Chapter Summaries

Ya Xue’s revenge led to Miteer Tengshan’s death and the destruction of the Mittel Family, while Jia Xingtian traced the killing’s aura to the Misty Cloud Sect and began quietly preparing for a possible conflict. Ya Xue remained focused on expanding her plans across the Jia Ma Empire.

• Ya Xue revealed that the Mittel Family’s messenger could find its clan head at the secret contact point that had once betrayed her whereabouts.
• The Mittel Family discovered Miteer Tengshan dead in the contact point, with his arms severed and his head missing.
• The Mu Clan, the Aoba Clan, and other forces seized Mittel holdings and assets, and the family collapsed within days.
• Ya Xue ignored the representatives who returned seized Ya Family properties and offered apologies and alliances.
• Jia Xingtian sensed traces of Dou Emperor-level power at the Ya residence and suspected Yun Shan or the Misty Cloud Sect, then secretly began gathering information and making preparations.
• Ya Xue contemplated her next goal: taking control of all commerce in the Jia Ma Empire.

Ya Xue and Ya Lan finished dismantling the Mittel Family’s commercial network, and Ya Xue prepared to bring Ya Fei to thank Su Baichen. After evading people following them, the mother and daughter reached the garden where their fortunes had changed, and its gate opened before Ya Xue could knock.

• Ya Lan told Ya Xue that more former Mittel Family staff had joined them, while the family’s assets had passed into Ya Family hands.
• Ya Xue told Ya Fei to behave respectfully when they visited their benefactor, Su Baichen.
• Ya Lan prepared three rare medicinal gifts, including the Mittel Family’s eight-hundred-year Earth Core Fire Lotus.
• Ya Xue and Ya Fei left through the back gate and shook off the spies following their carriage through Jia Ma Holy City.
• Ya Xue and Ya Fei arrived at the garden, where the wooden gate silently opened as Ya Xue reached to knock.

Su Baichen rewarded Ya Xue and Ya Fei for reclaiming the Ya Family’s assets and told them he would leave the Jia Ma Empire in a year. He promised the Ya Family three one-use Dou Emperor-level puppets and tasked Ya Xue with bringing Physician Liu from near Qingshan Town to safety.

• Ya Xue credited Yun Yun’s protection for her success, and Su Baichen praised her for reclaiming the Ya Family’s assets and annexing part of the Mittel Family’s holdings.
• Su Baichen gave Ya Fei Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and Ya Xue cultivation pills and a Dou King Barrier-Breaking Pill as rewards.
• Su Baichen said he would stay for another year before returning to Wutan City and promised to leave the Ya Family three Dou Emperor-level puppets, each able to strike once.
• Ya Xue pledged to prioritize supporting Su Baichen and accepted his request to bring Physician Liu to him safely and ensure her comfort.
• Ya Xue left with Ya Fei, determined to protect the Ya Family and follow Su Baichen.

Cao Ying, Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Yu, and Xun'er built a hidden hot spring in the Xiao Clan's back mountain. They finished heating the pool and gathered food by the shore, leaving the girls ready to enjoy their creation.

• Xiao Yu chose a secluded mountain lake for the hot spring, and the others agreed to use it.
• Cao Ying marked out the pool and built a semicircular stone wall with boulders and Red Fire Mud.
• Xiao Yi Xian located an underground fire source and opened a passage beneath the pool.
• Xiao Yu gathered food and wine while Xun'er watched the construction.
• Cao Ying heated the pool with Shadow Flame, and Xiao Yi Xian confirmed the water was at a comfortable temperature.
• Xun'er dipped her toes into the warm water as Xiao Yu arranged the food on the shore.

Cao Ying, Xiao Yi Xian, and Xun'er relaxed in a hot spring and teased one another about growing up, prompting Xiao Yi Xian to try to explain the changes girls experience. The conversation ended when Xiao Yu arrived and caught them acting embarrassed.

