Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Half-Saint Creatures”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Deep within the crimson magma world of Tou She Ancient God’s Mansion, Xie Tianxiao and Ziyan are escorted by Xie’s remnant image toward the interior.
• The remnant image senses hidden auras and stops as a large group of powerful magma-dwelling creatures surrounds them.
• Two elderly, white-bodied Fire Lizards—one Initial Half-Saint and one Intermediate Half-Saint—warn the outsiders to leave God’s Graveyard or face death.
• Xie Tianxiao refuses to retreat, eager to test himself against creatures of the same cultivation level.
• He protects Ziyan with a barrier formed from the Bone Chilling Flame, Green Lotus Core Flame, and Yin-Yang Twin Flame, then attacks the two Half-Saints.
• While the remnant image battles the two leaders, the ordinary Fire Lizards swarm them. Xie unleashes a sea of Heavenly Flames, burning all creatures below the Dou Zun level into ashes and leaving behind fiery beads.
• The two Half-Saint Lizardmen exploit Xie’s distraction and launch a coordinated assault. They manage to disperse one of the remnant image’s arms, forcing Xie to control it with greater caution.
• Xie counters with three fire dragons formed from the Heavenly Flames, escapes their immediate attack, and traps the Lizardmen with Spatial Shackles.
• As the remnant image begins to weaken and fade, Xie decides to stop treating the battle as a game, acknowledging that defeating both Half-Saints completely will be difficult with only an Initial Half-Saint remnant.

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao: Displays confidence and combat experience, initially treating the encounter as an opportunity to test his strength. However, he recognizes the genuine danger posed by the two Half-Saint Lizardmen and becomes more serious when his remnant is damaged.
• Ziyan: Remains playful and fearless, joking about eating the strange creatures. She correctly trusts Xie’s overwhelming strength but understands that the numerous Lizardmen are beyond her ability to defeat. Her concern becomes visible when Xie’s remnant falls into a disadvantage.
• The Half-Saint Lizardmen: Establish themselves as powerful, disciplined guardians of the god’s territory. Though they lack spatial abilities, their physical strength, teamwork, and corrosive attacks allow them to injure Xie’s remnant.

Significant Themes

• Power and limitations: Even a powerful Half-Saint must respect opponents of comparable cultivation. Xie’s remnant is formidable but weakened by its limited strength and temporary nature.
• Confidence versus caution: Xie’s initial arrogance gives way to a more serious assessment of the battle once the Lizardmen damage his remnant.
• Guardianship and territorial defense: The Fire Lizards view the region as sacred ground and attack outsiders to protect the god’s domain.
• Trust and protection: Ziyan relies on Xie completely, while Xie prioritizes shielding her and orders her not to participate in the dangerous battle.

Character Interactions

• The two Half-Saint Lizardmen confront Xie and offer him one chance to leave before attacking.
• Ziyan humorously calls the creatures “four-legged snakes” and expresses interest in eating them.
• Xie orders Ziyan to remain behind his defensive barrier while he handles the enemies.
• Ziyan becomes worried when the Lizardmen injure the remnant, but Xie reassures her and continues fighting.
• Xie and the two Lizardmen exchange threats and challenge each other’s strength, leading to a fierce battle amid the magma.

Chapter Summary:

Dragon Emperor Zhu Kun

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Tianxiao uses his phantom to restrain two Half-Saint Lizardmen while collecting the crimson fire pearls left behind by defeated Dou Zun Lizardmen.
• The Lizardmen break free and attack the phantom, but Xie Tianxiao continues calling out to Zhu Kun, demanding that he stop obstructing their passage so Ziyan can meet her father.
• Xie Tianxiao provokes Zhu Kun by accusing him of being cold-blooded toward his own daughter and threatening to abandon Ziyan if Zhu Kun refuses to respond.
• Zhu Kun finally intervenes, releasing an overwhelming force that freezes everyone in the lava world. He orders the Lizardmen to withdraw and permits Xie Tianxiao to descend.
• Xie Tianxiao and Ziyan travel deeper into the lava, eventually entering a hidden space filled with ancient energy and terrifying heat.
• They encounter Zhu Kun’s enormous true form: the Dragon Emperor of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. Zhu Kun warns that unless Xie Tianxiao provides satisfactory information, he will devour both intruders.

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao demonstrates strategic thinking and confidence by using the phantom to fight while pressuring Zhu Kun psychologically. Although intimidated by Zhu Kun’s immense power, he remains focused on protecting and guiding Ziyan.
• Ziyan becomes increasingly aware of her true heritage and realizes that the mysterious guardian is her biological father. Her confusion and silence suggest emotional uncertainty about Zhu Kun and their long separation.
• Zhu Kun is established as an ancient, immensely powerful figure, capable of overwhelming the entire area merely through his presence. Despite his hostility, he responds when confronted with the possibility of seeing or losing his daughter.
• The Half-Saint Lizardmen remain loyal to Zhu Kun, treating him as their guardian and immediately obeying his command to withdraw.

Significant Themes

• Parental separation and emotional conflict: Zhu Kun’s imprisonment and apparent indifference toward Ziyan create tension between his role as a powerful guardian and his responsibilities as a father.
• Power hierarchy and humility: Xie Tianxiao’s confidence disappears in the presence of Zhu Kun, emphasizing the vast gap between Half-Saint experts and ancient Peak Dou Sheng figures.
• Cunning versus brute strength: Xie Tianxiao relies on pressure, provocation, and calculated tactics rather than attempting to defeat Zhu Kun directly.
• Loyalty and protection: The Lizardmen defend Zhu Kun, while Xie Tianxiao risks his phantom and resources to bring Ziyan safely to him.
• Revelation of identity: The chapter marks a major turning point as Ziyan reaches her father and the truth of her lineage becomes undeniable.

Character Interactions

• Xie Tianxiao battles the two Half-Saint Lizardmen while verbally challenging Zhu Kun.
• He deliberately insults Zhu Kun’s parenting to force him to respond.
• Zhu Kun’s command causes the Lizardmen to kneel and retreat, showing their absolute submission to him.
• Ziyan worries about Xie Tianxiao after the confrontation and asks whether the distant figure was her father.
• Xie Tianxiao confirms Zhu Kun’s identity and encourages Ziyan to seek her answers directly from him.
• Upon meeting Zhu Kun, Xie Tianxiao respectfully acknowledges his status, while Zhu Kun treats both visitors as trespassers who must prove their value to survive.

Chapter Summary: “Misunderstanding Cleared”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Tianxiao’s afterimage urges Zhu Kun to examine Ziyan more carefully.
• Zhu Kun recognizes a familiar presence in Ziyan and suspects she is his daughter.
• When they hold hands, their bloodlines resonate, confirming that Ziyan is a member of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan and Zhu Kun’s biological child.
• Zhu Kun joyfully acknowledges Ziyan as his daughter, while she remains confused and suspicious because she grew up alone in the wilderness.
• Ziyan angrily accuses Zhu Kun of abandoning her and recounts how dangerous her childhood was.
• Zhu Kun explains that he had been trapped inside the space connected to Tou She Ancient God’s cave mansion and was unable to search for her.
• Once Ziyan understands that his absence was forced rather than intentional, she forgives him almost immediately—but mainly because she expects him to provide her with delicious food and resources.

Character Developments

• Zhu Kun: His terrifying, authoritative image disappears once he realizes Ziyan is his daughter. He becomes emotional, affectionate, apologetic, and eager for her forgiveness. His anger also shows how fiercely protective he is of her.
• Ziyan: She shifts from suspicion and resentment to acceptance. Her normally childish personality briefly becomes cold and commanding, revealing traits inherited from Zhu Kun. Once the misunderstanding is resolved, her practical and food-focused nature returns.
• Xie Tianxiao: He acts as the mediator and confirms Ziyan’s identity, helping father and daughter recognize their relationship.

Significant Themes

• Family and blood ties: The supernatural resonance between Zhu Kun and Ziyan establishes their familial bond beyond doubt.
• Misunderstanding and forgiveness: Ziyan’s resentment comes from believing she was abandoned, but learning the truth allows her to forgive Zhu Kun.
• Parental guilt and protection: Zhu Kun feels deep remorse over Ziyan’s difficult upbringing and reacts violently to the dangers she faced.
• Inherited nature: Ziyan’s sudden authoritative demeanor mirrors Zhu Kun’s personality, suggesting that family resemblance extends beyond bloodline.

Character Interactions

• Xie Tianxiao directs Zhu Kun’s attention toward Ziyan and later confirms her identity.
• Zhu Kun cautiously approaches Ziyan, asks to hold her hand, and becomes overwhelmed with joy when their bloodlines connect.
• Ziyan challenges him about abandoning her, forcing him to explain his imprisonment by Tou She Ancient God.
• Zhu Kun apologizes repeatedly and seeks her forgiveness, while Ziyan tests his sincerity by asking whether he has anything tasty to give her.

