Chapter Summaries

Xiao Lin studied the Emperor Array after seeing it summon Tou She Ancient God's phantom to suppress Zhukun. After nearly half a year, he understood how the array trapped anyone who tried to force open the Ancient Emperor's Cave gates without gathering all eight pieces of the Tou She Ancient God Jade.

• Zhukun attacked the barrier, and Tou She Ancient God's phantom appeared and pinned him to the ground.
• Zhukun explained that the phantom had suppressed him every time he attacked the barrier, and Xiao Lin asked him to repeat the test for further study.
• Over nearly half a year, Xiao Lin improved his Spirit Array Master skills while Zhukun endured repeated suppressions and warned him to keep them secret.
• Xiao Lin determined that the Emperor Array drew its power from the special space and could not be exhausted by repeated attacks.
• Xiao Lin discovered that any Dou Sheng Expert who tried to force open the cave gates without all eight pieces of the Tou She Ancient God Jade would be trapped by the array.

As graduation approached, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran reflected on their time at Jia Nan Academy and visited Xiao Lin to say goodbye. Xiao Lin left the Ancient Emperor's Cave to receive them at his residence in the Trial Grounds.

• Xiao Yan decided he had no reason to delay graduation, since his Dou Zong cultivation made Jia Nan Academy's help increasingly limited.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran reminisced about their time at the academy and agreed to visit again after graduation.
• Xiao Yan mentioned bringing Xun'er along, souring Nalan Yanran's mood until he apologized and appeased her.
• Xiao Yan suggested visiting Lin Supreme Elder to thank him, and Nalan Yanran agreed to go with him at once.
• Xiao Lin sensed Xiao Yan's arrival in the Trial Grounds, left the Ancient Emperor's Cave, and waited for Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran at his residence.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran passed through the trials, greeted Xiao Lin, and sat down at his invitation.

Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran visited Xiao Lin to thank him before graduating from Jia Nan Academy. Xiao Yan planned to return to the Xiao Household and then travel to the Central Plains, where he intended to join his teacher’s sect, while Xiao Lin asked him to consider the sect connected to the academy’s Spatial Wormhole.

• Xiao Lin served tea to Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, who praised his brewing while Xiao Yan admitted he knew little about tea.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran thanked Xiao Lin for his help as they prepared to graduate in half a month.
• Xiao Yan said he would return to the Xiao Household before heading to the Central Plains, and Nalan Yanran said she would go with him.
• Xiao Lin asked whether they would use Jia Nan Academy’s Spatial Wormhole to reach the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace.
• Xiao Yan explained that he planned to join Yao Lao’s Starfall Pavilion, but promised to visit the sect connected to the academy once he had established himself in the Central Plains.

Xiao Lin spoke with Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran about their plans after graduating from Jia Nan Academy, then gave them each a Storage Ring as a graduation gift. Xiao Yan’s ring was sealed until he reached Dou Venerable, and it contained a Dou Sheng Corpse intended for Yao Lao.

• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran told Xiao Lin they planned to visit home after graduation and then travel to the Central Plains together.
• Xiao Lin teased the pair about their engagement, and they said they had no immediate wedding plans.
• Xiao Lin hinted that he would travel between the Central Plains and Jia Nan Academy and might meet them there unexpectedly.
• As Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran prepared to leave, Xiao Lin gave them each a Storage Ring and sealed Xiao Yan’s ring until he reached Dou Venerable.
• After they left, Xiao Lin returned to the Ancient Emperor’s Cave to study the Emperor Array; the gift inside Xiao Yan’s ring was a Dou Sheng Corpse prepared for Yao Lao.

On the way back to the Pan Gate Base, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran discussed Xiao Lin’s generous gifts, and Xiao Yan later asked Yao Lao to open the Storage Ring he had received. Yao Lao failed to break its restriction, leaving Xiao Yan unable to access the Dou Sheng’s corpse inside.

• Nalan Yanran inspected Xiao Lin’s Storage Ring and found high-tier medicinal pills, Dou Techniques, and a Formation Disk.
• Nalan Yanran wondered why Xiao Lin treated them so well, while Xiao Yan guessed it was because they had brought honor to Jia Nan Academy.
• After returning to the Pan Gate Base, Xiao Yan asked Yao Lao to break the restriction on his Storage Ring.
• Yao Lao tried to open the Storage Ring but failed, realizing Xiao Lin had anticipated his help.
• Xiao Lin had sealed Hun Zhan’s Dou Sheng corpse inside the Storage Ring, intending it to help Yao Lao achieve a more powerful resurrection.

