Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Venerate with the help of his Heavenly Flames and discussed his new strength and plans with Yao Lao and Xiao Yi Xian. Outside, factions changed their stance toward the Tian Shu Alliance after attributing the breakthrough phenomenon to Venerable Skyfire, while Xiao Yan prepared to gather supplies and guide the alliance’s Alchemists before setting out for the Yin-Yang Dual Flame.

• Xiao Yan explained that his Heavenly Flames had absorbed the pill’s energy to stabilize his breakthrough, and he described his improved Dou Qi and spatial control to Yao Lao and Xiao Yi Xian.
• Yao Lao urged Xiao Yan to obtain the Yin-Yang Dual Flame, and Xiao Yan agreed to rest before setting out with Xiao Yi Xian.
• Factions across the Northwest Continent changed their attitude toward the Tian Shu Alliance after believing Venerable Skyfire had emerged as a veteran four-star Dou Venerate.
• Yao Tianhuo brought Yao Ye to Yan City and accepted Xiao Yan’s assignment to construct a spatial passage between the Jia Ma Empire and Yan City.
• Xiao Yan obtained medicinal ingredients from Hai Bodong and planned to refine pills while holding an exchange gathering to guide Shi Tian and the alliance’s Alchemists.

Xiao Yan hosted an alchemy exchange meeting, demonstrated his skill by refining several Tier 6 pills, and instructed Shi Yan and Gu He before preparing to leave for the Yin-Yang Dual Flame. When he returned to his courtyard, someone concealed inside his bedroom surprised him with a familiar declaration.

• Xiao Yan opened the exchange meeting and began refining pills while the assembled Alchemists watched.
• Xiao Yan rapidly produced several Tier 6 Medicinal Pills, including pills intended for his journey and for the Tian Shu Alliance.
• Xiao Yan ended the alchemy demonstration and gave Shi Yan and Gu He guidance on refining Tier 7 Medicinal Pills.
• Xiao Yan handed the meeting over to Gu He and returned to his courtyard, planning to depart for the Yin-Yang Dual Flame the next day.
• A hidden figure grabbed Xiao Yan from behind in the bedroom and said, "Little man, this King is done for."

Xiao Yan reunited with Medusa, Qing Lin, Zi Yan, and Xiao Yi Xian after returning. As he welcomed Qing Lin's new confidence, Xiao Yi Xian reminded him not to hurt Xun Er again, and Xiao Yan resolved to help her retrieve the Tou She Ancient God Jade for the Ancient Clan.

• Xiao Yan recognized Medusa, reunited with her, and learned that Qing Lin had advanced to Dou Wang while Xiao Yi Xian had arranged their private meeting.
• Xiao Yan and Medusa spent the night together, and he defeated her in their contest.
• Xiao Yan found Xiao Yi Xian, Zi Yan, and Qing Lin in the courtyard, and Zi Yan asked him for pills.
• Xiao Yan greeted Qing Lin warmly, and she showed more confidence while holding his arm.
• Xiao Yi Xian cautioned Xiao Yan not to make Xun Er sad again, and Xiao Yan resolved to help her return the Tou She Ancient God Jade to the Ancient Clan.

Xiao Yan went to Jia Nan Academy to meet Xiao Xun'er and reveal the Tou She Ancient God Jade Fragment he wanted to trade with the Ancient Clan for cultivation resources. Xiao Xun'er learned of his alchemy achievements and reacted in shock when he showed her the fragment.

• Xiao Yan left Xiao Yi Xian in charge of Yan City and traveled through a spatial rift to Jia Nan Academy.
• Bai Lie and Qian Mo sensed that Xiao Yan had grown stronger, while Ling Ying let him enter Xiao Xun'er's courtyard.
• Xiao Xun'er told Xiao Yan she had missed him, then was delighted to learn he had refined an eighth-tier four-color medicinal pill alone.
• Xiao Yan hugged Xiao Xun'er and said he had an important matter to discuss.
• Xiao Yan showed Xiao Xun'er the Emperor Jade Fragment, and she gasped in shock.

Xiao Yan gave Xiao Xun'er the Tou She Ancient God Jade fragment and helped her summon her father, Gu Yuan, rather than return to the Ancient Clan alone. Gu Yuan arrived, and after pressuring Xiao Yan over Xiao Xun'er's sadness, he apologized when she explained the reason.

