Chapter Summaries

Yun Shan and Xiao Lin arrived just as Protector Wu was about to kill Yun Yun, revealing that Yun Shan had only pretended to cooperate with the Soul Hall. Xiao Lin declared he would end the farce, leaving Protector Wu facing two powerful opponents.

• Protector Wu prepared to kill Yun Yun after she slew the traitorous Yun Leng.
• Xiao Lin struck from the sky, destroying Protector Wu's remaining Soul Locks and interrupting his attack.
• Yun Shan and Xiao Lin appeared beside each other in midair, and Protector Wu recognized Xiao Lin as the Xiao Household's Old Clan Leader.
• Yun Shan revealed that he had been acting along with Protector Wu and condemned him for turning Yun Leng against the Misty Cloud Sect and trying to kill Yun Yun.
• Protector Wu threatened Yun Shan with the Soul Hall, but Yun Shan dismissed the threat and Yun Yun realized her teacher had not truly changed.
• Xiao Lin announced that he would bring the farce to an end.

Xiao Lin used overwhelming spatial power to capture Protector Wu in a tiny cube, revealing that he had been manipulating events to buy the Xiao Household time. He, Yun Shan, and Yun Yun returned to the Misty Cloud Sect with Wu Ying imprisoned and Yun Yun eager for answers.

• Protector Wu transformed into purple-black mist and tried to escape, but Xiao Lin folded space around him and trapped him.
• Protector Wu recognized Xiao Lin's power as that of a Dou Venerable or higher and learned that Xiao Lin and Yun Shan had been buying the Xiao Household over a year.
• Xiao Lin compressed the surrounding space into a transparent cube, imprisoning Wu Ying and telling him he would keep him alive because he was useful.
• Yun Shan and Yun Yun examined the cube, and Yun Yun tested its surface after Xiao Lin allowed her to.
• Xiao Lin, Yun Shan, and Yun Yun returned to the Misty Cloud Sect, where Yun Shan promised to answer Yun Yun's questions.

After interrogating Protector Wu, Xiao Lin learned that the Soul Hall would discover his disappearance in four years and send someone to investigate the Xiao Household. Realizing time was short, he considered using the incomplete Tou She Ancient God Jade to buy the Xiao Household more time.

• Xiao Lin tortured Protector Wu and learned about the Soul Hall’s branch halls and operations beyond the Central Plains.
• Xiao Lin learned that Soul Hall Protectors had to return to the Central Plains every five years to report and hand over collected souls.
• Protector Wu had made his last report shortly before discovering the Xiao Household, leaving four years until the Soul Hall would notice his disappearance.
• Xiao Lin weighed the threat from the Soul Hall and the Hun Clan against his limited ability to increase his strength.
• Xiao Lin took out the incomplete Tou She Ancient God Jade, considering a plan involving it.

After Protector Wu’s defeat, Xiao Lin stayed in the Jia Ma Empire while Yun Yun came to terms with her feelings for Xiao Yan. Xiao Lin then visited the Nalan Family to see the poisoned Nalan Jie.

• Yun Yun learned the truth about Yun Shan’s act and discovered that Xiao Lin was far stronger than she had known.
• After facing death, Yun Yun regretted holding back her feelings in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and her bashful visit to the Xiao Household puzzled Xiao Lin, Xiao Zhan, and Yang Xiyue.
• Xiao Lin reassured Nalan Su that the Nalan Family had nothing to feel guilty about since it had never acted against the Xiao Household.
• Xiao Lin asked Nalan Su to take him to Nalan Jie, who was suffering from Brand Poison contracted while fighting the Branding Iron Poison Seal Python.

Xiao Lin visited the poisoned Nalan Jie and cured him with a tier seven antidote pill. He then gave Nalan Jie a Mid-Tier Earth Rank cultivation method, leaving him stunned by Xiao Lin’s generosity and power.

• Xiao Lin visited Nalan Jie, traded barbs with him, and provoked him into using some of the Dou Qi suppressing the Brand Poison.
• The Brand Poison erupted, and Nalan Jie collapsed, but Xiao Lin gave him a tier seven antidote pill and helped him absorb it.
• Nalan Jie recovered as the pill expelled the Brand Poison from his body, and he realized Xiao Lin had cured an illness Gu He could not treat.
• Xiao Lin gave Nalan Jie the Mid-Tier Earth Rank Lionheart Art, leaving Nalan Jie shocked.

Xiao Lin gave Nalan Jie the Lionheart Art, while Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan both reached Three-Star Dou Ling and prepared for their coming match. Xiao Yan returned with Hai Bodong, but a message from the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace left Xiao Lin furious at the Heaven Dark Sect.

