Chapter Summaries

Xiao Ze and Qing Lin explored the Ancient Mountain Range after sensing an opportunity, while Soul Hall elders mobilized to hunt for Xiao Ze. Xiao Ze discovered a dangerous burial ground that he believed contained a mutated Ancient Heaven Snake, and he planned to help Qing Lin subdue it.

• Xiao Ze sensed an opportunity in the Ancient Mountain Range and took Qing Lin to search for places rich in energy.
• A purple-robed Soul Hall elder received Song Qing's message that Xiao Ze was in the southern mountain ranges, then joined a red-robed elder in ordering a search for him.
• Qing Lin sensed a promising direction, and Xiao Ze uncovered layers of magical beast bones and human remains beneath the mountain soil.
• Xiao Ze extended his Illusion Sea Domain into the mountains, sensed a violent aura from a cave, and withdrew his soul power.
• Xiao Ze recognized clues that the cave might hold a mutated Nine-Headed Ancient Heaven Snake and told Qing Lin that subduing it could greatly increase her strength.

Xiao Ze and Qing Lin found the remains of a mutated nine-headed Ancient Heaven Snake, whose lingering soul and violent intent resisted Qing Lin’s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. After her first attempt to subdue it failed, Xiao Ze decided they would beat the soul into submission before trying again.

• Xiao Ze and Qing Lin followed the violent intent through a blood-mist-filled cave to a vast underground chamber.
• Xiao Ze revealed that the source of the violent intent was the corpse of a nine-headed Ancient Heaven Snake, a supreme snake-type bloodline capable of rivaling a Dou Saint when fully grown.
• Xiao Ze explained that the Ancient Heaven Snake’s soul still remained and that Qing Lin could summon it with her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
• Qing Lin used her pupils on the corpse, summoning the Ancient Heaven Snake’s soul, but its violent intent overwhelmed her until Xiao Ze jolted her awake.
• Xiao Ze concluded that Qing Lin could not subdue the mutated Ancient Heaven Snake yet and proposed beating its soul into submission first.

Xiao Ze stopped the Ancient Heaven Snake from taking Qing Lin’s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and subdued the snake’s soul so she could control it. Qing Lin successfully formed the green flower that marked her control of the Ancient Heaven Snake.

• The Ancient Heaven Snake recognized Qing Lin’s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and demanded that she let it control her.
• The Ancient Heaven Snake shattered Xiao Ze’s energy barrier with its blood-tainted attack, but Xiao Ze burned away the energy with his Origin Emperor Flame.
• Xiao Ze restrained the Ancient Heaven Snake with golden fire chains infused with soul-restraining Woeful Poison Power.
• The Ancient Heaven Snake detonated its corpse to release its accumulated blood energy, but Xiao Ze protected Qing Lin and himself with a barrier of fire.
• Xiao Ze pierced the Ancient Heaven Snake’s nine heads with fire chains until its intelligence faded, then told Qing Lin to subdue it.
• Qing Lin used her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to control the Ancient Heaven Snake, forming a palm-sized green flower.

Xiao Ze protected Qing Lin while she refined the Ancient Heaven Snake’s soul, then intercepted Soul Hall Protectors investigating the underground site. After Xiao Ze destroyed the group at the exit, an old man in purple robes appeared and confronted him.

• Xiao Ze placed the Ancient Heaven Snake’s skeleton in his Storage Ring and protected Qing Lin with a golden barrier while she refined its soul.
• Xiao Ze ambushed a Soul Hall Protector in the tunnel, killed him with golden flames, and suspected the man had been sent to scout for him.
• Xiao Ze used Woeful Poison Power and the Illusion Sea Domain to crush the Soul Hall Protectors gathered outside the cave.
• Xiao Ze collected the fallen Protectors’ items and faced an old man in purple robes, who praised his ruthless methods and combat skill.

