Chapter Summaries

Xuan Yi confronted Yao Chen over their painful past, then gave Hun Ruoruo the Dunyī Pill, a pill she and Yao Chen had developed to struggle against Heaven. After Xuan Yi left, Hun Ruoruo reflected on her bond with Xiao Yan as he remained in meditation, and she nestled against him and kissed him.

• Xuan Yi restrained Yao Chen and reproached him for continuing to take disciples and leaving no place for her in his life.
• Hun Ruoruo called Xuan Yi Master's wife, earning her approval, and received the Dunyī Pill as a gift.
• Xuan Yi explained that the Dunyī Pill, also called the Xuan Chen Pill, was created to fight against Heaven and was developed by her and Yao Chen.
• Xuan Yi left the secluded area with Yao Chen, warned Dan Chen to remember her original heart, and drove Mo Yu away with a threat.
• Hun Ruoruo thought about how her feelings for Xiao Yan had changed her and concluded that their shared acceptance made their bond stronger than Xuan Yi and Yao Chen's.
• Hun Ruoruo returned to Xiao Yan's embrace, kissed him while he meditated, and asked him to refine her into a pill.

Xiao Yan refined eight peak Seventh-grade Pills at once while resting in Hun Ruoruo's embrace, then used Spirit Ascension to elevate them beyond their grade. The lightning struck him in the secluded chamber as the pills finished transforming, while Hun Ruoruo watched her plan advance toward the eighth grade.

• Xiao Yan's memories of Hun Ruoruo's feelings and departure renewed his determination to reclaim her, and he began refining pills while resting in her embrace.
• Xiao Yan used the Black-Gold Flame and more than ten peak Seventh-grade Magic Cores to refine eight pills simultaneously, drawing a strange eight-colored lightning cloud over Pill City.
• Xuan Yi and Old Man Yao investigated the cloud and realized its lightning came from several pills rather than a single Eighth-grade Divine Pill.
• Hun Ruoruo watched Xiao Yan and revealed that she intended his progress to fulfill her plan to shake Danta and the Yao Clan.
• Xiao Yan invoked Spirit Ascension, and lightning struck the secluded chamber as all eight Seventh-grade Pills ascended beyond their grade.

Xiao Yan completed his meditation and returned to the ranks of eighth-grade Alchemists, then learned that Hun Ruoruo had visited while he was in seclusion. Hun Ruoruo watched from above and resolved to keep her distance from Xiao Yan so they could focus on the Pill Gathering.

• Xiao Yan refined a batch of pills and celebrated his return to the eighth grade after half a month of meditation.
• Xiao Yan told Old Man Yao that he had fulfilled the condition for graduating by using the Spirit Ascension Technique, and Old Man Yao accepted his progress with mixed pride and loneliness.
• Old Man Yao told Xiao Yan that Hun Ruoruo had come while he was in seclusion, relieving Xiao Yan's fear that she was trapped in the Soul Realm.
• Xiao Yan noticed his Martial Uncle and mistress in the courtyard and realized he had come outside unclothed, then joked angrily with Old Man Yao.
• Hun Ruoruo revealed that Xiao Yan's intense emotions overwhelmed her when she approached him, so she had fled to avoid being distracted from the Pill Gathering.

As the Pill Gathering approached, Elder Sheng secretly admitted Soul Hall figures into Saint Pill City, and Yan Zheng was killed after discovering their allegiance. Xiao Yan learned of the intruders from Dan Chen and remained confident in Hun Ruoruo’s plans as the gathering drew near.

• Elder Sheng waved the black-robed group into Saint Pill City despite the martial-law restrictions and identified their leader as the Fourth Heavenly Venerable.
• Yan Zheng followed the group in disguise and saw Sheng Chi kneel before the Soul Hall figures.
• The Fourth Heavenly Venerable killed Yan Zheng and left Sheng Chi to handle the aftermath.
• Dan Chen sensed the Soul Hall’s arrival and told Xiao Yan that the intruders were not Hun Ruoruo’s people.
• Dan Chen warned Xiao Yan that the Pill Gathering would draw many powerful figures, including Yao Chen, but Xiao Yan trusted Hun Ruoruo’s plans.