• Nalan Jie reluctantly accepted the Lionheart Art after Xiao Lin called it an advance betrothal gift on Xiao Yan's behalf.
• Nalan Yanran emerged from the Misty Cloud Sect's Gate of Life and Death as a Three-Star Dou Ling, silencing doubts about her position as Young Sect Master.
• Xiao Yan returned as a Three-Star Dou Ling, keeping his strength secret from outsiders.
• Xiao Yan brought back Hai Bodong after Yao Lao refined a Sealing-Breaking Pill to remove his seal, strengthening the Mittel Family's partnership with the Xiao Household.
• With seven days left before Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran's match, Xiao Lin received a message from Zuo He and angrily named the Heaven Dark Sect.

Xiao Lin returned to the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace after learning that it was in conflict with the Heavenly Nether Sect. Grand Elder Zuo He explained that the dispute began when the Fire Cloud Sect reneged on a mineral deal and a Heavenly Nether Sect Dou Zun injured the Palace’s Elder; Xiao Lin prepared to address the provocation.

• Xiao Lin abandoned his plans at the Xiao Household and rushed back to the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace after receiving word of the conflict.
• Xiao Lin convened an emergency meeting and asked Grand Elder Zuo He to explain how the dispute began.
• Zuo He said he suspected the Heavenly Nether Sect had deliberately provoked the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace.
• Zuo He explained that the Palace had paid the Fire Cloud Sect for a mineral vein needed to make tier-four and higher Formation Disks.
• When the Palace’s Elder went to claim the vein, the Fire Cloud Sect denied the agreement, and a Heavenly Nether Sect Dou Zun injured and expelled him.

Xiao Lin and the senior elders of the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace examined why the Heavenly Nether Sect had interfered in their dispute with the Fire Cloud Sect. Xiao Lin concluded that the Soul Hall was likely provoking the Heavenly Nether Sect because of its feud with him.

• Grand Elder Zuo He explained how the Heavenly Nether Sect had backed the Fire Cloud Sect and injured a Myriad Formation Spirit Palace elder over the mineral vein.
• Xiao Lin agreed that the Heavenly Nether Sect was targeting the palace but said the elders had overlooked an important question.
• Xiao Lin asked why the Heavenly Nether Sect had suddenly turned against the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace.
• Second Elder Weng Xing suggested that someone had incited the Heavenly Nether Sect, and Xiao Lin affirmed his suspicion.
• Grand Elder Zuo He realized the Soul Hall was likely behind the affair because Xiao Lin had killed its Third Heavenly Venerate, Shuo Wu.

Xiao Lin suspected the Soul Hall had pushed the Heavenly Nether Sect into provoking the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace, so he ordered a force to attack the Fire Cloud Sect and planned to use the campaign to establish the Palace’s might. As the force marched openly, Thunder Venerable worried the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace might target his Wind Lightning Pavilion, then decided to wait and see.

• Xiao Lin rejected Zuo He's suggestion to call on the Sound Valley and decided the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace would deal with the Heavenly Nether Sect on its own.
• Xiao Lin made secret arrangements, and the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace sent five Dou Zun experts and other forces to destroy the Fire Cloud Sect.
• The Palace’s conspicuous march alarmed factions across the region, especially Thunder Venerable, who feared his Wind Lightning Pavilion was the target.
• Thunder Venerable learned the Palace’s force was heading for the Fire Cloud Sect and chose to wait rather than investigate.

Tian Mingzi led the Heavenly Nether Sect’s forces at the Fire Cloud Sect, confident that his new Half-Saint strength would let him defeat the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace and claim its resources. Weng Xing brought the palace’s forces to the sect’s gates, with Xiao Lin concealing his true condition as he prepared to provoke the Soul Hall’s plans.

• The Heavenly Nether Sect occupied the Fire Cloud Sect’s main hall and drove its members outside.
• Tian Mingzi revealed that the Soul Hall had helped him become an Initial Half-Saint in exchange for provoking the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace.
• Elder Qiu questioned whether Lin Xiao would appear, and Tian Mingzi said he would defeat him whether or not his injuries had healed.
• Tian Mingzi led the Heavenly Nether Sect outside to meet the arriving Myriad Formation Spirit Palace forces.
• Xiao Lin concealed his cultivation to make it seem that he was still injured as Weng Xing led the party to the Fire Cloud Sect’s gates.

Xiao Lin confronted Tian Mingzi as the Heavenly Nether Sect moved to destroy the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace. He pretended his severe injuries remained unhealed to lure Tian Mingzi into underestimating him, then challenged him to fight.

