Chapter Summaries

Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Tian Leizi weighed the Pill Tower’s danger from the Soul Hall and argued over whether to investigate Han Feng. Xuan Yi left to pursue the truth with Feng Xian, while Zhu Jin discovered an unexpected change in himself after devouring a Heavenly Flame.

• Xuan Kongzi explained that Mu Gu was likely protected in a Heavenly Dipper Hall and warned that the Pill Tower could not risk war with the Soul Hall.
• Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi refused to capture Han Feng for interrogation, arguing that the evidence against him was insufficient and that accusing him could damage the Pill Tower’s standing.
• Xuan Yi left to investigate Yao Chen’s death herself and contacted Feng Xian, who vowed to uncover the truth and kill Han Feng if he had colluded with the Soul Hall.
• Feng Xian recalled finding an Ancient Void Dragon hatchling’s blood and scales at the scene where the rumor about Han Feng had originated.
• Zhu Jin examined his body with Dragon Sense after devouring a Heavenly Flame and exclaimed at what he discovered.

Zhu Jin discovered that Black-Yellow Flame had awakened his Tunling Clan bloodline secret art, Devouring Spirit, which could steal and convert other beings’ bloodlines. He sought out the Snow Demon Sky Ape’s cave to test the power and use the Earth Core Tempering Milk to strengthen himself before the coming auction.

• Zhu Jin realized his bloodline secret art was Devouring Spirit and understood that he had taken the Mountain-moving Ape’s bloodline technique when he ate its magic core.
• Zhu Jin connected the Ancient Void Dragon Clan’s Dragon Transformation Demon Formation to the Tunling Clan’s power and suspected North Dragon Island had treasonous ambitions.
• Zhu Jin judged Zhou Ziyang’s resentful Quasi-Tier Seven magic core too risky to consume and decided to seek Earth Core Tempering Milk instead.
• Zhu Jin planned to test his strength and Devouring Spirit against the Snow Demon Sky Ape, which guarded the Earth Core Tempering Milk.
• Zhu Jin questioned a mountain ape, learned the Snow Demon Sky Ape’s cave location, and arrived at its entrance.

Zhu Jin entered the Snow Demon Sky Ape’s frost-covered valley to challenge the powerful beast, relying on his Heavenly Flame and dragon techniques to overcome its strength. Their battle began in the cave, where the Snow Demon Sky Ape launched an icy ground attack.

• Zhu Jin learned the Snow Demon Sky Ape’s location from the Mountain Ape and assessed its strength and weaknesses.
• Zhu Jin promised the Mountain Ape it could rule the cave if he defeated the Snow Demon Sky Ape, then approached the beast’s cave.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape woke as Zhu Jin entered and charged at him, but Zhu Jin used the Shrinking Secret Art to grow into a giant dragon and met its punch head-on.
• Zhu Jin attacked with Black-Yellow Dragon Flame and Ancient Dragon Claw, scorching the Snow Demon Sky Ape’s left claw despite being pushed back by its strength.
• The Snow Demon Sky Ape gathered icy energy and smashed its hammer fists into the ground, sending a freezing ripple toward Zhu Jin.

Zhu Jin fought the Snow Demon Sky Ape, melting its ice attack with Black-Yellow Dragon Flame and badly burning it with his Dragon Flame Bullet. When the beast activated its Berserk Bloodline and overpowered his defense, Zhu Jin used Dragon Flash and Devouring Spirit to drain its blood-red aura, leaving the fight’s outcome uncertain.

• Zhu Jin broke free of the Snow Demon Sky Ape’s mystical ice with Black-Yellow Dragon Flame.
• Zhu Jin struck the Snow Demon Sky Ape with a Black-Yellow Dragon Flame Bullet, burning it severely and forcing it out of the flames.
• The wounded Snow Demon Sky Ape activated its Berserk Bloodline, raising its aura from three-star to five-star Dou Wang and attacking Zhu Jin.
• Zhu Jin protected himself with Black-Yellow Dragon Flame Bell, then used Dragon Flash to stab the Snow Demon Sky Ape near its heart with a Black Dragon Heart-Piercer.
• Zhu Jin activated Devouring Spirit, causing the Snow Demon Sky Ape’s blood-red aura to recede and its fur to turn white again.