Xiao Yan arrived at the Pill Gathering, where Danta announced Venerable Yao as its new Honorary Giant and overseer of the competition. Just as Xiao Yan resolved to honor his teacher by giving everything he had, a mysterious voice challenged Yao Chen’s claim to fame.

• Xiao Yan completed his training, dressed in formal robes, and set out for the Pill Gathering after paying his respects to Old Man Yao.
• Cao Ying recognized Xiao Yan, and Dan Chen indicated that they were following the plan of an unnamed woman.
• Xuan Kongzi announced that the Pill Gathering would have three stages and revealed Danta’s new Honorary Giant, Venerable Yao, Yao Chen.
• Xiao Yan resolved to give his all in the competition to honor his teacher.
• A mysterious voice called Yao Chen a castoff and challenged his title as the Continent’s Number One Alchemist.

At the Pill Gathering, a Yao Clan visitor exposed Yao Chen as an abandoned son and pressured him to give up his position as a Danta giant. Xiao Yan challenged the visitor and struck him down, leaving the gathered factions stunned by his strength.

• The White Robe man revealed that Yao Chen was an exiled son of the Yao Clan, and Yao Chen agreed to relinquish his position as a Danta giant.
• Xiao Yan erupted in anger at the insult to his teacher and confronted the White Robe man, revealing his peak Dou Zong strength.
• The White Robe man attacked Xiao Yan with a green-skinned gourd, but Xiao Yan’s fist shattered it and resonated with the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
• Two elders intervened to shield the White Robe man, but Xiao Yan’s hidden force struck through their defenses and blasted him away.
• The gathered spectators watched Xiao Yan in shock, while a green-clad girl blushed and praised him as handsome.

Xiao Yan defended Yao Chen and Danta after Yao Xing Ji and the Yao Clan insulted them, then the Pill Gathering’s first trial began. Hun Ruoruo entered the competition, while Xun'er secretly directed her agents to investigate the Yao Clan and watch the Soul Hall’s Eight Heavenly Venerable.

• Xiao Yan struck Yao Xing Ji and condemned the Yao Clan for insulting Yao Chen and disrupting the Pill Gathering.
• Xuan Kongzi allowed the Yao Clan to compete as long as its members followed the rules, and Xiao Yan returned to the arena.
• Xuan Kongzi opened the Soul Illusion trial, and contestants rushed inside.
• Hun Ruoruo told Xun'er she would compete to win back face for Xiao Yan, then entered the Soul Illusion.
• Xun'er summoned Elder Lin and another elder, ordering them to watch Hun Ruoruo, investigate the Yao Clan, and monitor the Soul Hall’s Eight Heavenly Venerable.

Hun Ruoruo entered Danta’s Illusionary Realm Trial and, finding that its illusions could not affect her, encountered an illusory Hun Tiandi. He transformed the maze and challenged her to show how far she could go in the Pill Gathering.

• Hun Ruoruo entered the distorted realm and recognized that her Heaven Realm soul could see through its illusions.
• Hun Ruoruo deliberately lowered her Soul Force and explored the maze, but no illusion appeared before her.
• Hun Ruoruo’s kick at a pebble caused the mist to contract and form a path for an illusory Hun Tiandi to appear.
• Hun Ruoruo questioned whether the figure was truly an illusion, and he confirmed that his false body could not exceed the realm’s strength.
• Hun Tiandi transformed the gray forest into verdant mountains and recalled visiting Danta with four others.
• Hun Tiandi acknowledged Hun Ruoruo’s schemes across several clans and challenged her to make her move.

Hun Ruoruo understood Hun Tiandi’s lesson about using imperfection to deepen an illusion, then struck him as the painted space collapsed. Outside, Xuan Kongzi discovered the first-trial space had vanished, while Old Man Yao suspected his disciple might be responsible.

