Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan and Old Yao traveled to the Pill Tower to persuade it to join their alliance against the Soul Hall, after securing agreements from the Flower Sect and Blazing Flame Valley. The Pill Tower's leaders revealed that their missing Ancestor held decisive influence over the decision—and that he was a medicinal pill who lived through the lives of unborn children.

• The Flower Sect and Blazing Flame Valley agreed to join the alliance, while Old Yao said the Pill Tower was still essential to opposing the Soul Hall.
• Xiao Yan and Old Yao left Cai Lin and Xiao Yi Xian to guard Starfall Pavilion and traveled to Sacred Pill City to meet the Pill Tower leaders.
• Xuan Kongzi, Tian Lei Zi, and Xuan Yi warmly reunited with Old Yao before hearing his proposal for an alliance.
• The Pill Tower leaders explained that their missing Ancestor could determine whether the Pill Tower joined the alliance.
• Xuan Kongzi told Xiao Yan that the Ancestor searched for unborn children who had died before birth, entered their mothers' bodies, and lived their lives in new identities.
• Xuan Kongzi revealed that the Ancestor was not human but a medicinal pill.

Xiao Yan learned about the Pill Tower Ancestor’s origins and accompanied Xuan Kongzi and the others to the Lesser Pill Tower to seek support for an alliance. The alliance gained five promised votes, but Old Monster Hou’s impending appointment threatened to block it, leaving Xiao Yan as a possible challenger.

• Xuan Kongzi told Xiao Yan that the Pill Tower Ancestor was a mutated Nine-Rank Profound Pill infused with the consciousness of the senior who refined it.
• Xuan Kongzi explained that the Grand Elder Council had to approve the alliance, and the Three Giants had only three of its ten votes.
• Xuan Kongzi brought Xiao Yan and Old Yao through a spatial passage to the Lesser Pill Tower, where the group waited for the council’s response.
• Xuan Kongzi reported that five elders would support the alliance, but Old Monster Hou was likely to gain a council seat and vote against it.
• Xuan Yi suggested that Xiao Yan compete with Old Monster Hou for the new elder position, since Xiao Yan’s status qualified him to challenge.

Xiao Yan agreed to represent Old Yao in the Lesser Pill Tower elder selection and challenge Old Monster Hou, whose alchemy could summon Nine-Colored Pill Thunder. At the selection gathering, Old Monster Hou dismissed Xiao Yan’s qualifications and vowed to defeat him, leaving Xiao Yan ready to take him on.

• Xuan Kongzi and the others decided Xiao Yan would compete against Old Monster Hou, and Xiao Yan agreed to attempt refining a Ninth-grade pill.
• Xiao Yan and Old Yao spent three days at the Lesser Pill Tower, where Old Yao introduced Xiao Yan to senior alchemists.
• Old Yao and Xiao Yan arrived at the elder selection, where Old Monster Hou mocked Old Yao for returning to the Lesser Pill Tower.
• Old Yao told Old Monster Hou that Xiao Yan, the Alchemist Competition Champion, would compete in his place.
• Xuan Yi revealed that Xiao Yan had won the competition by refining a pill that summoned Five-Colored Pill Thunder, but Old Monster Hou still challenged him.
• Old Yao said they would thwart Old Monster Hou’s bid for elder, and Xiao Yan agreed.

Xiao Yan joined the Lesser Pill Tower’s elder selection and impressed the gathered alchemists by forming a Medicine Cauldron from his Heavenly Flame. He began preparing to refine a Bodhi Pill, leaving Old Yao and the others uncertain about how he planned to defeat Old Monster Hou.