Zhu Jin defeated the Snow Demon Sky Ape with Devouring Spirit, which suppressed its Berserk Bloodline and drained its life. Absorbing that bloodline caused it to fuse with his Mountain-moving Strength, awakening the Ancient Void Dragon battle skill Brute Dragon Strength and strengthening his bloodline.

• Zhu Jin used Devouring Spirit to suppress the Snow Demon Sky Ape's Berserk Bloodline and endured its punch.
• Zhu Jin lifted the Snow Demon Sky Ape into the air and slammed it headfirst into the ground, defeating it.
• Zhu Jin used Devouring Spirit to drain the Snow Demon Sky Ape's bloodline and absorb its power, awakening Berserk Bloodline.
• Zhu Jin's Berserk Bloodline, Mountain-moving Strength, and Ancient Void Dragon bloodline collided and fused through Devouring Spirit.
• Zhu Jin awakened the Earth Tier High-Level bloodline secret art Brute Dragon Strength and realized his Ancient Void Dragon bloodline had improved.

Zhu Jin reached the Snow Demon Sky Ape's cave and collected the real Earth Core Tempering Milk, then weighed how best to use it given his Ancient Void Dragon body. He left some of the treasure behind and began a cautious regimen of drinking the fake milk while bathing in diluted real milk and eating a magical core.

• Zhu Jin reflected on the advantages of bloodlines, then resolved to rely on strength he gained himself and flew deeper into the cave.
• Zhu Jin found the Snow Demon Sky Ape's dwelling and uncovered the underground entrance beneath the scattered fur.
• Zhu Jin located the Earth Core Tempering Milk and collected most of the true liquid with a piece of jade, leaving some behind.
• Zhu Jin considered his physical-body strength and decided not to drink the real Earth Core Tempering Milk directly or prepare a medicinal bath.
• Zhu Jin made a tub, diluted some real Earth Core Tempering Milk in hot water, drank fake milk, and ate a magical core while soaking.

Zhu Jin endured an intense Earth Core Tempering Milk bath to strengthen his body, then let Zi Yan join him so she could benefit from the milk. As they soaked together, Zi Yan opened up about feeling feared and isolated at the academy and dreaming of a father she could never reach.

• Zhu Jin poured all the genuine Earth Core Tempering Milk into the pool and endured its painful effects while eating magic cores and drinking the diluted milk.
• Zi Yan sneaked into the bath, explained that she had wanted the Earth Core Tempering Milk, and asked Zhu Jin to share it with her.
• Zhu Jin let Zi Yan soak with him and tried to control his instincts while she sat on his tail and drank from his bowl.
• Zi Yan told Zhu Jin that people at the academy feared her strength and that she sometimes dreamed of a distant father she could not reach.

Zhu Jin comforted Zi Yan about her missing parents while keeping her Ancient Void Dragon identity and Zhu Kun’s connection secret. Meanwhile, the Misty Cloud Sect invited the Jia Ma Empire’s powerful figures to witness what it considered a ceremony, as the Three-Year Agreement approached.

• Zhu Jin reassured Zi Yan that her parents had not abandoned her willingly, and Zi Yan fell asleep against him.
• Zhu Jin decided not to reveal Zi Yan’s identity or tell her about Zhu Kun, fearing the consequences of changing events.
• Zhu Jin wondered how Xiao Yan was doing as the time for the Three-Year Agreement drew near.
• The Misty Cloud Sect sent invitations to powerful figures in the imperial capital, presenting the coming event as a ceremony for its young sect master.
• Ling Ying read the invitation and remarked that the Misty Cloud Sect was acting in an interesting way.

