Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan registered for the first-tier alchemist assessment at Black Rock City's new Imperial Prison Pill Hall and began refining a pill alongside Lin Fei and Xue Mei. Their skill drew attention, while Xiao Yan's unusual pale red flame left Otto and Frank wondering whether it was a beast flame.

• Otto and Frank discussed the Alchemist Association joining Imperial Prison and planned to go to the Imperial Capital to improve their alchemy.
• Xiao Yan arrived at the Pill Hall and met Lin Fei and Xue Mei, who argued about passing the first-tier assessment.
• Xiao Yan registered for the first-tier alchemist assessment and joined nearly forty other examinees in the assessment hall.
• Lin Fei, Xue Mei, and Xiao Yan stood out for their pill-refining skills as Otto and Frank watched.
• Otto and Frank identified Xiao Yan's pale red flame as likely a beast flame, while Yao Lao praised the two women's focus and heat control.

Xiao Yan passed the second-tier alchemist assessment and learned that the Pill Hall could offer him a Soul Formula for cultivating the soul. He agreed to meet Otto and Frank in the Imperial Capital in three months, after visiting the Tagor Desert, and asked the Pill Hall to help him obtain an Ice Spirit Cold Spring.

• Xiao Yan passed the first-tier assessment, then successfully earned a second-tier alchemist badge.
• Otto and Frank told Xiao Yan that only the Little Princess had earned a second-tier badge at a younger age, and invited him to join the Pill Hall in the Imperial Capital.
• Xiao Yan initially planned to visit his brothers near the Tagor Desert, but Yao Lao urged him to pursue the Soul Formula after learning it could cultivate soul force.
• Xiao Yan agreed to meet Otto and Frank in the Imperial Capital three months later, after searching the Tagor Desert for a Heavenly Flame.
• Xiao Yan asked the Pill Hall to help him obtain an Ice Spirit Cold Spring, offering to trade for it.

Xiao Yan sought Ice Spirit Cold Spring and learned that Gu Te might possess some, so Otto and Frank took him to visit. At Gu Te’s home, Gu He discussed his plans to pursue a Heavenly Flame, and Gu Te revealed that he had Ice Spirit Cold Spring.

• Otto recalled that Gu Te had once mentioned owning Ice Spirit Cold Spring, and Xiao Yan asked Otto and Frank to take him there.
• Frank warned Xiao Yan not to act recklessly because Gu Te was Pill King Gu He's brother.
• Lin Fei and Xue Mei discussed the upcoming Alchemist Grand Assembly and the benefits of practicing the Soul Formula.
• Gu He told Gu Te that he had left the Misty Cloud Sect after Yun Yun did not return his feelings and planned to travel to the Central Plains with Liu Ling.
• Gu He said he intended to search the Tagor Desert for a Heavenly Flame, and Gu Te brought out a jade bottle containing Ice Spirit Cold Spring.

Xiao Yan failed to trade for the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, but Yao Lao deduced that Gu He had come to the Tagor Desert to seek a Heavenly Flame. Xiao Yan decided to risk competing with Gu He for it.

• Liu Ling refused to let Xiao Yan, Otto, and Frank meet Gu Te, so they left without making a deal for the Ice Spirit Cold Spring.
• Gu He and Gu Te suspected that Xiao Yan or his teacher might be pursuing the Heavenly Flame, but Gu Te urged Gu He to investigate its traces first.
• Yao Lao reasoned that Gu He had likely traveled to Black Rock City on his way to the Tagor Desert to seek the Heavenly Flame.
• Yao Lao told Xiao Yan that Gu He might be weakened after obtaining the Heavenly Flame, and Xiao Yan decided he would try to take it.

Jia He reorganized the Pill Hall and set goals for expanding its ranks and influence. After Yun Yun broke through to the four-star Dou Emperor realm, he took her to breakfast in the Imperial Capital.

• Jia He and the Pill Hall elders postponed the Alchemist Tournament by three years and changed it to an eight-year schedule.
• Jia He explained the Pill Tower and Soul Hall to the elders and ordered the Pill Hall to develop more high-tier alchemists within three years.
• Jia He found Yun Yun practicing swordsmanship and sparred with her until her aura signaled an imminent breakthrough.
• Jia He guarded Yun Yun as she cultivated overnight, and she advanced from the peak of the three-star Dou Emperor realm to the four-star realm.
• Jia He invited Yun Yun to the Imperial Capital, where they ate breakfast at a stall and discussed the importance of food.

Jia He forged a powerful wind-and-lightning bracelet for Yun Yun, then sought body cultivators for his artifact-making plans. After Yaoye warned that powerful human body cultivators were rare, Jia He considered transforming the Nether Sea Flood Dragon and the Amethyst Winged Lion King into humans.

