Chapter Summaries

Xiao Jin overheard Medusa threaten a Soul Hall Protector into giving her Soul Origin, then learned she had obtained it for him. The two cleared up his suspicion that she had betrayed him, and Medusa explained how she had become involved.

• Xiao Jin secretly listened as Medusa demanded an item from the Soul Hall Protector and threatened to kill him if he refused.
• Medusa displayed her Dou Ancestor aura, and the Soul Hall Protector handed her a bottle of Soul Origin before leaving Black Seal City.
• Medusa asked Xiao Jin why he had watched silently, and he hesitated because he was trying to understand her connection to the Soul Hall.
• Medusa realized Xiao Jin suspected her of betrayal and reassured him that she had not joined forces with the Soul Hall.
• Medusa gave Xiao Jin the Soul Origin and explained that she had sought it for him after his little girlfriend asked her to watch the Soul Hall.

Xiao Jin and Zi Yan arrived in Black Seal City and discovered signs that Soul Hall had established a presence there to collect souls. Xiao Jin agreed to let Pill Tower Ancestor investigate while he kept his own identity and strength concealed.

• Zi Yan told Xiao Jin that Black Seal City felt more prosperous than Twilight City, and they booked one room after she sensed a threat nearby.
• Zi Yan detected three strange, soul-like scents near the auction house and warned Xiao Jin that a powerful barrier blocked the area.
• Xiao Jin deduced that Soul Hall was gathering the souls of the dead in the Black-Corner Region and might have used its network there to uncover the Xiao Clan’s whereabouts.
• Pill Tower Ancestor offered to investigate, and Xiao Jin agreed that the powerful soul was better suited to act without exposing him.

The Pill Tower Ancestor investigated the barrier around Black Seal City and discovered that Soul Hall had designed it to brand souls and conceal a soul-harvesting scheme. After entering the barrier, he found a crystal core containing the Soul Origin of over ten thousand people, leaving him eager to learn who Soul Hall had sent.

• The Pill Tower Ancestor secretly tested the barrier, then evaded two Eight Fan Sect guards who doubled back to investigate.
• He found that the barrier branded souls that passed through it and concluded Soul Hall was exploiting Eight Fan Sect while harvesting its members' souls.
• The Pill Tower Ancestor tore open the barrier without triggering an alarm and stepped into the space beyond it.
• He seized a strange crystal core and realized it contained the Soul Origin of over ten thousand people, letting a Dou Zong create a powerful illusion.

Xiao Jin learned that Medusa had returned to Black Seal City alongside a powerful Soul Hall soul body and suspected she had betrayed him. He followed them to the Eight Fan Sect’s auction house, where he held back from acting until he could learn their goal.

• Xiao Jin asked Zi Yan about the three Dou Ancestor auras, and she said one had left Black Seal City while the other two remained.
• Xiao Jin sensed Medusa returning with an unfamiliar, evil aura and left Zi Yan protected by an Earth Demon Puppet.
• Xiao Jin followed the pair to the Eight Fan Sect’s auction house, where the barrier had been set up.
• Xiao Jin recognized the unfamiliar figure as a Six-Star Dou Ancestor soul body from Soul Hall and saw Medusa traveling with him.
• Xiao Jin suspected Medusa had betrayed him but decided to investigate their goal before taking action.

Xiao Jin reunited with Medusa in Black Seal City, where she gave him Soul Origin and planned to investigate the Soul Hall’s presence in the Jia Ma Empire. Back at the inn, Zi Yan met Xiao Jin’s teacher, the Pill Tower Ancestor, and mistook his soul body for a ghost.

• Medusa gave Xiao Jin a bottle of Soul Origin, and he admitted that her return moved him.
• Medusa agreed to return to Xiao Jin’s inn and investigate the Soul Hall’s arrangements in the Jia Ma Empire.
• Xiao Jin brought Medusa to the inn, where Zi Yan accused him of cheating on Xun’er before learning that Xun’er knew Medusa.
• Xiao Jin explained the Soul Hall’s threat to Zi Yan, and the Pill Tower Ancestor appeared to add details about its powerful members.
• Zi Yan hid behind Xiao Jin and called the Pill Tower Ancestor a ghost until Xiao Jin explained that he was his teacher.

Xiao Jin discovered that the Soul Hall had tampered with Medusa’s Soul Origin and planned to strike at its forces in the Black-Corner Region without exposing the Xiao Clan. Medusa prepared to leave for the Central Plains with him, and Xiao Jin gave her a Nine-Colored Primordial Stone that offered hope of completing her transformation.