• The Seven Elders appeared, and the Grand Elder tested Xiao Yan’s soul pressure before announcing the elder selection rules.
• Xiao Yan stepped forward to compete, and the Grand Elder confirmed that Yao Chen’s disciple and Pill Gathering champion was qualified.
• The selection began, and Xiao Yan formed a purple-brown Medicine Cauldron from his Heavenly Flame instead of taking out a regular cauldron.
• Xiao Yan revealed a Bodhi Seed, leading Old Yao and the others to realize that he intended to refine a Bodhi Pill.
• Xuan Yi worried that the Bodhi Pill would not be enough to beat Old Monster Hou, while Xiao Yan trusted his experience gained beneath the Bodhi Tree.

Xiao Yan refined an unknown mixture of medicinal ingredients while Old Monster Hou prepared a pill capable of summoning Nine-Colored Pill Thunder. After Old Monster Hou declared victory, Xiao Yan opened his eyes and said the outcome was not certain.

• Xiao Yan sent more than a thousand medicinal ingredients into his Medicine Cauldron, leaving the alchemists unsure what he was refining.
• Xiao Yan failed three times during five days of pill refinement, then continued as the competitors gradually formed pill embryos and summoned pill thunder.
• Old Yao and the others expected Old Monster Hou to refine the Blazing Demon Pure Profound Pill and summon Nine-Colored Pill Thunder.
• Old Monster Hou successfully produced Nine-Colored Pill Thunder and told Old Yao that he had won.
• Xiao Yan opened his eyes and told Old Monster Hou that victory was not certain.

Xiao Yan revealed that he had concealed a pill inside a fire dragon and used the Object-Infused Pill Refinement method to refine a Ninth-grade pill. The pill drew Black Demon Thunder, which destroyed his Heavenly Demon Puppets before Xiao Yan confronted it himself.

• Xiao Yan stood and revealed pill fluctuations inside his fire cauldron, then expanded the fire dragon until it burst from the cauldron.
• Xiao Yan silenced and intimidated Old Monster Hou before using the Fire Dragon Pill Condensation technique to reveal the pill concealed within the dragon.
• Xuan Kongzi and the other alchemists recognized Xiao Yan's Object-Infused Pill Refinement method, while black clouds gathered and the Nine-Colored Pill Thunder above Old Monster Hou shrank away.
• A bolt of Black Demon Thunder struck and destroyed Xiao Yan's five Heavenly Demon Puppets, so Xiao Yan flew above the fire dragon to face it himself.
• Xiao Yan punched the Black Demon Thunder with energy drawn from heaven and earth, unleashing a destructive storm that shattered the surrounding space and erased Old Monster Hou's pill thunder.

Xiao Yan survived the Black Demon Thunder and refined a Ninth-grade precious pill, defeating Old Monster Hou in the Pill Tower selection. The elders declared Xiao Yan the victor, leaving him with the advantage in the debate over forming an alliance.

• Xiao Yan endured the Black Demon Thunder, and the Grand Elder confirmed that he had reached early One-star Dou Sheng.
• The fire dragon burst apart, and Xiao Yan captured the intelligent Ninth-grade precious pill before it could escape.
• Xiao Yan identified his pill as the Bodhi Great Restoration Pill, which could greatly improve the chance of a Peak Dou Zun breaking through to Half-Saint.
• Old Monster Hou presented his Eighth-grade Blazing Demon Pure Profound Pill, but the elders judged Xiao Yan's pill superior and named him the victor.

After Xiao Yan secured the Lesser Pill Tower's support for an alliance against the Soul Hall, he and Old Yao returned to Starfall Pavilion to prepare for its formation. The Flower Sect arrived first, followed by the powerful Old Ancestor Huoyun and his group.

• Xiao Yan became an elder of the Lesser Pill Tower and persuaded its Grand Elder to support the alliance by warning that the Soul Hall's attacks on alchemists threatened the Pill Tower's standing.
• The Grand Elder agreed to join the alliance, which Xiao Yan said would be formally established at Starfall Pavilion in three days with Blazing Flame Valley and the Flower Sect.
• Xiao Yan and Old Yao returned to Starfall Pavilion, where preparations and security were intensified ahead of the alliance ceremony.
• The Flower Sect arrived at Starfall Pavilion, and Old Yao greeted Fairy Qing and Fairy Hua while Xiao Yan noticed their complicated feelings toward him.
• Old Ancestor Huoyun arrived with a group, and Old Yao recognized the powerful red-haired elder.