Chapter Summary:

Zhu Kun, the Doting Father

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ziyan tells Zhu Kun that she wants pills, describing them as round, fragrant “tasty things.” Zhu Kun is eager to satisfy her but explains that his pills are too powerful for her current Dou Wang-level cultivation.
• Ziyan becomes upset that Zhu Kun, like her “Big Brother,” keeps calling her young. Zhu Kun quickly apologizes and promises to give her whatever she wants once she grows stronger.
• Zhu Kun questions Ziyan about the identity of her “Big Brother.” Xie Tianxiao introduces himself through an energy phantom rather than appearing in person.
• Zhu Kun immediately recognizes that Xie Tianxiao used the phantom to protect himself from attack. He admits that, had Xie come personally, he would have punished him for claiming kinship with his daughter.
• Zhu Kun releases an overwhelming aura to test and intimidate Xie. Xie realizes that the power of a Peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng is far beyond his own and that he could not resist Zhu Kun.
• When Ziyan defends Xie and orders Zhu Kun not to hurt him, Zhu Kun instantly withdraws his pressure and insists that he was merely checking whether Xie had mistreated her.
• Ziyan praises Xie for treating her well, feeding her pills, and bringing her to find her father, while criticizing Zhu Kun for acting fierce. Zhu Kun is delighted that she finally acknowledges him as her father and becomes extremely submissive toward her.
• Zhu Kun then accepts Xie’s relationship with Ziyan “reluctantly” and asks how Xie discovered that he was trapped in the Tou She Ancient God’s Mansion and that Ziyan was his daughter.
• Xie explains that an old friend who lived during Zhu Kun’s era told him about Zhu Kun’s deeds. He also reveals that he can sense bloodline purity and connections, allowing him to identify Ziyan’s unusually powerful bloodline and detect Zhu Kun beneath the lava.
• Zhu Kun does not press Xie about his secret ability but becomes interested in the identity of Xie’s ancient friend and asks him to reveal the person’s name.

Character Developments

• Zhu Kun: Revealed as an immensely powerful but comically doting and easily softened father. Though initially suspicious and threatening toward Xie, he immediately backs down when Ziyan defends him. His overwhelming strength contrasts sharply with his childlike eagerness to please his daughter.
• Ziyan: Shows affection and loyalty toward Xie, openly defending him against Zhu Kun. She also displays childish impatience and excitement over pills, while beginning to accept Zhu Kun as her father.
• Xie Tianxiao: Demonstrates caution by using an energy body instead of appearing personally. He remains respectful and tactful toward Zhu Kun, accurately explains how he uncovered Zhu Kun’s identity, and earns Zhu Kun’s tentative acceptance as Ziyan’s “Big Brother.”

Significant Themes

• Parental love and protectiveness: Zhu Kun’s fierce response to Xie’s claim of kinship reveals his instinct to protect Ziyan, even though his anger quickly disappears when she objects.
• Power versus emotional vulnerability: Zhu Kun is powerful enough to overwhelm Xie effortlessly, yet he becomes obedient and almost comical in the presence of his daughter.
• Found family and trust: Xie’s relationship with Ziyan is not based on blood but on care and companionship. Ziyan’s defense of him helps legitimize their bond in Zhu Kun’s eyes.
• Caution and hidden abilities: Xie avoids revealing too much about himself, using a phantom and giving only a partial explanation of his bloodline-sensing method.
• Reunion and acceptance: The chapter centers on Ziyan and Zhu Kun beginning to reconnect after their long separation, with Xie acting as the bridge between them.

Important Character Interactions

• Ziyan and Zhu Kun: Their exchange establishes a humorous father-daughter dynamic. Ziyan complains about being treated as a child, while Zhu Kun eagerly apologizes and tries to satisfy her.
• Zhu Kun and Xie Tianxiao: Their interaction begins with suspicion and intimidation but shifts toward reluctant acceptance after Zhu Kun learns that Xie has treated Ziyan well.
• Ziyan and Xie Tianxiao: Ziyan openly trusts and defends Xie, crediting him with bringing her to Zhu Kun and providing her with pills and care.
• Zhu Kun and Xie’s unseen friend: Zhu Kun becomes intrigued by the possibility that someone from his era survived and asks Xie to identify this mysterious figure.

Chapter Summary: “What Gives You the Right?”

Xie Tianxiao negotiates with Zhu Kun

Xie dismisses Zhu Kun’s suspicion about his supposed friendship with someone from the Dragon Emperor’s era, admitting internally that the story was fabricated. He then explains that he helped Ziyan reunite with her father because he wants the Ancient Void Dragon Clan to assist him against a future enemy.

Zhu Kun questions the arrangement

Zhu Kun initially refuses to commit, pointing out that the Ancient Void Dragon Clan is one of the continent’s strongest clans and asking why it should help a Half-Saint human. Xie counters that Zhu Kun is trapped in Tou She Ancient God’s Mansion and that the clan has fractured and weakened during his absence.

The Ancient Void Dragon Clan’s crisis is revealed

Zhu Kun is shocked to learn that his clan has fallen into disorder. Xie warns that Ziyan cannot safely return yet because rival members may try to harm her, especially since she is destined to inherit the Dragon Emperor position. However, without returning and receiving the clan’s inheritance, Ziyan cannot reach her full potential.

Xie offers to protect and guide Ziyan

Xie declares that he can take Ziyan back and help her inherit the Dragon Emperor’s position. Zhu Kun doubts him, emphasizing that Xie’s Half-Saint strength would be insignificant against even an ordinary Dou Sheng of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.

Xie reveals his extraordinary potential

Xie claims that he is not yet thirty and will soon reach the Dou Sheng realm. Zhu Kun considers this nearly impossible, having never seen such a genius in the continent’s history. Nevertheless, he senses that Xie may be telling the truth and recognizes the potential value of gaining such an ally.

Agreement with Zhu Kun

Zhu Kun promises that if Xie successfully helps Ziyan inherit the Dragon Emperor position, Xie will become a permanent friend of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. He further guarantees Xie’s safety—even against a Half-Emperor—if Xie seeks refuge with the clan. The agreement benefits both sides: Xie gains powerful backing, while Zhu Kun secures protection and a possible future ally for his daughter and clan.

Ziyan’s reaction and impending separation

Zhu Kun tells Ziyan to return with Xie in a few days because he cannot remain with her much longer. Ziyan is mainly excited by the promise of unlimited medicinal pills, showing her childlike innocence and simple priorities. Xie ends the meeting as his battle-qi afterimage begins to fade.

New danger emerges

Immediately afterward, Xie senses that the token he gave Yao Tianhuo has reacted. This signals that powerful Soul Hall members have appeared in the Black-Corner Region, setting up the next conflict.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Xie Tianxiao demonstrates confidence, strategic thinking, and ambition. He manipulates the negotiation without revealing all his secrets and presents himself as someone capable of becoming a major future power.
• Zhu Kun shifts from skepticism and intimidation to cautious interest and conditional trust. His concern for Ziyan and the weakened state of his clan motivate him to accept Xie’s proposal.
• Ziyan remains innocent and straightforward, emotionally happy to reunite with her father but easily distracted by the prospect of medicinal pills.
• Xie and Zhu Kun’s relationship changes from interrogation and mistrust to a mutually beneficial alliance.
• Zhu Kun and Ziyan’s interaction highlights their father-daughter bond, as well as Zhu Kun’s regret over leaving his clan vulnerable and his determination to protect her future.

Significant Themes

• Trust and proof: Zhu Kun demands a reason to trust Xie, while Xie relies on his actions and future potential rather than empty assurances.
• Power and legitimacy: Xie’s right to guide Ziyan is challenged because of his current weakness, forcing him to justify himself through talent and ambition.
• Family and responsibility: Zhu Kun’s concern for Ziyan and the clan reveals the consequences of his long absence.
• Mutual dependence and alliances: Both men recognize that cooperation can compensate for their vulnerabilities: Xie needs the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, while Zhu Kun needs someone capable of protecting Ziyan and restoring the clan.
• Foreshadowing: The Soul Hall’s arrival in the Black-Corner Region introduces an immediate external threat following the alliance.