• Jia He took Yun Yun to a shop and bought a violet crystal, intending to make her a gift.
• Jia He spent three days refining the crystal into the Wind-Thunder Violet-Gold Bracelet, which could control wind and lightning.
• Jia He gave Yun Yun the bracelet, and she accepted it as he left to return to the imperial palace.
• Jia He asked Yaoye to issue an edict seeking body cultivators above the Dou Ling realm, and she agreed that such experts would be difficult to find.
• Jia He considered refining Transformation Pills to turn the Nether Sea Flood Dragon and the Amethyst Winged Lion King into human forms.

Jia He gathered ingredients to refine two seventh-grade Transformation Pills and began a public demonstration at the Pill Hall, drawing hundreds of alchemists to watch. The chapter ended with Jia He starting the refinement as Otto, Frank, and the others looked on.

• Jia He obtained enough ingredients from the royal treasury and the Misty Cloud Sect treasury to make two seventh-grade Transformation Pills.
• Otto and Frank arrived at the Pill Hall with Xue Mei and Lin Fei, where Mitchell told them how Jia He's demonstrations had raised the alchemists' skills.
• After the Pill Palace bell summoned the alchemists, Fama announced that Jia He would demonstrate the refinement of a seventh-grade pill.
• Jia He descended in a sixth-grade alchemist robe, and Mitchell introduced Yaoyue as his fourteen-year-old third-grade alchemist disciple.
• Jia He brought out a large collection of high-quality ingredients and began refining the Transformation Pill in the medicinal cauldron.

Jia He refined two Transformation Pills, using their pill tribulations to advance to five-star Dou Zong while the Nether Sea Flood Dragon and Amethyst Winged Lion King began transforming. Three months later, a powerful pressure erupted from the lake in the royal family's back mountain.

• The Nether Sea Flood Dragon and Amethyst Winged Lion King sensed the Transformation Pill's fragrance and went to watch Jia He refine it.
• Jia He completed the first Transformation Pill, endured its pill tribulation, and absorbed the lightning to advance to four-star Dou Zong.
• Jia He gave the first pill to the Nether Sea Flood Dragon and refined another for the Amethyst Winged Lion King, absorbing its pill lightning to reach five-star Dou Zong.
• The Nether Sea Flood Dragon and Amethyst Winged Lion King swallowed their Transformation Pills and began transforming as Jia He summoned Jia Xing Tian and checked his medicinal field.
• Three months later, a powerful pressure erupted from the lake in the royal family's back mountain and swept across the imperial city.

Youhai broke through to Dou Zong, and Jia He gathered him, the Amethyst Winged Lion King, and Jia Xing Tian to learn artifact refining. Two months later, their weapons had gained power, though the Lion King’s saber and Youhai’s halberd bore crude Dao Patterns.

• Youhai emerged from the lake after breaking through to Dou Zong, and Jia Xing Tian welcomed his old friend as a powerful new defender of the Jia Ma Empire.
• Jia He recruited Youhai to guard the empire and invited him and Jia Xing Tian to learn artifact refining after the Amethyst Winged Lion King finished his seclusion.
• The Little Amethyst Winged Lion King emerged as an eight-star Dou Emperor, and the Amethyst Winged Lion King took the name Lion King.
• Jia He taught Jia Xing Tian, Youhai, the Lion King, and Yaoye the Ultimate Artifact Refining Technique, while Yaoye agreed to gather refined iron and meteoric iron and oversee border preparations.
• Jia Xing Tian tempered his longsword, Youhai forged a halberd, and the Lion King forged a saber as Jia He explained the techniques and cultivated nearby.
• Two months later, the weapons gave off powerful auras, but the Dao Patterns on Youhai’s halberd and the Lion King’s saber were crude and weakened their power.

Jia He prepared to take his companions to the Sect Grand Tournament in the Heavenly Thunder Empire while his artifact-refining students continued their training. After a ten-day flight, the group arrived at Heavenly Thunder Imperial City and saw that other empires and sects had also gathered for the tournament.

• Jia He told Jia Xing Tian, Youhai, and the third refiner to train disciples and develop artifact-refiner ranks, then left them to forge Spirit Artifacts.
• Yaoye told Jia He that the border was stable and arranged Roc Birds for the journey to the tournament.
• Jia He, Hai Bo Dong, Yun Yun, Yaoyue, Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and others departed from the Imperial Prison Mountains for the Heavenly Thunder Empire.
• Queen Medusa revealed that she had secretly followed the group and agreed to help if they encountered danger in exchange for a seventh-tier medicinal pill.
• Jia He and the group landed outside Heavenly Thunder Imperial City, where Hai Bo Dong identified arrivals from several empires and sects.