Xiao Ze fought off a Soul Hall Venerable Elder sent to capture him, using his movement technique and Illusion Sea Domain to evade attacks before striking back with the Great Vast Sea Palm. The battle left the elder admitting that capturing Xiao Ze alone would be difficult, just as another Dou Venerate arrived.

• Xiao Ze realized the Soul Hall had learned his whereabouts, likely through Song Qing's betrayal, and faced the purple-robed Venerable Elder who had come to capture him.
• The elder attacked with spatial strangulation, but Xiao Ze evaded the rift with his lightning-attribute movement technique.
• The elder sent black chains after Xiao Ze, but Xiao Ze's Illusion Sea Domain slowed them long enough for him to escape.
• The elder pursued Xiao Ze and attacked with Soul-Rending Claw, while Xiao Ze countered with the Great Vast Sea Palm and blasted him backward.
• The elder acknowledged that taking Xiao Ze down alone would be difficult, and a red-robed Dou Venerate arrived.

Xiao Ze faced two Soul Hall elders who joined forces against him, then revealed two Heavenly Demon Phoenix Puppets and used his Illusion Sea Domain to turn the tables. The puppets killed both elders, leaving Xiao Ze victorious.

• The red-robed elder arrived to help the purple-robed elder, and both dismissed Xiao Ze’s claim that he had been holding back.
• Xiao Ze declared that he would gang up on the elders too and summoned two Heavenly Demon Phoenix Puppets.
• Xiao Ze spread his Illusion Sea Domain over the elders and weakened them with Woeful Poison Power as the puppets attacked.
• One Heavenly Demon Phoenix Puppet punched through the red-robed elder’s chest and killed him.
• The purple-robed elder broke free of the domain and tried to escape, but a puppet shattered his spatial barrier and fatally struck him.

Xiao Ze defeated the Soul Hall forces, learned that Song Qing had betrayed the Pill Tower and that its disciples were held at the Ghost Cry Mountain Range branch. Qing Lin finished refining the Ancient Heaven Snake's soul and revealed that she was one step from reaching the Dou Zun Realm.

• Xiao Ze ordered the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Puppets to capture the Soul Hall Protectors, collected the spoils, and burned one Protector alive when he refused to answer.
• Xiao Ze questioned the remaining Protectors and learned that Song Qing had given the Soul Hall information about him and that the Pill Tower disciples were imprisoned at the Ghost Cry Mountain Range branch.
• Xiao Ze sealed the three Protectors in jade bottles and hurried back underground after sensing a surge of energy from Qing Lin.
• Qing Lin emerged with a Nine-Headed Ancient Heaven Snake mark and intense green light in her eyes, then told Xiao Ze that she was one step away from the Dou Zun Realm.

Xiao Ze learned that the Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal lay sealed beneath the Ancient Heaven Snake’s remains, but postponed retrieving it to rescue the Pill Tower disciples from the Soul Hall. After freeing the captives, he prepared to destroy the Soul Hall branch.

• Qing Lin told Xiao Ze that the Ancient Heaven Snake’s memories revealed a sealed Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal beneath them, and Xiao Ze decided it could benefit the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python.
• Xiao Ze warned Qing Lin that Soul Hall members had come looking for them and chose to rescue the Pill Tower disciples before returning for the treasure.
• Xiao Ze and Qing Lin disguised their auras and entered the Soul Hall branch, where Xiao Ze crushed its Protectors with the Illusion Sea Domain.
• Xiao Ze found the Pill Tower disciples shackled with Soul Locking Chains, freed them with golden flames, and placed them in a Soul Bag.
• After storing the rescued disciples, Xiao Ze declared that the Soul Hall branch had no reason to remain standing.

Xiao Ze and Qing Lin destroyed a Soul Hall subhall, freeing its captive souls and taking its resources. They left for the buried Ancient Heaven Snake to seek the Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal.

