Chapter Summaries

Jia He found the Heaven Demon Puppet technique and gained insight into Mechanism Art, which let him begin producing spirit-pattern puppets. He also revealed Zi Yan’s Ancient Void Dragon heritage to Medusa, then tested a new puppet forged by Youhai.

• Jia He and Medusa searched the Skill Library’s Earth-grade section and found the Heaven Demon Puppet Refining Technique.
• After studying the technique, Jia He gained insight into the Spirit Pattern Mechanism Technique, which could create puppets, spatial warships, and weapons.
• Jia He told Medusa that Zi Yan belonged to the Ancient Void Dragon Clan and offered to take Medusa to the Nine Netherworld Python Clan when they reached the Central Plains.
• Jia He gave Youhai part of the Mechanism Art, and three days later Youhai presented him with a spirit-pattern puppet.
• Jia He activated the puppet and tested it against Youhai, determining that it had three-star Dou Wang strength under his control and could serve as a guard for alchemists.

Jia He handed the first half of the Mechanism Art to Elder Mitchell and the Pill Hall, then reunited with Qing Lin, who had reached the Dou Emperor realm. When Ya Fei asked about two rare auction items, Jia He kept a dried magical beast corpse and Bodhi Body Transformation Saliva for himself, then set out with Ya Fei and Qing Lin to collect them and tour the Imperial City.

• Jia He gave Elder Mitchell and the Pill Hall the first half of the Mechanism Art for study and exchange through the Skill Library.
• Jia He returned to his residence and discovered that Qing Lin had reached the Dou Emperor realm during his year in seclusion.
• Ya Fei visited Jia He and asked whether the auction house should sell a dried corpse of a beast nearing the eighth tier and Bodhi Body Transformation Saliva.
• Jia He decided to keep both items, recognizing the corpse as likely belonging to a Heavenly Demon Phoenix and the saliva as a way to detect the Bodhi Ancient Tree.
• Jia He, Ya Fei, and Qing Lin left the residence to collect the items and stroll around the Imperial City.

Jia He refined the magical beast corpse and Bodhi Body Transformation Saliva, then gave Xiao Yan the Heavenly Demon Phoenix bone wings and a flying Dou Technique method. Xiao Yan accepted them despite Yao Lao’s warning that the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan would come after him, leaving Jia He’s plan to provoke the clan in motion.

• Jia He separated the beast corpse into blood essence, bone spikes, bone wings, and a magic core, then decided to give the bone wings to Xiao Yan.
• Jia He refined the Bodhi Body Transformation Saliva into a Bodhi Seed and gave it to Ya Fei to aid her cultivation and comprehension.
• Jia He visited Xiao Yan and offered him the Heavenly Demon Phoenix bone wings along with the Heavenly Goose Ninefold Flight Wings method.
• Jia He warned Xiao Yan that the bones might belong to a Heavenly Demon Phoenix but promised to protect him, then admitted he hoped the clan would pursue him.
• Yao Lao warned Xiao Yan that refining the wings could draw the powerful Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan’s attention, but Xiao Yan accepted the risk and chose to refine them.

After a year of growth and preparation, Jia He brought Zi Yan to Jia Nan Academy and offered Xiao Yan a chance to devour the Falling Heart Flame. Mang Tianchi revealed that the Soul Hall had gathered in the Manghuang Ancient Region, where the Bodhi Ancient Tree might be emerging.

• Over the year, Jia He expanded Imperial Prison and established Medicine Valley and a Weapon Workshop, while Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Yun Yun advanced to Dou Zong.
• Zi Yan emerged from seclusion as a four-star Dou Emperor, and Jia He promised to explain her Ancient Void Dragon identity after taking her somewhere.
• Jia He brought Zi Yan to Xiao Yan and offered him a way to devour the Falling Heart Flame and upgrade his cultivation method; Xiao Yan agreed to go with him.
• At Jia Nan Academy, Su Qian refused to approve the plan without the headmaster, and Mang Tianchi returned from the Thunder Clan.
• Mang Tianchi reported that the Soul Hall had gathered in the Manghuang Ancient Region over signs of a possible Bodhi Ancient Tree emergence.

Jia He brought Mang Tianchi and the others into the Underground Magma World, where he planned to give Jia Nan Academy a newborn Falling Heart Flame while Xiao Yan prepared to devour the mature one. The group found the new flame beside a skeleton, and Mang Tianchi called on the hidden presence to reveal itself.

