Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan agreed to refine the Misfortune-Breaking Pill for Hai Bodong in exchange for the final map fragment and a favor. He began the refinement, but his first attempt failed early, leaving him to prepare for a second try.

• Hai Bodong accepted the Sand Mandala from Xiao Yan and asked him to refine the pill before handing over the final map fragment.
• Xiao Yan agreed to refine the Misfortune-Breaking Pill in exchange for Hai Bodong's favor, while Hai Bodong accepted that the pill might fail without Xiao Yan being held responsible.
• Hai Bodong provided the pill formula and ingredients, then left Xiao Yan to refine the pill undisturbed.
• Xiao Yan studied the formula and began refining the ingredients in his Black Demon Cauldron with Crimson Lotus Karma Flame.
• Xiao Yan's first attempt failed early, so he rested briefly and began a second attempt.

Xiao Yan repeatedly refined sixth-grade pills and emerged exhausted with the Misfortune-Breaking Pill Hai Bodong had requested. Hai Bodong withheld the map fragment until he could test the pill, leaving Xiao Yan and Zi Yan displeased.

• Xiao Yan found that refining the Misfortune-Breaking Pill came surprisingly easily and began making more pills with his remaining ingredients.
• Xiao Yan refined pills continuously while Zi Yan and Hai Bodong waited anxiously outside the room.
• Xiao Yan emerged nearly drained and handed Hai Bodong the Misfortune-Breaking Pill.
• Hai Bodong asked to test the pill before handing over the map fragment, prompting Zi Yan to rebuke him.
• Xiao Yan warned Hai Bodong that he hoped this was the last time he made things difficult.

Xiao Yan recovered from an extraordinary pill-refining state and realized he had likely advanced to a sixth-tier alchemist. Hai Bodong absorbed the Misfortune-Breaking Pill, broke Queen Medusa’s seal, and regained his Dou Emperor strength.

• Xiao Yan gave Hai Bodong the Misfortune-Breaking Pill, and Hai Bodong swallowed it and began absorbing its medicinal power.
• Xiao Yan rested while Zi Yan stood guard, then reflected that his effortless pill refining might have advanced his alchemy and been connected to the fortune mentioned by Void Heavenly Emperor's Di Nian.
• Xiao Yan recovered most of his strength and saw the dark cyan snake mark suppressing Hai Bodong as the pill’s purple energy fought against it.
• Zi Yan created spatial cracks to absorb the energy spilling from Hai Bodong and prevent it from destroying the shop.
• The seal vanished, and Hai Bodong awakened with his Dou Emperor strength restored, laughing as he looked at Xiao Yan and Zi Yan.

After Hai Bodong recovered his strength, Xiao Yan claimed the fragment map and challenged him to spar outside Mo City. The scene then shifted to a powerful group arriving in the mountains near Black Mountain Fortress, where their leader looked toward the Jia Ma Empire.

• Hai Bodong handed the fragment map to Xiao Yan after recovering his strength, and Xiao Yan extinguished the chilling aura on it with the Flame Mantra.
• Xiao Yan used Hai Bodong's favor to ask him for a fight, and Hai Bodong agreed to spar outside the city.
• Xiao Yan, Zi Yan, and Hai Bodong flew away from Mo City, while Zi Yan remained upset because Xiao Yan had stopped her from fighting Hai Bodong herself.
• Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong agreed to stop their spar at the right point, and Hai Bodong felt relieved that Xiao Yan did not intend to fight to the death.
• A group of more than fifty powerful people arrived in the mountains near Black Mountain Fortress, and their leader asked if this was the Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Yan defeated Hai Bodong in a spar, collected the Fragmented Map, and decided to return to warn the Jia Ma Empire about the poisonous fog. At Black Mountain Fortress, Queen Medusa fought a losing battle against a gray-clad Dou Zong while the Chuyun Empire’s forces demanded her surrender.

• Xiao Yan used his blood-red Heavenly Flame to overwhelm Hai Bodong, who conceded the fight.
• Xiao Yan collected the Fragmented Map from Hai Bodong and set off with Zi Yan to return to the Jia Ma Empire and warn its experts about the poisonous fog.
• At Black Mountain Fortress, Jia Ma Empire forces led by Yun Shan and Jia Xingtian faced a larger Chuyun Empire army containing five Dou Zong experts.
• Queen Medusa fought the gray-clad man wielding a spiked mace while he demanded that she become his concubine in exchange for sparing the Snake-People.
• Queen Medusa refused and threatened to kill the gray-clad man as seven-colored light surged from her body.

