Chapter Summaries

Yan Li’s powerful alchemy results and suspicious records made Fa Ma question his identity, so Hai Bodong secretly destroyed his bamboo hat. The reveal of Yan Li’s youthful face left the tournament officials uncertain about who he really was.

• Yan Li produced a pillar of green light stronger than Xiao Yan’s, drawing the attention of Xia Mo and the other competitors.
• Fa Ma had Chelsea check the records for Mo Qi and the grey-robed competitor, learning that Yan Li was listed as a seventeen-year-old Second-grade Alchemist from the Chu Yun Empire.
• Hai Bodong, Fa Ma, and Elder Jia discussed their suspicions about Yan Li, and Fa Ma authorized Hai Bodong to remove his bamboo hat without stopping the tournament.
• Yan Li sensed Hai Bodong’s cold current and tried to retreat, but Hai Bodong shattered his bamboo hat with a gesture.
• The audience saw Yan Li’s youthful face, and Hai Bodong remarked that his abilities were astonishing if he truly was seventeen.

After Yan Li declared his intention to win the Alchemist Tournament, Fa Ma and the others debated whether his youthful appearance was genuine before beginning the second assessment. Xia Mo studied the Windwalk Pill prescription, discovered a problem with one ingredient, and began refining with that knowledge.

• Yan Li brushed away the ice on his shoulder and signaled that he would claim the championship.
• Hai Bodong, Elder Jia, and Fa Ma discussed whether Yan Li was an elder using a pill to appear young, but Fa Ma allowed him to continue competing.
• Fa Ma announced the second assessment, in which contestants had two attempts to refine a Windwalk Pill from the provided prescription and herbs.
• Xia Mo memorized the prescription and simulated the ingredients’ fusion, then noticed abnormal reactions when analyzing Thick Earth Ganoderma.
• Xia Mo summoned the Dragon Phoenix Flame and began refining the pill.

During the Windwalk Pill examination, Xia Mo recognized that the orthodox formula was flawed and successfully refined a pill while most contestants, including Xiao Yan and the Little Princess, failed. His jade mirror lit green first, while the arrogant gray-robed youth began a second attempt.

• Xia Mo finished refining the Windwalk Pill's ingredients as contestants around the plaza began failing during fusion, unable to understand why their formulas would not work.
• A Third-grade Alchemist used both batches of ingredients and was eliminated after two failed attempts, while Xia Mo began fusing his ingredients.
• Xia Mo, Xiao Yan, and the gray-robed youth were the only contestants still refining, and Xiao Yan's and the gray-robed youth's first fusions failed.
• Yan Li mocked the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemists, and Xia Mo and Xiao Yan rebuked the gray-robed youth as he started refining his final batch.
• Xia Mo completed his Windwalk Pill and was the first contestant whose jade mirror lit green.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan completed the second round of the alchemy competition, while Yan Li struggled and watched them succeed. After the contestants were ranked and the round ended, Xia Mo declined Yao Ye's celebratory banquet and left with Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Xiao Yan ahead of the final round.

• Xia Mo refined the Windwalk Pill on his first attempt, stunned Yan Li, and shared a crucial pointer with nearby Alchemists.
• Xiao Yan used his Heavenly Flames to complete his pill about a minute after Yan Li, then gave pointers to nearby Alchemists.
• As the deadline passed, the Little Princess, Liu Ling, and other contestants finished, while most competitors were eliminated.
• Fa Ma ranked Xia Mo first for the best pill, followed by Xiao Yan and the gray-robed youth, and announced that the final round would take place the next day.
• Yao Ye invited Xia Mo, Xiao Yan, Liu Ling, and the Little Princess to a banquet, but Xia Mo declined and left with Zi Yan and Qing Lin as Xiao Yan followed.

Xia Mo, Zi Yan, and Xiao Yan discovered that a powerful stranger had been secretly watching them, while Hai Bodong suspected the same person had followed them for a long time. Hai Bodong then invited Xia Mo and Xiao Yan to join him and two others in investigating the gray-robed youth from the Grand Assembly, and they left the manor together.

• Xia Mo, Zi Yan, and Xiao Yan searched the rooftops after hearing a noise and found a freshly broken roof tile near Xiao Yan's room.
• Ling Ying revealed himself after the others left, worried that Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er had feelings for each other and noting Xia Mo's sharp soul perception.
• Hai Bodong returned and said he had vaguely sensed a powerful presence following them since their encounter with Lu Man and the Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor.
• Xia Mo told Xiao Yan not to worry because the watcher seemed to mean them no harm, and Xiao Yan reluctantly let the matter go.
• Hai Bodong invited Xia Mo and Xiao Yan to join him, Fa Ma, and another elder in probing the gray-robed youth's background, and Xia Mo followed him out of the manor.