• Jia He persuaded Mang Tianchi to visit the Underground Magma World and said Xiao Yan could devour its mature Falling Heart Flame.
• Mang Tianchi praised Jia He's Thunder Dao Sealing Technique and offered to step down as headmaster in favor of Su Qian.
• Jia He restrained the mature Falling Heart Flame and told Xiao Yan to prepare to devour it.
• Jia He sensed a soul fluctuation near the magma depths and led the group past Flame Lizardmen to a transparent barrier.
• Su Qian discovered a newborn Falling Heart Flame atop a skeleton, and Jia He said the academy could nurture it if it shared the flame with Imperial Prison.
• Mang Tianchi sensed a soul in the skeleton and asked its hidden occupant to reveal itself.

Jia He recruited Yao Tianhuo into the Imperial Prison and sent Su Qian back with the juvenile Falling Heart Flame. Jia He then led Mang Tianchi, Yao Tianhuo, and Zi Yan deeper into the magma, where they sensed a terrifying presence ahead.

• Yao Tianhuo revealed how he had died while trying to subdue two Falling Heart Flames and identified himself as Venerable Tianhuo.
• Jia He offered to restore Yao Tianhuo's soul and body if he joined the Imperial Prison, and Yao Tianhuo agreed.
• Jia He gave the juvenile Falling Heart Flame to Su Qian, who took it back toward the surface.
• Yao Tianhuo warned that powerful Flame Lizardmen and a terrifying existence lay below, but Jia He and Mang Tianchi decided to continue.
• Jia He concealed the group's auras with an array and led them into reddish-black magma, where Zi Yan sensed a familiar aura and grew tense.

Jia He, Zi Yan, Mang Tianchi, and Yao Tianhuo discovered the Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion beneath the magma and encountered Zhu Kun, an Ancient Void Dragon trapped there. Zi Yan learned that Zhu Kun was her long-lost father, but she remained resentful, leaving Jia He caught between them.

• Jia He found a hidden space behind the magma and led the others toward a distant light.
• Jia He and his companions reached a massive stone gate marked Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion.
• Zhu Kun awoke and demanded to know whether the intruders possessed the ancient jade.
• Jia He told Zi Yan that the enormous Ancient Void Dragon was her father, and Zi Yan called out to him.
• Zhu Kun joyfully recognized Zi Yan, but she rejected him and said she had no parents.
• Jia He explained that Zhu Kun had been trapped rather than abandoning Zi Yan, while Zhu Kun looked to Jia He for help.

Zhu Kun explained how he became trapped in Tou She Ancient God's Cave Mansion and entrusted Zi Yan to Jia He until he could be freed. He taught Zi Yan the Ancient Void Dragon clan's cultivation method, and her strength rose to Three-Star Dou Zun before he told her how to find her clan.

• Zhu Kun told Zi Yan he could not leave until the Tou She Ancient God Jade opened the cave mansion, and Jia He said the Soul Clan would gather the eight pieces.
• Zhu Kun asked Jia He to look after Zi Yan and taught her the Ancient Void Dragon clan's cultivation method, unsealing part of her Royal Bloodline.
• Zi Yan absorbed the medicinal strength within her body, transformed into her Ancient Void Dragon true form, and broke through to the Dou Zun Realm.
• Zhu Kun helped Zi Yan stabilize at Three-Star Dou Zun and told her the clan's location so she could return and be nurtured.

Zi Yan reunited with her father, Zhu Kun, and emerged from the magma as a grown three-star Dou Zun. After returning to Jia Nan Academy, she told Jia He she wanted to visit her clan, while Jia He prepared for their trip to the Central Plains and his plans involving Soul Hall.

• Zi Yan transformed into her adult form and said goodbye to Zhu Kun before leaving with Jia He, Mang Tianchi, and Yao Tianhuo.
• Jia He sensed that Xiao Yan was safely absorbing the Falling Heart Flame with Yao Lao's help.
• Su Qian recognized the grown Zi Yan and learned she had reached three-star Dou Zun.
• Zi Yan told Jia He she wanted to visit the Ancient Void Dragon clan, and he promised to accompany her after they handled the Ye Clan matter at the Pill Tower.
• Mang Tianchi learned Jia He planned to attend the Pill Tower's grand event and confront Soul Hall, then agreed to go with him.

Jia He trained Ye Xinlan in alchemy for three months, helping her break through to a Spiritual Realm soul and gain the ability to refine entry-level eighth-tier pills. With the Pill Tower assessment and tournament approaching, Jia He prepared to travel with Ye Xinlan and his alchemists to the Central Plains.