• Cao Ying entered the pool first, and Xiao Yi Xian and Xun'er soon joined her.
• Cao Ying surprised Xun'er with a teasing remark, then joked about her and Xiao Yi Xian being young.
• Cao Ying hinted that a special master could explain the subject, and Xiao Yi Xian realized she meant someone who had studied suggestive books.
• Xiao Yi Xian pulled Xun'er close and began giving her a serious explanation, while Cao Ying watched with amusement.
• Xiao Yu arrived carrying fruit and asked what they were discussing, leaving Xiao Yi Xian flustered and Cao Ying laughing.

Xiao Yan persuaded Xiao Ning to sneak toward the hot spring where Cao Ying, Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Xun'er, and Xiao Yu were bathing, hoping to use an encounter to gain connections and opportunities. When Xiao Ning recognized his sister’s voice and remembered Cao Ying’s powerful perception, he tried to flee while Xiao Yan struggled to stop him.

• Xiao Yan led a nervous Xiao Ning through the forest toward the hot spring, where Xiao Ning recognized Xiao Yu’s laughter.
• Xiao Ning recalled that Xiao Yan had promised him a chance to befriend Cao Ying, Xiao Yi Xian, and Xiao Xun'er, offering him fifty gold coins to come along.
• Xiao Ning remembered Xiao Yu’s rapid cultivation progress and the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid she had shared with him, which made him hope to gain similar opportunities.
• Xiao Ning refused to continue after hearing Xiao Yu nearby, but Xiao Yan grabbed his arm because he feared being left alone to take the blame.
• Xiao Ning broke free and warned Xiao Yan that Cao Ying could sense insects from ten zhang away, making their concealment useless.

Xiao Yan learned that Cao Ying was an alchemist and decided to approach her for the advantages he imagined her support would bring. As he and Xiao Ning were caught near the hot spring, Cao Ying and the others had already sensed movement in the woods and hurried to dress.

• Xiao Yan realized Cao Ying was an alchemist and fantasized about gaining wealth, pills, and status through her.
• Xiao Yan dismissed Xiao Ning's warnings and headed toward the hot spring, determined to pursue Cao Ying.
• Cao Ying noticed a sound in the woods, but Xiao Yu, Xun'er, and Xiao Yi Xian doubted her because of her past pranks.
• Xiao Yi Xian detected movement to the northeast with her Soul Force and urged the others to get dressed.
• An icy voice demanded to know what Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning were doing there, freezing them in place.

Cao Ying, Xiao Yu, Xiao Yi Xian, and Xun'er discovered Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning meeting secretly in the woods. Xiao Yu confronted her terrified brother as Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning faced the four women, leaving both men trapped and unable to explain themselves.

• Cao Ying and the other women overheard Xiao Ning telling Xiao Yan that he feared his sister would punish them, while Xiao Yan tried to keep him from leaving.
• Xiao Yu restrained herself from drawing her sword, and Cao Ying and Xiao Yi Xian praised Xiao Ning for apparently reconsidering his actions.
• Xun'er noticed Xiao Ning was trembling with fear of Xiao Yu, who proudly described how she had disciplined him since childhood.
• Xiao Ning prepared to leave, but Xiao Yan still wanted to continue, so Cao Ying led the women out from behind the bushes and blocked their path.
• Xiao Yu questioned Xiao Ning with her hand on her sword, while Xiao Ning looked to Xiao Yan for help and Xiao Yan backed away from him.

Xiao Ning tried to avoid punishment by pleading with Xiao Yu, but she dragged him off to train him in private. Cao Ying and Xiao Yi Xian then teamed up to beat Xiao Yan for peeking at them in the hot springs, while Xun'er watched and commented.

• Xiao Ning slid to Xiao Yu's feet and begged her not to hit his face.
• Xiao Yu seized Xiao Ning by the collar and dragged him toward the woods for a thorough training session.
• Xiao Yan tried to greet Cao Ying, but she rushed forward and punched him before he could finish.
• Xiao Yi Xian kicked Xiao Yan back toward Cao Ying, and the two women took turns striking him through the air.
• Xun'er calmly watched Cao Ying and Xiao Yi Xian beat Xiao Yan and praised their technique.

