Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan and Xia Mo arrived at the Black Rock City Alchemist Association to take the Alchemist assessment, where Frank and Otto questioned their ages and chances of passing. As the assessment was about to begin, Xue Mei arrived late and drew the hall’s attention.

• Xia Mo spotted Master Otto and Fulkran among the Alchemists gathered in the hall, while Lin Fei and four other young people waited at the assessment platforms.
• Otto asked Frank where Xue Mei was, and Frank said she was preparing for her first assessment.
• Frank asked Xiao Yan and Xia Mo if they were there to take the assessment; Xiao Yan said he was nineteen and Xia Mo said he was ten.
• Frank and Otto doubted that Xiao Yan could pass at nineteen and assumed Xia Mo had only come to watch, while trading stories about their disciples’ past assessments.
• Xue Mei entered the hall in a silver dress and apologized to her teacher for arriving late, drawing heated gazes from many of the young men.

Xia Mo stunned the Alchemist Association by presenting a genuine Third-grade Alchemist Badge from Jia Nan Academy, prompting Frank and Otto to arrange a personal Fourth-grade assessment for him. As the First-grade assessments began, the Association grew suspicious of the mysterious teacher listed in Xia Mo and Xiao Yan’s records: Old Yao.

• Xue Mei arrived and exchanged barbed remarks with her rival Lin Fei before the assessments began.
• Xia Mo showed Frank his Jia Nan Academy Third-grade Alchemist Badge, and Otto confirmed it was genuine, astonishing everyone present.
• Frank arranged for Otto and himself to assess Xia Mo for the Fourth grade after the ongoing First-grade assessments, while Xiao Yan entered the arena to take his assessment.
• Frank learned that both Xia Mo and Xiao Yan named Old Yao as their teacher, but neither had a letter of introduction.
• Frank ordered an Alchemist to ask other city associations to investigate whether Jia Nan Academy had a high-ranking Alchemist called Old Yao.
• Xiao Yan inspected his equipment between Xue Mei and Lin Fei as the two women began preparing for their assessments.

Xiao Yan took the First-grade Alchemist examination and drew a more difficult Strength-boosting Pill prescription than the other candidates. His Purple Flame stunned the crowd, but he refined the pill successfully and then passed the Second-grade examination as well.

• Xia Mo recognized Xiao Yan's Strength-boosting Pill prescription as more difficult than the ones given to Xue Mei and Lin Fei.
• Frank began the examination, and the candidates lit their cauldrons while Xiao Yan hesitated before starting.
• Xiao Yan ignited a Purple Flame, prompting Frank and the hall's Alchemists to mistake it for a Heavenly Flame and marvel at his strength.
• Xiao Yan refined the Strength-boosting Pill and collected it in a jade bottle.
• Xiao Yan applied for and passed the Second-grade Alchemist examination.

Xia Mo stunned the Black Rock City Alchemist Association by passing the Second-grade assessment and declaring he had a 50 percent chance of passing the Fourth-grade assessment. Frank and Otto arranged the test, ushered Xia Mo inside, and left the crowd—including Lin Fei and Xue Mei—waiting for the result.

• The hall’s alchemists and spectators were astonished that Xia Mo had passed the Second-grade assessment at such a young age.
• Frank and Otto asked Xia Mo about taking the Fourth-grade assessment, and Xia Mo estimated his chance of success at 50 percent.
• Otto warned Xia Mo that he would have to pay for the precious ingredients if he failed, but Xia Mo insisted they proceed.
• Frank arranged the assessment, and Xia Mo entered the test room with Frank and Otto while Otto barred the crowd from following.
• Lin Fei asked Xue Mei whether Xia Mo would succeed, and the two admitted that Xia Mo and Xiao Yan’s talent was discouraging.

Xia Mo refined Qi Gathering Powder in the Black Rock City Alchemist Association’s alchemy room, impressing Frank and Otto with his flame control and skill. Frank confirmed that Xia Mo had passed the Fourth-grade Alchemist assessment.

• Frank explained that the alchemy room and its precious cauldron were reserved for important pill refinements, and Xia Mo prepared his herbs.
• Xia Mo used his Dragon Phoenix Flame to refine the ingredients for Qi Gathering Powder while Frank and Otto watched in amazement.
• Xia Mo combined the refined ingredients and nurtured the pill until it was finished.
• Xia Mo presented the pill to Frank, who and Otto recognized its Pill Pattern and confirmed that Xia Mo had passed the Fourth-grade Alchemist assessment.

