Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yao defeated Green Man’s attempt to protect the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill and took it from her before retreating to a cave. There, he claimed Han Feng’s treasures and used the Fallen Heart Flame to silence Han Feng’s captured soul, leaving him sealed in a jade bottle.

• Green Man’s vines wounded Fan Lao and severed his arm, forcing him to flee, before Xiao Yao appeared and blocked her escape with a spatial wall.
• Green Man accused Xiao Yao of stealing from her before and threatened to destroy the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, but Xiao Yao immobilized her and took the pill.
• Xiao Yao confirmed the pill’s identity, released Green Man from his spatial suppression, and disappeared through a spatial crack.
• Xiao Yao erased Han Feng’s soul imprint from the Nether Sea Ring and found it filled with treasures, rare medicinal ingredients, cultivation methods, and Dou Techniques.
• Han Feng’s soul escaped its jade bottle and threatened Xiao Yao, who burned him with the Fallen Heart Flame before resealing him in the bottle.

Xiao Yao consumed the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill and bonded with the Red Flame Armor before taking Qing Lin and Zi Lin toward Jia Nan Academy. They arrived at Peace Town, where an academy official demanded their names and required them to take pills that detected murderous intent before entering.

• Xiao Yao swallowed the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill and bonded with the Red Flame Armor, which more than doubled the strength of his fire-attributed Dou Qi while worn.
• Xiao Yao summoned Qing Lin and Zi Lin, then carried Qing Lin through the void toward Jia Nan Academy.
• Xiao Yao and Qing Lin emerged near a town on Jia Nan Academy's territory and walked along the road toward Peace Town.
• At the town gate, Qing Lin saw corpses hanging from the Death Spirit Tree, and Xiao Yao explained that Jia Nan Academy had killed them for offending it.
• More than a dozen academy members surrounded Xiao Yao and Qing Lin, and their middle-aged leader demanded their names and identities and ordered them to take pills that detected murderous intent.

Xiao Yao and Qing Lin reached Jia Nan Academy, where Huo De confirmed their student records and learned of their remarkable cultivation. Xiao Yao’s return and rapid rise to Dou Ling shocked the Law Enforcement Team, while his records raised questions about his absent blood brother, Xiao Yan.

• Xiao Yao told Huo De that he and Qing Lin were students recruited by Instructor Ruo Lin, and Qing Lin revealed that she was a fourteen-year-old two-star Battle Master.
• Huo De agreed that they could skip the pill after their records were checked, and Xiao Yao demonstrated Dou Qi Transformation into Spirit, revealing that he was a Dou Ling.
• A Law Enforcement Team member recognized Xiao Yao as the young cultivator from Wutan City who had taken a year off and was often mentioned by Xun Er.
• Huo De checked Xiao Yao’s record alongside Xiao Yan’s and noticed that their portraits were identical, prompting Xiao Yao to confirm that they were blood brothers.
• Huo De and the Law Enforcement Team were astonished that Xiao Yao had risen from a one-star Great Dou Master to Dou Ling in a year.

Xiao Yao and Qing Lin traveled from Peace Town to Canaan City so Xiao Yao could reunite with Xun Er at Jia Nan Academy. As they reached the academy, they encountered a crowd surrounding someone who was being attacked over a girl.

• Xiao Yao told Huo De he was a Three-Star Dou Ling and accepted a Griffin Beast escort to Canaan City with Qing Lin.
• The Law Enforcement Team flew Xiao Yao and Qing Lin to Canaan City, then left them at the aerial station to continue on their own.
• Xiao Yao and Qing Lin walked through the city, bought sugar figurines, and headed toward Jia Nan Academy.
• Near the academy, Xiao Yao and Qing Lin heard a crowd threatening a boy and a girl calling out to Cousin Xiao Ning to be careful.

Xiao Yao reunited with Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei, rescued them from attackers, and brought Qing Lin to Jia Nan Academy. There, he learned the Inner Academy Selection Tournament was still over a month away and pressed Xiao Ning for details about Instructor Ruo Lin’s classes.

• Xiao Yao used soul pressure to stop four men from beating Xiao Ning and met Xiao Mei and Qing Lin in the crowd.
• Xiao Ning told Xiao Yao that the attackers had been harassing him for information about Xun Er, and Xiao Yao drove them off with a warning.
• Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei took Xiao Yao and Qing Lin toward Jia Nan Academy, where Xiao Ning explained the upcoming Inner Academy Selection Tournament.
• Xiao Yao learned the tournament was more than a month away and asked Xiao Ning about Instructor Ruo Lin’s classes.
• Xiao Ning explained that Ruo Lin’s Huang Tier class held about five weekly periods covering battle skills, cultivation methods, and Battle Qi training.

