Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan visited the Misty Cloud Sect, where Yun Shan asked Yun Yun to receive him. After teasing Yun Yun about their relationship, Xiao Yan followed her to a cliff, where she wondered whether Yanran marrying him would be good or bad.

• Yun Leng apologized to Xiao Yan, who forgave him, while Yun Leng privately cursed Xiao Yan for pretending to have been injured by him.
• Xiao Yan began telling Mittel Tengshan a story, but Mittel Tengshan hurried away when Xiao Yan started rambling.
• Xiao Yan asked Yun Shan to show him around the Misty Cloud Sect and requested that Yun Yun receive him instead.
• Yun Yun recognized Xiao Yan, flushed when he called her Senior Sister, and left with him after Yun Shan departed in distress.
• Yun Yun led Xiao Yan to a cliff and asked how he had ended up at the sect; she then wondered whether Yanran marrying him would be good or bad, and Xiao Yan said they would deal with the future when it came.

Xiao Yan toured the Misty Cloud Sect with Yun Yun, who shared the history of the sect and delayed meeting Gu He to continue accompanying him. Gu He arrived in person, prompting Xiao Yan to grow jealous and Yao Lao to mock the alchemist’s title as Pill King.

• Yun Yun led Xiao Yan around the Misty Cloud Sect and explained the names recorded on the Stone Stele.
• A disciple told Yun Yun that Gu He had arrived and requested to see her, but she chose to keep accompanying Xiao Yan first.
• Yun Yun and Xiao Yan encountered Gu He and Yun Leng as they climbed the steps toward them.
• Xiao Yan privately considered how to teach Gu He a lesson for pursuing Yun Yun.
• Yao Lao ridiculed Gu He’s Pill King title, and Xiao Yan praised Gu He until Yao Lao suspected him of plotting something.

Xiao Yan met Pill King Gu He at the Misty Cloud Sect while Yun Yun received him, and Gu He mistook Xiao Yan for a friendly junior. After Gu He joined Yun Yun and Xiao Yan for a tour, Xiao Yan secretly arranged for Yun Leng to accompany Gu He when he spoke privately with Yun Yun, then persuaded Yao Lao to help him deal with his rival.

• Gu He arrived and Yun Leng introduced Xiao Yan as the disciple of a powerful old friend of Yun Shan who had come to visit the former Sect Leader.
• Xiao Yan respectfully spoke with Gu He, who warmed to him and invited himself to join Yun Yun and Xiao Yan on their tour of the sect.
• Yun Yun showed Xiao Yan to the guest courtyard, and Xiao Yan arranged for Yun Leng to accompany Gu He during his later discussion with Yun Yun.
• Xiao Yan watched Yun Yun leave with Gu He and complained to Yao Lao that Gu He was competing with him for her.
• Xiao Yan used an exaggerated display of coquettish behavior to make Yao Lao promise to help him.

Xiao Yan and Yao Lao sneaked out at night to teach Gu He a lesson, only to discover Gu He was staying directly beneath them. After hearing Gu declare his intention to marry Yun Yun, Xiao Yan decided to attack the rival he feared might win over his senior sister, and the confrontation was about to begin.

• Xiao Yan and Yao Lao planned to teach Gu He a lesson under cover of darkness.
• Xiao Yan struggled to control Yao Lao's borrowed power, and Yao Lao helped him locate Gu He's room with soul strength.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Lao realized Gu He's room was directly beneath the rooftop where they stood, within the same guest complex.
• Gu He said he hoped Yun Yun would willingly marry him one day.
• Xiao Yan, jealous of Gu He's looks and intentions toward Yun Yun, asked Yao Lao to help him take Gu He out.

Gu He was secretly subdued by a mysterious expert who challenged his use of the title “Pill King.” After Gu He agreed to drop “King” from the title until he reached seventh grade, the expert vanished, leaving Gu He to return to his room.

• Gu He sensed someone had tampered with his soul power and searched the room, but found no one.
• A mysterious old man’s voice told Gu He to lie down, and Gu lost control of his body.
• The voice questioned whether a Sixth-Grade Alchemist deserved the title “Pill King.”
• Gu He promised to remove “King” from his title until he reached seventh grade.
• Gu He regained control, found the room empty, and told a Misty Cloud Sect disciple he was fine.

Xiao Yan’s visit to Misty Cloud Sect unsettled Yun Shan and left Gu He eager to depart after Yao Lao’s hidden soul trick frightened him. Gu He left the sect the next morning, still believing Xiao Yan was innocent and sincere.

