Chapter Summaries

Gu Fengchen survived the confrontation with Mu Chen after Jia Xingtian, Nalan Jie, Nalan Su, and Fa Ma arrived to support him. With the crisis contained, he withdrew to heal his injuries and vowed to settle accounts with Mu Chen and Mitel Tengshan.

• Nalan Jie and Nalan Su arrived, joining Jia Xingtian and Mitel Tengshan as the Three Great Clans and imperial forces gathered around Gu Fengchen.
• Mu Chen accused Jia Xingtian of allowing Gu Fengchen to kill in public, but Fa Ma spoke up and backed the intervention.
• Faced with support from the Nalan Clan, the Alchemist Guild, and the imperial family, Mu Chen abandoned his attempt to retaliate.
• Nalan Jie and Nalan Su urged Nalan Yanran to get closer to Gu Fengchen, while Nalan Jie joked that she should try black stockings like Ya Fei.
• Gu Fengchen retreated to a corner, took pills to treat his injuries and restore Dou Qi, and vowed to repay Mu Chen and Mitel Tengshan.

After killing Mu Zhan, Gu Fengchen fled the gathering before the powerful factions could draw him into further trouble. Jia Xingtian ended the confrontation, and Mitel Tengshan asked Ya Fei to deliver a Tier 5 beast flame to Gu Fengchen as an apology.

• While the women admired him and Mu Chen considered attacking him, Gu Fengchen flew away and thanked Elder Jia, Old Man Nalan, and Guild Master Fa Ma.
• Jia Xingtian declared the dispute over, reprimanded Mu Chen and Mitel Tengshan, and left with Fa Ma.
• Nalan Su and Nalan Jie departed with Nalan Yanran, followed by Yaoyue and Yaoye, leaving Mu Chen and Mitel Tengshan behind.
• Mu Chen noticed his son's Storage Ring was missing and silently resolved to avenge Mu Zhan.
• Mitel Tengshan asked Ya Fei whether she knew Gu Fengchen, and she urged him to apologize with a Tier 5 beast flame.
• Mitel Tengshan agreed to have Ya Fei deliver the beast flame to Gu Fengchen.

After Jia Xingtian rescued Gu Fengchen, he arranged to fetch him from the Nalan Clan the next day for a favor. Meanwhile, Nalan Jie visited Yun Yun to discuss recruiting Gu Fengchen, leaving the Misty Cloud Sect considering how to compete with the Jia Ma Imperial Family for him.

• Jia Xingtian caught up with Gu Fengchen, revealed he wanted a favor, and told him to meet at the Nalan Clan at noon the next day.
• Nalan Jie went to the Misty Cloud Sect while the rest of his family had not yet returned to the Nalan Clan.
• Yun Yun noticed that Nalan Jie's Brand Poison was gone, and he explained that a young man with Heavenly Flames had cured him.
• Nalan Jie described Chen Fenggu, also known as Gu Feng, as a young Peak Great Dou Master and Tier 3 Alchemist with Heavenly Flames and a powerful body cultivation technique.
• Nalan Jie urged Yun Yun to help the Misty Cloud Sect compete with the Jia Ma Imperial Family to recruit Gu Fengchen, while privately considering Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran a match for Yaoyue and Yaoye.

Yun Yun and Nalan Jie discussed growing tensions along the Jia Ma Empire’s borders and the possibility that the Luoyan and Mulan Empires were conspiring against it. They agreed to watch the imperial family’s response and considered recruiting Gu Fengchen as a potential lifeline.

• Yun Yun invited Nalan Jie to play chess and told him that Gu Fengchen could try the Misty Cloud Sect’s assessment for a chance to join.
• Yun Yun warned Nalan Jie that Luoyan Empire experts had been active near the border, and Nalan Jie said their movements suggested a larger scheme.
• Nalan Jie urged the Jia Ma Empire to wait for the imperial family’s response, while Yun Yun worried that the empire lacked enough strength to resist a war.
• Nalan Jie mentioned that the Mulan Empire’s Third Prince had come to propose marriage, and Yun Yun suspected the Mulan and Luoyan Empires were coordinating to pressure the Jia Ma Imperial Family.
• Nalan Jie said the Misty Cloud Sect should win over Gu Fengchen in case the Jia Ma Empire fell, and Yun Yun reconsidered his talent and possible Central Plains origins.

Yun Yun warned Gu He about Gu Fengchen, then firmly rejected Gu He's pursuit. Yun Shan considered joining the Soul Hall if he failed to break through to Dou Zong, while Gu Fengchen returned to the Nalan Clan with a haul of free medicinal herbs.