Jia He and his companions arrived in Heavenly Thunder Imperial City for the Sect Grand Tournament, where they encountered the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect’s delegation. While exploring the city with Medusa, Jia He found a rare Void Divine Iron and prepared to buy it.

• Hai Bo Dong identified the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect’s delegation led by Xie Shan, and Jia He explained that the Imperial Prison had come to make its name at the tournament.
• Jia He and his companions entered Heavenly Thunder Imperial City and checked into a luxurious inn.
• Jia He and Medusa walked through the city, and Jia He stopped Medusa from attacking passersby who looked at her.
• Jia He led Medusa into a shop and found a piece of Void Divine Iron priced at five hundred gold coins.
• Jia He picked up the stone and told Medusa he would turn the apparent waste into treasure.

Jia He bought two pieces of Void Divine Iron from a shopkeeper, then clashed with Huangfu Jie and his guards when they tried to acquire the stones. Medusa killed Huangfu Jie’s two Dou Wang elders with one strike and sent Huangfu Jie flying.

• Jia He bargained with the shopkeeper for a small piece of Void Divine Iron and learned that he also had a much larger piece in the storeroom.
• Huangfu Jie arrived at the shop with two Dou Wang guards, hoping to find more Na Stone.
• Jia He paid five thousand gold coins for both pieces of Void Divine Iron and stored them away before leaving the storeroom.
• The shopkeeper identified Jia He and Medusa as the buyers, and Huangfu Jie offered them one hundred thousand gold coins for the stones.
• When Huangfu Jie leered at Medusa, she attacked with a seven-colored energy whip that killed both guards and sent Huangfu Jie flying.

After Medusa killed Huangfu Jie's guards and drove him away, Jia He promised to handle the fallout. Huangfu Yuan brought his son to the Thunder Sect to ask Lei Yun for help, but Lei Yun had only begun questioning Huangfu Jie about the woman.

• Medusa killed two of Huangfu Jie's guards and wounded Huangfu, then left the shop with Jia He.
• Jia He told Medusa he would handle any trouble from the Huangfu Family, and she agreed.
• Huangfu Jie returned home and told Huangfu Yuan that a female Dou Zong had attacked him and killed his guards.
• Huangfu Yuan took Huangfu Jie to Thunder Mountain to seek help from Lei Yun, the Thunder Sect Master.
• Huangfu Jie described the woman to Lei Yun, and Huangfu Yuan slapped him for failing to get to the point.

Huangfu Yuan persuaded Lei Yun to target Jia He’s group at the Sect Grand Tournament, while Jia He forged Medusa a defensive Void Ring. At the tournament grounds, Yan Luotian insulted the Jia Ma Empire’s delegation and Medusa confronted him with her aura.

• Huangfu Yuan offered Lei Yun a discount on medicinal goods and a Dou Sect-Breaking Pill in exchange for attacking the woman who had killed two Huangfu Family Dou Wang experts if they met at the tournament, and Lei Yun agreed.
• Jia He divided the Void Divine Iron into portions and spent two days forging one into a Dao Pattern-inscribed Void Ring that could withstand a full-force strike from a Four-Star Dou Zong.
• Jia He gave the Void Ring to Medusa, who said she would fight for Imperial Prison in the tournament and left to prepare for the next day’s competition.
• Jia He and his companions traveled to the tournament grounds, where Yun Yun said Ye Lan of the Heavenly Serpent Palace had led its delegation at a previous tournament.
• Yan Luotian of the Golden Goose Sect mocked the Jia Ma Empire delegation and released his pressure, but Medusa countered it with her own aura.

At the Sect Grand Tournament, Imperial Prison entered the competition and drew the attention of the major powers, while Xie Bi Yan revealed his intent to destroy it. Green Man recognized the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils among Jia He's group and told Ye Lan where to find them.

• Medusa forced Yan Luotian and the Golden Goose Sect to back down, then Jia He and his companions discussed their rivals and the tournament.
• The Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, Black Emperor Sect, Thunder Sect, Heavenly Serpent Palace, and Demon Flame Valley arrived as Jia He learned how the tournament worked.
• Imperial Prison's five Dou Kings entered the arena, stunning the crowd, and Xie Shan revealed that Imperial Prison had destroyed the Misty Cloud Sect and was allied with the royal family and Snake-People Tribe.
• Xie Bi Yan declared that the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect would slaughter Imperial Prison and threatened the other leaders with his Seven-Star Dou Zong strength.
• Green Man recognized the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils' aura among Imperial Prison's group and pointed it out to Ye Lan.

Heavenly Serpent Palace tried to take Qing Lin because of her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, but Jia He refused and challenged the elders to act if they could. The next day, Hai Bo Dong began fighting Xie Shan in the Dou Emperor matches and unveiled his ultimate move, Profound Ice Dragon Soaring.

