Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan enlisted Hai Bodong as his bodyguard by offering him a Spirit Revival Purple Pill, then trained in the desert until he encountered the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. He followed the rescued mercenaries to Stone Desert City, where he was about to meet his eldest and second brothers, the group's commanders.

• Xiao Yan searched Hai Bodong's shop for information about the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, and Hai Bodong explained that he had divided an ancient map into two pieces.
• Xiao Yan told Hai Bodong to serve as his bodyguard, and Hai Bodong agreed after Xiao Yan offered him a Spirit Revival Purple Pill to restore his strength.
• Xiao Yan trained in the desert while Hai Bodong watched him use the many resources his eldest brother had provided.
• Xiao Yan saved members of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group from Snake People and discovered that the group was based in Stone Desert City.
• Xue Lan led Xiao Yan into the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's compound to meet its commanders, who were Xiao Yan's eldest and second brothers.

Xiao Yan reunited with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li in Stone Desert City, then rapidly advanced to become a four-star Da Dou Shi and a Second-Rank Alchemist. Meanwhile, Hun Cang reached peak Dou Wang at Jia Nan Academy and learned that Luo Fei and Ke Yu had driven Xiao Yu, Xiao Mei, and the others to the brink of expulsion.

• Xiao Yan reunited with Xiao Li and Xiao Ding, who told him how Hun Cang had helped the Xiao Family and the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.
• Xiao Yan stayed with his brothers, met Qing Lin, and trained in the desert for half a year until he reached four-star Da Dou Shi and earned Second-Rank Alchemist certification.
• Hun Cang exhausted the Fire Energy in the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower, reached peak Dou Wang, and considered collecting the Falling Heart Flame.
• Hun Cang returned to his residence, where Lin Fang told him that Luo Fei and Ke Yu had targeted Xiao Yu, Xiao Mei, and their companions while he was away.
• Lin Fang warned Hun Cang that Xiao Yu and the others faced expulsion if they lost the final duel against their challengers.

Xiao Yu fought Jiang Xiaolan to protect her and her family’s place at Jia Nan Academy, but Luo Ling used her defeat to threaten them and claim Hun Cang was dead. Hun Cang returned from the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower and set Luo Ling’s leg ablaze, leaving the confrontation poised to escalate.

• Yang Fan warned Jiang Xiaolan that Xiao Yu had become a Dou Master, while Xiao Yu resolved to fight using the strength Hun Cang’s pills had helped her gain.
• Xiao Yu and Jiang Xiaolan fought in the arena; Xiao Yu briefly countered Jiang Xiaolan’s attack but was ultimately knocked off the stage and lost.
• Luo Ling threatened the Xiao Family and claimed Hun Cang had died inside the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower.
• Hun Cang landed in the arena, and flames began consuming Luo Ling’s leg as Luo Ling screamed for help.

Hun Cang confronted Yang Fan after setting Luo Ling’s legs on fire, then killed Luo Ling when his brother Luo Fei arrived seeking revenge. The chapter ended with Hun Cang turning his flames toward Luo Fei and the gathered groups.

• Hun Cang refused Yang Fan’s order to extinguish the flames burning Luo Ling, and Yang Fan cut off Luo Ling’s legs to stop the fire from spreading.
• Yang Fan treated Luo Ling and threatened to report Hun Cang, while Hun Cang warned that Luo Ling had insulted him and Ruolin recognized him as the Dou Huang she had seen in Wutan City.
• Luo Fei arrived with Ke Yu and others, saw Luo Ling’s condition, and demanded revenge against Hun Cang.
• Hun Cang split a flame between the Luo brothers; Luo Fei dodged, but Luo Ling was burned to ash before he could scream.

Hun Cang killed Luo Ling, then fought off Luo Fei and dozens of Inner Academy students with his Low Heaven-tier Flame Erosion of the Firmament. After burning Luo Fei to ashes, he stood alone as several figures arrived and Yang Fan regained his confidence.