• Yun Shan spotted a shadow near the hall and confronted Xiao Yan, but immediately apologized and withdrew when he recognized his master.
• Xiao Yan returned to his room and learned that Yao Lao had planted and triggered a minor soul trick that scared Gu He into surrendering.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Lao joked about Gu He’s Pill King title and the lesson Xiao Yan had given him.
• Gu He proposed leaving Misty Cloud Sect at dawn, and Yun Leng asked why he was departing so soon.
• Xiao Yan urged Gu He to stay, but Gu He sighed and kept his reasons to himself.

Gu He left the Misty Cloud Sect and renounced the title of Pill King, while Xiao Yan continued to cling to Yun Yun. Yun Shan ordered Yun Yun to take Xiao Yan into the Life and Death Gate Secret Realm, where Xiao Yan planned to cultivate for about a year.

• Gu He told Yun Yun he would return home for secluded cultivation and refuse the title of Pill King until he became a Seventh-Grade Alchemist, then flew away.
• Xiao Yan called after Gu He to visit again, and Yun Yun returned to the sect with Xiao Yan holding the hem of her robe.
• Gu He’s retirement prompted rumors and an unsuccessful attempt by the Imperial Family to contact him, while people began calling him Little Gu and his brother Big Gu.
• Yun Shan appeared and ordered Yun Yun to take Xiao Yan into the Misty Cloud Sect’s Life and Death Gate Secret Realm.
• Yun Yun realized Xiao Yan intended to stay in the secret realm for about a year and challenged him about his supposed immediate departure.

Xiao Yan entered the Life and Death Gate secret realm to train until he reached Dou Ling, after Yun Yun taught him the sect’s secret art and sent him on his way. Inside, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao explored the cenotaphs, and Xiao Yan mused about who might become the Misty Cloud Sect’s future sect leader.

• Yun Yun agreed to let Xiao Yan stay for a year, then flew toward the Life and Death Gate with him following and tugging at her clothes.
• Yun Yun opened the secret realm’s main entrance with a Black Iron Token and taught Xiao Yan the Misty Cloud Sect secret art needed to draw out its energy.
• Xiao Yan gave Yun Yun a letter for Xiao Zhen, asking him to return to the clan and not worry.
• Yun Yun pushed Xiao Yan through the energy barrier just before the entrance closed, and he landed inside the secret realm with Yao Lao.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Lao explored the cenotaphs, counted thirty-three, and discussed Yun Shan, Yun Yun, and Nalan Yanran as successive sect leaders.

Xiao Yan and Yao Lao examined the Misty Cloud Sect’s thirty-three legacies and discovered that Yun Potian’s hidden power likely reached at least five-star Dou Zun. Xiao Yan then activated the secret realm’s inheritance array and began refining its wind-attributed energy with his Heavenly Flames.

• Xiao Yan sensed that Yun Potian’s energy imprint was stronger than the other thirty-two and learned from Yao Lao that Yun Potian had likely been at least a five-star Dou Zun.
• Xiao Yan probed the cyan energy sphere in Yun Potian’s Cave Abode, but its inner force pushed his soul tendril away.
• Yao Lao explained that Xiao Yan needed to filter the Misty Cloud Sect’s wind-attributed inheritance energy, and Xiao Yan understood that he would use his Heavenly Flames.
• Xiao Yan activated the secret technique, causing energy pillars from the thirty-three Cave Abodes to link around him and send their energy into his body.
• Xiao Yan covered himself in cyan-gold Heavenly Flames, refined the incoming energy into cyan-gold liquid, and guided it through his meridians toward his Dou Crystal.

Xiao Yan spent thirteen months in the Life and Death Gate Secret Realm, advancing from a five-star Da Dou Shi to a three-star Dou Ling before leaving. Yun Yun and others waited for him, and the chapter ended with Yun Yun distracted during a discussion with Yun Leng.

• Xiao Yan broke through to a six-star Da Dou Shi after a month of absorbing energy, then reached seven stars three months later, eight stars five months later, and nine stars seven months later.
• Yao Lao stopped Xiao Yan from immediately advancing to Dou Ling and told him to stabilize his cultivation; Xiao Yan agreed to wait until the next day.
• Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Ling the next day, condensed a cyan-golden Trident from Dou Qi, and continued cultivating.
• After thirteen months, Xiao Yan broke through to a three-star Dou Ling, thanked Yao Lao for protecting him, and left the Life and Death Gate Secret Realm.
• Yun Yun and Yun Leng discussed an important matter in the Misty Cloud Sect's Sect Master Hall while Yun Yun remained distracted.