Xia Mo, Xiao Yan, and Hai Bodong joined Fa Ma and Elder Jia to secretly watch Yan Li, whose youthful appearance had aroused their suspicions. Through Hai Bodong’s Ice Mirrors, they saw Yan Li reveal that he planned to disgrace the Jia Ma Alchemist Association, then transform into a middle-aged man.

• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan followed Hai Bodong to meet Fa Ma and Elder Jia on a rooftop.
• Fa Ma led the group to Yan Li’s inn, where Jia Xing Tian silently destroyed the warning bells outside his room.
• Hai Bodong used Ice Mirrors to project the room’s interior onto the rooftop ice, and the group waited for Yan Li to return.
• Yan Li came back in disguise, washed up, and meditated before carefully checking his room for watchers.
• Yan Li said he intended to ruin the Jia Ma Alchemist Association’s reputation and swallowed a pale red pill.
• Yan Li’s youthful face changed, and his body grew until he became a cold-faced middle-aged man.

Yan Li revealed his true identity as the vice president of the Chu Yun Alchemist Association, but Fa Ma and the others stopped short of killing him because he threatened to ruin the Jia Ma Alchemist Association’s reputation. Yan Li remained determined to win the Alchemist Competition, though he feared the consequences if he failed.

• Yan Li transformed from a young boy into his middle-aged appearance, and Fa Ma identified him as the Chu Yun Alchemist Association’s vice president.
• After Yan Li pulled the room’s alarm cord, Jia Xing Tian, Hai Bodong, and the others attacked him, and Jia Xing Tian wounded him.
• Yan Li warned Fa Ma that killing him would let his association spread damaging rumors about the Jia Ma Alchemist Association.
• Yan Li destroyed his remaining Restoration Pills and claimed that Fa Ma could not prove he had disguised himself to enter the competition.
• Fa Ma agreed not to kill Yan Li for now, but warned him that winning the championship would not be easy.
• After Fa Ma and the others left, Yan Li vowed to win the championship and trembled with fear at the prospect of losing.

Fa Ma brought Xia Mo and Xiao Yan to the Alchemist Association and gave them formulas and materials to improve their chances of defeating Yan Li in the championship round. Xiao Yan learned the Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill formula, while Xia Mo prepared to refine the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill, leaving the contest to them.

• Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian urged Fa Ma to stop Yan Li from winning, and Fa Ma decided to help Xia Mo and Xiao Yan.
• Fa Ma took Xia Mo and Xiao Yan to the Alchemist Association and explained that the final round would require contestants to supply their own formulas and materials.
• Fa Ma offered the two valuable fourth-grade formulas and asked them to defeat Yan Li.
• Xia Mo requested medicinal herbs and received materials for the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill, while Xiao Yan memorized the Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill formula.
• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan left the association, promising Fa Ma they would give the competition their best.

Xia Mo, Xiao Yan, and the other finalists gathered for the tournament’s last round, where Yan Li declared that he would no longer hold back. The final test began with Fa Ma urging the contestants to give their all, but its challenge and winner remained unrevealed.

• Hai Bodong led Xia Mo and the others into the Royal Square through a guarded side entrance.
• The little princess and Liu Ling greeted Xia Mo and Xiao Yan, while Fa Ma and Jia Xing Tian arrived with the Association elders.
• Yan Li entered and taunted Xia Mo and Xiao Yan, promising to show no restraint in the final round.
• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan headed into the square as the contestants took their places and the spectators filled the stands.
• Fa Ma announced that the round would decide the tournament champion, and the crowd roared in response.

The third round began with contestants required to provide their own formulas and ingredients, and the leading competitors revealed powerful cauldrons and unusual flames. Xiao Yan’s Green Lotus Core Flame dominated the flames across the plaza, while Xia Mo quietly summoned his Dragon Phoenix Flame and prepared to attempt a Fifth-grade Pill.

• Fa Ma announced that contestants had to refine pills using their own formulas and materials, and the third round began after a long pause.
• The little princess and Liu Ling brought out Fifth-tier cauldrons, the Azure Flame Cauldron and the Volcanic Flame Furnace.
• Xia Mo summoned materials for a Fifth-grade Pill, while the little princess revealed the Azure Water Flame and Fa Ma and Hai Bodong recognized its origin.
• Liu Ling produced a light-brown flame, Yan Li produced a pitch-black flame, and Xiao Yan revealed the Green Lotus Core Flame, making the other flames bow toward it.
• Xia Mo summoned his Dragon Phoenix Flame, which faced the Green Lotus Core Flame, though the spectators did not notice it.