• The Pill Tower Ancestor investigated the Soul Hall’s scheme, and Xiao Jin found that the Soul Origin given to Medusa would turn her into the Soul Hall’s puppet.
• Medusa swore revenge on the Soul Hall, while Xiao Jin decided to use two high-level Dou Zong Earth Demon Puppets to uproot its Black-Corner Region forces without drawing attention to the Xiao Clan.
• Medusa explained that she had moved the Snake-Person Race to Mulan Valley and secured it with restrictions, then told Xiao Jin she planned to accompany him to the Central Plains Continent.
• The Pill Tower Ancestor recognized Medusa’s Nine-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python bloodline, and Xiao Jin gave her a Seven-Colored Primordial Stone to test.
• Medusa dripped her blood onto the stone, causing two new colored lines to appear and revealing it as a Nine-Colored Primordial Stone that could help her complete her transformation.

Xiao Jin gave Medusa the Nine-Colored Primordial Stone and promised to help her evolve once she reached peak Dou Zun. Afterward, Zi Yan pressed him to reveal her true form, and the Pill Tower Ancestor urged him to answer.

• Xiao Jin gave Medusa the Nine-Colored Primordial Stone, explaining that it would purify her bloodline and prepare her for future evolution into a Nine-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python.
• Medusa accepted the stone and offered to help in the coming battle before leaving to open a room next door.
• In Xiao Jin's Storage Ring, Little Bodhi absorbed the Heaven-Swallowing Python Essence Blood and reached one-fiftieth of its progress, while the flames discussed Xiao Jin's future cultivation and Heavenly Flame plans.
• Zi Yan demanded a treasure from Xiao Jin, but he refused to give her the Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit because it would endanger her.
• Zi Yan asked Xiao Jin to reveal her true form, and the Pill Tower Ancestor told him to answer.

Xiao Jin told Zi Yan that she was an Ancient Void Dragon and that Zhu Kun, the missing Dragon Emperor, was her father, but he left her free to decide whether to meet him. After Zi Yan went to stay with Medusa, Xiao Jin and the Pill Tower Ancestor discussed confronting the Soul Hall and using its Soul Origin to help restore the Ancestor.

• Xiao Jin revealed Zi Yan's Ancient Void Dragon identity and explained how the clan's Dragon Emperor, Zhu Kun, had disappeared.
• Zi Yan learned that Zhu Kun was her father but admitted she was unsure whether she wanted to meet him.
• Xiao Jin promised to take Zi Yan to speak with Zhu Kun through the restriction whenever she felt ready, then cheered her up with a medicinal pill.
• Zi Yan went to live with Medusa, leaving the Pill Tower Ancestor relieved to be rid of her company.
• Xiao Jin asked whether the Pill Tower Ancestor could fight the Soul Hall, and the Ancestor said he was prepared to face them.
• Xiao Jin planned to use Soul Origin from the coming conflict to help the Pill Tower Ancestor recover some strength.

Xiao Jin, Medusa, and Zi Yan disguised themselves and attended the Black Seal Auction, where Xiao Jin identified several powerful guests and sensed an unknown group in Box No. 6. He suspected they were connected to Wind Lightning Pavilion, and the auction was about to begin.

• Xiao Jin disguised Zi Yan and himself with makeup so they would not be recognized at the auction.
• Zi Yan teased Xiao Jin about calling her pretty, then joined Medusa as the three prepared to leave the inn.
• Xiao Jin, Medusa, and Zi Yan used their invitations to enter Box No. 7 at the Black Seal Auction House.
• Xiao Jin sensed the guests in the other boxes and identified Old Ground Demon, members of Black Emperor Sect, Sky Eagle Elder, Medicine Emperor Han Feng, and possibly the Gold and Silver Elders.
• Xiao Jin could not sense the occupants of Box No. 6, but detected a strong lightning aura and suspected they were from Wind Lightning Pavilion.

Xiao Jin, Medusa, and Zi Yan attended the Black Seal Auction, where Zi Yan grew interested in a Magic Core and later struggled with the sale of a young girl. A Sixth-Grade Soul Recovery Pill appeared as the auction heated up, and Medusa teased Xiao Jin after he worried she might need it.

• The auction began with a Soul-Breaking Spear, and Xiao Jin gave Zi Yan a sixth-rank lightning-attribute Magic Core when she showed interest in the weapon's core.
• The auction sold a young girl for one hundred and twenty thousand gold coins, and Zi Yan told Xiao Jin she wanted to save her and take her to Jia Nan Academy.
• Xiao Jin agreed to let Zi Yan act after the auction and planned for the Earth Demon Puppet to watch over her.
• A Sixth-Grade Soul Recovery Pill was presented, drawing attention from the crowd and the private boxes.
• Xiao Jin asked Medusa if she needed the pill, and Medusa revealed she had only changed posture to tease him.

