Chapter Summaries

Gu Fengchen tested his ability to fuse three kinds of Dou Qi and saw that the resulting attack could devastate a powerful opponent, though it required strong Soul Power to control. He later watched a group of human mercenaries slaughter a Snake People Tribe, leaving its wounded commander ready to fight to the death.

• Gu Fengchen fused green, yellow, and cyan Dou Qi and threw the unstable power away, causing a massive explosion.
• Gu Fengchen concluded that Soul Power was essential for safely controlling fused Dou Qi and considered the possibility of creating a powerful attack combining Heavenly Flames and the Body of Calamitous Poison.
• Gu Fengchen arrived near a battle between snake people and human mercenaries and watched without intervening.
• The mercenaries killed the snake people one after another while the young man in moon-colored robes fought their commander and the young man in black robes attacked the others.
• The wounded Snake People Tribe commander saw its slain companions and prepared to fight the mercenaries to the death.

A wounded Snake Person leader fled from the mercenaries and charged at Gu Fengchen, who calmly stood in its path. The mercenaries tried to warn and protect Gu Fengchen as the leader closed in.

• The Snake Person leader hurled its saber at the young man in black robes, then used the impact against the sand to escape.
• The young man in moon-colored robes ordered the mercenaries to pursue the leader and told Xue Lan to treat the wounded.
• The Snake Person leader fled toward Gu Fengchen, who thought the Dou Shi had little chance against him as a Dou Emperor.
• The young men in moon-colored robes and black robes shouted for Gu Fengchen to run, and the young man in black robes hurled his spear at the leader's back.

Gu Fengchen killed the snake-person leader with his Red Plum Sword just as the leader was about to strike him. After the mercenaries thanked him, Gu Fengchen recognized the black-robed young man as Xiao Li.

• Xiao Li hurled his spear at the snake-person leader, who dodged and charged at Gu Fengchen.
• Gu Fengchen cut the leader in two with his Red Plum Sword, shocking the mercenaries and the two young men.
• Xiao Li introduced himself as vice-captain of the Desert Iron Mercenary Squad and offered Gu Fengchen the leader’s bounty.
• Gu Fengchen realized that the black-robed young man was Xiao Li.

Gu Fengchen met Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, captains of the Desert Iron Mercenary Squad, after helping defeat the Snake People. He revealed that he was from Wutan City, leaving the brothers curious about how he knew Xiao Li.

• Xiao Ding praised Gu Fengchen for killing a Peak Dou Shi Snake Person alone, and Gu Fengchen introduced himself as a traveler heading to Shimo City.
• Xiao Li asked why Gu Fengchen had reacted to his name, and Gu Fengchen answered mysteriously that he both knew and did not know him.
• Gu Fengchen guessed that Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were from the Xiao Clan of Wutan City, then confirmed that he was from Wutan City too.
• A mercenary reported that the squad had finished clearing the battlefield and had loaded the Snake People’s severed heads onto the Camel Cart.

Gu Fengchen joined the Desert Iron Mercenary Squad after helping defeat the Snake People and accepted payment for the slain leader. As the group returned to Shimo City, Xiao Ding warned Xiao Li about the Sand Mercenary Group, while Xu Zhong reflected on how Old Ya’s interference had led to the Xiao brothers’ misfortune.

• Xiao Ding invited Gu Fengchen to return to Shimo City with the Desert Iron Mercenary Squad, and Xiao Li gave him over two thousand Gold Coins for the Snake People leader’s head.
• The mercenaries discussed Gu Fengchen’s strength, and Xue Lan watched him with curiosity during the journey.
• Xiao Ding warned Xiao Li to be cautious around Moxing and the Sand Mercenary Group, then urged him to think carefully before acting.
• Xiao Li acknowledged that Xiao Ding was better at handling matters, while Xu Zhong recalled that Xiao Zhan had sent the brothers out to establish a force and provide Xiao Yan with a fallback.
• Xu Zhong regretted that, despite bringing Old Ya over, he had arrived too late to change the Xiao brothers’ tragic fate.