• Xiao Ze expanded his Illusion Sea Domain to kill Soul Hall members and used Woeful Poison Power to dissolve the captives' Soul Locking Chains.
• Xiao Ze found and looted the subhall's resource stores, collecting pills, medicinal ingredients, weapons, techniques, cultivation methods, and pill formulas.
• Xiao Ze killed the three Soul Hall Protectors with golden flame, then used Azure Sea Raging Waves to collapse the black palace.
• The freed souls gathered outside, saw the palace destroyed, and scattered without meeting Xiao Ze, while he and Qing Lin watched them flee.
• Xiao Ze and Qing Lin erased their traces and returned to the buried Ancient Heaven Snake to search for the Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal.

Xiao Ze and Qing Lin uncovered the Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal and discovered a Source Blood Heart inside it. After collecting the treasures, Xiao Ze planned to give the heart to Xun Er and use the companion crystals to strengthen himself.

• Qing Lin used the Nine-Headed Heaven Snake's soul to break the seal hiding the Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal.
• Xiao Ze suppressed the crystal's powerful blood energy with the Illusion Sea Domain while Qing Lin recovered beside him.
• Xiao Ze carefully removed the rock and used his blood to separate the Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal without contaminating it.
• Xiao Ze found a Source Blood Heart within the crystal and explained that it could transform a cultivator's talent; he planned to give it to Xun Er.
• Xiao Ze stored the Source Blood Heart, the Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal, and its companion crystals, which could help him break through to Dou Venerate.

Xiao Ze returned to the Pill Tower with the rescued disciples’ souls and reported that Song Qing had betrayed the Pill Tower to the Soul Hall. Xuan Kongzi summoned the other Presidents and ordered elders to bring in the Great Elder and Song Qing, leaving the accusation to be investigated.

• A Soul Hall Heavenly Venerable inspected the ruined branch hall, found traces of water-attributed energy, and ordered the surviving Protectors to investigate Xiao Ze’s companions and capture nearby soul bodies for questioning.
• The Heavenly Venerable warned the Protectors that they would be killed if their investigation produced no results, then left them to divide the tasks among themselves.
• Xiao Ze brought Qing Lin and the rescued disciples’ souls to the Pill Tower’s Black Giant Tower to report directly to the Presidents.
• The disciples told Xuan Kongzi that Song Qing had betrayed the Pill Tower and sided with the Soul Hall.
• Xiao Ze explained that the Soul Hall had hunted him after he separated from the Great Elder and that he had killed two Venerables before rescuing the disciples.
• Xuan Kongzi notified the other two Presidents and sent elders to bring the Great Elder and Song Qing to the Black Giant Tower.

The Three Presidents investigated whether Song Qing had betrayed the Pill Tower to the Soul Hall. After Xiao Ze presented evidence, Song Qing admitted his betrayal, leaving the Grand Elder furious at his former disciple.

• Elder Liu Tian and Elder Lin summoned the Grand Elder and Song Qing to meet the Three Presidents.
• The Pill Tower disciples accused Song Qing of offering to serve the Soul Hall and reveal information about Xiao Ze.
• Xiao Ze said the Soul Hall had pursued him after he remained in the Southern Mountain Range and revealed that he had found contact tokens linking Song Qing to two dead Venerable Elders.
• The Grand Elder struck Song Qing after seeing his reaction to the evidence and accused him of betraying the Pill Tower.
• Song Qing admitted that he had betrayed the Pill Tower because he feared dying, enraging the Grand Elder.

Song Qing was executed for betraying the Pill Tower, while the souls he had helped the Soul Hall capture were given a place in the Tower. Xiao Ze accepted the Grand Elder’s Heaven Spirit Pill formula, prepared to advance to Dou Venerate, and wondered what reward Xun Er’s cultivation would bring.

