Recaps

Xiao Yan mastered the Fallen Heart Flame, which boosted his cultivation and Flame Mantra, but losing control of his desires led to an intimate encounter with Medusa. After they woke and remembered what happened, Medusa confronted Xiao Yan in anger while Yao Lao stayed silent.

• Xiao Yan erased the Fallen Heart Flame's intelligence and absorbed its core into his Naling, gaining control of his fourth Heavenly Flame.
• Xiao Yan's cultivation rose beyond Five-Star Battle Emperor and his Flame Mantra advanced to Mid-Tier Earth Rank.
• Medusa approached Xiao Yan as desire overwhelmed them both, and they spent an unknown time together in the Underground Magma World.
• Xiao Yan woke beside Medusa, and they both recalled what had happened while they had been without reason.
• Medusa angrily addressed Xiao Yan, who tried to explain and silently blamed Yao Lao, but Yao Lao gave no response.

After the heart fire forced Xiao Yan and Medusa to couple, Xiao Yan struggled with what it meant for their relationship while Yao Lao explained the danger they had faced. Medusa returned dressed and asked Xiao Yan how he wanted to die.

• Medusa pulled away from Xiao Yan and fled to get dressed after noticing his renewed desire.
• Xiao Yan blamed Yao Lao for failing to keep Medusa away, while Yao Lao teased him about enjoying what happened.
• Xiao Yan worried about his fiancée Nalan Yanran and his other close relationships, but Yao Lao argued that the heart fire had endangered both him and Medusa.
• Yao Lao explained that Medusa's soul had been vulnerable during her merger with the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, and that resisting the heart fire could have caused severe injury or death.
• Medusa returned fully dressed and asked Xiao Yan how he wanted to die.

Medusa confronted Xiao Yan after their accidental intimacy and threatened to kill him to erase the shame, while Xiao Yan tried to calm her and realized she was holding back. When Medusa seized his throat, Xiao Yan accepted his apparent fate and pleaded that she spare the Xiao Household and preserve its alliance with the Snake-People Tribe.

• Medusa approached Xiao Yan and said she would kill him to bury the memory of their accidental intimacy.
• Xiao Yan questioned whether killing him would help Medusa forget, but she insisted she would rather hide the memory than see him again.
• Xiao Yan recalled that Medusa had taken the initiative during their encounter, enraging her and making her more determined to silence him.
• Medusa rushed at Xiao Yan and grabbed him by the throat, then wondered why he had not dodged despite her deliberate pause.
• Xiao Yan said he would not be able to evade Medusa forever and asked her not to punish the Xiao Household or destroy its friendship with the Snake-People Tribe.

Medusa struggled to kill Xiao Yan after their unexpected intimacy and offered to spare him if they both pretended it had never happened. Xiao Yan rejected her terms, and he stopped treating her as a queen above him.

• Medusa could not bring herself to kill Xiao Yan because of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's feelings, her gratitude, and their intimacy.
• Medusa struck Xiao Yan in the chest and then decided to spare his life.
• Medusa offered to treat the incident as a dog bite, end their personal connection, and preserve relations between the Snake-People Tribe and the Xiao Household.
• Xiao Yan refused Medusa's terms, despite her warning that his pride could cost him his life.
• Xiao Yan met Medusa's gaze and stopped treating her as a queen above him.

Xiao Yan endured Medusa’s blows and spoke honestly about their unexpected intimacy, easing her anger and changing her view of him. Medusa departed for the Tagor Desert after breaking through to Dou Zun, leaving Xiao Yan feeling empty.

• Medusa repeatedly struck Xiao Yan, but her blows gradually softened as she restrained herself.
• Xiao Yan told Medusa that killing him would not undo what happened and admitted he did not know how they should resolve it.
• Medusa believed Xiao Yan’s sincerity and began to regard him as a friend rather than merely an ally.
• Medusa opened a Spatial Passage, revealing she had reached the Dou Zun Realm, and left for the Tagor Desert.
• Medusa told Xiao Yan not to seek her out unless he needed something, and Xiao Yan felt a sense of emptiness after she left.

After Medusa left, Xiao Yan resolved to pursue her while Yao Lao advised him to focus on mastering his new strength. Once he had mastered his power, Xiao Yan sensed something drawing him deeper into the Underground Magma World and went to investigate.