Xiao Yan received the Misty Cloud Sect’s invitation to face Nalan Yanran the next day and learned that Yun Yun was away investigating the Heavenly Serpent Mansion. After sharing a meal with Xun Er, he reaffirmed his confidence in the duel and his lack of interest in the Alchemist Grand Meeting.

• Xiao Yan read the Misty Cloud Sect’s notice inviting him to meet Nalan Yanran at Sea of Clouds Square the next day and questioned the Elder Council’s confidence.
• Ling Ying explained that Yun Yun and Jia Xing Tian had gone to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion after two of its Dou Emperors attempted to take Qing Lin, whose Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had been discovered.
• Xiao Yan reassured Qing Lin that she was family and would never be a burden to him.
• Xun Er brought Xiao Yan Nine-Turn Jade Marrow Stewed Snow Crane, and Xiao Yan told her he wanted to eat her cooking for ten thousand years.
• Xiao Yan told Xun Er he believed he could defeat Nalan Yanran and said he had no interest in entering the Alchemist Grand Meeting.

Xiao Yan and Xun Er shared a tender moment before the Golden Emperor Burning Flame blasted him away. The next day, Xiao Yan faced Nalan Yanran at Misty Cloud Sect and revealed that he had reached the Dou Wang realm.

• Xiao Yan and Xun Er discussed the Alchemist Grand Meeting and the Izumo Empire's victory.
• Xiao Yan kissed Xun Er, but the Golden Emperor Burning Flame erupted and sent him crashing into the furniture.
• Xun Er told Xiao Yan that he would shock the Jia Ma Empire the next day.
• Xiao Yan arrived at Misty Cloud Sect, where Nalan Yanran announced that she was a Two-Star Great Dou Master.
• Xiao Yan introduced himself as a One-Star Dou Wang, stunning Nalan Yanran and the spectators.

Xiao Yan declared that he had reached the Dou Wang rank, but the Misty Cloud Sect and the elders at the viewing platform dismissed him as delusional. He revealed his true cultivation by manifesting Dou Qi Transformation Wings, leaving Nalan Yanran and the spectators stunned.

• Nalan Yanran announced her Da Dou Shi rank and tried to persuade Xiao Yan to abandon the Three-Year Agreement, while the Misty Cloud Sect disciples mocked his claim to be a Dou Wang.
• Jia Xing Tian, Fa Ma, and Nalan Jie assumed Xiao Yan had suffered a cultivation deviation, while Yun Leng told Nalan Yanran to end the fight quickly.
• Xiao Yan insulted the Misty Cloud Sect as a gathering place for fools and unleashed his powerful dou qi.
• Xiao Yan formed blazing wings on his back, proving he was a Dou Wang and shocking Gu He, Yun Leng, and the spectators.
• Nalan Yanran dropped her sword and insisted that Xiao Yan's achievement was impossible.

Xiao Yan proved that his Dou Wang cultivation was real when he defeated Nalan Yanran with a single flick and scattered the Misty Cloud Sect disciples behind her. The witnesses accepted his strength as genuine, while Fa Ma wondered whether a rare pill could explain his rapid advancement.

• Jia Xing Tian and the Misty Cloud Sect disciples suggested Xiao Yan had used an illusion or secret technique to fake being a Dou Wang.
• Yun Leng urged Nalan Yanran to resist Xiao Yan’s supposed deception, and she challenged him with the Wind Spirit Split-Form Sword.
• Xiao Yan used his fiery wings to close the distance and flicked Nalan Yanran’s forehead, sending her flying through the Misty Cloud Sect disciples before she passed out.
• Fa Ma, Gu He, and the other witnesses recognized Xiao Yan’s genuine Dou Wang strength, while Nalan Jie regretted losing the chance to unite their families.
• Fa Ma recalled the Grade Seven Life Devouring Pill, which could temporarily raise a Da Dou Shi to Dou Wang, but doubted Xiao Yan had used it.

