Chapter Summaries

Gu Fengchen watched Su Su refine pills and recognized that she had added the ingredients in the wrong order. After her first attempt failed, he advised her on the next ingredient, surprising her and revealing that he knew alchemy.

• Gu Fengchen followed Su Su into a quiet room and watched her prepare to refine pills.
• Su Su added the Medicinal Herbs to the furnace, but her first attempt failed and filled the room with black smoke.
• Su Su said she would try again and added the fourth Medicinal Herb to the furnace.
• Gu Fengchen told Su Su that the next Medicinal Herb should be Six Flavor Fruit or the refinement would fail again.
• Su Su asked whether Gu Fengchen knew Alchemy Technique, and he replied that he only knew a little.

Gu Fengchen guided Su Su through refining pills, and she produced two top-grade pills, prompting him to consider nurturing her as Xiao Yi Xian’s assistant at Myriad Medicine Pavilion. At the front, Yaoye struggled to find an escort to take the gravely wounded Nalan Zhun to Jia Ma Holy City, while Gu Fengchen patrolled Qingshan Town to restore order before departing for Desert City.

• Gu Fengchen paid Su Su for the ingredients and let her follow his alchemy instructions, after which she refined two top-grade pills.
• Gu Fengchen judged Su Su talented and considered having her assist Xiao Yi Xian at Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
• Yaoye visited the Field Hospital and ordered Nalan Zhun sent to Jia Ma Holy City because his wounds were life-threatening.
• Nalan Su told Yaoye that the army could not spare anyone to escort Nalan Zhun, and Yaoye wished Chen Fenggu were there.
• Gu Fengchen patrolled Qingshan Town with Myriad Medicine Pavilion mercenaries to curb disorder among the jianghu visitors, and townspeople recognized and praised him.

Gu Fengchen patrolled Qingshan Town and intervened when two Dou Shi practitioners fought. He learned that one of the visiting groups included Fu Chu, whose daughter Fu Susu was the person he had met, and then turned his attention to the other group.

• Gu Fengchen thought about Xiao Yi Xian's sachet while patrolling Qingshan Town with Myriad Medicine Pavilion mercenaries.
• Gu Fengchen ordered a mercenary to stop two Dou Shi practitioners fighting on a rooftop, but they prepared to attack him.
• Gu Fengchen approached two groups of visiting martial artists after someone called for the fight to stop.
• Fu Chu introduced himself to Gu Fengchen as a Tier 3 Alchemist and said his daughter Fu Susu had gone out to gain experience.
• Gu Fengchen realized Fu Chu was Fu Susu's father and looked toward the other group.

Gu Fengchen confronted members of the rival Feng Clan and Fu Clan after their experts fought in Qingshan Town. He forced them to back down by revealing his Dou Wang strength, then decided to deal with them on the spot to keep them away from Fu Susu.

• Gu Fengchen learned that the two groups were from the Feng Clan and Fu Clan, rival Jianzhou clans visiting Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
• He ordered both sides to come with him and pay for damages and breaking the town's rules.
• The Feng Clan leader challenged Gu Fengchen, but he drew the Red Plum Sword and revealed his Dou Wang aura.
• The clansmen yielded after Gu Fengchen threatened to kill them if they refused.
• Gu Fengchen decided not to take them back to Myriad Medicine Pavilion because Fu Susu was there and he wanted to keep the clans from interfering with her life.

Gu Fengchen showed Xiao Yi Xian four Gu Technique manuals recovered from the Mu Clan Estate and explained which methods might suit her. He left her considering the manuals before departing for Desert City.

• At four in the morning, Xiao Yi Xian woke and prepared to gather herbs while Gu Fengchen practiced with the Flood Dragon Head Spear.
• Gu Fengchen told Xiao Yi Xian he planned to go to Desert City and showed her four Gu Technique manuals he had found in the Mu Clan Estate.
• Gu Fengchen explained that the manuals taught Heavenly Gu, Love Gu, Poison Gu, and Corpse Gu, and that Xiao Yi Xian’s Body of Calamitous Poison made her suited to cultivating them.
• Gu Fengchen described Heavenly Gu’s ability to glimpse Heavenly Secrets and warned Xiao Yi Xian that Love Gu could overwhelm its host with desire.

