Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan impressed the Alchemist Conference by completing the first-round pill ahead of the other contestants, but three disguised foreign Alchemists produced even stronger results. Xiao Ling exposed their altered appearances and reassured the VIP guests that Xiao Yan could protect the championship, with Xiao Ling himself ready to intervene if needed.

• Xiao Ling praised Xiao Yan's alchemical potential to Jia Xing Tian and Fa Ma while Nalan Jie worried that Nalan Yanran had rejected a promising future son-in-law.
• More than two thousand Alchemists began refining Second-Grade Bone-Regenerating Pills, and Xiao Yan finished his pill before the rest while using a multicolored Beast Fire.
• The pill tests showed that three unfamiliar foreign Alchemists surpassed nearly all the Jia Ma Empire contestants, with only Xiao Yan's result coming close.
• Fa Ma's associates identified the three as independent Alchemists from the Falling Goose Empire, the Mu Lan Empire, and the Chu Yun Empire, and Xiao Ling confirmed that they had used Appearance Restoring Pills to disguise their ages.
• Xiao Ling said Xiao Yan could handle the threat and offered to compete in the final round himself if necessary, while the three foreign Alchemists watched the contest with barely concealed pity.

Fama announced the second round of the Alchemist Conference, whose pill recipe concealed a conflict between Thick Earth Ganoderma and the other ingredients. Xiao Ling and Xiao Yan identified the trap, and as contestants struggled with failed refinements, Xiao Yan began crafting the Wind Hành Pill with the Six Harmonies Spirit Flame Cauldron.

• Fama thanked Xiao Ling for agreeing to help protect the conference, then announced the start of the second round.
• Yao Yue, Liu Ling, and Xiao Yan vowed to contend for the championship as Fama assigned the contestants a Third-grade Wind Hành Pill recipe.
• Yan Li spotted the recipe's hidden flaw and signaled the other two Gray-robed Youths to begin refining.
• Xiao Ling examined the recipe and explained that Thick Earth Ganoderma conflicted with the other ingredients, making the assessment a test of judgment.
• Xiao Yan independently discovered the same flaw, then used Xiao Ling's Six Harmonies Spirit Flame Cauldron and Beast Fire to refine the pill.
• Yao Yue and Liu Ling suffered failed attempts, while Xiao Yan continued refining with precise, confident control.

Xiao Yan won the second round of the Alchemist Conference by refining a Wind Hành Pill before Yan Li, while Yao Yue, Liu Ling, and the Black Robe also advanced. As the finalists prepared for the next day, Xiao Ling told Xiao Yan that he could surpass the mysterious Black Robe and win the championship, but left Xiao Yan’s question about the competitor’s experience unanswered.

• Xiao Ling predicted that Xiao Yan would finish first, and Xiao Yan’s Wind Hành Pill emerged successfully from the Six Harmonies Spirit Flame Cauldron, drawing cheers from the crowd.
• Xiao Zhan celebrated Xiao Yan’s victory as faction representatives praised the Xiao Family and raised possible marriage alliances; Xiao Yan joined his father while Yan Li seethed over his loss.
• Yan Li, Yao Yue, Liu Ling, and the Black Robe eventually refined Wind Hành Pills, and Fa Ma ended the day’s contest with roughly a hundred Alchemists advancing to the final round.
• Xiao Ling left the VIP seats with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin and met Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan, and Yao Yue before they returned to the Xiao Family by carriage.
• Xiao Ling told Xiao Yan that the Black Robe had greater alchemy experience but that Xiao Yan’s Soul Power and techniques could let him produce a better pill and win the championship; he did not explain how the young competitor had gained so much experience.

After returning to his courtyard, Xiao Ling learned that Medusa wanted his help negotiating an alliance between the Snake People Race and the Jia Ma Empire against the three neighboring empires. He agreed to bring her to the Imperial Palace, where Yao Ye greeted them and revealed that Jia Xing Tian was waiting.

