Recaps

Xiao Lin watched Formation Old Man use his remaining Soul Power to help him condense a Spirit Seal, then say farewell as his soul dispersed. The Formation Pavilion preserved a fragment of the old man's soul before collapsing, leaving Xiao Lin with hope that he could one day revive his master.

• Xiao Lin realized Formation Old Man had sacrificed his remaining Soul Power to help him condense his first Spirit Seal.
• Formation Old Man comforted Xiao Lin, and Xiao Lin promised to rebuild the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace.
• Formation Old Man's soul dispersed, but the Formation Pavilion's power preserved a fragment of it as an azure crystal.
• Xiao Lin collected the soul fragment and escaped through the ninth floor as the Formation Pavilion collapsed.

As Xiao Lin completed the Nine Fundamental Formations and became a Spirit Array Master, crowds gathered outside the Formation Pavilion, waiting for its defenses to fade. When he emerged, the onlookers suspected he had claimed its treasure and inheritance, and the Jia Ma and Falling Goose Empire Dou Wang prepared to see whether he was an ally or an enemy.

• The Formation Pavilion’s glowing defenses attracted people from across the Secret Realm, but its barriers kept them from entering.
• After failed attempts to break in, the gathered visitors waited as the pavilion’s glow gradually dimmed over three days.
• Xiao Lin completed the Nine Fundamental Formations, condensed his first Spirit Seal with Formation Old Man’s help, and became a Spirit Array Master as Formation Old Man’s soul dissipated.
• The pavilion’s defenses vanished, but it began shaking before anyone could enter, and a figure leaped out from its ninth floor.
• The crowd suspected that the newcomer had taken the treasure and inheritance, while the Jia Ma and Falling Goose Empire Dou Wang waited to learn which side he belonged to.

Xiao Lin emerged from the Nine-Story Pavilion and learned that the Jia Ma Empire and the Falling Goose Empire had gathered over its treasures and inheritance. When a Four-Star Battle King from the Falling Goose Empire confronted him, Xiao Lin stepped forward to face him with the Jia Ma Empire's support.

• Nalan Jie recognized Xiao Lin as he descended from the collapsing Formation Pavilion.
• Xiao Lin asked Nalan Jie why everyone had gathered, and Nalan Jie explained what had happened outside.
• The Falling Goose Empire's group approached, and Mu Chen challenged their intentions to seize Xiao Lin's inheritance.
• A Falling Goose Empire Dou Wang said he wanted to speak with Xiao Lin, so Xiao Lin stepped forward and thanked Mu Chen for his support.
• Nalan Jie urged the Jia Ma Empire to unite against their rival, and Xiao Lin faced the Four-Star Battle King in a silent confrontation.

Xiao Lin faced Yan Penghong, a Four-Star Battle King from the Falling Goose Empire, who demanded to know where his missing brother Yan Bohong was. Their confrontation nearly sparked a battle between the two empires, but the arrival of a powerful Dou Emperor halted the impending clash.

• Yan Penghong questioned Xiao Lin about Yan Bohong’s disappearance, and Xiao Lin denied knowing where his brother was.
• Yan Penghong accused Xiao Lin of lying and threatened him, while Xiao Lin taunted him and claimed he had killed Yan Bohong with one finger.
• Yan Penghong flew into a rage and rallied the Falling Goose Empire’s forces to attack, prompting the Jia Ma Empire’s fighters to take battle stances as smaller nations withdrew.
• A powerful figure approached without hiding their battle qi, and both empires realized a Dou Emperor had arrived.

Ying Changkong, the Dou Emperor leader of the Black Eagle Bandit Group, arrived at the clash between the Falling Goose Empire and the Jia Ma Empire and targeted the Jia Ma side for their treasures. When he threatened to kill anyone who refused to surrender their Storage Rings and Xiao Lin’s inheritance, Xiao Lin decided Ying Changkong had chosen the path to death.

• Ying Changkong arrived above the two sides, and the Falling Goose Empire’s people greeted him uneasily because of his notorious reputation.
• Yan Penghong begged Ying Changkong to attack the Jia Ma Empire’s people, and Ying Changkong warned him that he would resume his usual conduct after the Secret Realm matter ended.
• Ying Changkong turned his attention to the Jia Ma Empire’s side, leaving its people worried about facing a Dou Emperor.
• Ying Changkong demanded that the Jia Ma Empire’s people surrender their Storage Rings and any treasures or inheritance they had obtained, threatening to kill those who refused.
• Xiao Lin decided that Ying Changkong had chosen the path to death.