• Yun Yun told Gu He that a Heavenly Flame wielder under twenty had become a Tier 3 Alchemist, and Gu He dismissed her claim.
• Yun Yun told Gu He to stop calling her Yun'er and made clear she would never return his feelings, so Gu He left on his Bamboo Leaf Boat.
• Yun Shan told a Soul Hall envoy he needed more time to seek pills and attempt a breakthrough before deciding whether to cooperate.
• The Soul Hall envoy gave Yun Shan one month, then vanished while privately expecting him to eventually accept their offer.
• Gu Fengchen returned to the Nalan Clan with medicinal herbs obtained from Fa Ma and paid for by Nalan Yanran and Yaoyue, while Yaoyue was confined by her sister to practice alchemy.

After returning to the Nalan Clan, Gu Fengchen looted Mu Zhan’s Storage Ring and cultivated with a Medicinal Bath, using the Taotie Seal to refine absorbed energy. He broke through to Dou Ling, startling Nalan Jie and Nalan Su and strengthening their confidence in having supported him.

• Nalan Yanran reflected on Gu Fengchen’s strength and admitted that she was convinced by him, though he refused to open his door to her.
• Gu Fengchen searched Mu Zhan’s Storage Ring and collected Gold Coins, Medicinal Pills, Magic Cores, and other items.
• Gu Fengchen prepared a Medicinal Bath and cultivated, refining the snake venom absorbed by the Taotie Seal while pushing against his bottleneck.
• Gu Fengchen’s Dou Crystal transformed and released a powerful energy ripple as he advanced to Dou Ling.
• Nalan Jie and Nalan Su rushed out after hearing Gu Fengchen’s cry and realized he had broken through; his new aura shattered the wooden tub.

After advancing to Dou Spirit, Gu Fengchen planned to visit the Jia Ma Imperial Family to obtain a portion of the Abyssal Sea Flood Dragon Beast Flame and strengthen himself against future threats. Meanwhile, Princess Yaoye learned of his breakthrough and faced a marriage proposal from the Mulan Three Elders’ grandson.

• Gu Fengchen tested his new ability to materialize Dou Qi and reflected that his strength still lacked Dou Skills and cultivation techniques.
• Gu Fengchen considered Jia Xingtian’s invitation to the imperial family and planned to seek the Abyssal Sea Flood Dragon Beast Flame to strengthen the Taotie Seal.
• Yaoye’s maid reported that Chen Fenggu had advanced to Dou Spirit after returning to the Nalan Clan, and Yaoye recognized him as the thirteen-year-old Gu Fengchen.
• Yaoyue urged Yaoye to pursue Gu Fengchen, then warned that the grandson of one of the Mulan Three Elders was coming to propose marriage the next day.

Gu Fengchen noticed he was being secretly watched as rumors spread that Ya Fei had taken an interest in him. After returning to the Nalan Clan, he found Ya Fei waiting at the entrance, dressed for a visit.

• Nalan Yanran woke to find Gu Fengchen passing her window, and she angrily shut it after he looked at her.
• Members of the Nalan Clan reacted to Gu Fengchen's breakthrough to Dou Ling, while rumors about Ya Fei's concern for him spread through the Mittel Family.
• Gu Fengchen sensed that someone was monitoring him as he went into the imperial capital for breakfast.
• After eating, Gu Fengchen returned to the Nalan Clan and found Ya Fei standing beside a carriage at the entrance.

Gu Fengchen received an apology from Ya Fei and her father, Mitel Ya Weng, after Mitel Tengshan nearly killed him. Ya Fei offered him cold flame and a sword technique, but Gu Fengchen decided the Mittel Family would need to offer more before he considered the matter settled.

• Mitel Ya Weng introduced himself as Ya Fei’s father, apologized to Gu Fengchen, and urged him to pursue Ya Fei while offering him a dual cultivation method.
• Ya Fei apologized on behalf of the Mittel Family and gave Gu Fengchen a cold flame taken from a Tier 5 Cold Flame Giant Lizard egg.
• Ya Fei offered Gu Fengchen an Earth Tier Mid-Grade sword technique called One Sword Breaks All Techniques.
• Gu Fengchen recognized the value of the gifts but judged them insufficient compensation for Mitel Tengshan’s attempt on his life, and considered asking for Ya Fei as well.

Gu Fengchen grew closer to Ya Fei and used their intimate encounter to cultivate with the Yin-Yang Two Forms Technique. Meanwhile, Jia Xingtian planned to have Gu Feng challenge Wei Ling over Yaoye’s marriage, and a sudden rumble of thunder followed Gu Fengchen’s oath.

• Gu Fengchen removed his Ice Silkworm Mask and flirted with Ya Fei, who welcomed his advances.
• Gu Fengchen told Ya Fei about the dual cultivation technique and spent three hours with her, improving his Dou Qi as they cultivated.
• In the imperial palace, Jia Xingtian proposed that Gu Feng challenge Wei Ling, who had come to propose marriage to Yaoye again.
• Gu Fengchen brushed his teeth after his encounter with Ya Fei and swore he had never peeked while Gu Xun'er bathed.
• Thunder rolled across the clear daytime sky after Gu Fengchen's oath.