Xiao Jin watched the auction offer high-grade pills and Soul Origin while the Pill Tower Ancestor confirmed their plan to sabotage the Soul Hall’s trap. When a tattered ancient map fragment appeared, Han Feng bid on it, and Xiao Jin wondered whether he had recognized the Fragmented Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.

• The Imperial Extreme Pill and several other high-grade medicinal pills sparked fierce bidding, with private room six winning the Imperial Extreme Pill for three million five hundred thousand gold coins.
• The Eight Fan Sect auctioned ten portions of Soul Origin, each said to help a Fifth-Grade Alchemist advance to Sixth-Grade.
• The Pill Tower Ancestor told Xiao Jin that their preparations were complete and reminded him to meet fifty miles east of the city.
• After the Soul Origin sold, the auction presented a tattered ancient map fragment that drew boos from the crowd.
• Han Feng bid one hundred and ten thousand gold coins for the fragment, and Xiao Jin wondered whether he had recognized it as the Fragmented Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.

Xiao Jin and Han Feng fought over a Fragmented Map at the auction until Medusa revealed her Dou Zong strength and forced Han Feng to yield. The Soul Hall Protector noticed Medusa’s unexpected power and worried that events were slipping beyond his control.

• Han Feng and Xiao Jin repeatedly raised their bids for the Fragmented Map until Xiao Jin offered five hundred thousand gold coins.
• Han Feng asked Xiao Jin to give him face, but Xiao Jin refused and told him to get lost.
• Medusa released her Dou Zong aura and threatened Han Feng, forcing him to let Xiao Jin buy the Fragmented Map.
• Xiao Jin asked Medusa whether revealing herself was safe, and she said they did not need to worry about the Soul Hall.
• The Soul Hall Protector sensed Medusa’s strength, accepted that she had been exposed, and wondered about the man she had mentioned.

Xiao Jin secured the third Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame fragment map, then joined the Pill Tower Ancestor to eliminate Soul Hall forces and gather their Soul Origin. The stolen Soul Origin was drawn away from the auction, prompting Han Feng and others to pursue it.

• Xiao Jin obtained the third Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame fragment map while the Heavenly Flames in his Storage Ring discussed who he might refine next.
• Xiao Jin left the auction with Medusa and Zi Yan, marking the Dou Ling who had won the little beauty with a Soul Mark.
• Xiao Jin met the Pill Tower Ancestor east of Black Seal City and learned that the Ancestor and two Earth Demon Puppets had destroyed the Soul Hall ambushers.
• The Pill Tower Ancestor gathered the Soul Origin from the fallen Soul Hall members into a pool of pure liquid.
• The ten jade bottles of Soul Origin bought at the auction broke free from the buyers' Storage Rings and flew toward the Pill Tower Ancestor.
• Han Feng urged the others to chase the fleeing Soul Origin, and several alchemists and three mysterious figures followed.

The Pill Tower Ancestor posed as a Soul Hall member while reclaiming the gathered Soul Origins, convincing Han Feng and the onlookers that he was genuine. When the real Soul Hall Protectors appeared, he attacked one and absorbed his soul, leaving the other two unable to prove their identity.

• Han Feng confronted the Earth Demon Puppet as the pursuers gathered, and the Pill Tower Ancestor claimed the Soul Origins belonged to the Soul Hall.
• Han Feng and the alchemists accepted the claim after Han Feng recognized the Pill Tower Ancestor's spiritual aura and the Soul Hall's methods.
• The three Soul Hall Protectors accused the Pill Tower Ancestor of impersonating them, and he challenged them to prove their identity.
• The Pill Tower Ancestor bound one Protector with black chains, dragged out his soul, and absorbed it into the Soul Origin.
• The remaining Protectors were left bewildered as Han Feng and the onlookers continued to believe the Pill Tower Ancestor was the real Soul Hall member.

Xiao Jin and Medusa used the Soul Hall Protector’s offer of Soul Origin to draw powerful figures from the Black-Corner Region into the conflict. As Mo Tianxing and Old Man Ying Shan prepared to join the Soul Hall, Xiao Jin revealed that his goal was to gather everyone together for the Pill Tower Ancestor to deal with.

• Xiao Jin sent Medusa to approach the Soul Hall Protector, who reassured her that their encounter was a transaction.
• The Soul Hall Protector offered Soul Origin to anyone who helped him fight the supposed impostor, attracting several Dou Wangs.
• After the Soul Hall Protector offered Mo Tianxing and Old Man Ying Shan five portions of Soul Origin each as a deposit, both men decided to help.
• Zi Yan worried that the growing opposition would overwhelm Medusa and the Earth Demon Puppets, but Xiao Jin remained unconcerned.
• Xiao Jin explained that he had arranged the conflict to gather the Black-Corner Region’s powerful figures so the Pill Tower Ancestor could eliminate them together.

