Chapter Summaries

Xiao Fan accepted Burning Flame Valley’s invitation to help refine a Fire Bodhi Pill, while the group split up to pursue ties with the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe. He left in three days with Hei Qing and Zi Yan, as Medusa, Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Old Hai prepared to secure a home for the Snake-People Tribe.

• Elder Chi Huo invited Xiao Fan to Burning Flame Valley to help Tang Zhen refine a Fire Bodhi Pill using the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame.
• Xiao Fan decided to accept, and after Zi Yan insisted on joining him, he agreed to bring her along with Hei Qing.
• Xiao Fan assigned Medusa, Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Old Hai to go to the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe while he traveled to Burning Flame Valley.
• Medusa and Xiao Fan discussed making the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe the Snake-People Tribe’s permanent home, and Medusa vowed to seize the territory herself if necessary.
• Xiao Yi Xian warned that Ice River Valley might attack while the group was divided, and Qing Lin promised to find the imprisoned bloodline at the tribe.

Xiao Fan arrived at Burning Flame Valley with Zi Yan and Hei Qing, then found young valley master Tang Huo'er suffering from fire poison in the Fire Mulberry Forest. He eased her pain with a flame and a pill, earning Tang Zhen's trust as he welcomed them into the valley.

• Xiao Fan arrived at Burning Flame Valley with Zi Yan and Hei Qing, concealing their Ancient Void Dragon identities.
• Xiao Fan noticed the valley's guards were distracted and headed to the Fire Mulberry Forest.
• Xiao Fan found Tang Huo'er in pain from fire poison and used his flame to guide it back, then gave her a pill to hold in her mouth.
• Tang Huo'er learned Xiao Fan was the invited alchemist and joked with him and Zi Yan while the pill eased her pain.
• Tang Zhen arrived, saw Xiao Fan had suppressed the fire poison, and welcomed him into Burning Flame Valley.

Xiao Fan proved his fire-control skill to Burning Flame Valley’s elders and agreed to refine a Fire Bodhi Pill for Tang Huo'er, warning that he would also need to draw the poison from her meridians. Tang Zhen accepted Xiao Fan’s requested rewards, and the chapter ended as preparations began at the Nine Dragon Fire Altar.

• Zi Yan admired Burning Flame Valley’s medicinal gardens while Xiao Fan teased her, and Tang Huo'er laughed at their exchange.
• Red-Browed Elder tested Xiao Fan with a Thunder Fire Essence Crystal, and Xiao Fan used Colorless Fire to refine it into a Fire Bead in three breaths.
• Xiao Fan said he could make the Fire Bodhi Pill but would have to draw the accumulated fire poison from Tang Huo'er afterward.
• Xiao Fan requested a day in the Nine Dragon Fire Vein, a favor from Burning Flame Valley, a Beast Region map near the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe, and a trade-route passage token; Tang Zhen agreed if Tang Huo'er recovered fully.
• Tang Zhen brought the ingredients to the Nine Dragon Fire Altar, where Xiao Fan prepared to refine the pill and Tang Huo'er prepared for the painful treatment.

Xiao Fan and Tang Zhen refined a Fire Bodhi Pill, and Xiao Fan removed hidden fire poison without letting the cauldron explode. The pill cured Tang Huo'er, and Tang Zhen promised Burning Flame Valley's support as Xiao Fan prepared to enter the Central Plains with the Snake-People Tribe.

• Tang Zhen and Xiao Fan combined their flames to refine the Fire Bodhi Pill, but hidden fire poison threatened to destroy the medicine.
• Xiao Fan resisted the Void Black Pattern's hunger and used it to devour only the poison, preserving the medicinal liquid.
• When the fire poison stirred inside Tang Huo'er, Tang Zhen continued refining while Xiao Fan and Zi Yan suppressed it in her body.
• Tang Zhen completed the Fire Bodhi Pill, and Xiao Fan used it with Bone Chilling Flame to extract the poison from Tang Huo'er.
• Tang Huo'er recovered from the fire poison, and Tang Zhen offered Xiao Fan a day's access to the Nine Dragon Fire Vein, regional maps, trade-route tokens, and Burning Flame Valley's future support.

