Chapter Summaries

Ye Yan and Ye Lin arrived in Sacred Pill City, where the Pill Tower leaders discussed mysterious outsiders and the Soul Hall’s presence. Ye Yan reunited with Xuan Yi at the hidden courtyard she had prepared for him, and she scolded him for staying away nearly three years without sending word.

• Ye Yan left the Ye Family with Ye Lin after taking valuable medicinal ingredients and giving Ye Zhong the Heaven River Cultivation Method.
• Cao Chun and Cao Ge visited the Ye Family again, and Cao Chun noticed Ye Zhong’s newfound confidence.
• Xuan Kongzi told Xuan Yi and Tian Leizi that mysterious outsiders had arrived in Sacred Pill City and that the Pill Tower Ancestor had warned them not to provoke those people.
• Ye Yan and Ye Lin arrived in Sacred Pill City, and Ye Yan went to the secluded courtyard arranged by Xuan Yi.
• Xuan Yi sensed Ye Yan’s arrival, traveled to the courtyard, and scolded him for nearly three years without a message.

Ye Yan reunited with Xuan Yi in Sacred Pill City and learned that the Ancient Clan had investigated him, likely because of his friendship with Gu Xun'er. Xuan Yi was relieved when he reassured her, then discovered that he possessed a Spirit Realm Soul.

• Ye Yan soothed Xuan Yi after she scolded him for not sending word during their three years apart.
• Xuan Yi warned Ye Yan that a powerful ancient clan had been asking about him, while Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi secretly recognized his Spirit Realm Soul and discussed protecting him and the Ye Family.
• Ye Yan suspected the investigators belonged to the Ancient Clan because of his friendship with Gu Xun'er and said they had visited Ye City looking for Ye Yan of the Ye Family.
• Xuan Yi accepted Ye Yan's reassurance that his friend’s family was unlikely to harm him and said she had planned to seek the Ancestor's help.
• Ye Yan brought up his news about Yao Chen, and Xuan Yi pressed a finger to his brow before realizing he had a Spirit Realm Soul.

Ye Yan revealed his Spirit Realm Soul and explained that he practiced the Heavenly River Cultivation Method, which he gave to Xuan Yi. Xuan Yi was astonished by its depth, and Ye Yan arranged to study the Pill Tower’s soul cultivation method in return.

• Xuan Yi reacted in shock when Ye Yan revealed that he had cultivated a Spirit Realm Soul, and Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi asked where his soul cultivation method came from.
• Xuan Yi defended Ye Yan’s right to keep his cultivation method, but Ye Yan explained that it was called the Heavenly River Cultivation Method and included two soul attack techniques.
• Ye Yan gave Xuan Yi a scroll containing the method, and she accepted it after he urged her to read its contents.
• Xuan Yi examined the scroll and praised the method’s ability to transform soul power into a Heavenly River, then promised to protect Ye Yan as she grew stronger.
• Xuan Kongzi agreed to let Ye Yan study the Pill Tower’s soul cultivation method, while Ye Yan wondered why no one had noticed his earlier mention of an old man’s whereabouts.

Ye Yan told Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi that Yao Chen was a soul and needed materials to rebuild his body, which the three elders agreed to provide. After they left, Xuan Yi pressed Ye Yan about romance and listened as he began recounting the women he had met on his travels.

• Tian Leizi asked Ye Yan about Yao Chen, and Ye Yan explained how he had learned of Yao Chen’s current circumstances.
• Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi condemned Han Feng for betraying Yao Chen and agreed to help restore Yao Chen’s body with a Battle Sovereign skeleton, a Bone-Forging Blood-Melting Pill, and magical beast essence blood.
• Xuan Yi offered a mid-level Half-Saint skeleton for Yao Chen, while Xuan Kongzi promised Ye Yan access to a soul cultivation method and alchemy ingredients.
• After Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi left, Xuan Yi urged Ye Yan to find a partner and have children, but Ye Yan dodged her teasing and told her about his travels.
• Xuan Yi grew curious about the women Ye Yan had met, and Ye Yan said the ancient clan acquaintance and the two girls he had rescued were all peerless beauties.

