Chapter Summaries

Yang Chen and Medusa Queen sparred evenly after her evolution, impressing the gathered Snake-People Tribe experts. When approaching alchemists interrupted them, Medusa Queen and Yang Chen pretended to continue fighting as their allies prepared to confront the newcomers.

• Yang Chen and Medusa Queen clashed in a spar, and their strength proved evenly matched.
• Medusa Queen angrily condemned the ancient text that claimed the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python gave off a fragrance, while the onlookers reacted with awe at her power.
• Yang Chen sensed approaching alchemists and told Medusa Queen they were old friends; she prepared to attack him again.
• Medusa Queen and Yang Chen resumed their fight with weakened energy, and the Snake-People Tribe’s forces surrounded Hai Bodong, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, Lin Sen, and Lei Na.
• Yue Mei taunted Lei Na about his restored arm, and Lei Na challenged her with the might of thunder.

Gu He arrived at the Snake-People Royal City with his allies seeking the Heavenly Flame, only to find Yang Chen and Medusa Queen facing off with far stronger forces. Yun Leng provoked Lei Na by insulting Yang Chen, and Lei Na charged him, overpowering Yan Shi and Feng Li as they intervened.

• Gu He and his companions arrived above the Snake-People Royal City and saw Yang Chen's group confronting Medusa Queen's formidable Snake-People forces.
• Gu He realized that Yang Chen was a romantic rival and a competitor for the Heavenly Flame, while Yan Shi and Feng Li were stunned by the strength assembled there.
• Yun Leng recognized Hai Bodong, Lei Na, and Lin Sen, then mocked Lei Na for serving Yang Chen after once refusing the Yunlan Sect's invitation.
• Lei Na attacked Yun Leng after he insulted Yang Chen, and Yan Shi and Feng Li stepped in to stop him.
• Lei Na met Yan Shi and Feng Li's combined attack with a thunderous lightning domain and suppressed them both.

Lei Na and Lin Sen joined forces to trap Yun Leng, Yun Lei, and Yun Feng in a vine cage while Gu He, Yan Shi, and Feng Li remained outside. Medusa Queen then weighed the balance between Yang Chen’s side and Gu He’s, leaving the struggle over the Heavenly Flame unresolved.

• Lei Na’s strength stunned Yun Leng, Yun Lei, and Yun Feng as Lin Sen disappeared and vines silently spread beneath them.
• Gu He warned the others, but Lin Sen blocked the escape route while vines rose to form a cage around Yun Leng, Yun Lei, and Yun Feng.
• Lin Sen deflected the three Yun elders’ combined attack with a vine shield and sealed them inside the cage.
• Lei Na joined Lin Sen and watched Gu He, who could use fire to destroy the cage.
• Medusa Queen suggested waiting for the fighting to end, and Gu He took her apparent wariness of Yang Chen as reassurance that his group could tip the balance.

Yang Chen and Medusa Queen staged negotiations to make Gu He pay dearly for the Green Lotus Core Flame. Gu He offered less than Medusa Queen demanded, and she turned away, leaving him anxious about being stranded in Snake-People territory.

• Gu He explained that he had come to make a deal, while Medusa Queen questioned why he had entered the Snake-People Royal City with several Dou Kings.
• Medusa Queen revealed the Green Lotus Core Flame, and Gu He eagerly asked to buy it.
• Medusa Queen demanded a Transformation Pill, several other pills, and a promise to refine a seventh-tier medicinal pill in exchange for the flame.
• Gu He counteroffered with fewer pills, and Yang Chen mocked him for trying to bargain down the price.
• Medusa Queen rejected Gu He's offer and started to leave, prompting Gu He to grow anxious about escaping Snake-People territory.

Gu He negotiated with Medusa Queen for the Heavenly Flame, offering pills in installments over two years while Yang Chen watched. After Gu He and Medusa Queen reached an agreement, Yang Chen pretended to leave with Hai Bodong, Lei Na, and the Yunlan Sect elders, prompting Gu He to ask Medusa Queen to keep him there.

• Gu He offered Medusa Queen a Transformation Pill, four Sect-Breaking Pills, four Spirit-Doubling Pills, and a seventh-tier pill in exchange for the Heavenly Flame.
• Medusa Queen agreed to reserve the Heavenly Flame for Gu He for two years, with the remaining pills due every six months.
• Gu He gave Medusa Queen one Sect-Breaking Pill and one Spirit-Doubling Pill as a deposit, and they agreed the Transformation Pill would follow after he obtained the Heavenly Flame.
• Medusa Queen warned Gu He that taking the Heavenly Flame would depend on his own abilities, though she would have people delay the four elders.
• Yang Chen acted indignant and prepared to leave with Hai Bodong, Lei Na, and the others, so Gu He urged Medusa Queen to keep him from spreading news of the Heavenly Flame.