Xiao Jin lured Han Feng away from the battle by revealing a Heavenly Flame, while Yao Chen sensed his former disciple nearby and told Xiao Yan that Han Feng had betrayed and killed him. Xiao Yan and Yao Chen prepared to leave the academy and confront Han Feng.

• Zi Yan realized Xiao Jin intended to capture the Black-Corner Region's high-level fighters, and Xiao Jin planned to leave the Soul Hall Protector's final trump cards for the Pill Tower Ancestor to handle.
• Xiao Jin struck Han Feng with a Nine Suns Vein-Piercing Finger, and Han Feng sensed a Heavenly Flame and chased Xiao Jin into the distance.
• Yao Chen emerged from Xiao Yan's Storage Ring and sensed Han Feng's aura about five hundred li away.
• Yao Chen told Xiao Yan that Han Feng was his former disciple, who had joined the Soul Hall to ambush and kill him for the complete Burning Mantra.
• Xiao Yan urged Yao Chen to go after Han Feng, and Yao Chen agreed to leave as soon as Xiao Yan had asked for leave.

Xiao Jin confronted Han Feng, revealed his connection to Yao Chen, and overwhelmed Han Feng with his superior Heavenly Flame and fire-control abilities. Han Feng struggled against Xiao Jin’s Flame Tiger as the fight continued.

• Xiao Jin stopped fleeing and revealed to Han Feng that he knew Yao Chen was still alive.
• Xiao Jin summoned purple-brown Flame Meteors and attacked Han Feng, whose Sea Heart Flame struggled to hold them back.
• Han Feng attacked with a Flame Whip, but Xiao Jin easily dodged it.
• Xiao Jin shaped his flame into a Flame Tiger and sent it pouncing at Han Feng.
• Han Feng was shocked by Xiao Jin’s fire control and found himself hard-pressed in the battle.

Xiao Jin used the Glazed Flame Refining Art to raise his strength and fight Han Feng, whose power was fueled by the Sea Heart Flame. After their strongest attacks collided, Xiao Jin remained in better condition, while Han Feng feared he would die.

• Han Feng withdrew from the Flame Tiger and erupted with Dou Qi to boost his combat strength.
• Xiao Jin activated the first stage of the Glazed Flame Refining Art, raising his strength from Six-Star Dou King to Peak Dou King.
• Han Feng attacked Xiao Jin with the Light Radiance Seal.
• Xiao Jin countered with Nuclear Fusion Fist, and their clash scorched the surrounding mountain ridge.
• After the collision, Han Feng's aura weakened and he despaired when his strongest attack failed to harm Xiao Jin.

Xiao Jin defeated Han Feng and trapped him just as Yao Chen arrived, leaving the former master and disciple to confront their past. Xiao Jin then urged Xiao Yan to consider refining more Heavenly Flames to evolve his Burning Mantra.

• Xiao Jin overpowered Han Feng with the Three Thousand Burning Flame and an Earth-tier High-level Dou Technique, then revealed he was hunting Black List targets.
• Han Feng tried to flee, but Xiao Jin locked down space and restrained him; Han Feng offered the Sea Heart Flame in exchange for his life.
• Yao Chen possessed Xiao Yan and flew toward the battle, while Xiao Yan sensed the power of the colliding Heavenly Flames from fifty li away.
• Xiao Yan reached Xiao Jin, and Yao Chen confronted Han Feng over his betrayal and the ambush that had led to Yao Chen's fall.
• Xiao Jin told Xiao Yan to think about refining other Heavenly Flames, and Xiao Yan realized he could use them to evolve his Burning Mantra.

Xiao Jin gave Xiao Yan pills and arranged for him to refine the Sea Heart Flame and later the Fallen Heart Flame, while Yao Chen reflected on Han Feng’s betrayal. After Xiao Jin left with Han Feng’s corpse, Yao Chen remarked on how effortlessly Xiao Jin had defeated a Peak Dou Emperor.

• Xiao Jin explained that helping Xiao Yan grow stronger would also help protect the Xiao Clan, and Xiao Yan agreed to repay his support when needed.
• Xiao Jin gave Xiao Yan pills to aid his breakthroughs and warned him to temper his foundation through battles after refining Heavenly Flames.
• Yao Chen recovered the Sea Heart Flame from Han Feng’s corpse and thanked Xiao Jin for letting him take personal revenge.
• Xiao Jin offered the Sea Heart Flame to Xiao Yan, then took Han Feng’s corpse and flew away.
• Yao Chen told Xiao Yan that Xiao Jin had defeated Han Feng, a Peak Dou Emperor, without suffering a visible wound.