Chapter Summaries

Xiao Ling befriended Zi Yan by refining pills for her, helping the Supreme Freedom Gate grow while his cultivation and alchemy steadily advanced. Two years later, now a four-star Dou Ling, he flew back toward the dormitories with Xiao Xun'er, who told him that Xiao Yu had joined the academy and asked whether he remembered Xiao Yan.

• Xiao Ling refined a Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill, which Zi Yan suddenly appeared and swallowed before asking him to make more pills for her.
• Xiao Ling refined the bitten Sky Jade Fruit into sweet pills for Zi Yan, and she agreed to join the Supreme Freedom Gate so she could find him again.
• Zi Yan joined the Supreme Freedom Gate, attracting new members and discouraging older students from challenging the faction; she also began asking Xiao Xun'er for pills.
• Over two years, Xiao Ling reached four-star Dou Ling and improved his alchemy, though the Heavenly Flame Refining Pagoda became less effective for his cultivation.
• Xiao Ling met Xiao Xun'er outside the pagoda and rode Void Dragon with her toward the dormitories.
• Xiao Xun'er told Xiao Ling that Instructor Ruo Lin had brought Xiao Yu, a girl from the Xiao Family, back to the academy.

Xiao Ling broke through to three-star Dou Wang after two and a half years at Jia Nan Academy and decided to leave for training. With Su Qian’s permission, he planned to depart with Zi Yan the next morning, while the others remained at the academy.

• Xiao Xun'er told Xiao Ling that Xiao Yan’s cultivation had fallen to the third stage of Dou Qi, and Xiao Ling suggested sending the Xiao Family a prescription so an Alchemist could examine him.
• Xiao Ling kissed Xiao Xun'er before they returned to their dormitory, then worried about gaining enough strength to oppose the Soul Clan.
• Two and a half years later, Xiao Ling broke through to three-star Dou Wang in the Heavenly Flame Refining Pagoda and told his companions he planned to leave Jia Nan Academy for training.
• Zi Yan asked to accompany Xiao Ling, and he agreed on the condition that she follow his arrangements.
• Xiao Ling explained his plans to First Elder Su Qian, who approved his departure, made him an Inner Academy elder, and entrusted Zi Yan to his care.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan agreed to leave the next morning, and Xiao Ling opened his System Panel in his room.

Before leaving on a training journey, Xiao Ling used ten extraction attempts and obtained several treasures, then spent the evening saying goodbye to Han Yue and Xiao Xun'er. Xiao Xun'er gave him a Child Flame of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame and presented him with a black scroll.

• Xiao Ling used ten extraction attempts and obtained Gold Coins, two Sect Breaking Pills, the Heavenly Snake Tome, the Distraction Control Method, and a Bone-Regenerating Blood-Melting Pill.
• Xiao Ling visited Han Yue, embraced her, and promised to escort her home after she returned to her clan.
• Xiao Ling visited Xiao Xun'er, who gave him a Child Flame of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame as a farewell gift and explained that separating it had only exhausted her Soul Power.
• Xiao Xun'er took out a black scroll and held it out to Xiao Ling.

Xiao Ling received the Ancient Clan’s Imperial Seal Art from Xiao Xun'er before leaving her behind and beginning to absorb the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame Child Flame. As the flame entered his Dou Crystal, Xiao Ling was nearing the end of the absorption process.

• Xiao Xun'er gave Xiao Ling the first two forms of the Imperial Seal Art and warned him to conceal it if he went to the Central Plains.
• Xiao Ling and Xiao Xun'er spent the night together, and the next morning Xiao Ling left quietly with the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame Child Flame while Xiao Xun'er pretended to be asleep.
• Gu Nanhai urged Gu Yuan to bring Gu Xun'er back, and Gu Yuan ordered that she return to the Ancient Clan in two years.
• Xiao Ling used a Blood Lotus Pill and Ice Spirit Cold Spring to protect himself while he drew the fire seed from the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame and swallowed it.
• Xiao Ling circulated the flame through the Fen Jue, then sent the Spirit Absorption into his Dou Crystal to complete the process.

After refining the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame Child Flame, Xiao Ling reached four-star Dou Wang and prepared to leave Jia Nan Academy with Zi Yan. They said farewell to Hu Gan and set off toward the Jia Ma Empire aboard a Griffon Beast, leaving Xiao Ling to practice combat skills during the journey.