Gu Fengchen explained the remaining Gu types to Xiao Yi Xian and left her under the Amethyst Winged Lion King's protection. He then hurried to Jia Ma Holy City with the Magic Cores needed to hatch his Tier 7 Magical Beast Egg.

• Gu Fengchen explained Poison Gu and Corpse Gu to Xiao Yi Xian, warning her to wait for his return before cultivating Corpse Gu.
• Gu Fengchen and Xiao Yi Xian shared lunch, and he reminded her to wear shoes before bidding her farewell.
• Gu Fengchen met the Amethyst Winged Lion King, gave it pills for the Little Lion King, and ordered it to protect Xiao Yi Xian.
• Gu Fengchen left for Jia Ma Holy City to collect the remaining Magic Cores from Ya Fei and prepare to hatch the Magical Beast Egg.

Gu Fengchen reunited with Ya Fei in Jia Ma Holy City and collected the Magic Cores she had gathered for him. He arranged five Tier 5 Magic Cores around the Tier 7 Magical Beast Egg, which began absorbing their energy.

• Gu Fengchen arrived in Jia Ma Holy City and found Ya Fei resting at the Mittel Family.
• Ya Fei embraced Gu Fengchen and questioned him about flirting with other women, but his sweet talk eased her resentment.
• Gu Fengchen asked Ya Fei about the Magic Cores, and she gave him the Tier 5 cores he requested along with some Tier 4 ones.
• Gu Fengchen paid Ya Fei and placed five Tier 5 Magic Cores around the Magical Beast Egg.
• The egg's patterns glowed, and it began drawing energy from the five Magic Cores.

Gu Fengchen waited for the Tier 7 Magical Beast Egg to hatch after spending the morning with Ya Fei. It produced a snow-white fox instead of the expected Golden Feathered Dragon Sparrow, and Gu Fengchen began questioning her about her abilities.

• Gu Fengchen spent the morning shopping and eating barbecue with Ya Fei, then sent the Mittel Family members away before the egg hatched.
• The Magical Beast Egg absorbed the five Magic Cores and began cracking as a powerful aura emerged from it.
• A fluffy white fox crawled from the shattered shell and called Gu Fengchen her master.
• Gu Fengchen asked about the fox’s strength, and she claimed she could travel thousands of li in a day and evade detection even by a Dou Saint.
• Gu Fengchen asked whether the Little Fox could carry people.

Gu Fengchen questioned the White-Furred Little Fox about its abilities after learning it could not carry him. The fox revealed that it could cultivate a Sarira and gain an Undying Body only upon reaching Tier 9, leaving Gu Fengchen disappointed as they shared tea and pastries.

• Gu Fengchen tested whether the White-Furred Little Fox could carry him, sat on it, and heard it cry that its waist hurt.
• Gu Fengchen promised the fox a treat and asked what abilities it had besides fast travel and concealment.
• The White-Furred Little Fox said it could cultivate a Sarira and attain an Undying Body after advancing to Tier 9, but had no other changes before then.
• Gu Fengchen poured tea for himself and the fox, asked whether it had a name, and let it eat a glutinous rice cake.

Gu Fengchen traveled with Little White Fox to Desert City, intending to find Qing Lin and claim her extraordinary bloodline. As he surveyed the bustling city, he caught a dense stench of blood carried on the hot wind.

• Little White Fox revealed she could grow much larger, then shrank back so Gu Fengchen could ride her.
• Gu Fengchen fed Little White Fox three Magic Cores, and they set off for Desert City.
• Gu Fengchen arrived in Desert City and wondered whether Qing Lin had already been taken in by the two Xiao Clan brothers.
• Gu Fengchen explained the power of Qing Lin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and resolved to obtain her.
• Gu Fengchen spotted pickpockets working together among the city crowds, then noticed a dense stench of blood in the heat.

Gu Fengchen entered Desert City, sampled its food with the gluttonous Little White Fox, and set out to find Hai Bodong and the Fragmented Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. He reached the quiet, strangely cold Ancient Map shop, where mercenaries silently bought maps.