With the Five Great Families’ challenge approaching, Ye Yan remained confident and celebrated his fourteenth birthday in Sacred Pill City. Xuan Yi gave him the Supreme One Soul Art and a life-saving pill, and Ye Yan promised to stay in the city and keep her company.

• Ye Lin told Ye Yan that Bai Ying, Cao Ge, Cao Xiu, and unnamed members of the Dan and Qiu Clans planned to compete against him, but Ye Yan dismissed the threat.
• Ye Zhong and Ye Jingheng arrived at the courtyard their family had once owned, and Ye Jingheng urged his father to visit Xiao Yan for his birthday.
• Xuan Yi gave Ye Yan the Supreme One Soul Art and a Yin Yang Profound Dragon Pill, which Ye Yan swallowed.
• Xuan Yi wished Ye Yan a happy birthday and tied up his hair while recalling that he had come to her five years earlier.
• Ye Yan promised Xuan Yi that he would stay in Sacred Pill City for a while and keep her company.

As midnight approached, Ye Yan gained the trait [Do You Really Know Who I Am], which let him conceal his appearance and create an intelligent clone for the upcoming draw. After testing the clone, he studied the Supreme One Soul Art and used it to improve the Heavenly River Cultivation Method.

• Ye Yan worried that experts at the Fourteenth Draw might connect his various identities and expose him.
• Ye Yan gained [Do You Really Know Who I Am], which let him conceal his appearance even from a Battle Saint and split off a clone.
• Ye Yan transformed his true body into Han Li's appearance and made the clone look like Ye Yan, planning for the clone to challenge Han Li.
• Ye Yan discovered that the clone could speak intelligently, had the strength of a Three-Star Dou Wang, and could manifest a weakened Heaven Burning Flame.
• Ye Yan studied the Supreme One Soul Art and used his insights to improve the Heavenly River Cultivation Method, enlarging the river around his soul.

The Five Great Families gathered at the Pill Tower for the five-year competition with Han Li, while Cao Yuan tried to learn whether Ye Yan would appear. Ye Zhong insisted his grandson would participate, and a handsome young man arrived, leaving Ye Jingheng shocked at his identity.

• Cao Yuan told Cao Ying that Ye Yan might be Han Li and promised to help her become President Xuan Yi’s disciple; Cao Dan’s behavior disappointed him.
• Ten days later, the leaders of the Five Great Families gathered near the Pill Tower plaza for the competition arranged with Han Li.
• Cao Yuan questioned Ye Zhong about Ye Yan’s absence and hinted that he wanted to know whether Ye Yan was Han Li.
• Ye Zhong said Ye Yan would participate, while Ye Jingheng and his wife wondered how both Ye Yan and Han Li could appear.
• A handsome young man arrived behind Ye Zhong, and Ye Jingheng recognized him as Xiao Yan.

Ye Yan appeared at the Pill Tower as a separate clone, while Han Li remained hidden and the Five Great Families waited for him to face Bai Ying in the pill-refining competition. The Pill Tower Ancestor recognized Ye Yan’s unusual talents and resolved to protect him as a bright ray of sunlight descended toward the square.

• Ye Yan arrived at the gathering, greeted Ye Zhong, and introduced himself to Cao Yuan and Cao Ying, praising Cao Ying’s alchemy potential.
• Ye Yan explained that he had arrived late and had not obtained an alchemist badge, while the assembled families studied him.
• Xuan Kongzi marveled at Ye Yan’s clone, and Xuan Yi examined Ye Yan—who was actually Han Li—while Shen He watched.
• The Pill Tower Ancestor observed Ye Yan and Han Li, noted their Spirit Realm Soul and connection to Gu Yuan, and decided to keep a closer watch because of Soul Hall’s hostility.
• The Five Great Families waited on Pill Tower Square as Bai Ying complained that Han Li had not appeared after an hour, and Dan Xuan remarked on Ye Yan’s looks.
• A brilliant ray of sunlight descended from the distant sky, drawing everyone’s attention.