• The Grand Elder gave Xiao Ze the Heaven Spirit Pill formula as compensation for Song Qing’s betrayal, then left without answering Song Qing’s pleas.
• Song Qing blamed Xiao Ze and lunged at him, but Tian Leizi immobilized him and forced him to swallow a poison pill, killing him.
• Xuan Kongzi promised the captured Pill Tower disciples leisurely duties, and they thanked him for not abandoning them.
• After news of Song Qing’s death spread through the Pill Tower, Xiao Ze returned to his Elder Tower and studied the Heaven Spirit Pill formula.
• Xiao Ze refined a high-quality Honored Venerable Pill and prepared to break through to Dou Venerate, while wondering what reward Xun Er’s cultivation might grant him.

Xiao Ze used an Honored Venerable Pill, accumulated feedback, and a Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal Byproduct to push the Origin Tree past its growth limit as he prepared to break through to Dou Venerate. Outside the chamber, Medusa emerged from her time as the Seven-Colored Little Snake and explained her past to Qing Lin, who learned Xiao Ze planned to give Medusa a Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal.

• Xiao Ze swallowed an Honored Venerable Pill and used its energy and accumulated feedback to help the Origin Tree break past its ten-thousand-meter limit.
• The Origin Tree devoured the Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal Byproduct as Xiao Ze absorbed its energy while preparing to break through to Dou Venerate.
• Qing Lin sensed Xiao Ze's tremendous energy and reflected on how much stronger he was than her despite their similar cultivation levels.
• The Seven-Colored Little Snake transformed into Medusa, and Qing Lin challenged her to explain who she was.
• Medusa told Qing Lin how Xiao Ze had saved her, how she became the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, and how her soul later fused with the python's.
• Qing Lin told Medusa that Xiao Ze intended to give her a Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal, leaving Medusa stunned and eager for him to emerge from seclusion.

Xiao Ze completed his breakthrough to Peak One-Star Dou Venerate and discovered that Xun Er’s reward had transformed his Void Space into a nascent plane that could eventually produce Source Qi. He left the chamber with immense Dou Qi reserves and a new possible path to the Dou Emperor Realm.

• Xiao Ze sensed that Xun Er’s Dou Zong reward had expanded the Void Space to the size of an empire and begun turning it into a miniature plane.
• Xiao Ze realized that the nascent plane might produce Source Qi, giving him a safer route to becoming a Dou Emperor than seeking the Ancient God Cave Mansion.
• Xiao Ze tested his new Dou Venerate strength by opening a spatial rift and clearing the chamber of fine sand.
• Xiao Ze found that his Illusion Sea Domain had grown powerful enough to wound or seriously injure low-star Dou Venerates, and that his vast Dou Qi reserves barely diminished during his tests.
• Xiao Ze used the three-seal combination of the Emperor Seal Technique, then opened a spatial rift and threw it inside to avoid damaging the Elder Tower.

Xiao Ze prepared Medusa and Qing Lin to break through to Dou Venerate, offering Medusa a Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal in exchange for more time as his bodyguard. As his frequent high-tier pill refining drew attention, the Pill Tower’s Three Presidents decided he should appear at the upcoming Four Pavilions Assembly.

• Xiao Ze emerged from the secret chamber and learned that Medusa had completely fused with the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python’s soul and reached the peak of the seventh tier.
• Xiao Ze told Qing Lin and Medusa to prepare for breakthroughs and promised to refine Honored Venerable Pills to improve their chances.
• Xiao Ze offered Medusa a Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal if she doubled her time as his bodyguard, and Medusa eagerly agreed.
• Xiao Ze sent Qing Lin and Medusa to separate secret chambers and began refining their pills, producing Five-Colored Pill Lightning.
• Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Tian Leizi discussed Xiao Ze’s frequent pill refining and agreed to have him appear at the Four Pavilions Assembly as the Pill Tower’s future leader.

Xiao Ze gave Medusa a Honored Venerable Pill and a Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal, and she vowed to stand by his side as a lifelong companion. He marked Medusa and Qing Lin with Golden Saplings that let them communicate with him from afar, then sent both women into seclusion to prepare for breakthroughs.