• Luo Fei charged Hun Cang to avenge Luo Ling, but Hun Cang kicked him across the arena with overwhelming speed.
• Ke Yu urged the gathered students to attack Hun Cang, claiming Fire Poison had driven him mad, while Yang Fan blocked Huo De from intervening.
• Hun Cang unleashed Flame Erosion of the Firmament, and its terrifying heat swallowed Ke Yu and the other students who had surrounded him.
• Luo Fei fled, but a small flame caught him and burned him to ashes.
• Yang Fan declared that academy rules meant Hun Cang would face death, then took confidence when several figures arrived through the air.

Elder Su and the other elders arrived to investigate Hun Cang’s attack, but students exposed Luo Ling and Yang Fan’s abuse of power, prompting the academy to punish corrupt staff and students. When Falling Heart Flame erupted again, the elders rushed to the Qi Refining Tower, while Hun Cang stayed at the academy to await a chance to obtain it and later returned home to find someone waiting at his door.

• Yang Fan accused Hun Cang of killing Inner Academy students, but Hu Gan invited students to voice their grievances instead of accepting his claim.
• Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, Lin Fang, and other students accused Luo Ling and Yang Fan of bullying students and abusing their influence over the Inner Academy assessment.
• Elder Su had another elder seize Yang Fan as students condemned him, while Hu Gan gathered Outer Academy instructors to investigate the complaints.
• Elder Lin sensed Falling Heart Flame erupting again, and Elder Su and the other elders rushed toward the Qi Refining Tower.
• Hun Cang stayed at the academy, reassured the Xiao Family, and later returned to the Inner Academy after hearing about widespread punishments and Lin Fang’s promotion.
• Hun Cang encountered Lin Fang on his way home, warned him not to abuse his new authority, and found someone waiting at his door.

Elder Lin tried to persuade Hun Cang to become his disciple by offering him access to his Alchemy Room and the Falling Heart Flame’s true fire. Hun Cang instead proposed that Elder Lin become his disciple, and they headed to the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower to settle their disagreement with an alchemy competition.

• Elder Lin reminded Hun Cang that he had protected him from punishment, but Hun Cang rejected the implied pressure and said Elder Lin had little to teach him.
• Elder Lin offered Hun Cang access to his Alchemy Room, where he could save Fire Energy and sense the Falling Heart Flame’s true fire.
• Hun Cang considered the offer but concluded that no one on the Dou Qi Continent was qualified to teach him alchemy, so he asked Elder Lin to become his disciple instead.
• Elder Lin laughed off Hun Cang’s claim that he was the better alchemist, and Hun Cang challenged him to a competition.
• Hun Cang and Elder Lin went to the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower’s Alchemy Room and agreed to use Trial Pills for their assessment.
• As Hun Cang explained the competition, Elder Lin began to suspect that Hun Cang might truly be better at alchemy.

Hun Cang and Elder Lin tested their alchemy skills by refining Trial Pills, and Hun Cang’s superior result left Elder Lin stunned. Hun Cang explained his abilities and offered Elder Lin a way to keep improving, leaving the two with a new arrangement in mind.

• Mu Yun met Hun Cang and watched Elder Lin take him into the alchemy chamber for a private discussion.
• Hun Cang and Elder Lin began refining Trial Pills, and Elder Lin struggled while Hun Cang remained composed.
• Elder Lin completed a pill with more than eight markings and believed he had won, but Hun Cang revealed a flawless nine-marking pill.
• Elder Lin crushed his own pill in frustration and questioned Hun Cang about his skill, then learned that Hun Cang had obtained an inheritance.
• Elder Lin asked to drop the idea of becoming Hun Cang’s disciple, and Hun Cang proposed a plan that made Elder Lin eager to cooperate.

