Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan continued supplying flames to all eight dragon-patterned pillars for an hour, silencing the crowd and convincing many that he could succeed. As the spectators watched, Ling Zhuo planned to protect his standing by challenging a higher Heavenly Secrets Ranking threshold after the trial.

• Xiao Yan maintained steady flames across all eight pillars for an hour, while a young couple from the Heavenly Secrets Talents Ranking recognized him as the legendary Jia Nan Academy genius and decided to return to their clan to cultivate.
• Xuan Kongzi told Xuan Leizi to wait and see whether Xiao Yan could surpass the Pill Tower’s previous record, while privately recalling his own defeat by a brilliant young man.
• Ling Zhuo crushed his teacup, rejected Elder Yan’s suggestion to interfere, and ordered him to notify the Heavenly Secrets Tower that he would challenge the 450-point threshold after the trial.
• Xiao Yi Xian, Lei Jingxiao, and Qing Lin watched Xiao Yan from the crowd and expressed confidence in his ability to succeed.

Xiao Yan lit all eight Dragon Pattern Pillars at once, accomplishing an unprecedented feat and securing the crowd’s admiration. After collapsing from exhaustion, he was supported by Xiao Yi Xian and invited the young attendant Bu Yao to seek him out at the Pill Tower, while a black-robed figure quietly departed.

• As Xiao Yan neared exhaustion, Ling Zhuo regretted giving him medicinal wine but held back from interfering under the Pill Tower experts’ watch.
• Xiao Yan sensed Ling Zhuo, poured his remaining Dou Qi into the Flame Lotus, and urged Ling Zhuo to watch as he unleashed his full power.
• All eight Dragon Pattern Pillars lit up together, stunning the crowd and prompting them to praise Xiao Yan’s Heavenly Flames and declare him the Pill Convention champion.
• Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Leizi marveled at Xiao Yan’s feat and agreed that his achievement brought glory to all Alchemists.
• Xiao Yan nearly collapsed after succeeding, and Xiao Yi Xian helped restore his Dou Qi as the young attendant Bu Yao congratulated him.
• Xiao Yan invited Bu Yao to find him at the Pill Tower, while a black-robed figure left, acknowledging that Xiao Yan would make the road ahead more interesting.

After Xiao Yan’s perfect score in the Nine Dragon Fire Trial made him a major focus of the Pill Convention, he rested at the Pill Tower while continuing to search for Zi Yan and Huo Zhi. Fei Tian revealed how the Yellow Spring Pavilion’s Heartblood Clay Puppets were made and delivered a newly refined one, before telling Xiao Yan that Bu Yao had come to see him.

• Xiao Yan’s perfect score intensified public debate over his standing against Ling Zhuo, and Xuan Kongzi urged him to rest at the Pill Tower for half a month.
• Xiao Yan asked Fei Tian for news of Zi Yan and Huo Zhi, but Fei Tian reported that the Starfall Pavilion and Heavenly Luan Clan had been unable to locate them or contact the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.
• Fei Tian explained that Heartblood Clay Puppets required the Yellow Spring Pavilion’s cultivation method and half a year in a naturally formed Nightmare Pool that could not be replicated.
• Fei Tian gave Xiao Yan a new puppet and said Wang Chen, the Yellow Spring Pavilion’s former Young Master, had condensed it.
• Fei Tian told Xiao Yan that Pill Tower attendant Bu Yao had come to see him, and Xiao Yan invited Bu Yao in.

Xiao Yan gave Bu Yao a scroll of his alchemy insights and told him to reach sixth-tier alchemist before age thirty if he hoped to become his disciple. After Xiao Yi Xian made him leave his studies to spend time with Lei Jingxiao, Xiao Yan learned that Lei Jingxiao wanted him to teach him alchemy and help him enter the Pill Convention.