Yang Chen and Gu He bargained with Medusa Queen over the release of Yun Leng and the other Yunlan Sect elders. After Yang Chen left, Yun Leng attacked and was half-crippled by Lei Na and Lin Sen, while Medusa Queen warned Gu He to leave the Tagore Desert quickly.

• Gu He offered Medusa Queen Spirit-Fighting Pills to secure her help rescuing Yun Leng and the other two, and she eventually agreed to four pills in total.
• Medusa Queen had Yue Mei and the others surround Lei Na and Lin Sen while Gu He demanded that Yang Chen release Yun Leng.
• Yang Chen ordered Lin Sen to open the cage and free Yun Leng and the other two, then told Lei Na and Lin Sen to let them go.
• Yun Leng charged at Lei Na and Lin Sen, who struck him down and crippled half his meridians.
• Yang Chen and his companions flew away, and Medusa Queen warned Gu He to leave quickly in case they were ambushed beyond the Tagore Desert.

Yang Chen reassured Xiao Ding and Xiao Li about Xiao Yan, then told them about the Heavenly Flame and Gu He’s plan to claim it from the Snake-People in two years. He hinted that Medusa Queen would be asleep and the Snake-People might not defend the flame, leaving the brothers considering a chance to take it for Xiao Yan.

• Yang Chen visited Xiao Ding and Xiao Li at the Desert Iron Mercenary Group’s training ground and praised their cultivation while urging them to keep training under the two Thunder Kings.
• Yang Chen told Xiao Ding and Xiao Li that Xiao Yan’s condition was being handled, without revealing Yao Chen’s involvement.
• Yang Chen complained that Medusa Queen had taken the Heavenly Flame and blamed Gu He for interfering with his attempt to claim it.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li realized the Heavenly Flame could help Xiao Yan and privately considered joining their teachers to seize it from Gu He.
• Yang Chen said Medusa Queen would fall asleep after using her secret technique and suggested the Snake-People might not seriously protect the Heavenly Flame, strengthening the brothers’ interest in taking it.

Yang Chen warned Xiao Ding and Xiao Li about the Mo Family's ties to the Yunlan Sect and reassured them that his connections could protect them. He left them with weapons and encouragement to cultivate, while their trials involving the Mo Family and the dangers near Mo City lay ahead.

• Xiao Ding asked Yang Chen about the Mo Family, and Yang Chen explained its alliance with Yun Leng's faction in the Yunlan Sect.
• Yang Chen revealed that he had a friendship with Yunlan Sect leader Yun Yun and could make the Mo Family patriarch apologize if needed.
• Yang Chen gave Xiao Ding a token for the Alchemist Association branch in Mo City and warned the brothers to be careful in Snake-People Tribe territory.
• Yang Chen told Xiao Ding and Xiao Li to invoke the True Lord Hall and his name if they faced serious danger, adding that Medusa Queen would give him face.
• Yang Chen gave Xiao Ding a three-foot sword and Xiao Li a seven-foot spear, urged them to cultivate diligently, and flew away.

Yang Chen arranged for Hai Bodong, Lei Na, and Lin Sen to oversee his affairs before heading to Wutan City to see Xiao Yan. On the way, he encountered three Soul Hall figures and decided to advance his plans.

• Yang Chen entrusted Xiao Li and the others to Lei Na and Lin Sen, directed major problems to Hai Bodong or Medusa Queen, and left for Wutan City on the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.
• Yang Chen told the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King to return to the Magic Beast Mountain Range and later let Xiao Yan learn about the Companion Amethyst Source.
• Yang Chen sensed an arrival and concealed himself and the lion king as three black-robed figures emerged from space near Wutan City.
• The three figures confirmed their route to Wutan City and departed to investigate on the Hall Master's orders.
• Yang Chen recognized the strangers as Soul Hall members and resolved to move his plans forward.

Yang Chen reflected on his ties to the Yunlan Sect after the Soul Hall members left, then spoke with Ling Ying about their origins and the danger facing the Xiao Family. Ling Ying departed as Xiao Yan arrived, while Yang Chen hinted that he might reveal answers in three years.

• Yang Chen watched the Soul Hall members head toward the Yunlan Sect and worried that Yun Yun’s choice might determine whether the sect survived.
• Yang Chen revealed that his jade pendant was the Yunlan Sect master’s identity token and recalled how he had used the Heavenly Eye to dismantle the sect’s formation.
• Yang Chen ordered the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King to return to the Magic Beast Mountain Range and avoid drawing the Yunlan Sect’s attention.
• Yang Chen called out Ling Ying, who questioned his exceptional abilities and background.
• Ling Ying said the Soul Hall members had likely come for the Xiao Family, and Yang Chen suggested they might discuss his origins three years later as Xiao Yan arrived.