Xiao Lin refused to surrender the Spirit Array Master inheritance and faced pressure from Ying Changkong, a Dou Emperor, to hand it over. He proposed a plan to reduce the Jia Ma Empire group’s losses, and they agreed to consider it together.

• Xiao Lin decided he would protect the inheritance he had gained in the Formation Pavilion, even if doing so risked attracting the Hun Clan’s attention.
• Nalan Jie and Mu Chen warned Xiao Lin that Ying Changkong’s Dou Emperor strength made resistance dangerous, while the other Jia Ma Empire experts resigned themselves to surrendering their Storage Rings.
• Xiao Lin asked whether the others would surrender their valuables too, and Yan Shi and Feng Li said they saw no way to oppose a Dou Emperor.
• Xiao Lin offered a method that might reduce their losses, then gathered the Dou Wangs and Dou Ling experts to explain it.
• The group discussed Xiao Lin’s proposal and agreed to it because they had no better option.

Xiao Lin lured Ying Changkong away from the Jia Ma Empire group, allowing them to escape while he drew the Dou Emperor into a trap. Just as Xiao Lin prepared to kill Ying Changkong, a mysterious figure faster than Ying Changkong arrived, disrupting his plan.

• Xiao Lin claimed that his inheritance revealed the Secret Realm's secrets and flew off as bait, prompting Ying Changkong to pursue him instead of attacking the Jia Ma Empire group.
• Nalan Jie worried about Xiao Lin, while Mu Chen urged the group to retreat; most of the Falling Goose Empire factions refused to stop them, and Yan Penghong let them leave.
• Xiao Lin slowed his flight to draw Ying Changkong away from the others and toward a deserted hill.
• Ying Changkong struck Xiao Lin with Falling Eagle Strike, but Xiao Lin took the attack without injury and landed on the hill to lure him into position.
• As Xiao Lin prepared to reveal his strength and kill Ying Changkong, a faster figure changed course and flew toward them.

Yun Shan arrived just as Ying Changkong was about to attack Xiao Lin, stopping the bandit leader and revealing an unexpected change in the contest for the Secret Realm’s inheritance. The chapter left Ying Changkong cowed by Yun Shan’s strength and Xiao Lin facing his first contact with the Misty Cloud Sect’s master.

• Ying Changkong prepared to kill Xiao Lin before the approaching Dou Emperor arrived.
• Yun Shan fired a green arrow at Ying Changkong, forcing him to dodge and abandoning his attack on Xiao Lin.
• Xiao Lin recognized Yun Shan and wondered why he had left the Central Hall, where he was expected to contend with Yan Luotian.
• Yun Shan mocked Ying Changkong for bullying a Dou Wang and called on him to leave.
• Ying Changkong, far weaker than the Nine-Star Dou Emperor Yun Shan, backed down, and Xiao Lin found Yun Shan pleasing to the eye.

Yun Shan drove Ying Changkong away while protecting Xiao Lin, then explained that the Secret Realm expedition had ended early after Yan Luotian destroyed the Savage Sect’s cultivation-method repository. The Jia Ma Empire and Falling Goose Empire’s forces had departed, leaving Xiao Lin intent on killing Ying Changkong later without exposing himself.

• Ying Changkong threatened Yun Shan, Xiao Lin, the Misty Cloud Sect, and the Xiao Household before flying away, while Xiao Lin secretly decided to kill him later.
• Yun Shan coughed up blood and told Xiao Lin that he had been injured fighting Yan Luotian.
• Yun Shan explained that Yan Luotian had destroyed the Savage Sect’s repository during the Central Hall struggle, preventing either empire from obtaining its cultivation methods and Dou Techniques.
• The Jia Ma Empire’s Dou Emperors attacked Yan Luotian, who escaped severely wounded while Yun Shan suffered minor injuries.
• The Central Hall conflict ended early, both empires’ forces left the Secret Realm, and Yun Shan encountered Ying Changkong pursuing Xiao Lin while passing through the area.

After Ying Changkong’s defeat, Xiao Lin explained to Yun Shan how he had obtained an inheritance and joined him on the way back to the Jia Ma Empire’s main force. Yun Shan tried to recruit Xiao Lin, and they agreed to strengthen cooperation between the Xiao Household and the Misty Cloud Sect, leaving the Xiao Household with stronger ties and a more secure position in the empire.

• Xiao Lin told Yun Shan that he had obtained an inheritance and had lured Ying Changkong away to protect the others from the Jia Ma Empire.
• Yun Shan showed no greed for Xiao Lin’s inheritance and praised his talent, encouraging him to help the Xiao Household grow stronger.
• Xiao Lin and Yun Shan flew together to reunite with the Jia Ma Empire’s main force while Yun Shan offered cultivation advice and tried to recruit him.
• Xiao Lin declined to join the Misty Cloud Sect but agreed to strengthen cooperation between it and the Xiao Household.
• Yun Shan welcomed the cooperation, giving the Xiao Household closer ties to both the Misty Cloud Sect and the Jia Ma Royal House.