Chapter Summary: “Intimidating Power”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Outside a major city in the Black-Corner Region, a large crowd witnesses a confrontation between Yao Tianhuo, now existing as a soul body, and a powerful purple-robed Soul Hall Dou Zun.
• Three low-level cultivators have accidentally obtained the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva after killing an injured peak Dou Wang and finding the treasure in his Storage Ring. Unaware of its value, they attempted to bring it to Flame City for auction.
• The Soul Hall Dou Zun arrives after learning that the treasure has appeared and that Protector Xuan may have been killed. He intends to seize the saliva for Soul Hall, dismissing the three cultivators as insignificant.
• Yao Tianhuo warns him not to interfere, but the Dou Zun attacks. Yao activates a golden token engraved with the character “Xiao,” releasing an overwhelming force that destroys the attack, injures the Dou Zun, and knocks back the surrounding spectators.
• Yao reveals that the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva is wanted by a Dou Sheng (Saint). Terrified by the implication and recognizing the token’s power as belonging to someone at that level, the Soul Hall elder agrees to withdraw.
• The elder asks for the Saint’s identity so he can report the matter to Soul Hall headquarters, but Yao refuses to reveal the name.
• Before the confrontation can escalate again, a black spatial vortex suddenly appears behind the Soul Hall elder and pulls him away. The chapter ends with his disappearance, while Yao Tianhuo remains the only person capable of reacting in time.

Character Developments

• Yao Tianhuo demonstrates that, despite being only a soul body, he possesses powerful backing and is willing to act as Xie Tianxiao’s representative. He remains calm, confident, and deliberately provocative throughout the confrontation.
• The purple-robed Soul Hall Dou Zun begins arrogantly, believing Yao’s weakened state makes him vulnerable. After witnessing the token’s power and hearing that a Saint wants the treasure, he becomes cautious and ultimately backs down. His concern afterward shows that he understands the enormous significance of a Dou Sheng appearing in the Northwestern Continent.
• The three treasure-holding cultivators are revealed to be completely outmatched and ignorant of the treasure’s true value. Their fear highlights the vast difference between ordinary cultivators and the high-level experts competing for the saliva.
• Xie Tianxiao, though absent, becomes the dominant unseen figure in the chapter. His token is powerful enough to overwhelm a Dou Zun, and his possible status as a Saint forces Soul Hall to retreat.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and intimidation: The chapter emphasizes the gulf between ordinary cultivators, Dou Wangs, Dou Emperors, Dou Zuns, and Dou Shengs.
• The influence of reputation and backing: Yao wins not through his own strength but by invoking the authority of the mysterious Saint and displaying the token representing that person’s will.
• The danger of possessing valuable treasures: The three cultivators’ accidental acquisition of the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva attracts powerful factions and places their lives in immediate danger.
• Hidden identities and strategic secrecy: Yao refuses to disclose Xie Tianxiao’s name, suggesting that preserving the Saint’s anonymity is important and that his true intentions remain unclear.
• Soul Hall’s reach and caution: Although Soul Hall is powerful and aggressive, even its Dou Zun experts must retreat when confronted with a possible Dou Sheng-level threat.

Character Interactions

• Yao Tianhuo and the purple-robed elder exchange threats, with Yao warning him against seizing the treasure and the elder mocking Yao’s status as a soul body.
• The three cultivators plead with the elder for mercy and explain how they obtained the treasure, but he dismisses them as unworthy of possessing it.
• Yao uses the Xiao token to counter the elder’s attack and then warns him that continuing to pursue the treasure will lead to his death.
• The elder reluctantly agrees to withdraw but attempts to learn the Saint’s identity. Yao taunts him and refuses to answer, further frustrating him.
• The sudden spatial vortex interrupts the standoff and removes the Soul Hall elder, leaving the true cause of his disappearance unresolved.

Chapter Summary: “Finally Found It”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the purple-clad elder disappears, Yao Tianhuo realizes that the faint fire-attributed energy he sensed may have come from the Devouring Owl Saint, who likely transported the elder away through space.
• Yao Tianhuo turns his attention to the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva and confronts three frightened Dou Kings. They explain that they have been hiding from the Gold and Silver Elders and only accidentally became involved in the search for the treasure.
• The three brothers surrender their Storage Ring. Yao Tianhuo discovers that it contains the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva he has been seeking.
• Grateful that they saved him considerable time, Yao Tianhuo spares the brothers, promises to protect them from the Gold and Silver Elders, and learns their names: Yao Da, Yao Er, and Yao San.
• He announces to the surrounding forces that the search for the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva is over, ordering them to stop sending people to their deaths. He also warns the Gold and Silver Elders not to trouble the three brothers.
• Yao Tianhuo leaves with the treasure, and the various Black-Corner Region forces realize that the conflict over the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva has ended.
• Beneath Jia Nan Academy, Xie Tianxiao reveals that he transported the purple-clad elder to the lava world using a spatial mark hidden in Yao Tianhuo’s token.
• Xie Tianxiao identifies himself as the Devouring Owl Saint, confirming that he is the mysterious figure controlling the situation from behind the scenes.

Character Developments

• Yao Tianhuo displays restraint and pragmatism. Although powerful enough to intimidate the surrounding forces, he avoids unnecessary killing and rewards the three Dou Kings for providing the treasure.
• He also reinforces his authority by protecting Yao Da, Yao Er, and Yao San and openly challenging anyone who might oppose his decision.
• Yao Da, Yao Er, and Yao San shift from terrified fugitives to grateful followers after Yao Tianhuo spares them. They swear loyalty and promise to repay his favor.
• Xie Tianxiao is revealed to be far more influential and powerful than previously understood. His ability to manipulate space and secretly arrange the purple-clad elder’s capture confirms his control over the unfolding events.
• The purple-clad elder loses his earlier confidence. After discovering Xie Tianxiao’s identity, he becomes terrified and realizes that the person behind Yao Tianhuo is a Saint-level existence.

Significant Themes

• Power and authority: Yao Tianhuo ends the treasure hunt simply by declaring it over, demonstrating how overwhelming strength can reshape the behavior of entire factions.
• Mercy and loyalty: Rather than killing the three Dou Kings, Yao Tianhuo rewards their contribution, creating a relationship based on gratitude and future loyalty.
• Hidden identities and manipulation: The chapter reveals that the apparent conflict was influenced by Xie Tianxiao from behind the scenes, emphasizing the danger of concealed power.
• The cost of ambition: The surrounding factions have treated their weaker members as expendable “cannon fodder,” while Yao Tianhuo condemns this pointless pursuit.
• Escalation of power: The discovery that the Devouring Owl Saint is directly involved raises the stakes beyond the original struggle over the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva.

Important Character Interactions

• Yao Tianhuo questions and intimidates the three Dou Kings, then rewards them after they surrender the treasure.
• He addresses the gathered leaders and orders them to end the search, while issuing a direct warning to the Gold and Silver Elders.
• Xie Tianxiao confronts the captured purple-clad elder and reveals that he was responsible for bringing him to the lava world.
• The purple-clad elder connects Xie Tianxiao to the soul body and reacts with shock upon learning that he is the Devouring Owl Saint, ending the chapter on a major revelation and cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “Together on the Road to Yellow Springs”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Tianxiao confronts Qin Tian, the three-star Dou Zun and controller of Nether City’s Soul Hall branch, after Qin Tian attempts to seize the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva.
• Qin Tian introduces himself and invokes the Soul Hall’s influence, hoping to frighten Xie Tianxiao into releasing him. Xie instead declares that every Soul Hall member who falls into his hands will die.
• Xie traps Qin Tian in the Bone Chilling Flame and begins burning him alive.
• Xie orders his system to devour Qin Tian, but it refuses because Qin Tian possesses a complete independent body and his dark attribute does not meet the system’s requirements.
• Xie then releases another captive Soul Hall elder from his Storage Ring. This elder recognizes Qin Tian and reveals that he was previously defeated, captured, and tortured by Xie in Soul-Burial Ravine.
• Xie uses his soul force to render the elder helpless before asking the system to scan him. Because the elder is a special lifeform without a complete independent body, the system successfully devours him.
• The elder’s destruction noticeably increases Xie’s soul power, bringing him close to the middle stage of the Spirit Realm.
• Xie finally kills Qin Tian by fully unleashing the Bone Chilling Flame, reducing both his body and soul to ashes.
• With both Soul Hall enemies eliminated, Xie continues absorbing the energy of three Heavenly Flames and anticipates advancing to the Dou Sheng realm once the process is complete.

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao becomes increasingly confident and ruthless. Since his Heavenly Flame absorption is nearing completion, he feels less threatened by the Soul Hall and no longer sees a need to preserve captives for information.
• He also gains a clearer understanding of his system’s limitations: devouring depends on specific lifeform conditions rather than merely strength or Soul Hall affiliation.
• Qin Tian is portrayed as proud but ultimately powerless. His reliance on the Soul Hall’s reputation fails, and he is tortured and killed after attempting to threaten Xie.
• The previously captured Soul Hall venerable elder experiences terror upon discovering that Xie survived and remains powerful. His soul is ultimately consumed to strengthen Xie.

Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: The Soul Hall’s reputation means little against someone who possesses overwhelming strength and Heavenly Flames.
• Ruthlessness and vengeance: Xie treats Soul Hall members as enemies destined for death, reflecting his hostility toward the organization and his willingness to eliminate threats without mercy.
• Limits of power and systems: Even though Xie possesses a devouring system, it operates according to strict conditions, forcing him to adapt rather than rely on it unconditionally.
• Approaching transformation: The absorption of the Heavenly Flames and the rise in soul power signal Xie’s imminent breakthrough to the Dou Sheng realm.
• Mortality and inevitability: The chapter repeatedly emphasizes that Qin Tian and the elder are already doomed, symbolized by Xie’s remark that they will accompany one another on the road to the Yellow Springs.

Character Interactions

• Qin Tian respectfully identifies himself and begs to leave, but Xie dismisses him as unworthy of being an enemy.
• Qin Tian attempts to use the Soul Hall as leverage, while Xie mocks the organization’s threatening style and openly rejects its authority.
• The captured elder recognizes Qin Tian, establishing that both are Soul Hall members and linking their fates.
• Xie psychologically dominates the elder before sacrificing him to the system, then kills Qin Tian after allowing him to suffer in the Bone Chilling Flame.

Chapter Summary

Three months pass as Yao Tianhuo returns to the Lava World after successfully retrieving the Bodhi Body-Transforming Saliva from the three Dou Wang survivors. He gives the item to Xie Tianxiao and explains what happened. Xie is pleased, since the saliva will allow him to fulfill his promise to Xiao Yi Xian, despite the Black Emperor Sect’s destruction having altered the original story.
Xie Tianxiao then completes the devouring of three Heavenly Flames—the Yin-Yang Twin Flame, Green Lotus Core Flame, and Bone Chilling Flame—triggering a massive disturbance throughout the Lava World. The resulting energy shakes Jia Nan Academy above the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, causing the academy elders to believe that a terrifying Dou Zun-level being is hidden beneath it. Grand Elder Su Qian and the two mysterious guardian elders, Qian Lao and Bai Lao, organize an evacuation and descend into the tower to investigate, suspecting that Xie is connected to the earlier disappearance of the Falling Heart Flame.
Once the devouring is complete, Xie’s aura settles. He discovers that he has broken through from the advanced Half-Saint realm to the early 2-Star Dou Sheng realm. His overall combat strength is assessed as mid-2-Star Dou Sheng, marking a major qualitative advancement. Xie reflects that he now possesses enough power to confront Burning Flame Valley, particularly with the goal of obtaining its Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, something his predecessor could not achieve.
Yao Tianhuo congratulates him on his breakthrough. Xie rewards Yao’s successful mission by promising to find him a new body and restore his former identity as Venerable Tian Huo. Grateful and excited, Yao pledges to serve Xie faithfully. Xie then instructs him to handle the approaching Jia Nan Academy elders while he goes to retrieve Ziyan from the depths of the Lava World.
When Yao cautiously asks about Ziyan, Xie describes himself as her “elder brother,” revealing the importance of their relationship. Yao immediately recognizes that Ziyan must be extraordinary as the younger sister of a Dou Sheng. Xie then leaves to find her, while Yao prepares to confront the academy’s investigators.

Key Developments and Themes

• Major power breakthrough: Xie becomes an early 2-Star Dou Sheng with mid-2-Star combat strength.
• Growing influence: His presence is now powerful enough to alarm Jia Nan Academy and draw out its hidden guardians.
• Loyalty and hierarchy: Yao Tianhuo’s gratitude deepens into willing service after Xie promises to restore his body and reputation.
• Family-like bonds: Xie’s relationship with Ziyan is presented as protective and sibling-like, emphasizing her importance to him.
• Ambition and altered destiny: Xie intends to claim Heavenly Flames that his predecessor failed to obtain, showing his confidence that his strength has changed his future.
• Conflict foreshadowing: The approaching Jia Nan Academy elders are set to clash with Yao, while Xie’s search for Ziyan prepares the next stage of events.

Chapter Summary: “Zhu Kun’s Approval”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After breaking through to the 2-Star Dou Sheng realm, Xie Tianxiao travels rapidly through the Lava World to meet Zhu Kun and retrieve Ziyan.
• Zhu Kun allows him to pass without interference, and Xie Tianxiao enters the space containing the Tou She Ancient God’s Mansion.
• Xie Tianxiao reunites with Zhu Kun and Ziyan. Ziyan complains about being bored and having eaten all the medicinal pills he previously gave her.
• Xie Tianxiao presents Ziyan with another Storage Ring filled with pills, immediately cheering her up.
• Zhu Kun questions Xie Tianxiao’s astonishing cultivation speed, though he reiterates that he will not investigate the young man’s secrets.
• To test and intimidate him, Zhu Kun releases the overwhelming pressure of a peak Dou Sheng. Ziyan becomes angry at her father for bullying Xie Tianxiao and forces him to withdraw the pressure.
• Zhu Kun acknowledges that Xie Tianxiao is now a Dou Sheng but emphasizes the enormous gap between their strengths.
• Recognizing Xie Tianxiao’s close relationship with Ziyan and his improved strength, Zhu Kun formally accepts him, asking Xie Tianxiao to stop calling him “Senior” and instead call him “Uncle.”
• Zhu Kun permits Xie Tianxiao to take Ziyan away, reminding him to protect her from danger. Xie Tianxiao and Ziyan leave the Lava World.
• Afterward, Zhu Kun returns to his true form and resumes sleeping.
• In a separate scene above Jia Nan Academy, Yao Tianhuo dismisses Qian Bai Er Lao and challenges them to reclaim the Falling Heart Flame from his master if they are capable.

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao: His advancement to 2-Star Dou Sheng greatly increases his confidence and status. He remains composed even under Zhu Kun’s pressure and demonstrates maturity by understanding Zhu Kun’s protective motives. His relationship with Zhu Kun improves from cautious respect to familial acceptance.
• Ziyan: She remains playful, food-loving, and emotionally attached to Xie Tianxiao. Her strong defense of him reveals how important he has become to her, even taking priority over her father in the moment.
• Zhu Kun: Though suspicious and somewhat jealous of Xie Tianxiao’s closeness with Ziyan, he ultimately accepts him as a trusted ally and quasi-family member. His teasing test is more about asserting authority and evaluating Xie Tianxiao than causing harm.
• Yao Tianhuo: He displays confidence and defiance while dealing with Qian Bai Er Lao, making clear that he will not surrender the Falling Heart Flame.

Significant Themes

• Strength and recognition: Xie Tianxiao’s breakthrough changes how Zhu Kun views him; cultivation strength becomes closely tied to respect and acceptance.
• Parental protectiveness and jealousy: Zhu Kun’s intimidation of Xie Tianxiao stems partly from his concern for Ziyan and discomfort with their closeness.
• Family beyond blood: Zhu Kun’s request to be called “Uncle” symbolizes his acceptance of Xie Tianxiao into Ziyan’s circle and the formation of a familial bond.
• Power disparity: Despite Xie Tianxiao’s rapid growth, the scene emphasizes that the difference between Dou Sheng levels can still be overwhelming.
• Trust and restraint: Xie Tianxiao trusts Zhu Kun not to attack him, while Zhu Kun honors his promise not to investigate his secrets or truly harm him.

Important Character Interactions

• Xie Tianxiao and Ziyan: Their reunion is affectionate and playful, centered on Ziyan’s excitement over receiving more medicinal pills.
• Xie Tianxiao and Zhu Kun: Their exchange moves from guarded probing and a demonstration of power to mutual recognition and familial respect.
• Ziyan and Zhu Kun: Ziyan scolds her father for pressuring Xie Tianxiao, and Zhu Kun immediately backs down to avoid upsetting her.
• Yao Tianhuo and Qian Bai Er Lao: Yao Tianhuo dismisses them and provocatively tells them to recover the Falling Heart Flame themselves if they have the ability.

Chapter Summary:

Soul Hall Heavenly Venerate

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yao Tianhuo and the Jia Nan Academy elders discuss the disappearance of the Falling Heart Flame and the disturbances beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower.
• A powerful intruder appears: Demon Rain Heavenly Venerate, one of the nine Heavenly Venerates of the Soul Hall and an Eight-Star Dou Zun.
• Demon Rain reveals that he came under orders from the Soul Hall’s Great Heavenly Venerate to avenge two fallen Soul Hall elders and seize the Heavenly Flame.
• He attacks Yao Tianhuo with a massive curtain of rain, but Yao uses a golden token bearing the character “Xiao.” The token releases Half-Saint-level power and destroys the attack.
• Xie Tianxiao and Zi Yan appear. Demon Rain immediately recognizes the danger and attempts to flee.
• Xie Tianxiao suppresses Demon Rain with overwhelming pressure, forcing him to kneel. Demon Rain realizes that Xie is not merely a Half-Saint but a true Dou Sheng, comparable to the Soul Hall’s Great Heavenly Venerate.
• Xie tears Demon Rain’s soul from his body and allows the system to devour it. The process raises Xie’s soul power to the Middle-Stage Spirit Realm.
• Xie stores Demon Rain’s intact corpse, intending to use it as a body for Yao Tianhuo’s resurrection.

