Chapter Summaries

Xiao Peng defeated and killed Mo Cheng, then used his memories to find Qing Lin and free her from the Mo Family. He entrusted her to Lu Man of the Sky Serpent Mansion and left the burning estate.

• Mo Cheng attacked Xiao Peng, who broke his wrist, struck him down, and used Soul Searching to learn of his crimes.
• Xiao Peng killed Mo Cheng, and the Qingping Sword cut down the Mo Family lackeys who had aided him.
• Xiao Peng found Qing Lin imprisoned and comforted her after she explained that the Mo Family had threatened to dig out her eyes.
• Lu Man introduced herself as a member of the Sky Serpent Mansion and offered to take Qing Lin somewhere she could learn to control her abilities.
• Qing Lin agreed to leave with Lu Man, who gave Xiao Peng a snake-patterned Jade Pendant as thanks.
• Xiao Peng left the burning Mo Family residence with Little Seven.

Xiao Peng fed Little Seven Flesh and Blood Essence, allowing Queen Medusa to temporarily recover and reveal that she had gained memories of the Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python's inheritance. After teasing and kissing Xiao Peng before turning back into Little Seven, she left him confused, and the next morning he went to the Mite'er Auction House to look for rare items and see whether Ya Fei was there.

• Xiao Peng gave Little Seven more Flesh and Blood Essence, and she transformed into a temporarily recovered Queen Medusa.
• Queen Medusa teased Xiao Peng about paying for the Flesh and Blood Essence and scolded him for examining Little Seven without realizing she had another consciousness.
• Queen Medusa set aside her grievance, warned Xiao Peng not to touch Little Seven that way again, and kissed him as thanks for helping her obtain memories of the Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python's inheritance.
• Queen Medusa turned back into Little Seven, and Xiao Peng returned to cultivating after Little Seven climbed onto his shoulder.
• The next morning, Xiao Peng went to the Mite'er Auction House to browse its wares and check whether Ya Fei was there.

Xiao Peng reunited with Ya Fei at the Mite'er Auction House after returning from training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and Tagor Desert. He offered herbs and two Dou Techniques for sale, leaving Ya Fei curious about how much his strength had grown.

• Xiao Peng regretted forgetting to take the Mo Family's assets before Ya Fei approached and greeted him.
• Ya Fei linked arms with Xiao Peng and brought him to a private room, where she asked what had kept him away.
• Xiao Peng told Ya Fei he had trained in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and Tagor Desert, and he said he had found several opportunities.
• Ya Fei offered to buy Xiao Peng's surplus items and help him trade for rare Medicinal Herbs.
• Xiao Peng showed Ya Fei valuable herbs and the High-grade Profound Tier Dou Techniques Mad Lion's Roar and Eagle Wings.
• Ya Fei questioned why Xiao Peng would sell Eagle Wings, and Xiao Peng said he had no use for it.

Xiao Peng met Ya Fei, asked her to find physique-improving herbs, and agreed to visit the Nalan Family to treat Nalan Jie's Branding Poison. After giving Ya Fei twenty-five fourth-grade pills, he took her letter of introduction and arrived at the Nalan Residence.

• Xiao Peng asked Ya Fei to gather medicinal herbs that could improve his physique, and she agreed to look for them.
• Ya Fei told Xiao Peng about Nalan Jie’s Branding Poison and offered him a letter of introduction to the Nalan Residence.
• Xiao Peng agreed to try treating Nalan Jie and received Ya Fei’s sealed letter.
• Xiao Peng gave Ya Fei five bottles containing at least twenty-five fourth-grade pills, which she accepted as thanks for her help.
• Xiao Peng went to the Nalan Residence and approached the family steward at the gate.

Xiao Peng, using the name Ye Fan, entered the Nalan residence and began treating Nalan Jie’s Branding Poison. He expelled some of the poison and said complete recovery would take a few days, leaving Nalan Su eager to host him while Nalan Yanran watched with a complicated expression.

• Xiao Peng presented a recommendation letter from Ya Fei and was admitted to the Nalan residence.
• Xiao Peng encountered Nalan Yanran and introduced himself to Nalan Su as Ye Fan.
• After the other alchemists failed, Xiao Peng used silver needles and spiritual flame to expel some of Nalan Jie’s Branding Poison.
• Xiao Peng told Nalan Su that Nalan Jie needed a few more days of treatment to recover completely.
• Nalan Su ordered a maid to prepare a room in the eastern courtyard for Ye Fan.

Xiao Peng settled into the Nalan Family’s Quiet Dust Residence and spoke with Nalan Yanran about why he had treated her grandfather despite her past actions against the Xiao Family. Nalan Yanran admitted she regretted how she had ended her engagement to Xiao Yan, but not the decision itself, and began explaining why she had made a spectacle of it.