• Ye Lan and Green Man identified Qing Lin as the successor Heavenly Serpent Palace needed and decided to bring her back without disturbing the Palace Master.
• Jia He explained Qing Lin's potential to the group, and Qing Lin declared that she wanted to stay by his side.
• Ye Lan offered Jia He pills in exchange for Qing Lin, but he refused; Medusa and Hai Bo Dong revealed their strength, forcing the Heavenly Serpent Palace elders to withdraw and summon reinforcements.
• Ye Lan ordered Green Man to watch the Imperial Prison group while another elder returned to report to the Palace Master.
• At the Dou Emperor matches, Hai Bo Dong challenged Xie Shan and revealed that he had reached Peak Dou Emperor strength.
• Hai Bo Dong fought Xie Shan until he shouted, "Profound Ice Dragon Soaring!"

Hai Bo Dong defeated Xie Shan, and Yun Yun fought Green Man to a draw as Imperial Prison established itself at the sect tournament. On the final day, Lin Zhijun ambushed Jia He’s group and demanded Qing Lin, leaving both sides on the verge of battle.

• Hai Bo Dong defeated Xie Shan, and Xie Bi Yan left the tournament after threatening to kill.
• The Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect withdrew, and Yun Yun fought Green Man, whose battle ended in a draw.
• Imperial Prison ranked first in the Dou Wang and Dou Emperor matches, and the group prepared to leave after the tournament’s final day.
• Lin Zhijun and Heavenly Serpent Palace experts surrounded Jia He’s carriage and demanded Qing Lin.
• Jia He refused to hand over Qing Lin and released his Dou Zong aura, prompting Lin Zhijun to order an attack as both sides gathered their strength.

Jia He and Medusa defeated the Heavenly Serpent Palace, then Jia He faced Wu Ying, who had possessed Xie Bi Yan and ambushed him. Jia He overcame Wu Ying’s strongest attack and trapped him in flames, leaving his fate unresolved.

• Medusa fought Ye Lan while Jia He battled Lin Zhijun, defeating the Heavenly Serpent Palace’s leaders and forcing Lin Zhijun to retreat.
• Wu Ying emerged from a spatial rift and attacked Jia He, but Jia He countered and identified him inside Xie Bi Yan’s body.
• Wu Ying revealed that he had devoured Xie Bi Yan’s soul and grown to eight-star Dou Zong, then clashed with Jia He in a battle that devastated the surrounding area.
• Jia He’s lightning attack shattered Wu Ying’s black sphere, and Jia He pursued him as the energy collision ended.
• Jia He engulfed Wu Ying in flames and sealed the space around him, preventing his escape.

After Jia He killed Wu Ying, Imperial Prison’s growing power prompted rival empires to consider an alliance and the Black-Corner Region’s factions to seek information. Jia He returned to the Jia Ma Empire as a Six-Star Dou Zong, prepared to expand Imperial Prison, and set out with Yun Yun to meet Xiao Yan before the Three-Year Agreement.

• Jia He erased Wu Ying, then canceled the trip to the Sect Grand Tournament and returned home with Medusa and the others.
• Yan Luotian persuaded the Mulan Three Elders to ally with other empires, resist Imperial Prison briefly, and negotiate for positions as elders.
• Mo Tianxing told Black-Corner Region leaders that Imperial Prison was far away and agreed to provide them with a portrait of Jia He.
• Jia He ordered preparations for war against the Falling Goose, Orchid, and Cloudrise Empires, then advanced to Six-Star Dou Zong during the journey home.
• Yaoye told Yun Yun that Xiao Yan had challenged Nalan Yanran to their Three-Year Agreement, set for the next day.
• Jia He decided to meet Xiao Yan and went with Yun Yun and the others to the Nalan Clan while Xiao Yan recounted his experiences to his brothers.

Xiao Yan returned to the Xiao Clan before his three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran, where his family welcomed him and urged him to consider joining Imperial Prison. Learning that its Pill Hall held the Green Lotus Core Flame, Xiao Yan weighed that opportunity against his plans to attend Jia Nan Academy.

• Nalan Jie and Nalan Su apologized to Xiao Zhan, who agreed to leave the broken engagement for Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran to settle themselves.
• Xiao Yan returned to Xiao Manor and told Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and Xiao Zhan that he still planned to go to Jia Nan Academy after the agreement.
• Xiao Zhan reassured Xiao Yan that he did not need to prove his worth, and Xiao Yan vowed to give his all in the coming agreement.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li told Xiao Yan about Imperial Prison and invited him to join, mentioning that its Pill Hall had a pale green, lotus-shaped Heavenly Flame.
• Xiao Yan recognized the flame as the Green Lotus Core Flame, and Yao Lao advised him to investigate Imperial Prison because the Flame Mantra's evolution was his priority.