• Xiao Ze refined his movement technique with Pill Lightning and gave Medusa the Honored Venerable Pill for Qing Lin and a Ten-Thousand-Year Source Blood Crystal.
• Medusa swore to protect Xiao Ze, and he teased her about becoming his bodyguard for life before she agreed they would fight alongside each other.
• Xiao Ze placed a Golden Sapling mark on Medusa's hand, explaining that it let them communicate across long distances and could help him reach her if she was in danger.
• Qing Lin emerged after witnessing Xiao Ze and Medusa embrace, and Xiao Ze gave her the same Golden Sapling mark.
• Qing Lin used the mark to ask Xiao Ze for a hug, embraced him, and then hurried away to enter seclusion.
• Xiao Ze reflected that the Golden Saplings were detached roots of the Origin Tree with communication, defensive, and offensive uses.

Xiao Ze discovered that the Origin Tree's golden roots let him control the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Puppets well enough to perform Dou Techniques. President Xuan Kongzi then invited him to attend the Four Pavilions Assembly and investigate newly discovered Ancient Ruins in the Nether Sea with the Grand Elder.

• Xiao Ze implanted a golden root in each Heavenly Demon Phoenix Puppet and used one to perform the Emperor Seal Technique.
• Xiao Ze received a summons from President Xuan Kongzi and left Qing Lin and Medusa secure in the Elder Tower.
• Xuan Kongzi asked Xiao Ze to attend the upcoming Four Pavilions Assembly so people across the Central Plains could become acquainted with him.
• Xuan Kongzi revealed that the Pill Tower had found Ancient Ruins in the Nether Sea and proposed that Xiao Ze and the Grand Elder investigate them.
• Xuan Kongzi explained that the Grand Elder would attend the assembly to clear his head and might discover another promising young talent.

Xiao Ze set out with the First Elder for Yellow Spring Pavilion, where the Four Pavilions Assembly and the Deep Sea Ruins exploration would take place. On the journey, they noticed an unusual number of experts traveling toward the same destination, raising the possibility that they were also after the ruins.

• Xuan Kongzi warned Xiao Ze that the Ancient Clan controlled Central Plains Eastern Region and advised him to avoid conflict with its members near the Deep Sea Ruins.
• Xiao Ze reinforced his Elder Tower, left a notice for Medusa and Qing Lin, and met the First Elder at Holy Pill City’s eastern gate.
• The First Elder accompanied Xiao Ze through a Space Wormhole, and Xiao Ze piloted their space boat toward Yellow Spring Pavilion.
• Xiao Ze discussed alchemy with the First Elder during the journey, lifting his spirits and impressing him with his broad knowledge and Unified Alchemy Theory.
• Xiao Ze and the First Elder saw many experts traveling alongside them, and the First Elder suspected they were heading to the Deep Sea Ruins.

Xiao Ze and the First Elder discussed how news of the Deep Sea Ruins had spread and traveled to Sky Marsh City to attend the Four Pavilions Assembly and gather information. They reached Yellow Spring Pavilion, where a Dou Zong greeted them after the First Elder identified their faction as the Pill Tower.

• The First Elder explained that other factions or independent cultivators had leaked the Deep Sea Ruins' location to draw more people in and muddy the waters around the Pill Tower.
• Xiao Ze and the First Elder arrived at Sky Marsh City, noticed many formidable cultivators drawn by the ruins, and headed toward Yellow Spring Pavilion.
• While crossing the Yellow Mist Marsh, Xiao Ze and the First Elder saw many young talents traveling to the Four Pavilions Assembly and discussed how success could boost their reputations.
• A middle-aged Dou Zong intercepted Xiao Ze and the First Elder near the Circular Mountain Range and asked which faction they represented.
• The First Elder showed his Pill Tower token, and the middle-aged man respectfully welcomed them and led them toward Yellow Spring Pavilion.