After the Three-Year Agreement ended, Xiao Yan severed the Xiao Clan’s ties with the Nalan Clan and rejected Yun Leng’s claim that he had relied on a Life Devouring Pill. He revealed his alchemy knowledge and struck Yun Leng, leaving the Misty Cloud Sect elder exposed as a weak Dou Wang.

• Xiao Yan declared the engagement with Nalan Yanran void and told the spectators to leave.
• Xiao Yan told Nalan Jie that the Xiao and Nalan Clans would have no further dealings, leaving Nalan Jie devastated.
• Yun Leng claimed Xiao Yan had used a Life Devouring Pill and offered Gu He’s help, prompting rumors that Xiao Yan’s victory was unfair.
• Xiao Yan argued that Gu He could not treat a Grade Seven peak pill’s effects and described the signs of such a pill, then revealed he could refine Grade Four pills.
• Xiao Yan punched Yun Leng and sent him flying, then mocked the elder’s floating Dou Qi.

Xiao Yan defeated Yun Leng with the Mountain Splitting Seal after Yun Leng attacked him during their dispute at the Misty Cloud Sect. The technique drew the attention of Wu Protector, who suspected the Jia Ma Empire concealed a powerful secret.

• Xiao Yan repelled Yun Leng’s punch and exposed how hollow Yun Leng’s five-star Dou Wang cultivation was.
• Mittel Tengshan and Jia Xing Tian explained that Yun Leng had forcibly raised his cultivation, while Fa Ma suspected Xiao Yan had a powerful cultivation method backing him.
• Yun Leng attacked Xiao Yan with the Great Wind Hand Seal, claiming Xiao Yan had struck him by surprise.
• Xiao Yan unleashed the Mountain Splitting Seal, shattered Yun Leng’s attack, and blasted him into a pit in the plaza.
• Wu Protector sensed Xiao Yan’s high-level Earth Tier Dou Technique from the Soul Hall branch hall and wondered where the Jia Ma Empire had obtained it.

After Xiao Yan defeated Yun Leng, the Misty Cloud Sect tried to trap him, but Ling Ying and Xun Er intervened, revealing the forces backing him. Yun Leng was killed, while Wu Protector reported Xiao Yan’s connection to the Gu Clan to the Soul Hall.

• Yun Leng accused Xiao Yan of invading the Misty Cloud Sect and used its signal flare to summon the sect’s forces.
• Jia Xing Tian connected Yun Leng’s hostility to Mo Cheng’s death and the scheme behind Nalan Yanran’s broken engagement with Xiao Yan.
• Ling Ying appeared, defeated three Dou Wang elders, and demanded that the Misty Cloud Sect let Xiao Yan leave safely.
• Wu Protector urged Yun Shan to confront Xiao Yan, and Yun Shan emerged as a Dou Zong while Yun Leng trapped Xiao Yan and Ling Ying in the Cloud Mist Covering Sun Formation.
• Xun Er destroyed the formation with golden flames and used her Gu token to suppress everyone; she then burned Yun Leng to ashes despite Xiao Yan’s request to spare him.
• Wu Protector sent word to the Soul Hall about Xiao Yan’s connection to the Gu Clan, and Xiao Yan asked Zi Yan if she was ready to rob someone.

Hun Tiandi learned that Gu Yuan might possess the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade and chose to delay action against the Stone and Spirit Clans. In Black Mark City, Zhu Jin persuaded Zi Yan to raid the Eight Gates auction house and take its treasures, including the Three Thousand Lightning Movement.

