Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yao established the Xiao Alliance with the Xiao Clan at its center and demanded that its members defend the clan if it came under attack. After receiving and fusing the Sword Dao Law Fragments, he gained sword-related insights, and the alliance’s founding banquet began.

• Xiao Yao assigned Elder's Court seats to major factions, reserved six more for future contributors, and declared that alliance members must defend the Xiao Clan.
• Hai Bo Dong, Jia Xing Tian, Nalan Jie, and Mu Chen pledged their factions’ support for the Xiao Clan.
• The system rewarded Xiao Yao for establishing the alliance, and he fused nine Sword Dao Law Fragments into a Battle Qi sword and a Soul Force sword.
• Xiao Yao raised a toast with the assembled leaders as the Jia Ma Empire’s largest alliance took shape.
• The Xiao Clan hosted a lavish banquet attended by prominent figures from across the Jia Ma Empire.

At a banquet celebrating the Xiao Clan’s rise, Xiao Yao announced that he and Xiao Yan would leave for Jia Nan Academy, explaining that the academy’s connections could benefit the clan. As Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bo Dong offered their support, Yao Ye arrived at the banquet.

• Xiao Zhan toasted the Xiao Clan’s new standing and thanked the guests for their support.
• Xiao Yao told Xiao Ding and Xiao Yan that he would leave for Jia Nan Academy with Xiao Yan the next day.
• Xiao Yao reminded Xiao Yan of his promise to Instructor Ruo Lin and argued that the academy could help the Xiao Clan build connections beyond the Jia Ma Empire.
• Xiao Ding accepted their departure and promised to keep the Xiao Clan secure while they were away.
• Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bo Dong saw Xiao Yao and Xiao Yan off, and Hai Bo Dong offered to help Xiao Yan if he faced trouble.
• Yao Ye entered the banquet hall in a purple dress.

At a banquet, Jia Xing Tian proposed a future marriage discussion between Yao Yue and Xiao Yan, and both families agreed to revisit it after Xiao Yan returned from Jia Nan Academy. Nalan Yanran watched their growing closeness and remembered how she had once scorned Xiao Yan.

• Yao Yue gave Xiao Yan an embroidered protective sachet and wished him a safe journey to Jia Nan Academy.
• Jia Xing Tian asked Xiao Zhan to consider a marriage between Yao Yue and Xiao Yan if their feelings remained unchanged after Xiao Yan returned.
• Xiao Yan said he would focus on cultivating at Jia Nan Academy and give Yao Yue an answer after he had achieved something.
• Xiao Zhan agreed that the Xiao Clan would come to discuss the match if the pair's feelings endured, and Yao Yue told Xiao Yan she would wait for him.
• Nalan Yanran watched Xiao Yan and Yao Yue together and recalled breaking off her engagement with him three years earlier.

Nalan Yanran regretted ending her engagement with Xiao Yan as the Xiao Clan rose to prominence. At the gathering, Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bo Dong tried to match Xiao Yao with Yao Ye and Ya Fei, but Xiao Yao refused, saying he already loved someone and saw Ya Fei as a sister.

• Nalan Su warned Nalan Yanran that the Xiao Clan had become too powerful to oppose and reminded her that she had ended her engagement with Xiao Yan.
• Nalan Yanran admitted that she regretted her past decision and watched Xiao Yan with bitterness.
• Jia Xing Tian took Yao Ye to Xiao Yao and asked whether he would consider her as a match.
• Hai Bo Dong countered by proposing Ya Fei, and he and Jia Xing Tian argued over which woman suited Xiao Yao.
• Xiao Yao said he admired Yao Ye but had no romantic feelings for her, already liked someone else, and regarded Ya Fei as an older sister.
• Yao Ye concealed her disappointment, while Ya Fei affirmed that she saw Xiao Yao as a younger brother and reproached Hai Bo Dong for matchmaking.

After the banquet misunderstanding with Yao Ye was resolved, Xiao Yao spoke with Yun Yun beneath the stars and invited her to stay with the Xiao Clan. Yun Yun declined, saying she would leave for the Central Plains the next morning, though she left open the possibility of joining him later.

• Ya Fei and Xiao Yao comforted Yao Ye after Xiao Yao rejected her, and Yao Ye accepted their apologies while hiding her disappointment.
• Xiao Yao left the banquet and rested on the courtyard eaves beneath the stars.
• Yun Yun joined Xiao Yao on the roof, and they talked about her help stabilizing the Xiao Clan and the banquet incident.
• Xiao Yao invited Yun Yun to stay with the Xiao Clan, but she said she had chosen to leave the Jia Ma Empire and explore the Central Plains the next morning.
• Yun Yun told Xiao Yao they might meet again and that she might agree to help him then, while Xiao Yao accepted that her decision was final.