Yang Chen encouraged Xiao Yan to pursue the Three-Year Agreement and offered him help, while secretly putting pressure on Yao Chen. He left Xiao Yan with a Beast Flame and news about his brothers, and Xiao Yan began training with renewed determination.

• Yang Chen praised Xiao Yan for reaching the fourth stage of Dou Qi and asked whether he resented the Three-Year Agreement.
• Yang Chen warned Xiao Yan that Nalan Yanran had another guide and offered to introduce him to a sixth-tier alchemist, but Xiao Yan declined because he was already learning from a senior alchemist.
• Yang Chen gave Xiao Yan a prepared Beast Flame to absorb after he became a Dou Zhe, telling him to give it to his teacher first if needed.
• Yang Chen told Xiao Yan that his two brothers were doing well in Rock Desert City and had gained significant opportunities.
• Yang Chen left, and Xiao Yan began cultivating with renewed determination.

Yun Shan received the Soul Hall’s order to investigate the Xiao Family of Wutan City, then learned from Yun Leng about Yang Chen’s True Lord Hall and Yun Yun’s connection to him. He summoned Yun Yun to question her, while worrying that the orphan he had once spared had become a powerful threat.

• Three Soul Hall Protectors ordered Yun Shan to investigate the Xiao Family of Wutan City, especially its origins and when it had arrived in the Jia Ma Empire.
• Yun Leng complained to Yun Shan that Yun Yun had failed to defend the Misty Cloud Sect against Yang Chen and the True Lord Hall.
• Yun Shan questioned Yun Leng about the True Lord Hall’s experts and learned that Yang Chen was a high-tier alchemist.
• Yun Shan recognized Yang Chen as the surviving Yang Clan orphan he had once spared and told Yun Leng to summon Yun Yun.

Yun Shan questioned Yun Yun about her connection to Yang Chen and concluded that he could use their relationship to keep Yang Chen close and prevent him from uncovering the Yang Clan’s past. Yun Yun left with Yun Shan’s assurance that Yun Leng would be restrained, while Yun Shan assigned Yun Leng to investigate the Xiao Family.

• Yun Shan dismissed Yun Leng and questioned Yun Yun about her acquaintance with Yang Chen, learning that Yun Leng had provoked Yang Chen after Yun Yun had reached an agreement with him.
• Yun Shan worried that Yang Chen might discover Yun Shan’s role in the deaths of Yang Tianlin and his wife, but decided that attacking Yang Chen would be too risky.
• Yun Yun concealed the details of her deal with Yang Chen and told Yun Shan that Yang Chen had asked her to keep the Misty Cloud Sect out of Yanran and Xiao Yan’s affairs.
• Yun Shan encouraged Yun Yun to grow closer to Yang Chen, believing that Yang Chen’s actions were motivated by affection for her, and suggested that they might become a couple.
• Yun Yun told Yun Shan that Gu He seemed intent on targeting Yang Chen, and Yun Shan said he would speak to Yun Leng and leave the matter to Yun Yun’s judgment.
• After Yun Yun left, Yun Shan assigned Yun Leng to investigate the Xiao Family and warned him not to go too far.

Yang Chen arrived in Maple City, where he protected a little girl named Zi Yan from the men pursuing her. Zi Yan mistook him for her father and clung to him, and Yang Chen resolved to keep her safe.

• Yang Chen entered the Black-Corner Region and disguised himself with a black-veiled hat after drawing unwanted attention.
• A fleeing little girl collided with Yang Chen outside Maple City, and a group of burly men surrounded them, accusing her of stealing medicinal herbs.
• Yang Chen broke the lead pursuer’s arm with his folding fan, then questioned the men about what the girl had taken.
• The pursuers claimed they would let the matter go, while secretly signaling others to run for help.
• Yang Chen comforted the girl, who cried and asked if he was her father, Zi Yan; he accepted her attachment and promised no one would bully her again.

Yang Chen confronted Yuan Yi and the Eight Fan Sect after they bullied Zi Yan, then attacked their forces when they refused to yield. He killed the surrounding experts and turned to fight Yuan Yi.

• Yuan Yi arrived at the city gate and tried to dismiss the assault on Zi Yan as a misunderstanding.
• Yang Chen demanded that the men who hurt Zi Yan cut off their own arms, while Zi Yan urged him to beat them up.
• Yuan Yi encircled Yang Chen with Eight Fan Sect elites, and Yang Chen promised Zi Yan he would teach them all a lesson.
• Yang Chen transformed his folding fan into a Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear and killed dozens of Eight Fan Sect experts with a sweep.
• Yang Chen killed five more experts as Yuan Yi charged, then swung his spear down at Yuan Yi.