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao demonstrates a vast power gap over even a high-ranking Dou Zun. His true strength as a Dou Sheng becomes clear, and he gains a further increase in soul power by devouring Demon Rain.
• Yao Tianhuo remains confident despite existing only as a soul body. His association with Xie Tianxiao gives him access to Saint-level protection, and his future resurrection becomes more feasible through Demon Rain’s corpse.
• Demon Rain Heavenly Venerate shifts from arrogance to terror after discovering that Xie Tianxiao is a true Dou Sheng. His status as a Soul Hall Heavenly Venerate offers no protection, and he is ultimately killed and consumed.
• Jia Nan Academy’s elders recognize their inability to interfere because of the overwhelming difference in strength. Their cautious attitude reflects the continent’s law that strength determines authority.
• Zi Yan appears alongside Xie Tianxiao, reinforcing his arrival and supporting his dominance over the situation.

Significant Themes

• Strength determines power and authority: The academy elders refrain from opposing Yao Tianhuo or Xie Tianxiao because they lack the strength to do so.
• The danger of the Soul Hall: Demon Rain’s arrival establishes the Soul Hall as an organized and vengeful force that actively hunts its enemies.
• Hidden power and identity: Xie Tianxiao’s true Dou Sheng cultivation is concealed until Demon Rain directly experiences his pressure.
• Transformation and rebirth: Demon Rain’s body is repurposed as a potential vessel for Yao Tianhuo, emphasizing the chapter’s focus on souls, bodies, and resurrection.
• Predator becomes prey: Demon Rain arrives intending to kill others and seize the Heavenly Flame, but he is defeated, stripped of his soul, and devoured himself.

Important Character Interactions

• Yao Tianhuo and the Jia Nan Academy elders: They discuss the Falling Heart Flame and maintain a cautious, respectful relationship due to Yao’s strength and unknown backing.
• Demon Rain and Yao Tianhuo: Demon Rain mocks and attacks Yao, intending to capture him, but Yao counters with Xie Tianxiao’s Saint-level token.
• Demon Rain and Xie Tianxiao: Their confrontation reveals the immense difference between an Eight-Star Dou Zun and a true Dou Sheng. Xie defeats him effortlessly and dismisses his pleas for mercy.
• Xie Tianxiao and the system: Xie authorizes the system to devour Demon Rain’s soul, gaining a significant increase in soul power.
• Xie Tianxiao and Yao Tianhuo: By preserving Demon Rain’s corpse, Xie takes a concrete step toward restoring Yao Tianhuo to a physical body.

Summary: “Rushing to Nether City”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the Burial Corpse Mountains, the Soul Hall’s Great Heavenly Venerate learns that Demon Rain Heavenly Venerate’s life tablet has shattered in the Northwest Region, confirming his death.
• Great Heavenly Venerate orders Gu You and Third Brother to investigate. They are instructed to kill the culprit if he is only a Half-Saint, but avoid provoking a true Dou Sheng unless absolutely necessary.
• At Jia Nan Academy, the elders remain stunned after witnessing Xie Tianxiao instantly kill a powerful Soul Hall Dou Zun. They realize he is likely at least a Half-Saint, possibly even a Dou Sheng.
• Yao Tianhuo returns Xie Tianxiao’s “Owl” token, formally acknowledging him as the Devouring Owl Saint.
• Xie Tianxiao decides to leave the academy because his repeated attacks on Soul Hall have made him a major enemy and exposed his extraordinary strength.
• Su Qian stops him to ask about Zi Yan. Xie Tianxiao reveals that he has found Zi Yan’s father and clan, and that she is returning home.
• Zi Yan says farewell to Su Qian, expressing gratitude for caring for her and promising to repay him in the future.
• Zi Yan meets Yao Tianhuo and learns that he is a soul body without a physical form. Her innocent questions highlight her limited understanding of spiritual and soul-related matters.
• Xie Tianxiao, Zi Yan, and Yao Tianhuo leave through a spatial rift and arrive in a valley south of the Black-Corner Region.
• They reach Nether City, a heavily sealed location surrounded by enormous black chains. The city is identified as the Northwest Soul Hall branch governed by Qin Tian.

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao: His overwhelming power is further established through his effortless killing of a Soul Hall Heavenly Venerate. He openly accepts the consequences of becoming Soul Hall’s enemy and takes responsibility for escorting Zi Yan home.
• Zi Yan: She demonstrates strong affection and trust toward Xie Tianxiao, calling him “Big Brother.” She is grateful to Su Qian but eager to reunite with her clan. Her childlike curiosity is evident in her interaction with Yao Tianhuo.
• Su Qian: His concern for Zi Yan reveals his deep attachment to her as a guardian figure. He is relieved to learn that she is safe and returning to her family.
• Yao Tianhuo: He respectfully recognizes Xie Tianxiao’s status as the Devouring Owl Saint and explains his existence as a soul body. He continues accompanying Xie Tianxiao and Zi Yan.
• Great Heavenly Venerate: He remains cautious and calculating, choosing not to risk confronting a confirmed Dou Sheng during a sensitive period.

Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: Xie Tianxiao’s strength dramatically shifts the balance between him and Soul Hall, while even Soul Hall’s leaders hesitate to confront a true Saint.
• Family and belonging: Zi Yan’s return to her father and clan gives the chapter an emotional focus beneath the larger conflict.
• Loyalty and gratitude: Zi Yan’s bond with Su Qian shows that protection and kindness have created lasting loyalty.
• Strategic restraint: Soul Hall’s decision to investigate rather than immediately retaliate emphasizes the dangers of confronting enemies at the Saint level.
• Departure and escalation: Leaving Jia Nan Academy marks the end of a temporary stage and begins a more dangerous confrontation centered on Nether City.

Character Interactions

• Great Heavenly Venerate gives Gu You cautious orders regarding the mysterious Saint in the Northwest Region.
• Xie Tianxiao and Yao Tianhuo interact formally, with Yao Tianhuo treating him with great respect after returning his token.
• Su Qian anxiously asks about Zi Yan, while Zi Yan reassures him that she is safe and going home.
• Zi Yan affectionately bids farewell to Su Qian and promises to repay his care.
• Zi Yan’s playful questioning of Yao Tianhuo provides a lighter moment and contrasts with the chapter’s ominous atmosphere.
• Xie Tianxiao guides Zi Yan and Yao Tianhuo directly to Nether City, setting up the next stage of the conflict with Soul Hall.

Chapter Summary: Soul Origin

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Tianxiao, Ziyan, and Yao Tianhuo arrive at Nether City, a branch stronghold of the Soul Hall. Xie explains that they have come to increase their strength rather than travel directly to the Central Plains.
• Xie destroys the city’s spatial barrier upon entering, provoking the Soul Hall’s forces. Numerous Dou Emperor-level guards attack him, but his Dou Saint pressure instantly obliterates them.
• A one-star Dou Zun elder confronts Xie. Xie defeats him effortlessly with a single attack, leaving him on the verge of death.
• Xie allows the system to devour the dying elder, successfully absorbing his body and soul and strengthening Xie’s own soul power.
• Xie detects another person spying on them and forcibly drags Mu Gu out of hiding. Mu Gu reveals that he is an eighth-tier alchemist.
• Xie asks whether Mu Gu can refine a physical body capable of reviving a soul, hoping to restore Yao Tianhuo. The system determines that Mu Gu lacks sufficient dark attributes to be devoured.
• Mu Gu evasively claims he can accomplish the revival but needs materials from the Central Plains. When Xie challenges him to name the materials, Mu Gu is exposed as dishonest. Xie kills him instantly and takes his Storage Ring.
• Xie collapses the center of Nether City and uncovers a powerful Soul Origin sealed beneath it by black chains.
• The system identifies the Soul Origin as extremely potent dark energy. Xie devours it, causing his soul to become denser, purer, and more refined.