Xiao Yao went with Xiao Ning to the alchemy lesson, where he reunited with Xun Er after nearly a year apart. After they embraced in front of the class, Xiao Yao took Xun Er away and left Qing Lin with Xiao Mei and the others.

• Xiao Ning told Xiao Yao that Xun Er and Xiao Yu were attending the alchemist course, and Xiao Yao gave Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei pills before hurrying to find them.
• Xiao Mei explained that the nearby arena hosted student challenges and would hold the Inner Academy Selection Tournament in a month.
• Xiao Yao spotted Xun Er at the lesson, and she joyfully ran over and embraced him in front of the other students.
• Elder Huo reminded them that they were interrupting class, so Xun Er pulled away in embarrassment and Xiao Yao apologized.
• Xiao Yao took Xun Er by the hand and told Qing Lin to stay with Xiao Mei and the others while he went to take care of something.

Xiao Yao reunited with Xun Er, reassured her about Xiao Yi Xian, and learned that Phoenix Cry considered them her parents. He headed back to the square with Xun Er to introduce her to Qing Lin and Zi Lin, while she questioned his role as Qing Lin’s teacher.

• Xun Er bit Xiao Yao’s shoulder to vent her feelings, then asked what place she held in his heart after learning about Xiao Yi Xian.
• Xiao Yao told Xun Er that she and Xiao Yi Xian were equally important to him, and Xun Er forgave him while insisting he bring no more women into their lives.
• Phoenix Cry flew down to Xiao Yao and called him Father, explaining that she considered Xiao Yao and Xun Er her parents because they were the first people she recognized.
• Xiao Yao apologized for being away and walked with Xun Er back toward the square, planning to introduce her to Qing Lin and Zi Lin.
• Xun Er asked Xiao Yao whether he had always intended to become a teacher or an elder at Jia Nan Academy.

Xiao Yao returned to Jia Nan Academy, declined Fire Old Man's invitation to join the alchemists, and reunited with Xun Er and Xiao Yu. He went with them and Qing Lin to Mentor Ruo Lin's residence, where Xun Er had prepared a room for him.

• Fire Old Man finished refining a Second-Grade Pill and invited Xiao Yao to join the academy's alchemists after sensing his strong fire-attributed Dou Qi.
• Xiao Yao declined the invitation, saying he wanted to stay by Xun Er's side, while Fire Old Man told him he could reconsider later.
• Xiao Yu greeted Xiao Yao, and Qing Ling'er teased him while declaring that she admired powerful men.
• Xiao Yao introduced his disciple Qing Lin to Xun Er, and the two exchanged warm compliments.
• Xun Er said she had prepared a room for Xiao Yao at Mentor Ruo Lin's residence, and the group headed there so he could rest.

Xiao Yao reunited with Instructor Ruo Lin at the academy and introduced Qing Lin as his disciple. After resting, he told Xun Er about his past year and gave her a bracelet, leaving them together beneath the moonlight.

• Xiao Yao and his companions visited Instructor Ruo Lin, who welcomed Qing Lin and agreed to register her for the academy tournament.
• Xiao Yao rested in the room prepared for him and Xun Er, then awoke to find Xun Er watching over him.
• Xiao Yao recounted his travels, battles, cultivation, and discovery of Elder Ling to Xun Er.
• Xun Er spoke about her identity and Elder Ling, and Xiao Yao promised that nothing would stop him from pursuing her.
• Xiao Yao gave Xun Er a bracelet made with Purple Spirit Crystals and Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Soul Jade, and she happily promised to wear it for life.

Xiao Yao drove off Bai Shan, who challenged his right to stand beside Xun Er and compete in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament. Afterward, Xiao Yao and Xun Er watched the stars together, recalling a childhood promise and a request she had owed him.

• Bai Shan confronted Xiao Yao and demanded that he let Xun Er go, claiming he had come to test Xiao Yao before the tournament.
• Xiao Yao overwhelmed Bai Shan with soul pressure, declared he would enter the tournament, and watched Bai Shan flee.
• Xiao Yao teased Xun Er about her admirers, and they sat together beneath the stars.
• Xun Er recalled losing a childhood bet and owing Xiao Yao one request.
• Xiao Yao asked Xun Er to stay happy even if he could no longer be by her side, and she asked him to remain with her.

Xiao Yao was woken by Xun Er and Qing Lin and went to Instructor Ruo Lin’s class to avoid being moved to the male students’ dormitory. At the square, Ruo Lin introduced Xiao Yao and Qing Lin and warned the students not to provoke him.