Xia Mo passed the Fourth-grade Alchemist assessment, astonishing Frank, Otto, and the other alchemists in Black Rock City. After receiving an explanation of the Alchemist Association’s robes, he left Xiao Yan to speak with Frank and Otto and headed out with Xue Mei and Lin Fei.

• Frank and Otto announced that Xia Mo had passed the Fourth-grade assessment and could become the youngest Fourth-grade Alchemist in history.
• Frank and Otto praised Xia Mo’s alchemy skills and wondered about the mysterious teacher who had trained him.
• Frank presented Xiao Yan with a Second-grade Alchemist robe while explaining its benefits and said Xia Mo’s custom robes would be ready the next day.
• Xiao Yan agreed to talk with Frank, while Xia Mo told him where he was staying and left with Xue Mei and Lin Fei.
• Frank and Otto took Xiao Yan upstairs, and Xue Mei and Lin Fei escorted Xia Mo toward the outer hall.

After leaving the Alchemist Association, Xia Mo and Zi Yan went to a remote house Zi Yan had found and stole its owner’s collection of rare treasures. They escaped, leaving Gute to discover that his hoard had vanished.

• Lin Fei and Xue Mei discussed Xia Mo and Xiao Yan after escorting Xia Mo and Zi Yan out of the Alchemist Association.
• Xia Mo asked Zi Yan where she had gone, and she led him to a strange house in the southern district.
• Xia Mo and Zi Yan entered the house, where Zi Yan restrained its Da Dou Shi owner, Gute, beneath a sack.
• Xia Mo recognized the rare medicinal treasures in Gute’s collection and stored them all in his Storage Ring.
• Xia Mo and Zi Yan vanished from the house, and Gute broke free and found his treasure room emptied.

Xiao Yan searched the Alchemist Association for Ice Spirit Cold Spring and learned that Gute had once possessed some. Gute arrived to say his treasures, including the spring, had been stolen, and he resolved to return to alchemy and rebuild his strength.

• Xiao Yan asked Frank and Otto to help him find Ice Spirit Cold Spring, but their records showed no known owner in the Jia Ma Empire.
• Otto recalled that Gute might have the spring and explained that Gute was an eccentric collector whose brother was Pill King Gu He.
• Gute arrived at the Association looking for Frank, and Otto introduced him to Xiao Yan as the spring's former owner.
• Gute told Frank and Otto that a robber had taken all his treasures, including the Ice Spirit Cold Spring.
• Gute decided to resume practicing alchemy, and Frank offered to restore his Guild membership using his old assessment records.
• Xiao Yan left the Alchemist Association disappointed after learning the spring was gone.

Xiao Yan visited Xia Mo and gave him three bottles of Companion Purple Crystal Source, while Xia Mo returned the favor with the Ice Spirit Cold Spring Xiao Yan needed. Their exchange revealed that Xia Mo had taken the spring from Gute, whom Xiao Yan had encountered while searching for it at the Alchemist Association; they agreed to meet the next morning.

• Xiao Yan returned to the inn and told Xia Mo that the item he had sought was gone, while Old Yao emerged from the Bone Flame Ring and praised his progress.
• Old Yao explained that he had recovered somewhat after Xiao Yan found him a soul-nourishing Medicinal Herb in the Monster Mountain Range.
• Xiao Yan gave Xia Mo three bottles of Companion Purple Crystal Source, which Old Yao identified as a rare treasure for fire cultivators.
• Xia Mo presented Xiao Yan with a portion of Ice Spirit Cold Spring, and Xiao Yan briefly froze his hand while reaching for it before using Purple Flame to handle the bottle.
• Xiao Yan realized Xia Mo had obtained the spring from Gute, the same person Xiao Yan had encountered after learning at the Alchemist Association that Gute possessed it.
• Xiao Yan and Xia Mo agreed to meet the next morning, and Old Yao returned to the Bone Flame Ring.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan visited the Black Rock City Alchemist Association, where Xia Mo collected his Fourth-grade Alchemist robe and Xiao Yan obtained a Third-tier Monster Core for his journey. Frank invited them to the Alchemist Tournament in the Imperial Capital in half a year, and they left Black Rock City to continue their travels.

• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan met Ya Han at the Alchemist Association and went to Frank's study.
• Xiao Yan asked about trading for a Third-tier Monster Core, and Otto arranged to obtain one from the auction house.
• Ya Han brought Xia Mo his Fourth-grade Alchemist robe and badge.
• Frank invited Xiao Yan and Xia Mo to attend the Alchemist Tournament in the Imperial Capital in half a year, and Xiao Yan accepted.
• The Alchemist Association gave Xiao Yan the Monster Core without charge, and Xia Mo's group left Black Rock City.

