Recaps

Xiao Lin and the others named the newly hatched Ancient Heavenly Phoenix Tian Huangzi and taught him a lesson for his arrogance. On the day Tian Huangzi was born, Xiao Yan was also born into the Xiao Household in the Jia Ma Empire.

• Xiao Lin named the hatchling Tian Huangzi, and the little phoenix revealed he remembered the others from inside his egg.
• Tian Huangzi arrogantly ordered Xiao Lin and the others to care for him, so they beat him until he returned to his true form and apologized.
• Xiao Lin considered making Ji Li raise Tian Huangzi, while Ji Li suspected Xiao Lin was plotting against him.
• Xiao Lin tried to teach Tian Huangzi to change his crow-like cry, but eventually told him to make less noise instead.
• Tian Huangzi's birth coincided with Xiao Yan's birth in the Xiao Household of the Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Yan was born into the Xiao Household, while Xiao Lin, unaware of the birth at first, prepared to leave the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace and return home. After reaching the Northwest Continent, Xiao Lin headed for the Xiao Household, eager to meet his grandson.

• Xiao Zhan welcomed his third son, Xiao Yan, and wondered why the child was not the daughter he had hoped for.
• Xiao Lin and the others sealed the newborn Tian Huangzi's cultivation to Dou Zhe and ordered him to remain in the Realm of Formations until he reached Dou Emperor.
• After a year of growth, the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace had more than 400 disciples, so Xiao Lin decided to return to the Xiao Household.
• Xiao Lin entrusted the sect's affairs to Ji Li and the eight elders before departing for the Northwest Continent.
• Xiao Lin reached the Northwest Continent in less than two days and headed for the Xiao Household to meet Xiao Yan.

After emerging from his latest fake retreat, Xiao Lin reunited with his family and met his youngest grandson, Xiao Yan, for the first time. Xiao Yan initially refused to call him Grandpa, but changed his mind when Xiao Ding said Xiao Lin could take him flying.

• Xiao Lin dismissed the Xiao Household's visitors and showed Xiao Zhan that his cultivation had advanced to Seven-Star Battle King.
• Xiao Lin greeted Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, who recognized him as their grandfather, while Xiao Yan silently sized him up.
• Yang Xiyue and Xiao Zhan explained that Xiao Yan was shy around strangers, and Xiao Lin said there was no need to force him to speak.
• Xiao Ding told Xiao Yan that Xiao Lin could take him flying, and Xiao Yan eagerly called Xiao Lin Grandpa.

Xiao Yan called Xiao Lin Grandpa after learning about his cultivation and ability to fly, then eagerly asked him for a ride through the air. Xiao Lin agreed to take Xiao Yan and Xiao Li flying, while Xiao Ding stayed behind, determined to cultivate until he could fly by himself.

• Xiao Yan called Xiao Lin Grandpa after Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue realized he had been tempted by talk of cultivation.
• Xiao Yan asked Xiao Lin to take him flying and reflected on his new family, which he acknowledged but had not fully accepted.
• Xiao Lin saw through Xiao Yan's motives but agreed to take him flying.
• Xiao Ding declined to join, saying he would cultivate until he could fly on his own, and Xiao Lin encouraged him to reach above Dou Wang.
• Xiao Li looked to his parents for permission to join Xiao Lin, Xiao Yan, and the flight.

Xiao Lin took Xiao Li and Xiao Yan flying, inspiring Xiao Yan to pursue cultivation and bringing him closer to his grandfather. After emerging from seclusion, Xiao Lin visited the Nalan Household and met the infant Nalan Yanran, whose future role he recognized.

• Xiao Lin flew Xiao Li and Xiao Yan above the Xiao Household, and Xiao Yan resolved to reach and surpass the Dou Wang realm.
• Xiao Yan began pestering Xiao Lin to learn more about cultivation, while Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue supported his interest.
• Xiao Lin resumed his routine at home and, a few days after emerging from seclusion, visited the Nalan Household.
• Nalan Su brought Xiao Lin to Nalan Jie, who introduced his infant granddaughter, Nalan Yanran.
• Xiao Lin recognized Nalan Yanran as the person who would trigger the original story's famous events.