• Xiao Ling returned to his courtyard with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, where he found Zi Yan and Medusa waiting.
• Zi Yan asked Xiao Ling to help Medusa, who explained that she wanted an alliance with the Jia Ma Empire to protect the Snake People Race from the three neighboring empires.
• Xiao Ling agreed to mediate and took Medusa to the Imperial Palace to meet Jia Xing Tian.
• The palace guards recognized Xiao Ling and let him and Medusa pass without reporting their arrival.
• Yao Ye opened Jia Xing Tian's courtyard doors, recognized Medusa, and invited Xiao Ling and Medusa inside.

Xiao Ling helped Medusa secure an alliance between the Snake People Race and the Jia Ma Empire, then returned to prepare for the Alchemist Conference’s third round. As the competition began, Yan Li provoked Xiao Yan, who stood his ground and earned the crowd’s support.

• Xiao Ling and Medusa negotiated an alliance with Jia Xing Tian, under which the Jia Ma Empire granted the Snake People Race territory in the Magical Beast Mountain Range in exchange for military aid if the empire was attacked.
• Xiao Ling declined Yao Ye’s offer to see him off, leaving her disappointed; Jia Xing Tian then considered arranging a marriage between Yao Yue and Xiao Yan to strengthen ties with the Xiao Family.
• Xiao Ling and Medusa told Zi Yan that the alliance had been reached, easing Medusa’s worries, and Zi Yan decided to return with Medusa to the Snake People Sacred City.
• Xiao Ling attended the Alchemist Conference’s third round with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, while Zi Yan and Medusa traveled back to the Snake People Sacred City.
• Yan Li taunted Xiao Yan at the competition venue, but Xiao Yan answered confidently; the VIP guests’ hostile stares cowed Yan Li, and the crowd praised Xiao Yan as Yao Yue congratulated him.
• Liu Ling grew more displeased as Xiao Yan received praise from the crowd.

The Alchemist Conference’s final round began with contestants refining pills from their own recipes and ingredients, and Xiao Yan chose the difficult Tough Meridian Spirit Pill. While the contest continued, Jia Xing Tian asked Xiao Ling to refine Sect Breaking Pills for the imperial family, and Xiao Ling agreed.

• Liu Ling vowed to win the championship and prove his alchemy skill, while acknowledging that Xiao Ling had surpassed the younger generation.
• Fa Ma announced that contestants had to supply their own recipes and ingredients, then began the final round of the conference.
• The Little Princess, Liu Ling, and Xiao Yan displayed their powerful Medicine Cauldrons before the contestants started refining pills.
• Xiao Yan began refining a Tough Meridian Spirit Pill, while Yao Yue and Liu Ling worked with their own flames and ingredients.
• Yao Ye joined the VIP spectators and privately spoke with Jia Xing Tian, who then asked Xiao Ling to refine three sets of Sect Breaking Pills.
• Xiao Ling agreed to help Jia Xing Tian and privately planned to provide one of his existing Sect Breaking Pills after receiving the materials and compensation.

At the Alchemy Conference, Xiao Yan completed the extraction of his ingredients and refined the Tough Meridian Spirit Pill while Yao Yue, Liu Ling, and Yan Li attempted their own pills. Yan Li produced a peak Fourth-grade Pill with a colored scent, but Xiao Yan’s deeper purple pill scent surpassed it, and both contestants’ pills began emerging as the competition neared its conclusion.

• Hai Bodong planned to gather materials for a Sect Breaking Pill and seek Xiao Ling’s help refining it.
• Xiao Yan finished extracting his ingredients and continued refining while Yao Yue, Liu Ling, and Yan Li completed their extractions and began fusing their pills.
• Xiao Ling told the VIP spectators that Xiao Yan was refining a Tough Meridian Spirit Pill and explained its unusual benefits.
• Yao Yue and Liu Ling produced Fourth-grade Pill scents, with Liu Ling’s pill slightly surpassing Yao Yue’s.
• Yan Li produced a light purple pill scent and mocked the other contestants, but Xiao Yan answered by completing a deeper, richer purple scent that surpassed Yan Li’s.
• Xiao Yan and Yan Li’s cauldrons trembled, and two pills began rising as spectators watched; Yan Li’s light purple pill emerged first.