Ye Yan, disguised as Han Li, arrived at the Five Year Appointment and addressed the assembled alchemists with humility before agreeing to face them all at once in an alchemy contest. As the competition began to take shape, Cao Ying showed an unusual interest in Han Li, leaving Cao Yuan wary.

• Ye Yan emerged from behind Sheng Yao, and the crowd and alchemists examined Han Li’s ordinary-looking appearance.
• Bai Ying warned Dan Xuan not to underestimate Han Li, while Cao Yuan scrutinized Ye Yan and invited him to visit the Cao Family.
• Sheng Yao asked Han Li to address the alchemists, and Ye Yan urged them to support and improve one another, confusing those who had expected him to be arrogant.
• Cao Ying said Han Li’s strange aura made her overlook his appearance, and Cao Yuan grew concerned about her interest in him.
• Bai Ying asked how they would compete, and the alchemists agreed to face Ye Yan together in an alchemy contest.

Han Li, disguised as Ye Yan, joined the Pill Refining Contest and chose to refine a sixth-rank Dou Ling Pill while his clone, also posing as Ye Yan, chose a fifth-rank Qi Cultivation Pill. The contestants began preparing to refine their pills as the crowd watched, leaving Han Li poised to demonstrate his skill.

• Elder Sheng Yao invited the contestants to choose pills and supplied their ingredients, and Han Li requested ingredients for a Dou Ling Pill.
• Dan Xuan, Bai Ying, Cao Yuan, and the Qiu Clan contestant chose pills ranked fourth or fifth, while the disguised Ye Yan requested ingredients for a fifth-rank Qi Cultivation Pill.
• Han Li and the disguised Ye Yan flew up to the platform, and the crowd marveled that both appeared to have reached the Dou Wang realm.
• Ye Zhong celebrated Ye Yan's talent, and the crowd speculated about the unusually handsome young man's origins.
• The contestants summoned their cauldrons and Beast Fires, and Han Li brought out his cauldron and an azure flame.

Ye Yan revealed the Green Lotus Core Flame and completed a Sixth-Rank Dou Ling Pill during the competition, stunning the audience and establishing himself as Sacred Pill City's rising star. He pinned on Sacred Pill City's emblem and turned his attention to the contestants still refining their pills.

• Ye Yan revealed the Green Lotus Core Flame, stunning the spectators and elders and making the other contestants' flames falter.
• Dan Xuan, Bai Ying, Cao Dan, and the Qiu Clan contestant continued refining their pills despite recognizing Ye Yan's advantage.
• Ye Yan refined a Dou Ling Pill, and a jade-green pillar of light marked the pill's completion.
• Ye Yan presented the pill to Sheng Yao as the crowd erupted in praise and awe at his skill.
• Ye Yan pinned Sacred Pill City's emblem to his chest and looked toward the contestants who were still refining their pills.

Han Li won the Five Year Appointment after demonstrating that he could refine a sixth-rank pill, and his victory spread his reputation throughout Sacred Pill City. Ye Yan later showed the elders how his clone worked, then learned the Soul Hall would watch his movements, so he planned to stay in for a while before seeking the Life Flame.

• Dan Xuan refined a Recovery Pill after conceding that Han Li had won the pill-refining contest.
• Ye Yan's clone, 'Ye Yan,' and the other contestants finished refining pills, while Bai Ying acknowledged Han Li's skill and apologized for Bai Shan and Bai Li.
• Han Li's victory and sixth-rank pill skills spread through Sacred Pill City, raising his standing among lone cultivator alchemists and the Five Great Families.
• At Ye Yan's courtyard, Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi examined his clone as Ye Yan altered his appearance and made the clone dissipate.
• Xuan Kongzi warned Ye Yan that the Soul Hall would monitor him, and Ye Yan decided to avoid going out until he pursued the Life Flame.