• Nalan Su showed Xiao Peng the Quiet Dust Residence and left him there to recuperate.
• Nalan Yanran joined Xiao Peng for tea and asked why he had treated her grandfather despite her breaking off her engagement to Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Peng told Nalan Yanran the engagement dispute was between her and Xiao Yan, and she admitted she had embarrassed the Xiao Family by how she handled it.
• Nalan Yanran said she did not regret ending the engagement, only the way she had done it.
• Nalan Yanran began explaining that she had brought people along because she thought the Xiao Family would keep pestering her and felt embarrassed herself.

Nalan Yanran reaffirmed her resolve to face Xiao Yan in the Three Year Agreement, while Xiao Peng encouraged her and promised to watch their battle. The next morning, Xiao Peng began a second treatment to draw the remaining poison from Nalan Jie, impressing Nalan Yanran with his skill.

• Xiao Peng and Nalan Yanran discussed the upcoming Three Year Agreement, and she declared she was prepared to fight Xiao Yan and accept defeat if he proved stronger.
• Xiao Peng agreed to watch Nalan Yanran's battle, and she left Quiet Dust Residence determined not to lose.
• Nalan Su asked Nalan Yanran about her talk with Ye Fan, and she assured him Xiao Peng could treat Nalan Jie.
• Xiao Peng visited Nalan Jie the next morning and began a treatment using Spirit Quenching Grass, a medicinal bath, and silver needles to draw out the remaining poison.
• Nalan Yanran entered as Nalan Jie was moved into the medicinal bath and watched Xiao Peng work, suspecting his abilities exceeded those of a Second-grade Alchemist.

Xiao Peng purged the Branding Poison from Nalan Jie, who recovered enough to consider apologizing to the Xiao Family. Seeing Xiao Peng as a suitable match for Nalan Yanran, Nalan Jie and Nalan Su urged her to spend more time with him, leaving her embarrassed and protesting.

• Xiao Peng used Spirit Quenching Grass, silver needles, and Azure Spirit Fire to draw the Branding Poison from Nalan Jie and purge it completely.
• Nalan Yanran thanked Xiao Peng, and he warned that Nalan Jie needed rest after suffering severe depletion.
• Nalan Su arrived, learned that Nalan Jie was out of danger, and promised to deliver Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva to Xiao Peng.
• Xiao Peng returned to his residence to prepare to refine a soul-enhancing pill.
• Nalan Jie resolved to apologize to the Xiao Family after recovering, then asked whether Xiao Peng was married.
• Nalan Jie and Nalan Su encouraged Nalan Yanran to spend more time with Xiao Peng, and she blushed and protested that they were only ordinary friends.

Nalan Yanran delivered the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva to Xiao Peng and invited him to dine with the Nalan Family, where Nalan Su encouraged them to grow closer. After agreeing to stay with the family during the Alchemist Convention, Xiao Peng began refining the Spirit Augmentation Pill.

• Nalan Su and Nalan Jie persuaded Nalan Yanran to deliver the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva to Xiao Peng and invite him to dinner.
• Nalan Yanran visited Xiao Peng at Quiet Dust Residence, delivered the medicine, and invited him to the Nalan Family's meal the next day.
• At lunch, Nalan Su questioned Xiao Peng about his master, encouraged Nalan Yanran to learn from him, and offered him lodging during the Alchemist Convention.
• Xiao Peng accepted Nalan Su's offer and returned to his courtyard to refine the Spirit Augmentation Pill.
• Xiao Peng activated a formation, heated the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva, and began blending in powdered Heart Condensing Flower.

Xiao Peng refined seven pills that survived two powerful lightning tribulations, shocking Nalan Yanran and the Nalan family with his skill. Nalan Su moved to keep onlookers away, while Nalan Yanran resolved to act on what her father and grandfather had told her.

• Xiao Peng refined seven pills, and their quality drew a lightning tribulation that shattered part of the courtyard’s formation.
• The pills withstood a second, stronger tribulation and emerged with purple-and-gold patterns, prompting Xiao Peng to assess them as a Seventh-grade pill.
• Nalan Yanran watched in shock and judged Xiao Peng’s pill-refining skill superior to Pill King Gu He’s.
• Nalan Jie warned Nalan Su to keep others from learning what had happened, and Nalan Su went to guard the courtyard gate.
• Nalan Yanran made a decision after recalling her father and grandfather’s words, and Nalan Jie approached Xiao Peng to congratulate him.

After Xiao Peng refined a Seventh-grade pill that triggered Lightning Tribulation, Nalan Jie asked him to stay with the Nalan Family, while nobles and the Imperial princesses gathered outside to investigate. Xiao Yan learned from Old Yao that a Seventh-grade alchemist had likely caused the phenomenon and suspected the alchemist had treated Nalan Jie's Branding Poison.