Qin Huan badly injured Queen Medusa and Yun Yun while the Jia Ma Empire forces could not break through to help them. Just as he moved to finish the two women, a black-clad youth arrived and blocked his attack with a huge black ruler.

• Qin Huan used a feint and a devastating strike to injure Queen Medusa and send her crashing down.
• Qin Huan pursued Medusa, but Yun Yun intervened and was severely wounded by his spiked club.
• Queen Medusa caught Yun Yun as the Jia Ma Empire forces struggled against the surrounding enemy powerhouses.
• Qin Huan demanded that Medusa surrender, then charged at her and Yun Yun with his spiked club.
• A black-clad youth intercepted Qin Huan's attack with a huge black ruler and challenged him to repeat his insult.

Xiao Yan and Zi Yan arrived as Queen Medusa and Yun Yun were in danger, and Xiao Yan treated Yun Yun's injuries before learning that Jia Ma had lost two of three matches in a five-match wager against five neighboring nations. Despite Yun Yun's warning about the enemy's six Dou Zongs, Xiao Yan volunteered to take the fourth match, leaving Yun Shan relieved.

• Zi Yan struck Qin Huan and sent him flying, while Xiao Yan checked on Queen Medusa and Yun Yun and treated Yun Yun's injuries.
• Ye Guan offered Xiao Yan a chance to stay out of the conflict, and Yun Yun explained that the five nations blamed Jia Ma for the poisonous fog.
• Queen Medusa and Yun Yun revealed that Jia Ma had won one of three wager matches and lost two, while Qin Huan returned and challenged them to continue.
• Xiao Yan said Jia Ma still had someone to fight, and Ye Guan agreed to proceed with the fourth match.
• Yun Yun warned Xiao Yan that the five nations had six Dou Zongs, but Xiao Yan told Yun Shan he would handle the trouble.

Xiao Yan learned that the Jia Ma Empire had lost two of the first three matches against an alliance of five empires, leaving it close to defeat in their wager. Zi Yan fought Xie Biyan in the fourth match, while Xiao Yan remained wary of the unknown person inside the sedan.

• Jia Xingtian explained that Queen Medusa had won the first match, Yun Shan had lost the second, and Queen Medusa had lost the third, leaving the Jia Ma Empire needing two victories.
• Xie Biyan of the Ten Thousand Scorpions Sect stepped forward to fight the fourth match, and Yun Shan identified him as a four-star Dou Zong skilled in poison.
• Zi Yan volunteered to fight Xie Biyan, and Xiao Yan gave her pills to guard against his poison.
• Zi Yan and Xie Biyan exchanged blows, with Zi Yan's brute strength driving him back despite his higher cultivation.
• Xiao Yan suspected that the person inside the sedan was the true force behind the alliance and trusted Yan Di as a last resort.

Zi Yan battled Xie Biyan, who used poison and the Ten Thousand Scorpions Sect’s Blood Soul Art to transform into a powerful scorpion-like monster. Xie Biyan trapped Zi Yan in a poisonous mist, leaving Xiao Yan ready to intervene as her situation worsened.

• Xie Biyan poisoned the air while dodging Zi Yan’s attacks, but Zi Yan used her spatial ability to strike him and crack his scorpion staff.
• Xie Biyan hit Zi Yan with purplish-red poison, and she swallowed Xiao Yan’s pills and expelled the poison from her body.
• Xie Biyan revealed the Blood Demon Scorpion Emperor tattoo and used the Blood Soul Art to transform into a half-human, half-scorpion creature.
• Xie Biyan’s transformed body resisted Zi Yan’s attacks, while his blood-generated poison filled the battlefield and weakened her.
• Xiao Yan began circulating his Dou Qi and prepared to rescue Zi Yan as the poisonous mist obscured their fight.

Zi Yan unleashed her Ancient Void Dragon power, transforming into a mature form and overwhelming Xie Biyan. As she dealt him severe wounds, Xie Biyan launched a tiny, lightning-fast black projectile at her, and a purple flash appeared across her chest.

• Zi Yan’s dragon roar cleared minds and awakened fear in Xie Biyan.
• Zi Yan transformed, and her aura surged from one-star to five-star Dou Zong.
• Zi Yan tore through Xie Biyan’s pincer and wounded his chest, forcing him to flee.
• Zi Yan pursued Xie Biyan, severed one pincer, and inflicted a deep wound across his torso.
• Xie Biyan’s blood began to boil, and after Zi Yan kicked him from the poisonous gas, he fired a tiny black streak at her.
• A bright purple flash appeared across Zi Yan’s chest as the black streak reached her.