The alchemists continued the pill-refinement assessment as Xia Mo carefully extracted ingredients and the leading contestants began fusing their pills. Xiao Yan’s pill refinement failed when his Purple Flame destabilized, leaving him to face the crisis alone while Xia Mo continued his own work.

• Xia Mo cautiously extracted medicinal ingredients two at a time while Xiao Yan, Liu Ling, and Yan Li worked just as carefully.
• After finishing their extractions, Xiao Yan, the Little Princess, Liu Ling, and Yan Li began fusing their pills as failed attempts eliminated contestants.
• Fa Ma explained to Hai Bodong that pill fragrance and energy ripples could reveal the grade of pills nearing completion.
• Xiao Yan’s Purple Flame turned chaotic during pill-fusing, and his cauldron erupted, leaving only black ashes.
• Xiao Yan wondered what to do while Old Yao slept and Xia Mo remained focused on refining; Xia Mo intensified the Purple-gold Flame in his cauldron.

Xia Mo refined a complex pill with unprecedented control as Yan Li’s Colored Pill Fragrance put the Jia Ma Empire’s alchemists at risk of losing the tournament. With less than an hour remaining, Yan Li’s pill neared completion while Xia Mo and Xiao Yan still had a chance to surpass him.

• Xia Mo refined the remaining herbs into essence materials and began fusing more than thirty ingredients in his cauldron.
• The Little Princess completed a Fourth-grade Pill, but Liu Ling’s pill proved slightly higher in grade.
• Yan Li produced a Colored Pill Fragrance, leading Fa Ma to fear the empire would lose.
• Xiao Yan resumed refining and said the outcome was not yet certain, while the Little Princess and Liu Ling finished their pills.
• Xia Mo reached a deeply focused state as his refinement continued, and Yan Li’s Colored Pill Fragrance grew denser with less than an hour left.

Yan Li completed a Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill and claimed the championship, but Xiao Yan revealed that he had preserved his pill through his cauldron’s explosion. The chapter ended with Xiao Yan presenting a Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill, leaving the contest’s result in doubt.

• Xia Mo began compressing the medicinal liquid in his cauldron as the final stage of refinement.
• Yan Li revealed his peak fourth-grade Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill and declared that he would win the championship.
• Xiao Yan summoned the Bone Spirit Cold Flame and caused his cauldron to explode, while secretly protecting his Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill inside the flame.
• Xiao Yan drew the pill from the sky into his hand and revealed its three colored patterns.
• Xiao Yan announced that he had refined a fourth-grade Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill.

Xia Mo completed the fifth-grade Wind Thunder Yang Returning Pill, overtaking Xiao Yan’s Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill and leaving the championship undecided. The crowd marveled at the pill’s power as Xia Mo announced its name.

• Xiao Yan revealed his Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill, causing Yan Li to collapse in defeat.
• Xia Mo struggled to condense the medicinal liquid for the Wind Thunder Yang Returning Pill, then formed a pill embryo.
• Xia Mo carefully baked and polished the pill as its energy ripples and fragrance revealed that it was a genuine fifth-grade pill.
• Xia Mo drew the finished dark-blue pill from his cauldron and announced it was the Wind Thunder Yang Returning Pill.
• The crowd discussed the pill’s ability to heal severe injuries and regenerate lost flesh.

Xia Mo’s Wind Thunder Yang Returning Pill stunned the tournament crowd and appeared to secure him the championship, but Yan Li demanded a public inspection to challenge the results. The inspection confirmed the pills’ quality, and a renowned elder praised Mo Qi and Yan Xiao as future alchemists capable of surpassing Gu He.

• The spectators and tournament contestants realized Xia Mo had refined a Fifth-grade Wind Thunder Yang Returning Pill, making him the likely champion.
• Yan Li demanded to inspect Xia Mo’s and Xiao Yan’s pills, and Fa Ma agreed to a public review by a mixed team of association elders and independent master alchemists.
• The inspectors confirmed Yan Li’s Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill had no defects and examined the other contestants’ pills.
• Otto and the inspection team examined Xia Mo’s and Xiao Yan’s pills, then asked the respected elder Old Mo to announce the findings.
• Old Mo declared Yan Xiao’s Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill exceptionally refined and confirmed that Mo Qi’s Wind Thunder Yang Returning Pill was a Fifth-grade Pill with a Pill Pattern.
• Old Mo predicted that Mo Qi and Yan Xiao could surpass the sixth-grade alchemist Gu He, leaving the crowd stunned by their reputations and prospects.