• Nalan Jie praised Xiao Peng's alchemy and offered him the Nalan Family's resources if he would stay after the Alchemist Convention.
• Yao Ye and Yao Yue discussed the Lightning Tribulation outside the Nalan Residence, and Yao Ye considered recruiting the alchemist responsible.
• Nalan Su turned away nobles seeking to learn what had happened and concealed that Nalan Jie was recovering.
• Xiao Yan asked Old Yao about the heavenly phenomenon, and Old Yao identified a Seventh-grade pill as its likely cause.
• Xiao Yan suspected the unknown alchemist had helped Nalan Jie with his Branding Poison, which Xiao Yan knew could be treated with Heavenly Flames.

Xiao Peng entered the Alchemist Convention and impressed the crowd by finishing the first two rounds with exceptional speed and skill. He advanced to the final round, scheduled for the next day, while a gray-robed man watched him from the shadows.

• Xiao Peng learned that Xiao Yan had bought Eagle Wings, declined Nalan Yanran's offer to escort him, and went alone to the Royal Plaza.
• Fa Ma opened the seventh Alchemist Convention, and Xiao Peng quickly completed the first round's Second-grade Pill.
• Xiao Peng's Bone-Growing Pill produced a striking green beam during inspection, drawing attention from the contestants, guild leaders, Ya Fei, and the Nalan Family.
• Xiao Peng spotted a flaw in the Wind-Traveling Pill formula, omitted the unnecessary Thick Earth Ganoderma, and finished the second round quickly.
• A gray-robed man watched Xiao Peng as Fa Ma ended the day's contests and announced that the final round would take place the next day.

After the second round of the alchemy competition, Yao Yue invited Xiao Peng to serve the Imperial Family and attend a palace banquet, but he declined both while promising to invite her, Ya Fei, and Nalan Yanran for tea after the competition. Yao Yue then invited Yan Xiao to the banquet, but he also refused, leaving Nalan Yanran curious about him as the finals approached.

• Ya Fei congratulated Xiao Peng, and Yao Yue introduced herself as a princess of the Jia Ma Empire.
• Yao Yue offered Xiao Peng a position as an Imperial Patron, but he declined because he wanted to remain free and join no faction.
• Yao Yue invited Xiao Peng to a palace celebration banquet, but he refused and promised to invite her, Ya Fei, and Nalan Yanran for tea after the competition.
• Ya Fei explained that Xiao Peng preferred honest friendship to being tied to a family, and Yao Yue remarked on his temperament and alchemy skills.
• Yao Yue invited Yan Xiao to the banquet, but he declined because he had important matters to attend to, and Yao Ye told her not to press him.
• Nalan Yanran watched Yan Xiao leave and said the next day's finals would be interesting before departing with Nalan Jie.

During the Alchemist Convention’s final round, Xiao Peng began refining a Fifth-grade Ice Fire Barrier-Breaking Pill from herbs whose clashing properties stunned the audience. Yan Li produced a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill and declared himself the likely champion, while Xiao Peng’s furnace erupted with a powerful ice-and-fire vortex, leaving the contest unresolved.

• Fa Ma announced the final round, and Xiao Peng and Xiao Yan exchanged confident looks before beginning their refining.
• Xiao Peng placed Ice Spirit Grass and Flame Heart Flower in his furnace, then used Cloud Pattern Grass and Spirit Locking Flower to balance and seal their conflicting energies.
• Yan Li revealed a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, astonishing Fa Ma and the spectators, and boasted that Xiao Peng could not beat him.
• Xiao Peng added Rhythm Transition Ganoderma, causing his furnace to shake as icy blue and fiery red energy formed a powerful vortex.

Xiao Peng stunned the alchemy competition by refining six perfect Fifth-grade Ice Fire Barrier-Breaking Pills, defeating Yan Li and disproving his cheating accusation. Fa Ma verified that the pills were genuine, confirming Xiao Peng's extraordinary achievement.

• Xiao Peng's furnace released six Ice Fire Barrier-Breaking Pills, and Fa Ma identified the energy ripples as proof of Fifth-grade Pills.
• The audience and competitors, including Ya Fei, Nalan Yanran, Yao Yue, and Liu Ling, reacted with shock as a white-haired alchemist praised Xiao Peng's skill.
• Yan Li accused Xiao Peng of cheating and swapping the pills, but Fa Ma and the audience rejected his claim for lack of evidence.
• Xiao Peng gathered the six pills into a jade bottle and asked Fa Ma to verify them.
• Fa Ma examined a pill and confirmed that it was a genuine Fifth-grade Pill.