Xiao Yan safeguarded the Storage Ring containing a Dou Sheng's remains until he reached the Dou Zun Realm, then prepared to graduate from Jia Nan Academy with Nalan Yanran. They left after saying farewell to Pan Gate and their Xiao Household cousins, while Su Qian, Qian Bai Er Lao, and Zhu Fang watched them depart and predicted the academy would take pride in Xiao Yan.

• Yao Lao confirmed that only Xiao Yan could undo the Storage Ring's restriction, and Xiao Yan resolved to break through to the Dou Zun Realm before opening it.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran spent the weeks before graduation preparing to leave Jia Nan Academy.
• At the Pan Gate Base, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran bid farewell to Hu Jia, Wu Hao, Lin Yan, and the other members, while Xiao Yan left Pan Gate many medicinal pills.
• Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Mei explained their plans to delay graduation and return to the Xiao Household, and Xiao Yan said he would see them there.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran left Jia Nan Academy, while Su Qian, Qian Bai Er Lao, and Zhu Fang watched them go and praised Xiao Yan's future prospects.

Xiao Yan returned to Wutan City after graduating from Jia Nan Academy, bringing Nalan Yanran to the Xiao Household, where Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue welcomed them. Xiao Yan learned that Xun'er had been taken home by her clansmen and noticed that his father seemed to know more about her departure.

• Wutan City prospered under the Xiao Household's influence while Xiao Zhan managed the family's affairs and missed his children.
• Xiao Yan arrived at the Xiao Household with Nalan Yanran, and Yang Xiyue excitedly welcomed him home.
• Yang Xiyue chatted with Nalan Yanran while Xiao Zhan teased Xiao Yan about bringing his fiancée home.
• Xiao Zhan told Xiao Yan that Xun'er had been taken home by her clansmen, and Xiao Yan questioned why his father was not surprised.

After returning from Jia Nan Academy as a Dou Zong, Xiao Yan visited the Jia Ma Empire’s major powers with Nalan Yanran before learning that Yun Yun had gone to the Central Plains. Back at the Xiao Household, he discovered that the Snake-People Tribe had requested a visit specifically to see him.

• Xiao Yan’s return and Dou Zong strength impressed the Xiao Household, and he visited the Nalan Family with Nalan Yanran.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran visited several allied powers before ascending to the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Yun Shan told Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran that Yun Yun had left for the Central Plains, prompting them both to decide to go there and find her.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran left the Misty Cloud Sect and returned separately to their families to spend time with them before departing for the Central Plains.
• Xiao Zhan showed Xiao Yan a letter saying the Snake-People Tribe planned to visit the Xiao Household specifically to see him, and Xiao Yan realized he had intended to visit them himself.

Xiao Yan learned that the Snake-People Tribe had specifically summoned him and agreed to help Yue Mei confirm something. After his blood reacted to an emerald crystal ball, Yue Mei told him that Queen Medusa was pregnant.

• Xiao Zhan questioned Xiao Yan about why the Snake-People Tribe had asked for him, and Xiao Yan said he would meet their envoy himself.
• Three days later, Yue Mei arrived at the Xiao Household and discussed its cooperation with Xiao Zhan while repeatedly looking toward Xiao Yan.
• Yue Mei explained that the Snake-People Tribe wanted to confirm something through Xiao Yan, and he agreed to help.
• Xiao Yan placed a drop of blood on Yue Mei's crystal ball, which glowed red.
• Yue Mei told Xiao Yan that Queen Medusa was pregnant, leaving him stunned.

Yue Mei revealed that Medusa was pregnant with Xiao Yan’s child, stunning Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan, and Yang Xiyue. After accepting the news, Xiao Yan decided to go to the Snake-People Tribe Holy City to speak with Medusa in person.

• Xiao Zhan misunderstood Yue Mei’s remarks and congratulated the Snake-People Tribe on Medusa’s supposed wedding, while Yang Xiyue began to suspect Xiao Yan was involved.
• Yue Mei confirmed through the Snake-People Tribe’s secret art that Xiao Yan was the biological father of Medusa’s unborn child and that the child was a girl.
• Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan were stunned, while Yang Xiyue apologized to Yue Mei for their reaction.
• Xiao Yan accepted responsibility for the child and told Yue Mei he would go to the Snake-People Tribe Holy City to speak with Medusa.

