Chapter Summaries

After the Heavenly Poison Woman left, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran sought Yun Shan’s protection for their families and set out for the Central Plains. On the way, Xiao Yan revealed that they would join the Starfall Pavilion, founded by his teacher Yao Lao.

• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran learned only that the mysterious Heavenly Poison Woman had appeared in the Cloud Empire, then decided to travel to the Central Plains.
• Yun Shan promised to protect the Xiao Household and Nalan Family while Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran were away.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran received their families’ blessings and reminders before leaving for the Central Plains.
• Xiao Yan declined to use Jia Nan Academy’s Spatial Wormhole because he did not plan to join the faction behind Elder Zhu Fang.
• Xiao Yan told Nalan Yanran that they would join the Starfall Pavilion, and Yao Lao appeared to reveal that he had founded it.

Xiao Yan introduced Nalan Yanran to Yao Lao and explained that Yao Lao had secretly absorbed his Dou Qi in the past to test him. After traveling together to Blackstone City, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran crossed a Spatial Wormhole and arrived in the Central Plains.

• Yao Lao revealed himself to Nalan Yanran and explained that he wanted her to know about him before they reached the Central Plains.
• Xiao Yan told Nalan Yanran that Yao Lao had caused his repeated falls in cultivation as a test, and she promised to help Xiao Yan revive him.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran traveled for about a month to Blackstone City and boarded a Space Shuttle Boat bound for the Central Plains.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran emerged from the Spatial Wormhole and stepped onto Central Plains land hand in hand.

While studying formations in the Ancient Emperor's Cave, Xiao Lin learned that Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran had reached the Central Plains and discussed the region's unrest with Ji Li. He was stunned to learn that Baili Qing and Qing Lin had brought Xiao Yi Xian, a girl with the Woeful Poison Body, to the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace, and immediately headed back.

• Ji Li told Xiao Lin that Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran had arrived in the Central Plains, then teased him for arranging a trial that put his grandson Xiao Yan in difficulty.
• Ji Li reported that rumors of an auction involving the Tou She Ancient God Jade had stirred the Central Plains, keeping the Soul Hall occupied and delaying its investigation into Venerable Qing Hai's death.
• Xiao Lin said his formation studies in the Ancient Emperor's Cave were progressing faster than expected, and Ji Li told him that Qing Lin had become a Dou Venerable in less than ten years.
• Ji Li revealed that Baili Qing and Qing Lin had returned with a talented girl who possessed the Woeful Poison Body.
• After Ji Li named the girl Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Lin ended the call and returned to the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace.

Xiao Lin hurried back to the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace to meet Xiao Yi Xian, who had been staying there for about a month but remained undecided about joining. After Baili Qing and Qing Lin left them alone, Xiao Lin began to tell Xiao Yi Xian what he had come to say.

• Xiao Lin asked Ji Li where Xiao Yi Xian was staying, then went straight to Thousand Shadow Pavilion.
• Xiao Lin found Xiao Yi Xian talking with Baili Qing and Qing Lin, and they introduced him as the Palace Master of the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace.
• Xiao Yi Xian politely told Xiao Lin that her stay had been comfortable, while privately suspecting he had come to persuade her to join.
• Xiao Yi Xian remained hesitant to join because she was used to being alone and feared her Woeful Poison Body brought misfortune to others.
• Baili Qing and Qing Lin left Xiao Lin and Xiao Yi Xian alone after he said he had something to tell her.

Xiao Lin teased Xiao Yi Xian about marriage and suggested she marry his grandson, causing her to decide she would leave the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace. When he hinted at a shared encounter in the Jia Ma Empire's Magical Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Yi Xian realized who he might be, and Xiao Lin revealed a familiar face.

• After Baili Qing and Qing Lin left, Xiao Lin met with Xiao Yi Xian, who remained polite and distant.
• Xiao Lin asked whether Xiao Yi Xian was married and offered to arrange a match with his grandson, despite her refusal to discuss marriage.
• Xiao Yi Xian rejected the proposal and decided to leave the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace as soon as she could.
• Xiao Lin mentioned an unforgettable encounter in the Jia Ma Empire's Magical Beast Mountain Range, making Xiao Yi Xian think of Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Lin changed his appearance and revealed a familiar face to Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Yi Xian discovered that the Palace Master of the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace was Old Master Xiao, the benefactor she had met in Green Mountain Town. As she caught him up on her life, Xiao Lin teased her about her feelings for Xiao Yan and began probing why she had come to the Central Plains without him.

