Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan spent over a year training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, advancing to a one-star Dou Master and learning to defeat stronger beasts. While discussing the search for heavenly flames, Yao Lao realized he could not remember how he had subdued the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, leaving the cause of his missing memories unresolved.

• After leaving the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Lin beat Nalan Jie twelve times in a row, then spent the following days visiting people to eat, drink, and play games.
• Xiao Yan trained in the Magical Beast Mountain Range for over a year, rising from a One-Star Dou Zhe to a one-star Dou Master.
• Xiao Yan killed a Blue-Eyed Fox Wolf with his Flame Wheel Dance and recovered its monster core.
• While Xiao Yan roasted the beast, he asked Yao Lao when they would search for heavenly flames, and Yao Lao warned him that he was not strong enough to subdue one.
• Yao Lao began recalling how he had once subdued the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, then realized those memories were missing and questioned whether soul damage or some earlier cause had erased them.

Xiao Yan learned that Yao Lao had lost important memories connected to the Bone Spirit Cold Flame and promised to help him recover them. After another month of training, Xiao Yan went to Qingshan Town to sell his accumulated spoils, where his unusual haul attracted unwanted attention.

• Yao Lao admitted that he had lost memories, including how he subdued the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, and Xiao Yan promised to help him recover them.
• Yao Lao put away the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, unaware that a faint silhouette flickered within it.
• After training for another month, Xiao Yan left the Magical Beast Mountain Range to sell the hundreds of monster cores and other spoils he had gathered.
• Yao Lao urged Xiao Yan to sell his goods quickly, and Xiao Yan began trading them in Qingshan Town.
• Xiao Yan's large haul of magical beast parts and monster cores drew the attention of people with ulterior motives.

Mu Li learned that a teenage boy had sold monster materials for hundreds of thousands of gold coins and decided to seize the opportunity to prove himself. He headed for the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, hoping to rob the boy and impress Xiao Yi Xian, unaware that his decision had put his life in danger.

• Zhang Houzi woke Mu Li and reported that a teenage boy had earned hundreds of thousands by selling magical beast materials.
• Mu Li threatened Zhang Houzi, then became excited when he learned the boy might also sell herbs at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
• Zhang Houzi told Mu Li the boy was heading to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
• Mu Li decided to intercept the boy and use the encounter to impress Xiao Yi Xian, promising Zhang Houzi a reward.

Xiao Yan went to sell medicinal herbs at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, where his conspicuous haul drew attention and made him realize he needed to be more discreet. There he met Xiao Yi Xian for the first time, leaving her curious about him.

• Xiao Yan brought a small pile of medicinal herbs to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion and told Xiao Yu it was only about a tenth of what he had to sell.
• Xiao Yu went to fetch the shopkeeper while customers speculated about Xiao Yan and his affiliations.
• Xiao Yan asked Yao Lao whether he should have concealed his identity, then decided to get a black cloak for future use.
• Xiao Yu returned with Yao Chong and the pavilion physician, Xiao Yi Xian, whom Xiao Yan found striking.
• Xiao Yi Xian noticed Xiao Yan's clear, appreciative gaze and thought he was unusual.

Xiao Yan sold a huge haul of medicinal ingredients to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, where Mu Li arrived and tried to stop the deal. Zhang Houzi then accused Xiao Yan of stealing the Wolf Head Mercenary Group’s missing ingredients, leaving Xiao Yan framed in front of everyone.

• Xiao Yan brought out a large quantity of medicinal ingredients, and Yao Chong offered him 250,000 gold coins for the lot.
• Xiao Yi Xian and the other customers watched as Xiao Yan received VIP treatment while the ingredients were counted.
• Mu Li arrived at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion with Wolf Head Mercenary Group members and told Yao Chong he could not buy Xiao Yan’s ingredients.
• Yao Chong demanded an explanation, and Mu Li signaled Zhang Houzi to carry out their plan.
• Zhang Houzi claimed the ingredients belonged to the Wolf Head Mercenary Group and accused Xiao Yan of lurking near their base.

Xiao Yan confronted Mu Li and the Wolf Head Mercenary Group after they falsely accused him of stealing his medicinal herbs. He left the Myriad Medicine Pavilion without selling them, severed Zhang Houzi’s pointing finger, and challenged Mu Li as Xiao Yi Xian laughed.