Cao Ying, Xiao Yi Xian, and Xun'er stopped beating Xiao Yan and planned to make Xiao Zhan pay for their shopping trip. Xiao Yu punished Xiao Ning with her broken scabbard, then sent him to buy her a replacement and left him vowing to get even with Xiao Yan.

• Cao Ying and Xiao Yi Xian complained that their hands and feet were sore, while Xun'er offered them ointment so they could keep beating Xiao Yan.
• Cao Ying called off the beating, and she, Xiao Yi Xian, and Xun'er decided to go shopping and have Xiao Zhan reimburse them.
• Xiao Yu dragged Xiao Ning to his courtyard and used her scabbard to punish him until it broke.
• Xiao Ning pretended to be unconscious, but Xiao Yu struck him again and ordered him to buy her a high-quality replacement scabbard.
• After Xiao Yu left, Xiao Ning limped toward his room and muttered that Xiao Yan would pay.

After Cailin left, Caidie secretly explored her sister’s wardrobe and found a revealing nightgown hidden in a compartment. She tried it on and fell asleep in Cailin’s bed, unaware of how much the garment exposed.

• Cailin warned Caidie to stay home and not rummage through her belongings before leaving for the night.
• Caidie waited until Cailin was gone, then opened her sister’s wardrobe and admired her new clothes.
• After finding her own wardrobe nearly empty, Caidie discovered a hidden compartment containing a sheer pale purple nightgown.
• Caidie assumed Su Baichen had given the nightgown to Cailin and decided to try it on.
• Caidie put on the loose nightgown, admired herself in the mirror, and fell asleep under Cailin’s covers.

Su Baichen and Yao Chen discovered that the Flame of Life was developing its own intelligence, possibly because it had spent months in the Tianxuan Bead’s nurturing space. Su Baichen abandoned his plan to give it to Cao Ying and left with Yao Chen through a spatial rift, while the flame’s new life awaited its birth.

• Su Baichen showed Yao Chen the Flame of Life, and they saw signs that it was developing immature intelligence.
• Yao Chen said the flame’s intelligence had grown remarkably quickly and asked Su Baichen what had caused the change.
• Su Baichen suspected the Tianxuan Bead’s miniature space had nurtured the flame while it rested there.
• Su Baichen realized he could not destroy the flame’s budding intelligence to give it to Cao Ying as planned.
• Su Baichen tore open a spatial rift and entered it with Yao Chen, carrying the Flame of Life.

Su Baichen sneaked into what he believed was Cailin’s room and fell asleep holding the person in her bed. He woke to discover he had spent the night with Cailin’s younger sister, Caidie, and fled while she pretended to sleep.

• Su Baichen entered Cailin’s room at night, mistook Caidie for her sister, and cuddled her as he fell asleep.
• Su Baichen woke at noon and realized the woman in his arms was Caidie.
• Su Baichen quietly escaped the room, unaware that Caidie had opened her eyes and was happy about what happened.

Su Baichen panicked after waking beside Caidie and feared what Cailin would think, only to find Cailin waiting in his room. He admitted that he had mistaken Caidie for Cailin, but Cailin still intended to resolve the matter involving her younger sister.

• Su Baichen hurried back to his room after waking beside Caidie and worried about Cailin learning what had happened.
• Su Baichen found Cailin sitting on his bed, and she teased him about hugging his “special body pillow.”
• Su Baichen apologized and confessed that he had mistaken Caidie for Cailin.
• Cailin softened at Su Baichen's sincere apology but remained determined to address what had happened with her younger sister.

Cailin gave Su Baichen her approval to accept Caidie, and he agreed to take responsibility for her. Caidie entered after overhearing their conversation, joyful and overwhelmed but unsure what to say.

• Cailin asked Su Baichen what he thought of Caidie and told him she would accept their relationship if he would make her sister happy.
• Su Baichen promised to take responsibility for Caidie and realized he had long held feelings for her.
• Cailin relaxed after Su Baichen accepted Caidie and called to the figure waiting outside the door.
• Caidie entered and, having overheard their conversation, struggled to speak through her joy and shyness.

Su Baichen confessed his love to Caidie, and she accepted him. He then brought Caidie and Cailin together, and the three ended the day resting close as their new life as a family began.