• Bu Yao visited Xiao Yan, who gave him a scroll of alchemy insights and refused to accept him as a disciple for now.
• Xiao Yan told Bu Yao to become a sixth-tier alchemist before age thirty and then seek him out at Starfall Pavilion.
• Xiao Yi Xian took Xiao Yan's soul technique scroll and ordered him to help Lei Jingxiao choose a farewell gift.
• Xiao Yan joined Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, Mu Qingluan, and Lei Jingxiao for an outing, feeling guilty that he had not taught Lei Jingxiao anything.
• Lei Jingxiao told Xiao Yan that he wanted to learn alchemy and participate in the Pill Convention.

Xiao Yan agreed to teach Lei Jingxiao alchemy, though he doubted Lei Jingxiao could reach the Pill Convention's top ten and claim the Three Thousand Burning Flame. At the Pill Tower entrance, Xiao Yan noticed a mysterious black-clad woman carrying a token associated with Xuan Yi and could not explain the strange feeling she gave him.

• Xiao Yan warned Lei Jingxiao that his lightning-and-fire Dou Qi made alchemy difficult, but agreed to teach him if he insisted.
• Lei Jingxiao revealed that he planned to enter the Pill Convention, reach the top ten, and compete for the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
• Xiao Yan questioned Xiao Yi Xian about Lei Jingxiao's plans, while she and the other women laughed because they already knew about them.
• At the Pill Tower entrance, a black-clad stranger presented a token bearing Xuan Yi's aura, and the guards respectfully admitted her.
• Xiao Yan sensed something strange about the stranger, and Xiao Yi Xian guessed that she was a beautiful woman.

Xiao Yan and his companions enjoyed wine and shopping in Holy Pill City, where their extraordinary soul power drew attention. As they left, Xiao Yan learned that Ling Zhuo planned to challenge the 450 mark the next day, beginning the Spirit Clan’s counterattack.

• Xiao Yan drank Three Thousand Stars Brew at Drunken Reed Tower and remembered his family and his plans to reunite with them after settling matters in Holy Pill City.
• Mu Qingluan showed Xiao Yan a Phantom Light Hairpin, and the group tested how brightly their soul fluctuations made the hairpins shine.
• Xiao Yan offered to pay for anything the group wanted and ordered two more pots of Three Thousand Stars Brew to take away.
• As Xiao Yan and his companions left, they heard people debate his Dragon Pattern Pillar score and Ling Zhuo’s standing.
• Xiao Yan learned that Ling Zhuo would challenge the 450 mark the next day.

Xiao Yan took his group to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, where he bought hairpins for Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin and gave Lei Jingxiao a pearl from another hairpin. The group left the shop as Mu Qingluan suggested they head west to watch the fireworks show.

• Xiao Yan chose a jade hairpin for Xiao Yi Xian, then had the shopkeeper remove its glow and pinned the altered hairpin in her hair.
• Lei Jingxiao asked for a gift, and Xiao Yan used his flames to separate a pearl from a hairpin and gave it to him.
• Xiao Yan placed a blue-green pearl hairpin in Qing Lin's hair, and she became emotional at his thoughtfulness.
• Xiao Yan shielded Qing Lin from Mu Qingluan's view and asked where they should go next.
• Mu Qingluan proposed visiting the western part of Holy Pill City to watch that night's fireworks show.

Xiao Yan and his companions joined the crowds in Holy Pill City to watch the fireworks, and Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian shared a quiet moment as she urged him not to push himself too hard. On the way back, Qing Lin stopped at an old fortune-teller’s stall, and Xiao Yan sensed that the man was no ordinary person.

• Xiao Yan and his companions concealed their strength and joined the crowds to watch the Pill Tower’s fireworks display.
• Xiao Yan enjoyed the festivities and held hands with Xiao Yi Xian as they watched the fireworks together.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Xiao Yan not to push himself too hard, and he reassured her that he was there.
• Xiao Yan and his companions left after the fireworks, with Xiao Yan feeling the tension in his heart ease.
• Qing Lin stopped at an elderly man’s roadside fortune-telling stall, and Xiao Yan sensed that the fortune-teller was unusual.

Xiao Yan and his companions had their fortunes told by a mysterious old man, who warned of Xiao Yan’s bloody calamity and revealed Qing Lin’s extraordinary destiny. After they left, the old man returned to his true appearance and declared that the Nine Serene Deepground Python clan would rise now that the Empress had appeared.