Zi Yan killed Xie Biyan with a devastating sword strike, becoming a hero to the Jia Ma Empire’s soldiers. After Qin Huan killed Xie Shan for challenging him, a voice from the palanquin summoned Ye Guan.

• Zi Yan emerged from the poisonous gas after slaying Xie Biyan and accepted two medicinal pills from Xiao Yan.
• The Five Nations Alliance’s leaders refused Xie Shan’s plea to avenge Xie Biyan, and Qin Huan said the agreed battle had settled the matter.
• Qin Huan attacked and killed Xie Shan, claiming he had to eliminate internal trouble before confronting external enemies.
• Ye Guan rebuked Qin Huan, while the Chuyun Empire’s fighters watched their allies fearfully.
• Someone inside the palanquin called Ye Guan over.

Xiao Yan faced the final wager battle for Jia Ma Empire, but Ye Guan and Ye He challenged him together instead of fighting one-on-one. With Jia Ma’s strongest fighters depleted, Xiao Yan prepared to fight alongside Zi Yan until an unexpected figure stepped forward to join the round.

• After Zi Yan killed Xie Biyan, Jia Ma’s people focused on Xiao Yan as the fighter who would decide the final wager battle.
• Xiao Yan flew to the battlefield, and Yan Luotian mocked him while Qin Huan warned that he was stronger than he appeared.
• Ye Guan and Ye He entered the battle together, claiming their cultivation methods worked in tandem, and Ye Guan offered Jia Ma permission to send two fighters as well.
• Queen Medusa, Zi Yan, and Yun Shan were too depleted to help effectively, so Xiao Yan signaled Zi Yan to fight beside him and prepared to retreat if they were overwhelmed.
• As Zi Yan started to enter the battle, an unknown figure stepped in front of her and volunteered for the round.

Huo Zhi joined Xiao Yan to fight Ye Guan and Ye He in the two-on-two match. Her swift, powerful attacks overwhelmed Ye Guan, while the battle continued with Ye He facing Xiao Yan.

• Huo Zhi appeared and revealed herself as a Dou Zong expert, and Xiao Yan vouched for her strength.
• Huo Zhi told Xiao Yan she would cooperate with him, while Ye Guan offered to let them leave the fight.
• Xiao Yan refused, and Ye Guan and Ye He charged at him and Huo Zhi together.
• Huo Zhi attacked Ye Guan and Ye He, wounding and driving back Ye Guan while forcing Ye He to retreat.
• Huo Zhi kept Ye Guan on the defensive as Xiao Yan engaged Ye He, and Ye Guan called for his brother to help.

Xiao Yan and Huo Zhi fought the Ye brothers, whose blood-and-Dou-Qi creations turned the battle against them. The chapter left off as Ye Guan summoned five blood copies of powerful Dou Zong fighters and Huo Zhi revealed a familiar aura.

• Ye He broke away from Xiao Yan and attacked Huo Zhi while Ye Guan gathered blood to create a Dou Emperor Silver-Striped Wolf.
• Ye Guan and Ye He summoned more than ten blood-made magical beasts, which Huo Zhi and Xiao Yan destroyed as they waited for the brothers' next move.
• Ye Guan drew a blood figure of Queen Medusa with Dou Zong strength, shocking the spectators.
• Ye Guan drew blood figures of Xie Biyan, Zi Yan, Qin Huan, and Yun Shan, each a powerful Dou Zong.
• Huo Zhi tapped the flame mark between her brows, and Xiao Yan recognized the aura she released.

Huo Zhi revealed a Crimson Lotus Karma Flame identical to Xiao Yan’s, and their flames merged into a blaze that drained their Dou Qi and left them unconscious. Xiao Yan awakened inside the fire and discovered that touching Huo Zhi caused their Dou Qi to flow together through the Flame Mantra.

• Huo Zhi released her Crimson Lotus Karma Flame, startling Xiao Yan and the onlookers with its resemblance to his own.
• Xiao Yan’s flame erupted in response, and the two Crimson Lotus Karma Flames merged and expanded while draining Xiao Yan and Huo Zhi’s Dou Qi.
• Xiao Yan and Huo Zhi embraced inside the blaze as the flames engulfed them and intensified the killing intent and sins in the onlookers’ hearts.
• Xiao Yan awakened after his Heart Fire jolted him back to clarity and found Huo Zhi unconscious in his arms, with their clothing burned away by the heat.
• Xiao Yan reached out to Huo Zhi and felt their Dou Qi merge, with hers beginning to circulate through his Flame Mantra.