Xiao Yan won the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Conference after refining a Fifth-grade Tough Meridian Spirit Pill, and Xiao Ling offered to take him to the Central Plains. As Yan Li and his two companions tried to flee, Xiao Ling set out to capture them for the Myriad Soul Banner.

• Xiao Yan's Tough Meridian Spirit Pill surpassed Yan Li's Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill, and Fa Ma announced Xiao Yan as the conference champion.
• Xiao Ling and Yao Chen agreed that Xiao Yan could be invited to join them at Starfall Pavilion in the Central Plains.
• Yao Yue congratulated Xiao Yan, while Liu Ling quietly left the plaza and Yan Li hurried away with his two Black Robes.
• Xiao Ling volunteered to deal with Yan Li and his companions, intending to use their Soul Bodies to replenish the Myriad Soul Banner, then vanished from the VIP seats.
• Yan Li told his companions that a Dou Emperor from the Chu Yun Empire would meet them beyond the Imperial Capital and escort them to safety.

Yan Li and two subordinate Alchemists escaped the Jia Ma Imperial Capital and met Xie Yun, a Dou Emperor from the Chu Yun Empire, who revealed the Tri-Empire Alliance’s plans. Xiao Ling confronted them, defeated Xie Yun’s poison attack, and trapped all four with Space Lock before killing them with Heavenly Flame threads.

• Yan Li and his two subordinates slipped through the city gate and hurried to their meeting point outside the capital.
• Xie Yun arrived and discussed the Tri-Empire Alliance’s plans with Yan Li, including their intention to destroy the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake People Race tribe.
• Xiao Ling appeared and revealed that he had overheard their conversation, prompting Xie Yun to attack him with the Myriad Poison Nether Seal Sky Collapse Palm.
• Xiao Ling blocked the poison attack with the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame and immobilized Xie Yun and the three Alchemists with Space Lock.
• Xiao Ling sent four golden fire threads through the group’s chests, killing Xie Yun, Yan Li, and the other two Alchemists.

Xiao Ling killed Xie Yun and three other attackers, then told Jia Xing Tian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong that the Chu Yun, Falling Goose, and Mu Lan Empires planned to attack the Jia Ma Empire and Snake People Race in about a year. Though he would leave within a week, he promised to help if he was present when the invasion came and offered to refine pills to strengthen the empire before the threat.

• Xiao Ling stored the four dead men's souls in the Myriad Soul Banner and took their Storage Rings, finding rare poisons and a poison-attribute technique in Xie Yun's Ring for Xiao Yi Xian.
• Jia Xing Tian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong arrived, learned Xiao Ling had killed Xie Yun, and recognized the dead Dou Emperor as a member of the Myriad Scorpion Sect.
• Jia Xing Tian told Fa Ma and Hai Bodong that Queen Medusa had reached the Dou Ancestor Realm and agreed to ally the Snake People Race with the Jia Ma Empire.
• Xiao Ling revealed that the three neighboring empires had formed an alliance and planned to attack the Jia Ma Empire and Snake People Race in about a year.
• Xiao Ling said he would leave in a week but would help if the alliance attacked while he was in the Jia Ma Empire, and he urged the leaders to gather ingredients for Sect Breaking Pills.
• Xiao Ling offered to refine high-grade pills for the empire's factions, including a Sect Breaking Pill for Yun Shan, as the leaders considered using the time before the invasion to strengthen their forces.