• Gu Fengchen flew over Desert City's gate and explored the bustling desert city.
• Gu Fengchen and the Little White Fox ate their way along a snack street, where the fox devoured roast duck bones whole.
• Gu Fengchen asked around and learned that the Ancient Map shop was known for exceptionally precise maps and had an eccentric old shopkeeper.
• Gu Fengchen found the Ancient Map shop in a street full of map stores and watched several mercenaries silently buy maps and leave.

Gu Fengchen visited Hai Bodong’s shop to obtain a Fragmented Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, revealed that he knew Hai Bodong’s identity, and took the map after Hai Bodong refused to sell it. Hai Bodong attacked him, but his strike hit only an afterimage.

• Gu Fengchen entered Hai Bodong’s shop and found a detailed Tagor Desert map and a Fragmented Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.
• Hai Bodong refused to sell the Fragmented Map, and Gu Fengchen identified him as the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong by recognizing the seal restricting his strength.
• Gu Fengchen put the Fragmented Map into his Storage Ring and offered Hai Bodong information in exchange for learning about it.
• Hai Bodong attacked Gu Fengchen with ice spikes, but Gu Fengchen melted them with his Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame.
• Hai Bodong vanished and crushed what he thought was Gu Fengchen’s head, only to find that he had struck an afterimage.

Gu Fengchen fought Hai Bodong in the Ancient Map shop, overpowering his ice techniques with his speed and Heavenly Flames. After the shop collapsed, Gu Fengchen struck Hai Bodong into the ground, leaving him badly injured.

• Gu Fengchen ambushed Hai Bodong with a flaming saber, breaking through his ice mirrors and armor.
• Hai Bodong counterattacked with an ice spear and a barrage of ice spikes, but Gu Fengchen evaded him and met his spear with the Red Plum Sword.
• Hai Bodong unleashed an ice dragon, and Gu Fengchen answered with City-Burning Blaze, setting the Ancient Map shop ablaze and collapsing it.
• Hai Bodong recognized Gu Fengchen's Heavenly Flames and raised his aura as nearby mercenaries watched from a distance.
• Gu Fengchen appeared at Hai Bodong's side and struck his chest with a flame-wreathed fist, sending him crashing to the ground as he spat blood and admitted he had underestimated Gu Fengchen.

Gu Fengchen defeated Hai Bodong and revealed that he worked for the royal family, then turned the confrontation into a negotiation over the Fragmented Map. Hai Bodong asked whether Gu Fengchen’s earlier power came from Heavenly Flames, leaving the two poised to discuss an exchange.

• Hai Bodong launched another attack, but Gu Fengchen grabbed him and slammed him into the ground.
• Hai Bodong admitted defeat and offered Gu Fengchen the map, while Gu Fengchen pointed out that another half existed.
• Gu Fengchen said he was on good terms with Jia Xingtian and Mitel Tengshan and claimed he worked for the royal family under the alias Chen Fenggu.
• Gu Fengchen offered to make an exchange with Hai Bodong instead of making a fuss over the Fragmented Map.
• Hai Bodong asked whether Gu Fengchen had used Heavenly Flames, as Gu Fengchen intended to use them and his fire-controlling skill to persuade Hai Bodong to cooperate.

In Desert City, Yaoye learned that Elder Jia would not come because Yun Shan might soon leave seclusion, but she took heart when told Chen Fenggu had arrived. Hai Bodong then asked Gu Fengchen whether he could refine a Sixth-Grade Pill.

• Yaoye finished bathing and asked whether Elder Jia had been informed about the situation.
• Her maid said Elder Jia would likely stay away because Yun Shan seemed close to leaving seclusion.
• The maid reported that Chen Fenggu had arrived in Desert City, and Yaoye said he could settle the situation.
• Hai Bodong asked Gu Fengchen what grade Alchemist he was, and Gu Fengchen answered that he was only fifth grade.
• Hai Bodong asked whether Gu Fengchen could refine a Sixth-Grade Pill.

Gu Fengchen discussed the Fragmented Map with Hai Bodong and revealed that it was tied to a treasure coveted even by Dou Saints. Hai Bodong learned that the map he had studied for years held secrets far beyond the Jia Ma Empire.