• Hun Ruoruo hesitated to attack Hun Tiandi, but he explained how doubt and falsehood could draw someone deeper into an illusion.
• Hun Ruoruo thanked Hun Tiandi, and he offered to use the remains of A World of Its Own to help her advance the Emperor Soul Art.
• Hun Ruoruo drew her curved blade and slashed at Hun Tiandi as the painted space contracted.
• Xuan Kongzi announced that the painted space had disappeared, and the Yao Clan elders dismissed Danta’s accusations.
• Old Man Yao studied the pale violet Soul Mark and worried that Hun Ruoruo had taken the space.

Hun Ruoruo revealed to Cao Ying that Xiao Yan was bait in a plan involving Old Man Mu Gu and the Yao Clan, then the contestants entered the Pill Realm for the second trial. Xiao Yan and Yao Xing Ji traded threats as Mu Gu secretly watched, each confident that victory was theirs.

• Hun Ruoruo told Cao Ying to watch Yao Xing Ji but keep him alive, then revealed that Old Man Mu Gu was lurking near him and that Xiao Yan was part of her plan.
• Xiao Yan received Hun Ruoruo's message through their Soul Tokens and prepared to enter the Pill Realm.
• The elderly trial overseer gave contestants ingredient lists, maps, and spatial stones, then warned Xiao Yan not to tarnish Yao Chen's reputation.
• Xiao Yan entered the Pill Realm and challenged Yao Xing Ji to compete in alchemy rather than fight.
• Old Man Mu Gu watched Yao Xing Ji from the shadows and echoed his confidence that victory was already his.

Old Man Mu Gu followed Yao Xing Ji through the Pill Realm and used a token to contact Hun Xuzi, who agreed to rehearse Pill Seizure on the Yao Clan descendant before the Medicine Ceremony. Hun Ruoruo secretly observed them and decided to let Mu Gu proceed so she could seize his pill in turn.

• Old Man Mu Gu followed Yao Xing Ji while concealing his presence and planned to use him for Pill Seizure.
• Mu Gu summoned Hun Xuzi through a token, and Hun Xuzi used gray mist to possess a medicinal herb for the scheme.
• Hun Ruoruo watched the exchange with her Heavenly Soul and recognized Hun Xuzi after using the Emperor Soul Art to conceal herself.
• Hun Ruoruo deduced that Mu Gu aimed to seize Yao Xing Ji's pill and surpass Yao Chen's achievement to gain standing.
• Hun Ruoruo resolved to let Mu Gu carry out his plan and then seize his pill with her own knowledge of Pill Seizure.

Yao Xing Ji gathered allies by driving a brutal Alchemist from the Pill Realm, then seized an Earth Core Jade Mother from a black-robed elder. Xiao Yan watched him leave and learned from the child beside him that Yao Xing Ji seemed destined for death.

• Yao Xing Ji entered the Pill Realm and used his Yao Clan bloodline to search for treasures and medicinal ingredients.
• A burly Alchemist ambushed another participant after warning him about a giant python, but Yao Xing Ji forced the man to leave the Pill Realm.
• Yao Xing Ji found an Earth Core Jade Mother beneath the python's cave, but a black-robed elder snatched it away.
• Yao Xing Ji defeated the elder with his green gourd, accepted a genuine Jade Mother from him, and left boasting that he would outmatch Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan questioned why Yao Xing Ji was so arrogant and concluded the Yao Clan must have a powerful expert backing it.
• The child beside Xiao Yan said Yao Xing Ji had the word “death” written all over his face.

Xiao Yan reunited with Zi Yan in the Pill Realm and learned how Hun Ruoruo was drawing Yao Xing Ji and Old Man Mu Gu into a trap. Hun Ruoruo avoided Xiao Yan’s message until he told her he missed her, leaving her overwhelmed by her own longing for him.