Xiao Lin returned safely with Yun Shan and joined the Jia Ma Empire’s final search of the Secret Realm, where he learned that three Xiao Household members had likely died. As the expedition ended, Ying Changkong cursed Xiao Lin and Yun Shan for his losses, only for Xiao Lin to appear unexpectedly in his tent.

• Xiao Lin and Yun Shan returned to the Jia Ma Empire’s group, and Jia Xing Tian announced that everyone would search for one more day before leaving the Secret Realm.
• Xiao Lin found that three Xiao Household Da Dou Shi had not returned, while Xiao Ze, Xiao Zhen, and Xiao Yi had survived and gained from the expedition.
• The Jia Ma Empire and Falling Goose Empire searched opposite sides of the Secret Realm, then decided to rest before departing the next day.
• Ying Changkong learned that the Black Eagle Bandit Group had lost more than two-thirds of its members and blamed Xiao Lin and Yun Shan for his failed plans.
• Xiao Lin suddenly spoke from inside Ying Changkong’s tent after Ying Changkong threatened revenge.

Xiao Lin infiltrated the Black Eagle Bandit Group's camp and terrified Ying Changkong by killing his subordinates and cutting off his call for help. He revealed himself, leaving Ying Changkong stunned that a One-Star Battle King could wield power beyond a Mid-Stage Dou Zong.

• Ying Changkong heard an unseen voice in his tent and discovered his subordinates had died without a sound.
• Ying Changkong released his Dou Qi to summon the nearby forces of the Falling Goose Empire, but no reinforcements arrived.
• The hidden person mocked Ying Changkong and told him to wait longer for help.
• Xiao Lin appeared and revealed that he had used his Heavenly Realm Soul Power to kill Ying Changkong's men and isolate the tent.
• Ying Changkong recognized Xiao Lin and protested that a One-Star Battle King could not possess power beyond a Mid-Stage Dou Zong.

Xiao Lin confronted Ying Changkong and revealed that his overwhelming strength had made the Two-Star Dou Emperor helpless. After Ying Changkong’s desperate attack failed, Xiao Lin killed him with the God-Slaying Finger.

• Xiao Lin reminded the shattered Ying Changkong that he had intended to kill him since the previous day and refused his offer of wealth in exchange for his life.
• Ying Changkong realized Xiao Lin had lured him away and hidden his strength so he could kill him without exposing himself.
• Ying Changkong gathered his battle qi and used Eagle Soaring Dou Annihilation, but Xiao Lin’s Heavenly Realm Soul Power kept him from reaching Xiao Lin.
• Xiao Lin pressed the God-Slaying Finger to Ying Changkong’s brow and killed the Two-Star Dou Emperor.

Xiao Lin secretly killed Ying Changkong and wiped out the Black Eagle Bandit Group, then returned to the Jia Ma Empire with Ying Changkong’s fortune to strengthen the Xiao Household. The Falling Goose Empire blamed a hidden, elderly Dou Zong from the Jia Ma Empire, leaving Xiao Lin unaware that his actions had sparked a curious misunderstanding.

• Xiao Lin took Ying Changkong’s Storage Ring, silently eliminated the remaining Black Eagle Bandit Group members, and returned to the Xiao Household camp to cultivate.
• Xiao Lin assessed Ying Changkong’s vast resources and decided to keep a few precious items while giving most of the rest to Clan Chief Xiao Dongcheng.
• The Jia Ma Empire’s factions left the Secret Realm and returned to the Gama Imperial Capital as their temporary alliance ended.
• The Falling Goose Empire’s factions discovered that Ying Changkong and the Black Eagle Bandit Group had been wiped out, and its imperial ancestor concluded that a Dou Zong had done it.
• Yan Luotian and the imperial ancestor suspected that an aged Dou Zong from the Jia Ma Empire was responsible, while Yan Luotian regretted losing the chance to claim the bandits’ resources.
• The Falling Goose Empire announced the destruction without naming a culprit, while Xiao Lin remained unaware that everyone suspected a hidden Jia Ma Empire Dou Zong.

After returning from the Secret Realm, Xiao Lin helped the Xiao Household grow while advancing his cultivation and Spirit Array Master skills. A year later, he reached the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Emperor realm, became a Second-Level Spirit Array Master, and developed the Spirit-Gathering Formation.