• Xiao Yi Xian recognized Xiao Lin as Old Master Xiao, and he explained that only a few people knew his true identity as the Palace Master of the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace.
• Xiao Yi Xian recounted how she had found and subdued the Netherworld Poison Flame in the Cloud Empire, helping her control the Woeful Poison Body’s adverse effects.
• Xiao Lin pointed out that Xiao Yi Xian had left out her history with Xiao Yan, and she admitted that she liked him.
• Xiao Yi Xian explained that Xiao Yan had not rejected their Engagement Contract and that she had never told him about it, asking Xiao Lin not to blame him.
• Xiao Lin asked why Xiao Yi Xian had come to the Central Plains with Baili Qing and Qing Lin instead of following Xiao Yan, and he noticed her smoothing her pale hair.

Xiao Lin helped Xiao Yi Xian overcome her fear that Xiao Yan would reject her white hair, and she agreed to stay at the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace rather than seek him out. She officially joined the palace and reunited with Qing Lin and Baili Qing, who learned that she knew Xiao Lin’s true identity.

• Xiao Yi Xian admitted that she was avoiding Xiao Yan because she feared he would dislike her changed appearance, and Xiao Lin reassured her that his feelings would reveal his character.
• Xiao Yi Xian thanked Xiao Lin, accepted his offer to call him Grandpa Xiao, and decided to wait for fate to bring her and Xiao Yan together instead of searching for him.
• Xiao Lin confirmed that Xiao Yan had reached the Central Plains, invited Xiao Yi Xian to stay at the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace, and promised not to tell Xiao Yan about her.
• Xiao Yi Xian agreed to stay and officially registered as a member of the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace under Xiao Lin’s arrangements.
• Qing Lin and Baili Qing returned to find Xiao Yi Xian had joined the palace, and Qing Lin realized that Xiao Yi Xian knew Xiao Lin’s true identity.

Xiao Yi Xian happily joined the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace after explaining her past connection with Xiao Lin to Qing Lin and Baili Qing. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran traveled from Gulan City in the Central Plains’ Eastern Region toward the Southern Region, where they noticed three Myriad Sword Pavilion disciples.

• Xiao Yi Xian told Qing Lin and Baili Qing about meeting Xiao Lin in Green Mountain Town, leaving out her feelings involving Xiao Yan.
• Qing Lin excitedly welcomed Xiao Yi Xian into the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace and began showing her around.
• Xiao Yan studied a map in Gulan City while Yao Lao reminded him that the routes available to a Dou Venerable were beyond Xiao Yan’s current reach.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran accepted that they would need to travel across the Central Plains on foot, and Nalan Yanran said she would enjoy the scenery.
• Three young Myriad Sword Pavilion disciples walked past Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, drawing awe from the people on the street.

Wu Qing, Lu Zimo, and Jiang Qin discussed the upcoming Four Pavilions Assembly and Lu Zimo’s claim that Feng Qing’er had been captured, leaving the Wind Lightning Pavilion without its strongest fighter. After hearing about the assembly, Xiao Yan followed the three disciples with Nalan Yanran, planning to attend before heading to the Starfall Pavilion.

• Wu Qing, Lu Zimo, and Jiang Qin traveled toward the Wind Lightning Pavilion to watch the Four Pavilions Assembly and support Tang Ying.
• Lu Zimo told Wu Qing and Jiang Qin that Feng Qing’er had offended a mysterious expert and been captured, so she could not compete for the Wind Lightning Pavilion.
• Wu Qing and Jiang Qin were pleased by the news and expected Tang Ying and the Myriad Sword Pavilion to have a better chance of winning.
• Nalan Yanran asked Xiao Yan about the Four Pavilions Assembly, and Xiao Yan agreed to take her to watch it before visiting the Starfall Pavilion.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran followed Wu Qing, Lu Zimo, and Jiang Qin toward the Wind Lightning Pavilion.

Xiao Yan explained to Nalan Yanran that they were following the Myriad Sword Pavilion disciples to the Wind Lightning Pavilion so they could meet Senior Venner before the Four Pavilions Assembly. At the Wind Lightning Pavilion, Thunder Venerable offered Tian Huangzi the position of Honorary Pavilion Master, granting him authority equal to his own.