After Elder Mo confirmed Xia Mo’s pill was genuine and superior to Yan Li’s, Fa Ma declared Mo Qi the tournament champion and awarded him the Spirit Merging Pill prescription and guild tokens. Xia Mo left the guild hall as Fa Ma, Hai Bodong, and Jia Xing Tian set out to confront Yan Li for violating the tournament rules.

• Elder Mo’s appraisal confirmed that Xia Mo’s Wind Thunder Yang Returning Pill was genuine and that Yan Li’s pill was inferior, while Yan Li hurried to leave the square.
• Fa Ma declared Mo Qi the champion, and the crowd celebrated as Xia Mo and Xiao Yan received respect from the little princess and Liu Ling.
• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan left the arena, and Otto arranged for Xiao Yan to rest while Xia Mo went to meet Fa Ma.
• Fa Ma gave Xia Mo the Spirit Merging Pill prescription and two honorary elder tokens, one of which Xia Mo was to deliver to Yan Xiao.
• Xia Mo departed, and Fa Ma, Hai Bodong, and Jia Xing Tian left to confront Yan Li over his violation of the tournament rules.

After the Alchemist Association competition, Xia Mo completed Nalan Jie's final treatment and removed the Scorching Poison. Nalan Jie rewarded him with two Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva plants, and Xia Mo left the estate to attend to urgent matters.

• Xia Mo left the Alchemist Association and headed to the Nalan Family estate after reflecting on Queen Medusa's need for the Spirit Merging Pill.
• Nalan Jie told Xia Mo that Nalan Yanran had returned to the Misty Cloud Sect, then agreed to begin the final poison purge.
• Xia Mo used his improved Soul Power and control of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame to completely remove Nalan Jie's Scorching Poison.
• Nalan Jie offered Xia Mo two Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva plants, one mature and one three-colored, as thanks for curing him.
• Xia Mo stored the plants in his Storage Ring after Nalan Jie warned him to expose them to sunlight for an hour each day, then left the estate.

Xia Mo refined the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva and fed its essence to Xiao Yan’s ring, awakening Old Yao’s soul. Old Yao’s immense Soul Power erupted through the room, drawing the attention of powerful figures in the Imperial Capital.

• Xia Mo returned to the estate with the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva and showed it to Xiao Yan after they ate.
• Xia Mo refined the plant with his purple-gold flames, producing a seven-colored pearl of dew.
• Xiao Yan pressed the dew against Old Yao’s black ring, which absorbed its energy and began to glow.
• Old Yao’s Soul Power burst from the ring and struck a hidden figure in the ceiling’s shadows, forcing him to flee.
• Hai Bodong, Fa Ma, and Jia Xing Tian sensed the powerful Soul Power from the Imperial Capital, and Hai Bodong led them back toward the city.

After Xiao Yan reached the Da Dou Shi level, he and Xia Mo traveled to the Misty Cloud Sect for the Three-Year Agreement. Xiao Yan arrived before Nalan Yanran and introduced himself, leaving the confrontation about to begin.

• Xiao Yan emerged from his breakthrough, and Hai Bodong gave him an invitation from the Misty Cloud Sect for the Three-Year Agreement.
• Hai Bodong warned Xiao Yan that Yun Yun was away investigating something connected to Lu Man but might return soon.
• Xiao Yan and Xia Mo approached Misty Cloud Mountain, passing the Jia Ma Imperial Family’s military camp at its foot.
• Xiao Yan and Xia Mo climbed the ancient stone steps as Nalan Yanran, Misty Cloud Sect elders, and nearly a thousand disciples awaited them at the plaza.
• Xiao Yan reached the mountaintop, faced Nalan Yanran, and announced, “Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan!”

Xiao Yan arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect with Xia Mo to fulfill the Three-Year Agreement and face Nalan Yanran. After they agreed to let life and death be decided by fate, both prepared to begin their duel.

• Xiao Yan and Xia Mo stood before the Misty Cloud Sect disciples as Nalan Yanran recognized them and prepared to face Xiao Yan.
• Jia Xing Tian and Fa Ma watched from a nearby tree, while Hai Bodong worried about what the duel could mean for Xiao Yan.
• Yun Ling introduced himself as the Grand Elder and said he would preside over the Three-Year Agreement in the Sect Master's absence.
• Xiao Yan declared that life and death would be left to fate, and Nalan Yanran accepted his condition.
• Xiao Yan drew the Black Heavy Ruler and confronted Nalan Yanran over the humiliation of the past, while she defended her choice to decide her own marriage.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran released their Dou Qi and readied their weapons as the duel was about to begin.