• Xiao Yan revealed that he knew Xiao Xun'er had come from the Ancient Clan to seek the Ancient Jade, and she anxiously assured him that she had stopped pursuing it.
• Xiao Yan told Xiao Xun'er that he valued her more than the jade and placed the fragment in her hands.
• Xiao Xun'er explained that returning the jade to the Ancient Clan could keep her away from Xiao Yan for years, so Xiao Yan suggested she use her token to summon Gu Yuan.
• Xiao Xun'er sent Gu Yuan a message through the token, and Gu Yuan appeared moments later.
• Gu Yuan noticed Xiao Xun'er's sadness and directed his displeasure at Xiao Yan, but Xiao Xun'er defended him and explained she was sad about returning to the Ancient Clan.
• Gu Yuan understood and apologized to Xiao Yan for reacting too quickly.

Xiao Yan told Gu Yuan that he had reached One-Star Dou Venerate before the age of twenty, astonishing him with his talent despite lacking an Emperor Clan’s resources and bloodline. Xiao Yan revealed his Flame Control Technique and introduced his teacher, Yao Chen, whose surviving soul surprised Gu Yuan with its strength and potential as a Ninth-Rank Alchemist.

• Xiao Yan told Gu Yuan he had recently reached One-Star Dou Venerate, and Gu Yuan realized he had achieved it in less than fifteen years of cultivation.
• Gu Yuan compared Xiao Yan’s circumstances and talent with Xiao Xuan’s, then judged that Xiao Yan was worthy of Xiao Xun'er despite the difficulty of reaching Dou Saint without a Dou God Bloodline.
• Xiao Yan displayed his Fallen Heart Flame and Flame Control Technique when Gu Yuan asked about his other abilities.
• Xiao Yan named Yao Chen as his teacher, and Gu Yuan recognized him as the Yao Clan outcast who had won the Alchemist Conference and was believed dead.
• Xiao Yan brought Yao Lao’s Soul Body out of the Bone Flame Ring, and Gu Yuan observed that his soul had reached Peak Spirit Realm and showed potential as a Ninth-Rank Alchemist.

Xiao Yan demonstrated his alchemy skill to Gu Yuan by rapidly refining an Imperial Extreme Pill barehandedly. He revealed that he had independently refined an Eight-Rank Four-Color pill and had reached Eight-Rank Five-Color with Yao Lao’s assistance, greatly raising Gu Yuan’s estimation of him.

• Xiao Xun'er urged Xiao Yan to reveal his specialty, and Gu Yuan listened in with curiosity.
• Xiao Yan took out Imperial Extreme Pill herbs and refined them barehandedly with the Fallen Heart Flame.
• Gu Yuan recognized that Xiao Yan’s speed and control exceeded what a seventh-rank alchemist could manage.
• Xiao Yan completed a high-tier tier 6 Imperial Extreme Pill, which he said he had refined to the peak of the sixth grade.
• Gu Yuan asked about Xiao Yan’s highest alchemy achievement, and Xiao Yan said he had refined Eight-Rank Five-Color with Yao Lao’s help and Eight-Rank Four-Color on his own.

Gu Yuan approved of Xiao Yan’s cultivation and alchemy talent, accepted him as Xiao Xun’er’s prospective husband, and granted him three years to prove himself before the Ancient Clan came to take her back. After claiming the Tou She Ancient God Jade Fragment, Gu Yuan offered Xiao Yan compensation, leaving Xiao Yan ready to make a request.

• Gu Yuan recognized Xiao Yan as an Eight-Rank Four-Color Alchemist and told him to call him Uncle.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun’er clasped hands as Gu Yuan approved of their relationship.
• Gu Yuan promised Xiao Yan three years before the Ancient Clan sent people to take Xiao Xun’er back, and urged him to become strong enough to win the clan’s recognition.
• Xiao Yan resolved to grow stronger and thought critically about Gu Yuan’s influence over the Ancient Clan.
• Gu Yuan confirmed that Xiao Xun’er’s Tou She Ancient God Jade Fragment was genuine, took it, and offered Xiao Yan compensation because he had given it to her.