Xiao Yao and Yun Yun shared a farewell embrace before she prepared to leave the Jia Ma Empire, while Nalan Yanran decided to accompany her. The chapter ended with Xiao Yao and Yun Yun sharing Peach Blossom Brew beneath the stars.

• Xiao Yao embraced Yun Yun, gave her a communication jade token, and asked her to use it if she encountered danger.
• Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan watched the pair from the shadows, and Nalan Yanran decided to leave with Yun Yun for the Central Plains.
• Nalan Yanran told Xiao Yan she would fulfill her promise to become his maid when she returned, and Xiao Yan urged her to stay safe.
• Xiao Yao offered Yun Yun Peach Blossom Brew, and she noticed the mark left by his lips before taking a sip.
• Xiao Yao and Yun Yun shared the wine on the roof, and Xiao Yao felt that the finest things in life were simply moments like this.

Xiao Yao and Yun Yun drank together before their departure, and he carried the tipsy Yun Yun back to her room. As she asked him to stay, he assured her that she had always been in his heart and promised not to lie to her.

• Xiao Yao shared more Peach Blossom Brew with Yun Yun as they talked about drinking to forget their troubles before leaving the next day.
• Yun Yun became tipsy, and Xiao Yao caught her when she swayed and carried her to her residence.
• Xiao Yao laid Yun Yun on her bed and tidied her hair, but she caught his wrist and asked him not to leave.
• Xiao Yao sat beside Yun Yun when she asked him to stay and listened as she asked whether he cared for her or thought she was a burden.
• Xiao Yao told Yun Yun she had always been in his heart, and he promised not to lie when she asked him to.

Yun Yun confessed her feelings to Xiao Yao, and the two shared an intimate night together. Before dawn, Yun Yun woke in his arms and wondered whether he would remember what had happened after she left.

• Yun Yun touched Xiao Yao's face and admitted that she had begun to like him.
• Xiao Yao teased Yun Yun tenderly, and she pulled him close and told him to kiss her.
• Xiao Yao and Yun Yun kissed and spent the night together.
• Before dawn, Yun Yun woke beside Xiao Yao, recalled the night, and wondered whether he would remember it after she left.

Yun Yun quietly left Xiao Yao while he pretended to sleep, and he chose not to stop her. Later, Xiao Yao prepared to leave the Xiao Clan with Xiao Yan and the others, entrusting parting gifts to Xiao Ding and promising to teach Xiao Qing.

• Yun Yun slipped out of Xiao Yao’s embrace at dawn and left after whispering goodbye, while Xiao Yao listened without revealing that he was awake.
• Xiao Yao received a system reward of an unremarkable wooden sword made from a branch of the World Tree, then stored the bedsheets and bedding in his Storage Ring.
• Xiao Yao left Xiao Ding cultivation resources, three Seventh-Grade Purple-Gold Body Tempering Pills, and a jade box containing another pill for Ya Fei.
• Xiao Qing tearfully asked Xiao Yao and Xiao Yan when they would return and said she wanted to become strong enough to protect the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Yao comforted Xiao Qing and promised to teach her formations before teaching her cultivation.

Xiao Yao gave Xiao Qing formation knowledge and entrusted Heavenly Thunder Son to Xiao Li before leaving for Jia Nan Academy. At the academy, Hu Jia teased Xun Er about Xiao Yao’s long absence, while Xun Er insisted he would return as promised.

• Xiao Yao passed his formation knowledge to Xiao Qing and encouraged her to become a formation master who could protect the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Li chose to remain with the Xiao Clan and train before heading to the Black-Corner Region, and Xiao Yao gave him Heavenly Thunder Son as a powerful protector.
• Xiao Yao instructed Heavenly Thunder Son to obey Xiao Li and protect him, and Xiao Li promised to visit Jia Nan Academy after unifying the Black-Corner Region.
• Xiao Yao, Xiao Yan, Qing Lin, and Zi Lin rode the Ice Dragon toward Jia Nan Academy.
• Hu Jia teased Xun Er about Xiao Yao’s month-long absence and suggested he might have found another woman, while Xun Er maintained that he would return as promised.

The Ancient Clan’s Black Annihilation Army arrived at the Inner Academy to escort Gu Xun Er back to the clan. Worried that resisting would bring trouble to Xiao Yao, Xun Er agreed to leave without seeing him, then confronted Ling Quan over the clan’s impatient summons.