After learning that Medusa was carrying his child, Xiao Yan decided to visit her at the Snake-People Tribe Holy City. Yue Mei brought him there three days later, where Grand Commander Kui Xing awaited them at the Imperial Palace entrance.

• Xiao Yan refused Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue's offer to accompany him, saying he needed to resolve matters with Medusa himself.
• Yang Xiyue fussed over Xiao Yan and urged him to take care of pregnant Medusa, while Yue Mei silently objected to the Xiao Household treating their queen as a daughter-in-law.
• Xiao Yan agreed to return with Yue Mei to the Snake-People Tribe Holy City, determined to see Medusa and their child.
• Three days later, Yue Mei brought Xiao Yan to the Holy City after handling the affairs between the Snake-People Tribe and the Xiao Household.
• At the Imperial Palace entrance, Yue Mei told Grand Commander Kui Xing that she had brought Xiao Yan to see Her Majesty the Queen.

Xiao Yan arrived in the Snake-People Tribe Holy City, where Kui Xing confronted him over taking Medusa away and then attacked him. Medusa appeared and learned why Xiao Yan had come, while he took the blame to protect Kui Xing and Yue Mei from punishment.

• Kui Xing accused Xiao Yan of taking Medusa from the Snake-People Tribe and attacked him before hearing his explanation.
• Xiao Yan stood his ground against Kui Xing's punch, revealing that he had become a Dou Zong.
• Medusa arrived through a Spatial Passage, and Kui Xing and Yue Mei knelt before her.
• Xiao Yan told Medusa that he had asked Yue Mei to bring him to the Holy City and that the commanders were not at fault.
• Medusa dismissed Kui Xing and Yue Mei, who left with less resentment toward Xiao Yan.

Medusa took Xiao Yan into the Snake-People Tribe's Imperial Palace, where they argued over his role in the life of her unborn child. Xiao Yan shifted from confronting her to coaxing her, hoping to make her acknowledge him as the child's father.

• Medusa led Xiao Yan through the Imperial Palace while Snake-People Tribe guards knelt to her.
• Xiao Yan privately took pride in having gotten Medusa pregnant, and Medusa sensed his thoughts and warned him not to presume too much.
• Xiao Yan mentioned the child, and Medusa insisted that deciding whether to keep it was her choice.
• Xiao Yan declared that he had a right as the child's father, but Medusa said she had not acknowledged him as one.
• Xiao Yan changed his tone and asked what it would take for Medusa to acknowledge him, while Medusa flustered at his coaxing.

Medusa privately wanted to keep her child, while Xiao Yan promised to care for her and the baby despite her protests. The Four Great Elders revealed they had arranged for Xiao Yan to come because they wanted his help refining a Snake-People Tribe Pregnancy-Stabilizing Pill.

• Xiao Yan told Medusa he would be a good father and take care of her and their child, leaving her flustered and protesting that she needed no help.
• The Four Great Elders arrived and urged Medusa to give Xiao Yan a chance.
• Medusa accused the Four Great Elders of secretly contacting her commanders to bring Xiao Yan to her, and Xiao Yan awkwardly rubbed his nose.
• The elders explained that the child was important to the Snake-People Tribe and that Xiao Yan, as an Alchemist, could give it a better start.
• Medusa insisted she had her own plans, though she felt too embarrassed to ask Xiao Yan for help refining a Pregnancy-Stabilizing Pill unique to the Snake-People Tribe.

The four elders explained that the Snake-People Tribe had secret methods to improve the unborn child’s talent, with the highest grade requiring a Tier 7 Heavenly Soul Blood Fusion Pill. Xiao Yan committed to refining it, winning Medusa’s approval as the child’s father, and the old woman returned with the recipe and ingredients.

• The old woman explained that the elders had brought Xiao Yan to the Holy City because their secret methods could improve the child in Medusa’s womb.
• Xiao Yan said he could refine medicinal pills below Tier 7, and the four elders praised his abilities and his relationship with Medusa.
• The old woman began explaining the five grades of secret methods, but Xiao Yan chose the highest grade and requested the Heavenly Soul Blood Fusion Pill recipe.
• Xiao Yan promised to refine the pill, and Medusa grew moved and more accepting of him as the child’s father.
• The old woman left and returned with the pill recipe and some ingredients.