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao demonstrates overwhelming growth since his previous battle in the Lava World. He casually defeats Soul Hall members and a Dou Zun elder, confirming his status as an immensely powerful Dou Saint.
• He becomes increasingly confident and ruthless, showing no patience for deception or incompetence. He also continues relying on the system to absorb special beings and energies.
• Yao Tianhuo remains impressed by Xie’s rapidly increasing strength and recognizes that Xie is now even more mysterious and powerful than before.
• Ziyan openly admires and celebrates Xie’s victories, reinforcing their close, familial relationship.
• Mu Gu is portrayed as cowardly and opportunistic. Although he possesses considerable alchemical knowledge, fear drives him to lie to Xie, ultimately leading to his death.
• Xie’s continued effort to find a method of creating a body for Yao Tianhuo shows that he is invested in helping his companion regain a physical form.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and hierarchy: The chapter emphasizes the vast gap between Xie and ordinary Soul Hall forces, with even high-level cultivators reduced to helpless “ants” before him.
• Devouring as evolution: Absorbing souls and dark energies is central to Xie’s cultivation, allowing him to grow stronger and refine his soul.
• Fear and survival: Mu Gu’s desperate calculations show how weaker characters respond when confronted by absolute power.
• Trust versus deception: Xie values direct answers and punishes Mu Gu for attempting to deceive him.
• The nature of the soul: The Soul Origin is presented as the fundamental essence underlying all souls, making it an exceptionally valuable source of power.

Character Interactions

• Xie Tianxiao and Ziyan: Ziyan cheers enthusiastically after Xie defeats the Soul Hall forces, while Xie acts as the dominant protector and leader.
• Xie Tianxiao and Yao Tianhuo: Yao praises Xie’s strength, and Xie’s questioning of Mu Gu demonstrates his desire to help Yao regain a body.
• Xie Tianxiao and the Soul Hall elder: The elder attempts to defend Soul Hall territory but is effortlessly defeated and devoured.
• Xie Tianxiao and Mu Gu: Their interaction is defined by intimidation and deception. Mu Gu begs for mercy and exaggerates his abilities, but Xie sees through him and kills him.
• Xie Tianxiao and the system: Xie repeatedly consults the system about whether enemies or energies can be devoured. The system successfully absorbs the elder and guides the absorption of the Soul Origin, directly contributing to Xie’s advancement.

Chapter Summary: “A Little Attention”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Tianxiao finishes devouring Soul Origin, advancing his soul power from the middle stage of the Spirit Realm to Spirit Realm Great Perfection.
• He learns from the system that, although his cultivation is only at the early two-star Dou Sheng level, his retained power from the Heavenly Flames raises his practical combat strength to the mid two-star Dou Sheng level. This theoretically allows him to fight opponents one minor stage above himself, though the system cautions that actual battles depend on performance.
• Since Soul Hall branches are difficult to locate, Xie decides to focus on increasing his cultivation and eventually eliminating the Soul Hall or even the Hun Clan.
• He assigns Yao Tianhuo several tasks:
  • Travel to the Jia Ma Empire.
  • Secretly retrieve the ancient jade held by the Xiao Clan, referring to the Tou She Ancient God Jade.
  • Remain in Jia Ma afterward and monitor Yun Yun.
• Xie gives Yao Tianhuo a child flame of the Falling Heart Flame to use temporarily, promising a stronger Heavenly Flame later.
• He also gives Yao Tianhuo a specially modified token capable of blocking a Dou Sheng’s attack and orders him to act under the name of the newly planned Sacred Palace.
• Yao Tianhuo is appointed an elder of the Sacred Palace and departs through a spatial tunnel.

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao becomes increasingly powerful and confident after reaching Spirit Realm Great Perfection and gaining mid two-star Dou Sheng combat strength. He begins shifting from individual advancement toward building an organized force and controlling territory.
• He shows greater strategic planning by delegating missions, gathering important artifacts, monitoring former allies or romantic interests, and preparing to establish the Sacred Palace.
• Yao Tianhuo transitions from follower to official elder of the Sacred Palace. Although surprised by Xie’s plans and personal relationships, he remains loyal and accepts his assignments without questioning unnecessarily.
• Xie’s mention of Yun Yun as “his woman” reveals his continuing personal interest in her, as well as in Ya Fei and Medusa.

Significant Themes

• Power growth and superiority: Xie’s unique system and absorbed Heavenly Flames allow him to surpass ordinary cultivators of the same realm.
• Caution versus confidence: Despite his immense strength, Xie recognizes that battle outcomes are uncertain and avoids reckless actions.
• Expansion and organization: The chapter marks a shift from personal cultivation to empire- or sect-building through the creation of the Sacred Palace.
• Loyalty and hierarchy: Yao Tianhuo’s obedience establishes the relationship between Xie as leader and his future subordinates.
• Preparation for future conflict: Retrieving the ancient jade, monitoring Jia Ma, and seeking more Heavenly Flames all set up larger confrontations involving the Soul Hall, Hun Clan, and Central Plains forces.

Character Interactions

• Xie and the system discuss the difference between his cultivation realm and actual combat strength, with the system offering both confirmation and a warning against overconfidence.
• Xie and Yao Tianhuo have a formal master-follower exchange: Xie issues orders, equips him with a flame and protective token, and grants him a position within the Sacred Palace.
• Yao Tianhuo is surprised that Yun Yun is connected romantically to Xie, but he accepts the information and continues following orders.
• Xie’s interaction with Yao Tianhuo establishes the beginning of the Sacred Palace’s operation beyond Xie’s immediate presence.

Chapter Summary: Ancient Dragon Island

Key Plot Points and Events

• After parting with Yao Tianhuo, Xie Tianxiao travels toward the Central Plains with Ziyan.
• One hour later, Soul Hall’s Second Heaven Venerable, Gu You, and Third Heaven Venerable, Shuo Wu, arrive at the location. They identify the lingering aura as genuine Dou Sheng energy, similar to the expert who destroyed Demon Rain.
• The two Heaven Venerables discover that Nether City and a nearby Soul Hall branch have been destroyed, while the branch’s Elders and their Soul Origins were erased and taken. Realizing they cannot confront a Dou Sheng, they decide to return and report to the Soul Hall’s Hall Master.
• Xie Tianxiao reaches the Central Plains within a few days. He explains that the region is the continent’s center of power, containing many powerful factions and experts.
• While waiting for Ziyan’s clan to locate her, Xie Tianxiao and Ziyan spend several days in a city. Ziyan worries that her clansmen may not find her, but Xie reassures her that the Ancient Void Dragon Clan will sense the bloodline of their Dragon Emperor.
• A member of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, Hei Qing, eventually locates them while hiding within a spatial void. Xie Tianxiao immediately identifies him and reveals that he is waiting for Ziyan’s clan.
• Xie introduces himself as the “Devouring Owl Saint” and claims Ziyan as his younger sister, revealing that she is the biological daughter of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan’s Dragon Emperor.
• Hei Qing is shocked by both Xie’s Saint-level strength and Ziyan’s identity. He respectfully acknowledges Ziyan as the clan’s Dragon Emperor’s daughter and offers to escort them back.
• Xie agrees to accompany Hei Qing because he also needs assistance from the clan’s Elders.
• The group travels through a silver spatial passage and arrives at Ancient Dragon Island, an enormous, lush island protected by a silver barrier and surrounded by a mysterious, pitch-black void.

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao: Demonstrates his overwhelming authority as a Dou Sheng and confidently confronts the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. He continues acting protectively toward Ziyan while pursuing his own plans to establish a faction and seek the clan Elders’ assistance.
• Ziyan: Remains innocent, carefree, and food-focused, but begins moving closer to reclaiming her heritage. Her identity as the Dragon Emperor’s daughter is formally recognized, marking a major step in her connection with the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.
• Gu You and Shuo Wu: Their caution and pragmatism are emphasized. Despite their status as Half-Saints, they acknowledge that they are helpless against a genuine Dou Sheng and retreat rather than risk destruction.
• Hei Qing: Initially wary and astonished by Xie’s presence, he quickly becomes respectful once he learns Xie’s identity and Ziyan’s lineage. He treats Ziyan with great deference and takes responsibility for bringing her before the clan’s Elders.

Significant Themes

• The gap between power levels: The Soul Hall’s Half-Saints are forced to retreat before Xie’s Dou Sheng strength, highlighting the enormous difference between their realms.
• Heritage and identity: Ziyan’s true status as the Dragon Emperor’s daughter is confirmed, setting up her return to her ancestral clan and the awakening of her greater potential.
• Protection and family: Xie treats Ziyan as his younger sister and accompanies her into potentially dangerous territory, while the clan immediately embraces her as its honored heir.
• The rise of a new power: Xie’s appearance as the Devouring Owl Saint and his plans to establish the Sacred Owl Palace suggest that a new major faction is emerging to challenge the existing balance of power.
• Mystery and hidden realms: Ancient Dragon Island’s isolated location, spatial passage, and surrounding void reinforce the secrecy and ancient power of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.