• Xiao Lin gave Ying Changkong's Storage Ring to Xiao Dongcheng, whose contents shocked the clan chief, but Xiao Lin kept the reason for the riches to himself.
• Xiao Lin helped the Xiao Household recruit and train Alchemists, using the resources from the Storage Ring to support its growth.
• Xiao Lin resumed cultivating and raising Xiao Zhan, while also studying Spirit Array Master techniques and deriving formations from the Nine Fundamental Formations.
• Over the following year, Xiao Lin advanced to the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Emperor realm, surpassing Yun Shan's cultivation progress.
• Xiao Lin condensed forty Spirit Seals, became a Second-Level Spirit Array Master, and arranged the seals into the Spirit-Gathering Formation.

Xiao Lin deduced the Spirit-Gathering Formation, became a Second-Level Spirit Array Master, and used the formation to cultivate toward Dou Zong. After six days, he broke through and tested his new ability to wield spatial power.

• Xiao Lin set up a Second-Level Spirit-Gathering Formation in the Xiao Household Back Mountain and decided to delay visiting the place where he had planned to break through.
• Xiao Lin cultivated within the formation for five days, drawing in spiritual energy as the bottleneck at the peak of Nine-Star Dou Emperor began to tremble.
• Xiao Lin broke through to Dou Zong at dawn on the sixth day and used his Heavenly Realm Soul Power to contain the eruption of his aura.
• Xiao Lin flew without Dou Qi Wings and experienced his new ability to use spatial power, confident that his Dou Zong strength combined with his soul power would let him challenge low-level Dou Venerables.

After a year of consolidating his strength and developing new Dou Techniques, Xiao Lin decided to travel across the Northwest Continent to gain experience and seek undiscovered resources. He reassured Xiao Dongcheng that he could handle the journey, though the clan chief remained worried about the risks.

• Xiao Lin spent the year helping Xiao Dongcheng manage the household, guiding the clan’s younger members, and spending time with Xiao Zhan while his Spirit Array Master level rose to Level Three.
• Xiao Lin created the Seven-Star Void Step, two Star Dou Techniques, and three Earth Attribute Dou Techniques to conceal his true strength behind his apparent Dou Wang cultivation.
• Xiao Lin decided to explore the Northwest Continent for experience and resources, but postponed visiting the Central Plains until he reached the Dou Venerable realm.
• Xiao Lin told Xiao Dongcheng about his travel plans, and Xiao Dongcheng worried that Xiao Lin might be attacked outside the Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Lin pressed Xiao Dongcheng to reveal the Xiao Household’s hidden history, and the clan head decided that Xiao Lin’s strength and cautious nature made him worthy of learning it. In the ancestral hall, Xiao Dongcheng handed Xiao Lin a thick book before explaining the secrets.

• Xiao Lin recognized that Xiao Dongcheng’s remarks hinted at the Xiao Household’s lost power and asked him to speak plainly about its secrets.
• Xiao Dongcheng struggled between honoring the previous head’s final wishes and telling Xiao Lin, whom he believed could revive the Xiao Household.
• Xiao Dongcheng decided to reveal the secrets and took Xiao Lin to the Xiao Household Ancestral Hall.
• Xiao Dongcheng knelt to ask the ancestors’ forgiveness, while Xiao Lin respectfully offered incense.
• Xiao Dongcheng gave Xiao Lin a thick book and told him to read it before hearing the secrets.

Xiao Lin read the records of Xiao Household experts who had all died in suspicious accidents and realized the Hun Clan had secretly caused the household’s decline. He resolved to keep hiding his strength and grow stronger before the Hun Clan could target him.

• Xiao Lin read Xiao Dongcheng’s book and found that every Xiao Household expert above the Dou Emperor realm had died before reaching old age.
• Xiao Dongcheng explained that the household had once come from the Central Plains but had declined after its ancestors repeatedly died in accidents.
• Xiao Lin questioned whether the ancestors’ deaths were suspicious, but Xiao Dongcheng believed they were a curse rather than the work of an enemy.
• Xiao Lin concluded that the Hun Clan had orchestrated the Xiao Household’s decline while leaving it intact because the other ancient clans would not allow it to seize the Ancient Emperor Jade.
• Xiao Lin worried that the Hun Clan might already be watching him and resolved to keep his strength concealed and gain experience to grow stronger.

Xiao Lin told Clan Chief Xiao Dongcheng that he was determined to leave for a long training expedition, despite Xiao Dongcheng's fears about the Xiao ancestors who had died pursuing strength. He planned to depart in three days and asked Xiao Dongcheng to care for Xiao Zhan while he was away.