• More than twenty members of the Black Annihilation Army arrived on Four-Winged Unicorns, and Ling Quan announced that they had come to escort Gu Xun Er.
• Ling Ying told Xun Er that the clan had ordered her return and warned that defying its elders could endanger Xiao Yao.
• Hu Jia offered to protect Xun Er, but Xun Er chose to leave rather than risk trouble for Xiao Yao.
• Xun Er departed without seeing Xiao Yao, while Ling Ying stopped Hu Jia from following her.
• Ling Quan urged Xun Er to return immediately, and she challenged him over the clan’s impatience.

Xun Er refused to leave with the Ancient Clan before saying goodbye to Xiao Yao, and Gu Yao granted her an hour to wait. A powerful Phoenix arrived and reunited with Xun Er, while Xiao Yao had still not appeared.

• Xun Er insisted that she would not return with Ling Quan until she had seen Xiao Yao, and Ling Quan disparaged Xiao Yao’s strength.
• Gu Yao stopped Ling Quan from forcing Xun Er to leave and agreed to wait one hour for Xiao Yao to appear.
• A blazing figure approached the plaza, and Gu Yao identified it as a Magical Beast close to the Dou Zun realm.
• Xun Er recognized the figure as one of her own and ordered everyone not to attack it.
• The Phoenix revealed herself as a young girl named Phoenix Cry, embraced Xun Er, and was defended by Xun Er when Ling Quan objected.

Xun Er agreed to return to the Ancient Clan after Xiao Yao failed to arrive before her deadline, leaving Phoenix Cry and the others behind. Xiao Yao learned of her departure and rushed toward the Inner Academy, but Xun Er had already joined the Black Annihilation Army when the chapter ended.

• Hu Gan told Xiao Yao that Xun Er was being taken back by Ancient Clan members Gu Yao and Ling Quan.
• Xiao Yao tore open space and rushed to the Inner Academy, while Xiao Yan, Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Hu Gan went to find Instructor Ruo Lin and await news.
• Gu Yao and Ling Quan pressed Xun Er to leave, and she agreed after waiting for Xiao Yao.
• Xun Er comforted Phoenix Cry and promised to return for her and Xiao Yao after handling urgent clan business.
• Xun Er flew to a Four-Winged Unicorn and joined the Black Annihilation Army as Hu Jia worried about Xiao Yao's reaction.

Xiao Yao arrived as the Ancient Clan’s Black Annihilation Army was taking Xun Er away, and she flew to him and embraced him. He revealed his Five-Star Dou Zun strength and warned Gu Yao against forcing her to leave, while Gu Yao challenged Xiao Yao’s ability to protect her and win the clan elders’ approval.

• Gu Yao prepared to take Xun Er back to the Ancient Clan after she agreed to go with them.
• Xiao Yao tore open a spatial rift, appeared before the Black Annihilation Army, and declared that no one would take Xun Er without his permission.
• Xun Er left her unicorn and flew into Xiao Yao’s arms, while Phoenix Cry called him Daddy and Hu Jia expressed relief at his arrival.
• Xiao Yao threatened the Ancient Clan if its members tried to force Xun Er to leave, and Ling Quan charged at him.
• Xiao Yao’s Dou Qi pressure slammed Ling Quan into the ground, and Gu Yao recognized Xiao Yao as a Five-Star Dou Zun.
• Gu Yao argued that Xiao Yao’s strength and Xiao Clan lineage would not earn the elders’ approval or ensure that he could protect Xun Er.

Xiao Yao declared that he would protect Xun Er and earn the Battle Qi Continent’s recognition, then fought Gu Yao when the Ancient Clan’s warrior challenged him. Xiao Yao broke Gu Yao’s signature spear technique with a flame wolf, leaving Gu Yao stunned by the defeat.

• Xiao Yao vowed that no one could take Xun Er against her wishes and that he would gain the strength to make everyone acknowledge him.
• Gu Yao confronted Xiao Yao to defend the Ancient Clan’s dignity and attacked him with a spear.
• Xiao Yao pushed Xun Er behind him and repelled Gu Yao’s spear strike with a punch, then blasted Gu Yao backward with his superior strength.
• Gu Yao unleashed his Myriad Beasts Spear Technique, sending icy magical beast phantoms at Xiao Yao.
• Xiao Yao formed a massive purple wolf from the Three Thousand Meteorite Crystal Flame, which swallowed and burned away the phantoms and Gu Yao’s battle qi.