• Gu Fengchen agreed that refining a Sixth-Grade Pill would be possible for him, then turned the conversation to the Fragmented Map.
• Hai Bodong explained that Queen Medusa's Snake Seal Curse had aged him and weakened his cultivation after he provoked her over the map.
• Gu Fengchen recalled Hai Bodong's former reputation as a powerful expert of the Jia Ma Empire.
• Hai Bodong admitted he had been unable to decipher the Fragmented Map, which was only a small fragment of a complete map.
• Gu Fengchen told Hai Bodong that the map led to a world-shaking treasure coveted even by Dou Saints, leaving Hai Bodong astonished.

Gu Fengchen negotiated with Hai Bodong to exchange a pill that could break his seal for the other half of the Fragmented Map. Hai Bodong handed over the map and prepared ingredients, but still needed Sand Mandrake for the Breaking Barrier Pill.

• Hai Bodong explained that breaking his seal required a Sixth-Grade Pill made by someone with a Heavenly Flame.
• Gu Fengchen offered to refine the pill in exchange for the other half of the Fragmented Map.
• Hai Bodong agreed, giving Gu Fengchen the map and a Storage Ring with prepared ingredients after citing his trust in Jia Xingtian.
• Hai Bodong revealed that he still lacked Sand Mandrake, and Gu Fengchen agreed to look for it while secretly withholding the one he already had.
• Gu Fengchen concluded the deal without asking Hai Bodong to owe him a favor or serve as his bodyguard.

Gu Fengchen left Hai Bodong after obtaining the Fragmented Map and continued toward the Snake People Tribe, passing a row of brothels without going inside. Meanwhile, at the front line near Ring City, Nalan Feng fought a Snake People Tribe warrior as the Jia Ma Empire struggled to retake the city.

• Gu Fengchen said farewell to Hai Bodong, who told him not to worry about the seal and to wait until he could surpass Queen Medusa if necessary.
• Gu Fengchen walked through Desert City with Little White Fox, reflected on the Fragmented Map and his next destination, and ignored the women calling to him from the brothels.
• Gu Fengchen left after the women laughed at him, thinking of the women in his life and telling himself he had no reason to visit a brothel.
• At the front line, Yaoye surveyed the bloodied battlefield as Jia Ma Empire forces continued fighting to retake Ring City.
• Nalan Feng was knocked into a mound by a Snake People Tribe warrior, narrowly dodged the warrior’s next blade strike, and counterattacked with a blast to his chest.

Nalan Feng killed the Snake People warrior leading the attack, while Yaoye and Nalan Su realized the Mulan Empire might be supplying the enemy with armor. On Ring City's walls, Nan She sent Yue Mei to confront Nalan Feng as the real battle began.

• Nalan Feng's first punch damaged the Snake People warrior's Black Gold Armor from within, and his follow-up punch killed him.
• Yaoye and Nalan Su suspected the Mulan Empire had supplied the Snake People Tribe with its armor.
• Nalan Su warned Yaoye that the Snake People Tribe's Eight Great Leaders had not yet joined the battle.
• Nan She, the Snake People Tribe's tactician, asked Commander Yue Mei to take on Nalan Feng.
• Yue Mei leapt from Ring City's walls, and the Jia Ma Empire's soldiers recognized her and warned Nalan Feng.

Nalan Feng was overwhelmed in battle as Nalan Su stepped forward, while Queen Medusa discussed ways for the Snake People Tribe to attack Desert City. In the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Yi Xian’s Gu Worms reacted violently to a distant surge of energy, leaving her worried about Gu Fengchen.

• Nalan Feng used his Black Gold Long Saber against Commander Yue Mei, but their clash left him half-buried in the ground and bleeding from his seven orifices.
• Nalan Su sneered and stepped in front of the fallen Nalan Feng.
• Mobas told Queen Medusa that the Jia Ma Empire was attacking Ring City and that Desert City would be difficult to capture.
• Queen Medusa said she would soon enter seclusion and discussed using a southern route through the Mulan Empire or an aerial route to strike Desert City.
• A northern energy fluctuation sent Xiao Yi Xian’s Gu Worms into a panic, and she restrained them while hoping Gu Fengchen would return safely.