• Xiao Lin used Xiao Dongcheng's own words about reviving the family to argue that he needed to become stronger.
• Xiao Lin said he would train for at least two or three years, and perhaps as long as five or six, but would return before Zhan'er's coming-of-age ceremony.
• Xiao Lin told Xiao Dongcheng he planned to leave in three days after preparing and saying goodbye to people he knew.
• Xiao Dongcheng asked about Xiao Zhan, and Xiao Lin said he would tell his son that night and asked Xiao Dongcheng to look after him.
• Xiao Dongcheng agreed to care for Xiao Zhan, confident that the Xiao Household's growing prosperity would let Xiao Lin leave without worrying about its affairs.

Xiao Lin returned home and learned that Xiao Zhan had reached the third stage of Dou Qi. After Xiao Zhan recognized that his father planned to leave on a long training journey, he encouraged him to go, and Xiao Lin took him to visit the Nalan Household before departing.

• Xiao Zhan proudly showed Xiao Lin that he had reached the third stage of Dou Qi, and Xiao Lin praised him.
• Xiao Zhan realized Xiao Lin was planning another long journey from his conflicted expression and urged him not to give up his plans.
• Xiao Lin promised to choose a suitable cultivation technique for Xiao Zhan when he returned from training.
• Xiao Lin took Xiao Zhan to visit Nalan Jie and Nalan Su, intending to ask Nalan Jie to watch over the Xiao Household while he was away.

Xiao Lin visited Nalan Jie with his son, and the two old friends traded barbs while Xiao Zhan and Nalan Su reflected on their fathers’ close friendship. Xiao Lin asked Nalan Jie to watch over the Xiao Household during his years of training, and Nalan Jie agreed despite their teasing and misunderstandings.

• Xiao Lin arrived at the Nalan Household with Xiao Zhan, where he and Nalan Jie traded sarcastic remarks.
• Xiao Zhan and Nalan Su compared their friendship with their fathers’ bond and wondered what made Xiao Lin and Nalan Jie true bros.
• Nalan Jie sent Xiao Zhan and Nalan Su away so he could speak privately with Xiao Lin.
• Xiao Lin told Nalan Jie he planned to travel for several years to train and asked him to protect the Xiao Household.
• Nalan Jie offered to accompany Xiao Lin, then agreed to watch over the Xiao Household after Xiao Lin clarified what he needed.

Xiao Lin said goodbye to his son and set out on a journey to train in the Black-Corner Region, hiding his identity no longer. He planned to test himself in the region and seek a chance to cultivate in Jia Nan Academy’s Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, where Fallen Heart Flame resided.

• Xiao Lin visited the Mu Household and other factions friendly with the Xiao Household, then spent three days with Xiao Zhan.
• Xiao Lin said farewell to Xiao Zhan and informed Xiao Dongcheng that he was leaving to train for several years.
• After crossing the Jia Ma Empire’s border, Xiao Lin used Astral Dou Qi to change his appearance and flew openly as a Dou Zong.
• Xiao Lin chose the Black-Corner Region as his destination because its lawless environment suited his training and offered information from across the Northwest Continent.
• Xiao Lin planned to enter Jia Nan Academy’s Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower and cultivate near Fallen Heart Flame.

Xiao Lin entered the Black-Corner Region seeking experience and was immediately surrounded by four Dou Lings trying to rob him. He killed them with his soul power and continued deeper into the region as news spread that a Dou Emperor-level powerhouse had arrived.

• Xiao Lin arrived at the entrance to the Black-Corner Region and stepped inside, eager to test himself in its chaos.
• Four Dou Lings surrounded Xiao Lin to ambush and rob him, but the two in front sensed danger while the two behind demanded his Storage Ring.
• The two Dou Lings in front fled, but Xiao Lin killed them instantly with his soul power.
• Xiao Lin turned and killed the remaining two Dou Lings, then let nearby onlookers escape.
• Xiao Lin walked deeper into the Black-Corner Region as word spread that a powerhouse at least at the Dou Emperor realm had arrived.

Xiao Lin explored the Black-Corner Region and encountered a Jia Nan Academy elder leading four students. When he spotted a Dou Emperor secretly following them to kill them, Xiao Lin followed the attacker, seeing a chance to make contact with the academy.

• Xiao Lin explored the Black-Corner Region and discovered its many powerful experts and rare treasures.
• Xiao Lin saw a Dou Wang elder emerge from a herb shop with four Jia Nan Academy students.
• Xiao Lin noticed a Dou Emperor secretly following the five and preparing to attack them.
• Xiao Lin followed the Dou Emperor, intending to use the situation to make contact with Jia Nan Academy.