• Zi Yan teased Xiao Yan with a supposed reading of his fate, then chased him for pills after revealing she had been living with Venerable Tian Huo.
• Zi Yan told Xiao Yan that Hun Ruoruo had instructed her to watch his exchanges with Dan Chen and report anything suspicious.
• Xiong Zhan brought Xiao Yan and Zi Yan into his cave and showed them that the plan to lure Yao Xing Ji and Old Man Mu Gu with swapped medicinal ingredients was ready.
• Zi Yan explained that Hun Ruoruo had arranged the trap, and Xiao Yan realized she had been watching him through the Soul Token.
• Hun Ruoruo ignored Xiao Yan’s first message, but answered Zi Yan’s connection and heard Xiao Yan say he missed her.
• Hun Ruoruo found a series of daily messages from Xiao Yan saying he missed her and silently admitted that she missed him too.

Dan Chen and Cao Ying reported that the Ancient Clan had infiltrated the Pill Realm, and Hun Ruoruo revealed her plan to use Cao Ying’s pill to support Danta. As the second round ended, Yao Xing Ji led the contestants out with a huge haul, while Xiao Yan departed with medicinal ingredients gathered from Xiong Zhan’s cave, leaving the contest’s final round ahead.

• Dan Chen and Cao Ying told Hun Ruoruo that two Ancient Assembly elders had entered the Pill Realm, and Cao Ying proposed drawing them into conflict with Danta and the Soul Hall.
• Hun Ruoruo revealed that the Ancient Assembly belonged to the Ancient Clan and asked Cao Ying to refine a pill for her, requiring her to surrender its spiritual essence and pill lightning.
• The bronze bell ended the second round, and Yao Xing Ji reached the exit first after plundering medicinal ingredients from across the Pill Realm.
• Old Man Mu Gu told Hun Xuzi that he had arranged for Yao Xing Ji to receive ingredients for Pill Seizure, but Hun Xuzi suspected the operation had gone too smoothly.
• Xiao Yan left Xiong Zhan’s cave with medicinal ingredients for the third round, thanked him, and reminded Zi Yan to apologize for taking herbs from his medicinal field.

Xiao Yan reached the Pill Gathering’s final round as Danta and the Yao Clan watched the decisive contest begin. As the contestants took the stage, he noticed Hun Ruoruo was missing and wondered where she had gone.

• With Zi Yan’s help, Xiao Yan left the Pill Realm in time and passed the round by submitting the medicinal ingredients.
• Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi ascended the Mysterious Wood Spirit Platform, where Xuan Yi worried that Danta’s standing depended on the final contest.
• Two Yao Clan elders disparaged Xiao Yan, and Old Man Yao confronted them, defending his alchemy skills and warning them against insulting his disciple.
• Old Man Yao resolved to protect Xiao Yan and Zi Yan, while Xuan Kongzi announced that the winner of the next round would become the Pill Gathering champion.
• As the final round began, Xiao Yan spotted Yao Xing Ji and Old Man Mu Gu but could not find Hun Ruoruo.

During the Pill Gathering, Yao Xing Ji used the Nine Nether Wind Flame to disrupt the contestants, but Xiao Yan found the source of the strange flames and helped a black-robed figure defeat him with her azure spiritual flame. Yao Xing Ji was left humiliated as the arena’s flames bowed to the two Heavenly Flames.

• Cao Ying and Dan Chen revealed strange traces of black light in their flames, stirring Xiao Yan and Xun'er’s suspicions.
• Yao Xing Ji unleashed the Nine Nether Wind Flame, shattering nearby contestants’ Medicine Cauldrons and provoking a dispute among the elders over whether it violated the rules.
• Xuan Kongzi objected to Yao Xing Ji using his Heavenly Flame to disturb the contestants, but the Yao Clan elders defended the tactic as part of fire control.
• Xiao Yan used soul fluctuations to trace the strange flames to their source and unleashed his black-gold Evil Flame.
• A black-robed figure answered Xiao Yan’s signal by releasing azure spiritual flame, which joined with his flame and swallowed the Nine Nether Wind Flame.
• Yao Xing Ji spat blood as the flames bowed toward Xiao Yan and the black-robed figure, then roared in humiliation.