• Xiao Ling completed the Child Flame refinement, raising Fen Jue to Profound Grade Intermediate and his cultivation from three-star to four-star Dou Wang.
• Xiao Ling tested the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, then told Lin Xiuyai to arrange repairs for the damaged Cultivation Room before meeting Zi Yan.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan obtained a Griffon Beast, visited Hu Gan, and Xiao Ling gave him two Sect Breaking Pills in farewell.
• Hu Gan gave Xiao Ling a Ring of Cultivation Techniques and Combat Skills, and Xiao Ling later gave an instructor a Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan departed Jia Nan Academy for the Jia Ma Empire, and Xiao Ling gave Zi Yan pills to eat while cultivating during the trip.

Xiao Ling perfected his Distraction Control Method during the journey and reached Town Ghost Pass with Zi Yan, where he revealed his status as a Sixth-grade Alchemist and arranged for the Xiao Family to be moved to the Imperial Capital. After entrusting Mu Tie with a letter and the arrangements, Xiao Ling and Zi Yan flew toward the Tagor Desert to find Hai Bodong.

• Xiao Ling practiced controlling several flames at once and reached the Three Orifice Control Heart in less than an hour.
• During the half-month journey, Xiao Ling refined pills for Zi Yan and told her they would soon reach the Jia Ma Empire.
• Xiao Ling planned to have the Xiao Family move to the Imperial Capital and set out to find an old man in the Tagor Desert.
• Mu Tie and the soldiers at Town Ghost Pass mistook Xiao Ling and Zi Yan for two young Dou Wang experts when they flew down from their Griffon Beast.
• Xiao Ling introduced himself to Mu Tie, showed his Sixth-grade Alchemist badge, and asked him to deliver a letter to the Xiao Family and arrange their move in exchange for helping the imperial family obtain a Sect Breaking Pill.
• Mu Tie sent a guard with the letter and went to report the matter to the imperial family as Xiao Ling and Zi Yan flew toward the Tagor Desert.

Xiao Ling and Zi Yan reached Stone Desert City, where Xiao Ling negotiated with Hai Bodong for the second half of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map. He agreed to refine a Po E Dan and find Sand Mandala in exchange, then left with Zi Yan to search the Tagor Desert, carrying Hai Bodong’s map of likely Heavenly Flame locations.

• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan arrived at Stone Desert City aboard the Void Dragon and entered after Xiao Ling presented his alchemist badge and paid a soldier with a pill.
• Xiao Ling found Hai Bodong’s map shop, located the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map, and offered to buy its other half.
• Hai Bodong revealed that Queen Medusa had sealed his strength and agreed to trade the remaining map fragment for a Po E Dan, but he lacked Sand Mandala.
• Xiao Ling promised to obtain Sand Mandala and asked Hai Bodong to protect the Xiao Family after recovering his strength.
• Hai Bodong gave Xiao Ling a detailed map marking three areas in the Tagor Desert that might contain a Heavenly Flame.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan left the shop and flew into the Tagor Desert on the awakened Void Dragon to seek Sand Mandala.

Xiao Ling and Zi Yan traveled through the Tagor Desert to seek a Sand Mandala from Queen Medusa, with Yue Mei agreeing to escort them in exchange for Xiao Ling refining a Dou Ling Pill. They reached the Snake People Sacred City and entered the golden hall where Queen Medusa resided.

• Xiao Ling persuaded Zi Yan to help negotiate for a Sand Mandala by promising her a Sixth-grade medicinal ingredient.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan arrived at the Charming Snake Tribe, where Yue Mei met them after the Snake People guards mistook them for attackers.
• Xiao Ling asked Yue Mei for a Sand Mandala, and she explained that only Queen Medusa in the Sacred City had any in stock.
• Xiao Ling offered to refine Yue Mei a Dou Ling Pill in exchange for her help, and Yue Mei agreed to escort him and Zi Yan to the Sacred City.
• Yue Mei guided Xiao Ling and Zi Yan past the Sacred City's guards and into the golden hall where Queen Medusa resided.