• Xiao Yan asked Yao Lao whether Medusa had feelings for him, and Yao Lao urged him to consider whether he could accept another man beside her.
• Xiao Yan declared that he would not let another man be with Medusa and decided to visit her in the Tagor Desert after settling matters there.
• Yao Lao reminded Xiao Yan to examine his gains from refining the Fallen Heart Flame, and Xiao Yan found that he had reached Nine-Star Dou Emperor.
• Xiao Yan spent an indeterminate time mastering his increased strength and control over four Heavenly Flames.
• Xiao Yan sensed something attracting him deeper into the Underground Magma World, and he set off to investigate with Yao Lao's encouragement.

Nearly two years after Xiao Yan was sealed beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, Jia Nan Academy remained peaceful while Medusa and Nalan Yanran left to pursue their own paths. The chapter ended as Venerable Qing Hai went to the Northwest Continent to investigate the missing Protector Wu.

• Medusa stayed at Jia Nan Academy, reassured Su Qian and the senior staff that Xiao Yan was safe, befriended Zi Yan, and later returned to the Tagor Desert.
• Nalan Yanran left Jia Nan Academy for two years of training so she could grow strong enough to stand beside Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Lin continued cultivating without breaking through to Six-Star Dou Sheng and checked that Xiao Yan was progressing safely beneath the academy.
• Venerable E Yuan and Venerable Qing Hai discussed the poor quality of the souls collected for the Soul Hall and Protector Wu's failure to return from the Northwest Continent.
• Venerable Qing Hai left the Earth Fiend Hall to investigate who had trapped Protector Wu, while E Yuan told him to report any unexpected trouble.

Yun Shan celebrated his breakthrough to the Dou Venerable Realm, drawing envoys from across the Northwest Continent to the Misty Cloud Sect. As the gathering awaited him at Misty Cloud Plaza, Yun Shan and Yun Yun prepared to announce the sect’s renewed strength.

• Venerable Qing Hai set off for the Northwest Continent after Protector Wu failed to report back for four years.
• Envoys and factions gathered at the Misty Cloud Sect to congratulate Yun Shan on breaking through to the Dou Venerable Realm.
• Yun Shan recalled how his breakthrough fulfilled his long-held wish to restore the Misty Cloud Sect and agreed to publicize his new strength.
• Yun Yun told Yun Shan that nearly all the guests had arrived at Misty Cloud Plaza.
• Yun Shan and Yun Yun left the ancestral hall together as the gathered factions awaited the Dou Venerable.

Yun Shan appeared at Misty Cloud Mountain after breaking through to the Dou Zun Realm, and his strength reshaped the balance of power across the Northwest Continent. He declared that he would protect the Jia Ma Empire without acting against other factions unless they encroached on it, leaving the empire newly established as a regional hegemon.

• Yun Shan and Yun Yun arrived through a Spatial Passage, confirming his Dou Zun breakthrough to the gathered experts.
• Jia Xing Tian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong discussed Yun Shan’s rise and concluded that it would strengthen the Jia Ma Empire and reduce the risk of internal conflict.
• Fire Snake and envoys from other powerful empires observed Yun Shan’s appearance and abandoned their doubts about his breakthrough.
• Yun Shan thanked the guests and promised not to act against them unless they encroached upon the Jia Ma Empire.
• The gathered envoys praised Yun Shan, and the Jia Ma Empire’s new hegemonic position on the Northwest Continent took shape.

At Misty Cloud Sect’s celebration, Yun Shan’s speech filled Misty Cloud Plaza with pride, while Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue shared an affectionate moment. The festivities turned tense when Venerable Qing Hai of the Soul Hall emerged from a Spatial Passage, leaving Yun Shan and the sect facing a dangerous visitor.

• Yun Shan’s appearance and speech stirred pride among the Misty Cloud Sect, the Jia Ma Empire’s guests, and the Xiao Household.
• Xiao Zhan felt ashamed of his Five-Star Battle King strength, but Yang Xiyue reassured him, and the couple drew teasing disapproval from the Xiao Household elders and clansmen.
• As Yun Shan prepared to descend with Yun Yun, a Spatial Passage opened nearby, revealing the arrival of another Dou Zun expert.
• Yun Shan sent Yun Yun down to reassure the gathered guests and cautiously addressed the unknown visitor.
• Venerable Qing Hai stepped out of the passage, identified himself as a member of the Soul Hall, and left Yun Shan fearing the hostile arrival.

Venerable Qing Hai came to the Misty Cloud Sect after discovering the Xiao Household’s location and concealed his search for Wu Ying while sizing up the clan. Yun Shan denied knowing Wu Ying, but Qing Hai fixed his hostile attention on the Xiao Household, leaving Xiao Zhan and his family confused and alarmed.