Xiao Fan used the Nine Dragon Fire Vein to temper his body and the Colorless Fire Lotus while Tang Huo'er and Tang Zhen watched. As Zi Yan gathered nourishing pills, she revealed why Xiao Fan's silence in pain concerned her, leaving Tang Huo'er with a new admiration and curiosity about him.

• Tang Zhen dismissed the outer altar elders and opened the Nine Dragon Fire Vein so Xiao Fan could temper his flames and body.
• Tang Huo'er watched Xiao Fan endure the fire and lightning, reflecting on the pain he had borne while saving her.
• Zi Yan tried to take pills from the medicine chest, then asked Tang Huo'er for permission and received Tang Zhen's offer of more supplies.
• Tang Huo'er asked why Xiao Fan never cried out, and Zi Yan said strong people still felt pain but had no one to suffer in their place.
• Tang Huo'er watched Xiao Fan with growing admiration and curiosity.

Ice Venerable attacked the Snake-People Tribe to seize Xiao Yi Xian’s Woe Poison Body, while Qing Lin revealed her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to protect the clan. Xiao Fan arrived with Zi Yan and Hei Qing as Ice River Valley’s assault intensified, leaving the two sides on the brink of a full battle.

• Ice Venerable trapped Xiao Yi Xian in the Ten Thousand Cold Poison-Locking Formation, while Queen Medusa protected the Snake-People Tribe from the fighting.
• Medusa repelled Ice River Valley’s Dou Zongs, and Die held the mountain hollow’s entrance as Qing Lin helped defend the young snakes.
• Qing Lin activated her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, summoning snake beasts that shattered Ice River Valley’s attack and drew Ice Venerable’s attention.
• Ice Venerable targeted Qing Lin, but Die and Medusa intervened while Xiao Yi Xian attacked the formation and freed Qing Lin from its restraints.
• Xiao Fan arrived and struck the formation with his Colorless Fire Lotus; Zi Yan and Hei Qing followed, prompting Ice Venerable to renew his demand for Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin.
• Xiao Fan refused to surrender them and launched his Colorless Fire Lotus at the formation’s core, beginning the battle between him and Ice River Valley.

Xiao Fan stabilized his fire core in Burning Flame Valley and received powerful rewards from Tang Zhen and Tang Huo'er. After detecting a Soul Hall spy, he planted a false fire seal to mislead the enemy while preparing to reunite with Medusa, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin near the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe.

• Xiao Fan stabilized the Colorless Fire with the help of the Nine Dragon Fire Vein, and Tang Huo'er asked whether the fire vein suited him.
• Tang Zhen gave Xiao Fan the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations, a trade-route Fire Token, and Burning Flame Valley's protection for the Snake-People Tribe.
• Tang Huo'er gave Xiao Fan her Fire Spirit Marrow, and she joked with him while Zi Yan guarded her medicine boxes and candy.
• Xiao Fan noticed a Soul Hall spy retreating from the Fire Altar and secretly sent a false fire seal after it to mislead the enemy.
• Xiao Fan told Zi Yan that Medusa, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin were heading toward the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe, then accepted a Fire Jujube Candy from her.
• Tang Huo'er invited Xiao Fan to visit Burning Flame Valley again for drinks, and Zi Yan agreed when she heard there would be candy.

Die and the Snake-People Tribe reached the outskirts of the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe, where Medusa began securing their new refuge. Ice River Valley arrived to seize Xiao Yi Xian, leaving the group facing the Ice Venerable and his experts.

• Die saw the Snake-People Tribe’s young members drink freely from the water and told Medusa she believed the new home would be theirs.
• Xiao Yi Xian sensed Ice River Valley approaching because it had learned that a mature Woe Poison Body had appeared in the Chu Yun Empire.
• Medusa ordered Yue Mei and Hua She'er to move the tribe into a mountain hollow and establish three layers of guards; Die stayed beside her.
• Qing Lin sensed the underground serpent beasts hiding and warned that they feared both Ice River Valley and the Snake-People Tribe; Xiao Yi Xian told her not to reveal her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils unless necessary.
• Ice River Valley sealed the area in ice, and the Ice Venerable arrived with more than a dozen experts.