Hun Cang’s arrangement with Elder Lin made him Mu Yun’s Martial Uncle, and he spent the next three months cultivating and helping the Xiao Family. As Hun Cang waited for a chance to reach the Falling Heart Flame, Han Feng gathered allies to attack Jia Nan Academy and draw out its elders.

• Elder Lin told Mu Yun that Hun Cang was her Martial Uncle, and she greeted him while other people witnessed the embarrassing revelation.
• Hun Cang spent most of his time cultivating at the bottom of the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower and occasionally checked on the Xiao Family; Xiao Yu, Xiao Mei, and Xiao Ning made progress, while Xiao Xun'er refused to take the assessment.
• Hun Cang returned to four-star Dou Huang and decided to wait two more months for a chance to reach the Falling Heart Flame before forcing his way in.
• Han Feng asked the Black Corner Region’s forces to help lay siege to Jia Nan Academy so he could draw out its elders and seize the Falling Heart Flame.
• The gathered forces accepted Han Feng’s proposal and agreed on a time for the attack.

Hun Cang learned that the elders had left the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower to face an attack from the Black Corner Region, giving him a chance to pursue the Falling Heart Flame Body. As the Falling Heart Flame broke its seal and the elders tried to contain it, Hun Cang plunged into the magma below.

• Elder Lin told Elder Su and the other elders that Hun Cang surpassed him in alchemy, especially in his control over flames.
• Hun Cang entered the lowest level of the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower and began cultivating near the sealed Falling Heart Flame Body.
• When the Black Corner Region attacked Jia Nan Academy, most of the elders left the tower, and Hun Cang hid to wait for an opening.
• The Falling Heart Flame erupted and flooded the tower with heat, but Hun Cang shielded himself with flames and found the elders gone from the ancient well.
• Hun Cang flew into the magma to seek the Falling Heart Flame Body while Elder Su and the other elders formed a barrier above the tower.
• Elder Su noticed that the Falling Heart Flame's attack seemed unexpectedly weak.

Hun Cang pursued the Falling Heart Flame through the magma beneath Jia Nan Academy after it sensed the aura connected to the Zhen Fen Jue and fled. Above, Elder Su’s group learned that the attackers had stolen only a fake, restored the Seal, and closed the Qi Refining Tower.

• A group of black-robed attackers shattered Jia Nan Academy’s barrier, and their leader used icy mist to draw out a false Falling Heart Flame before escaping with it.
• Elder Su stopped the elders from pursuing the attackers and revealed that the flame they took was only a short-lived clone.
• Elder Su and the other elders searched the tower, where Elder Lin sensed that the Falling Heart Flame had approached the cave mouth but fled deeper after encountering something it feared.
• The elders restored the Seal, reported the danger to the old headmaster and the others, and temporarily closed the Qi Refining Tower.
• Hun Cang chased the Falling Heart Flame through the magma after it recognized the aura connected to the Zhen Fen Jue and fled from him.

Hun Cang captured the Falling Heart Flame and encountered the remnant soul of Yao Tian Huo, who agreed to help him escape the sealed magma world in exchange for assistance restoring his body. Hun Cang accepted Yao Tian Huo’s offer to teach him the Five-Wheel Divine Flame Method.

• The Falling Heart Flame lured Hun Cang into a space filled with magma-dwelling lizards, but Hun Cang drained their fire energy and sealed the flame.
• Hun Cang initially left without investigating Yao Tian Huo’s remains, then returned when the exit had been sealed.
• Hun Cang used the Falling Heart Flame to draw Yao Tian Huo’s remnant soul out of the skeletal remains.
• Hun Cang claimed to belong to the Hun Clan and said he had learned about Yao Tian Huo from clan books.
• Yao Tian Huo offered to show Hun Cang another route out and asked him to find an alchemist who could restore his body.
• Hun Cang identified Yao Tian Huo’s promised technique as the Five-Wheel Divine Flame Method and agreed to the deal.