• Venerable Qing Hai traced Wu Ying’s disappearance to the Jia Ma Empire and discovered that the Xiao Household was there, deciding to claim the discovery for himself.
• After learning that Xiao Zhan would visit the Misty Cloud Sect to congratulate Yun Shan, Venerable Qing Hai came to question Yun Shan about Wu Ying.
• Yun Shan denied ever having contact with Soul Hall members, while Yun Yun remembered Uncle Xiao defeating Wu Ying and worried about her teacher.
• Venerable Qing Hai dismissed Yun Shan’s denial, then turned his attention to the Xiao Household and threatened to pursue Wu Ying’s case if Yun Shan protected them.
• The Xiao Household members felt overwhelmed by Qing Hai’s hostility and looked to Xiao Zhan, who was just as baffled by the sudden threat.

Venerable Qing Hai targeted the Xiao Household and demanded that Yun Shan hand over his second disciple, but Yun Shan refused and challenged him. Their battle began with Yun Shan's sword strike dispersing Qing Hai into black mist without injuring him.

• Xiao Zhan reassured Yang Xiyue that he would protect her and the Xiao Household if trouble came.
• Other empires' factions moved away from the Xiao Household, while Jia Ma Empire's factions stayed by them.
• Yun Shan blocked Venerable Qing Hai's view of the Xiao Household and warned him not to threaten the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Venerable Qing Hai demanded Yun Shan's second disciple and offered to end the dispute over Wu Ying if Yun Shan stood aside.
• Yun Shan drew his sword and attacked Venerable Qing Hai, whose body dispersed into black mist before reforming unharmed.

Yun Shan and Venerable Qing Hai fought in the sky above Misty Cloud Plaza, with Yun Shan’s swordsmanship keeping him nearly even against the stronger opponent. Their powerful finishing attacks collided, leaving the battle’s outcome unresolved.

• Spectators from the Jia Ma Empire hoped Yun Shan would win, while people from neighboring empires secretly supported Qing Hai.
• Yun Shan and Venerable Qing Hai traded attacks, with Yun Shan’s sword energy countering Qing Hai’s shadows and dark lightning.
• Qing Hai gained a slight edge as their clash of Space Strangulation shattered the surrounding void, but he could not injure Yun Shan.
• Yun Shan prepared his Seventh Sword, Severing the Star River, while Qing Hai formed a giant shadow wielding a scythe.
• Yun Shan’s sword slash and Qing Hai’s Soul-Severing Slash collided, collapsing the surrounding space into a black dot before it expanded again.

Yun Shan and Venerable Qing Hai continued their fierce battle above Misty Cloud Mountain, leaving both grievously wounded. As Yun Shan pressed his attack to stop Qing Hai from recovering, Qing Hai decided to use his trump cards to seize the Xiao Household.

• The battle’s aftershock knocked many spectators at Misty Cloud Plaza to the ground, while Xiao Zhan worried that Yun Shan was fighting to protect the Xiao Household.
• Yun Shan and Venerable Qing Hai emerged from a clash with Yun Shan’s soul wounded and Qing Hai covered in cuts, though Qing Hai’s injuries were less severe.
• Qing Hai tried to buy time to purge the sword qi in his body, but Yun Shan recognized his intent and continued attacking.
• As their condition worsened, Qing Hai resolved to use his trump cards so he could take the Xiao Household before others in the Soul Hall learned of them.

Venerable Qing Hai used enslaved souls to temporarily raise his strength to the Four-Star Dou Venerable realm, turning his even fight with Yun Shan into a one-sided battle. Yun Shan continued resisting, but Qing Hai prepared to deliver a fatal blow.

• Venerable Qing Hai released more than a hundred enslaved Soul Bodies after Yun Shan struck him with Wind's Extremity-Setting Sun Radiance.
• Venerable Qing Hai absorbed the Soul Bodies and temporarily raised his cultivation to the Four-Star Dou Venerable realm.
• Venerable Qing Hai overpowered Yun Shan in a clash of Space Strangulation and broke through Yun Shan's Sword Qi attacks.
• Venerable Qing Hai repeatedly wounded Yun Shan until his aura weakened and he was on the verge of defeat.
• Venerable Qing Hai raised his hand to deliver a fatal blow to Yun Shan.

Venerable Qing Hai defeated Yun Shan and prepared to strike again, but Xiao Zhan rushed forward to protect his teacher. Yun Shan and Yun Yun stood between Xiao Zhan and Qing Hai, while Qing Hai recognized Xiao Zhan as a valuable capture for the Soul Hall.

