Chapter Summaries

After Xiao Zhan defeated Aoba Pa, Xiao Ling declared the Xiao Clan under his protection and secured Yun Yun’s promise to guard it. Xiao Zhan then concluded the Hunting Tournament by tallying the points and announcing the rankings.

• Xiao Zhan defeated Aoba Pa, captured him and Jia Liebi, and presented the survivors to Xiao Ling.
• Xiao Ling sealed Jia Liebi’s mouth, announced his protection of the Xiao Clan, and gave Yun Yun a Tier 6 Spirit-Solidifying Pill after she offered to watch over the clan.
• Xiao Ling left with the captives and told Xiao Zhan to handle the aftermath.
• Xiao Zhan gathered the participants, tallied their points, and announced the tournament rankings, with Xiao Yan first and Xiao Mei second.
• Xiao Zhan declared the Hunting Tournament a complete success.

After the Hunting Tournament, Xiao Ling secluded himself to stabilize his newly fused strength, then reunited with Xun'er and rewarded the Xiao Clan’s tournament participants. Xiao Wu reported that Xiao Yi Xian and Yao Wan'er were safe in Qingshan Town, and Xiao Ling prepared to check on them.

• Xiao Yi Xian waited at Wanyao Pavilion in Qingshan Town, disappointed that Xiao Ling had not visited, while she and Yao Wan'er stayed behind after sending Xiao Zi with Xiao Yu.
• Xiao Ling returned to the Xiao Clan, fused completely with his original body after killing Aoba Pa and the others, and rose from a Two Star Dou Grandmaster to a Seven Star Dou Grandmaster at the cost of five years of lifespan.
• Xiao Ling gave Xun'er Xiao Zi and an enchanted protective dudou as an early birthday gift, then told her to activate it in her room that night.
• Xiao Wu reported that Xiao Yi Xian and Yao Wan'er were safe and recounted events surrounding the Hunting Tournament; Xiao Ling ordered the Shadow Guards to watch closely and report any trouble.
• Xiao Ling gave Xiao Wu two million gold coins for the Xiao Clan’s participants, promised to make him Martial Emperor when he became emperor, and told Xiao Wu to arrange the funds as he saw fit.
• Xiao Wu and the tournament participants were delighted by Xiao Ling’s generosity, while Yao Lao reacted in disbelief to Yao Wan'er’s teasing.

City Lord Rong confirmed that the Xiao Clan had no plans to seize Wutan City and explained why the Seventh Prince would not challenge Xiao Die’s betrothal to Xiao Ling. Xiao Ling rewarded Xiao Yan for bringing him news, then confronted the spirit living inside him, and Yao Lao emerged and recognized Xiao Ling as Gu Yao.

• City Lord Rong told the Seventh Prince that Xiao Die was already betrothed to Xiao Ling, and the prince left without objecting.
• Xun'er opened Xiao Ling’s gift, blushed at the purple-and-gold bellyband, and put it on while Xiao Ling briefly enveloped her room with his soul power.
• Xiao Yan visited Xiao Ling, who gave him a purple gold card holding one million gold coins as a reward for bringing news.
• Xiao Ling addressed Yao Lao and said he would not give away rare six-grade spirit medicines for free.
• Yao Lao emerged from Xiao Yan and told Xiao Ling that he suspected he was Gu Yao.

Xiao Ling rewarded Yao Lao with a Seven-Colored Soul-Returning Flower and persuaded him to take Xiao Yan as his disciple. Yao Lao accepted Xiao Yan, while the details of Xiao Ling and Yao Lao’s deal remained secret.

• Yao Lao tested Xiao Ling and refused to confirm his identity as Yao Chen.
• Xiao Ling gave Yao Lao a Seven-Colored Soul-Returning Flower as thanks for helping a junior of the Xiao Clan.
• Yao Lao accepted the flower and offered Xiao Ling a favor, but Xiao Ling declined.
• Xiao Ling asked Yao Lao to take Xiao Yan as his disciple, and Yao Lao agreed.
• Xiao Yan knelt and offered tea to Yao Lao, who accepted him as his disciple.

Xiao Ling advised the Xiao Clan on how to respond to political pressure and expand its influence in Wutan City. After reassuring Xiao Zhan and the elders that his master could protect them, he recommended a conciliatory approach to win support.

• Xun'er cautioned Xiao Ling to stay wary of Yao Chen while feeding him breakfast.
• Xiao Wu summoned Xiao Ling to the Council Hall, where Xiao Zhan and the elders discussed a veiled warning from the Seventh Prince and whether to take control of Wutan City.
• Xiao Ling suggested that the Seventh Prince or the Imperial Family might have been bought off and told the clan leaders they could act with his master's backing.
• Xiao Zhan and the elders thanked Xiao Ling and said they would not trouble his master unless an opponent of Dou Ling rank or higher appeared.
• When Xiao Zhan asked how the clan should develop, Xiao Ling recommended a conciliatory approach to avoid provoking smaller factions and win the people's support.