Xiao Fan dismantled the Ten Thousand Cold Poison-Locking Formation and suppressed Ice Venerable in battle, while Medusa protected the Snake-People Tribe and Qing Lin aided the serpent beasts. As Ice River Valley began to retreat, Ice Venerable summoned an ancestor with an ancient token.

• Xiao Fan used the Colorless Fire Lotus to detonate Xiao Yi Xian's poison lotuses and destroy a Cold Marrow Ice Pillar, weakening the formation.
• Ice Venerable attacked Xiao Fan, but Xiao Fan countered his techniques and forced him back with three fire lotuses.
• Medusa drove off Ice River Valley's Dou Zongs while Die and Qing Lin helped protect the serpent beasts.
• Ice Venerable ordered Ice River Valley to retreat, then activated an ancient token and summoned the ancestor.

Xiao Fan rejected Ice River Ancestor’s offer of compensation and killed Ice Venerable despite the Demi-Saint phantom’s threat. Ice River Ancestor withdrew, while Xiao Fan claimed the jade slips and declared he would take the rest from Ice River Valley himself.

• Ice River Ancestor appeared through an ancestral command token and offered three secret volumes in exchange for ending the conflict with Ice River Valley.
• Xiao Fan exposed that Ice River Ancestor was too weak to truly intervene and revealed that his true body was near death or barely surviving in the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow Pool.
• Ice River Ancestor attacked Xiao Fan, but Xiao Fan used the opening to strike Ice Venerable as Hei Qing, Xiao Yi Xian, Medusa, Die, and Zi Yan supported him.
• Xiao Fan shattered Ice Venerable’s Ice Wheel Disc and killed him with the Colorless Fire Lotus, while Xiao Yi Xian destroyed the formation sustaining the phantom.
• Ice River Ancestor withdrew, and Xiao Fan took the jade slips from Ice Venerable’s Storage Ring and vowed to go to Ice River Valley for the rest.

After the Snake-People Tribe settled in their new valley, Qing Lin received their gratitude for protecting them, while Xiao Fan and Xiao Yi Xian examined Ice River Valley’s records on poison bodies. The tribe camped for the night, and Xiao Yi Xian resolved to use what she learned against Ice River Valley if it sought revenge.

• Queen Medusa organized the Snake-People Tribe, assigned defenses, and kept them from entering the deeper valley for the night.
• Zi Yan gave fire-date candies to the young snakes, while Die comforted Qing Lin and told her the tribe would remember how she had protected them.
• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yi Xian studied the records and tools taken from Ice Venerable’s Storage Ring, learning that Ice River Valley had used poison-body research to prolong its hosts for their own purposes.
• Xiao Yi Xian burned hidden Soul Seals in the jade slips and decided to use Ice River Valley’s knowledge of cold poison and poison sealing against them.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Xiao Fan she could handle Ice River Valley herself if it sought revenge, and he agreed not to treat her as someone who could only be protected.

Xiao Fan comforted Medusa at the water's edge after she protected her people, but Zi Yan and the others interrupted their private moment. With the Snake-People Tribe settling into the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe's territory, Medusa laid out their plans to enter Snake Valley the next day.

• Xiao Fan noticed the trace of cold marrow on Medusa's wrist and dispelled it, then told her she could lean on him when she was tired.
• Medusa acknowledged that she had guarded her people rather than confront Ice Venerable, and Xiao Fan embraced her as she admitted she did not need his support.
• Zi Yan, Die, Qing Lin, and Xiao Yi Xian interrupted Xiao Fan and Medusa at the water, and Medusa sent them back to camp.
• Medusa reflected that the noisy camp did not displease her, while Xiao Fan described how the Snake-People Tribe could build a future there.
• Medusa took Xiao Fan's hand and assigned roles for the next day's journey into Snake Valley, declaring that the Snake-People Tribe would have a place among the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe.
• The Snake-People Tribe's banner was raised on the black rocks outside the tribe's territory.