Gu Fengchen traveled with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li toward Shimo City, asking them to look for young human–Snake People girls because he hoped to find Qing Lin. The group reached the Desert Iron Mercenary Group’s headquarters, a border stronghold facing the Snake People Tribe.

• Xiao Li offered to find Snake People women to serve Gu Fengchen, but Gu Fengchen declined.
• Gu Fengchen asked Xiao Ding about children born to humans and Snake People, then requested that the brothers look for girls between six and ten years old to serve as maids.
• Xiao Li questioned the request, while Gu Fengchen suspected he did not know Qing Lin’s identity and decided he would find her after reaching the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.
• Gu Fengchen decided to leave the Sand Mercenary Group matter to Hai Bodong and focus on training.
• Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and Gu Fengchen arrived at Shimo City, a border stronghold facing the Snake People Tribe.

Gu Fengchen entered Shimo City with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li after arriving with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. He accepted their invitation to rest at their headquarters while planning to pursue the Green Lotus Core Flame and Qing Lin.

• Gu Fengchen and the Desert Iron Mercenary Group reached Shimo City's gates, where Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were warmly greeted by the guards.
• Gu Fengchen entered the prosperous, heavily guarded city with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li invited Gu Fengchen to rest at the Desert Iron Mercenary Group's headquarters, and he accepted.
• Gu Fengchen planned to pursue leads on the Green Lotus Core Flame and Qing Lin, and thought about Queen Medusa.

In Shimo City, Moxing tortured Chen Zhang to force him to reveal the Desert Iron Mercenary Squad's deployment map so he could attack Xiao Li. Chen Zhang resisted until Moxing threatened to mutilate him, then surrendered.

• Xiao Li and Xiao Ding grew more comfortable with Gu Fengchen as they traveled through Shimo City.
• Moxing had Chen Zhang hung up and tortured him for the Desert Iron Mercenary Squad's deployment map.
• Chen Zhang refused to betray Xiao Li, saying Xiao Li had saved him from the snake people and cared for him.
• Moxing ordered Little Eight to mutilate Chen Zhang, and Chen Zhang finally surrendered.

Hai Bodong attacked the Sand Mercenary Group, confirmed Moxing was dead, and ordered Luo Bu to help him with an unspecified task. Meanwhile, Gu Fengchen walked with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li and reflected on life and how force often settled disputes on the Dou Qi Continent.

• Hai Bodong smashed the Sand Mercenary Group's gates and froze the members who insulted him, including a sinister-looking man.
• Luo Bu hurried out, feared Hai Bodong's strength, and told him Moxing was probably dead when asked where he was.
• Hai Bodong accepted Moxing's death and told Luo Bu to help him with a task, without explaining what it was.
• Gu Fengchen walked with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li and considered his ordinary view of life and the limits of reasoning in a world where people relied on force.

Gu Fengchen reflected on how danger and unexpected entanglements had taken him away from the peaceful life he wanted. At the Desert Iron Mercenary Squad's base, he prepared pills to help two brothers whose character he admired.

• Gu Fengchen recalled that death was an instinctive terror and wondered why cultivating in peace had entangled him with so many women.
• Gu Fengchen imagined a quiet life with a gentle lover but accepted that it was growing more distant on the Dou Qi Continent.
• Gu Fengchen considered the story of the frog in the well and decided the frog was pitiful for being drawn into a dangerous wider world.
• Gu Fengchen arrived at the Desert Iron Mercenary Squad's base and took out the pills he had prepared to help two brothers.

Gu Fengchen gave Xiao Ding and Xiao Li two bottles of Tier 3 pills and told them that Xiao Yan could cultivate again and was training to become an Alchemist. After celebrating with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, the story shifted to Xue Lan witnessing someone thrown from a medicinal-pill shop in Desert Iron City.