After thirteen months of seclusion, Xiao Yan returned to the Misty Cloud Sect and reunited with Yun Yun, who had been distracted while waiting for him. She tested his progress by suppressing her strength to that of a one-star Dou Ling, and their spar began with a clash of palms.

• Yun Leng reported to Yun Yun, who remained distracted and left the hall to take a walk.
• Xiao Yan came out of seclusion, and Yun Yun greeted him with delight.
• Xiao Yan embraced Yun Yun, while Yun Leng watched in shock and slipped away to the side hall.
• Yun Yun pushed Xiao Yan away and challenged him to spar while limiting her strength to a one-star Dou Ling.
• Xiao Yan dodged Yun Yun's Great Wind Hand Seal and struck at her, prompting her to block his palm with a burst of energy.

Xiao Yan and Yun Yun reunited at the Misty Cloud Sect, where their sparring revealed that Xiao Yan had reached Three-Star Dou Ling. As Xiao Yan prepared to leave, Yun Shan came to see him off and endured Xiao Yan’s teasing about his prestige and strength.

• Xiao Yan and Yun Yun clashed in a spar, and Yun Yun realized he was a Three-Star Dou Ling rather than a One-Star Dou Ling.
• Xiao Yan asked Yun Yun whether she had delivered his letter to Uncle Xiao Zhen, then prepared to leave the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Yun Shan appeared beside Xiao Yan as the sect disciples practiced their morning lesson.
• Yun Mu and the disciples respectfully greeted Yun Shan, who enjoyed their attention until Xiao Yan mocked him.
• Yun Shan recalled the pain he had suffered in the Life and Death Gate Secret Realm and shrank from Xiao Yan’s teasing.

Xiao Yan reunited with Yun Yun and Ya Fei before preparing to leave the Imperial Capital for Wutan City. That night, he visited Nalan Yanran, who promptly shut the gate in his face.

• Yun Yun arrived as Xiao Yan was leaving, embraced him, and whispered that she would wait for him, leaving him confused.
• Xiao Yan flew to the Mittel Family residence and told Hai Bo Dong to summon Ya Fei and Xu Yi for his departure to Wutan City.
• Ya Fei embraced Xiao Yan and learned she would remain in the Imperial Capital to pursue her ambitions and manage cooperation between the Mittel Family and the Xiao Clan.
• That night, Xiao Yan knocked on Nalan Yanran's courtyard gate, and she shut it immediately after seeing him.

Xiao Yan said goodbye to Nalan Yanran, then returned toward Wutan City with Master Xu Yi. As they descended toward the Xiao Clan, the clan mistook them for enemies and fired its Crossbow Cannons at them.

• Xiao Yan reassured Nalan Yanran that he would keep their Three-Year Agreement before fleeing after she declared she would defeat him and make him marry her.
• Xiao Yan boarded a Thick-Winged Bird with Xu Yi and teased him about being unhappy to return to Wutan City.
• Xiao Yan flew ahead with Xu Yi clinging to him, and the pair reached the Xiao Clan grounds.
• The Xiao Clan sounded an enemy alert and ordered its Dou Ling experts to fire eight Crossbow Cannons at Xiao Yan and Xu Yi.

Xiao Yan returned to the Xiao Clan and was nearly struck by its Crossbow Cannons while trying to show off, but Xiao Zhan arrived in time to save him. Xiao Yan reunited with his father while carrying the badly scorched Xu Yi, and the chapter ended with Xiao Zhan asking who Xu Yi was.

• Xu Yi panicked as the Xiao Clan's experts aimed eight Crossbow Cannons at Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yan knocked Xu Yi unconscious.
• Xiao Yan formed eight flame spikes to intercept the incoming bolts, but a sudden surge of energy sent him flying and the bolts exploded against the spikes.
• The Xiao Clan's experts prepared to fire again, and Xiao Yan called for Yao Lao before a Dou Wang expert rushed in to stop them.
• Xiao Zhan swept away the bolts and Xiao Yan greeted him as his father.
• Xiao Yan introduced the charred Xu Yi as a friend, while Xiao Zhan struggled to recognize him as a person.