Ye Yan warned Xuan Kongzi and Ye Zhong that a powerful force backed the Soul Hall, then urged Xuan Yi to take Cao Ying as a disciple, which she agreed to consider. Over the next two years, Ye Yan stayed in Sacred Pill City, gained new traits, and reached Seven-Star Dou Emperor.

• Ye Yan told Xuan Yi that Cao Ying had exceptional talent and suggested she take her as a disciple, while revealing Han Feng's warning about a powerful force behind the Soul Hall.
• Xuan Kongzi cautioned Ye Zhong to keep the information secret, and Xuan Yi agreed to find an opportunity to accept Cao Ying as her disciple.
• Ye Zhong told Ye Yan not to return to the family for several years, and Ye Yan warned him to keep the soul cultivation method restricted to trusted family members.
• Ye Yan cultivated as his Five Elements strengthened his organs, and at fifteen he advanced from Eight-Star Dou Wang to Two-Star Dou Emperor.
• At sixteen, Ye Yan gained the Escape is Priority trait, remained in Sacred Pill City, and reached Seven-Star Dou Emperor while spending most of his time in the library.

Ye Yan reached the Two-Star Dou Zong realm and searched the outskirts of the Shennong Mountain Range with Xuan Yi for the Life Flame, while the Soul Hall monitored Han Li’s growth. The chapter ended with Ye Yan offering incense toward the east as he prepared to continue the search.

• Ye Yan advanced to the Two-Star Dou Zong realm at age seventeen, reaching Peak Seventh-Rank Alchemist and late Spirit Realm soul strength.
• At the Soul Hall’s Human Hall, a guardian reported that Han Li had become a Dou Emperor and might now be a Dou Zong.
• Hun Miesheng ordered the Great Heavenly Venerable and Second Heavenly Venerable Gu You to monitor Han Li’s soul cultivation, especially for a breakthrough to the Heavenly Realm Soul.
• After two months searching the outskirts of the Shennong Mountain Range, Ye Yan told Xuan Yi he still sensed that what he sought was there.
• Xuan Yi agreed that Ye Yan could search deeper with the Ancestor’s protection, and Ye Yan set out incense and bowed toward the east.

Ye Yan gained the Lucky Brother trait and told Xuan Yi that his yearly blessings came from a bloodline connected to worlds beyond their own. The pair continued searching the Shennong Mountain Range for the Life Flame, and Ye Yan felt certain that his luck would lead them to it.

• Ye Yan examined the Lucky Brother trait, which temporarily raised his luck in certain situations and could slightly improve it if he survived them safely.
• Ye Yan told Xuan Yi that an awareness in his mind had instructed him to worship eastward each year to receive blessings, and he claimed his bloodline came from beyond their world.
• Xuan Yi warned Ye Yan to keep his revelations secret, then said they would return to Sacred Pill City after searching the mountain range longer.
• Ye Yan and Xuan Yi traveled deeper into the Shennong Mountain Range, where dense natural energy and strong medicinal scents suggested the Life Flame might be nearby.
• Ye Yan sensed that his luck was unusually good and searched ahead, convinced he had a high chance of finding the Life Flame.

Ye Yan and Xuan Yi tracked the Heaven Burning Flame to a valley in the Shennong Mountain Range, where Ye Yan trapped the Life Flame inside the Heaven-Burning Cauldron. As someone approached, he hid the cauldron, but the newcomer confronted them as outsiders.

• Ye Yan sensed the Heaven Burning Flame react and followed it into a valley with Xuan Yi.
• The Heaven Burning Flame pursued a Millennium Spirit Ginseng underground, and Ye Yan trapped it with his soul power.
• Ye Yan used Wood Qi to lure the Life Flame into the Heaven-Burning Cauldron, where the Heaven Burning Flame sealed it inside.
• Xuan Yi warned Ye Yan that someone was approaching, so he hid the cauldron in his dantian.
• An approaching stranger told Ye Yan and Xuan Yi that they were not from around there.