• Gu Fengchen offered Xiao Ding and Xiao Li two bottles of Tier 3 pills as payment for lodging, but they initially refused the valuable gift.
• Gu Fengchen explained that Xiao Yan had asked him to bring the pills and revealed that Xiao Yan could cultivate again and was working to become an Alchemist.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li rejoiced at the news and accepted the bottles of pills.
• Gu Fengchen and the Desert Iron Mercenary Group held a feast to celebrate their gains in the Tagor Desert.
• Xue Lan saw someone thrown out of a medicinal-pill shop, while patrolling soldiers recognized the figure and left after warning the shop not to kill them.

Xue Lan helped Qing Lin after a shopkeeper and the crowd rejected her for her Snake People scales. After a drinking party, Gu Fengchen hired Xiao Ding and Xiao Li for a task, offering them fifty thousand Gold Coins whether they succeeded or failed.

• Patrolling soldiers ordered the shopkeeper not to kill the figure on the ground, then left without intervening.
• The shopkeeper explained to Xue Lan that Qing Lin frightened away his customers because she was born to a human woman violated by Snake People.
• Xue Lan noticed the scales growing from Qing Lin's arm, ignored the crowd's disgust, and asked the little girl her name.
• After the drinking party, Gu Fengchen asked Xiao Ding and Xiao Li to speak with him privately.
• Gu Fengchen offered the Xiao brothers fifty thousand Gold Coins to help him with an unspecified task.

Gu Fengchen hired Xiao Ding and Xiao Li’s Desert Iron Mercenary Group to find the entrance to a treasure containing a Fire Attribute treasure, promising them fifty thousand Gold Coins and help making their group Shimo City’s strongest. After Gu Fengchen left, the brothers wondered who he was and guessed he came from a major power.

• Gu Fengchen offered Xiao Ding and Xiao Li fifty thousand Gold Coins upfront to send as many people as possible to search for a treasure’s entrance.
• Gu Fengchen revealed that the treasure contained a Fire Attribute treasure and promised to help the Desert Iron Mercenary Group annex the Sand Mercenary Group afterward.
• Xiao Ding accepted the mission and said his group had several rare Sand Attribute cultivators who could help search.
• Gu Fengchen left, and Xiao Li asked Xiao Ding who Gu Fengchen was.
• Xiao Ding guessed that Gu Fengchen was a genius raised by a major power because he had at least Dou Ling strength at a young age.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li learned that Gu Fengchen wanted to find Qing Lin because she had Snake People blood. The next morning, Qing Lin entered Gu Fengchen’s room to serve him, though she seemed shy and timid.

• A mercenary told Xiao Ding that Gu Fengchen had refused every maidservant and had asked whether their group had someone named Qing Lin.
• Xue Lan said she had just encountered Qing Lin and revealed that the girl had Snake People blood.
• Xiao Ding decided to send Qing Lin to Gu Fengchen the next morning.
• When Gu Fengchen woke up, Qing Lin entered his room and timidly asked whether he was awake.

Gu Fengchen woke to find Qing Lin attending to him, and the Taotie Seal reacted to her presence. Realizing she possessed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils he had come to find, he began asking about her background.

• Gu Fengchen declined Qing Lin’s help dressing but let her wash his face.
• The Taotie Seal reacted as Qing Lin approached, surprising Gu Fengchen.
• Qing Lin introduced herself, and Gu Fengchen realized he had found the girl he had been seeking for her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
• Gu Fengchen asked Qing Lin how old she was, and she said she did not know because she had been abandoned as a child.

Gu Fengchen learned that Qing Lin was thirteen and had been abandoned, while she faced prejudice as a child of mixed human and snake blood. That night, he walked with her and Xiao Ding through Shimo City’s lively riverside snack street, where Qing Lin felt safer holding his hand.