Xiao Ling negotiated with Queen Medusa for a Sand Mandala by offering her a Sect Breaking Pill, while Zi Yan quickly befriended Medusa. After leaving the Snake People Sacred City, Xiao Ling remembered he still owed Yue Mei a Dou Ling Pill.

• Xiao Ling met Queen Medusa and offered to exchange a Sect Breaking Pill for a Sand Mandala.
• Medusa grew fond of Zi Yan and invited her to become her younger sister, and Zi Yan accepted on the condition that she could visit and receive medicinal herbs.
• Xiao Ling agreed to provide Medusa with a Sect Breaking Pill in exchange for the Sand Mandala and ingredients or treasures of equivalent value.
• Medusa took Xiao Ling and Zi Yan to the Snake People Treasury, where Xiao Ling collected the Sand Mandala and selected medicinal ingredients and treasures.
• Xiao Ling gave Medusa his prepared Sect Breaking Pill, and Medusa ordered Hua She'er to keep the transaction secret before entering seclusion to attempt a breakthrough.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan left the hall, and Xiao Ling remembered that he still needed to refine a Dou Ling Pill for Yue Mei.

Xiao Ling traveled toward the Charming Snake Tribe on Void Dragon while refining Dou Ling Pills for Yue Mei, who secretly sent word that he possessed a Heavenly Flame. In the Imperial Capital, Jia Xing Tian learned of Xiao Ling’s return and arranged to secure his help by preparing Sect Breaking Pill ingredients and escorting the Xiao Family there.

• Xiao Ling accepted Yue Mei’s three sets of Dou Ling Pill ingredients and began refining them while riding Void Dragon with Yue Mei and Zi Yan.
• Yue Mei sent a small snake back to the Sacred City to report Xiao Ling’s Heavenly Flame, while Xiao Ling continued refining pills during the journey.
• Mu Tie reported Xiao Ling’s return, Dou Wang cultivation, Sixth-grade Alchemist status, Heavenly Flame, and request for the imperial family to escort the Xiao Family to the Imperial Capital.
• Jia Xing Tian agreed to help Xiao Ling in exchange for a Sect Breaking Pill and hurried to the Imperial Palace to make arrangements.
• Jia Xing Tian told Yao Ye to gather three sets of Sect Breaking Pill ingredients before Xiao Ling reached the Imperial Capital.

Jia Xing Tian ordered an imperial escort to bring the Xiao Family to the capital, while Xiao Ling completed a high-quality Dou Ling Pill and sent Yue Mei on her way. In Wutan City, Xiao Yan continued to suffer from disappearing Dou Qi as the Xiao Family learned of Xiao Ling’s return, his achievements, and his plan to relocate them to the Imperial Capital.

• Jia Xing Tian ordered Yao Ye to send a High-Level Dou Ling and soldiers to escort the Xiao Family, and asked Yue'er to accompany them.
• Xiao Ling finished refining an excellent Dou Ling Pill and gave it to Yue Mei before directing Void Dragon toward Hai Bodong's Map Shop.
• Xiao Yan discovered that his Dou Qi was still disappearing and went to the Council Hall after Steward Mo summoned him.
• Xiao Zhan announced that Xiao Ling had returned to the Jia Ma Empire as a Dou Wang and Sixth-grade Alchemist, and had arranged an imperial escort to move the Xiao Family to the Imperial Capital.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Chen were astonished by Xiao Ling’s accomplishments as the Xiao Family celebrated the news.

Xiao Zhan told Xiao Yan that Xiao Ling believed he could diagnose and resolve the problem with his cultivation talent, giving Xiao Yan hope as the family prepared to move to the Imperial Capital. Meanwhile, Xiao Ling reached Stone Desert City with Zi Yan and settled her at the Desert Iron Mercenary Group before going to meet his cousins.

• Xiao Zhan told Xiao Yan that Xiao Ling had sent a prescription for him and planned to examine him after returning to the Xiao Family, and Xiao Yan eagerly asked when they would leave for the Imperial Capital.
• Yao Chen listened from the Bone Flame Ring and planned to test Xiao Ling, considering taking Xiao Yan as his disciple if Xiao Ling could not restore his talent.
• Xiao Ling finished refining the last of Yue Mei's medicinal ingredients into a Dou Ling Pill while traveling toward Stone Desert City with Zi Yan, who had eaten too many pills and become sleepy.
• Xiao Ling found the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, presented his Xiao Family token, and explained that he was Xiao Li and Xiao Ding's cousin.
• Xiao Ling took Zi Yan to a room in the compound, covered her as she fell asleep, and prepared to meet his cousins.

