Chapter Summaries

Ling Li looted the Alchemist Guild as he descended through its floors, while Dark Night advanced to the Mystic Tier Middle Stage. At the crowded first-floor hall, he reunited with Zi Yan and brutally killed the people gathered there, leaving the survivors terrified.

• Ling Li took the valuables and Storage Rings from the guild’s upper floors, killing alchemists left helpless by the alarm and collecting herbs, pills, and failed refinement dregs.
• Dark Night advanced to the Mystic Tier Middle Stage as Ling Li swept down to the fortieth floor.
• Ling Li reached the first-floor hall, where Zi Yan had been waiting among trapped alchemists, attendants, and corpses.
• Zi Yan showed Ling Li a group of women whom the alchemists had pushed forward, but Ling Li mistook the situation’s implications and killed them with Blade Qi.
• Ling Li rebuked the survivors for vomiting and soiling themselves, then cut the number of their heads in half with another blade strike.

Ling Li failed to find Ling Xi in the Alchemist Guild and prepared to leave after slaughtering its alchemists. Zi Yan led him to a hidden underground chamber, where they discovered a bound silver-haired woman beneath a strange green orb.

• Ling Li questioned and killed alchemists after failing to find Ling Xi, then decided to leave with Zi Yan.
• Ling Li learned that Baha Empire royals had gathered outside and asked Zi Yan to help him avoid the main entrance.
• Zi Yan pointed out treasure beneath the floor, and Ling Li cut through the reinforced ceiling to reveal a secret chamber.
• Ling Li entered the chamber and found a bound silver-haired woman suspended in a dark-green formation among dried corpses.
• Zi Yan teased Ling Li about the woman, who was still alive.

Ling Li absorbed the green soul orb, which released countless Soul Bodies into his Sea of Consciousness and left him unconscious in the chamber. Inside his mind, the gray-robed woman he had freed revealed she was a living soul and announced her intention to possess his body and return to her clan.

• Ling Li touched the green orb despite Zi Yan's warning, and its strands entered his body as the chained woman's restraints and blindfold disintegrated and she died.
• Zi Yan caught the unconscious Ling Li and used purple light to envelop him, while the green glow filled his eyes.
• In Ling Li's Sea of Consciousness, he recognized the absorbed Soul Fragments, including Han Rui and a bearded alchemist, and realized the chaotic dead souls were damaging his soul.
• The gray-robed woman awakened in Ling Li's Sea of Consciousness and confirmed that he had broken the restriction sealing her.
• The gray-robed woman thanked Ling Li, then said she would use his body to return to her clan and demanded his name.

Ling Li fought Ling Xi inside his Sea of Consciousness as she tried to kill him and take his body. Ling Li drained his Dou Qi in a desperate attempt to deny her the body, while Zi Yan saw his condition worsen and feared he would die.

• Ling Xi attacked Ling Li with five chains formed from his Dou Qi, and Ling Li dodged them in his transformed Sea of Consciousness.
• Ling Li summoned Dark Night and deflected the chains, then realized physical attacks did not consume Dou Qi.
• Ling Li emptied the system's Energy and deliberately drained his remaining Dou Qi, causing his body to wither and his pupils to turn gray as Zi Yan watched in alarm.
• Ling Xi prepared to finish Ling Li while trying to preserve the Sea of Consciousness she intended to possess.
• Ling Xi recalled that the Soul Clan had destroyed the Spirit Clan, captured its survivors, and used her Soul Fragment-absorbing ability to produce Soul Crystals for the Soul Hall.

Ling Li fought Ling Xi inside his Sea of Consciousness and was nearly overwhelmed by her chains and soul-corroding mist. He discovered his Devouring Spirit bloodline could absorb her Soul Power, then drained Ling Xi until her soul dissipated.

• Ling Li struggled against Ling Xi's five chains and gray mist, suffering severe soul damage.
• Ling Li trapped the chains with his arm and pulled Ling Xi close, then struck her with Dark Night as she counterattacked.
• Ling Xi's hand pierced Ling Li's heart, but a black vortex appeared there and began devouring her Soul Power.
• Ling Xi recognized Ling Li as a member of the Devouring Spirit Clan and tried to sever her arm and retreat.
• Ling Li clung to Ling Xi and absorbed her Soul Power as her attacks weakened and her Soul Body withered.
• Ling Xi's soul dissipated after she screamed in desperation.

Ling Li absorbed Ling Xi’s Soul Body, gained Soul Power and control over Death Qi, then recovered from his near-death starvation with magic cores. He and Zi Yan escaped the Alchemist Guild’s encirclement, and Ling Li decided to head to the Rakshasa Gate while Zi Yan demanded payment.