Xiao Ling proposed forming an alliance centered on the Xiao Clan to unite Wutan City's forces and resources. He turned down City Lord Rong's marriage proposal while inviting the City Lord's Mansion into the alliance, then urged the clan elders to serve the alliance and suggested the First Elder oversee Qingshan Town.

• Xiao Zhan and the three elders agreed to follow Xiao Ling's conciliatory approach after praising his advice.
• Xiao Ling proposed building an alliance around the Xiao Clan and expanding beyond Wutan City.
• Xiao Ling learned City Lord Rong wanted to marry his daughter to him, declined discreetly, and asked Xiao Zhan to bring the City Lord's Mansion into the alliance.
• Xiao Ling explained that the alliance would use contribution points exchangeable for resources, persuading the elders to stop competing for the easier Qingshan Town post.
• Xiao Ling recommended the First Elder oversee Qingshan Town because he was the Xiao Clan's strongest member after Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Ling’s proposal for an alliance was accepted, and the Xiao Clan announced it across Wutan City. As preparations began for the alliance meeting, Mo Jiu planned to oppose the agreement while Rong Xiaodie remained devoted to Xiao Ling.

• Xiao Zhan and the others agreed to Xiao Ling’s plan, and Xiao Ling promised that Gu Yao would make an appearance at the alliance meeting.
• The factions of Wutan City discussed how to join the Xiao Clan’s alliance and secure its benefits, while a few quietly planned to oppose it.
• Mo Jiu instructed Clan Leader Liu and four other men to challenge the alliance agreement and accuse the Xiao Clan of greed.
• City Lord Rong told Rong Xiaodie that Xiao Ling did not want to pursue romance, but Xiaodie said she would marry no one else and agreed to attend the alliance meeting.
• Rong Xiaodie walked through the grounds while looking at a painting of Xiao Ling and wishing to see him again.

Xiao Ling and Xiao Zhan established the Xiao Alliance with Wutan City's factions after Xiao Ling killed Clan Leader Liu and four men who opposed the plan. With Ling Ying's protection and the factions' support secured, the alliance was named and its members received a celebratory gift.

• Xun'er told Xiao Ling that Elder Ling had everything ready, and Xiao Ling took her to the Xiao Clan's Council Hall.
• City Lord Rong and Rong Xiaodie rebuffed Clan Leader Li and his son, explaining that Rong Xiaodie loved Xiao Ling.
• Xiao Zhan proposed uniting Wutan City's resources in an alliance, but Clan Leader Liu and four others stood up to oppose him.
• Before Xiao Ling arrived, Clan Leader Liu and the other four men insulted the Xiao Clan, and an unseen force burst their heads.
• Xiao Ling entered with Xun'er and Ling Ying, challenged the room to support the dead men, and Ling Ying promised to protect those loyal to the alliance as its Grand Elder.
• Xiao Zhan and Xiao Ling named the new faction the Xiao Alliance and announced that every family would receive a hundred bottles of Blood Coagulation Powder.

Rong Xiaodie agreed to marry Mo Jiu after he arrived with an imperial edict, but City Lord Rong sought help from Xiao Ling. Xiao Ling promised to handle the matter the next day, suspecting it might be connected to the faction his master had warned him about.

• Rong Xiaodie finished painting Xiao Ling and agreed to marry Mo Jiu when he threatened her father with an imperial edict.
• Mo Jiu gave City Lord Rong one day before he would enter the bridal chamber with Rong Xiaodie.
• City Lord Rong went to the Xiao Clan, where Xiao Zhan agreed to consult Xiao Ling and help protect Rong Xiaodie.
• Xiao Ling continued failing to refine fourth-grade pills while Xun'er cleaned the soot from him.
• After hearing City Lord Rong's account, Xiao Ling told him to send out invitations and promised to resolve the matter the next day.

Xiao Ling suspected that Mo Jiu might be connected to the Outer Realm Demon and planned to test him, while Mo Jiu’s wedding to Rong Xiaodie drew the Xiao Alliance to the City Lord’s Mansion. The ceremony began with Rong Xiaodie arriving in a haggard state, and someone called for the wedding to wait.

• Xiao Ling reassured Xun'er, kissed her cheek, and planned to lure Mo Jiu into reacting to his Ten Thousand Ghost Soul-Devouring Cauldron.
• Xun'er asked Elder Ling to accompany her to the wedding because she felt uneasy, while Xiao Ling went to refine pills.
• City Lord Rong sent out invitations for Mo Jiu and Rong Xiaodie’s wedding, prompting Wutan City residents to wonder what the Xiao Alliance would do.
• Rong Xiaodie sat awake with Xiao Ling’s portrait and refused to dress up, while Xiao Lu worried over her exhausted appearance and graying hair.
• Mo Jiu arrived at the City Lord’s Mansion and demanded that Rong Xiaodie be brought out so they could enter the bridal chamber.
• Rong Xiaodie entered the hall, and just as Mo Jiu asked to begin the wedding, someone shouted, “Wait!”