Xiao Ling met Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, revealed his strength and offered to examine Xiao Yan while supporting the Desert Iron Mercenary Group with pills. After resting at the group’s residence, he woke the next morning to find Qing Lin entering his room.

• Xiao Ling met Xiao Li and Xiao Ding, who were surprised to learn he had become a Dou Wang and a Sixth-grade Alchemist.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li asked Xiao Ling to examine Xiao Yan’s strange constitution, and Xiao Ling promised to help when he returned to the Xiao Family.
• Xiao Ling told the brothers that he had urged the Xiao Family to relocate to the Imperial Capital, while Xiao Ding and Xiao Li chose to keep running the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.
• Xiao Ling gave Xiao Ding and Xiao Li hundreds of pills, including two Three-patterned Green Spirit Pills, as support for the mercenary group and compensation for taking Qing Lin.
• Xiao Ling returned to his lodging, found Zi Yan asleep and muttering about food, then rested until morning.
• Qing Lin entered Xiao Ling’s room with warm water and timidly greeted him.

Xiao Ling welcomed Qing Lin as his little sister, accepted her Snake People Race bloodline, and agreed to take her away from the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. After giving her cultivation resources and a Ring, he brought her to inform Xiao Ding and Xiao Li of their plans to leave.

• Qing Lin washed Xiao Ling and revealed that Xiao Ding had asked her to become his maid; Xiao Ling recognized the power of her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
• Xiao Ling reassured Qing Lin that he accepted her Snake People Race bloodline, and she agreed to become his little sister and leave with him.
• Xiao Ling gave Qing Lin a Ring and cultivation supplies, then promised to teach her how to cultivate and introduce her to his companion.
• As Xiao Ling and Qing Lin crossed the mercenary group, the mercenaries showed disgust toward Qing Lin, but she asked Xiao Ling not to punish them.
• Xiao Ling and Qing Lin told Xiao Ding and Xiao Li that they would leave the Desert Iron Mercenary Group with Xiao Ling's companion.

Xiao Ling opened the restriction on a map and learned that it led to the relic of Wang Yanqing, the Turtle Spirit Venerate, which might contain a Turtle Spirit Earth Flame and his entire fortune. After deciding to seek the relic once matters in the Jia Ma Empire were settled, Xiao Ling introduced Qing Lin to Zi Yan, who welcomed her as a friend and little sister.

• Xiao Ling used his Spirit Realm Soul Power to break the restriction on the Dou Venerate Relic Map and reveal the name Turtle Spirit Venerate.
• Xiao Ling read Wang Yanqing's account and learned that the Three-star Dou Venerate had left his fortune and possibly his Turtle Spirit Earth Flame in a relic in the Falling Goose Empire.
• Xiao Ling resolved to visit the relic after settling matters in the Jia Ma Empire and considered how several known Heavenly Flames could strengthen Fen Jue.
• Zi Yan came out of her room and asked Xiao Ling to tie her hair, then bragged about nearing the Sixth Rank and showed her spatial strength.
• Xiao Ling told Zi Yan about Qing Lin, and Zi Yan welcomed Qing Lin as her friend and little sister.

Xiao Ling returned to Hai Bodong's Map Shop with Qing Lin and Zi Yan after obtaining a Sand Mandala from Queen Medusa. He accepted Hai Bodong's Po E Dan prescription and prepared to collect its ingredients, leaving the group at the entrance to Hai Bodong's hidden treasure vault.

• Qing Lin prepared to leave the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, and she and Zi Yan quickly struck up a conversation before Xiao Ling led them toward Desert City.
• Xiao Ling carried Qing Lin through the air to Desert City while Zi Yan flew alongside them, and Qing Lin fell asleep in his arms.
• Hai Bodong greeted Xiao Ling at the Map Shop, and Xiao Ling confirmed he had obtained the Sand Mandala from Queen Medusa.
• Xiao Ling asked Hai Bodong for the Po E Dan prescription and ingredients, then took possession of the prescription after reading its effects.
• Hai Bodong led Xiao Ling, Qing Lin, and Zi Yan to a concealed stone door and opened the passage to his Treasure Vault.