Yao Chen, Xiao Yan, and their allies formed an alliance against Soul Hall and named it Heavenly Mansion, with Yao Chen as its leader. As they celebrated, black mist appeared in the hall and an emotionless voice challenged whether they would live to enjoy their new alliance.

• Old Ancestor Huoyun arrived with Tang Zhen and Tang Huo'er, and he teased Xiao Yan about being a suitable match for Huo'er.
• The Pill Tower's Grand Elder and other representatives joined Yao Chen at Starfall Pavilion to discuss an alliance against Soul Hall.
• Xiao Yan and Yao Chen assured the factions that the alliance would respect each sect's independence and provide mutual aid.
• The factions chose Yao Chen as alliance leader after the Lesser Pill Tower's Grand Elder declined the position.
• The representatives named the alliance Heavenly Mansion and raised their cups to celebrate.
• Black mist seeped into the hall as an unseen speaker threatened the gathered alliance members.

Xiao Yan and his allies finalized their alliance as the Soul Hall Deputy Master appeared by projection to threaten them. The factions remained united and prepared to establish spatial wormholes, while Xiao Yan anticipated the coming conflict with Soul Hall and the Hun Clan.

• The Soul Hall Deputy Master appeared as a black-mist projection and threatened Xiao Yan, the Pill Tower, the Flower Sect, and Blazing Flame Valley.
• Xiao Yan shattered the projection and vowed to kill the members of Soul Hall and the Hun Clan.
• Old Yao and Old Ancestor Huoyun concluded that Soul Hall had tried to intimidate the factions and that the Deputy Master had avoided confronting their gathered forces.
• Xiao Yan confirmed that the alliance was finalized, and the faction leaders agreed to prepare for Soul Hall's response.
• Xiao Yan asked the allies to establish spatial wormholes after the alliance was publicly announced, and they departed to begin the work.

The Heavenly Mansion Alliance strengthened its defenses and intelligence network while Xiao Yan held back from attacking the Soul Hall. As the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame’s emergence drew closer, Old Yao revealed that the Nine Nether Yellow Springs could help Cai Lin evolve and was also essential to Xiao Yan’s attempt to subdue the flame.

• Starfall Pavilion screened factions seeking to join the Heavenly Mansion Alliance, while Venerable Wind organized its affairs and the four great factions completed their connecting spatial wormholes.
• The alliance established an intelligence hall, discovered two Soul Hall branches, and deployed expert teams to protect its alchemists, but Xiao Yan chose not to launch an attack.
• Old Yao said the Soul Hall was likely waiting for the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame to emerge in nine months and urged everyone to prepare for the contest.
• Old Yao said Cai Lin could rapidly advance if she found enough energy, and suggested Xun Er might also become a Dou Sheng after emerging from seclusion.
• Old Yao revealed that the Nine Nether Yellow Springs could help Cai Lin temper her body and evolve, and that Xiao Yan would need to visit it to subdue the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.

Xiao Yan prepared to obtain the Yellow Springs Blood Crystal from the Nine Nether Yellow Springs and refine a pill to improve his chances of subduing the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. After reaching the Nine Nether Nether Python Clan’s territory, he spotted Ancient Void Dragon Clan members near the entrance to the underground world and began listening in.

• Old Yao warned Xiao Yan that his strength alone would not make subduing the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame safe and gave him a tier-nine Nine Yin Yellow Springs Pill formula.
• Old Yao told Xiao Yan to obtain Yellow Springs Blood Crystal from the Nine Nether Yellow Springs within nine months, and explained that Cai Lin might also evolve there.
• Xiao Yan decided to travel to the Nine Nether Yellow Springs with Cai Lin, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin, while Old Yao offered the Heavenly Mansion Alliance’s support.
• Xiao Yan and his companions reached the Nine Nether Abyss and saw several Ancient Void Dragon Clan members arrive nearby.
• Xiao Yan used his bloodline sensitivity to identify the Ancient Void Dragon Clan members and silently listened as they spoke of a Dragon King dispatching them.