The Snake-People Tribe gave Xiao Yan the recipe and ingredients for the Heavenly Soul Blood Fusion Pill, but they still needed two Seventh-Order Magical Beast cores. Xiao Yan left to hunt them himself, while Medusa stayed behind, unsettled by his teasing and the elders’ observations about their relationship.

• The Snake-People Tribe’s elder gave Xiao Yan the pill recipe and gathered ingredients, explaining that two Seventh-Order Magical Beast cores were still missing.
• Medusa prepared to hunt the beasts herself, but Xiao Yan and the Four Great Elders urged her to stay safe because she was pregnant.
• Xiao Yan whispered to Medusa before leaving to hunt the beasts, leaving her flustered and angry.
• The Four Great Elders discussed Medusa’s unusual feelings toward Xiao Yan and agreed to warn others not to act against him.
• Medusa overheard the elders, scolded them, and remained behind waiting for Xiao Yan’s return.

After three months of searching, Xiao Yan returned to the Snake-People Tribe with two seventh-order monster cores, pretending to be severely injured. Medusa panicked when she learned he was hurt and personally carried him away, revealing how much her feelings for him had changed.

• Xiao Yan searched the Jia Ma Empire and beyond for seventh-order magical beasts, spared the tier-six Amethyst Winged Lion King, and eventually killed two suitable beasts despite suffering injuries.
• Medusa dreamed that Xiao Yan returned badly hurt, then awoke when a guard announced his return.
• The guard told Medusa that Xiao Yan was severely injured, and she rushed out of the palace in alarm.
• Xiao Yan presented Medusa with two seventh-order monster cores before pretending to faint in Yue Mei's arms.
• Medusa took Xiao Yan from Yue Mei and carried him away, while Yue Mei noticed the queen's changed attitude.
• Medusa recalled her dream and desperately told herself that it was only a dream.

Xiao Yan pretended to be gravely injured so Medusa would worry about him, and she finally acknowledged him as the father of her child. After Yue Mei interrupted their tender moment, Xiao Yan remained in Medusa’s boudoir to “recuperate,” and news of their relationship spread through the Snake-People Tribe’s Holy City.

• Xiao Yan feigned unconsciousness while Medusa carried him to her bed and called for a physician.
• Xiao Yan woke and told Medusa he had found the two tier seven monster cores for their child.
• Medusa admitted she would not deprive their child of a father and warned Xiao Yan that only she could kill him.
• Xiao Yan promised Medusa he would not die at someone else’s hands, but Yue Mei interrupted their moment.
• Xiao Yan persuaded Yue Mei not to fetch a physician, and Medusa let him stay in her boudoir to recuperate.
• News that Xiao Yan had moved into Medusa’s boudoir spread throughout the Snake-People Tribe’s Holy City.

Rumors spread that Queen Medusa and Xiao Yan were together, prompting Medusa to confront the Four Great Elders, who had deliberately fueled the gossip to push their relationship forward. She warned them not to interfere in her affairs again, then let the rumors continue as Xiao Yan recovered in the Imperial Palace and prepared to refine her pill.

• Rumors that Medusa had taken Xiao Yan into her bedchamber spread through the Snake-People Tribe Holy City and beyond.
• Medusa confronted the Four Great Elders and accused them of spreading the rumors about her and Xiao Yan.
• The Four Great Elders admitted they had fueled the gossip because they believed Xiao Yan would benefit Medusa and the Snake-People Tribe.
• Medusa warned the elders that any further interference would earn them punishment, and privately resolved not to let them raise her child.
• Medusa eventually left the rumors unchecked, while Xiao Yan spent a month recovering in her bedchamber and regained most of his strength.

Xiao Yan refined the Tier 7 Heavenly Soul Blood Fusion Pill for Medusa and their unborn child. After seven days, he completed it and left Medusa moved by his concern for her.

• Medusa worried that Xiao Yan had not fully recovered, but he reassured her and entered the pill-refining chamber she had prepared.
• Medusa thanked Xiao Yan before leaving him to refine the pill, and he began with four Heavenly Flames and nearly a hundred ingredients.
• Medusa visited Xiao Yan daily while he refined the pill for seven days.
• Pill lightning gathered above the chamber, and Xiao Yan blocked it before catching the completed Heavenly Soul Blood Fusion Pill.
• Medusa checked that Xiao Yan was unharmed, and he gave her the pill while telling her that carrying their child was hard work.