• Jia He summoned Ye Xinlan and promised to guide her in pill refinement before the Pill Tower assessment and Alchemist Tournament.
• Jia He took Ye Xinlan and Zi Yan to a cave in Medicine Valley, where he used his soul strength to teach Ye Xinlan how to refine a seventh-tier pill.
• After three months of training, Ye Xinlan broke through to a Spiritual Realm soul while Jia He and Zi Yan watched.
• Ye Xinlan told Jia He she could now refine an eighth-tier pill with one-colored pill lightning, and Jia He said they should prepare to leave for the Central Plains.
• Jia He told Zi Yan to say goodbye to her father and tell him she was returning to her clan; Zi Yan agreed.

Jia He reunited with Yaoye, whose relationship with him upset Yaoyue and stirred jealousy among the other women. As he prepared to leave for the Central Plains, Jia He decided to visit Medusa and invite her to accompany him.

• Jia He inspected the thriving herbs in Medicine Valley, then returned to Imperial City and learned that Yaoye had come to visit.
• Jia He embraced Yaoye and she admitted to Yaoyue that they had become a couple, prompting Yaoyue to run out and Ya Fei to follow her.
• Jia He told Yaoye he planned to attend the Pill Tower's Alchemist Tournament and challenge Soul Hall in the Central Plains, and Yaoye agreed to wait for him.
• Jia He gathered Imperial Prison's elders to choose companions for the journey, then decided to ask Medusa to come along.
• Jia He traveled alone through Imperial City's spatial wormhole to the Snake-People Tribe in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Black Poison emerged from seclusion as a three-star Dou Emperor and sought to become Medusa’s husband, but Yue Mei opposed him because Medusa already loved someone else. Black Poison went to meet the Snake-People Tribe’s Grand Elders, who suspected he had come to press his claim.

• Mo Basi told the Snake-People leaders that Black Poison was returning from seclusion and was expected to seek Medusa’s hand in marriage.
• Yue Mei objected, saying Medusa already had someone in her heart, and Black Poison arrived and challenged her claim.
• Black Poison pressured Yue Mei with his aura, but Mo Basi intervened before the two could fight.
• Yue Mei left, warning that she would surpass Black Poison, while Mo Basi wondered whether Medusa loved Jia He.
• Black Poison went to the Grand Elders’ secluded grounds, where the elders discussed his likely intention to become Medusa’s husband.

Black Poison returned to the Snake-People Tribe hoping to win Medusa’s favor, but she rejected him when he insisted on meeting her. Jia He appeared after Black Poison fled, leaving Medusa surprised by his arrival.

• The four elders told Black Poison that the tribe’s old rules no longer barred Medusa from choosing a human husband, but he would have to win her over himself.
• Black Poison learned that the First Elder had reached the Dou Zong realm and went to the back mountain to see Medusa.
• Medusa struggled to focus on cultivation because she kept thinking about Jia He, who had not contacted her since they parted in the Black-Corner Region.
• Medusa refused to meet Black Poison, then used her Dou Zong pressure to order him off the mountain when he insisted.
• Jia He revealed himself to Medusa and remarked that she was as domineering as ever.

Jia He told Medusa they would be friends and appeared to leave, but returned when he saw her crying and proposed that she marry him. The next day, Medusa agreed to travel with Jia He toward the Central Plains, then summoned the Snake-People Tribe's leaders to discuss matters before their departure.

• Jia He visited Medusa and invited her to the Central Plains, saying he had reconsidered his behavior and wanted them to be friends.
• Jia He left Medusa's bamboo house, then watched from nearby and returned when he saw her crying.
• Jia He comforted Medusa, embraced her, and announced that she would set a precedent by marrying a human.
• The next morning, Medusa agreed to travel with Jia He and brought him to the main hall to meet the tribal leaders.
• Yue Mei, Mo Basi, Black Poison, and other tribal leaders arrived at the main hall, where Yue Mei noticed Jia He standing beside Medusa.

Medusa and Jia He left the Snake-People Tribe for the Central Plains with a large group of companions aboard Youhai’s newly forged mechanism vessel. The vessel reached Tianya City, where the Luo Family’s ancestor mistook it for a spatial ship.

• Medusa told the tribal chiefs that they would manage the Snake-People Tribe while she traveled to the Central Plains, and Jia He intimidated Black Poison when he challenged their plans.
• Jia He and Medusa returned through the spatial wormhole to the Black-Corner Region and finalized their group of travelers, including Yun Yun, Xiao Yan, Yao Lao, and others.
• Youhai presented Jia He with a divine-inscription mechanism vessel that could fly, defend itself, and attack, so Jia He invited Youhai and Ya Fei to join the journey.
• Jia He activated the mechanism vessel, and the group flew toward Tianya City, reaching it in seven or eight days.
• The people of Tianya City watched the vessel pass overhead, and the Luo Family’s ancestor wondered whether it was a spatial ship.