Hun Cang escaped the seal with Yao Tian Huo, left the weakened Falling Heart Flame behind, and returned to the Soul Hall Branch Hall. There, Hun Xiaoqiang presented him with two Heavenly Flames he had found.

• Yao Tian Huo gave Hun Cang the Five-Wheel Divine Flame Method and entered his ring as Hun Cang took his skeleton and a faint cluster of fire.
• Hun Cang emerged from the lake with Yao Tian Huo, left the weakened Falling Heart Flame inside its seal, and traveled through a spatial wormhole.
• Elder Su and Elder Lin found the Falling Heart Flame greatly weakened and decided to reduce its guards and nurture it with fire-attributed treasures while awaiting the old headmaster.
• Han Feng learned that the Falling Heart Flame he had stolen was only an avatar and broke down in anger over the resources he had spent.
• Hun Xiaoqiang welcomed Hun Cang at the Soul Hall Branch Hall and presented him with the Myriad Beast Spirit Fire and the Yin Yang Twin Flames.

Hun Cang devoured three Heavenly Flames and cultivated until he stabilized at two-star Dou Zong. He received Xiao Yan’s message about the Three Year Agreement and agreed to attend.

• Hun Cang learned that Protector Wu had sought him and that the clan was again demanding a search for surviving Dou Emperor bloodlines.
• Hun Cang entered seclusion, suppressed the Falling Heart Flame, Yin Yang Twin Flames, and Myriad Beast Spirit Fire, then devoured them.
• Hun Cang’s cultivation surged through Dou Zong before the Heavenly Flames tempered him, and Hun Xiaoqiang resolved to obey him without question.
• Hun Cang stabilized at two-star Dou Zong and gained confidence that he could eventually reach Dou Emperor.
• Hun Cang received Xiao Yan’s invitation to watch the Three Year Agreement at the Misty Cloud Sect and replied, “Okay.”

Xiao Yan prepared to face Nalan Yanran at the Misty Cloud Sect, where Jia Ma Empire dignitaries gathered to watch their Three Year Agreement. He arrived displaying a flying Dou Technique, and Hai Bodong’s powerful aura announced the Ice Emperor’s return.

• Xiao Yan told Xiao Ding and Xiao Li that he would arrive for the agreement, boasting that he had reached Nine Star Great Dou Shi.
• Miter Tengshan wagered with Mu Chen that Xiao Yan could defeat Nalan Yanran, while Elder Jia and Fa Ma declined to bet.
• Misty Cloud Sect elders criticized Elder Ge over the Three Year Agreement as Nalan Yanran waited on the sect’s plaza.
• Xiao Yan arrived with Hai Bodong, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li, then leaped from their flying magical beast and spread his wings.
• Elder Jia explained that Xiao Yan’s wings came from a Flying Dou Technique, and Miter Tengshan recognized the powerful newcomer’s aura as the Ice Emperor.

Xiao Yan faced Nalan Yanran in their duel at the Misty Cloud Sect and revealed strength far beyond what the onlookers expected. As Nalan Yanran prepared a powerful Earth Tier Dou Technique, Xiao Yan spotted his Big Brother among the spectators.

• Miter Tengshan greeted Hai Bodong, while Xiao Ding and Xiao Li arrived and joined the onlookers.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran exchanged barbed words before Yun Leng announced the duel's rules and let them begin.
• Nalan Yanran's speed put Xiao Yan on the defensive until he struck her with his ruler and challenged her to use her full abilities.
• Xiao Yan revealed himself as a Nine Star Great Dou Shi with Purple Flame Armor, shocking Nalan Yanran and the gathered spectators.
• Nalan Yanran launched another attack with a powerful technique, and Xiao Yan declared that he also had an Earth Tier Dou Technique.

Xiao Yan defeated Nalan Yanran with Flame Splitting Wave Ruler and ended their betrothal by giving her a Divorce Letter. As he prepared to leave, Mo Li accused Xiao Yan of killing members of the Mo Family, giving Yun Leng a reason to stop him.