Yang Chen defeated Yuan Yi and confronted Han Feng and the Gold and Silver Elders when they intervened. After refusing Han Feng’s request to end the dispute, Yang Chen attacked them, and the elders joined the fight.

• Yang Chen overwhelmed Yuan Yi in fewer than thirty exchanges and sent him flying with a spear strike.
• Han Feng asked Yang Chen to show him consideration and let the matter end, while Yang Chen recognized Han Feng as a teacher-slaying traitor.
• Yang Chen comforted Zi Yan, then declared that Han Feng and anyone protecting him would die.
• Han Feng blocked Yang Chen’s spear aura with his dark blue flame, and the Gold and Silver Elders prepared to attack.
• Yang Chen emerged from the flames and swung his spear at the Gold and Silver Elders, who raised their hands to counter.

Yang Chen fought Han Feng, the Gold and Silver Elders, and Yuan Yi while defending Zi Yan, overwhelming the four Dou Emperor experts despite being a Dou Wang. After Zi Yan cheered him on, Yang Chen gathered power into his spear and charged at them, leaving the battle at the moment their energies collided.

• Yang Chen evaded Han Feng's attacks and suppressed him and the Gold and Silver Elders in their first exchange.
• Han Feng yelled at Yuan Yi to capture Zi Yan, but Yang Chen attacked Yuan Yi before he could act and wounded him.
• Yang Chen drove back Gold Elder and Silver Elder, then met Han Feng's next attack with his spear as spectators watched and experts raced toward Maple City.
• Zi Yan cheered Yang Chen and called him Daddy, while nearby spectators warned others not to provoke her.
• Yang Chen's Heavenly Eye enveloped him and his spear in light as he declared that no one should interfere with whom he wished to teach a lesson.
• Han Feng, the Gold and Silver Elders, and Yuan Yi joined forces against Yang Chen, and their attacks collided in a massive explosion above the city.

Yang Chen battled Han Feng, Yuan Yi, and their allies after Yuan Yi hurt Zi Yan, refusing to accept their offer to settle the matter with an apology. When Han Feng ordered the six Dou Emperors to attack, Yang Chen charged them and the battle erupted above the spectators.

• Yang Chen struck back at Yuan Yi, Han Feng, and the Gold and Silver Elders, sending Yuan Yi crashing to the ground.
• Fan Lao and Ban Lao joined the confrontation, bringing the number of Dou Emperor opponents facing Yang Chen to six.
• Han Feng offered to end the conflict if Yuan Yi apologized to Zi Yan, but Yang Chen demanded that Yuan Yi pay for hurting his daughter.
• Han Feng ordered the others to attack, and Yang Chen launched a spear assault against the encircling Dou Emperors.
• Yang Chen kicked Yuan Yi away and fought all six opponents as spectators watched in fear.

Yang Chen fought off Han Feng and the other Black-Corner Region experts after they threatened to seize Zi Yan. Han Feng called off the battle and asked Yang Chen to name his terms, and Yang Chen asked Zi Yan what they should do.

• Han Feng ordered Fan Lao and Yuan Yi to capture Zi Yan, but Yang Chen’s fierce counterattack made them afraid to touch her.
• Yang Chen continued fighting the group while experts across the Black-Corner Region watched and recognized him as a threat they should not provoke.
• Han Feng stopped the others from attacking and proposed ending the battle, wary of Yang Chen’s strength and Jia Nan Academy’s nearby forces.
• Yang Chen rejected Han Feng’s warning that others might take advantage of them, then Han Feng asked him to name his terms.
• Yang Chen changed his spear back into a folding fan, picked up Zi Yan, wiped away her tears, and asked what she wanted to do.

Zi Yan demanded that Han Feng apologize to Yang Chen for attacking him, then rejected Han Feng’s offered treasures and revealed that she had sensed an even more fragrant treasure in the city. Yang Chen pressed Han Feng about it, leaving Han Feng unwilling to surrender the prized cauldron and wary of refusing.

• Zi Yan asked Han Feng to apologize to Yang Chen for attacking her daddy, and Yang Chen comforted her.
• Han Feng offered Zi Yan medicinal herbs, Magic Beast cores, and pills to satisfy her request.
• Zi Yan rejected the treasures and told Yang Chen she had smelled something in the city almost as fragrant as the flame inside Han Feng, though it might not be edible.
• Yang Chen told Han Feng that Zi Yan did not want his offerings and said he would make pills for her himself.
• Han Feng warned Yang Chen not to overstep the Black-Corner Region’s rules, while Yang Chen remained unmoved and Han Feng struggled over whether to give up his prized medicinal cauldron.