• Tian Mingzi led the Heavenly Nether Sect out to face Weng Xing and the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace’s forces.
• Tian Mingzi declared that the Heavenly Nether Sect intended to wipe out the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace and trapped its people by controlling the surrounding space.
• Tian Mingzi called for Xiao Lin to appear, and Xiao Lin emerged looking pale and gravely injured.
• Xiao Lin offered to give up the mineral vein and overlook the attack on his elder if Tian Mingzi let the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace destroy the Fire Cloud Sect.
• Tian Mingzi refused to withdraw his protection of the Fire Cloud Sect, and Xiao Lin challenged him to fight while continuing to feign weakness.

Xiao Lin confronted Tian Mingzi, who revealed that the Heavenly Nether Sect was cooperating with the Soul Hall. Their forces and leaders began fighting, and Xiao Lin used the Three Thousand Burning Flame to scorch Tian Mingzi before the battle continued.

• Tian Mingzi attacked Xiao Lin with spatial power, but Xiao Lin revealed that he had reached the Initial Half-Saint level.
• Tian Mingzi admitted that the Heavenly Nether Sect was cooperating with the Soul Hall, and he and Xiao Lin moved elsewhere to fight.
• Weng Xing and Elder Qiu led their sects into battle, with Weng Xing facing Elder Qiu.
• Tian Mingzi’s Blood Fiend Palm and spear attacks failed to overwhelm Xiao Lin, who answered with the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
• Xiao Lin’s fire dragon swallowed Tian Mingzi, who soon burst free with scorch marks covering him.

Xiao Lin feigned worsening injuries to make Tian Mingzi believe he was nearing defeat, then prepared to end their battle with Great Sun Soaring in the Sky. The chapter left the attack gathering into a second sun above them.

• Xiao Lin countered Tian Mingzi's Ghost-Soul Spear Shadows with fireballs formed from the three thousand burning flame.
• Xiao Lin used Star-Devouring Jade to block Tian Mingzi's Bloodthirsty Bone-Disintegrating Hand, then pretended the clash had badly wounded him.
• Xiao Lin threatened to take Tian Mingzi down with him, prompting Tian Mingzi to retreat and attack from a distance.
• Tian Mingzi continued bombarding Xiao Lin with Dou Techniques while Xiao Lin pretended to grow weaker and spat out blood.
• Xiao Lin announced his final strike and gathered the purple-black flames into a second sun with Great Sun Soaring in the Sky.

Xiao Lin used his Three Thousand Burning Flame to unleash Great Sun Across the Sky against Tian Mingzi, while Weng Xing defeated Elder Qiu below. Tian Mingzi’s counterattack failed, and the purplish-black sun continued bearing down on him as Xiao Lin pretended to be near collapse.

• The fighters below recognized the purplish-black sun as Lin Xiao’s Three Thousand Burning Flame and wondered how the battle above was going.
• Weng Xing defeated Elder Qiu, leaving the Heavenly Nether Sect’s forces with little chance of winning the battle below.
• Xiao Lin’s Great Sun Across the Sky pressured Tian Mingzi, who gathered his strength and unleashed the Heavenly Nether Asura Hand.
• Tian Mingzi’s blood-red palm projection canceled only part of the purplish-black sun’s power, and the remaining force kept descending toward him.
• Xiao Lin pretended to vomit blood and said he had come a billionth of a hair from losing, leaving Tian Mingzi unwilling to accept defeat.

Xiao Lin defeated Tian Mingzi and forced the Heavenly Nether Sect to surrender, but the Heavenly Underworld Old Demon intervened before he could finish Tian Mingzi off. Xiao Lin negotiated compensation for releasing the captives, and the chapter left him inspecting the payment with interest.

• The Myriad Formation Spirit Palace realized Xiao Lin had pinned Tian Mingzi beneath the purple-black sun, while the Heavenly Nether Sect’s members lost hope and stopped resisting.
• Xiao Lin slowly pressed Tian Mingzi toward the ground as both sides watched, pretending that controlling the technique was worsening his injuries.
• The Heavenly Underworld Old Demon arrived through a Spatial Passage and asked Xiao Lin to release Tian Mingzi and the captured members of the Heavenly Nether Sect.
• Xiao Lin refused to back down and threatened to detonate his technique, so the Heavenly Underworld Old Demon agreed to pay compensation.
• The Heavenly Underworld Old Demon sent Xiao Lin a Storage Ring, and Xiao Lin caught it and looked inside with brightened eyes.

Xiao Lin accepted the Heavenly Underworld Old Demon’s ransom and let the Heavenly Nether Sect leave after learning the Lei Clan backed the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace. The Heavenly Nether Sect withdrew for now but planned to seize the palace after Xiao Lin died, as news of the battle spread across the Central Plains Continent.

