Chapter Summaries

The Three Great Families arrived at the Imperial Plaza, where Hai Bodong revealed that Xiao Ling’s Imperial Extreme Pills had helped him reach Nine-star Dou Huang. After the crowd gathered and Fama declared the seventh Alchemist Tournament open, the competition began.

• Hai Bodong greeted Xiao Ling and explained to Jia Xing Tian that Xiao Ling’s pills had helped him advance to Nine-star Dou Huang.
• Nalan Jie and Mu Chen introduced their families’ younger members to Xiao Ling, including Liu Ling and Mu Zhan, while Nalan Yanran reflected on her strained family ties with the Xiao Family.
• Nalan Yanran watched Xiao Ling with confusion and regret, then left with Ya Fei after Ya Fei exchanged greetings with him.
• Xiao Yi Xian teased Xiao Ling about his popularity and shared a private, affectionate moment with him.
• Fama descended onto the central platform and announced the opening of the seventh Alchemist Tournament.

The Alchemist Tournament contestants entered the plaza, and Xiao Yan made a striking arrival using his Purple Cloud Wings. In the shadows, three black-robed figures relaxed after seeing that Xiao Ling would not compete.

• Fama greeted Xiao Ling and the others in the VIP seats, then took his place as Mitchell called the contestants forward.
• Liu Ling and Princess Yao Yue leaped from the VIP section into the plaza, but Nalan Yanran showed no interest in Liu Ling's display.
• Xiao Yan descended into the plaza using his Purple Cloud Wings and a lightness technique, stunning the audience.
• Jia Xing Tian recognized Xiao Yan's wings as a Flying Dou Technique, and Xiao Ling explained that he had passed the technique to Xiao Yan.
• The remaining alchemists entered the plaza while three black-robed figures relaxed after noticing that Xiao Ling was not competing.

Three foreign guild representatives secretly plotted to damage the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild’s reputation, while Xiao Ling praised Xiao Yan’s prospects at the tournament. As the first round began, Nalan Jie worried that he had turned away a future powerhouse.

• Yan Li, Feng Xing, and Tie Shan revealed their plan to use Appearance-restoring Pills and undermine the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild.
• The three disguised representatives entered the competition square and waited for the tournament to begin as nearby alchemists looked down on them.
• Jia Xing Tian asked Xiao Ling who might win the championship, and Xiao Ling praised Yao Yue while expressing confidence in Xiao Yan.
• Fama asked Xiao Ling about Xiao Yan’s alchemy level and invited him to visit the Alchemist Guild, but Xiao Ling left the decision to Xiao Yan.
• Nalan Jie recalled Xiao Yan’s rapid cultivation progress and regretted that Nalan Yanran had foolishly let such a promising man go.

The Alchemist Tournament began with Xiao Yan quickly refining a Bone-growing Pill, but three disguised foreign alchemists produced pills that outperformed nearly everyone from the Jia Ma Empire. As the first round concluded, Xiao Ling reassured the guild leaders that he would help protect the tournament and expected Xiao Yan to challenge the newcomers.

• More than two thousand alchemists began refining the Second-grade Bone-growing Pill from an incomplete formula, and Xiao Yan finished his pill before the others.
• Liu Ling, Yao Yue, and other skilled contestants also succeeded, leaving about one-third of the alchemists in the competition.
• The testing mirrors showed that three unknown alchemists from neighboring empires had produced pills stronger than almost all the Jia Ma Empire contestants, with only Xiao Yan matching their results.
• Fama's investigation and Xiao Ling's senses revealed that the three foreign contestants were older men using Disguise and Appearance-restoring Pills.
• Fama and Jia Xing Tian worried about the tournament's reputation, while Xiao Ling promised to intervene if needed and said Xiao Yan could handle the championship challenge.

The second round of the Alchemist Tournament tested contestants’ ability to detect a deliberately flawed pill prescription. Xiao Ling and Xiao Yan identified the Thick Earth Ganoderma as the ingredient causing the conflict, while the round ended with many contestants failing and Yao Yue still hesitating over her next attempt.