Jia He repaired Tianya City's space wormhole and led his group into the Central Plains, where he parted ways with Xiao Yan and continued to Ye City with Ye Xinlan. Ye Xinlan mistakenly believed the Ye Clan assessment was a month away instead of more than a year, so Jia He agreed to stay with the Ye Clan until it approached.

• Jia He revealed his Dou Zun strength, repaired the Luo Family's space wormhole alone, and accepted two seventh-tier magical cores as payment.
• Ten days later, Jia He and his companions emerged in the Northern Domain, where Xiao Yan departed with Qian Bai Two Elders to find Venerable Feng.
• Jia He took Ye Xinlan and the others to Ye City, but Ye Zhong told her that the Ye Clan assessment was still more than a year away.
• Ye Xinlan introduced Jia He and his companions to Ye Zhong, who welcomed them to the Ye Clan estate.
• Mang Tianchi told Ye Zhong that he had come to watch the Pill Tower's Alchemist Tournament.

Jia He’s arrival in Ye City revealed his status as an eighth-tier grandmaster alchemist and gave Ye Xinlan the confidence to pursue the Ye Clan assessment. He also began arranging to establish the Imperial Prison Auction House and sell warships in the Central Plains, asking Xiao Yi Xian to help Ya Fei.

• Ye Zhong explained that the Pill Gathering would offer a chance to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame, and Jia He said he would join to oppose Soul Hall rather than seek the flame.
• Ye Xinlan revealed that Jia He was her teacher and an eighth-tier grandmaster alchemist, shocking Ye Zhong.
• Ye Xinlan announced she would test for a seventh-tier high-grade alchemist badge and compete in the Ye Clan assessment, while Jia He assured Ye Zhong she could help the clan keep its elder seat.
• Jia He asked Ya Fei to establish the Imperial Prison Auction House in the Central Plains and develop a market for warships.
• Ya Fei asked to borrow Xiao Yi Xian as protection for the new business, and Jia He agreed to speak with her.

Jia He agreed to help Xiao Yi Xian support Ya Fei’s new auction house, then learned that the Cao Clan had detained Ye Zhong and Ye Xinlan and demanded an immediate wedding. He went to Cao City with Mang Tianchi and seized Cao Dan at the Cao residence, where the Cao Clan confronted him.

• Jia He confessed his feelings to Xiao Yi Xian and asked her to help Ya Fei establish the Imperial Prison Auction House in the Central Plains.
• A Ye Clan elder told Jia He that the Cao Clan had detained Ye Zhong and Ye Xinlan after refusing to end their engagement.
• Jia He and Mang Tianchi traveled with the elder to Cao City to retrieve the captives.
• Cao Dan challenged Jia He at the Cao residence, and Jia He seized him by the throat and carried him inside.
• An elderly Cao Clan member confronted Jia He for bringing Cao Dan into the residence by force.

Jia He revealed his Dou Zun strength to force the Cao Clan to release Ye Zhong and Ye Xinlan and end its hold over the Ye Clan. After the group left, Cao Ying arrived at the Cao residence and asked what had happened.

• Jia He confronted Cao Shan and demanded that the Cao Clan hand over Ye Zhong and Ye Xinlan.
• Jia He released a powerful aura that made the Cao Clan and Venerable Ku Yi realize he was a Dou Zun.
• Cao Shan ordered Ye Zhong and Ye Xinlan brought out, and Jia He freed Ye Xinlan from her restraint.
• Jia He warned the Cao Clan not to target the Ye Clan again, then left with Ye Zhong and Ye Xinlan and Mang Tianchi.
• Venerable Ku Yi speculated that Jia He and Mang Tianchi came from a hidden clan, and Cao Ying entered the residence to ask what had happened.

Cao Ying returned to the Cao Clan and proposed a pill-refining contest to settle its dispute with the Ye Clan. Jia He accepted the wager, and both clans arrived in Cao City as the contest drew the attention of the Pill Tower’s other great families.

• Cao Dan told Cao Ying how the Cao Clan had detained the Ye Clan, and she condemned his attempt to force Ye Xinlan into marriage.
• Cao Ying suggested Cao Dan challenge Jia He to a pill-refining contest, with the marriage agreement and compensation at stake.
• Jia He accepted the Cao Clan’s challenge, agreeing to compete in Cao City three days later for a city to serve as an Imperial Prison branch.
• News of the contest spread among the Pill Tower’s Five Great Families, whose members anticipated the rivalry and its consequences.
• Cao Ying urged Cao Dan to win the contest and weaken the Ye Clan, as the Cao Clan and Ye Clan arrived at a crowded plaza in Cao City.