• Mu Li and Zhang Houzi accused Xiao Yan of stealing goods from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group and pressured Yao Chong to stop the sale.
• Yao Chong chose to delay the transaction until the accusation was cleared up, so Xiao Yan returned the medicinal herbs to his Storage Ring and decided not to sell them at the pavilion.
• Zhang Houzi pointed at Xiao Yan, who sliced off his finger with a dagger after warning him to stop.
• Mu Li kicked Zhang Houzi away and confronted Xiao Yan, who mocked him and demanded proof of the theft accusation.
• Xiao Yi Xian laughed at Mu Li’s anger while the onlookers watched the confrontation.

Xiao Yan clashed with Mu Li at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion after Mu Li accused him of stealing supplies, and Xiao Yi Xian became increasingly interested in Xiao Yan when she learned his identity. Xiao Yan followed Mu Li outside to face the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, while Xiao Yi Xian prepared to intervene if he needed help.

• Mu Li directed his anger at Xiao Yan, but Yao Chong stopped him from starting a fight inside the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
• Mu Li tried to goad Xiao Yan into leaving, and Xiao Yan revealed his name and agreed to face him outside.
• Xiao Yi Xian recognized Xiao Yan as the grandson Old Master Xiao had praised and decided to help if he fell into danger.
• Mu Li led his men outside, and Xiao Yan followed while Xiao Yi Xian and the other spectators came after them.
• Xiao Yan and Mu Li faced each other outside, with dozens of mercenaries behind Mu Li and no one behind Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan fought the Wolf Head Mercenary Group after Mu Li accused him of stealing their supplies, revealing that he was a Dou Master. He killed Mu Li just as Mu She arrived, leaving Xiao Yan facing the young leader’s father.

• Mu Li ordered the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to attack Xiao Yan, who quickly knocked down their men.
• Xiao Yan released his Dou Qi and cut down most of the group, startling the onlookers and making Yao Chong regret his earlier choice to stay out of the fight.
• Xiao Yan approached the terrified Mu Li, who tried to stall by calling the confrontation a misunderstanding.
• Mu Li threw his Folding Fan at Xiao Yan and fled, but Xiao Yan dodged and hurled a ring of fire after him.
• Mu She arrived as Mu Li called out to him, but Xiao Yan’s ring of fire pierced Mu Li’s heart and killed him.

Xiao Yan killed Mu Li and defeated Mu She in Green Mountain Town, then declared the Wolf Head Mercenary Group finished. Its surviving members fled, leaving the group to collapse without its leaders.

• Mu She found Mu Li dead and confronted Xiao Yan, who refused to back down.
• Xiao Yan and Mu She exchanged attacks, and Xiao Yan used Mountain-Piling Force to make his punches increasingly powerful.
• Mu She unleashed Wind Blade Dance, but Xiao Yan used Wind Wings to evade the blades and charge at him.
• Xiao Yan struck Mu She with Eight Extremes Collapse, breaking his saber and bones and killing him.
• Xiao Yan declared the Wolf Head Mercenary Group destroyed, and its remaining members scattered.

After Xiao Yan destroyed the Wolf Head Mercenary Group and left Green Mountain Town, Xiao Yi Xian secretly followed him by using a tracking powder, while Xiao Lin hurried back to the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace after learning that Xiao Ding had vanished. Xiao Lin confirmed Xiao Ding’s life-preserving safeguard had not activated and learned his grandson had lost contact with the sect a month earlier.

• Xiao Yan left Green Mountain Town unchallenged, and the town’s factions scrambled to claim the Wolf Head Mercenary Group’s former territory.
• Xiao Yi Xian packed her belongings, left a letter for Yao Chong, and departed Green Mountain Town after secretly placing tracking powder on Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Lin returned to the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace after Ji Li informed him that Xiao Ding had gone missing.
• Xiao Lin sensed that the safeguard on Xiao Ding had not activated, then heard from Ji Li that Xiao Ding had lost contact with the sect after traveling for nearly a year.

Xiao Lin learned that Xiao Ding had last been seen near Sound Valley and decided to investigate in person. He reached Mist Valley, the approach to Sound Valley’s headquarters, where the birds’ calls seemed to carry an unknown meaning.