Xiao Ling interrupted Rong Xiaodie’s wedding to confront Mo Jiu, who revealed himself as the Desire Demon General. After Xiao Ling’s Domain of Rules summoned a Death rune jade tablet, the demon’s escape attempt ended in a scream inside Xiao Ling’s body.

• Xiao Ling arrived at the wedding, promised Rong Xiaodie he would give her a lifetime, and sent the guests and City Lord Rong away.
• Xiao Ling identified Mo Jiu as an Outer Realm Demon, sealed the hall with Bagua Palm, and accused him of endangering his race’s undertaking.
• The Desire Demon General recognized Xiao Ling’s royal-clan constitution and charged at him to seize it.
• Xiao Ling’s Domain of Rules formed a gray Death rune jade tablet that struck the Desire Demon General, who destroyed his body and escaped into Xiao Ling as a streak of pink-black light.
• The Desire Demon General screamed after entering Xiao Ling, then fell silent, while Xiao Ling realized the demon was finished.

After the Desire Demon General’s possession attempt failed, Xiao Ling suspected the sleeping system had protected him. He entered Xiao Die’s sea of consciousness to save her from Soul-Severing Powder and found her soul surrounded by deadly storms.

• Xiao Ling found City Lord Rong Yu, who begged him to save Xiao Die after she took Soul-Severing Powder to avoid being defiled.
• Xiao Ling followed Rong Yu to Xiao Die’s room, saw her paintings of him, and ordered Rong Yu to seal off the place while he treated her.
• Xiao Ling probed Xiao Die’s body and entered her sea of consciousness, where gray-white storms were raging.
• After searching for two hours without finding Xiao Die’s soul, Xiao Ling heard her faintly call his name and found her curled in a dark corner, surrounded by storms.

Xiao Ling found Rong Xiaodie’s remnant soul in her sea of consciousness and rescued her from the gray-white storms. After realizing that she had lost most of her memories and her intelligence had fallen below that of a five-year-old, he prepared to treat her and promised he would return whenever she called.

• Xiao Ling crossed the gray-white storms and rushed to Rong Xiaodie when she recognized him.
• Rong Xiaodie threw herself toward Xiao Ling as the storms attacked, and he broke through to shield her and carry her back to safety.
• Xiao Ling comforted Rong Xiaodie, who asked him to play with her, and they pinched each other’s noses.
• Xiao Ling realized that Rong Xiaodie had lost most of her memories and had the intelligence of a child under five, and worried that treating her would be difficult because she had no cultivation.
• Xiao Ling formed a soul barrier around them and prepared to leave, but Rong Xiaodie clung to him in fear, so he promised he would appear whenever she called.

Xiao Ling found a treatment for Rong Xiaodie’s poisoned body and sea of consciousness, but it required the rare Mother of the Earth and precise control of pill fire. After finding a tiny specimen in the Masked Black-clothed Person’s Storage Ring, he began treating Rong Xiaodie in a wooden tub, where she called out to him in distress.

• Xiao Ling stabilized Rong Xiaodie’s sea of consciousness and withdrew, promising to help her and answering her calls.
• Xiao Ling found instructions requiring the Mother of the Earth, Spring of Life, and controlled pill fire to refine poison from Rong Xiaodie’s body and sea of consciousness.
• Xiao Ling searched the Masked Black-clothed Person’s Storage Ring and found a thumbnail-sized object that matched the description of the Mother of the Earth.
• Xiao Ling filled a wooden tub with sixth-grade Spring of Life, placed Rong Xiaodie inside, and used his soul force to keep others from peeking.
• Xiao Ling tossed the Mother of the Earth into the tub and sent Vermilion Bird-shaped pill fire into Rong Xiaodie’s body as she cried that she felt hot.

Xiao Ling protected Xiao Die’s soul from the gray-white storm and used the Vermilion Bird’s Dusk of the Fire Sea to weaken it, though the technique drained his soul power. He then began treating the young girl’s damaged body with the Spring of Life, realizing the true difficulty was only beginning.

• Xiao Die’s remnant soul feared the spreading gray-white mist, and Xiao Ling’s flames shielded her from it.
• The storm’s impact injured Xiao Die’s soul, so Xiao Ling held her and sent in his soul origin to keep it from dispersing.
• Xiao Ling formed a protective barrier across the sea of consciousness as the Vermilion Bird fought the storm.
• The Vermilion Bird unleashed Dusk of the Fire Sea, shrinking the storm to a few zhang while exhausting Xiao Ling’s soul power.
• Xiao Ling resumed treating the young girl in the wooden tub, using the Vermilion Bird and Spring of Life to repair her body as he refined the pill.