• Fama announced that contestants who passed the first round had to refine a Third-grade Wind Hành Pill from the Guild’s prescription.
• Yan Li noticed the prescription’s trap, signaled the other two foreign alchemists, and began refining; Xiao Ling later identified the conflicting Thick Earth Ganoderma for the VIP spectators.
• Xiao Yan studied the formula, recognized the ingredient conflict, and began refining with the Six Harmonies Spirit Flame Cauldron.
• Many contestants’ first attempts failed, including those of Liu Ling and Yao Yue, and the contestants had only two chances to refine.
• Jia Xing Tian saw Yao Yue hesitate while holding the Thick Earth Ganoderma and reflected that she had noticed the problem but struggled to decide what to do.

Xiao Yan won the second round of the Alchemist Tournament by refining a Wind Hành Pill before Yan Li, drawing cheers and praise for the Xiao Family. The day’s competition ended with just over a hundred alchemists advancing to tomorrow’s final battle.

• Fama and Hai Bodong praised Xiao Yan’s alchemy talent while the contestants worked to uncover the prescription’s trap.
• Xiao Ling predicted that Xiao Yan would finish first, citing his Beast Fire and the Six Harmonies Spirit Flame Cauldron.
• Xiao Yan refined a Wind Hành Pill before Yan Li and received the crowd’s cheers and Xiao Zhan’s praise.
• Faction representatives approached Xiao Zhan about possible marriage alliances, but he said Xiao Yan’s choices deserved respect.
• Yan Li finished his pill later and left angrily, while Yao Yue, Liu Ling, and other contestants also completed their refinements.
• The final gong ended the day’s competition, leaving a little over a hundred alchemists preparing for the next day’s final.

After the tournament’s opening rounds, Xiao Ling reassured Xiao Yan about his chances against the mysterious black-robed alchemist and returned to his courtyard, where Queen Medusa requested his help forming an alliance between the Snake People Clan and the Jia Ma Empire. The chapter ended with the alliance proposal on the table, as Queen Medusa sought Xiao Ling’s mediation amid growing pressure from three neighboring empires.

• Fama announced that the tournament’s final round would take place the next day, and Xiao Ling left the square with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin.
• Xiao Yan asked Xiao Ling to compare his alchemy with the black-robed contestant’s, and Xiao Ling said Xiao Yan could surpass him if he performed well.
• Xiao Ling returned to his courtyard and found Zi Yan there with Queen Medusa, who had evolved to have human legs.
• Queen Medusa assessed Xiao Ling’s strength and recalled that the Snake People Clan’s bloodline evolution art might help her reach a higher realm.
• Queen Medusa told Xiao Ling that the three neighboring empires were growing closer and asked him to mediate an alliance between the Snake People Clan and the Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Ling brought Queen Medusa to the Jia Ma Empire’s palace, where she and Jia Xing Tian negotiated an alliance against the threat of the Three Nations Alliance. After returning to Xiao Ling’s courtyard, Zi Yan asked how the negotiations had gone, and Xiao Ling left Medusa to answer.

• Xiao Ling agreed to introduce Medusa to the Jia Ma royal family so they could negotiate an alliance.
• Xiao Ling and Medusa met Jia Xing Tian and Yao Ye at the palace, and the Jia Ma Empire agreed to give the Snake People Clan a region in the Magical Beast Mountain Range in exchange for military support if another nation attacked.
• Xiao Ling declined Yao Ye’s offer to see him off, leaving her disappointed as Jia Xing Tian considered pursuing a match between Yao Yue and Xiao Yan instead.
• Xiao Ling and Medusa returned to his courtyard, where Zi Yan asked about the negotiations and Xiao Ling invited her to ask Medusa directly.

The third round of the Alchemist Tournament began as the contestants prepared to refine pills using their own formulas and ingredients. Xiao Yan entered the contest with confidence and a superior cauldron, while Liu Ling and the young Princess displayed prized cauldrons of their own; the chapter ended before anyone began refining.

