Chapter Summaries

Bing Xian and four Ice River Valley fighters trapped Xiao Yan’s Great Ming King True Body in their Ice Prison, but he shattered the seal and attacked them. A mysterious Dou Zun intervened, destroyed the Great Ming King True Body, and left Xiao Yan injured as the five men survived.

• Bing Xian ordered the five fighters to form the Ice Sealing Formation and trap Xiao Yan in an Ice Prison.
• The Great Ming King True Body broke out of the Ice Prison, scattering ice and injuring nearby Ice River Valley disciples.
• The Great Ming King True Body charged the five men, but a withered hand emerged from the void and stopped its flaming claw.
• The withered hand shattered the Great Ming King True Body, causing Xiao Yan to reappear pale and bleeding.

Tian Shuangzi arrived to confront Xiao Yan after Xiao Yan fought Ice River Valley’s elders and disciples. When Tian Shuangzi attacked, Xiao Yan called on a mysterious Venerable, who appeared and effortlessly shattered the ice dragon.

• Tian Shuangzi emerged and rebuked Bing Xian and the other four for failing to defeat Xiao Yan, then ordered them to retreat.
• Xiao Yan recognized Tian Shuangzi as Ice River Valley’s newly promoted One-Star Dou Zun and taunted him by invoking Venerable Feng.
• Tian Shuangzi demanded that Xiao Yan surrender and face the Valley Master’s judgment, but Xiao Yan claimed he had come to reason with them and insisted his reasoning was greatest.
• Tian Shuangzi unleashed a massive ice dragon at Xiao Yan, intending to kill him.
• Xiao Yan called for a Venerable, and an aged man in white appeared and shattered Tian Shuangzi’s ice dragon with a wave of his sleeve.

Venerable Skyfire confronted Tian Shuangzi in Ice River Valley and overwhelmed him with a single attack. Tian Shuangzi was left defeated beneath the ruins of the Martial Arts Arena, while Bing Xian and the valley's experts reacted in shock.

• Tian Shuangzi demanded to know who Venerable Skyfire was, then threatened to keep him and Xiao Yan in Ice River Valley until Venerable Feng arrived.
• Venerable Skyfire revealed that Tian Shuangzi's Three-Star Dou Zun strength was no match for him and summoned the Five-Wheel Fire-Separating Technique with the Fallen Heart Flame's Child Flame.
• Tian Shuangzi broke partway through Venerable Skyfire's aura lock with Ice Venerable Force and countered with the Sky-Freezing Palm.
• Venerable Skyfire's flaming hand shattered Tian Shuangzi's ice palm and struck the Martial Arts Arena, leaving a massive handprint and apparently defeating Tian Shuangzi.
• Ice River Valley's experts erupted in disbelief, and Bing Xian roared in frustration that Tian Shuangzi had failed to sweep the field.

Xiao Yan and Venerable Skyfire defeated Ice River Valley’s elders and confronted Valley Master Venerable Ice. After Skyfire captured Venerable Ice, Xiao Yan accused him of ordering the kidnapping of Ye Xinlan and an attempt on Xiao Yan’s life.

• Venerable Skyfire confirmed that Tian Shuangzi was alive, then sensed Venerable Ice arriving at Ice River Valley.
• Venerable Ice appeared and questioned Bing Xian about the damage and Tian Shuangzi, while Bing Xian repeatedly warned him to flee.
• Venerable Skyfire attacked Venerable Ice, captured him despite his black-snowflake escape technique, and brought him before Xiao Yan.
• Venerable Skyfire introduced himself as a Guest Elder of Star Fall Pavilion and identified Xiao Yan as its Young Pavilion Master.
• Venerable Ice asked why Xiao Yan had invaded Ice River Valley, and Xiao Yan accused him of ordering Ye Xinlan’s seizure and the assassination attempt against Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan confronted Venerable Ice over Ice River Valley’s attempt to take Ye Xinlan and demanded compensation for the damage and wasted time. Venerable Ice agreed to obey Xiao Yan but struggled to offer anything valuable, leaving Xiao Yan still pressing him for payment.

