until he spotted Ya Fei with Xia Mo and Xiao Yan.
• As Xia Mo and Xiao Yan prepared to leave, Ya Fei asked them to stay, and Xia Mo suggested Xiao Yan keep her company.
• Mu Zhan rushed in and punched at Xia Mo and Xiao Yan; Xia Mo pulled Ya Fei away, while Xiao Yan blocked the attack and was forced back several steps.

After Mu Zhan nearly injured Xiao Yan in a sudden attack, Xiao Yan confronted him over his pursuit of Ya Fei and launched into a fierce close-quarters battle. Their opening exchange ended with both fighters forced back, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Mu Zhan attacked Xiao Yan without warning, then called Ya Fei the wife he had reserved for himself.
• Ya Fei identified Mu Zhan as a member of the Mu Clan who had driven her to leave the Imperial Capital to avoid him.
• Xia Mo warned that Mu Zhan was dangerous and urged Xiao Yan to finish the fight before the Nalan Family intervened.
• Xiao Yan seized a broken chair leg and charged Mu Zhan while onlookers doubted his chances.
• Xiao Yan and Mu Zhan exchanged rapid attacks, and both retreated after their opening clash.

Xiao Yan and Mu Zhan fought to a standstill until Mu Zhan tried to attack Xia Mo, who defeated him with a single blow. Xia Mo warned the Mu Clan against seeking revenge, and he left with Xiao Yan and Ya Fei.

• Xiao Yan and Mu Zhan exchanged blows, and both revealed that the other had suffered a hidden injury.
• Mu Zhan summoned an initial Dou Qi Armor and charged past Xiao Yan to attack Xia Mo with Green Wood Thorn.
• Xia Mo hurled Mu Zhan into the hall wall, leaving him unconscious with a broken arm and severe injuries.
• Xia Mo told the Mu Clan to come to him directly if they wanted revenge and warned that he would not show restraint next time.
• Xiao Yan followed Xia Mo out of the hall with Ya Fei.

After Xia Mo and the others left, Nalan Jie and Mittel Tengshan warned Mu Zhan not to retaliate against Mo Qi and Yan Xiao, declaring them honored guests and friends of their families. Mu Zhan pretended to back down, but remained furious and vowed to investigate them.

• Elder He examined Mu Zhan, treated his injuries, and confirmed he would recover.
• Nalan Jie rebuked Mu Zhan for causing trouble and warned him that Mo Qi and Yan Xiao were guests of the Nalan Family.
• Mittel Tengshan arrived and also warned Mu Zhan not to target the pair, calling them friends of the Mittel Family.
• Liu Ling and the little princess wondered why both great families were protecting Mo Qi and Yan Xiao, while Nalan Yanran regretted missing the chance to befriend them.
• After the crowd dispersed, Mu Zhan asked Nalan Yanran about the pair, and she said their alchemy could remove Nalan Jie's Scorching Poison.
• Mu Zhan claimed he would not cause trouble, then privately vowed to investigate Mo Qi and Yan Xiao and get even.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan hurried toward the northwest of the Imperial Capital after sensing Hai Bodong fighting another Dou Emperor, while Nalan Jie and Mittel Tengshan followed. As they approached, Mittel Tengshan recognized Hai Bodong’s aura and hinted that he knew one of the fighters.

• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan sensed two powerful auras near the northwest of the Imperial Capital and identified one as Hai Bodong’s.
• Nalan Jie and Mittel Tengshan flew toward the auras, while Mu Zhan and others followed on foot and horseback.
• Xia Mo revealed his Phoenix Wings and Xiao Yan used his Purple Cloud Wings, astonishing the onlookers and catching up with Nalan Jie and Mittel Tengshan.
• Mittel Tengshan mistook Xia Mo’s Phoenix Wings for a Flying Dou Technique, and Xia Mo let him believe it.
• As the group neared the battle, Mittel Tengshan recognized Hai Bodong’s aura, and he, Xia Mo, and Xiao Yan sped ahead while Nalan Jie followed in confusion.

Xia Mo and the others discovered that the two fierce auras in the cemetery belonged to Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian sparring. After Hai Bodong introduced Xia Mo and Xiao Yan as friends rather than disciples, the gathering learned of their close connection to the returned Ice Emperor.

• Xia Mo and his companions watched two light clusters battle and learned that the white one was Hai Bodong and the yellow one was Jia Xing Tian.
• Mittel Tengshan confirmed Hai Bodong had returned, prompting Nalan Jie to consider how the Dou Emperor’s presence could shift the balance of power.
• Hai Bodong conceded the sparring match, then told Jia Xing Tian he had no intention of managing the Mittel Family again.
• Jia Xing Tian greeted Nalan Jie and Mittel Tengshan, noticed Xia Mo’s wings, and recognized them as a rare Dou Technique rather than proof that he was a Dou Wang.
• Hai Bodong appeared beside Xia Mo and Xiao Yan, and when Jia Xing Tian asked whether they were his disciples, he said they were friends despite their age difference.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan departed with Hai Bodong after Elder Jia questioned Xia Mo about his mysterious teachers. Their conversation left Elder Jia, Nalan Jie, and Mittel Tengshan more convinced that the pair had powerful backing, while Xia Mo and Xiao Yan prepared to attend the Alchemist Tournament the next day.