• The old man told Xiao Yan he had an extraordinary fate but would likely face a bloody calamity within a year.
• The old man said Qing Lin possessed royal blood and an astonishing destiny, alarming her and making Xiao Yan wary.
• Lei Jingxiao asked for his fortune, but the old man refused and remarked that some people could never be surpassed, darkening Lei Jingxiao’s expression.
• Xiao Yan led the group away after leaving a fifth-tier medicinal pill, and he noticed faint scale-like marks on the fortune sticks.
• Two figures arrived and reported that their task had been completed without much obstruction from the Pill Tower.
• The old man opened his vertical-pupiled eyes, dismissed Yao Xiaotian and Yao Ming as fools, and declared that the Nine Serene Deepground Python clan would rise with the Empress’s appearance.

Xiao Yan discovered that Qing Lin’s icy aura had spiraled out of control, apparently after the suspicious old man from the Spirit Clan provoked it. He used the Red Lotus Core Flame to help her, but their forces continued clashing inside her body as the Nine Serene Deepground Python weakened unnoticed.

• While cultivating, Xiao Yan sensed a sudden icy aura coming from Qing Lin’s room and rushed to investigate.
• Xiao Yan found Qing Lin and Little Cold overcome by the cold, and Qing Lin warned him to leave.
• Xiao Yan suspected the old man from the Spirit Clan had caused Qing Lin’s loss of control and vowed to remember the debt.
• Xiao Yan used the Red Lotus Core Flame to fight the cold aura inside Qing Lin, but their powers clashed fiercely within her body.
• As the struggle continued, Xiao Yan’s palm froze and Little Cold grew weaker while no one noticed.

Qing Lin’s body underwent a bloodline replacement with Little Cold while Xiao Yan endured the frigid power. Ming Mei woke Xiao Yan and explained that she had arranged the transformation, leaving Qing Lin poised to inherit the Nine Serene Deepground Python Clan’s royal bloodline.

• The Nine Serene Deepground Python’s bloodline flowed into unconscious Qing Lin, while Little Cold’s body weakened and Xiao Yan remained unconscious under the frigid power.
• Ming Mei appeared and woke Xiao Yan, then questioned why he was in Qing Lin’s room.
• Xiao Yan explained how Qing Lin’s cultivation crisis began, and Ming Mei said a Nine Serene Deepground Python Clan elder had interfered after mistaking Qing Lin for a clan royal.
• Ming Mei explained that her planned blood replacement was proceeding and that Xiao Yan’s Heavenly Flame had helped Qing Lin survive the first wave of frigid power.
• Ming Mei revealed that Qing Lin could become ruler of the Nine Serene Deepground Python Clan, whose rightful heir had been killed by the clan itself.

Ming Mei completed Qing Lin’s bloodline replacement, making the royal blood of the Nine Serene Deepground Python dominant while sparing the weakened beast. As Ming Mei’s remnant soul vanished, Xiao Yan used his Heavenly Flames to clear the remaining blockages in Qing Lin’s bloodline, and she began to awaken.

• Ming Mei explained that the blood replacement would strengthen Qing Lin without damaging her human foundation, though the Nine Serene Deepground Python would never reach the Dou Emperor realm.
• Ming Mei told Xiao Yan to stay and use his Heavenly Flames to help Qing Lin absorb the royal blood, while he waited and cultivated.
• Ming Mei announced that her remnant soul would disappear, asked Xiao Yan to care for Qing Lin, and vanished.
• Xiao Yan covered Qing Lin with a robe and used his Heavenly Flames to clear blockages and soothe the cold aura in her bloodline.
• Qing Lin opened her eyes and recognized Xiao Yan, who told her to steady her mind while he finished clearing her bloodline.

Ling He confronted the Spirit Clan’s delegation after Xiao Yan earned two perfect scores in the Pill Convention trials, threatening the Heavenly Secrets Tower’s rankings and the clan’s plans. She ordered Zou Wu to stop Xiao Yan’s momentum and said she would intervene personally.