Xiao Yan experimented with ways to accelerate his cultivation so he could grow strong enough to gain clan support and earn money for pills to awaken Old Yao. He discovered that meditating to sense nature while cultivating greatly increased his absorption of energy, and the ring on his hand began to glow faintly.

• Xiao Yan decided he needed to raise his strength and status in the clan so he could eventually earn money to buy medicinal pills for Old Yao.
• Xiao Yan tried changing his posture and cultivating during extreme exercise, but the results were limited and the exercise disrupted his battle qi.
• Xiao Yan reasoned that he needed to absorb energy from the air more quickly and decided to imitate the affinity elves had with nature.
• Xiao Yan went to a cliff behind the clan's mountain, removed most of his clothes, and meditated while circulating his battle qi.
• Xiao Yan entered a heightened state, absorbed spiritual energy rapidly, and felt his strength increase as the ring on his hand began to glow.

After spending a day making up with Xun Er, Xiao Yan cultivated at the back mountain and awakened Old Yao from the ring. Old Yao tried to persuade him to become his disciple, but Xiao Yan demanded a gift before agreeing.

• Xiao Yan reached the Sixth Stage of Dou Qi after two months of nonstop cultivation and realized he should spend more time with Xun Er.
• Xiao Yan brought Xun Er breakfast, explained that he had been cultivating to become stronger, and spent the day playing with her.
• Xiao Yan went to the back mountain to cultivate, and the ring on his hand began shining brightly as his spiritual energy absorption slowed.
• Old Yao appeared from the ring and told Xiao Yan he was a soul who had made the light.
• Old Yao offered to teach Xiao Yan and promised to help him become powerful and an alchemist, but Xiao Yan asked for a gift before taking him as his master.

Xiao Yan teased Old Yao into revealing an evolvable cultivation method before formally accepting him as his master. Old Yao explained that Han Feng had betrayed him for the method and that Xiao Yan’s cultivation had awakened him from the ring.

• Xiao Yan demanded Tian-tier methods and mocked Old Yao for lacking them and forgetting his alchemist tier.
• Old Yao offered a Yellow-tier low-grade cultivation method that could evolve, but refused to show it until Xiao Yan became a Dou Zhe and accepted him as master.
• Xiao Yan performed the ceremony and became Old Yao’s disciple, then asked about Old Yao’s death and awakening.
• Old Yao revealed that Han Feng had joined his enemies, ambushed him while he refined pills, and stolen half the evolvable method, leaving Old Yao trapped in the ring as a weakened soul.
• Old Yao said Xiao Yan’s cultivation had supplied soul force and pure energy that awakened him, and Xiao Yan realized this was why he had felt dizzy after cultivating.

After Old Yao advised Xiao Yan to strengthen his body before cultivating Dou Qi further, Xiao Yan trained physically and studied alchemy at night. He went shopping with Xun Er, Xiao Mei, and Xiao Yu, learned that the family test was approaching, and ended up paying for their shopping.

• Old Yao told Xiao Yan that his body could not yet handle more Dou Qi and advised him to train his body and learn alchemy.
• Xiao Yan devoted most of his cultivation time to physical training and studied alchemy with Old Yao at night.
• Xiao Yan met Xiao Mei and invited her to join him, Xun Er, and Xiao Yu on a shopping trip.
• Xun Er told Xiao Yan that the family test was coming soon, and the girls shared their Dou Qi stages: Xiao Mei had reached the First Stage, Xiao Yu the Fifth Stage, Xun Er the Third Stage, and Xiao Yan the Sixth Stage.
• The girls went on a shopping spree and made Xiao Yan pay, leaving him worried about the money he still needed for medicinal ingredients.