• Ling Li absorbed Ling Xi’s Soul Body, unlocked the Soul section of his system, and devoured the dead souls in his Sea of Consciousness, strengthening the gray Death Qi around him.
• Ling Li regained control of his body and swallowed ten third-tier magic cores to restore his strength.
• Zi Yan mourned Ling Li while demanding his Gold Coins and promised snacks, and Ling Li revealed that he was alive before playfully pinching her cheeks.
• Ling Li stored Ling Xi’s corpse, and he and Zi Yan returned to the Alchemist Guild’s top floor, where they saw experts surrounding the building.
• Ling Li left an Eight Fan Sect badge behind, and Zi Yan carried him away with her Dou Qi Wings while the people below could only curse.
• Ling Li chose the Rakshasa Gate as their next destination, and Zi Yan charged him ten million Gold Coins for breaking his seal and flying him there.

The Baha Empire's king discovered that Ling Li and his companion had escaped after slaughtering the Alchemist Guild and looting its treasures. A minister found an Eight Fan Sect badge in the Guild, leaving the king's men convinced the sect was responsible.

• The king struck the Guild's defensive barrier in rage as Ling Li and his companion flew away.
• The king ordered the barrier destroyed and rushed into the Guild, where he found the hall littered with corpses and the secret chamber emptied.
• The king ordered a search for clues, but the minister explained that no Soul Fragments remained to search.
• The minister inspected the Guild's upper floors and found an Eight Fan Sect badge in a spotless alchemy room.
• The minister concluded that the Eight Fan Sect had carried out the massacre.

Ling Li and Zi Yan arrived in Charming City, where the pervasive scent of Snake Desire Fruit disturbed people’s minds and the flower houses concealed slave prisons. Ling Li located an aura inside the central flower house and brought Ling Xi’s preserved corpse there, telling Zi Yan he planned to sell it for a good price.

• Ling Li and Zi Yan sold their loot from the Alchemist Guild across several cities, and Ling Li handed Zi Yan the more than ten million Gold Coins they earned.
• Ling Li recognized Snake Desire Fruit growing throughout Charming City and felt its fragrance stir his desires, but Zi Yan used her Dou Qi to calm him.
• Ling Li and Zi Yan walked through Charming City, where the flower houses and street revelry contrasted with the misery of the slave holding facilities below.
• Ling Li used his Soul Power to locate an aura inside a room in the central flower house and noticed the slave prison beneath it.
• Ling Li took Ling Xi’s corpse from the System Space and told Zi Yan he had come to sell her for a good price.

Su Mei confronted Ling Li when he brought the dead Ling Xi to collect the bounty, and she tried to kill him after realizing the woman was already dead. Ling Li resisted Su Mei’s Pupil Technique and counterattacked, leaving them locked in a fight.

• Su Mei recalled how she had learned about Ling Xi from Han Xian’s memories and posted a bounty to obtain her.
• Su Mei sensed a powerful, deathly Soul Power and found Ling Li entering with Ling Xi.
• Ling Li identified himself as the bounty hunter and dropped Ling Xi’s corpse before Su Mei.
• Su Mei discovered Ling Xi was dead, accused Ling Li of trying to cheat her, and attacked him with her Green Serpent Sword.
• Su Mei used her Pupil Technique to make Ling Li loosen his grip on Dark Night, but he recovered and swung the saber at her.

Ling Li fought Su Mei, a Dou Wang whose illusion realm and Charm Arts overwhelmed him despite his attempts to resist. He called on Zi Yan, whose purple lightning and dragon aura shattered Su Mei’s illusion as she attacked her.

• Su Mei unleashed her Aura, surrounding Ling Li with a scorching desert illusion and weakening his attack as she escaped.
• Ling Li resisted Su Mei’s Charm Arts and used Shadow Blood Flash, but she evaded his strike and wounded him from behind.
• Ling Li admitted he could not defeat Su Mei alone and called for Zi Yan to intervene.
• Zi Yan caught Su Mei’s snake-shaped sword and agreed to take her down, while Ling Li told her not to ruin Su Mei’s eyes.
• Zi Yan’s purple lightning broke the sword and collapsed the illusion as her dragon aura overwhelmed Su Mei’s green python phantom.
• Zi Yan wrapped herself in lightning and vanished in a burst of speed to attack Su Mei.

Ling Li and Zi Yan killed Su Mei in Charming City and escaped with her Storage Ring, then camped in the mountains while Zi Yan explained Dou Wang aura. Ling Li tested a weaker version of aura and realized his stolen pills and magic cores might soon help him reach Dou Wang.