Xiao Yan openly admitted that he had traded the Ancient Jade Fragment partly to obtain resources from the Ancient Clan, and Gu Yuan agreed to provide him with a Dou Saint Skeleton and five portions of Ninth-Rank Magical Beast Blood Essence. Xiao Yan accepted the arrangement and urged Gu Yuan to keep the jade fragment on his person.

• Xiao Yan admitted to Gu Yuan that he had hoped to obtain resources from the Ancient Clan by giving Xun Er the Ancient Jade.
• Xiao Yan requested a Dou Saint Skeleton, a Ninth-Rank Magical Beast Beast Flame, and two portions of Ninth-Rank Magical Beast Blood Essence.
• Gu Yuan explained that the Ancient Clan could not readily provide Ninth-Rank Beast Flames, then offered five portions of Ninth-Rank Magical Beast Blood Essence instead.
• Xiao Yan chose to keep the Dou Saint Skeleton in his requests because he intended to use it to revive Yao Lao.
• Gu Yuan agreed to deliver the resources within two to six months, and Xiao Yan asked him to keep the Ancient Jade Fragment on his person.

Xiao Yan warned Gu Yuan that the Soul Clan might be seeking the Ancient Jades and could infiltrate the Ancient Clan to steal its fragment. Gu Yuan decided to keep the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade himself and gave Xiao Yan a protective token, leaving Xiao Yan eager to use it to pursue resources and grow stronger.

• Xiao Yan told Gu Yuan that the Soul Clan was targeting the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade and might use spies or coercion to gather all the Ancient Jades.
• Gu Yuan considered the possibility of a spy reaching the Ancient Clan's Ancient Jade in the ancestral hall and realized Xiao Yan's warning had merit.
• Gu Yuan decided to keep the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade on his person and spread the news that the Soul Clan would have to defeat him to collect every fragment.
• Gu Yuan gave Xiao Yan a token that could protect him from danger and let him send important messages to Gu Yuan.
• Xiao Yan realized the token would let him safely venture into the underground Magma World and planned how to use the next three years to gather resources, advance, and revive Yao Lao.

Xiao Yan promised Xiao Xun'er he would win her freedom from the Ancient Clan and told her he was leaving to seek the Yin-Yang Dual Flame. Back in Yan City, he reunited with Xiao Yi Xian, Queen Medusa, Zi Yan, and Qing Lin, then departed the chapter with Xiao Xun'er missing him at Jia Nan Academy.

• After Gu Yuan left, Xiao Yan promised Xiao Xun'er he would win her freedom when the Ancient Clan came in three years, and she said she believed in him.
• Xiao Yan told Xiao Xun'er he had learned the location of the Yin-Yang Dual Flame and would travel to find it, and she promised to wait for him.
• Xiao Yan returned to Yan City and told Queen Medusa he would soon leave for the Northwest Continent to seek the Yin-Yang Dual Flame.
• Queen Medusa pulled Xiao Yan into the bedchamber, and after their battle, Xiao Yi Xian joined them to repay Medusa for her earlier provocation.
• At Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Xun'er gazed at the moon and wondered whether Xiao Yan was thinking of her.

Xiao Yan traveled alone to a mountain basin to find the secret realm holding the Yin-Yang Dual Flame, but discovered it was hidden behind faint spatial fluctuations. Nearby, Old Man Mu Gu and Old Ghost Zhaixing prepared to ambush him, believing Yan Xiao was Yao Chen’s disciple and possessed the Burning Mantra.

• Xiao Yan left the Tian Shu Alliance in Venerable Skyfire’s care and set out alone.
• Xiao Yan reached the basin after ten days of travel but could not see the secret realm or sense the Yin-Yang Dual Flame.
• Xiao Yan detected a faint spatial fluctuation above the basin and tried to open a passage to it.
• Old Man Mu Gu told Old Ghost Zhaixing that Yan Xiao was his target and that the Yin-Yang Dual Flame was bait for the Sea Heart Flame.
• Old Man Mu Gu explained that he suspected Yan Xiao was Yao Chen’s disciple, had learned the Burning Mantra, and was collecting Heavenly Flames, so he and Old Ghost Zhaixing planned to attack together.

Xiao Yan entered the secret realm after Old Man Mu Gu and Old Ghost Zhaixing pursued him, then fought them when they tried to claim his Heavenly Flames and Burning Mantra. Outnumbered but confident, he unleashed his Spirit Realm soul power and began the Soul Skill—Soul Spirit Avatar.