Xiao Lin visited Nalan Jie and teased his old friend about having a granddaughter, while reflecting on Nalan Yanran’s future engagement annulment. He realized Nalan Jie had brought him to meet the girl in hopes of matching her with Xiao Lin’s family.

• Xiao Lin and Nalan Jie traded playful boasts about their grandchildren and reaffirmed their close friendship.
• Nalan Su took Nalan Yanran from Nalan Jie and left to bring her to her mother for feeding.
• Xiao Lin considered that Nalan Yanran could rightly reject the engagement, but that publicly humiliating the Xiao Household would be the wrong way to do it.
• Nalan Jie poured Xiao Lin tea and asked what he was thinking about.
• Xiao Lin joked that he was planning to root up Nalan Jie's cabbage, and Nalan Jie realized Xiao Lin had seen through his matchmaking motive.

Nalan Jie pressed Xiao Lin to honor their old promise to arrange a match between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Lin’s grandson. Xiao Lin remained hesitant but learned that both families’ parents were receptive, leaving the decision up to his approval.

• Nalan Jie reminded Xiao Lin of their youthful pact, and Xiao Lin recalled that it involved their descendants.
• Nalan Jie argued that his granddaughter Nalan Yanran and Xiao Lin’s grandson could grow close through more contact, but Xiao Lin worried they might not suit each other.
• Xiao Lin said he could not decide for Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue, and questioned whether Nalan Su and his wife would approve.
• Nalan Jie said Nalan Su and his wife supported the match and claimed Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue were fond of Nalan Yanran.
• Xiao Lin recognized that Nalan Su might also favor the marriage alliance because the Xiao Household had grown stronger than the Nalan Household.

Xiao Lin agreed to arrange a childhood betrothal between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran after weighing the risks and benefits. He and Nalan Jie signed the Engagement Contract, while Xiao Lin hoped it would help Xiao Yan accept his place in the Xiao Household.

• Nalan Jie asked Xiao Lin to approve a marriage alliance between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran.
• Xiao Lin considered the possible consequences, then agreed to the betrothal.
• Nalan Jie revealed he had already prepared two copies of the Engagement Contract.
• Xiao Lin and Nalan Jie named Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran and signed the contracts as witnesses.
• Xiao Lin kept one copy and privately hoped the engagement would help Xiao Yan feel part of the Xiao Household.

Xiao Lin arranged Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran’s childhood betrothal, and Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue supported the decision. Xiao Yan was stunned by the news and privately resolved to end the engagement when he was older, though he admitted he might accept it if he liked Nalan Yanran.

• Xiao Lin returned from the Nalan Household and told Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue that he had arranged Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran’s betrothal.
• Yang Xiyue and Xiao Zhan approved, and Xiao Zhan agreed that the engagement might help change Xiao Yan’s distant, strong-willed nature.
• Xiao Yan heard that his family had chosen a fiancée for him and was stunned that they had decided without asking him.
• Xiao Yan resolved to ask Xiao Lin to cancel the engagement when he was older, but considered accepting it if Nalan Yanran was attractive, kind, and someone he liked.

Xiao Lin spent his days bonding with and guiding Xiao Yan while considering how to improve his cultivation. The Xiao Household then received a visit from Gu He, whom Xiao Zhan introduced as his friend, leaving Xiao Lin surprised to meet the future King of Pills.

• Xiao Lin refused to let Xiao Yan begin cultivating early but promised he could start at age four, and Xiao Yan gradually grew more comfortable with him.
• Xiao Lin considered visiting Starfall Pavilion to benefit from its Astral Power but decided he was not ready to return to the Central Plains.
• Xiao Zhan brought Gu He to the Xiao Household and introduced him to Xiao Lin as a friend.
• Xiao Lin confirmed that Gu He was the Alchemist Grand Tournament champion and recognized his Five-Star Dou Spirit cultivation and exceptional alchemy talent.

Gu He visited the Xiao Household to see his old friend Xiao Zhan and promised to help him reach Dou Wang. He then asked Xiao Lin to help him wipe out the Chek Family.

• Xiao Lin welcomed Gu He and praised his rise to become a Tier 5 Alchemist, while teasing Xiao Zhan for lagging behind him.
• Xiao Zhan and Gu He recalled their friendship, which began during an adventure before Gu He became famous.
• Gu He promised to help Xiao Zhan reach Dou Wang, giving Xiao Lin a public explanation for his son's future growth.
• Xiao Lin invited Gu He to stay with the Xiao Household, and Gu He revealed that he wanted help wiping out the Chek Family.