• Hai Bodong’s remark that Elder Jia was not qualified to teach Xia Mo made Elder Jia suspect that Xia Mo’s masters were exceptionally powerful.
• Xia Mo declined to name his reclusive teachers, and Nalan Jie and Mittel Tengshan privately felt relieved that their clans had not made enemies of him and Yan Xiao.
• Elder Jia confirmed that Xia Mo and Xiao Yan would participate in the Alchemist Tournament and said he would attend to watch them.
• Elder Jia called the little princess back, greeted Nalan Yanran and Liu Ling, and warned Mu Zhan to behave himself.
• Hai Bodong, Xia Mo, and Xiao Yan departed, followed by Elder Jia and the little princess, as the gathering dispersed.

Mu Chen led the Mu Clan to confront Mo Qi and Yan Xiao at the Mittel Family estate, but Xia Mo overwhelmed their Third Elder in front of the Imperial Capital. The chapter left the Mu Clan’s reputation in danger as Xia Mo challenged Mu Zhan.

• Mu Chen gathered the Mu Clan after learning Mo Qi and Yan Xiao had injured Mu Zhan, and resolved to teach them a lesson.
• Mu Chen brought a large force to the Mittel Family estate, drawing the attention of the Nalan Family and crowds across the street.
• Xia Mo came out alone to face the Mu Clan, while Mu Zhan and the Mu Family Third Elder threatened him.
• The Mu Family Third Elder attacked Xia Mo, but Xia Mo caught his spear barehanded, crushed it, and shattered the elder’s hands.
• Zi Yan knocked back Mu Clan fighters who rushed to help the Third Elder, while Xia Mo threw the injured elder aside and warned Mu Zhan.
• Mu Chen grew furious as he realized Xia Mo’s strength could ruin the Mu Clan’s reputation.

Xia Mo challenged the Mu Clan after declaring it was nothing special, prompting its patriarch Mu Chen to appear and demand an apology. Xia Mo refused and fought Mu Chen, leaving their clash raging in the sky.

• Xia Mo called out the Mu Clan's hidden expert, and Mu Chen emerged as a five-star Dou Wang.
• Hai Bodong offered to intervene, but Xia Mo chose to test his strength against Mu Chen himself.
• Mu Chen demanded that Xia Mo apologize, and Xia Mo rejected the demand and attacked him.
• Mu Chen knocked away Xia Mo's purple-gold energy fist and launched his Mu Shi Arm Bell technique.
• Xia Mo combined soul power with Dou Qi to break the bells, then met Mu Chen's claw attacks head-on as their battle continued.

Xia Mo unleashed the full power of his Earth-tier Dou Technique against Mu Chen, who answered with the Mu Clan’s inherited technique. The completed Heaven Burning Slash shattered Mu Chen’s green python, leaving Mu Chen and the Mu Clan horrified as the attack continued its descent.

• Xia Mo summoned dark clouds and gathered natural energy to form a purple-gold blade with his Blazing Flame Slash.
• Mu Chen used Wood Emperor Steps to Heaven to build his aura and sent a massive green python to meet Xia Mo’s blade.
• Mu Chen’s python initially blocked the half-formed blade, and he mocked Xia Mo and demanded the Earth-tier technique.
• Xia Mo expanded the blade into a complete saber and unleashed Heaven Burning Slash, Shatter Mountains and Rivers.
• The full slash instantly destroyed Mu Chen’s green python, freezing Mu Chen’s laughter and the Mu Clan’s celebration with horror.

Xia Mo defeated Mu Chen and abducted Mu Zhan after the Mu Clan threatened to overwhelm him with numbers. He left with Zi Yan and the others, telling the Mu Clan to bring ransom to the Alchemist Association while the Imperial Capital watched his name spread.

• Xia Mo’s purple-gold blade broke through Mu Chen’s defenses and badly injured the five-star Dou Wang, stunning the gathered spectators.
• Mu Chen argued that Xia Mo could not use his Earth-tier Dou Technique many times, while Nalan Jie and Mittel Tengshan urged Xia Mo to spare the Mu Clan.
• After Mu Zhan called for the Mu Clan’s experts to attack together, Xia Mo charged toward Mu Chen but abruptly turned and targeted Mu Zhan instead.
• Xia Mo knocked aside three Mu Clan experts, overcame Mu Zhan’s resistance, and seized him unconscious.
• Xiao Bai blocked Mu Chen as Xia Mo escaped with Mu Zhan, demanding ransom at the Alchemist Association before leaving for the competition.

Xia Mo brought the unconscious Mu Zhan to the Alchemist Tournament, leaving the Mu Clan to seek a way to make amends. He arrived at the crowded Royal Square with Xiao Yan and their friends, where the tournament was set to begin with more than two thousand participants.