• Gu Fengchen asked Qing Lin how old she was, and she said she did not know because she had been abandoned as a child.
• Qing Lin told Gu Fengchen that Xue Lan had said she was thirteen, and he worried about her bruises and the prejudice she faced.
• Xiao Ding came in and was surprised by Gu Fengchen’s ordinary, accepting attitude toward Qing Lin.
• After night fell, Xiao Ding led Gu Fengchen and Qing Lin through the bustling riverside streets of Shimo City.
• Gu Fengchen held Qing Lin’s hand as they passed stalls selling local dishes, and she felt less afraid beside him.

Gu Fengchen and Xiao Ding walked through Shimo City, where a quarrel between rival shopkeepers gave way to a confrontation with the Blood Ox Mercenary Squad. Xiao Ding explained that his squad’s success had left less work for weaker groups like the Blood Ox, and the two sides faced off in the street.

• A braised-meat seller flung a chicken butt toward the wine shop, and its bearded owner caught it and taunted him.
• Xiao Ding told Gu Fengchen that the shopkeepers were longtime rivals who often argued and had fought in the past.
• Xiao Ding led Gu Fengchen through Shimo City as lanterns lit the streets and singers entertained the crowds.
• A man from the Blood Ox Mercenary Squad mocked Xiao Ding over his recent haul, and more than thirty Blood Ox mercenaries approached.
• Xiao Ding explained that his squad’s high mission completion rate earned it priority, leaving fewer jobs for weaker mercenary groups like the Blood Ox.

Gu Fengchen watched Peng Ju provoke the Desert Iron Mercenary Squad and threaten Xue Lan, while Xiao Ding stepped in to defend her. The City Defense Army stopped the squads from fighting, and Peng Ju left promising trouble as Gu Fengchen asked whether he had always been so annoying.

• A Desert Iron Mercenary Squad member explained that Peng Ju, a One Star Dou Shi and captain of the Blood Ox Mercenary Squad, often clashed with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.
• Peng Ju insulted Xue Lan and tried to recruit her, but she mocked his age and limited cultivation.
• Peng Ju confronted Xue Lan, and Xiao Ding stepped between them to defend her.
• The Blood Ox Mercenary Squad and the Desert Iron Mercenary Squad prepared to fight until patrolling City Defense Army soldiers arrived and both sides put away their weapons.
• Peng Ju threatened Xiao Ding before leaving, and Gu Fengchen asked whether Peng Ju had always been so annoying.

Gu Fengchen learned why the Desert Iron Mercenary Squad had a feud with the Blood Ox Mercenary Squad and reassured Xiao Ding that his squad would grow stronger. Back at the base, Qing Lin entered Gu Fengchen’s room and said she wanted to serve him, leaving him wondering whether someone had pressured her.

• Xiao Ding explained that the Blood Ox Mercenary Squad had repeatedly targeted his squad after losing members and commissions to them, and that Peng Ju harassed women in Shimo City.
• Gu Fengchen reassured Xiao Ding that he and Xiao Li would surpass Peng Ju and build the Desert Iron Mercenary Squad into a mercenary corps.
• Gu Fengchen returned to the squad’s base and considered how the Green Lotus Core Flame could increase his strength.
• Qing Lin entered Gu Fengchen’s room and nervously said she wanted to serve him.
• Gu Fengchen wondered whether Qing Lin had been forced to come, since he believed Xiao Li and Xiao Ding would not mistreat her.

Qing Lin came to Gu Fengchen hoping he would take her in as his maid and protect her from life in Shimo City. Gu Fengchen understood her reasons and began to answer her request, but the chapter ended before he gave his decision.

• Gu Fengchen wondered who had encouraged Qing Lin to approach him, and Qing Lin nervously said she had come on her own.
• Qing Lin offered to wash clothes, cook, and serve Gu Fengchen in exchange for staying with him.
• Gu Fengchen realized Qing Lin wanted to leave Shimo City and possibly travel with him.
• Xue Lan had told Qing Lin that Gu Fengchen was strong and seemed kind, and urged her to become his maid.
• Gu Fengchen covered himself with a robe, gently rubbed Qing Lin's head, and said he wanted to tell her something.