Xiao Yan returned to the Xiao Clan after exhausting his Dou Qi in a dramatic display, where he reunited with Xiao Zhan and confronted the awakened Xu Yi. As Xiao Yan headed back to his residence, Yao Lao teased him about his latest mishap.

• Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan landed among the Xiao Clan guards, who apologized for nearly attacking Xiao Yan, and Xiao Zhan told them their suspicions came from a recent intrusion.
• Xiao Zhan explained that Hai Bo Dong and the Mittel Family had supplied the Xiao Clan with Crossbow Cannons, and Xiao Yan noticed that his father was nearing Three-Star Dou Wang.
• Xiao Zhan sent Xiao Yan to rest in his cleaned courtyard, and Xiao Yan reflected that it felt good to be home.
• Xiao Yan dropped the supposedly unconscious Xu Yi and warned him to behave in the Xiao Clan, then had an attendant take him away.
• Xiao Yan followed the familiar route toward his residence as Yao Lao teased him for finally slipping up after repeatedly courting trouble.

Xiao Yan reunited with Xiao Xun'er after returning to the Xiao Clan and spent the morning teasing and catching up with her. Xiao Xun'er discovered that he had advanced to the Dou Ling realm while she had reached one-star Dou Master.

• Xiao Yan teased Yao Lao about his silence, and Yao Lao apologized for trying to temper him.
• Xiao Xun'er rushed into Xiao Yan's arms the morning after his return, and they greeted each other affectionately.
• Xiao Yan washed up while Xiao Xun'er waited, then teased her about how much she had grown.
• Xiao Xun'er told Xiao Yan that the Xiao Clan had heard about his rough sparring match, and he tried to defend his reputation.
• Xiao Yan used a movement Dou skill to catch Xiao Xun'er as they chased each other, and she complained that he had cheated.
• Xiao Xun'er revealed she had become a one-star Dou Master and wondered how Xiao Yan had reached the Dou Ling realm so quickly.

Xiao Yan reunited with Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin, but mistook Xiao Qing for one of the women and hurled the snake into a storeroom. Xiao Clan experts surrounded the wreckage, convinced that an intruder had caused trouble.

• Xiao Xun'er admitted she felt dejected about Xiao Yan being stronger, and Xiao Yan comforted her before taking her to visit Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin.
• Xiao Yan entered the courtyard with his eyes closed and caught Xiao Qing, mistaking her for Xiao Yi Xian or Qing Lin.
• Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin laughed as Xiao Yan realized he was holding Xiao Qing.
• Xiao Yan threw Xiao Qing into the air, and she crashed into and demolished a Xiao Clan storeroom.
• Xiao Clan guards and experts rushed over and surrounded the wreckage, preparing to catch the supposed intruder.

Xiao Yan returned to Qing Lin’s courtyard after Xiao Qing briefly disappeared, where he learned that Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian had both reached three-star Dou Zhe. The chapter ended as Xiao Yi Xian prepared to flick the courtyard’s orange tree and Xiao Yan hurriedly stopped her.

• Xiao Clan experts entered the courtyard to confront an apparent threat, recognized Xiao Qing as Qing Lin’s pet, and left without harming it.
• Xiao Qing fled from the Xiao Clan experts, then remembered it could fly and made its way home.
• Xiao Qing returned to Qing Lin, and Xiao Yan entered the courtyard after Qing Lin invited him inside.
• Xiao Yi Xian showed Xiao Yan that she had become a Dou Zhe, and Qing Lin revealed that she had also reached three-star Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Yi Xian raised her hand to flick the orange tree, but Xiao Yan stopped her.

Xiao Yan watched Xiao Yi Xian demonstrate her poison arts and learned more about Qing Lin’s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and Xiao Qing’s growth. The group went inside so Xiao Yi Xian could show him the medicine she had been compounding.

• Xiao Yi Xian destroyed the courtyard’s orange tree with a casual strike of poison Dou Qi, and Xiao Yan praised her.
• Qing Lin called Xiao Qing over, and the Twin-Winged Flame Snake shrank and disguised itself as a tattoo on her wrist.
• Xiao Yan explained how Qing Lin’s Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils could store snake-type magical beasts, while Qing Lin said her Bloodline space was not yet stable enough.
• Xiao Yan promised to refine a Dou Ling Pill for Xiao Qing if it reached the threshold of a fifth-tier magical beast within three years.
• Xiao Yi Xian invited Xiao Yan to see her medicine, and Xiao Yan took Xiao Xun’er’s hand as they went inside.