After Ice River Valley retreated, Qing Lin led the Snake-People Tribe to a hidden valley that could serve as their temporary home. The tribe settled in while Qing Lin began guiding the local serpent beasts, and Medusa playfully teased Xiao Fan as she recovered from her injury.

• A coldwater python led Qing Lin, Medusa, Xiao Fan, and the Snake-People Tribe toward an abandoned valley with water, caves, and no main-branch guards.
• Qing Lin worried she would not be useful, but Xiao Fan told her she had already saved the tribe from further casualties, and Medusa urged her to face the serpent beasts with her head held high.
• The group reached the hidden valley, where Medusa and Xiao Fan agreed the tribe could stay temporarily while Die organized care for the injured.
• Qing Lin soothed the local serpent beasts, which gathered outside the valley as natural guards, and Medusa praised how quickly she was learning.
• Medusa warned Xiao Fan not to move recklessly while injured, then teased him and left him owing her a reward.

Xiao Fan used Ice Venerable’s body to resurrect Yao Tianhuo, who swore to protect the Snake-People Tribe for thirty years. With the valley secured, Xiao Fan, Medusa, and Qing Lin set out for the depths of the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe’s territory.

• Xiao Fan revealed Ice Venerable’s preserved Dou Zun body and proposed using it to revive Yao Tianhuo.
• Xiao Fan and Yao Tianhuo agreed that Yao Tianhuo would guard the Snake-People Tribe for thirty years, and Yao Tianhuo swore to defend it from invasion.
• Xiao Fan, Xiao Yi Xian, Medusa, Die, and Qing Lin helped complete the resurrection ritual, and Yao Tianhuo returned to life as an early-stage Dou Zun.
• Yao Tianhuo declared himself a guest elder of the Snake-People Tribe and raised a flame barrier to protect the valley.
• Xiao Fan left Zi Yan and Xiao Yi Xian to help guard the valley with Yao Tianhuo, then departed with Medusa and Qing Lin for the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe’s territory.

Xiao Fan explained that he intended to bind Yao Ming to a mutual soul contract to protect the Snake-People Tribe, and Qing Lin agreed to help infiltrate the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe. Xiao Fan, Medusa, and Qing Lin entered through an abandoned underground river and made their way toward Yellow Spring, where an unknown danger might await.

• Xiao Fan told Medusa that he wanted control of the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe to secure a lasting home for the Snake-People Tribe.
• Qing Lin questioned whether binding Yao Ming would make them like Yao Xiaotian, and Xiao Fan explained that the Soul Seal would enforce a contract both sides could refuse and would be punished for breaking.
• Medusa supported the contract, and Qing Lin agreed to use her abilities to help them see through the formations.
• Xiao Fan led Medusa and Qing Lin around the main gate to an abandoned underground river, where Qing Lin learned that patrols had increased and Yellow Spring was restricted.
• The three evaded two Nether Serpent Guards with help from Coldwater Snake Beasts and continued toward Yellow Spring, while Xiao Fan warned that their easy passage might mean danger lay ahead.

Xiao Fan, Medusa, and Qing Lin reached Yao Ming at the bottom of Nine Nether Yellow Spring and negotiated a mutual Soul Pact in exchange for his rescue and support for the Snake-People Tribe's autonomy. Yao Ming accepted, and the pact was completed, though its backlash briefly struck Xiao Fan's soul.

• Xiao Fan used Ice River Valley's aura to conceal the bloodline stone gate while Qing Lin opened it with her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
• Medusa steadied Qing Lin as they descended through Yellow Spring's oppressive voices and cold, and Xiao Fan shielded them with Colorless Fire.
• Qing Lin found Yao Ming chained at the bottom of Yellow Spring, with a snake nail suppressing his soul.
• Xiao Fan offered Yao Ming a mutual Soul Pact: he would free him and help him reclaim his clan-chief position, while Serene Water Snake Valley would receive autonomous rule under the Snake-People Tribe.
• Medusa and Qing Lin affirmed the need for honest terms, and Yao Ming agreed to the pact.
• Xiao Fan formed the Soul Pact with Yao Ming; its backlash struck Xiao Fan's soul before the pact settled.