• Xiao Yan opened a passage to the secret realm, and Old Man Mu Gu and Old Ghost Zhaixing followed him inside.
• Xiao Yan sensed a Heavenly Flame in the realm and chose to confront the two Soul Hall Venerates before seeking it.
• Old Man Mu Gu recognized Xiao Yan’s Bone Flame Ring and suspected that he cultivated the Burning Mantra.
• Old Ghost Zhaixing attacked with a black-mist palm, but Xiao Yan’s Green Lotus Core Flame crushed it before the mist overwhelmed him.
• Old Man Mu Gu joined the assault with a crystal claw, and Xiao Yan unleashed his Spirit Realm soul power and announced Soul Skill—Soul Spirit Avatar.

Xiao Yan used his Soul Avatar, Heavenly Flames, and control over space to defeat Old Man Mu Gu and capture Old Ghost Zhaixing. As he prepared to use their bodies and souls to refine Heavenly Demon Puppets, another Dou Di remnant soul appeared and asked where Xiao Yan had learned his Soul Skill.

• Xiao Yan's Soul Avatar restrained Old Man Mu Gu's giant claw, and Old Ghost Zhaixing agreed to help after Old Man Mu Gu offered him another Tier 8 Medicinal Pill.
• Xiao Yan revealed his Heavenly Flames and combined them into a Fusion Heavenly Flame, frightening Old Man Mu Gu and Old Ghost Zhaixing.
• Old Ghost Zhaixing tried to escape through a spatial passage, but Xiao Yan's Soul Avatar pierced and restrained him with two chains.
• Xiao Yan sealed the space around Old Man Mu Gu and killed him with a seven-colored Flame Splitting Wave Ruler strike, then reattached his head to preserve his body.
• Xiao Yan planned to refine Old Man Mu Gu and Old Ghost Zhaixing into Heavenly Demon Puppets when an ancient remnant soul appeared and asked where he had learned his Soul Skill.

Xiao Yan captured Old Man Mu Gu and Old Ghost Zhaixing, then learned that the Dou Di Remnant Soul was a clone of the Soul Spirit Emperor, a Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint and the creator of the soul techniques Xiao Yan practiced. After recognizing Xiao Yan as his successor and meeting Yao Lao, the Soul Spirit Emperor agreed that Xiao Yan could take the Yin-Yang Dual Flame, and Xiao Yan offered to restore him to life in exchange for his help.

• Xiao Yan trapped Old Man Mu Gu's soul in a jade bottle and extracted Old Ghost Zhaixing's soul, sealing both men away.
• The Soul Spirit Emperor explained that he was a weakened clone who had reached Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint before dying after the continent's last Origin Qi was consumed.
• Xiao Yan revealed that he had learned the Soul Spirit Emperor's techniques through Wan Ling Emperor and practiced the Soul Refining Mantra, so the Soul Spirit Emperor recognized him as a successor.
• Xiao Yan introduced Yao Lao as his first master, and the Soul Spirit Emperor praised him for raising such a disciple.
• The Soul Spirit Emperor said Xiao Yan could take the Yin-Yang Dual Flame, and Xiao Yan offered to use his knowledge of body refinement and Origin Qi to restore him and ask for his aid.

Xiao Yan acquired the Yin-Yang Dual Flame and the Soul Spirit Emperor’s Dou Sheng skeleton, then left the secret realm with plans to strengthen the Tian Shu Alliance. He aimed to reach Semi-Saint strength within three years and decided to raise the alliance’s profile by holding an alchemist exchange conference.

• Xiao Yan accepted the Yin-Yang Dual Flame and invited the Soul Spirit Emperor to accompany him as his disciple.
• The Soul Spirit Emperor gave Xiao Yan his low-star Dou Sheng skeleton, and Xiao Yan stored it before leaving the secret realm.
• Xiao Yan recovered his Dou Qi and set out for the Black-Corner Region while planning to reach Semi-Saint strength within three years.
• Xiao Yan planned to use his Myriad Beast Talent to recruit Tier 7 Magical Beasts and fill the Tian Shu Alliance’s shortage of mid-level fighters.
• Xiao Yan decided to promote the Tian Shu Alliance by hosting an exchange conference for alchemists across the Northwest Continent and revealing that he was an Eighth-Rank Alchemist.