Xiao Peng won the alchemy competition, accepted the Alchemist Guild’s offer to become an Honorary Elder, and lured Yan Li into a deserted woodland to confront him. Yan Li’s attack failed, and Xiao Peng continued crushing his wrist.

• Xiao Peng’s victory left Yan Li humiliated, while Xiao Yan refined a Three-pattern Green Spirit Pill and was pleased with his result.
• Fa Ma invited Xiao Peng to become an Honorary Elder of the Alchemist Guild, and Xiao Peng accepted the title and its rewards.
• Xiao Peng took the Guild’s token and rare herbs, then left the Imperial Capital with Yan Li secretly following him.
• Xiao Peng stopped in a deserted woodland and revealed that he had noticed Yan Li following him.
• Yan Li attacked Xiao Peng, but Xiao Peng caught his wrist and broke it, then stood unharmed when Yan Li struck his chest.

Xiao Peng killed Yan Li, gave Xiao Yan an Ice Fire Barrier-Breaking Pill, and accepted Yao Yue’s invitation to a palace banquet. On the carriage, he exchanged rare medicinal herbs for a pill and left Yao Yue surprised by the value of his gift.

• Xiao Peng crushed Yan Li’s hands, exposed his poison, and killed him before searching his body.
• Xiao Peng met Xiao Yan in the Imperial Capital and gave him an Ice Fire Barrier-Breaking Pill for the Three Year Agreement.
• Yao Yue invited Xiao Peng to a palace banquet, and he accepted after learning Nalan Yanran would attend.
• Yao Yue gave Xiao Peng a box of rare medicinal herbs, which he accepted.
• Xiao Peng gave Yao Yue an Ice Fire Barrier-Breaking Pill, and she remarked that his gift was far more valuable.

Xiao Peng gave Yao Yue a Fifth-grade Ice Fire Barrier-Breaking Pill, and she proposed tying him to the Jia Ma Royal Family through marriage. He declined because he wanted freedom and a wider world, then gave her alchemy insights before his departure the next day.

• Xiao Peng gave Yao Yue an Ice Fire Barrier-Breaking Pill in return for the medicinal herbs she had sent.
• Yao Yue suggested that Xiao Peng remain in Jia Ma through a marriage bond, but he said he would not accept the Imperial Family's responsibilities.
• Xiao Peng told Yao Yue he planned to leave Jia Ma and encouraged her to seek a path beyond the palace.
• Xiao Peng and Yao Yue attended a banquet, then walked through the palace corridors and spoke about his journey the next day.
• Xiao Peng gave Yao Yue a Jade Slip containing his alchemy insights.

Yao Yue thanked Xiao Peng for his guidance before he left the Imperial Capital with Xiao Yan to attend the Three Year Agreement at the Misty Cloud Sect. Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran began their duel, which ended with her launching a rapid three-pronged sword attack and him bracing behind his Black Heavy Ruler.

• Yao Yue accepted Xiao Peng's jade slip and promised to remember his guidance, while Xiao Peng left after she told him Jia Ma would always welcome him.
• Yao Ye teased Yao Yue about her feelings for Xiao Peng, but Yao Yue insisted that they had only discussed alchemy.
• Xiao Peng and Xiao Yan traveled to the Misty Cloud Sect, where Xiao Peng flew to a tree overlooking the plaza and Xiao Yan faced Nalan Yanran.
• Xiao Yan declared that the Three Year Agreement should be settled, and Nalan Yanran attacked first with her sword.
• Nalan Yanran used the Wind Spirit Fractal Sword to send three sword shadows at Xiao Yan, who blocked in front of himself with the Black Heavy Ruler.

Xiao Yan defeated Nalan Yanran in their Three Year Agreement by using Buddha's Rage Fire Lotus, a fusion of two Heavenly Flames. The blast devastated the square and left both fighters exhausted, while Xiao Peng remained ready to intervene if trouble followed.

• Xiao Yan repelled Nalan Yanran's sword phantoms with Eight Extremes Collapse, forcing her back.
• Nalan Yanran unleashed Wind's Extreme Flowing Shadow and Wind's Extreme Setting Sun Radiance, driving Xiao Yan to defend himself with the Black Heavy Ruler.
• Xiao Peng prepared an array atop a giant tree in case trouble arose after the battle.
• Xiao Yan revealed the Green Lotus Core Flame and Bone Spirit Cold Flame, then launched Buddha's Rage Fire Lotus at Nalan Yanran's sword light.
• The collision sent a shockwave across the square, and Yun Leng ordered the Misty Cloud Sect disciples to form a barrier.
• Nalan Yanran was knocked unconscious and injured, while Xiao Yan declared that he had won the Three Year Agreement.