Xiao Fan freed Yao Ming from the Nine Nether Yellow Spring by secretly disabling his restraints, and the group fled through an ancestral passage as Yao Xiaotian pursued them. Yao Ming and Yao Xiaotian clashed inside the passage, which partially collapsed under their attacks.

• Xiao Fan used the Heavenly Flames to hollow out Yao Ming's chains and break the serpent nail's interior without alerting the suppression formation.
• Yao Ming emerged from the Yellow Spring, but Yao Xiaotian's heartblood seal alerted him to the escape and began pressing down on the spring.
• Yao Ming opened an ancestral secret passage, and Xiao Fan redirected Yao Xiaotian's first attack so the group could enter before the door closed.
• Yao Xiaotian tore open the hidden entrance and pursued Xiao Fan, Medusa, Qing Lin, and Yao Ming into the passage.
• Yao Ming countered Yao Xiaotian's black-gold beam with a strike of Nine Nether battle qi, and half the passage exploded.

Xiao Fan helped Yao Ming turn the Ancestor Scale Platform against Yao Xiaotian, forcing the wounded clan chief to retreat. Yao Ming and his allies prepared to confront him at the tribal hall, where the struggle for the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe’s leadership would continue.

• Yao Ming used the Ancestor Scale Platform to battle Yao Xiaotian, while Xiao Fan activated its bloodline patterns and shaped the Yellow Spring water into part of its formation.
• Xiao Fan disrupted Yao Xiaotian’s essence-blood imprint, allowing Yao Ming to suppress his Nether Python phantom and crack the Clan Chief's Blood Token.
• Yao Xiaotian retreated through a rift with his remaining trusted subordinates and vowed to face Yao Ming in the clan hall.
• Yao Ming agreed to go to the tribal hall with Xiao Fan, Queen Medusa, and Qing Lin, while Queen Medusa reminded him that the Snake-People Tribe still needed Serene Water Snake Valley.
• Xiao Fan faltered from backlash, and Queen Medusa caught his arm as the group prepared to leave for the coming struggle.

After defeating Yao Xiaotian at the Ancestor Scale Platform, Yao Ming led Xiao Fan, Medusa, and Qing Lin to the Yellow Spring Stone Tablet, where Medusa began the Yellow Spring Demon Saint’s dangerous inheritance trial. The Demon Saint’s lingering will awakened and recognized her Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python bloodline.

• Yao Ming explained that he and the others could not safely attack Yao Xiaotian’s clan hall until he recovered, then opened a hidden staircase beneath the Ancestor Scale Platform.
• Yao Ming revealed that the Yellow Spring Stone Tablet held the Yellow Spring Demon Saint’s inheritance and warned Medusa that its trial could destroy her soul.
• Medusa chose to enter the trial despite Xiao Fan offering her the choice to stay behind, and Xiao Fan accompanied her to shield her from deadly pressure outside the trial.
• Qing Lin looked at the Stone Tablet’s ancient characters and recoiled from their soul pressure, so Xiao Fan used Bone Chilling Flame to protect her.
• Medusa touched the Yellow Spring Tablet, awakening the Yellow Spring Demon Saint’s lingering will, which recognized her Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python bloodline.

Medusa endured the Yellow Spring Demon Saint’s soul attack and received his inheritance, using his essence blood to break through to Dou Zun and advance her Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python bloodline. Afterward, she noticed Xiao Fan was hurt from helping her and asked if he was in pain.

• The Yellow Spring Demon Saint tested Medusa with Yellow Spring Heavenly Wrath, and she resisted the soul attack without Xiao Fan taking it for her.
• The Yellow Spring Demon Saint bestowed Medusa three Dou Techniques and his essence blood, which began transforming her bloodline and body.
• Xiao Fan guided Medusa through the painful inheritance with Colorless Fire and Bone Chilling Flame, and the Yellow Spring Demon Saint gave her the Yellow Spring Heavenly Serpent Art.
• Medusa broke through to Dou Zun as her Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python bloodline showed the first signs of advancing toward nine colors.
• Medusa pulled Xiao Fan close and asked whether he was hurt from supporting her, and he admitted that it hurt.