Xiao Ling returned to the Xiao Family after helping Jia Xing Tian, Hai Bodong, and Fa Ma prepare the Jia Ma Empire for the Tri-Empire Alliance, then explained the threat and his plans to Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Yao Chen. After giving Xiao Yi Xian Xie Yun’s poison-filled Ring, Xiao Ling received ingredients for Sect Breaking Pills and stopped Xiao Yan just as he was leaving, reminding him of a promised reward for winning the Alchemist Conference.

• Jia Xing Tian, Hai Bodong, and Fa Ma agreed to mobilize the Imperial Capital’s factions and use Xiao Ling’s pills to strengthen the Jia Ma Empire.
• Xiao Ling returned to the courtyard, where Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin asked about the disturbance outside the Imperial Capital, and he explained the Tri-Empire Alliance’s plans.
• Xiao Ling told the others he planned to confront the alliance’s leaders after exploring the Dou Venerate ruin, and he gave Xiao Yi Xian Xie Yun’s Ring, which contained many rare poisons.
• Yao Chen praised Xiao Ling’s plan and predicted he might find another Heavenly Flame in the ruin.
• Xiao Yan delivered a Ring containing ingredients for Sect Breaking Pills, then prepared to leave for his victory banquet.
• Xiao Ling called Xiao Yan back and reminded him that he had promised a reward if Xiao Yan won the Alchemist Conference.

After Xiao Yan won the Alchemist Conference, Xiao Ling rewarded him with Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, which could help him improve his cultivation. As the Jia Ma Empire prepared for the Tri-Empire Alliance's threat, Xiao Ling continued refining pills for powerful clans and delivered Mu Tie's Dou Ling Pill; Mu Tie then asked whether Xiao Ling would leave the empire in three days.

• Xiao Ling gave Xiao Yan a bottle of Earth Core Body Tempering Milk as a reward for winning the Alchemist Conference, and Xiao Yan gratefully accepted it before heading to the banquet.
• Xiao Ling recalled how he had obtained the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk and shared portions with Xiao Xun'er, Han Yue, Zi Yan, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin.
• As the Tri-Empire Alliance threat unsettled the Jia Ma Empire's leaders, Xiao Ling accepted pill-refining commissions and accumulated rare ingredients and rewards.
• Mu Chen and Mu Tie waited anxiously at Xiao Ling's residence for Mu Tie's Dou Ling Pill, which Mu Tie hoped would strengthen him for the coming conflict.
• Xiao Ling delivered the successfully refined Dou Ling Pill to Mu Tie, and Mu Chen and Mu Tie thanked him for supporting the Mu Family.
• Mu Tie asked Xiao Ling whether he would leave the Jia Ma Empire in three days.

Xiao Ling learned that the Misty Cloud Sect was gathering ingredients for a Sect Breaking Pill, likely for Yun Shan, before Xiao Ling left the Jia Ma Empire. He took Zi Yan to the Jia Ma Imperial Palace to treat its Guardian Divine Beast and choose treasures from the royal treasury, arriving at the palace gates with her.

• Xiao Ling told Mu Tie and Mu Chen that he planned to leave the Jia Ma Empire in three days, and Mu Chen reported that Yun Shan had emerged from seclusion and that the Misty Cloud Sect was gathering materials for a Sect Breaking Pill.
• Xiao Ling dismissed Mu Tie and Mu Chen after Mu Tie admitted he was eager to try the Dou Ling Pill he had received.
• Xiao Ling returned to his courtyard, where Zi Yan chose to accompany him to the imperial palace while Medusa left to return to the Snake People Race.
• Xiao Ling reassured Zi Yan that he would help her find her family, and Zi Yan insisted she would stay with him for life.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan traveled by carriage to the Jia Ma Imperial Palace and admired its imposing gates and buildings.