• Zi Yan killed Su Mei, gouged out her eyes for Ling Li, and took Su Mei's Storage Ring as spoils.
• Ling Li and Zi Yan escaped Charming City, leaving the Rakshasa Gate to discover Su Mei's corpse and little information about her killers.
• At their mountain camp, Ling Li consumed magic cores while Zi Yan explained that Dou Wangs used aura to suppress enemies by expanding their Dou Qi Garment.
• Ling Li expanded his own Dou Qi Garment into a short-lived, half-meter aura, then concluded that maintaining a useful aura required Dou Wang-level strength.
• Ling Li estimated that the pills and magic cores taken from the Alchemist Guild could provide enough energy for him to break through to Dou Wang.

Ling Li returned to Black Seal City after learning Han Feng was targeting the Eight Fan Sect. The chapter recounts Han Feng’s hunt for Ling Xi, his betrayal of Yao Chen, and his new plan to investigate Jia Nan Academy for a Mysterious Flame.

• After hearing that Han Feng had gone to the Eight Fan Sect, Ling Li abandoned his plan to leave the Black Corner Region and returned to Black Seal City.
• Han Feng investigated Ling Xi’s disappearance and, persuaded by the evidence Yuan Yi presented, blamed the Eight Fan Sect for the loss of his intended Soul Crystal source.
• Han Feng recalled how Yao Chen tested Fentian Jue on him with two Mysterious Flames, then joined the Soul Hall and helped betray Yao Chen to avoid losing the Sea Heart Flame.
• Yao Chen fought back against Han Feng and the Soul Hall Protectors, but Wind Venerable Gu Ling arrived with the Gu Clan’s Black Annihilation Army and took Yao Chen’s Storage Ring and Starfall Pavilion’s possessions.
• After the Eight Fan Sect ruined his plan to advance using Ling Xi, Han Feng decided to investigate Jia Nan Academy for a Mysterious Flame that might help him reach Rank 7.

After three years working as an assassin with the Eight Fan Sect’s support, Ling Li grew tired of the Black Corner Region and planned to return to the Gamma Empire to seek a breakthrough to Dou Wang. He and Zi Yan collected one final bounty, leaving Ling Li with his next destination in mind.

• Ling Li declined the Eight Fan Sect’s offer to join but continued accepting its improved bounties, many of them from Han Feng for finding or stealing medicinal ingredients.
• Over three years, Zi Yan helped Ling Li complete Han Feng’s ingredient bounties, and the two became friends on the surface.
• Ling Li became known as Slaughter Shadow Blade and reached the peak of the Dou Spirit realm, but he could not find a suitable way to break through to Dou Wang.
• Ling Li decided to leave the Black Corner Region after collecting one last bounty and return to the Gamma Empire to seek an opportunity to advance.
• Ling Li and Zi Yan brought their bounty to Elder Xia at the Eight Fan Sect’s collection hall, and he verified the target’s head and paid them three hundred thousand Gold Coins and fifty fourth-tier magic cores.

Ling Li prepared to leave the Black Corner Region and return to the Gamma Empire, but he accepted a golden bounty on Xiao Yan after recognizing its reward as a Pure Lotus Demonic Flame remnant map. He left the hall with Zi Yan, while Elder Xia watched them go and mourned his lost granddaughter.

• Ling Li told Elder Xia he was ending his career as an assassin and returning to the Gamma Empire to seek a breakthrough to Dou Wang.
• Elder Xia showed Ling Li a golden bounty on fifteen-year-old Xiao Yan of Wutan City, offering two million Gold Coins and a mysterious remnant map.
• Ling Li recognized Xiao Yan and suspected the map was a piece of the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame map, then accepted the bounty and asked who had posted it.
• Elder Xia refused to reveal the client's identity, and Ling Li decided to take Zi Yan with him because Wutan City was too dangerous to face alone.
• Ling Li split his earnings with Zi Yan, said goodbye to Elder Xia, and left the hall with her.
• After they departed, Elder Xia remembered his deceased granddaughter and lamented his son's relationship with a snake person.

Ling Li and Zi Yan traveled to Wutan City to pursue the bounty on Xiao Yan, and Ling Li suspected the Nalan Family wanted Xiao Yan dead to resolve his marriage contract with Nalan Yanran. He arrived just as Nalan Yanran and the Cloud Mist Sect came to the Xiao Family, eager to watch their confrontation with Xiao Yan.

• Ling Li and Zi Yan spent a month traveling from the Black Corner Region to Wutan City, with Ling Li warning Zi Yan that the bounty was dangerous because a high-level Dou Huang was present.
• Ling Li reasoned that the Nalan Family might have offered the bounty on Xiao Yan to avoid the disgrace of annulling Nalan Yanran's marriage contract.
• Ling Li and Zi Yan entered Wutan City in Alchemist Robes and visited the Mitel Auction House, where they found that Ya Fei was not its chief auctioneer.
• Ling Li went near the Xiao Family residence and saw a Nalan convoy arrive carrying crates of Gold Coins.
• Nalan Yanran arrived with an old man and a young man in Cloud Mist Sect robes, and Ling Li decided to take Zi Yan to watch the spectacle.

Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye arrived at the Xiao Family council hall, where Xiao Zhan welcomed them without realizing they had come to discuss her engagement to Xiao Yan. The chapter ended as Ge Ye revealed that the request concerned Nalan Yanran and had been personally raised by Sect Leader Yun Yun, leaving Xiao Zhan to anticipate the annulment.

• Ling Li and Zi Yan hid on the council hall roof to watch the Cloud Mist Sect's visit.
• Xiao Zhan gathered the Xiao Family's leaders and young disciples and kept Ge Ye occupied with an enthusiastic welcome.
• Xiao Yan entered the council hall and sat aside while Xiao Zhan waited for Ge Ye to explain his purpose.
• Ge Ye identified Nalan Yanran, and Xiao Zhan greeted her warmly as his niece and praised her talent.
• Ge Ye said the request concerned Nalan Yanran and came from Sect Leader Yun Yun, and Xiao Zhan's expression turned grave.

Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran asked the Xiao Family to annul Xiao Yan’s engagement, but Xiao Yan turned the demand into a Three-Year Agreement. As Ge Ye prepared to kill Xiao Yan, a terrifying pressure stopped him and an unseen girl threatened the Cloud Mist Sect.

• Ge Ye explained that the Cloud Mist Sect’s rules required Nalan Yanran to end her engagement with Xiao Yan, and Nalan Yanran offered a Qi Gathering Powder as compensation.
• Xiao Zhan erupted in anger, but the Xiao Family elders urged him to accept the annulment; Xiao Yan then rejected the pill and refused to agree.
• Xiao Yan verbally cornered Nalan Yanran and made her accept a Three-Year Agreement, then warned her not to bully the young and poor.
• Ge Ye decided Xiao Yan might become a threat and prepared to strike him, but a powerful pressure stopped him as a girl threatened to turn the Cloud Mist Sect upside down if Xiao Yan was harmed.

After Nalan Yanran annulled her engagement to Xiao Yan, Gu Xun Er ordered Elder Ling to purge powerful cultivators from Wutan City. Xiao Yan then confronted Yao Chen, the spirit in his ring, and reluctantly accepted him as his master in exchange for help rebuilding his strength.

• Ge Ye fled the council hall with Nalan Yanran after Xun Er warned her not to provoke the Xiao Family.
• Xun Er learned the assassins were not from the other six clans and ordered Elder Ling to remove every cultivator above the Great Fighting Master level from Wutan City.
• Xiao Yan reflected on his humiliation and weakness on the back mountain, while Yao Chen emerged from his ring and tried to destroy his soul to take his body.
• Yao Chen's strike was blocked by an illusory Soul Body, and Xiao Yan realized Yao Chen had been absorbing his Dou Qi for three years.
• Xiao Yan demanded compensation, but Yao Chen offered to train him, so Xiao Yan accepted him as his master if he could reach the seventh stage of Dou Qi within a year.

Ling Li fled from Ling Ying, who suspected he belonged to the Devouring Spirit Clan and tried to restrain and test him rather than kill him. Ling Li held his own against the Dou Emperor, ending the chapter beneath Ling Ying’s spear and taunting him.

• Ling Li escaped through the forest while Ling Ying pursued him, and Ling Li worried that his Shadow Transformation Skill would soon run out.
• Ling Ying realized Ling Li could transform into shadow and suspected he was a surviving member of the Devouring Spirit Clan.
• Ling Ying trapped Ling Li with Myriad Shadow Binding, but Ling Li broke free with Dark Night and Blade Qi.
• Ling Ying tested Ling Li with his aura, and Ling Li countered with an enhanced Dou Qi Garment before attacking with Thousand Gang.
• Ling Ying destroyed Ling Li’s Blade Aura and struck his blade with a spear, but Ling Li held firm and mocked him as the two clashed.

Ling Li fought Ling Ying while breaking through to Dou Wang, and Ling Ying secretly helped him complete the advancement. Ling Li emerged as a Four-star Fighting King and prepared to finish the fight, while Ling Ying’s patience finally gave way to anger.

• Ling Li’s battle with Ling Ying triggered his breakthrough to Dou Wang, and he used Swallow Return and Line Break to wound Ling Ying.
• Ling Ying recognized Ling Li’s Devour ability and deliberately gathered the energy of heaven and earth to help him break through.
• Ling Li resonated with the energy of heaven and earth, advanced directly to Four-star Fighting King, and realized how his own path to strength had taken shape.
• Ling Li declared that he would use Ling Ying as the first stepping stone of his advancement, and Ling Ying raged at the threat.