Xiao Yan and Hun Ruoruo fused Heavenly Flames to suppress the Nine Nether Wind Flame, drawing the Central Continent alchemists’ gratitude and Xun’er’s suspicion about the flame’s origins. As the Pill Gathering began, Yao Xing Ji used his bloodline to refine a pill amid tribulation signs, while a hidden figure revealed that a strange mark on his Earthly Core Mother had sprung a trap.

• Xun’er sensed that Xiao Yan’s Heavenly Flame contained a foreign substance and called for the pair to be investigated after seeing their intimate exchange.
• Xiao Yan and Hun Ruoruo suppressed the Nine Nether Wind Flame, ending its threat and earning the alchemists’ thanks.
• Hun Ruoruo reminded Xiao Yan of their agreement, and he told the competitors to begin refining their pills.
• Yao Xing Ji challenged Xiao Yan and added glowing green blood to his medicine cauldron, causing Heaven and Earth Energy to surge and tribulation lightning to appear.
• A hunched figure saw a strange black pattern flash across Yao Xing Ji’s Earthly Core Mother and smiled, saying that he had taken the bait.

Old Man Mu Gu set his Pill Seizure scheme in motion by ensuring Yao Xing Ji used the Earthly Core Mother, while Hun Ruoruo secretly refined a Pill Embryo. After five days without pill lightning, a strange radiance and thunder finally appeared in the arena.

• Old Man Mu Gu watched Yao Xing Ji add the switched Earthly Core Mother to his pill furnace and prepared his strange flame to seize the pill.
• Hun Ruoruo sensed Mu Gu's move and began refining a Pill Embryo with her Pure Water Dou Qi.
• Old Man Yao recognized Hun Ruoruo's Pill Embryo and connected it to the Spirit Ascension Technique and Chu Xin.
• The Pill Gathering continued for five days as contestants failed, but no pill lightning appeared.
• A strange radiance lit up a corner of the arena, and pill lightning appeared.

The Pill Gathering reached its decisive stage as Yao Xing Ji used the Yao Clan’s Bloodline Power to refine an eighth-grade pill and summon a four-colored pill lightning cloud. Just as the pill was about to form, Old Man Mu Gu revealed himself and seized control of it, swallowing the Divine Wood phantom and throwing the arena into chaos.

• Seventh-grade pill lightning appeared across the venue as thirty-six Alchemists continued refining their pills.
• Yao Xing Ji summoned a phantom of the Divine Wood, ensuring his pill would form, and declared that Xiao Yan could not compete with him.
• Yao Xing Ji’s pill produced four-colored lightning, while his medicine cauldron became a pill pattern and the other lightning clouds recoiled.
• Old Man Mu Gu revealed his identity as a Soul Hall member, and Old Man Yao recognized him with killing intent.
• Old Man Mu Gu took control of Yao Xing Ji’s pill and swallowed the Divine Wood phantom with a wolf-shaped bloody maw.

Old Man Mu Gu used his Soul-Devouring Bone-Corrupting Pill to devour Yao Xing Ji’s pill and its lightning, leaving Yao Xing Ji broken and the skies filled with a five-colored lightning cloud. Facing Mu Gu, Xiao Yan brought out Old Man Yao’s ring and cauldron, then asked his teacher to witness his graduation.

• Old Man Mu Gu’s wolf soul devoured Yao Xing Ji’s pill lightning and corrupted his pill, while the Yao Clan elders accused the Soul Hall of using the vicious Pill Seizure art.
• Old Man Mu Gu crushed Yao Xing Ji with the wolf soul’s pressure, mocked him for having served as a pawn, and revealed his Soul-Devouring Bone-Corrupting Pill.
• The wolf soul devoured the surrounding energy and transformed the lightning cloud into a five-colored one as Old Man Mu Gu declared that Xiao Yan could not finish his pill without Heaven and Earth Energy.
• Hun Ruoruo met Xiao Yan’s gaze and silently wished him luck, while Xiao Yan put on Old Man Yao’s Bone Flame Ring and summoned the Black Demon cauldron.
• Xiao Yan knelt before Old Man Yao and asked his teacher to witness his graduation after ten years of guidance.