Xiao Ling and Zi Yan visited the Jia Ma Imperial Palace, where Xiao Ling obtained a Dou Zong’s remains and Zi Yan selected rare medicinal herbs from the Royal Treasury. They then accompanied Jia Xing Tian to the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast’s lair to treat its injuries, where the beast recoiled in fear of Zi Yan’s bloodline pressure.

• Yao Ye escorted Xiao Ling and Zi Yan into the Royal Treasury, where Xiao Ling discovered a preserved Dou Zong’s remains and accepted them from the royal family.
• Zi Yan selected more than a dozen precious medicinal herbs, and Xiao Ling declined Yao Ye’s offer to choose additional treasures.
• Jia Xing Tian met Xiao Ling and Zi Yan outside the Treasury, and Xiao Ling agreed to visit the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast and treat its injuries.
• Jia Xing Tian led the group to the beast’s lake, where the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast recognized Xiao Ling and then sank underwater after sensing Zi Yan’s bloodline pressure.

Xiao Ling used the Primal Bone-Shaping Pill and Fallen Heart Flame to heal the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast and strengthen its body. After the beast offered to serve as his mount, Xiao Ling declined and returned home, where Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin asked about it.

• Zi Yan intimidated the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast with her aura, and Xiao Ling asked her to rein it in.
• Jia Xing Tian presented the Primal Bone-Shaping Pill, and Xiao Ling used the Fallen Heart Flame to heal and temper the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast.
• The Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast recovered its strength, thanked Xiao Ling, and offered to serve as his mount, but Xiao Ling told it to keep guarding the Jia Ma Empire.
• Xiao Ling and Zi Yan rode the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast back to Xiao Ling's courtyard, and the beast then returned to the Imperial Palace.
• Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin asked about the beast, and Xiao Ling identified it as the Jia Ma Empire's Guardian Divine Beast.

Xiao Ling reunited with Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Zi Yan, learning of their cultivation progress and seeing Zi Yan off as she headed to the Snake People Race. He then met with Yao Chen, who revealed that the ingredients for a Purple Spirit Soul Pill were ready, leaving Xiao Ling puzzled by how quickly the Sky-Covering Bottle had matured them.

• Xiao Ling told Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin how the Nether Sea Flood Dragon Beast had escorted him home, then noticed Xiao Yi Xian had reached Eight-Star Dou Emperor and Qing Lin had reached four-star Dou Wang.
• Xiao Yi Xian explained that specially prepared poisons from the Heavenly Netherworld Poison Codex had accelerated her cultivation, and Xiao Ling warned her to use them cautiously.
• Zi Yan announced she was going to the Snake People Race to meet Medusa, accepted medicinal pills from Xiao Ling, and flew away after promising to return before their departure.
• Qing Lin told Xiao Ling that Yao Chen wanted to see him, so Xiao Ling went to Yao Chen's courtyard and passed Heavenly Fire Venerate practicing with five Beast Fires.
• Yao Chen told Xiao Ling that the Sky-Covering Bottle had helped him cultivate all the ingredients for a Purple Spirit Soul Pill and handed him a Ring containing them.
• Xiao Ling examined the medicinal ingredients and questioned how the Sky-Covering Bottle had matured so many of them in just over ten days.

Xiao Ling learned that Yao Chen had increased the Sky-Covering Bottle’s output to three drops of spiritual liquid per night, then decided to refine a Sky Demon Puppet for the Xiao Family before leaving for the Central Plains. After discussing his plans with Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, he began preparing the puppet from a Dou Zong-level corpse.

• Yao Chen explained that Yao Tian Huo’s Brilliant Gathering Prism Array had raised the Sky-Covering Bottle’s output to three drops of spiritual liquid nightly, its limit.
• Xiao Ling told Yao Chen he would delay refining the Purple Spirit Soul Pill until he was better prepared and planned to test Pill Lightning absorption with a Sky Demon Puppet.
• Xiao Ling resolved to make a Sky Demon Puppet from the Dou Zong-level body to protect the Xiao Family after he left for the Central Plains.
• Xiao Ling joined Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, shared the Sky-Covering Bottle’s secret, and told them about his plan to refine the puppet before they traveled to the Falling Goose Empire.
• Xiao Ling entered his Cultivation Room, heated the corpse with Heavenly Flame until it dried, and opened holes in its head and heart to prepare it for refinement.