Gu He asked Xiao Lin to help destroy the Chek Family, and Xiao Lin agreed, confident he could defeat them alone. After arranging for Gu He to guide the Xiao Household’s alchemists, Xiao Lin insisted that no other Dou Wangs or clan members were needed for the task.

• Xiao Lin immediately agreed to help Gu He annihilate the Chek Family, whose leader Chek Aoyan was a 2-Star Dou Wang.
• Gu He offered the Xiao Household a favor in return, and Xiao Lin asked him to stay afterward to guide their alchemists.
• Gu He accepted Xiao Lin’s request and spent time conversing with Xiao Lin and Xiao Zhan before preparing to leave and recruit more Dou Wangs.
• Xiao Lin told Gu He that he alone was enough to annihilate the Chek Family.

Xiao Lin insisted on wiping out the Chek Family alone and promised Gu He he would return within three days. He reached the Chek Family’s stronghold in Gulan City and entered its gates, leaving its disciples dead behind him.

• Xiao Lin rejected Gu He and Xiao Zhan’s concerns and promised to destroy the Chek Family within three days.
• Xiao Zhan secretly went to ask Nalan Jie for help while Gu He stayed at the Xiao Household.
• Xiao Lin flew to Gulan City and witnessed the Chek Family’s members plundering and abusing the locals.
• Xiao Lin entered the Chek Family’s gates after killing the disciples he encountered along the way.

Xiao Lin wiped out the Chek Family in Gulan City after learning of its cruelty toward the city’s people. He and Nalan Jie returned to the Jia Ma Imperial Capital in less than two days, leaving Gulan City’s residents to celebrate their freedom.

• Nalan Jie hurried to Gulan City after Xiao Zhan told him Xiao Lin had gone there alone to destroy the Chek Family.
• Nalan Jie learned that Xiao Lin had been killing Chek Family members who abused and preyed on ordinary people.
• Nalan Jie found the Chek Family’s residence reduced to ruins and confirmed that Xiao Lin had killed its head, Chek Ao-yan.
• Xiao Lin showed Nalan Jie a mass grave containing the skulls of people the Chek Family had killed, and Nalan Jie condemned the family as beasts.
• Xiao Lin and Nalan Jie flew away as Gulan City’s residents knelt to bid them farewell, then returned to the Jia Ma Imperial Capital in under two days.

After Xiao Lin returned from Gulan City, he revealed that he had annihilated the Chek Family after discovering its corpse pit and brutal crimes. The Jia Ma Royal House dropped its inquiry, and Xiao Lin rose to fifth place among the empire’s strongest, with many viewing him as its strongest beneath the Dou Emperor.

• Xiao Lin returned to the Xiao Household, where Xiao Zhan and Gu He mistakenly thought Nalan Jie had stopped him from attacking the Chek Family.
• Nalan Jie confirmed that Xiao Lin had already destroyed the Chek Family and explained that he arrived too late to intervene.
• Xiao Lin told Xiao Zhan, Gu He, and Nalan Jie that he killed Chek Aoyan and wiped out the family after witnessing its crimes and discovering its pit of ten thousand corpses.
• The Jia Ma Royal House investigated the Chek Family’s ruins, found the corpse pit, and abandoned its plan to question Xiao Lin.
• Xiao Lin’s ranking on the Top Ten Strongest of the Jia Ma Empire rose to fifth, and his reputation and the Xiao Household’s standing grew.

Xiao Lin told Xiao Yan about the Jia Ma Empire’s Top Ten Strongest and reassured him about the Xiao Household’s standing. Their lesson was interrupted when Xiao Zhan brought Xiao Lin a blood-written Life and Death Duel Letter, leaving its sender and challenge unresolved.

• Xiao Yan asked Xiao Lin about the Jia Ma Empire’s Top Ten Strongest, and Xiao Lin teased him before listing the experts and their ranks.
• Xiao Yan inferred that the Xiao Household had considerable influence, and Xiao Lin said few factions dared to challenge it after he destroyed the Chek Family.
• Xiao Lin noted that Gu He had stayed with the Xiao Household to teach its alchemists.
• Xiao Zhan arrived worried, sent Xiao Yan away, and told Xiao Lin that someone had left a blood-written Life and Death Duel Letter addressed to him.
• Xiao Zhan handed the letter to Xiao Lin for him to handle.