• Ji Li told Xiao Lin that Xiao Ding had last appeared near Sound Valley, and they suspected the valley was connected to his disappearance.
• Xiao Lin chose to visit Sound Valley himself and asked Ji Li, Old Zuo, and the others to handle the sect’s affairs without publicizing his departure.
• Xiao Lin opened a Spatial Passage and left the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace for Sound Valley.
• After about an hour, Xiao Lin entered Mist Valley, where birds called to him in a way that seemed to convey something unknown.

Yan Suxin, the master of Sound Valley, learned that someone had entered Mist Valley and feared the Soul Hall was preparing to attack. Caiyi reported that the intruder did not appear to be a Soul Hall Member, though she could not rule out a disguise.

• A swift figure rushed into Sound Valley's main hall, interrupting the musicians and drawing them toward the hall.
• Yan Suxin played her zither in the main hall as Caiyi arrived with an urgent report.
• Caiyi told Yan Suxin that someone had entered Mist Valley again.
• Yan Suxin asked whether the intruder belonged to the Soul Hall, which had driven Sound Valley into isolation through years of attacks.
• Caiyi said the intruder did not look like a Soul Hall Member, but might be one in disguise.

Yan Suxin learned that Xiao Ding had been detained in Sound Valley after crossing the Heaven-Stacking Maze, since the valley feared he could reveal its route to the Soul Hall. With Xiao Lin now entering Mist Valley, Yan Suxin ordered Caiyi to investigate Xiao Ding and prepare for the worst if Xiao Lin reached the valley.

• Caiyi suggested that Xiao Lin's arrival might be connected to Xiao Ding's disappearance, and Yan Suxin agreed.
• Sound Valley had detained Xiao Ding after he unexpectedly crossed the Heaven-Stacking Maze, fearing that he might expose their hidden route to the Soul Hall.
• Yan Suxin had rejected the proposal to kill Xiao Ding, but Sound Valley still refused to let him leave and hoped he would eventually join them.
• Xiao Ding had settled in Sound Valley while hoping his grandfather or the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace's higher-ups would rescue him.
• Yan Suxin told Caiyi to investigate Xiao Ding's background and said Sound Valley would prepare for the worst if Xiao Lin crossed the maze.

Xiao Lin entered Mist Valley and discovered he was trapped in a natural formation that his soul power could not detect. After observing the valley for half a month, he figured out how it worked, dispersed the mist, and reached the scenery beyond it.

• Caiyi went to find Xiao Ding while Yan Suxin gathered Sound Valley's senior elders to discuss the situation.
• Xiao Lin noticed the valley's surroundings seemed familiar and found himself passing the same marked rock again and again.
• Xiao Lin used his soul power to search for a formation but could not sense one, so he chose to study Mist Valley with his eyes.
• After half a month of observation, Xiao Lin realized Mist Valley contained a natural formation and understood how it operated.
• Xiao Lin shifted the air currents to disperse the mist, then walked beyond it to see what lay ahead.

Lin Xiao entered Sound Valley to retrieve his grandson, Xiao Ding, and introduced himself to Valley Master Yan Suxin as the palace master of the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace. Unable to judge his strength or risk antagonizing him, Yan Suxin invited him to stay while she considered how to keep him from revealing the route through Mist Valley.

• Lin Xiao admired Sound Valley’s scenery and sensed that his grandson, Xiao Ding, was inside.
• Yan Suxin confronted Lin Xiao and could not discern his cultivation, realizing he was far stronger than she was.
• Lin Xiao introduced himself as the Palace Master of the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace and said he had come to take Xiao Ding home.
• Yan Suxin welcomed Lin Xiao and offered him a stay in Sound Valley while concealing her wish to prevent him from leaving.
• Lin Xiao accepted the invitation and asked to see Xiao Ding, so Yan Suxin instructed Caiyi to lead him to his grandson.

Xiao Lin strolled through Sound Valley with Caiyi and found Xiao Ding, who had advanced his soul cultivation to the middle stage of the mortal realm and his Dou Qi to Peak Dou Wang during his stay. Xiao Lin told his grandson he had come to take him home, leaving Xiao Ding certain he was safe.

• Yan Suxin told Caiyi to accompany Xiao Lin and Xiao Ding and ordered the Sound Valley disciples not to disturb or offend them.
• Xiao Lin left with Caiyi to explore Sound Valley while Yan Suxin went deeper into the valley to seek advice about what to do next.
• Xiao Ding reflected on his comfortable stay and the breakthroughs in his soul cultivation and Dou Qi.
• Xiao Lin appeared before Xiao Ding, who nearly cursed at him before recognizing his grandfather.
• Xiao Lin praised Xiao Ding's progress, and Xiao Ding insisted he wanted to return home.
• Xiao Lin told Xiao Ding he had come to take him home, and Xiao Ding trusted that he was safe with his grandfather.