Gu Fengchen discussed the limits of One Sword Breaks All Techniques with Ya Fei before Jia Xingtian summoned him to the imperial palace. At the Nalan Clan, Nalan Jie and Nalan Su refused to let Jia Xingtian take their “treasure boy,” while guards learned that Gu Fengchen had Heavenly Flames and was a Dou Ling before twenty.

• Gu Fengchen told Ya Fei that One Sword Breaks All Techniques dealt tremendous burst damage but left him weakened if its first strike failed to finish an opponent.
• Jia Xingtian interrupted Gu Fengchen and Ya Fei, reminding him of his promise to visit the imperial palace.
• Gu Fengchen decided that earning the Jia Ma Imperial Family’s trust would help protect him while Mu Chen watched him.
• Nalan Jie and Nalan Su confronted Jia Xingtian and refused to let him take Chen Fenggu away from the Nalan Clan.
• A Nalan Clan guard revealed to Jia Xingtian’s guards that Gu Fengchen had Heavenly Flames and was a Dou Ling under twenty, shocking them.

After learning about the upcoming Treasure Exchange Convention from Ya Fei, Gu Fengchen left her room and found Nalan Su and Jia Xingtian fighting over him. The battle drew a crowd, and Yaoye arrived at the Nalan family estate looking for Gu Fengchen.

• Ya Fei told Gu Fengchen that the Mitel Auction House would hold a Treasure Exchange Convention in Salt City in twenty days, and he agreed to attend.
• A Nalan Clan maid offered to share Ya Fei's burden, but Gu Fengchen heard a commotion outside before he could answer.
• Gu Fengchen discovered Nalan Su and Jia Xingtian fighting on the arena, with Jia Xingtian suppressing his strength to match Nalan Su's and refraining from using Dou Techniques.
• Yaoye left the imperial palace to search for Gu Fengchen after waiting for him there, then entered the courtyard and saw Nalan Su and Jia Xingtian fighting.

Gu Fengchen learned about Ya Fei’s upcoming Treasure Exchange Convention and found Nalan Su and Jia Xingtian fighting to recruit him. Princess Yaoye arrived at the Nalan residence looking for Gu Fengchen and saw the fierce duel.

• Ya Fei told Gu Fengchen that the Mitel Auction House would hold a Treasure Exchange Convention in Salt City in twenty days, and he agreed to attend.
• A maid from the Nalan Clan offered to share Ya Fei’s burden, but Gu Fengchen heard the crowd outside and went to investigate.
• Gu Fengchen discovered Nalan Su and Jia Xingtian fighting on the arena, with Jia Xingtian suppressing his strength to Nalan Su’s level as they competed to recruit Gu Fengchen.
• Yaoye left the imperial palace to search for Gu Fengchen after waiting for him there, then arrived at the Nalan residence and saw the two men fighting.

Gu Fengchen accompanied Jia Xingtian to the imperial palace after watching him spar with Nalan Su, and learned Jia Xingtian expected him and Yaoye to share a connection. There, Yaoyue fretted over a pimple, so Gu Fengchen promised to help and made her steamed fish.

• Jia Xingtian and Nalan Su sparred at immense speed, then Jia Xingtian took Gu Fengchen with him to the imperial palace.
• Gu Fengchen thanked Yaoye for saving him, and Jia Xingtian predicted that Gu Fengchen and Yaoye would share a connection in the future.
• Gu Fengchen reflected on his path to becoming a Dou Emperor and the limits of relying on the Taotie Seal.
• Yaoyue cried over a pimple after Yaoye scared her by claiming it was an insect egg, and Gu Fengchen promised to make her a fish to help.
• Gu Fengchen prepared steamed fish in the imperial kitchen and offered it to Yaoyue.

Wei Ling pressured Yaoye to accept his marriage proposal, but she challenged him to a duel against a Jia Ma Imperial Family fighter under twenty. As the duel approached, Jia Xingtian gave Gu Fengchen a dark-gold longsword as a gift.

• Wei Ling visited Yaoye and demanded an answer to his marriage proposal, but she told him to get lost.
• Old Hu revealed that Wei Ling was an Inner Pavilion Disciple of the Yellow Springs Pavilion, and Yaoye pretended to soften her stance.
• Yaoye proposed a duel against a Jia Ma Imperial Family fighter under twenty, with marriage at stake, and Wei Ling agreed to meet at the Life-and-Death Arena in ten minutes.
• Jia Xingtian summoned a dark-gold longsword and gave it to Gu Fengchen as the first gift for helping the imperial family.