• Medusa told Zi Yan that the Snake People and Jia Ma Empire had reached an agreement, and Zi Yan decided to return with her to the Snake People Sacred City.
• Xiao Ling arrived at the tournament with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, while Zi Yan and Medusa had already left the capital.
• Yan Li provoked Xiao Yan, who answered sharply, and Yan Li backed down under the hostile attention of the VIP guests.
• Fama announced that contestants had to supply their own pill formulas and ingredients, then declared the third round underway.
• The young Princess and Liu Ling brought out fifth-tier cauldrons, and Xiao Yan summoned his sixth-tier Six Harmonies Spirit Flame Cauldron.

Xiao Yan and the other leading contestants began refining pills in the Alchemist Convention, with Xiao Yan gambling on a difficult peak fourth-grade formula. In the VIP seats, Jia Xing Tian arranged for Master Xiao Ling to refine Sect Breaking Pills, while the competition narrowed and Xiao Yan began fusing his ingredients.

• Yao Yue, Xiao Yan, and Liu Ling summoned their Azure Water Flame, Phantom Spirit Flame, and Netherworld Black Flame before starting to extract medicinal ingredients.
• Xiao Yan chose to refine the Tough Vein Spirit Connecting Pill, a difficult pill whose effects could rival an ordinary fifth-grade pill, and carefully extracted its many ingredients.
• Yao Ye spoke privately with Jia Xing Tian, who then asked Master Xiao Ling to refine three sets of Sect Breaking Pill materials; Master Xiao Ling agreed.
• Hai Bodong considered gathering ingredients for a Sect Breaking Pill so he could pursue a breakthrough to the Dou Zong Realm.
• Xiao Yan completed extracting his ingredients and began refining another herb as Yao Yue, Liu Ling, and Yan Li moved on to pill fusion and weaker contestants were eliminated.
• Master Xiao Ling told Hai Bodong that the leading contestants appeared to be attempting fourth-grade pills and that Xiao Yan could be certain to win if he successfully refined his chosen pill.

Xiao Yan and the other contestants reached the decisive stage of the alchemy competition as Yan Li’s colored pill fragrance appeared to put him ahead. Xiao Yan then unveiled a deep-blue Tough Vein Spirit Connecting Pill that had reached the Fifth-grade, surpassing Yan Li’s pill and leaving the crowd stunned.

• Xiao Ling explained the Tough Vein Spirit Connecting Pill’s effects, and Fama, Hai Bodong, Jia Xing Tian, and the others praised its value.
• Yao Yue produced a Fourth-grade Pill, but Liu Ling’s pill fragrance proved slightly superior.
• Yan Li revealed a pale violet colored pill fragrance and mocked the young alchemists, prompting Xiao Yan to challenge him to let their pills decide the result.
• Xiao Yan intensified his refinement, and his deeper violet pill fragrance surpassed Yan Li’s, shifting the crowd’s attention and confidence toward him.
• Yan Li produced a Fourth-grade Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, while Xiao Yan’s deep-blue Tough Vein Spirit Connecting Pill emerged as a Fifth-grade Pill.

Xiao Yan won the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Tournament after refining a Fifth-grade Tough Vein Spirit Connecting Pill, earning recognition from the crowd and the honored guests. Xiao Ling then left to pursue Yan Li and his two companions, while Xiao Yan’s victory set him on a path toward the Central Plains.

• Fama announced Xiao Yan as the tournament champion after confirming his pill surpassed the fourth grade and reached the fifth.
• Xiao Ling and Yao Chen agreed to invite Xiao Yan to join them on a future trip to the Central Plains if he wanted to go.
• Yao Yue congratulated Xiao Yan, while Liu Ling accepted his defeat and quietly left the competition square.
• Yan Li and his two companions hurried to leave, but Fama revealed he had placed a Soul Imprint on Yan Li’s pill.
• Xiao Ling volunteered to deal with Yan Li and his companions so he could use their souls to replenish the Myriad Soul Banner, then left the VIP seats.
• Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin decided to leave the tournament grounds, and Jia Xing Tian and Fama praised their strength.