• Cailin nodded her approval, and Su Baichen embraced Caidie and told her he liked her and wanted her to become his woman.
• Caidie accepted Su Baichen’s confession and wrapped her arms around him.
• Su Baichen carried Caidie to the bed, pulled Cailin back when she tried to flee, and declared that they should act as a family.
• Su Baichen told Cailin and Caidie that he loved them both.
• Afterward, Caidie curled up in Su Baichen’s arms while he held Cailin’s hand, and the three rested together.

Su Baichen left Cailin and Caidie resting after their night together, and the sisters woke and argued over how the night had gone. Cailin teased Caidie for being unable to keep up, while privately hiding how sore she was.

• Su Baichen woke beside Cailin and Caidie, kissed their foreheads, and quietly left their room.
• Caidie opened her eyes after Su Baichen left and complained that his stamina had overwhelmed her.
• Caidie accused Cailin of redirecting Su Baichen’s attention toward her during the night.
• Cailin dressed and mocked Caidie for surrendering after only a few rounds.
• Caidie asked why Cailin seemed less hurt, and Cailin boasted about her greater endurance while concealing her own aches.

Cailin left Caidie resting in bed and went to find her food, while Su Baichen discovered that the new maid Qing Lin possessed the rare Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. He became excited about her potential, but his intense stare frightened her as she longed for Cailin to return.

• Caidie complained that she was too sore to leave bed, so Cailin agreed to bring her food and drinks.
• Su Baichen found breakfast prepared in the front hall and met a shy little maid sitting beside the table.
• Qing Lin introduced herself as Cailin's newly taken maid, and Su Baichen recognized her as the future owner of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
• Su Baichen stared at Qing Lin with excitement as he considered her potential, and Qing Lin recoiled in fear and silently wished for Cailin to save her.

Su Baichen learned about Qing Lin’s painful past and promised to protect and teach her, while Cailin brought him a map fragment linked to the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. They decided to remain in Wutan City for another year before setting off for Jia Nan Academy.

• Su Baichen apologized for frightening Qing Lin and asked how she knew him; she explained Cailin had shown her his portrait.
• Qing Lin told Su Baichen she was half human and half Snake-People, had lost her parents, and was rescued by Cailin after nearly being taken by bad people.
• Su Baichen recognized Qing Lin as the girl with the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and promised to care for her and keep her safe.
• Cailin arrived and agreed that Qing Lin could stay with Su Baichen to learn cultivation.
• Cailin gave Su Baichen a damaged map fragment that he recognized as part of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame map, taken from Hai Bodong.
• Su Baichen and Cailin agreed to stay in Wutan City for another year before going to Jia Nan Academy, and Cailin said she would go wherever he went.

Over the past year, Su Baichen’s companions grew stronger while conflict between Jia Xingtian’s forces and the Misty Cloud Sect plunged the Jia Ma Empire into war. After Cailin and Su Baichen defeated the sect’s new Dou Zong and a Soul Hall Protector, Ya Xue took control of the empire, and Su Baichen announced that the group would leave for Jia Nan Academy in three days.

• Cao Ying and Xiao Yi Xian cultivated flying Dou Techniques made from the Amethyst Winged Lion King’s wings, then hunted for herbs and sparred with magical beasts in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
• Xiao Yu, Xiao Xun'er, and Xiao Yan visited Su Baichen’s courtyard, while Yao Chen secretly guided Xiao Yan but declined to take him as a disciple.
• Jia Xingtian’s forces attacked the Misty Cloud Sect, but Yun Shan emerged as a Dou Zong, killed Jia Xingtian and other experts, and found Yun Yun alive among the ruins.
• Cailin severely wounded Yun Shan to protect Yun Yun, while Su Baichen killed Wu Protector before he could collect Yun Shan’s soul.
• Ya Xue used the power vacuum to bring most of the Jia Ma Empire under her control, and she transferred seventy percent of the profits under Su Baichen’s name to him.
• Cao Ying and Xiao Yi Xian reached Da Dou Shi, and Su Baichen told everyone they would leave for Jia Nan Academy in three days.