Xiao Ling began refining a Po E Dan for Hai Bodong while the Jia Ma royal family arrived in Wutan City to escort the Xiao Family to the Imperial Capital. Yao Yue met Xiao Yan at the Xiao estate and examined him with curiosity, leaving him unsure what she wanted.

• Hai Bodong supplied Xiao Ling with rare herbs, and Xiao Ling warned that refining the Po E Dan could fail before promising to do his best.
• Xiao Ling entered a quiet room, studied the prescription, and began refining the Po E Dan with his Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame.
• Yao Yue arrived in Wutan City with royal guards to escort the Xiao Family to the Imperial Capital, and Xiao Zhan arranged for them to depart at dawn.
• Xiao Zhan hosted a farewell banquet for Wutan City's faction leaders while Yao Yue explored the Xiao Family estate instead of attending.
• Yao Yue found Xiao Yan by the pond and stared at him curiously after learning that his Dou Qi had fallen to the third stage.

Yao Yue examined Xiao Yan and confirmed his meridians were sound, but his Dou Qi vanished whenever he tried to cultivate. Meanwhile, Xiao Ling successfully refined Hai Bodong’s Po E Dan, received the Fragment Map as agreed, and prepared to explain its purpose.

• Yao Yue told Xiao Yan that Nalan Yanran was his fiancée and examined his body, finding no illness or weakness in his meridians.
• Yao Yue asked Xiao Yan to cultivate so she could observe his problem, but his Dou Qi repeatedly disappeared as he absorbed it.
• Xiao Ling completed the Sixth-grade Po E Dan and contained its energy eruption with a Soul Power barrier.
• Hai Bodong received the pill and promised that he and the Mittel Family would help Xiao Ling in return.
• Hai Bodong handed Xiao Ling the Fragment Map, and Xiao Ling compared it with the piece he already possessed.
• Hai Bodong asked what the Fragment Maps revealed, and Xiao Ling decided to disclose a little of their secret.

Xiao Ling explained the Heavenly Flame Fragment Map to Hai Bodong, then watched as Hai Bodong used the Po E Dan to break Queen Medusa’s seal and regain his Dou Emperor cultivation. Hai Bodong prepared to leave Desert City and promised to protect the Xiao Family in the Imperial Capital while Xiao Ling remained in the Tagor Desert.

• Xiao Ling explained that Queen Medusa had pursued Hai Bodong for the Heavenly Flame Fragment Map, and Hai Bodong accepted that his old obsession was over.
• Hai Bodong led Xiao Ling to his underground Ice Cave and swallowed the Po E Dan while Xiao Ling observed its effects.
• Zi Yan and Qing Lin joined Xiao Ling through a Space Rift, and Xiao Ling revealed that Qing Lin had awakened the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
• The Po E Dan weakened and expelled Queen Medusa’s seal, allowing Hai Bodong to regain his Dou Emperor cultivation and youthful appearance.
• Hai Bodong thanked Xiao Ling, decided to leave Desert City, and promised to look after the Xiao Family in the Imperial Capital.

After Hai Bodong left Desert City, Xiao Ling prepared pills for devouring the Green Lotus Core Flame while Zi Yan helped Qing Lin awaken her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Xiao Ling completed a Cold Soul Pill, and Qing Lin successfully tamed her first snake-type Magical Beast as their preparations continued.

• Hai Bodong left Desert City for the Imperial Capital, and Xiao Ling told Zi Yan and Qing Lin to prepare for their search for a Heavenly Flame.
• Xiao Ling gave Qing Lin the Heavenly Snake Tome and sent her with Zi Yan to tame nearby, weaker snake-type Magical Beasts.
• Xiao Ling returned to Hai Bodong's shop and began refining pills to help him devour the Green Lotus Core Flame.
• Zi Yan restrained a second-order sand python, and Qing Lin awakened her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and branded it with her mark.
• Qing Lin called the tamed sand python to her and, with Zi Yan's help, continued searching for more snake-type Magical Beasts.
• Xiao Ling finished refining a Sixth-Grade Peak Cold Soul Pill and stored it in his Ring.