Yan Li and his two subordinates fled the Jia Ma Imperial Capital and met Chuyun Empire Dou Huang Xie Yun, who revealed the Three Nations Alliance’s ambitions. Xiao Ling intercepted them, and Xie Yun attacked him with a poisonous Dou Technique.

• Yan Li led his two subordinates out of the Imperial Capital, believing a Chuyun Empire Dou Huang would escort them to safety.
• Xie Yun arrived at the clearing, and Yan Li told him that Xiao Yan had outclassed him in alchemy.
• Xie Yun spoke of the Three Nations Alliance’s plan to destroy the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake People Tribe.
• Xiao Ling emerged from the forest and revealed that he had overheard their conversation.
• Xie Yun attacked Xiao Ling with his Myriad Poison Nether Seal Sky Collapse Palm.

Xiao Ling killed Xie Yun and Yan Li’s two companions after blocking their attack with his Heavenly Flame and restraining them with Space Lock. Jia Xing Tian, Fama, and Hai Bodong arrived afterward, recognized Xie Yun, and realized his death could cause trouble with the Myriad Scorpion Sect.

• Xiao Ling used the Golden Emperor Blazing Heaven Flame to purify Xie Yun’s poisonous attack, then revealed the flame to Yan Li and the others.
• Xiao Ling sealed Xie Yun and Yan Li’s group with Space Lock and killed all four with Blazing Gold Fire Threads.
• Xiao Ling collected their souls in the Myriad Soul Banner and took their Storage Rings, finding rare poisons and a poison-attributed Dou Technique in Xie Yun’s ring for Xiao Yi Xian.
• Jia Xing Tian, Fama, and Hai Bodong arrived, and Xiao Ling told them he had dealt with his attackers.
• Hai Bodong identified the dead man as Xie Yun of the Myriad Scorpion Sect, and Jia Xing Tian and Fama warned that his death could provoke a response from the Chuyun Empire.

Xiao Ling warned Jia Xing Tian, Fama, and Hai Bodong that the Luoyan, Mulan, and Chuyun Empires planned to attack the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake People Clan in about a year. He offered to help strengthen the empire with pills before leaving, and the three leaders began organizing preparations after he departed.

• Jia Xing Tian told Fama and Hai Bodong that Queen Medusa had reached the Dou Zong Realm, allied with the Jia Ma Empire, and agreed to move the Snake People Clan to the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
• Xiao Ling revealed that the Three Nations Alliance planned to attack in roughly a year and said he would leave the Jia Ma Empire within a week.
• Xiao Ling offered to refine Sect Breaking Pills and Imperial Extreme Pills, and suggested that Yun Shan might still be alive and able to strengthen the empire by breaking through to the Dou Zong Realm.
• Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong agreed to gather ingredients for pills, while Fama requested Imperial Extreme Pills for the Alchemist Association.
• Xiao Ling returned to the Xiao Family, and Jia Xing Tian, Hai Bodong, and Fama set off for the Imperial Capital to prepare for the coming threat.

Xiao Ling returned to the Xiao Family courtyard after defeating Xie Yun and told Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Yao Chen about the threat posed by the Three Nations Alliance. He shared poisons from Xie Yun’s Storage Ring with Xiao Yi Xian, then received a ring of valuable ingredients from Xiao Yan and prepared to pursue his plans.

• Yao Chen reassured Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin that Xiao Ling could handle the disturbance outside the Imperial Capital, and Xiao Ling returned safely to the courtyard.
• Xiao Ling recounted his encounter with Xie Yun and said he planned to deal with the Three Nations Alliance after exploring the Dou Zun relic, while keeping the Myriad Soul Banner secret.
• Xiao Ling gave Xiao Yi Xian Xie Yun’s Storage Ring, which contained many poisons from the Myriad Scorpion Sect.
• Yao Chen withdrew into the Ancient Flame Ring when he sensed Xiao Yan approaching the courtyard.
• Xiao Yan delivered a Storage Ring sent by the imperial family, and Xiao Ling found three sets of ingredients for refining the Sect Breaking Pill along with other rare materials.