• Venerable Ice blamed Tian She for targeting Ye Xinlan, and Xiao Yan revealed that he had already killed Tian She.
• Xiao Yan demanded compensation from Ice River Valley for the attack and the time he had spent dealing with the matter.
• Xiao Yan used Venerable Skyfire to force Venerable Ice to accept his reasoning and agree to follow his demands.
• Venerable Ice offered Ice River Valley’s cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, but Xiao Yan rejected them because they were ice-attributed.
• Venerable Ice explained that Ice River Valley had little wealth or high-quality medicinal ingredients, and Xiao Yan demanded to know what else it could offer.

Xiao Yan proposed an alliance between Ice River Valley and Star Fall Pavilion after Venerable Ice claimed he had no valuables to offer. Venerable Ice reluctantly agreed, and Xiao Yan left after asking him to protect the Ye Family in Ye City.

• Venerable Ice offered medicinal ingredients from Ice River Valley's Medicine Repository, but Xiao Yan dismissed them as trash.
• Xiao Yan proposed an alliance between Ice River Valley and Star Fall Pavilion, explaining that the valley's strength was sufficient to qualify.
• Venerable Ice regretted pretending to be poor, fearing that Xiao Yan intended to use the alliance to draw Ice River Valley into a conflict.
• Venerable Ice agreed to the alliance, and Xiao Yan said his teacher would visit to discuss its details.
• Xiao Yan asked Venerable Ice to look after the Ye Family in Ye City, then departed with Venerable Skyfire.

After Xiao Yan and Venerable Ice formed an alliance, Lin Yan arrived at the damaged Ice River Valley seeking a master and learned that Xiao Yan had stormed its gate. Lin Yan decided to seek out Xiao Yan at Star Fall Pavilion, but set off in the opposite direction.

• Tian Shuangzi woke and was shocked when Venerable Ice told him he had allied with Xiao Yan.
• Venerable Ice ordered Bing Xian to help clean up Ice River Valley, then left; Bing Xian began explaining the alliance to Tian Shuangzi.
• Lin Yan arrived at Ice River Valley and saw its damaged entrance, where a youth told him the valley would stop accepting disciples for a year.
• The youth identified the attacker as Xiao Yan, prompting Lin Yan to abandon his plan to join Ice River Valley and decide to seek Xiao Yan at Star Fall Pavilion.
• Lin Yan departed in the wrong direction, while the brawny youth stayed behind to look for a way to enter Ice River Valley.

Ye Zhong learned that Xiao Yan had safely confronted Ice River Valley and secured its protection for the Ye Family. Xiao Yan and Venerable Skyfire returned to Star Fall Pavilion, where they were welcomed by Yao Lao, Venerable Feng, and Mu Qingluan.

• Ye Zhong told the Ye Family elders that Xiao Yan had gone alone to Ice River Valley and returned unharmed, and that Ice River Valley had offered to look after the family.
• Ye Zhong urged the Ye Family to trust Xiao Yan and have Xin Lan prepare for the Pill Tower, while news of Xiao Yan's feat spread across the Central Plains.
• After more than twenty days of spatial travel, Xiao Yan and Venerable Skyfire reached the Heavenly Star Mountain Range and opened Star Fall Pavilion's hidden entrance with an ancient jade.
• Mu Qingluan greeted Xiao Yan and Venerable Skyfire, learned that Yao Tianhuo had joined the pavilion as a Guest Elder, and led them to the Sect Master Hall.
• Xiao Yan and Venerable Skyfire greeted Yao Lao and Venerable Feng, while Mu Qingluan wondered why they were not surprised by Xiao Yan's return.

Xiao Yan returned to Star Fall Pavilion with Venerable Skyfire and told Yao Lao that he had forced Ice River Valley into an alliance. That night, two disciples tried to give Xiao Yan the pavilion’s customary newcomer welcome, leaving him to mistakenly imagine that Yao Lao would ambush Venerable Skyfire too.