Important Character Interactions

• Gu You and Shuo Wu discuss whether to pursue Xie but conclude that reporting to the Soul Hall is the only sensible choice.
• Xie reassures Ziyan that her clansmen will find her and encourages her by reminding her of the strength she will gain after returning to her clan.
• Xie confronts Hei Qing directly, revealing both his Saint-level identity and his connection to Ziyan.
• Hei Qing respectfully recognizes Ziyan’s royal lineage and invites Xie to accompany them, creating a formal connection between Xie and the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.

Chapter Summary: “Cause”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Tianxiao arrives at the territory of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan with Ziyan.
• He is greeted by two powerful elders: First Elder Qingshan, a Mid-Stage Two-Star Dou Sheng, and Third Elder Zhu Li, an Advanced Half-Saint.
• The elders welcome Ziyan as the daughter of the Dragon Emperor, Zhu Kun, and express their intention to help her inherit the clan’s power and mature into the next Dragon Emperor.
• Xie Tianxiao is formally introduced as the Devouring Owl Saint. The elders show him great respect after learning that he rescued Ziyan and is acquainted with Zhu Kun.
• When Xie mentions Tou She Ancient God, the elders realize that Zhu Kun’s disappearance may be connected to the legendary figure from ten thousand years ago.
• Hei Qing is dismissed so that the elders can discuss the matter privately with Xie Tianxiao.
• In the central stone hall, Xie explains that Zhu Kun was trapped inside Tou She Ancient God’s Mansion for over a thousand years. He also reveals details about Ziyan’s abandonment and difficult childhood, though he deliberately withholds certain information.
• Qingshan becomes furious upon learning that Zhu Kun’s disappearance resulted from Tou She Ancient God’s scheme and that Ziyan was left to survive alone.
• Xie admits that he knows a method to free Zhu Kun, but it would require involving the Eight Ancient Emperor Clans. Because this would be extremely dangerous given their current strength, he refuses to reveal the details.

Character Developments

• Ziyan: Shows childish excitement at the prospect of growing stronger and becoming the next Dragon Emperor. She trusts Xie Tianxiao completely and remains comfortable with his affectionate treatment.
• Xie Tianxiao: Demonstrates authority, discretion, and loyalty toward Ziyan and Zhu Kun. He presents himself as Ziyan’s protective older brother while carefully controlling how much information he reveals.
• First Elder Qingshan: Initially cautious and respectful toward Xie, he becomes shocked by Xie’s connection to Zhu Kun and enraged by the Dragon Emperor’s imprisonment and Ziyan’s suffering. His concern also reflects the political instability within the clan.
• Third Elder Zhu Li: Maintains a calmer, more diplomatic attitude, helping control Qingshan’s anger and focusing on the clan’s immediate situation.
• Hei Qing: Acts as the intermediary who introduces the elders and Xie. He recognizes when the discussion exceeds his rank and respectfully withdraws.

Significant Themes

• The return of hope and legitimacy: Ziyan’s return restores the Ancient Void Dragon Clan’s belief that the Dragon Emperor’s bloodline survives.
• Burden of inheritance: Ziyan is expected to mature into the next Dragon Emperor, placing great responsibility on her despite her childish nature.
• Power and political instability: Zhu Kun’s absence has encouraged ambitious members of the clan to consider rebellion, while his bloodline serves as a deterrent.
• Secrets and strategic restraint: Xie’s decision to conceal the method of rescuing Zhu Kun emphasizes the danger of revealing information before the clan is prepared.
• The consequences of the past: Events connected to Tou She Ancient God, dating back ten thousand years, continue to shape the present and threaten the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.

Character Interactions

• Qingshan and Zhu Li formally welcome Xie and Ziyan, treating Xie as an important ally.
• Xie publicly identifies Ziyan as his younger sister, strengthening his protective relationship with her.
• The elders react with astonishment when Xie refers to Zhu Kun as “Uncle,” suggesting that his relationship with the Dragon Emperor is unusually close.
• Xie’s mention of Tou She Ancient God transforms the meeting from a welcoming ceremony into a serious investigation.
• Zhu Li attempts to calm Qingshan after hearing of Zhu Kun’s imprisonment, while Qingshan presses Xie for information about a possible rescue.

Chapter Summary: “Founding a Power”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Tianxiao reveals that he is preparing to confront a powerful Ancient Eight Clan, likely a Dou God Clan. Elder Qingshan and Zhu Li are alarmed because the Ancient Void Dragon Clan is currently too weakened and divided to oppose such a force.
• Xie explains that, despite the Ancient Void Dragon Clan’s former status as Beast Realm overlord, its current strongest expert is not even above the Five-Star Dou Sheng level. The Dragon Emperor, Zhu Kun, is also trapped inside Tou She Ancient God’s Mansion.
• He assures the elders that he has investigated the clan because of his connection to Ziyan and that he remains an ally. Qingshan promises that the clan will assist him once he is ready to rescue Zhu Kun.
• Xie asks permission to establish his own faction, the Sacred Palace, near Dragon Island. He plans to use territory in the Central Plains for the palace’s outer sect while placing its headquarters in a hidden spatial realm adjacent to East Dragon Island.
• He requests manpower from the Ancient Void Dragon Clan to handle minor threats and deter hostile forces during the Sacred Palace’s early development.
• Elder Qingshan agrees to help but warns that he can only make decisions for East Dragon Island. The other three dragon islands, especially North Dragon Island, may resist. Xie confidently states that he can handle those obstacles.
• Qingshan warns that the North Dragon King may soon reach the Four-Star Dou Sheng realm, but Xie implies that he will soon demonstrate strength sufficient to surpass him.
• Xie declines the elders’ invitation to remain on East Dragon Island, explaining that he has other matters to handle in the Central Plains. He also asks them to stop addressing him formally as “my lord” and instead call him Xie Tianxiao or “Young Friend Tianxiao.”

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao demonstrates growing ambition and strategic planning. He is no longer acting solely as an independent cultivator; he is building a major faction with a secure headquarters, manpower, and political allies.
• He also shows confidence in his ability to unify or control the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, especially since he intends for Ziyan to eventually sit on the Dragon Emperor’s throne.
• Elder Qingshan moves from suspicion and concern to trust and cooperation. He acknowledges Xie as both a benefactor and an ally of the clan.
• Zhu Li supports Qingshan’s position and reinforces the clan’s willingness to cooperate with Xie.
• Ziyan, though not present in the scene, remains central to the political situation because Xie’s plans are partly motivated by protecting and elevating her.

Significant Themes

• Decline and revival of power: The Ancient Void Dragon Clan’s weakened state contrasts with its former dominance, creating the possibility of a major restoration.
• Alliance and political legitimacy: Xie seeks not only strength but also recognized allies and a strategic base from which to establish the Sacred Palace.
• Trust and mutual benefit: Xie offers protection and support to the dragon clan, while the clan provides territory, manpower, and assistance in return.
• Preparation for larger conflicts: References to the Ancient Eight Clans, Soul Hall, Zhu Kun’s imprisonment, and the rival dragon islands foreshadow increasingly dangerous confrontations.
• Founding a new order: The creation of the Sacred Palace marks Xie’s transition from a powerful individual into the leader of an organized force.

Character Interactions

• Xie initially reassures Qingshan and Zhu Li that he is not acting against the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.
• Qingshan offers the clan’s future assistance in rescuing Zhu Kun, demonstrating his willingness to risk the clan’s limited strength for its restoration.
• Xie requests permission to establish the Sacred Palace near East Dragon Island, and Qingshan agrees while explaining the limits of his authority.
• Xie’s confidence in dealing with North Dragon Island contrasts with Qingshan’s caution, highlighting the gap between Xie’s perceived power and the elders’ understanding of his abilities.
• The conversation ends on more informal and cooperative terms, with Xie asking to be addressed by name and the elders accepting the closer relationship.

Chapter Summary: Arrival at Burning Flame Valley

Key Plot Points and Events

• After leaving Dragon Island, Xie Tianxiao travels to Burning Flame Valley in the Blazing Fire Mountain Range.
• He intends to obtain two treasures:
  • The Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, Burning Flame Valley’s inherited flame.
  • The Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame, a secret technique that boosts strength through unusual flames.
• Rather than negotiate entry, Xie Tianxiao destroys the valley’s spatial barrier with a single punch and enters directly.
• When the guarding disciples confront him, he orders them to summon the valley master, dismissing them as unqualified to speak with him.
• Valley Master Tang Zhen, accompanied by two Dou Zun elders, arrives and realizes that the intruder is far beyond their level.
• Xie Tianxiao reveals himself as the Devouring Owl Saint and demands that Burning Flame Valley surrender both treasures. He makes it clear that he will take them by force if necessary.
• Tang Zhen attempts to appease him through apology and compensation, but Xie refuses, since he came specifically for the treasures.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor, the hidden founder-level expert of Burning Flame Valley, finally appears. He recognizes Xie Tianxiao as the Half-Saint who once fled from the valley decades earlier.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor offers to give Xie the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame but insists that Xie must defeat him to obtain the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame.
• The chapter ends as Fire Cloud Ancestor releases his Dou Sheng aura and prepares to fight Xie.