Xiao Yao and Gu Yao prepared to fight after Gu Yao raised his cultivation and invoked a Heaven Tier Dou Technique, but Su Qian intervened to protect the Inner Academy. Xiao Yao led Gu Yao into the back mountain for their battle, reassuring Xun Er that he could handle him.

• Xiao Yao taunted Gu Yao, who activated a secret technique and raised his cultivation to Nine-Star Dou Zun before preparing a Heaven Tier Dou Technique.
• Su Qian appeared and warned Gu Yao not to endanger the Inner Academy, prompting Gu Yao to halt his technique and cite Xiao Yao's insult to the Ancient Clan.
• Xiao Yao claimed Gu Yao could not harm him and challenged him to fight in the back mountain, while Su Qian warned Xiao Yao to be careful.
• Xiao Yao carried Xun Er toward the back mountain, and Gu Yao and Ling Quan followed with the Black Annihilation Army.
• Xun Er warned Xiao Yao about Gu Yao's strength, and Xiao Yao reassured her that Gu Yao should be the one worried.

Xiao Yao confronted Gu Yao in a valley and countered his Great Annihilation Finger with an even more condensed version of the same technique. Gu Yao’s attack was driven back, leaving him shocked and struggling to withstand Xiao Yao’s strike.

• Xiao Yao, Xun Er, Gu Yao, Ling Quan, and the Black Annihilation Army arrived at a secluded valley for the confrontation.
• Gu Yao challenged Xiao Yao over Xun Er and launched the Great Annihilation Finger while Xun Er watched from behind a rock.
• Xiao Yao formed his own annihilation aura as Gu Yao summoned a colossal black finger from the clouds.
• Xiao Yao created a purple-gold patterned Great Annihilation Finger and sent it against Gu Yao’s attack.
• Gu Yao was shocked that Xiao Yao knew the technique and poured more Dou Qi into his finger as Xiao Yao’s attack forced it back.

Xiao Yao defeated Gu Yao and refused to let the Ancient Clan take Xun Er against her will. Xun Er chose to return to the Ancient Clan, and Xiao Yao promised to become strong enough to bring her back within five years.

• Xiao Yao shattered Gu Yao’s Heaven Tier Dou Skill, broke through his ice shield, and left him badly injured against the valley wall.
• Xiao Yao silenced Gu Yao and told the Black Annihilation Army that no one would take Xun Er if she did not wish to leave.
• Xun Er told Xiao Yao that she needed to return to the Ancient Clan to avoid putting him and the Xiao Clan at risk.
• Xun Er asked Xiao Yao not to fight the Ancient Clan and promised to wait for him until he was strong enough to protect them.
• Xiao Yao promised to go to the Ancient Clan and bring Xun Er back within five years, and Xun Er vowed to wait for him.

Xiao Yao said goodbye to Xun Er as she left for the Ancient Clan with Phoenix Cry, promising to come for her after five years of becoming stronger. Xun Er departed with the Black Annihilation Army, while Xiao Yao gained a divine ability and watched her go.

• Xiao Yao comforted Xun Er and promised to come for her in five years, while Ling Quan helped Gu Yao up and the Black Annihilation Army entered the valley.
• Phoenix Cry worried that Xun Er would be mistreated, and Xiao Yao asked her to accompany and protect her mother in the Ancient Clan.
• Xiao Yao passed the Secret of the Formation Character and the Secret of the Practitioner Character to Xun Er and urged her to cultivate and stay safe.
• Xun Er left with Phoenix Cry on a Four-Winged Unicorn, and Gu Yao and Ling Quan followed with the Black Annihilation Army.
• Xiao Yao received the divine ability Heavenly Motion of Myriad Phenomena and watched Xun Er's party disappear into the distance.

After Xun Er departed, Xiao Yao resolved to grow stronger through seclusion and accepted an elder position at Jia Nan Academy. As he prepared to begin cultivating, a mysterious man appeared and hinted at a connection to Xiao Yao’s childhood.

• Phoenix Cry comforted Xun Er as she promised they would wait for Xiao Yao, while Gu Yao assured her the Black Annihilation Army would protect her.
• Su Qian offered Xiao Yao an elder position, but Xiao Yao said he planned to enter seclusion to cultivate and reunite with his girlfriend.
• Su Qian made Xiao Yao an Inner Academy elder and gave him access to the academy’s resources in exchange for help during any future crisis.
• Xiao Yao gave Su Qian a purple crystal containing formation knowledge and asked him to look after Qing Lin and the others during his seclusion.
• After Su Qian left, Xiao Yao confronted a concealed man who appeared and said they had last met more than ten years earlier, prompting Xiao Yao to recognize him.