• Yao Lao introduced Venerable Skyfire as a Peak Dou Zun who had joined Star Fall Pavilion, and Venerable Feng welcomed the chance to meet a worthy opponent.
• Xiao Yan told Yao Lao that he had beaten Ice River Valley’s Valley Master and forced the valley to ally with Star Fall Pavilion, so Venerable Feng agreed to travel to the Central Region and finalize the alliance.
• Yao Lao sent Mu Qingluan to show Xiao Yan and Venerable Skyfire around the pavilion.
• That night, two black-clothed One-Star Dou Emperors burst into Xiao Yan’s room to carry out the customary newcomer welcome, but he noticed them before they could attack.
• The two admitted the welcome was customary, and Xiao Yan speculated that Yao Lao would secretly surprise Venerable Skyfire in the same way.

Xiao Yan discovered that Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had secretly come to Star Fall Pavilion, then used the energy liquid from the Ye Family’s Yang Fire Ancient Altar to break through to the Three-Star Dou Zong realm. Mu Qingluan despaired over his talent and hard work, ran off in tears, and Xiao Yan left to explore the pavilion alone.

• Xiao Yan unmasked two disguised visitors and discovered they were his brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, who had come to the Central Plains with the Pavilion Master.
• Xiao Li explained that they had joined Star Fall Pavilion seven months earlier and that their father had visited through the Space Wormhole.
• Xiao Yan sent Xiao Ding and Xiao Li off, then used the Great Ming King to release the pure energy liquid and began cultivating.
• Mu Qingluan arrived to show Xiao Yan around, saw him cultivating, and ran away in tears after comparing herself to him.
• Xiao Yan completed his breakthrough, wondered where Mu Qingluan had gone, and set out to explore Star Fall Pavilion alone.

Gu Xun'er learned that Xiao Yan had challenged Ice River Valley and decided to leave the Ancient Realm to visit him. She arrived near the Heavenly Star Mountain Range with the Black Annihilation Army and two Dou Zun elders, announcing that she had come to the place where Xiao Yan would live.

• Gu Xun'er heard that Xiao Yan had stormed Ice River Valley alone and discussed the Council of Elders’ changed opinion of him with Elder Ling.
• Gu Xun'er decided to leave the Ancient Realm after breaking through to the Dou Zong realm, and Elder Ling went to arrange her departure.
• Gu Xun'er inferred that Xiao Yan’s teacher was the powerful soul-body Alchemist connected to Star Fall Pavilion.
• Half a month later, the Black Annihilation Army and two Dou Zun elders emerged from a Space Wormhole near the Heavenly Star Mountain Range.
• Gu Xun'er stepped out of the Space Wormhole and said she had come to the place where Brother Xiao Yan would live.

Gu Xun'er arrived at Star Fall Pavilion with the Black Annihilation Army to visit Xiao Yan, and Venerable Feng welcomed her into the pavilion. After arranging for her escorts to rest, he left her free to spend time with Xiao Yan.

• A shopkeeper sent Star Fall Pavilion a secret message about the Black Annihilation Army escorting Gu Xun'er toward the pavilion.
• Yao Lao identified Gu Xun'er as Xiao Yan's girlfriend, and Venerable Feng ordered Gu Ling to welcome her.
• Gu Xun'er and her escort met Venerable Feng, who led them through the Star Fall Great Array into Star Fall Pavilion.
• Gu Xun'er sent the Black Annihilation Army to rest and rode with Venerable Feng toward Xiao Yan on the main peak.
• Gu Xun'er dismissed Elders Lin and Wen so she could spend several days with Xiao Yan, and Venerable Feng arranged for Tian Huo to receive them.

Venerable Feng revealed that Yao Lao had regained his physical body, and Gu Xun'er formally met him before reuniting with Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan received the remaining seals of the God Seal Technique and took Xun'er to his room, while Venerable Skyfire kept the Ancient Clan elders from interrupting them.