Ye Yan and Xuan Yi encountered Elder Shennong after secretly obtaining the Life Flame, but he let them leave without discovering which Heavenly Flame they had taken. They reached Sacred Pill City, where Xuan Yi proposed holding a private coming-of-age ceremony for Ye Yan.

• Elder Shennong appeared before Ye Yan and Xuan Yi, and Xuan Yi showed him the Pill Ancestor’s token.
• Elder Shennong sensed a Heavenly Flame near the crater but mistook it for a lower-ranked flame and let Ye Yan and Xuan Yi leave.
• Ye Yan and Xuan Yi fled the Shennong Mountain Range and traveled toward the Central Plains, speculating about why Elder Shennong had spared them.
• After six days of travel, Ye Yan and Xuan Yi arrived at Sacred Pill City, where Xuan Yi proposed a private coming-of-age ceremony for Ye Yan.

After Ye Yan’s coming-of-age ceremony, Gu Yuan visited the Pill Tower to meet the young prodigy his daughter kept asking about. Ye Yan recognized Gu Yuan as Xiao Xun’er’s father and learned she was the Ancient Clan’s young mistress.

• Xuan Yi prepared Ye Yan for his coming-of-age ceremony, and he celebrated turning eighteen as a five-star Dou Zong and Eighth-Rank Alchemist.
• Gu Yuan visited the Pill Tower after Xiao Xun’er repeatedly wrote to ask about Ye Yan, whose talent the Pill Tower Ancestor praised.
• The Pill Tower Ancestor summoned Ye Yan, who found Gu Yuan waiting in the palace and suspected the man was connected to Xiao Xun’er.
• Gu Yuan introduced himself as the Ancient Clan’s clan leader, and Ye Yan explained that he had inferred Xiao Xun’er belonged to one of the Eight Great Emperor Clans.
• Ye Yan expressed surprise that Xiao Xun’er was the Ancient Clan’s young mistress.

Ye Yan agreed to return to the Northwest Region and help Gu Xun'er stabilize her Heavenly Flame while searching for something important. Before leaving, he warned Gu Yuan that the Soul Clan might be collecting alchemists’ souls to pursue a breakthrough to Battle Emperor.

• Ye Yan declined to ask why Gu Xun'er had been sent to the Northwest Region, and Gu Yuan later showed him an imitation of the Green Wood Pulse-Nurturing Pill.
• Gu Yuan asked Ye Yan to return to the Northwest Region, stay with Gu Xun'er, and help her search for something; Ye Yan suspected they were seeking the Tou She Ancient God Jade.
• Ye Yan agreed to go but asked Gu Yuan to pay closer attention to the Soul Hall and Soul Clan.
• Ye Yan suggested that the Soul Clan collected alchemists’ souls to help Hun Tiandi break through to Battle Emperor, startling Gu Yuan.

Ye Yan secured Gu Yuan’s help concealing his identity before returning to the Pill Tower to prepare for the Northwest Region. Meanwhile, Gu Yuan secretly ordered the Ancient Clan to investigate the Soul Hall and protect Ye Yan and Han Li; a month later, Ye Yan used the lightning from Han Li’s pill tribulation to refine a Lightning Tribulation Pill.

• Ye Yan asked Gu Yuan to erase traces of him before his journey to the Northwest Region, then accepted additional benefits when Gu Yuan offered them.
• Gu Yuan discussed the Soul Clan with the Pill Tower Ancestor, who refused to involve the Pill Tower in the conflict.
• Ye Yan returned to the Pill Tower, told Xuan Yi of his plans, and received her reluctant acceptance.
• Gu Yuan ordered Ancient Clan experts to secretly count the souls gathered by the Soul Hall and told Gu Yan to conceal Ye Yan and Han Li’s traces while monitoring the Soul Clan without attacking.
• A month later, Han Li refined an eighth-rank pill that summoned a five-colored thundercloud, and Ye Yan began using its lightning to refine a Lightning Tribulation Pill.