• Mu Chen worried that the Mu Clan could not withstand Mo Qi and considered asking the Nalan Clan and Mittel Family how to apologize.
• Xia Mo told Hai Bodong that the Mu Clan had used up its chances and that its fate depended on what it offered.
• Xia Mo and his companions joined the crowds of Alchemists heading to the association, with Xia Mo carrying Mu Zhan.
• Xia Mo met Otto, Frank, Xue Mei, and the others at the association, then followed Otto toward Royal Square, where the tournament would be held.
• Otto explained that over two thousand Alchemists would compete in successive rounds until one champion remained.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan arrived at the Royal Square for the Alchemist Association gathering, where they met President Fa Ma and reunited him with Hai Bodong. Fa Ma sensed something familiar about the two young alchemists but could not identify it, leaving him lost in memories of a mysterious mentor.

• Otto led Xia Mo, Xiao Yan, Hai Bodong, and the others into the Royal Square and introduced them to President Fa Ma.
• Fa Ma praised Xia Mo and warned him that the Imperial Family and Nalan Jie would not let him kill Mu Chen; he also assured Xiao Yan that he would not interfere with affairs unrelated to the Association.
• Hai Bodong mocked Fa Ma, then revealed himself and sat beside him, surprising the Association elders and Otto, Frank, Lin Fei, and Xue Mei.
• Fa Ma repeatedly sensed a familiar aura from Xia Mo and Xiao Yan but could not place it, then recalled the mysterious old man whose teachings had helped him rise to prominence.

Xia Mo attended the Alchemist Tournament and accepted the Mu Clan’s compensation, agreeing to return Mu Zhan after Ya Fei and Nalan Yanran pleaded for him. Fa Ma then announced the start of the tournament.

• Jia Xing Tian introduced Xia Mo and Xiao Yan to Princess Yao Ye, who praised Xia Mo and invited them to a banquet.
• Ya Fei offered Xia Mo the Mu Clan’s apology gift, and Nalan Yanran joined her in asking him to spare Mu Zhan.
• Xia Mo accepted the Mu Clan’s generous compensation, warned them against repeating their offense, and returned Mu Zhan to them.
• Fa Ma rang in the seventh Alchemist Tournament, and the crowd erupted as the competition began.

The first round of the Alchemist competition began, challenging contestants to refine a pill from an incomplete recipe with only two attempts and a strict time limit. Xia Mo landed safely after Hai Bodong threw him from the platform, then examined the test before the contestants started refining.

• Fa Ma sent Xia Mo, Xiao Yan, the little princess, and Liu Ling to their prominent stations, while Liu Ling and the little princess made flashy jumps down to the plaza.
• Hai Bodong swept Xia Mo and Xiao Yan off the platform; Xia Mo landed with an invisible ripple, and Xiao Yan steadied himself with Dou Qi.
• Mu Chen warned Mu Zhan not to provoke Yan Xiao or his martial brothers and urged him to pursue Ya Fei properly.
• Xia Mo examined the incomplete second-tier pill recipe and noticed that each contestant had only enough herbs for two attempts.
• Fa Ma explained that contestants would be eliminated after two failures or when time ran out, then declared the first round underway as flames appeared across the plaza.

Xia Mo carefully refined the Bone-Growing Pill during the assessment, using his Dragon Phoenix Flame to extract and fuse all six ingredients. He completed his pill with time remaining, and Xiao Yan finished his own refinement at the very last moment as the hourglass ran out.

• Xia Mo studied the unfamiliar Bone-Growing Pill instructions and began preparing to refine it alongside Xiao Yan.
• Xia Mo summoned his purple-gold Dragon Phoenix Flame and slowly tested the extraction purity of each medicinal herb while Alchemists around the plaza failed and were eliminated.
• Xia Mo fused all six extracted ingredients at once, relying on feedback through his Soul Power to control the process.
• Xia Mo produced a Bone-Growing Pill with one-third of the assessment time remaining.
• Liu Ling, the Little Princess, and hundreds of other Alchemists completed their pills as the hourglass ran low.
• Xiao Yan completed his refinement just as the final grains of sand were about to fall.

Xia Mo and the other leading contestants tested their Bone-Growing Pills, with Xia Mo’s pill producing the strongest green light and narrowly surpassing Xiao Yan’s. Fa Ma then noticed a gray-robed contestant whose strength caught his attention.

• Fa Ma explained that contestants had to place their Bone-Growing Pills into testing machines, which would show whether the pills met the prescription’s requirements.
• Xia Mo watched other contestants test their pills as nearly a hundred more Alchemists failed and left the plaza.
• Xia Mo, Xiao Yan, Liu Ling, and Yao Yue tested their pills together, and all four produced bright green lights.
• Xia Mo’s dark-green light was the strongest, while Xiao Yan’s emerald-green light also impressed the spectators and judges.
• Fa Ma noticed a gray-robed contestant testing his pill and said that the figure seemed strong.