• Venerable Qing Hai used a secret art that consumed souls to overpower Yun Shan and leave him gravely wounded.
• Xiao Zhan charged into the battle, prompting Yun Shan to warn him to stay back and Yun Yun to follow after him.
• Venerable Qing Hai stopped his attack when he realized Xiao Zhan was the Xiao Household's clan leader, whom the Soul Hall wanted captured alive.
• Yun Shan and Yun Yun moved in front of Xiao Zhan, but Xiao Zhan refused to leave them and insisted that Qing Hai had come for his household.
• Venerable Qing Hai mocked the trio and prepared to disrupt their standoff.

Venerable Qing Hai tried to capture Xiao Zhan, but Xiao Zhan used his own life as leverage to protect the Xiao Household, Yun Shan, and Yun Yun. Just as Qing Hai’s attack was about to seize him, an azure halo dispelled it and Xiao Lin appeared from Xiao Zhan’s body.

• Venerable Qing Hai used Space Pressure to knock back the experts who flew up to help Yun Shan and his disciples, sparing them because Xiao Zhan threatened to kill himself.
• Xiao Zhan told Venerable Qing Hai he would surrender only if he spared the Xiao Household, Yun Shan, and Yun Yun, and threatened to die if Qing Hai refused.
• Venerable Qing Hai agreed to take Xiao Zhan alive and sent a Dark Shadow to hold off Yun Shan and Yun Yun as a huge black hand reached for Xiao Zhan.
• An azure halo from Xiao Zhan dissolved Qing Hai’s black hand, and Xiao Lin emerged from Xiao Zhan’s body.

Xiao Lin’s phantom emerged from Xiao Zhan and confronted Venerable Qing Hai, revealing that Xiao Lin had left his son a powerful safeguard. It destroyed Qing Hai with a single finger before fading away.

• Xiao Lin’s phantom emerged from Xiao Zhan and praised him for shouldering his responsibilities.
• Xiao Zhan realized his father had secretly left him a safeguard and wondered how powerful Xiao Lin had become.
• Xiao Lin’s phantom dismissed Xiao Zhan’s questions and told Venerable Qing Hai he would send him on his way.
• Venerable Qing Hai attacked Xiao Lin’s phantom with Soul-Perishing Shatter.
• Xiao Lin’s phantom pierced the attack with one finger and killed Venerable Qing Hai before vanishing.

Xiao Lin's phantom killed Venerable Qing Hai with a single finger, saving Xiao Zhan and the others. After the phantom vanished, Yun Shan led Xiao Zhan and his disciples back while the Xiao Household members in Misty Cloud Plaza reacted to their old clan leader's return and overwhelming power.

• Xiao Lin's phantom killed Venerable Qing Hai instantly, stunning Xiao Zhan, Yun Shan, and Yun Yun.
• Xiao Zhan asked whether Xiao Lin was really his father, and Xiao Lin told Yun Shan to handle matters until his real body returned.
• Xiao Lin's phantom faded away, and Xiao Zhan decided to ask his father about his secrets when he returned.
• Yun Shan led Xiao Zhan and his two disciples down toward Misty Cloud Plaza to wait for Xiao Lin.
• The Xiao Household members recognized Xiao Lin, and Yang Xiyue confirmed he was their old clan leader.
• The Xiao Household members were astonished by Xiao Lin's strength and became excited after seeing him kill Venerable Qing Hai.

Xiao Lin’s soul projection stunned the Jia Ma Empire by killing Venerable Qing Hai with a single finger, revealing that the Xiao Household’s old patriarch was vastly stronger than anyone had believed. Jia Xing Tian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong recognized Xiao Lin as the mysterious figure behind the upheaval in the empire over forty years earlier, while his name spread among the crowd.

• Nalan Jie and Mu Chen recognized Xiao Lin and struggled to believe their old friend could kill a Dou Zun expert with a single finger.
• Jia Xing Tian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong confirmed Xiao Lin’s identity and wondered how he had gained such overwhelming strength.
• Jia Xing Tian realized Xiao Lin’s power fluctuations matched those of the mysterious figure who had appeared in the Imperial Capital over forty years earlier.
• Fa Ma and Hai Bodong recognized Xiao Lin as that long-sought figure, and the three kept the discovery to themselves.
• People across the Jia Ma Empire recognized Xiao Lin, discussed his strength and the Xiao Household, and spread his name widely.