• Nalan Yanran unleashed Wind's Extremity—Radiant Sunset, and Xiao Yan countered with Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, winning their clash.
• Hun Cang told Xiao Ding and Xiao Li that Xiao Yan had won as the dust cleared and Nalan Yanran knelt in defeat.
• Xiao Yan thanked the Misty Cloud Sect elders, gave Nalan Yanran a Divorce Letter, and celebrated ending their betrothal.
• Yun Leng considered secretly killing Xiao Yan or finding an excuse to keep him at the sect after his victory damaged its reputation.
• Mo Li asked Yun Leng to uphold justice, accused Xiao Yan of killing members of the Mo Family, and described when and where it had happened.
• Yun Leng ordered Xiao Yan to wait as he prepared to act on Mo Li's accusation.

Xiao Yan confronted Mo Li over the Mo Family deaths and revealed that he had killed the attackers who tried to abduct Qing Lin. Yun Leng used the accusation to order the Misty Cloud Sect elders to surround Xiao Yan, who called on Yao Chen for strength as the elders closed in.

• Yun Leng introduced himself and accused Xiao Yan of murdering members of Mo Li's family, prompting Xiao Yan to recall killing the Mo Family attackers in Stone Desert City.
• Xiao Ding told Hun Cang that Qing Lin had been taken to the Heavenly Snake Mansion, and Hun Cang reassured him that he had approved of that destination.
• Yun Leng declared that Xiao Yan would not leave the Misty Cloud Sect and ordered the elders to surround and subdue him.
• Hai Bodong remained confident that Yun Leng would soon suffer, while onlookers wondered how Xiao Yan could face the elders without fear.
• Xiao Yan asked Yao Chen to lend him strength and promised to speak to Hun Cang about giving Yao Chen a body; Yao Chen's power then rose within Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan overwhelmed Yun Leng and the Misty Cloud Sect elders, shocking the witnesses with his strength and prompting speculation about the powerful soul supporting him. As Yun Leng threatened him again, the Misty Cloud Sect’s Sect Leader arrived, and the confrontation was left poised to escalate.

• Xiao Yan blocked Yun Leng’s sword and sent him flying with the Black Heavy Ruler, then blasted the approaching elders backward.
• Nalan Yanran realized Xiao Yan had held back during their fight, while Miter Tengshan learned from Hai Bodong that a Dou Venerable soul could lend Xiao Yan its power.
• Elder Jia admitted he would call Xiao Yan big brother for the chance to receive such guidance, and Hai Bodong quietly saw an opportunity to compete for Hun Cang’s favor.
• Yun Leng recovered enough to challenge Xiao Yan again, but Xiao Yan taunted him and demanded that the Misty Cloud Sect show its strength.
• The Misty Cloud Sect’s Sect Leader flew down from the mountaintop, delighting Yun Leng and Nalan Yanran as Hai Bodong prepared to act.

Yun Yun arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect plaza and discovered that Xiao Yan was the young man who had saved her in the Monster Beast Mountain Range. She tried to make him apologize to the elders, but he refused, and Yun Yun prepared to fight him.

• Yun Yun landed in the plaza and recognized Xiao Yan, while Xiao Yan complained that she had taught Nalan Yanran to break off their engagement.
• Yun Yun told Nalan Yanran that Xiao Yan had saved her, and Nalan Yanran realized she had helped cause the situation.
• Miter Tengshan held Hai Bodong back from intervening until Hai Bodong learned that Xiao Yan had saved Yun Yun and lost his chance to show off.
• Yun Yun asked Xiao Yan to apologize to Yun Leng and the elders in exchange for letting the matter go, but Xiao Yan refused.
• Xiao Yan privately discussed with Yao Chen whether Yun Yun would suit his big brother, and Yun Yun grew angry at Xiao Yan's refusal and challenged him.