• Nihility Devouring Flame told Hun Tiandi that a Soul Clan agent had found Xiao Yan and suspected Gu Yuan had the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade.
• Hun Tiandi concluded Gu Yuan might have obtained the jade from Xiao Xuan and decided to let the Stone and Spirit Clans wait while the Gu Clan gathered the Ancient Jades.
• Zhu Jin and Zi Yan watched the Eight Gates auction house and considered stealing directly from its organizers.
• Zhu Jin convinced Zi Yan that taking the auction's treasures was like seizing heavenly treasures guarded by magical beasts.
• Zhu Jin planned to secure the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, and Zi Yan agreed to the raid.

Zhu Jin and Zi Yan broke into the Eight Gates’ hidden treasury to reclaim items from the Dou Qi Continent and found the goods prepared for a Black Mark City auction. As Zi Yan investigated a strange object in a crystal cabinet, Zhu Jin searched for the Demonic Fire Remnant Map.

• Zhu Jin persuaded Zi Yan that taking the Eight Gates’ treasures was justice, and the two disguised themselves before sneaking into the force’s rear courtyard.
• Zi Yan opened the protected room’s barriers by manipulating the void, impressing Zhu Jin with her innate skill.
• The pair entered a vast secret chamber where Zhu Jin recognized a Mystic Tier Mid Level flying Dou Technique, Thunder Bat Wings, as an auction item and stored it away.
• Zhu Jin searched the shelves for the Demonic Fire Remnant Map while Zi Yan ate a fifth-tier medicinal herb and examined a strange object in a crystal cabinet.

Zhu Jin recognized the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan Corpse in Eight Gates’ treasure chamber and persuaded Zi Yan to steal it, but their escape was interrupted by an alarm and a squad of powerful puppets. As Yuan Yi’s forces closed in, Zhu Jin and Zi Yan found themselves surrounded.

• Zhu Jin identified the large crystal cabinet’s contents as a Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan Corpse and realized it might contain a Quasi-Tier Eight magic core.
• Zhu Jin persuaded Zi Yan that the corpse’s claws could be refined into powerful gloves, and she stored the corpse away.
• A pressure-sensitive mechanism triggered an alarm when the corpse was removed from the cabinet.
• Eight Tier Five magical beast puppets emerged from the walls as Zhu Jin sensed that they were surrounded.
• Yuan Yi ordered his forces to activate every puppet and prevent anyone from escaping.

Zhu Jin fought off the Eight Gates’ puppets while Zi Yan searched the storage chamber for the tattered cloth. After Zhu Jin destroyed the eight Dou Wang puppets, a three-star Dou Emperor Human Demon Puppet and Yuan Yi confronted him, and Zhu Jin claimed to represent the Soul Hall.

• Zi Yan asked Zhu Jin what to do, and he told her to find a tattered piece of cloth while he held off the guards.
• Zhu Jin used his Heavenly Flame Dragon Claw and dragon-tail attacks to destroy all eight Dou Wang puppets.
• A three-star Dou Emperor Human Demon Puppet struck Zhu Jin and sent him crashing through wooden shelves.
• Yuan Yi arrived with several Eight Gates experts and angrily demanded to know who Zhu Jin was.
• Zhu Jin tucked away his dragon claws and claimed that he belonged to the Soul Hall.

Zhu Jin and Zi Yan were cornered while stealing the Eight Gates’ auction items, and Zhu Jin fought Yuan Yi’s forces to buy Zi Yan time. After unleashing Brute Dragon Strength, Zhu Jin shattered the Human Demon Puppet, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Yuan Yi recognized Zhu Jin and Zi Yan’s Soul Hall disguise but ordered his men to attack and recover the stolen auction items.
• Zhu Jin blocked the Eight Gates elders while Zi Yan continued collecting everything in the storage room.
• Yuan Yi sent the Human Demon Puppet against Zhu Jin and struck him with Cloud Sea Mystic Hand, sending him crashing through the shelves.
• Zhu Jin survived the blow and activated Brute Dragon Strength, drawing on his Dragon Vein and hardened body.
• Zhu Jin struck the Human Demon Puppet with Dragon Fist, crushing its staff and hurling it into the barrier, where cracks spread across its body.