Xiao Ling rewarded Xiao Yan for winning the Alchemist Tournament with Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, which could help Xiao Yan advance his cultivation. As tensions rose over the Three Nations Alliance, Jia Ma Empire’s powerful families sought Xiao Ling’s alchemy services, and Mu Chen and Mu Tie waited for a Spirit Dou Pill that could strengthen Mu Tie for the coming conflict.

• Xiao Ling reminded Xiao Yan of his promised reward and gave him a bottle of Earth Core Body Tempering Milk.
• Xiao Yan inspected the spiritual liquid, thanked Xiao Ling, and left to return to the banquet.
• Xiao Ling reflected on how he had obtained and shared most of his Earth Core Body Tempering Milk with Xiao Xun'er, Han Yue, Zi Yan, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin.
• As news of the Three Nations Alliance spread among Jia Ma Empire’s leaders, they sought Xiao Ling’s help refining pills and supplied him with rare materials and rewards.
• Mu Chen and Mu Tie waited in Xiao Ling’s reception hall for Mu Tie’s Spirit Dou Pill, which they hoped would help him survive the coming war.

Xiao Ling delivered a Fifth-grade Spirit Dou Pill to Mu Tie and learned that Yun Shan had emerged from seclusion and might seek a Sect Breaking Pill before Xiao Ling left the Jia Ma Empire. He later rejoined Zi Yan and Medusa, while privately considering how he might help Medusa evolve her bloodline.

• Xiao Ling gave Mu Tie the Spirit Dou Pill he had refined, and Mu Tie and Mu Chen thanked him for helping the Mu Family.
• Mu Chen told Xiao Ling that Yun Shan had left seclusion, met with Jia Xing Tian, and might be gathering ingredients to request a Sect Breaking Pill.
• Mu Tie and Mu Chen left, and Xiao Ling considered whether Yun Shan might be connected to the Soul Hall before dismissing the thought.
• Xiao Ling returned to the courtyard, where Zi Yan said she would leave the Jia Ma Empire with him after spending the remaining days with Medusa.
• Xiao Ling privately considered helping Medusa awaken her bloodline and believed she might eventually ask him to perform the evolution technique.

Xiao Ling took Zi Yan to the Jia Ma Imperial Palace to choose treasures from its treasury, where she eagerly sought medicinal herbs. Xiao Ling discovered the remains of a Dou Zong expert and received permission from Yao Ye to take them for refining a Sky Demon Puppet.

• Xiao Ling invited Zi Yan to visit the palace treasury, and Medusa left to return to the Snake People Clan.
• Xiao Ling reassured Zi Yan about her hopes of recovering her true form, and they traveled together to the Jia Ma Imperial Palace.
• Yao Ye welcomed Xiao Ling and Zi Yan and led them to the imperial treasury.
• Zi Yan sensed medicinal herbs in the treasury and asked Yao Ye to take them to the herb collection area.
• Xiao Ling spotted a coffin containing Dou Zong remains and asked Yao Ye for them.
• Yao Ye agreed that Xiao Ling could take the remains.

Xiao Ling collected a peak Dou Zong’s remains and let Zi Yan choose rare herbs from the Imperial Treasury. He then began treating the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast with the Primal Bone-Shaping Pill, leaving the healing underway.

• Xiao Ling examined the preserved remains and stored them in his Storage Ring to forge a new Sky Demon Puppet.
• Yao Ye led Xiao Ling and Zi Yan to the medicinal herb repository, where Zi Yan selected over a dozen rare herbs.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan left the treasury, met Jia Xing Tian, and agreed to treat the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast.
• Zi Yan’s bloodline aura frightened the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast, which retreated into the lake before Jia Xing Tian called it back out.
• Jia Xing Tian presented the Primal Bone-Shaping Pill, and Xiao Ling used the Fallen Heart Flame to draw out its effects above the beast’s head.