• Venerable Skyfire arrived to demonstrate Star Fall Pavilion's strength, and Gu Xun'er dismissed the two Ancient Clan elders.
• Gu Xun'er deduced that Venerable Feng was not Xiao Yan's true teacher, and Yao Lao emerged to introduce himself as the Pavilion Master of Star Fall Pavilion.
• Gu Xun'er revealed that she was the daughter of Gu Yuan, and Yao Lao welcomed her as his student.
• Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er reunited privately, discussed their future, and she gave him the final three seals of the God Seal Technique.
• Xiao Yan carried Gu Xun'er to his room, and Venerable Skyfire stopped Elder Lin from going in after them.

Xiao Yan saw Gu Xun'er off after reassuring her that the Xiao Tribe would protect its ancient jade. He then received new techniques from Yao Lao and proposed advancing the Central Plains Pill Gathering so he could claim Three Thousand Burning Flame, explaining that a Dragon Seal gave him an eighty percent chance of subduing it.

• Gu Xun'er warned Xiao Yan that the Ancient Clan wanted the Xiao Tribe's Tou She Ancient God Jade, and Xiao Yan assured her it was safe.
• Gu Xun'er left for the Ancient Clan after Xiao Yan promised to visit her there.
• Yao Lao gave Xiao Yan the Six-Harmony Wandering Body Ruler and an unnamed soul cultivation method from the Pill Tower.
• Xiao Yan proposed that Yao Lao push the Pill Tower to hold the Central Plains Pill Gathering early so he could enter the Star Domain and subdue Three Thousand Burning Flame.
• Xiao Yan told Yao Lao that the Ancient Emperor had planted a Dragon Seal in his body, giving him an eighty percent chance of subduing Three Thousand Burning Flame.

Xiao Yan and Yao Lao planned an early Pill Gathering to secure Three Thousand Burning Flame and draw Soul Hall into a trap. Yao Lao persuaded Pill Tower’s three heads to hold it a year and a half later and let Xiao Yan claim the flame.

• Xiao Yan told Yao Lao that Three Thousand Burning Flame belonged to the Ancient Void Dragon Clan and proposed using the Pill Gathering to lure Soul Hall into an all-out war.
• Yao Lao agreed to push for an early Pill Gathering, and Xiao Yan began intensive training to improve his techniques, soul realm, and Dou Qi.
• After Venerable Feng finalized the alliance with Ice River Valley, Yao Lao went to Pill Tower to persuade its leaders.
• Yao Lao told Xuan Kongzi, Tian Leizi, and Xuan Yi that the Ancient Void Dragon Clan would help secure Three Thousand Burning Flame for Xiao Yan and that the gathering could expose Soul Hall.
• The three Pill Tower leaders accepted the proposal and agreed that Xiao Yan could take Three Thousand Burning Flame.

Yao Lao persuaded Pill Tower’s leaders to advance the Pill Gathering and use it to lure Soul Hall into a trap, with the Old Ancestor’s approval still required. Pill Tower announced the new date and spread a cover story about Three Thousand Burning Flame, setting the stage for Soul Hall’s response and the coming conflict.

• Yao Lao proposed advancing the Pill Gathering, using Three Thousand Burning Flame as a public excuse, and ambushing Soul Hall infiltrators while rallying Star Fall Pavilion’s allies.
• Tian Leizi, Xuan Yi, and Xuan Kongzi agreed to the plan, and Xuan Kongzi led the group to seek the Little Pill Tower Old Ancestor’s approval.
• One month after Xiao Yan began cultivating in Star Fall Pavilion, Pill Tower announced that the Pill Gathering would take place seven years early, leaving a little over a year to prepare.
• Pill Tower spread a story that Three Thousand Burning Flame was close to breaking free, then used the supposed leak to investigate and purge Soul Hall spies.
• Alchemists across the continent began preparing to compete for Three Thousand Burning Flame as Soul Hall started moving and the conspirators watched their plan unfold.

At nineteen, Xiao Yan left Star Fall Pavilion with Yao Lao and Venerable Skyfire to reach Holy Pill City ahead of the Pill Gathering. There, Yao Lao introduced Xiao Yan to the Three Great Heads of Pill Tower and publicly called Xuan Yi his woman, leaving the group tangled in an awkward misunderstanding.