Gu Fengchen entered a life-and-death arena match against Wei Ling to protect the Jia Ma Imperial Family from the Mulan Empire’s lingering presence. Their opening clash sent Wei Ling flying, leaving the battle’s outcome unresolved.

• Jia Xingtian gave Gu Fengchen the Earth Tier Mid-Grade sword No Thought and told him to use it to kill Wei Ling, while Gu Fengchen trained with the sword and Thunderbolt Fist.
• Jia Xingtian brought Gu Fengchen, wearing the Ice Silkworm Mask, to the arena after Wei Ling signed the Life-and-Death Contract.
• Yaoye’s mother sold tickets as nobles and representatives from major factions gathered to watch the match.
• Yaoye told Gu Fengchen not to disappoint her, and he leaped onto the arena to face Wei Ling.
• Wei Ling unleashed a punch as a Five-Star Great Dou Master, but Gu Fengchen met it with a powerful strike that sent Wei Ling flying and left the arena cracked.

Gu Fengchen revealed that he had advanced to Dou Ling, shocking the arena and making Wei Ling realize Yaoye had tricked him into signing the Life-and-Death Contract. After Gu Fengchen shattered Wei Ling’s Yellow Springs Formation, its polluted energy overwhelmed his mind, so he redirected it into his sword and prepared to strike Wei Ling.

• Gu Fengchen revealed his Dou Ling cultivation, stunning the arena and alarming Wei Ling.
• Wei Ling used the Yellow Springs Pavilion’s Yellow Springs Formation as his trump card.
• Gu Fengchen appeared to break the Formation with one sword strike, concealing that he had used the Taotie Seal to absorb it.
• The Formation’s negative energy overwhelmed Gu Fengchen’s mind, so he released the energy onto his sword instead of absorbing it.
• Gu Fengchen drew nearby weapons and metal objects into the air with his Sword Qi, then vanished into a sword thrust toward Wei Ling.

Gu Fengchen defeated and killed Wei Ling in the arena, becoming a hero of the Jia Ma Empire and drawing the imperial family’s support. Yaoye led him to a private room in the palace, where they were left alone together.

• Gu Fengchen used a powerful sword technique to shred Wei Ling, while Jia Xingtian prevented Old Hu from intervening.
• Jia Xingtian praised Gu Fengchen and told Yaoye to build a closer relationship with him, and Yaoye agreed with the implication.
• The spectators marveled at Gu Fengchen’s victory, while Ge Ye said he would report the battle to the Misty Cloud Sect’s sect master.
• Old Hu left the arena in anger as Mulan Empire attendants speculated that Wei Ling’s defeat had been arranged.
• Yaoye escorted Gu Fengchen to a quiet room in the imperial palace, where the guards withdrew and the two were left alone.

After killing Wei Ling, Gu Fengchen accepted Yaoye’s invitation and flirted with her while keeping the secret of how he had broken the Yellow Springs Formation. Yaoye warned him that Wei Ling’s death had made an enemy of the Mulan Empire, leaving Gu Fengchen weighing which powerful factions might protect him.

• Gu Fengchen asked Yaoye whether killing Wei Ling would cause trouble, and she said he should have chopped him into mincemeat.
• Yaoye invited Gu Fengchen to let her treat him, and he agreed to build a relationship with the Jia Ma Imperial Family.
• Yaoye asked how Gu Fengchen had broken the Yellow Springs Formation, but he refused to reveal the secret and joked with her instead.
• Yaoye explained that Wei Ling’s father, Wei Feng, was one of the Mulan Three Elders and that killing Wei Ling had offended the Mulan Empire.
• Gu Fengchen considered the danger posed by the Mulan Three Elders and weighed the Imperial Family, the Alchemist Guild, and the Nalan Clan as potential backers.

Gu Fengchen promised Yaoye that he would support the Jia Ma Imperial Family and gave her a Jade Mirror for contacting him. Yaoye told him about Sound Valley’s famed valley master, Cai Weizi, before abruptly turning cold and heading for the door, leaving Gu Fengchen to wonder if she was angry with him.

• Yaoye explained that the Jia Ma Empire faced threats from the Mulan and Luoyan Empires and Queen Medusa’s Snake People Tribe, and asked Gu Fengchen to help the imperial family in a crisis.
• Gu Fengchen promised to support the Jia Ma Imperial Family and gave Yaoye a Jade Mirror that could transmit messages over long distances.
• Yaoye accepted the mirror, smiled at Gu Fengchen’s sincerity, and invited him to hear her play the zither.
• While they talked, Yaoye described Cai Weizi of Sound Valley as the Dou Qi Continent’s most beautiful woman and recounted how powerful suitors had failed to win her hand.
• After the zither performance, Yaoye turned cold and walked toward the door, and Gu Fengchen took her hand and asked if she was angry with him.