• Ling He demanded an explanation from Ling Zhuo about why Xiao Yan could not be stopped.
• Ling Zhuo explained Xiao Yan’s ties to Huo Xuan, the Ancient Clan, and Yao Chen, and reported that Xiao Yan had earned perfect scores in two trials.
• Elder Yan described how Xiao Yan endured the final lightning bolts in the Heavenly Secrets Tower’s trial, leaving the Spirit Clan unable to justify lowering his score.
• Ling Zhuo admitted his score was 456 and that he had little room to improve without damaging the ranking’s credibility.
• Ling He warned Zou Wu to stop Xiao Yan from disrupting the Spirit Clan’s plans and said she would personally take action.

Xiao Yan worried over the rare materials needed to upgrade his Heavy Profound Ruler and the lingering weakness in his Heavenly Flame before heading to meet Xuan Kongzi. On the way, Wei Jiangyuan stopped him and offered information about how the Spirit Clan had subdued the Pill Tower’s five affiliated families.

• Xiao Yan reviewed Master Haika’s list of rare materials, and Xiao Yi Xian offered to ask Old Fei to search for them.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Xiao Yan that Xuan Kongzi wanted him to attempt the third trial, while Xiao Yan concealed his concern that his Heavenly Flame had weakened after his encounter with Qing Lin.
• Xiao Yan practiced his soul techniques, making progress with the Soul Flow Black Vortex but not yet mastering the Shadow Piercing Needle.
• Wei Jiangyuan introduced himself to Xiao Yan and began listing his own supposed credentials.
• Wei Jiangyuan stopped Xiao Yan by offering to explain how the Spirit Clan had subdued the Pill Tower’s five great affiliated families.

Xiao Yan learned that the Cao Clan joined the Spirit Clan because Cao Ying faced a problem only the Spirit Clan could solve. He and Wei Jiangyuan confronted the Pill Tower’s leaders, who faced pressure to reveal the Spirit Clan’s methods.

• Wei Jiangyuan told Xiao Yan that the Cao Clan had defected to the Spirit Clan to save Cao Ying from a serious problem neither the clan nor the Pill Tower could resolve.
• Wei Jiangyuan proposed that he and Xiao Yan question Xuan Kongzi, and Xiao Yan agreed to learn how the Spirit Clan operated.
• Wei Jiangyuan brought Xiao Yan to the Pill Tower’s main hall, where Xuan Leizi rebuked him for revealing himself before the Pill Convention.
• Wei Jiangyuan challenged Xuan Kongzi to explain what the Spirit Clan had done to the Cao Clan and Dan Clan, threatening to withdraw from the Pill Tower’s cause.
• Xuan Leizi claimed the Spirit Clan had only offered great benefits, while Wei Jiangyuan accused the Pill Tower’s upper ranks of concealing the truth.

Xuan Kongzi revealed that the Spirit Clan’s method would not harm Xiao Yan or Wei Jiangyuan, then brought them to the Dan Clan to examine Dan Chen. Wei Jiangyuan’s examination uncovered something unusual about her body, though her illness remained unexplained.

• Xuan Kongzi agreed to share the Pill Tower’s inside information with Xiao Yan and Wei Jiangyuan, and promised that the Spirit Clan’s method against Cao Ying would not work on them.
• Xuan Kongzi disguised himself and led Xiao Yan and Wei Jiangyuan to the Dan Clan, where Wei Jiangyuan explained that Dan Chen was a young tier-seven alchemist.
• Dan Ren and Dan Xuan greeted the visitors, and Dan Xuan doubted that Xiao Yan and Wei Jiangyuan could help after tier-eight alchemists had failed.
• Xiao Yan and Wei Jiangyuan entered Dan Chen’s room, where Wei Jiangyuan examined her and asked Dan Ren whether something was strange about her body.