Xiao Ling spent the night repairing Xiao Die’s body, but he could not melt the treasure he believed was the Mother of the Earth and decided to share his soul source with her. Xiao Die woke just as he leaned in, leaving him frozen as she smiled and called his name.

• Xiao Ling used the Spring of Life and the Vermilion Bird flame to reshape Xiao Die’s damaged meridians and bones while City Lord Rong waited anxiously outside.
• Xun’er learned Xiao Ling had been in the room for a day, and Ling Ying’s report led her to worry that Xiao Ling might touch Xiao Die.
• After finishing Xiao Die’s physical healing, Xiao Ling tried for hours to melt what he thought was the Mother of the Earth, unaware it was the far rarer Earth Mother Crystal.
• Xiao Ling decided to transfer some of his soul source to Xiao Die, but she opened her eyes, pinched his nose, and greeted him.

Xiao Ling struggled to find a way to treat Rong Xiaodie and planned to leave for training, while Xun'er encouraged him and agreed to stay behind. As Xiao Ling reached eight-star Da Dou Shi, Rong Xiaodie continued to relive the moment he saved her, and a breakfast with Xun'er stirred a memory of his parents.

• Xiao Ling admitted to Xun'er that he felt guilty about Rong Xiaodie and could not find a treatment in the True Explanation of Alchemy.
• Xun'er comforted Xiao Ling, and he told her he would leave to train in three days while she stayed safely in the clan.
• City Lord Rong left for work while Rong Xiaodie filled her room with drawings of Xiao Ling saving her and repeatedly called his name.
• Xiao Ling cultivated diligently and reached eight-star Da Dou Shi, while Xun'er told him she had advanced to three-star Dou Shi and prepared his favorite breakfast.
• Xiao Ling saw the buns and soy milk Xun'er had made and remembered his mother speaking to him before his parents' final departure.

Xiao Ling advised Xiao Zhan on secretly assessing the Xiao Clan’s allies and assigning useful roles, then visited Xiao Die, whose mind remained confused and fixed on him. He treated her injured ankle and gave her a Jade Talisman so she could contact him when she missed him.

• Xiao Ling told Xiao Zhan to reward useful allies and give dangerous assignments to those who sought benefits without contributing.
• Xiao Ling left with Xun'er, who encouraged him to visit Xiao Die alone, and he went to the City Lord’s mansion.
• Xiao Ling found Xiao Die absorbed in paintings of their shared memories and calling his name.
• Xiao Die tripped while trying to reach Xiao Ling, and he caught her and treated her swollen ankle with Blood Coagulation Powder.
• Xiao Ling gave Xiao Die a Jade Talisman and told her she could use it to call him whenever she missed him.

Xiao Ling dealt with arrogant young clan members in Wutan City before arranging for Ya Fei to help manage the Xiao Clan's business during his training trip. Gu Ni warned him that outside forces had taken an interest in the cave dwelling near Heiyan City, while Ya Fei overheard their conversation and was caught eavesdropping.

• Xiao Ling stopped the Li Clan carriage by striking its horse, then ordered the Shadow Guards to take the young masters to their homes and demand payment from their families.
• Xiao Ling met Ya Fei at the Miteer Auction House and asked her to look after the Xiao Clan's business while he was away training.
• Xiao Ling agreed to let the Miteer Auction House sell Blood Coagulation Powder, with the Xiao Clan reducing its supply once Ya Fei's daily sales reached two thousand bottles.
• Ya Fei reminded Xiao Ling that he had promised to take her to dinner, but Gu Ni arrived with new information before he could answer.
• Gu Ni told Xiao Ling that forces from beyond the Jia Ma Empire were interested in the cave dwelling near Heiyan City.
• Ya Fei listened in on Xiao Ling and Gu Ni, learned that Xiao Ling was Gu Ni's senior brother, and was caught by Xiao Ling as she tried to leave.

Xiao Ling confronted Ya Fei after she overheard his conversation with Gu Ni, and the two teased and embraced each other. He gave her precious gifts and left her with a warning not to let other men touch her, while their relationship grew closer.

• Xiao Ling noticed Ya Fei eavesdropping and invited her into the room, then sent Gu Ni away to speak with her alone.
• Ya Fei sat on Xiao Ling's lap and teased him, but he grabbed her and threatened to silence her if she revealed what she had heard.
• Ya Fei kissed Xiao Ling and told him to be careful during his training, promising to arrange materials for the Xiao Alliance.
• Xiao Ling gave Ya Fei the Earth Core Life Pulse Jade and a Dou Huang Pill, and she accepted both gifts.
• Xiao Ling embraced Ya Fei and told her not to let any other men touch her, while she teased him in return.