• Xiao Lin prized the nine-leaf heavenly star grass in the Heavenly Underworld Old Demon’s ransom, accepted the offer, and released Tian Mingzi.
• The Heavenly Underworld Old Demon stopped Tian Mingzi from attacking again, and Xiao Lin’s side released the captured Heavenly Nether Sect members.
• The Heavenly Underworld Old Demon departed with the Heavenly Nether Sect and privately dismissed Xiao Lin as a threat after seeing him faint.
• Back at their sect, the Heavenly Underworld Old Demon told Tian Mingzi that the Lei Clan backed the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace and ordered him to avoid further clashes for now.
• The Heavenly Underworld Old Demon predicted the sect could take the palace after Xiao Lin died, while news of the battle spread across the Central Plains Continent.

Gu You’s scheme to use the Heavenly Nether Sect against the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace failed after Heavenly Underworld Old Demon uncovered his concealment of the Lei Clan’s involvement. As the Central Plains reevaluated the palace’s strength, the palace wiped out the Fire Cloud Sect, leaving its grounds submerged beneath a lake.

• Gu You had secretly hidden the Lei Clan’s connection to the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace and funded Tian Mingzi’s breakthrough to provoke the Heavenly Nether Sect into attacking.
• Heavenly Underworld Old Demon discovered Gu You’s deception, ended the conflict, and demanded an explanation from him, preventing Gu You from blaming the Heavenly Nether Sect.
• Gu You accepted that he could not currently strike at Lin Xiao or the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace and turned to handling Soul Hall recruitment while waiting for the patriarch and leaders to return.
• The Heavenly Nether Sect’s defeat and retreat stirred the Central Plains, where factions began regarding the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace as stronger than the Three Valleys but below the Two Sects.
• The Myriad Formation Spirit Palace destroyed the Fire Cloud Sect, whose former grounds became a lake.

After returning from the battle with the Heavenly Nether Sect, Xiao Lin learned that the sect had identified its wavering disciples and planted spies. He approved Zuo He's plan to purge dangerous spies, use a few others to spread chosen information, and give wavering disciples one warning, then distributed the battle spoils as rewards while preparing for his breakthrough.

• The Myriad Formation Spirit Palace's senior leaders praised Xiao Lin's victory over Tian Mingzi and his convincing display of grave injuries.
• Xi Miaoyun gave Xiao Lin a list of wavering disciples and spies identified within the sect during the battle.
• Zuo He proposed eliminating brazen spies, retaining a few to pass along selected information, and warning wavering disciples once before treating any repeat offenders as traitors.
• Xiao Lin approved Zuo He's plan and ordered the other leaders to help carry it out.
• Xiao Lin gave Zuo He the Storage Ring from the Heavenly Underworld Old Demon to distribute among battle participants according to their contributions.
• The Myriad Formation Spirit Palace purged most of its spies and rewarded its fighters, while Xiao Lin finished preparing for his breakthrough.

Xiao Lin absorbed the nine-leaf heavenly star grass during seclusion and advanced to mid-stage three-star Dou Sheng. After returning to the Xiao Household to recuperate, he learned that Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran had fought to a draw and suspected Xiao Yan had deliberately held back.

• Xiao Lin decided to absorb the nine-leaf heavenly star grass directly because he could not afford to hire a ninth-grade Alchemist.
• After nearly two months of cultivation, Xiao Lin absorbed the grass's essence and advanced from late-stage two-star to mid-stage three-star.
• Xiao Lin familiarized himself with his improved strength, left the Realm of Formations, and instructed First Elder Zuo He before returning to the Xiao Household to recuperate.
• Xiao Lin learned that Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran had fought to a simultaneous inability to continue, leaving their battle a draw.
• Xiao Lin was astonished by the result and concluded that Xiao Yan must have deliberately held back against Nalan Yanran.

Xiao Lin reflected on how Xiao Yan had escaped the dilemma of his fight with Nalan Yanran, then turned his attention to the approaching Alchemist Grand Tournament. The Xiao Household arrived in the Imperial Capital to enter the tournament and visit its ancestral residence, while Xiao Yan remained more interested in reaching Jia Nan Academy and the Fallen Heart Flame.

• Xiao Lin praised Xiao Yan for steering his fight with Nalan Yanran toward a draw and considered how to challenge him next.
• The Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Grand Tournament drew alchemists and spectators to the Imperial Capital.
• The Xiao Household's large procession arrived at the city gates, where guards let them pass because of their standing and ties to the Imperial Family.
• Xiao Zhan returned to the Imperial Capital with Yang Xiyue, Xiao Yan, Xun'er, and other Xiao Household members to enter the tournament and visit the family elders.
• Xiao Yan felt bored and recalled that he had wanted to reach Jia Nan Academy sooner to absorb and refine the Fallen Heart Flame.