• Xiao Yan told Nalan Yanran that Senior Venner would represent the Starfall Pavilion at the Four Pavilions Assembly and that meeting him would give them support in the Central Plains.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran followed Wu Qing, Lu Zimo, and Jiang Qin toward the Northern Region without the three disciples detecting them.
• The Wind Lightning Pavilion hosted numerous guests arriving for the Four Pavilions Assembly, while its leadership gathered outside Tian Huangzi's room.
• Tian Huangzi emerged with Feng Qing'er and teased Thunder Venerable and the Wind Lightning Pavilion leadership about why they had gathered.
• Thunder Venerable offered Tian Huangzi the title of Honorary Pavilion Master, with authority equal to his own, and the senior elders supported the proposal.

Tian Huangzi brought Feng Qing'er back to the Wind Lightning Pavilion, where she agreed to represent it at the Four Pavilions Assembly. Her return restored the pavilion’s hopes of winning, and its leaders considered making Tian Huangzi an honorary elder to strengthen their ties to him and the Myriad Formation Spirit Palace.

• After Feng Qing'er disappeared, the Wind Lightning Pavilion struggled to suppress rumors and began training a replacement chief disciple for the approaching Four Pavilions Assembly.
• Tian Huangzi returned to the Wind Lightning Pavilion with Feng Qing'er, whose Six-Star Dou Zong cultivation far surpassed the other pavilions’ chief disciples.
• At Tian Huangzi’s direction, Feng Qing'er agreed to represent the Wind Lightning Pavilion again and continued to acknowledge Thunder Venerable as her teacher.
• The Wind Lightning Pavilion’s leadership welcomed Feng Qing'er’s return and set aside most of their resentment because she gave them a strong chance to win the assembly.
• Tian Huangzi’s bloodline inheritances and essence-blood baptism had greatly strengthened Feng Qing'er, leading the pavilion’s leadership to consider making him an honorary elder.

Tian Huangzi accepted the position of Honorary Pavilion Master of the Wind Lightning Pavilion and assigned the pavilion a task. He then told Feng Qing'er she would join them, revealing that their mission was to kill Xiao Yan.

• Thunder Venerable offered Tian Huangzi the Wind Lightning Pavilion's honorary leadership without requiring him to fulfill any obligations.
• Tian Huangzi accepted the position, and the Wind Lightning Pavilion's leadership bowed to him.
• Tian Huangzi asked the Wind Lightning Pavilion to carry out a task, and Thunder Venerable agreed to assign elders and disciples to it.
• After Thunder Venerable and the others left, Tian Huangzi told Feng Qing'er she would take part in the mission.
• Tian Huangzi revealed that the task was to kill Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran reached Wind Lightning Pavilion and decided to enter the Four Pavilions Assembly. Yao Lao hoped the competition would help establish Xiao Yan’s standing in Starfall Pavilion, while Tian Huangzi’s plans for Xiao Yan remained unknown to him.

• After a month of travel, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran arrived at Thunder Mountain in Wind Lightning Pavilion’s territory.
• Yao Lao recalled his old friend Thunder Venerable and reflected on how Wind Lightning Pavilion had surpassed Starfall Pavilion since his disappearance.
• At a checkpoint, Xiao Yan consulted Yao Lao and chose to compete in the Four Pavilions Assembly, and Nalan Yanran agreed to join him.
• The Wind Lightning Pavilion deacon directed Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran to the assessment point, where other potential competitors were waiting.
• Yao Lao hoped Xiao Yan’s performance would secure his position in Starfall Pavilion when they returned.

Candidates faced a cultivation and combat assessment for the Four Pavilions Assembly, and Nalan Yanran shocked the crowd by matching the examiner in their fifth exchange. Xiao Yan still awaited his assessment as the chapter ended.

• A Five-Star Battle Emperor passed the purple-robed old man's assessment after enduring five strikes, including a powerful Dou Technique.
• After several more candidates failed, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran reached the front of the line.
• Nalan Yanran revealed that she was an Eight-Star Dou Emperor with unusually solid Dou Qi, startling the examiner and onlookers.
• Nalan Yanran blocked the first four strikes, then took the initiative in the fifth exchange and clashed evenly with the examiner using her sword.

Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran passed the Wind Lightning Pavilion’s entrance assessment and settled in as contestants for the Four Pavilions Assembly. The assembly began after they had waited at the pavilion for about half a month, while the Thunder Venerable remained puzzled by an order to target Xiao Yan.

• Nalan Yanran passed her assessment by demonstrating her swordsmanship, then Xiao Yan revealed eight-star Dou Emperor cultivation and passed after breaking the elder’s powerful lightning sword with a casual punch.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran registered their information at the third checkpoint and received separate contestant lodgings at the Wind Lightning Pavilion.
• The pavilion leadership received a report describing Xiao Yan as an eight-star Dou Emperor who might be concealing his strength, and the Thunder Venerable questioned why Tian Huangzi had ordered him targeted.
• After Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran had stayed at the pavilion for roughly half a month, a pavilion member informed them that the Four Pavilions Assembly had begun.

Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran arrived at the Four Pavilions Assembly and watched as the pavilion masters gathered. With Venner’s arrival, all four Venerables were present and the Assembly was set to begin.

• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran reached the Azure Square and waited with the other contestants for the Assembly to begin.
• Thunder Venerable arrived at the northern pavilion, followed by Sword Venerable, who noticed Nalan Yanran’s fighting spirit and looked forward to her matches.
• Yellow Springs Venerable arrived and traded insults with Sword Venerable, nearly provoking a fight before Thunder Venerable could intervene.
• Venner arrived at the southern pavilion, ending the brewing conflict and completing the gathering of the Four Pavilions’ masters.

Yao Lao recognized Venner and decided to wait until Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran finished competing before approaching him. Thunder Venerable opened the Four Pavilions Assembly’s melee, and Feng Qing’er entered with an unexpected target in mind.

• Yao Lao recognized his old friend Venner, but told Xiao Yan they would meet him after the competition.
• Venner greeted Thunder Venerable and Sword Venerable, while Yellow Springs Venerable ignored him.
• Thunder Venerable welcomed the crowd, announced that fifty-five contestants would fight until eight remained, and called them into the arena.
• Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran, and the other contestants entered the arena as the crowd cheered.
• Feng Qing’er, Mu Qingluan, Tang Ying, and Wang Chen joined the contestants, and Feng Qing’er searched for her chosen target.

Tian Huangzi watched the Four Pavilions Assembly, curious about Xiao Yan and carrying out Xiao Lin’s request to make things difficult for him. When the contest began, a dozen contestants rushed to attack Xiao Yan, while Nalan Yanran left to face a target of her own.

• Lu Zimo faced ridicule from Wu Qing and Jiang Qin after his claim that Feng Qing'er would not represent the Wind Lightning Pavilion proved false.
• Tian Huangzi arrived beside Thunder Venerable and revealed that he had told the Wind Lightning Pavilion and Feng Qing'er not to hold back against Xiao Yan.
• Thunder Venerable announced the start of the selection round, and contestants scanned the arena for opponents.
• A dozen contestants charged toward Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran as Feng Qing'er, Mu Qingluan, Tang Ying, and Wang Chen attacked nearby opponents.
• Xiao Yan agreed to face the group himself, and Nalan Yanran left the encirclement to fight someone else.

Xiao Yan faced twelve Dou Emperors who had joined forces against him, while Nalan Yanran sought out Tang Ying to test her sword against the Myriad Sword Pavilion’s Chief Disciple. The chapter left Nalan Yanran and Tang Ying locked in a fierce sword duel as Xiao Yan fought his twelve opponents.

• Xiao Yan questioned the twelve Dou Emperors surrounding him, then charged at them when they refused to explain why they were targeting him.
• Nalan Yanran left Xiao Yan and challenged Tang Ying, the Peak Dou Emperor and Chief Disciple of the Myriad Sword Pavilion.
• Nalan Yanran drew her sword and declared that she had come to test it against Tang Ying, whose attitude turned serious when he recognized her as a Sword Cultivator.
• Tang Ying drew his own sword, and the two clashed before unleashing Wind's Extremity-Annihilation and Blade Dance against each other.

Nalan Yanran and Tang Ying fought fiercely in the Azure Square, with Tang Ying ultimately overpowering her sword qi. The battle pushed Nalan Yanran into a breakthrough to the Nine-Star Dou Emperor realm, and as she stabilized her cultivation, an unknown shadow crept toward them.

• Nalan Yanran and Tang Ying exchanged sword attacks in the air, sustaining only superficial injuries as nearby spectators fled their crossfire.
• Tang Ying admired Nalan Yanran’s skill and asked her name, while Nalan Yanran remained focused and uninterested in his growing attraction to her.
• Nalan Yanran unleashed Heaven-Raising Nine Swords-Slay the Netherworld, but Tang Ying’s Sword Shadow World Annihilation shattered her sword qi and sent her flying with a bleeding mouth.
• Nalan Yanran steadied herself in midair and broke through to the Nine-Star Dou Emperor realm, while Tang Ying waited without interrupting her cultivation.
• A shadow stealthily approached Nalan Yanran and Tang Ying as neither noticed it.