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao is portrayed as confident, direct, and overwhelmingly powerful. He no longer fears Burning Flame Valley’s ancestor and openly challenges him, contrasting with his former self, who once retreated after sensing Fire Cloud Ancestor’s strength.
• Tang Zhen demonstrates caution and pragmatism. Although proud as valley master, he immediately recognizes that Xie is someone Burning Flame Valley cannot oppose and tries to avoid bloodshed.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor is revealed to be the true hidden power behind Burning Flame Valley. He is powerful, observant, and somewhat amused by Xie’s return, but remains determined to protect the valley and its inherited flame.
• The valley’s ordinary disciples and Dou Zun elders are shown to be completely outmatched and largely helpless before the two Saints.

Significant Themes

• Strength determines authority: Xie openly invokes the rule that power governs the Battle Qi Continent, while Fire Cloud Ancestor accepts a duel as the fairest way to settle ownership of the flame.
• Past versus present: Xie’s earlier defeat or retreat from Burning Flame Valley is contrasted with his current status as a Dou Sheng, emphasizing his dramatic growth.
• Protection and inheritance: Fire Cloud Ancestor feels obligated to defend Burning Flame Valley because of the favor and legacy entrusted to him by its founders.
• Confidence bordering on arrogance: Both Xie and Fire Cloud Ancestor speak with certainty, creating tension as their old history and present strength collide.
• Negotiation backed by force: Although Fire Cloud Ancestor offers a compromise, the agreement is only possible because both sides possess enough strength to enforce their positions.

Character Interactions

• Xie gives Ziyan final cultivation advice before leaving Dragon Island.
• He dismisses Burning Flame Valley’s guards and demands to speak directly with Tang Zhen.
• Tang Zhen respectfully questions Xie’s identity and attempts to negotiate after learning he is a Saint.
• Xie rejects Tang Zhen’s apology and compensation, insisting on taking the two treasures.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor interrupts the confrontation, reveals his awareness of Xie’s past visit, and proposes a conditional exchange.
• The chapter concludes with Fire Cloud Ancestor challenging Xie to a battle over the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame.

Chapter Summary: “Dou Sheng Battle”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Tianxiao challenges Fire Cloud Ancestor within Burning Flame Valley, and their clashing auras cause the valley to tremble and the ground to crack.
• Because the pressure severely injures weaker cultivators, Fire Cloud Ancestor orders Tang Zhen to evacuate the elders and disciples. He also creates a protective barrier around much of the valley.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor identifies Xie Tianxiao as a 2-Star Dou Sheng, confirming that Xie has surpassed him in ordinary cultivation. However, Fire Cloud Ancestor uses the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame to raise his strength to the early 2-Star Dou Sheng level.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor launches a massive fireball attack. Xie Tianxiao cuts through it with a sword formed from the Bone Chilling Flame.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor attempts to trap Xie with Space Prison, but Xie breaks free using sword qi and rapidly closes the distance.
• The two exchange powerful close-range techniques. Fire Cloud Ancestor’s Nine Heavens Burning Flame Palm injures Xie, while Fire Cloud Ancestor is forced back and visibly affected by the impact.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor taunts Xie, but Xie reveals that he possesses five Heavenly Flames: Bone Chilling Flame, Falling Heart Flame, Sea Heart Flame, Green Lotus Core Flame, and Yin-Yang Twin Flame.
• Xie activates the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique, transforming the five flames into enormous spirit beasts—a wolf, leopard, lion, tiger, and flood dragon—preparing an even stronger attack against Fire Cloud Ancestor.

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao is established as an arrogant but highly capable 2-Star Dou Sheng. Although initially injured by Fire Cloud Ancestor’s unexpected technique, he remains confident and quickly escalates the battle.
• Xie’s possession of five Heavenly Flames is revealed, greatly increasing the mystery surrounding him and demonstrating that his power is far beyond what Fire Cloud Ancestor expected.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor proves that, despite his inferior cultivation and old injuries, he remains an experienced and dangerous combatant. His secret technique temporarily allows him to match Xie’s realm.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor’s hidden injuries are emphasized as a major limitation; without them, his attack might have injured Xie much more severely.
• Tang Zhen acts obediently and pragmatically, evacuating Burning Flame Valley’s people when ordered.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus experience: Xie possesses greater cultivation, but Fire Cloud Ancestor’s long experience and powerful techniques allow him to compete.
• Hidden power and escalation: Both fighters conceal major abilities, with each revelation raising the stakes of the confrontation.
• Pride and challenge: Their battle is driven by mutual arrogance, taunts, and the desire to prove superiority.
• The danger of supreme power: The clash between Dou Sheng-level fighters devastates the surrounding landscape and threatens everyone beneath their level.
• Control over Heavenly Flames: The chapter highlights Heavenly Flames as immensely destructive forces and presents Xie’s ability to wield five of them as extraordinary.

Character Interactions

• Fire Cloud Ancestor orders Tang Zhen to protect and evacuate the valley’s residents, showing his responsibility toward Burning Flame Valley despite the duel.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor and Xie exchange insults and challenges throughout the fight, each questioning the other’s abilities.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor is shocked and suspicious when Xie reveals the five Heavenly Flames, while Xie confidently challenges him to withstand the next technique.
• Their confrontation ends on a cliffhanger as Xie’s five flame spirits prepare to attack Fire Cloud Ancestor.

Chapter Summary: Obtaining the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xie Tianxiao and Fire Cloud Ancestor clash after Xie uses a powerful technique involving five Heavenly Flames.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor recognizes the technique as comparable to a Heaven-class Dou Technique and attempts to interrupt it by unleashing countless silver fire dragons.
• Xie forms an array with the five fire spirits, creating five enormous colored pillars that trap Fire Cloud Ancestor.
• He then activates the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique: Heaven-Burning Separation Flame, fusing the five flames into a devastating sea of fire.
• The attack destroys the protective barrier around Burning Flame Valley and severely injures Fire Cloud Ancestor, who is thrown into a massive crater.
• Unable to defeat Xie, Fire Cloud Ancestor admits defeat and gives him the scroll containing the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame.
• Xie then confronts Tang Zhen and demands the inherited Heavenly Flame of Burning Flame Valley.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor advises Tang Zhen to surrender rather than lose both the flame and his life.
• Tang Zhen reluctantly extracts the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, severing his connection to it and causing his cultivation to fall from the peak of the Five-Star Dou Zun realm to the late Four-Star level.
• The flame attempts to escape, but Xie captures it and seals it in a prepared Storage Ring.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor senses something troubling on the horizon, hinting that another threat or development is approaching.

Character Developments

• Xie Tianxiao demonstrates overwhelming combat ability by controlling five Heavenly Flames and using them to defeat the experienced Fire Cloud Ancestor. His confidence and ruthlessness become more evident as he demands both the secret technique and the Heavenly Flame.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor is forced to acknowledge Xie’s strength despite his pride and long experience. Although badly injured, he remains composed and strategically chooses submission to preserve himself and Burning Flame Valley.
• Tang Zhen suffers a major setback. He reluctantly gives up his inherited Heavenly Flame, losing both an important source of power and several levels of cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Power and submission: Even an established Dou Sheng expert must yield when confronted by superior strength.
• The cost of power: Tang Zhen’s loss of the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame directly weakens his cultivation and status.
• Control over Heavenly Flames: The chapter emphasizes Xie’s extraordinary advantage in possessing and combining multiple Heavenly Flames.
• Strategic survival: Fire Cloud Ancestor chooses compromise over a hopeless battle, showing that survival can take precedence over pride.
• Foreshadowing: His reaction to the distant horizon suggests that Xie’s victory may soon be challenged by another enemy or complication.

Character Interactions

• Xie and Fire Cloud Ancestor engage in a contest of techniques, ending with Fire Cloud’s reluctant admiration and surrender.
• Fire Cloud Ancestor gives Xie the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame after recognizing that he cannot win.
• Xie pressures Tang Zhen into surrendering the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, while Fire Cloud Ancestor indirectly reinforces Xie’s demand by warning Tang Zhen against resisting.
• Tang Zhen’s final loss of the flame marks the collapse of Burning Flame Valley’s ability to protect its ancestral treasure.