Xiao Yan wrestled with whether to show off or keep a low profile at the clan test, then decided to act as he pleased. At the test, he revealed that he had reached the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi, astonishing his family and the clan.

• After returning from shopping with the girls, Xiao Yan asked Old Yao whether he should establish a reputation as a genius or stay low-key, then decided not to overthink it.
• Xiao Yan went to the clan square with Xun Er and the others, where Xiao Tong tested at the Seventh Stage, Xiao Ding at the ninth, and Xiao Li at the eighth.
• Xiao Yu tested at the Fifth Stage and returned disappointed, while Xun Er and the other girl comforted her.
• Xiao Yan tested at the Seventh Stage with a High grade, stunning Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, Xiao Zhan, and the clan crowd.
• Xun Er tested at the fourth stage, while Xiao Mei's result seemed ordinary by comparison.

Over five years, Xiao Yan strengthened the Xiao Family with advanced techniques, pills, and business reforms, while reaching Dou Wang and Sixth-grade Alchemist. He decided to leave to gain experience, said goodbye to his family and the girls, and planned to depart the next morning without another farewell.

• Xiao Yan gave Xiao Zhan advanced cultivation methods and Dou Techniques from his teacher, and asked him to keep their source secret while secretly strengthening the family.
• Xiao Yan reformed the family businesses and supplied pills, helping Xiao Zhan and several elders reach Dou Huang while his brothers and the girls also grew stronger.
• Xiao Yan told Xiao Zhan that he planned to leave and gain experience, and Xiao Zhan reluctantly agreed after warning him to be careful.
• Xiao Yan told Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Mei he would leave, refused their requests to accompany him, and promised to return before his coming-of-age ceremony.
• Xiao Yan comforted the girls and planned to leave early the next morning without saying goodbye again.

Xiao Yan left the Xiao Clan to seek a Heavenly Flame that could evolve his Burning Art and gain combat experience on the way to Jia Nan Academy. After crossing the Monster Mountain Range and surviving encounters with powerful beasts, he faced a peak sixth-rank Demonic Beast alone.

• Xiao Yan left the Xiao Clan before dawn, while Xiao Zhan, Xun Er, and the other girls watched him depart and resolved to cultivate harder.
• Xiao Yan decided to seek the Fallen Heart Flame at Jia Nan Academy and later the Sea Heart Flame, while avoiding the Green Lotus Core Flame for now.
• Xiao Yan shook off Elder Ling, bought a map, and entered the Monster Mountain Range to train before reaching Jia Nan Academy.
• Xiao Yan admired the unfamiliar creatures and fought weaker Demonic Beasts, while Old Yao refused to let him turn the journey into a hunt for profit.
• Xiao Yan encountered several sixth-rank Demonic Beasts, and Old Yao left him to face a peak sixth-rank beast on his own.
• Xiao Yan stepped on a dry branch, drawing the huge beast’s attention as the two faced each other.

Xiao Yan fought a massive dinosaur-like Magical Beast and managed to wound it, but it revealed a powerful Black Flame that trapped him and Old Yao. With the flame consuming them, Xiao Yan agreed to attempt to devour it, leaving their survival uncertain.

• The Magical Beast charged Xiao Yan, who dodged its attacks and discovered that his strongest blows could not penetrate its thick hide.
• Xiao Yan evaded the beast and wore it down with Dou Techniques and weapons, then drove a red-hot iron spear into its rear and was badly injured by its tail.
• Old Yao took control of Xiao Yan’s body and attacked the wounded beast, but it spat Black Flame that engulfed them both.
• Old Yao warned that the Black Flame was consuming his soul and urged Xiao Yan to devour it as their only chance to survive.
• Xiao Yan agreed to follow Old Yao’s instructions and attempt to devour the Black Flame.