After Xiao Yan and Huo Zhi recovered from the uncontrolled fusion of their Crimson Lotus Karma Flames, they resumed their fight against the blood men. When three blood men attacked Xiao Yan together, he used the Red Lotus Change to rise from the eight-star Dou Emperor realm to the two-star Dou Zong realm.

• Huo Zhi explained that she had no records of two Heavenly Flames merging and that their Crimson Lotus Karma Flames differed according to their holders’ sins and killing intent.
• Xiao Yan and Huo Zhi recalled their flames, and the five blood men attacked them again.
• Huo Zhi used her Crimson Lotus Karma Flame to burn the blood men while three of them targeted Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan activated the first transformation of the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Fire and broke free of the blood men’s encirclement.
• Ye Guan recognized Xiao Yan’s sudden increase in strength as a secret technique, and Xiao Yan entered the two-star Dou Zong realm.

Xiao Yan failed to reach Ye Guan and Ye He because their blood beasts protected them, while Huo Zhi demonstrated her power by destroying a blood man. Xiao Yan then used the Heavenly Desolation Ruler Technique to cripple the blood men and eliminate Qin Huan's blood man, as Huo Zhi prepared to focus on another target.

• Xiao Yan charged at Ye Guan and Ye He, but blood beasts intercepted his attack and gave Ye Guan time to escape.
• Xiao Yan realized the blood beasts could act intelligently and help Ye Guan and Ye He evade attacks.
• Huo Zhi used Karma Flame Palm to destroy Yun Shan's blood man, but she could not burn the blood Ye Guan tried to reclaim.
• Huo Zhi asked Xiao Yan to hold off the other blood men while she focused on one, and Xiao Yan agreed.
• Xiao Yan used Heavenly Desolation Ruler, Shaking the Cosmos to wound four blood men, then split Qin Huan's blood man into four pieces with Heavenly Desolation Ruler, Tyranny.

Xiao Yan and Huo Zhi struggled against the Ye brothers’ blood figures as the Jia Ma Empire experts watched Xiao Yan’s overwhelming growth with awe and regret. With the battle turning against them, Xiao Yan urged Huo Zhi to try burning Yun Shan’s blood once more and joined his hand with hers.

• Jia Xingtian and the other experts marveled at Xiao Yan’s rise to eight-star Dou Emperor, while Nalan Jie regretted the Nalan Family’s lost chance to ally with him.
• Nalan Jie renewed his resolve despite his unease over how the family had treated Xiao Yan.
• Ye Guan redrew Qin Huan’s blood figure, increasing the pressure on Xiao Yan as Huo Zhi’s Crimson Lotus Karma Flame barely burned Yun Shan’s blood.
• Ye Guan offered Xiao Yan and Huo Zhi safe passage if they withdrew, but Xiao Yan refused and continued holding back the blood figures.
• Xiao Yan told Huo Zhi to try again, then grabbed her hand as a feeling of circulation passed between them.

Xiao Yan and Huo Zhi joined their Dou Qi through their Heavenly Flames, allowing Huo Zhi to unleash the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame and destroy Ye Guan and Ye He's bloodmen. Ye Guan and Ye He were left badly injured, and Huo Zhi declared the Five Nations Alliance had lost, though Ye Guan answered with a sinister smile.

• Yan Di appeared above the battlefield and watched Xiao Yan and Huo Zhi join hands with anticipation.
• Xiao Yan and Huo Zhi merged their Dou Qi, and Huo Zhi's Crimson Lotus Karma Flame destroyed Yun Shan's blood and the protective glow.
• Huo Zhi formed a blood-red lotus and sent its petals against the bloodmen, dissolving all four after Ye Guan and Ye He lost their control over them.
• Huo Zhi used the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame to strike Ye Guan and Ye He, leaving both severely injured and unable to continue fighting.
• Huo Zhi said the Five Nations Alliance had lost, but Ye Guan replied with a sinister smile.

Ye Guan revealed that the Five Nations Alliance’s last trump card was Steward Wu, a Dou Zong from the Heavenly Snake Mansion. Steward Wu demanded the Jia Ma Empire submit and summoned an invading force, leaving the empire facing a full-scale attack.

• Ye Guan refused to withdraw despite losing the battles and bowed to the person inside the Five Nations Alliance’s sedan chair.
• Steward Wu emerged, and Ye Guan ordered the alliance members to pay him their respects.
• Steward Wu gave the Jia Ma Empire one day to allow his forces to enter and station themselves there.
• Steward Wu summoned flying magical beasts carrying armored warriors, and Yun Shan asked if he intended to wage war.
• Ye Guan revealed that Steward Wu served the Heavenly Snake Mansion and declared that the Jia Ma Empire would be destroyed for opposing it.