Xiao Lin learned that the Sound Valley had treated Xiao Ding well and spent a day exploring the valley with him. The next morning, Yan Suxin gathered the valley’s elders and disciples and asked Xiao Lin to stay, offering Xiao Ding the privileges of a young valley master.

• Xiao Lin heard Xiao Ding’s account and reassured him that he would not seek revenge on the Sound Valley.
• Xiao Lin explained that he wanted to investigate why the Sound Valley had remained secluded and ask why it had kept Xiao Ding there.
• Xiao Lin and Xiao Ding walked through the valley, where Xiao Lin observed that the disciples’ music practice strengthened their soul power.
• Caiyi led Xiao Lin and Xiao Ding to a gathering of Yan Suxin, elders, and disciples in the valley’s central square.
• Yan Suxin apologized for the gathering and asked Xiao Lin to remain in the Sound Valley, promising to treat him like the master and give Xiao Ding young valley master privileges.

Xiao Lin deduced that Sound Valley was detaining him and Xiao Ding to protect the secret of the Heaven-Stacking Maze from Soul Hall. Just as Yan Suxin feared Xiao Lin might be connected to Soul Hall, an old man playing an erhu appeared.

• Xiao Lin rejected Yan Suxin’s offer to share Sound Valley’s authority, and she declared that the valley would forcibly keep him and Xiao Ding there.
• Yan Suxin explained that Sound Valley would not let anyone who could unravel the Heaven-Stacking Maze leave, and Xiao Ding realized his grandfather might have solved it.
• Xiao Lin inferred that Sound Valley feared its enemies could learn how to cross Mist Valley and that the valley had withdrawn from the world to hide.
• Xiao Lin correctly identified Soul Hall as Sound Valley’s enemy, leaving Yan Suxin and the others frightened.
• As Yan Suxin wondered whether Xiao Lin was connected to Soul Hall, an old man playing an erhu approached with uncanny speed.

The Old Man of Sound Valley used his Soul-Calming Melody to settle Yan Suxin and Sound Valley after Xiao Lin’s deduction about Soul Hall nearly threw them into turmoil. Xiao Lin confirmed that he was connected to Soul Hall as its enemy, leaving Sound Valley stunned and Xiao Ding realizing Soul Hall was also an enemy of the Xiao Household and Myriad Formation Spirit Palace.

• The Old Man of Sound Valley appeared and played his Soul-Calming Melody, restoring Yan Suxin and the others to composure.
• Yan Suxin and Sound Valley’s disciples and elders thanked Old Man Yin, while he reminded them to stay calm even if Soul Hall attacked.
• Xiao Lin asked Old Man Yin whether his deduction about Sound Valley’s predicament was correct, and Old Man Yin confirmed it before asking about Xiao Lin’s connection to Soul Hall.
• Xiao Lin claimed he had a connection to Soul Hall, alarming Sound Valley, then revealed that they were enemies.
• Xiao Ding realized that Soul Hall was an enemy of Xiao Lin and therefore also an enemy of the Xiao Household and Myriad Formation Spirit Palace.

Xiao Lin revealed his enmity toward the Soul Hall and the Hun Clan, then accepted the Old Man of Sound Valley’s challenge to prove himself. He suppressed his cultivation to Intermediate Half-Saint and decisively countered the elder’s opening Soul Dou Technique with the Soul-Shaking Bell.

• Xiao Lin told Yan Suxin that he bore a grudge against both the Soul Hall and the power behind it, the Hun Clan.
• The Old Man of Sound Valley challenged Xiao Lin to a duel, promising that Sound Valley would not interfere with his and Xiao Ding’s departure if Xiao Lin won.
• Xiao Lin accepted, and he and the Old Man of Sound Valley faced each other on the plaza while Xiao Ding and Sound Valley’s people watched from the edges.
• The Old Man of Sound Valley opened with Ghost Valley Killing Sound, sending countless pale blue sound blades toward Xiao Lin.
• Xiao Lin suppressed his cultivation to Intermediate Half-Saint and summoned the Soul-Shaking Bell, whose sound waves wiped out every blade.