Xiao Lin received a Blood Letter challenging him to a life-and-death duel from Yan Penghong, whose brother Xiao Lin had killed. Xiao Lin accepted the duel scheduled for a month later, unaware that it matched the time of his fatal injury in the original story, though his current strength as a five-turn Dou Venerable left him in no danger.

• Xiao Lin read Yan Penghong’s Blood Letter, which challenged him to a duel at the border between the Jia Ma Empire and the Falling Goose Empire in a month.
• Xiao Lin recognized Yan Penghong as the brother of a man he had killed and accepted the challenge to end their feud.
• Xiao Zhan warned Xiao Lin that the duel might be a trap, but Xiao Lin reassured him and told him to keep the challenge secret.
• Xiao Zhan agreed to handle the matter quietly, while Xiao Lin gave the duel little further thought.
• The narration revealed that Xiao Lin had died from duel wounds at this point in the original story, but his current cultivation as a five-turn Dou Venerable made that outcome unlikely.

Yan Penghong waited for Xiao Lin at their appointed duel site after gaining Dou Huang cultivation from Protector Wu and joining the Soul Hall as a high-ranking Soul Envoy. Unbeknownst to him, the Soul Hall had tampered with his soul, and Xiao Lin arrived to face him.

• Yan Penghong spent a month waiting on a nameless border hill, consumed by grief and despair over his inability to avenge his brother.
• After leaving the Falling Goose Empire to seek power, Yan Penghong met Protector Wu and accepted his help to break through to the Dou Huang Realm.
• Protector Wu recruited Yan Penghong into the Soul Hall, where he became a high-ranking Soul Envoy.
• Yan Penghong sent Xiao Lin a Life and Death Duel Letter, convinced his new strength would let him take revenge.
• The Soul Hall had secretly tampered with Yan Penghong's soul, deepening the darkness within him without his knowledge.
• When the appointed day arrived, Xiao Lin headed straight to the agreed location without making preparations.

Xiao Lin arrived to face Yan Penghong in their life-and-death duel, after Yan Penghong had been driven by the Soul Hall to seek revenge for his brother. Yan Penghong revealed that he had become a One-Star Dou Emperor and challenged Xiao Lin to defeat him to learn how he gained that power.

• Yan Penghong waited for Xiao Lin, confident that his new Dou Emperor strength would let him avenge his brother.
• Xiao Lin arrived, and Yan Penghong asked whether Xiao Lin had killed Yan Bohong; Xiao Lin admitted it and explained that Yan Bohong had tried to kill him.
• Yan Penghong promised not to target the Xiao Household after killing Xiao Lin, and Xiao Lin promised to keep their feud between them.
• Xiao Lin identified Yan Penghong as a One-Star Dou Emperor and asked how he had gained that strength.
• Yan Penghong offered to reveal the secret if Xiao Lin defeated him, and Xiao Lin decided to fight rather than kill him immediately.

Xiao Lin defeated Yan Penghong with one strike and learned that Soul Hall and Protector Wu were behind Yan Penghong’s transformation. As Yan Penghong tried to reveal more, a soul restriction killed him, and an Iron Token absorbed his soul.

• Yan Penghong agreed to let Xiao Lin make the first move, confident that his Dou Emperor cultivation would protect him.
• Xiao Lin used Rock-Splitting Palm to crush Yan Penghong’s bones and revealed that he had concealed his true strength.
• Yan Penghong realized Xiao Lin had also hidden the truth behind his brother’s death and agreed to explain his transformation.
• Yan Penghong named Soul Hall and Protector Wu, then a restriction in his soul triggered as he began revealing the secret.
• Yan Penghong’s body exploded, and an Iron Token appeared and absorbed his pitch-black soul.

After capturing Yan Penghong’s Soul Envoy Token, Xiao Lin realized the Soul Hall was active in the Northwest Continent and reconsidered the danger facing the Xiao Household. He resolved to strengthen himself and avoid Gu Yuan, while remaining wary of both the Hun Clan and the Gu Clan.