After returning to Yan City, Xiao Yan rewarded Gu He for his tireless work with a powerful cultivation method and flame-control techniques, then challenged him to refine a Tier 7 pill at the next exchange conference. Xiao Yan hurried to his courtyard, eager to use the Yin-Yang Dual Flame and discover what talent it might awaken.

• Xiao Yan learned that Gu He had advanced to peak Sixth-Rank Alchemist and could refine the Break-Ancestor Pill.
• Xiao Yan visited Gu He and offered him an earth-high tier fire-attribute cultivation method and a flame-control technique he had created.
• Xiao Yan explained that the gifts rewarded Gu He's work and told him to refine a Tier 7 pill at the next Alchemist Exchange Conference.
• Gu He wondered what rank of alchemist Xiao Yan had reached after hearing that his technique could rival an Eighth-Rank Alchemist's flame control.
• Xiao Yan hurried to his courtyard, eager to use the Yin-Yang Dual Flame to advance the Burning Mantra and awaken a Heaven-Swallowing Talent.

Xiao Yan returned as Xiao Yi Xian completed her breakthrough to First-Turn Dou Venerate, then recounted his encounter with the Soul Spirit Emperor and the Soul Hall elders. After introducing the Soul Spirit Emperor to Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa, Xiao Yan secluded himself to work with the Yin-Yang Dual Flame.

• Xiao Yan returned to Yan City and helped Xiao Yi Xian contain her poison as she broke through to First-Turn Dou Venerate.
• Xiao Yan asked about Zi Yan and Qing Lin, then told Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa about his trip, his battle with Old Ghost Zhaixing and Old Man Mu Gu, and his meeting with the Soul Spirit Emperor.
• Xiao Yan brought the Soul Spirit Emperor out of the Nether Sea Storage Ring and asked Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa to explain the continent and their faction while he handled his gains.
• Xiao Yan sealed himself in the bedroom, summoned Yao Lao to guard him, and sat on the Earth Fire Lotus Platform to examine the Yin-Yang Dual Flame's power of Balance.

Xiao Yan absorbed the Yin-Yang Dual Flame, advanced his cultivation, and awakened the Heaven-Swallowing Talents [Balance] and [Yin-Yang]. He began refining puppets from Old Ghost Zhaixing and Old Man Mu Gu’s bodies and souls, using [Balance] to create the right moment for their fusion.

• Xiao Yan absorbed the Yin-Yang Dual Flame, which raised his cultivation to two and a half stars in the Dou Venerate realm and further optimized the Burning Mantra.
• Xiao Yan awakened the Heaven-Swallowing Talents [Balance] and [Yin-Yang], which he explained to Yao Lao.
• Xiao Yan brought out Old Ghost Zhaixing and Old Man Mu Gu’s corpses, souls, Seventh Rank Magic Cores, and rare metals to begin refining puppets.
• Xiao Yan swapped the two souls between the bodies and used the Fusion Heavenly Flame to melt the special metals.
• Xiao Yan activated [Balance], which brought the bodies, souls, and Magic Cores into resonance and gave him the moment needed to continue the fusion.

Xiao Yan used his [Balance] talent and Fusion Heavenly Flame to refine three Heavenly Demon Puppets with Dou Venerate strength, then made another Earth Demon Puppet to protect the Xiao Clan and his elder brother Xiao Ding. After a month passed, the Tian Shu Alliance’s Alchemist Exchange Conference became the region’s major event.

• Xiao Yan refined the bodies of Old Ghost Zhaixing and Old Man Mu Gu into two Three-Star Dou Venerate Heavenly Demon Puppets.
• Xiao Yan upgraded his original Earth Demon Puppet into a Heavenly Demon Puppet and decided to give the other puppets to protect the Xiao Clan and Xiao Ding.
• Xiao Yan used Protector Xuan’s soul, Shi Jing’s body, a Seventh-Rank Magic Core, and other materials to refine an Earth Demon Puppet with low-star Dou Zong strength.
• Xiao Yan left his room and went with Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa to the bedroom while Yao Lao spoke with the Soul Spirit Emperor.
• A month after Xiao Yan returned from subduing the Yin-Yang Dual Flame, Yan Xiao invited Fifth-Tier and higher Alchemists across the Northwest Continent to the Tian Shu Alliance’s Alchemist Exchange Conference.