Wei Jiangyuan’s examination of Dan Chen exposed her abnormal soul power and led Xuan Kongzi to reveal that Dan Chen and Cao Ying were created through a Pill Tower experiment that cost their mothers’ lives. The Spirit Clan had gained a way to modify people into alchemists and was exploiting it to pressure the Pill Tower, leaving its elders vulnerable to the promise of eighth-tier talent.

• Wei Jiangyuan explained that Dan Chen’s soul power pulled at his own and that her innate vitality was wavering, prompting Dan Ren and Xuan Kongzi to react with concern.
• Dan Ren admitted that Dan Chen had been destined from birth to become an alchemist, and Xuan Kongzi revealed that the Pill Tower had experimented with a secret method to create alchemists.
• Xuan Kongzi explained that the experiment produced Dan Chen and Cao Ying, but both women’s mothers died from the dangerous process.
• Xuan Kongzi said the Spirit Clan could put Dan Chen and Cao Ying into comas and reverse the condition, while the Cao Clan had submitted to it to save Cao Ying.
• Wei Jiangyuan connected Yi Xu’s newly revealed alchemical ability to the Spirit Clan’s newer method of modifying people after birth.
• Xuan Kongzi warned that the Spirit Clan was tempting Pill Tower elders with the chance to become eighth-tier alchemists and drawing the Pill Tower into a crisis.

After failing to discover a way to cure Dan Chen, Xiao Yan returned to the Pill Tower and questioned Lei Jingxiao about the inherited traits of Dou God clans. Lei Jingxiao’s answers gave Xiao Yan a new clue about the Spirit Clan’s methods, though he had not yet understood the full picture.

• Wei Jiangyuan and Xiao Yan examined Dan Chen but could not identify or cure her illness, leaving Dan Ren devastated.
• Xuan Kongzi asked Xiao Yan and Wei Jiangyuan to keep the Spirit Clan’s secret hidden and urged Xiao Yan to continue challenging the Heavenly Secrets Talents Ranking.
• Xiao Yan returned to the alchemy room to sort through his thoughts about the Spirit Clan’s ability to create alchemists.
• Xiao Yan summoned Lei Jingxiao and asked whether the Thunder Clan could control a person’s Dou Qi attributes before birth.
• Lei Jingxiao explained that Dou God bloodlines helped descendants learn certain Dou Techniques and cultivate quickly, but could become an obstacle after reaching the Dou Sheng realm.

Xiao Yan entered the Myriad Medicine Refinement trial after earning perfect scores in the first two events, while the Spirit Clan prepared to hinder him. The chapter ended with Xiao Yan beginning to refine the deliberately difficult ingredients.

• Xiao Yan considered the danger of opposing the Spirit Clan and resolved to prepare to protect his group.
• The Pill Tower announced Xiao Yan's third trial, drawing a huge crowd eager to see whether he could earn another perfect score.
• Ling Zhuo and Zou Wu discussed giving Xiao Yan difficult ingredients and lowering his score during the final inspection.
• Wei Jiangyuan and Venerable Mingshui bet on Xiao Yan's score, with Wei Jiangyuan predicting more than ninety-five points.
• Xiao Yan assessed the Myriad Medicine Refinement challenge and began refining two ingredients in his Black Demon Cauldron.

Xiao Yan’s medicinal ingredient refinement ended with his cauldron exploding, drawing ridicule and delight from Ling Zhuo. Xiao Yan recognized that lingering damage to his flame control had caused the failure and planned to attempt the other trials while he recovered.

• Xiao Yan’s final refinement failed when conflicting medicinal properties caused the Black Demon Cauldron to explode, leaving him with a score capped below eighty.
• Wei Jiangyuan questioned Xiao Yan’s unusually poor performance and wondered whether the trip to the Dan Clan had affected him.
• Ling Zhuo decided not to lower Xiao Yan’s score further, believing the public failure would help the Spirit Clan’s standing and make a later decline seem plausible.
• Xiao Yan realized that the aftermath of his encounter with Qing Lin had impaired his precise control over the Heavenly Flames.
• Xiao Yan decided to challenge the other two trials first because they did not depend on fine flame control, while ignoring the spectators’ criticism and hoping to win the Pill Convention quietly.