After the events on Misty Cloud Mountain made Xiao Lin famous across the Jia Ma Empire and beyond, he returned to the Xiao Household Ancestral Residence after half a month away. Xiao Zhan confronted him about the secrets he had kept, leaving Xiao Lin to admit that even more had yet to be revealed.

• News of the Misty Cloud Mountain battle spread, and Xiao Lin became its central figure.
• Xiao Lin delayed returning to avoid visitors crowding the Xiao Household, while Xiao Zhan and others waited at the Ancestral Residence.
• Xiao Lin returned through a Spatial Passage, and Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue hurried to greet him.
• Xiao Zhan challenged Xiao Lin for keeping things from him, and Xiao Lin tried to downplay how much he had concealed.
• Xiao Zhan recalled that Yun Shan had revealed several of Xiao Lin’s past deeds, but said those secrets were only the tip of the iceberg.

Xiao Lin revealed to Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue that he was a Dou Sheng and had faked his injury to leave the clan leadership. He told them about Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's sect and asked them to keep his circumstances from Xiao Yan, then decided to disclose part of the truth about the Xiao Household's enemies.

• Xiao Zhan asked Xiao Lin about his strength, and Xiao Lin said he was a Dou Sheng.
• Xiao Lin admitted that he had faked his injury because he was tired of being clan head.
• Xiao Lin told Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue that Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were in a sect he and his friends had established, and asked them to keep his affairs from Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue agreed to follow Xiao Lin's request and learned more secrets as Xiao Zhan continued asking questions.
• Xiao Zhan asked why Qing Hai had targeted the Xiao Household, and Xiao Lin decided to reveal part of the truth about their enemies.

Xiao Lin told Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue that the Xiao Household was an ancient Emperor Clan targeted by the Hun Clan because of its possession of the Tou She Ancient God Jade. He also revealed that Xun’er belonged to the Gu Clan, another Emperor Clan, leaving the couple stunned by the secrets surrounding their household.

• Xiao Lin explained that he and Xiao Zhan’s teacher had staged their earlier conflict to draw out an enemy plotting against the Xiao Household.
• Xiao Lin crushed the Transparent Cube and killed Protector Wu, then explained that he had imprisoned him to delay the Hun Clan from finding the household.
• Xiao Zhan asked whether stronger enemies would keep coming, and Xiao Lin reassured him that he had an escape plan and a way to stop the force from pursuing them.
• Xiao Lin revealed that the Hun Clan had produced a Dou Emperor and had secretly targeted the Xiao Household because of an ancient blood feud and the Tou She Ancient God Jade.
• Xiao Lin told Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue that the Xiao Household had once been an Emperor Clan and that Xun’er belonged to the Gu Clan, which had placed her with them to seek the same item.

Xiao Lin finally told Xiao Zhan that he had been a Dou Venerable when he retired, but he invented a reason for hiding his strength by claiming his late wife had asked him to help their son stand on his own. Xiao Zhan took the story to heart and resolved to work harder, while Xiao Lin continued to remember his wife.

• Xiao Zhan pressed Xiao Lin to explain why he had hidden his strength, and Xiao Lin admitted he had already been a Dou Venerable when he retired.
• Xiao Lin explained that he had pretended to be gravely injured to avoid Gu Yuan, the Gu Clan chief and one of the continent's strongest experts.
• Unable to tell Xiao Zhan the real reason for his long concealment, Xiao Lin brought out a piece of Black Jade and claimed his late wife had asked him to let their son make his own way.
• Xiao Zhan believed the story, felt he had disappointed his parents, and vowed to work harder; Yang Xiyue promised to help him.
• Xiao Lin encouraged Xiao Zhan and privately smiled as he stroked the Black Jade and remembered his wife.

After Yun Shan recovered some of his soul injuries, Xiao Lin discussed the Soul Hall threat with him and learned why he did not plan to venture into the Central Plains. Yun Shan asked Xiao Lin to take Yun Yun there instead, while he intended to return to managing the Misty Cloud Sect.

• Xiao Lin gave Yun Shan a soul-repairing pill, and Yun Shan swallowed it and began to recover.
• Yun Shan asked Xiao Lin how he planned to handle the Soul Hall, and Xiao Lin said its true target was an item held by the Xiao Household.
• Xiao Lin asked whether Yun Shan would venture into the Central Plains, but Yun Shan said he wanted a peaceful life.
• Xiao Lin realized Yun Shan's real reason was Yun Yun, and Yun Shan admitted he wanted Xiao Lin to take her to the Central Plains to gain experience.
• Xiao Lin concluded that Yun Shan planned to come out of retirement and manage the Misty Cloud Sect while Yun Yun traveled.