Xiao Yan, Xia Mo, and Zi Yan left Black Rock City aboard a flying beast bound for Desert City near the Tagor Desert. During the journey, Old Yao began refining the Blood Lotus Pill while Xiao Yan and Xia Mo watched.

• Xiao Yan and Xia Mo chose the city's aerial transport service, then waited in a long ticket line with Zi Yan.
• The ticket clerk offered the group a free ride after recognizing Xiao Yan and Xia Mo as Alchemists, and escorted them to a flying monster reserved for Alchemists.
• The flying monster grew frightened by Xiao Bai and the Tiger Eagle Beast's auras, but the beast tamer calmed it and it carried the group toward Desert City.
• That night, Xiao Yan asked Old Yao to refine the Blood Lotus Pill using the Blood Lotus Essence, Ice Spirit Flame Grass, and Third-tier Monster Core.
• Old Yao began refining the Fifth-grade Blood Lotus Pill with the Bone Spirit Cold Flame as Xiao Yan and Xia Mo watched.

Old Yao completed refining the Blood Lotus Pill aboard a flying beast, drawing the attention of four alchemists who tried to force their way into the room. Xia Mo protected Xiao Yan and confronted the intruders, ending with Yang Le in his grasp.

• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan watched Old Yao refine the Blood Lotus Pill over two and a half days as they neared the Tagor Desert.
• Old Yao completed the pill, whose energy and medicinal fragrance stirred the flying beast and attracted the other passengers.
• Xia Mo guarded the door while Yang Le and three alchemists demanded to inspect the room and tried to push past him.
• Xia Mo punched the Third-grade Alchemist through a room and out of the flying beast, killing him.
• Yang Le threatened Xia Mo, but Xia Mo seized him by the throat and challenged him.

Xia Mo killed Yang Le and the two Alchemists who attacked him, while Xiao Yan witnessed the Golden Flame's power. After collecting the Blood Lotus Pill, the group left for the Tagor Desert and approached a city in the golden sands.

• Xia Mo restrained Yang Le and burned him to ash with his Golden Flame after Yang Le tried to use hidden powder.
• Xia Mo killed the two other Alchemists when they attacked and then begged for mercy.
• Xiao Yan received the Blood Lotus Pill from Old Yao and prepared to continue toward the Tagor Desert.
• Old Yao warned that Yang Le's disappearance would be investigated, then returned to Xiao Yan's Storage Ring.
• Xia Mo's group mounted the Tiger Eagle Beast, which overtook the other flying beast as they headed toward a city in the Tagor Desert.

Xia Mo, Zi Yan, and Xiao Yan arrived in Desert City to prepare for training in the Tagor Desert. After gathering supplies and learning that the Snake People had been restless, they headed to a shop to buy a desert map.

• The Tiger Eagle Beast landed outside Desert City, and Xia Mo gave Zi Yan a hooded robe to shield her from the heat and sand.
• The group entered the city without paying the entrance fee because Xiao Yan wore an Alchemist robe, and a soldier warned him that the Snake People had been restless lately.
• Xia Mo said they should rest, gather food and water, and buy a map before entering the desert, while Xiao Yan consulted Old Yao about other preparations.
• The group gathered supplies and Zi Yan's requested items, then asked a passerby where to buy a desert map.
• After the passerby pointed them toward Desert City's best map shop, the group headed there.

Xia Mo found the Fragmented Map leading to the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame in Hai Bodong’s shop and demanded to buy it. When Xia Mo revealed he knew about the fragment’s other half and hinted at his intended trade, Hai Bodong shut the doors and confronted him.

• Xia Mo, Xiao Yan, and Zi Yan entered Ancient Map, where Hai Bodong offered Xiao Yan a desert map without getting up from his work.
• Xia Mo searched a pile of discarded maps and found the Fragmented Map, recognizing it as a piece of the map leading to the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.
• Xia Mo asked Hai Bodong to sell the fragment, but Hai Bodong refused and warned him against trying to take it by force.
• Old Yao told Xiao Yan that Hai Bodong had once been a Dou Emperor but was now suppressed to roughly Dou Ling strength.
• Xia Mo said he wanted both halves of the map and hinted that he had something to trade, causing Hai Bodong to snap his pen and demand to know who Xia Mo was.
• Hai Bodong slammed the shop doors shut and released an icy, powerful aura toward Xia Mo.