Xiao Ling completed a new Earth Demon Puppet with the strength of a five-star Dou Ancestor and discussed the Snake People Race’s need for protection with Medusa. He promised the Snake People Race refuge with the Xiao Family and agreed to refine a puppet for them if they ever obtained a Dou Zong-level body, then prepared to depart for the Falling Goose Empire.

• Xiao Ling used Xie Yun's Soul Body, a Seventh-Rank Magical Beast Monster Core, rare metals, and Heavenly Flames to finish refining an Earth Demon Puppet after two and a half days.
• Xiao Ling showed the puppet to Xiao Yi Xian, Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Medusa, and said it had the strength of a five-star Dou Ancestor.
• Medusa asked to borrow the puppet for the Snake People Race, but Xiao Ling explained that lending it could attract dangerous attention and promised the Snake People Race could seek refuge with the Xiao Family if disaster came.
• Xiao Ling told Medusa that the Tri-Empire Allied Forces planned to attack in two years and advised her to use the pills he had provided to strengthen her people.
• Xiao Ling promised to refine a puppet for the Snake People Race if they obtained a Dou Zong-level body, then told everyone to prepare for the journey to the Falling Goose Empire.
• Xiao Ling went to speak with Xiao Zhan while Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Zi Yan packed their belongings for the trip.

Xiao Ling met Xiao Yan on his way to see Xiao Zhan and discussed his departure and the looming threat of the Tri-Empire Allied Forces. He then presented Xiao Zhan with two powerful pills to help prepare the Xiao Family for the dangers ahead.

• Xiao Ling found Xiao Zhan away from his residence and met Xiao Yan, who had reached the Dou Ling level after using the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk.
• Xiao Yan escorted Xiao Ling toward the council hall and said he intended to stay with the Xiao Family if war came, while Xiao Ling confirmed the alliance's attack might occur in about a year.
• Xiao Ling passed familiar Xiao Family members, including Xiao Bai, and reflected that he planned to leave a Dou Zong-strength Earth Demon Puppet as his final gift to the family.
• Xiao Ling told Xiao Zhan he was leaving and wanted to make arrangements for the Xiao Family before he departed.
• Xiao Ling showed Xiao Zhan a Seventh-grade Life-devouring Pill that could raise a Da Dou Shi to Dou Wang and a peak Sixth-grade Azure Nether Longevity Pill that could extend a person's life by more than ten years.

Xiao Ling gave Xiao Zhan emergency pills and entrusted him with an Earth Demon Puppet to protect the Xiao Family while Xiao Ling prepared to leave for the Central Plains. Just as Xiao Ling was about to depart, Yun Yun of the Misty Cloud Sect arrived to request an audience.

• Xiao Ling explained that the Life-devouring Pill could raise someone to early Dou King strength but shortened their life, and Xiao Zhan agreed to keep it and the Azure Nether Longevity Pill for emergencies only.
• Xiao Ling summoned an Earth Demon Puppet capable of fighting an ordinary Five-star Dou Ancestor, then taught Xiao Zhan to bind and control it with his blood essence.
• Xiao Zhan tested the puppet by ordering it to smash a stone pillar, confirmed its power, and stored it in his Ring as the Xiao Family's secret weapon.
• Xiao Ling told Xiao Zhan he planned to leave for the Central Plains after dealing with the Tri-Empire Alliance, and said he might take Xiao Yan along if Xiao Yan wished.
• Pei En reported that Yun Yun, the current Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, was waiting to meet Xiao Ling, who suspected she wanted him to refine Sixth-Grade Peak Pills.