• Xiao Lin caught Yan Penghong’s Soul Envoy Token and suppressed it with his Astral Dou Qi before identifying its connection to Protector Wu and the Soul Hall.
• Xiao Lin suspected the Soul Hall’s growing activity meant Hun Tiandi was recovering, and worried that the Xiao Household might be targeted again.
• Xiao Lin reflected on the thousand-year cycle in which the Hun Clan hunted the Xiao Household, the Gu Clan concealed it, and the household relocated.
• Xiao Lin decided to stop idling and prioritize improving his strength while considering the Gu Clan’s possible plans for the Xiao Household.
• Xiao Lin planned to avoid Gu Yuan when he brought Gu Xun’er to the Xiao Household, fearing Gu Yuan could see through his secrets.

After defeating Yan Penghong, Xiao Lin returned to the Jia Ma Imperial Capital pretending to be gravely injured and unconscious, setting off panic across the city and the Xiao Household. He planned to use the ruse to leave the spotlight, push Xiao Zhan to work harder, and focus on cultivating, but the reaction proved bigger than he expected.

• Xiao Lin returned to the Jia Ma Imperial Capital coughing up blood and staggering toward the Xiao Household, causing rumors about his grave injuries to spread.
• Factions across the capital sent spies and visitors toward the Xiao Household, but the household turned away all but a few friendly groups.
• Xiao Zhan blamed himself for failing to stop Xiao Lin from attending the Life-and-Death Duel, while physicians and Gu He said they could not heal him without a Tier 7 pill.
• Xiao Lin secretly kept pretending to be gravely injured and unconscious so he could withdraw from public attention, spur Xiao Zhan's cultivation, and focus on growing stronger.
• Xiao Lin realized his staged injury had stirred nearly every faction in the Jia Ma Imperial Capital into action.

Xiao Lin remained disguised as gravely injured and unconscious while the Xiao Household grew anxious and visitors brought gifts. Yun Shan examined him, realized the injuries had to be an act, and privately confronted him, leaving Xiao Lin’s plan intact.

• Nalan Jie, Mu Chen, and representatives of several other forces visited the Xiao Household and left gifts for the supposedly unconscious Xiao Lin.
• Xiao Lin sensed the unease spreading through the household but chose not to end his act.
• Yun Shan arrived, reassuring Xiao Zhan and examining Xiao Lin, though he found no sign that the injuries were fake.
• Yun Shan sent Xiao Zhan outside, then told Xiao Lin to stop pretending.
• Xiao Lin sat up unharmed, and Yun Shan explained that Yan Penghong could not have injured him, so he had deduced that Xiao Lin was faking.

Xiao Lin explained to Yun Shan that he was pretending to be gravely injured so he could retire before a powerful visitor arrived at the Xiao Household. After Yun Shan agreed to help him, Xiao Lin woke and the household believed his strength and lifespan had been damaged.

• Xiao Lin told Yun Shan that one of the Dou Qi Continent’s three strongest people might visit the Xiao Household within three years, so he planned to hide his strength and retire.
• Yun Shan accepted Xiao Lin’s explanation and said he was also considering retiring to pursue a higher realm.
• Xiao Lin asked Yun Shan for help with several matters, and Yun Shan agreed before leaving.
• Xiao Lin soon woke, and the Xiao Household celebrated, believing Yun Shan had saved him.
• Yun Shan told the Xiao Household that Xiao Lin’s strength might never improve and could decline, and that overexertion might shorten his lifespan.

After Yun Shan spread word of Xiao Lin’s injuries, the Xiao Household relied on Xiao Zhan to manage its affairs while Xiao Lin recovered. Xiao Lin then stepped down as clan head, leaving Xiao Zhan to lead the household.

• Yun Shan returned to the Misty Cloud Sect and secretly spread news of Xiao Lin’s condition, which soon became common knowledge across the Jia Ma Empire.
• Yun Shan sent Misty Cloud Sect disciples and elders to help stabilize the Xiao Household while Xiao Lin rested and Xiao Zhan managed its affairs.
• Xiao Lin told Xiao Zhan that he intended to step down as clan head, and Xiao Zhan readily agreed to take responsibility for the household.
• Three months later, Xiao Lin formally stepped down, and Xiao Zhan became the Xiao Household’s new clan head.