Xia Mo tried to obtain Hai Bodong’s map fragment, but Hai Bodong refused and attacked him. The confrontation escalated when Xia Mo revealed his strength and summoned the power of Xiao Bai and Zi Yan, leaving Hai Bodong stunned by the two Dou Wang auras.

• Xia Mo introduced himself as a Fourth-grade Alchemist and insisted that he would obtain Hai Bodong’s map fragment.
• Hai Bodong doubted Xia Mo’s claim and attacked after Xia Mo revealed his Dou Ling aura.
• Xia Mo burned away Hai Bodong’s icy mist and ice threads with Dragon Phoenix Flame, then flew into the air on his Phoenix Wings.
• Xiao Yan asked Old Yao whether he should intervene, and Old Yao said Xia Mo and his two Dou Wang-level companions could handle Hai Bodong for now.
• Xia Mo told Xiao Bai to go easy on Hai Bodong and Zi Yan to stop him from escaping, and Hai Bodong realized both companions had Dou Wang-level auras.

Xia Mo, Zi Yan, Xiao Bai, and Xiao Yan confronted Hai Bodong after he attacked them over a map, and Zi Yan defeated him with a single punch. Xia Mo then approached the wounded Hai Bodong and warned him that keeping the map could cost him his life.

• Hai Bodong armed himself with ice weapons and armor, then attacked Xiao Bai with ice spikes and an Ice Spear.
• Xiao Bai shattered Hai Bodong's attacks and broke through his ice mirrors, while Zi Yan blocked his escape and challenged him.
• Hai Bodong unleashed Mysterious Ice Whirlwind Kill, but Zi Yan struck through his Ice Spirit Armor and sent him crashing into a counter.
• Hai Bodong lamented his defeat as Xia Mo explained that the map was useless to him and could become a death warrant if others learned of it.

Xia Mo confronted Hai Bodong over the second piece of the Fragmented Map, and Hai Bodong offered a deal: Xiao Yan’s teacher would refine a pill to break his seal. Xiao Yan urged Xia Mo to agree, but Xia Mo said the offer was not enough, leaving the bargain unresolved.

• Hai Bodong revealed that he had divided the Fragmented Map in two and threatened to withhold the second piece unless Xia Mo made a deal.
• Hai Bodong identified himself as the Ice Emperor, and Xiao Yan recognized the legendary former Dou Emperor.
• Hai Bodong explained that Queen Medusa had cursed and weakened him after he obtained the map in the Tagor Desert.
• Hai Bodong offered the second map fragment and his favor in exchange for a pill that required a Heavenly Flame to refine.
• Old Yao advised Xiao Yan to accept, and Xiao Yan told Xia Mo that his teacher would help refine the pill.
• Xia Mo agreed to consider Hai Bodong’s request but said the offer was not enough.

Xia Mo, Xiao Yan, and Zi Yan negotiated with Hai Bodong for his Heavenly Flame research and Fragmented Map in exchange for refining a pill and finding Sand Mandala. Hai Bodong gave them a detailed map with three possible Heavenly Flame locations, and they left to search the Tagor Desert.

• Hai Bodong offered his researched information about a Heavenly Flame in the Tagor Desert in exchange for Xia Mo’s help lifting his seal and refining a pill.
• Hai Bodong said he had gathered most of the ingredients but needed Sand Mandala, and Xia Mo demanded additional payment for helping find it.
• Hai Bodong agreed to pay them ten medicinal herbs after he recovered his strength, and Xiao Yan accepted the deal.
• Hai Bodong showed them a detailed desert map marking three likely Heavenly Flame locations and warned them to avoid the western site near Queen Medusa’s territory.
• Xia Mo, Zi Yan, and Xiao Yan left Hai Bodong’s wrecked shop, while Hai Bodong began cleaning up.

Xia Mo and Xiao Yan left the city and traveled into the Tagor Desert, where Old Yao gave Xia Mo a high-grade Earth-tier cultivation method. The group continued deeper into the desert as Xiao Yan resolved to find Heavenly Flames.

• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan bought snake-repelling medicine, filled a Storage Ring with water, and purchased a desert carriage before leaving the city.
• Xia Mo and Xiao Yan traveled into the Tagor Desert, where Old Yao made Xia Mo walk and cultivate against the harsh conditions.
• Old Yao offered Xia Mo his high-grade Earth-tier cultivation method as the inheritance he would leave him as a disciple.
• Xiao Yan handed Xia Mo the fiery red scroll, and Xia Mo accepted Old Yao's warning not to neglect his cultivation.
• Xiao Yan learned the scroll contained a high-grade Earth-tier cultivation method and resolved to find Heavenly Flames as the group continued deeper into the desert.