• Yao Lao summoned Xiao Yan, checked his cultivation, and told him the Pill Gathering was four months away and that they needed to leave for Pill Tower.
• Xiao Yan, Yao Lao, and Venerable Skyfire departed Star Fall Pavilion the next day and traveled to Holy Pill City, arriving half a month later.
• Yao Lao introduced Xiao Yan to the Three Great Heads of Pill Tower, who assessed his alchemy talent, soul realm, and Dou Qi cultivation.
• Yao Lao told Xiao Yan to call Xuan Yi Aunt Xuan and described her as his woman and Xiao Yan's martial aunt, making Xuan Yi blush.
• Tian Leizi objected to Yao Lao's remark, and Xuan Yi teased him by implying he wanted to be Yao Lao's woman.
• Tian Leizi denied the implication, while Xuan Kongzi smoothed over the exchange and privately let the teasing stand.

Xuan Kongzi and the others discussed the Pill Region’s young Alchemists and the declining Ye Family, while Xuan Yi revealed she had taken Ye Xinlan as her personal disciple. The Pill Gathering had been moved forward by seven years, leaving the promising younger generation unprepared to compete.

• Xuan Kongzi compared his disciple Cao Ying with Xiao Yan, and Yao Lao mocked Cao Ying’s training and talent.
• Xuan Kongzi listed the leading young Alchemists from the Cao, Dan, Bai, and Qiu Families and lamented that the Ye Family lacked even a Fifth-Tier Alchemist.
• Tian Leizi warned that the Ye Family could lose its place among the Five Great Families after failing three assessments, but Xuan Kongzi noted that Xuan Yi had taken a Ye Family junior as a disciple.
• Xuan Yi confirmed that Ye Xinlan was her personal disciple and said the fifteen-year-old Peak Fourth-Grade Alchemist could help preserve the Ye Family’s position.
• Xiao Yan objected that Xuan Yi had done too much for Ye Xinlan, but Xuan Yi said she liked her and wanted someone to inherit her teachings.
• Tian Leizi explained that the Pill Gathering had been advanced by seven years, leaving Cao Ying and Dan Chen too young to contend for the top ten.

Yao Lao and Pill Tower's leaders prepared for Soul Hall's attempt to seize Three Thousand Burning Flame during the Pill Gathering, while Xiao Yan waited for the competition. A month later, Xiao Yan reunited with Ye Zhong and Ye Xinlan and learned that she had become a Five-Star Alchemist and Xuan Yi's disciple.

• Yao Lao explained that Soul Hall would likely target Three Thousand Burning Flame after the competition, and Pill Tower's leaders agreed to reinforce the seal and prepare to catch the intruders.
• Xuan Kongzi told Xiao Yan that Elder Sheng was waiting for him, while Yao Lao and the other leaders went to the Star Domain to strengthen the seal.
• Xiao Yan reflected that the Pill Gathering had been advanced to help him obtain Three Thousand Burning Flame and that Yao Lao was preparing the way for him.
• A month later, Xiao Yan visited Ye Xinlan and met Ye Zhong, who said Xinlan had become a Five-Star Alchemist and Xuan Yi's official disciple.
• Xiao Yan agreed to accompany Ye Zhong and Ye Xinlan to Pill Tower Headquarters to certify their Alchemist ranks.

Xiao Yan told Ye Zhong that Elder Sheng would take him to the Pill Tower, but Ye Zhong became convinced that Xiao Yan had fallen for a scam. Ye Zhong dragged Xiao Yan outside to expose the supposed fraud, where he came face-to-face with the real Sheng Yao.

• Xiao Yan said he knew Elder Sheng and could enter the Pill Tower for his test without waiting in line.
• Ye Zhong warned Xiao Yan about scammers and argued that Elder Sheng could not be the person waiting for him.
• Xiao Yan tried to explain, but Ye Zhong pulled him toward the courtyard entrance to expose the supposed conman.
• Sheng Yao waited outside the courtyard, thinking about Yao Chen's return and the plan against the Soul Hall.
• Ye Zhong charged outside to confront the swindler, then recognized Sheng Yao and froze as Sheng Yao frowned and asked why he had followed him.