• Xun Er and Qing Lin woke Xiao Yao and told him that Instructor Ruo Lin required him to attend class.
• Xiao Yao changed into the academy uniform and left for class with Xun Er and Qing Lin.
• Instructor Ruo Lin introduced Xiao Yao and Qing Lin to the students and revealed that Qing Lin had reached the Battle Master level.
• Instructor Ruo Lin said Xiao Yao had reached the Da Dou Shi level before taking leave and warned the students against challenging him.
• Ling Er asked Xiao Yu whether Ruo Lin’s claim about Xiao Yao was true, and Xiao Yu confirmed it.

Xiao Yao slept through Instructor Ruo Lin's lesson, then admitted he had reached the Dou Ling realm and secured permission to skip classes. Ruo Lin placed seven students under his training before he revealed his Fourth-Grade Alchemist badge to prove his ability.

• Xiao Yu and Qing Ling'er remained distracted by Xiao Yao and Xun Er while Xiao Yao struggled to stay awake in Instructor Ruo Lin's class.
• Xun Er let Xiao Yao sleep on her shoulder, and Ruo Lin found him asleep when class ended.
• Xiao Yao told Ruo Lin he had reached the Dou Ling realm, and she let him skip classes if he trained Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and five other students for the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.
• Xiao Yao agreed to train the seven students, provided they followed his arrangements and endured his demanding methods.
• Xiao Yao showed Ruo Lin his Fourth-Grade Alchemist badge, shocking her and the gathered students.

Xiao Yao began training Xun Er and the others, dividing them into groups and using Dou Qi pressure to push them toward their limits. After Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and Qing Lin endured their first session, he started training Xiao Mei, Xiao Ning, and the others.

• Xiao Yu, Qing Ling'er, Instructor Ruo Lin, and the students reacted with surprise to Xiao Yao's Fourth-Grade Alchemist status and agreed to his demanding training.
• Xun Er, Qing Lin, Xiao Yu, Qing Ling'er, Xue Ni, Xiao Mei, and Xiao Ning introduced themselves and stated their cultivation levels.
• Xiao Yao split the students into two groups and led them to a secluded area in the academy's back mountains that afternoon.
• Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and Qing Lin endured a shichen of gradually intensified Dou Qi pressure before collapsing from exhaustion.
• Xiao Yao praised Xun Er's effort, warned that the training would become harder, and began applying carefully controlled pressure to Xiao Mei, Xiao Ning, and the others.

After training Xiao Mei and the others, Xiao Yao gave them medicinal liquid to ease their fatigue and strengthen their bodies. Xun Er and Qing Lin used it for a medicinal bath, and Qing Lin began gathering Dou Qi as she attempted a breakthrough.

• Xiao Yao ended the pressure training, gave the group jade bottles of medicinal liquid, and told them to use it in their baths.
• Xiao Yao returned to the pavilion with Xun Er and Qing Lin, where Phoenix Cry and Zi Lin greeted them.
• Xun Er poured medicinal liquid into a bath and invited Qing Lin to join her, reassuring her that she accepted her scales.
• Xun Er and Qing Lin cultivated in the medicinal bath, and Xun Er noticed that the medicine was strengthening her Dou Qi.
• Dou Qi surged toward Qing Lin as she absorbed it into her dantian, and Xun Er watched for signs of her breakthrough.

After medicinal baths helped the students advance, Xiao Yao continued training them for the Jia Nan Academy Inner Academy selection competition. The group endured his pressure training and prepared for an evening bonfire party where he would cook roasted meat.

• Qing Lin broke through to seven-star Battle Master after her medicinal bath, while Xun Er teased her about her figure.
• The next morning, Xiao Yao praised the students’ breakthroughs and explained that Xun Er had not advanced because she had recently broken through and was already stronger than she had let on.
• Yu Ni and Qing Ling'er asked Xiao Yao to cook for the group that evening, and he promised roasted meat if they performed well.
• Xiao Yao put the students through four rounds of pressure suppression, and they all endured Dou Wang-level pressure.
• Xiao Yao announced an afternoon of Dou Technique practice and an evening bonfire party, while Qing Ling'er rebuked Xiao Ning for dismissing the pleasures of food.

Xiao Yao broke through to Eight-Star Dou Zong and began mastering the Earth Tier soul technique Azure Soul Hand. That evening, he grilled meat for Qing Lin and prepared more food for Xun Er and the others.

• Xiao Yao absorbed energy for over a month and reached Eight-Star Dou Zong.
• Xiao Yao spread his Soul Force across the back mountain and tested his control over it.
• Xiao Yao cultivated Azure Soul Hand and struck the lake with a soul-powered hand seal, leaving a huge imprint in the water.
• Xiao Yao continued practicing until dusk, then joined Xun Er and the others at a bonfire.
• Xiao Yao served Qing Lin grilled meat, and she praised his cooking and asked for more.

Xiao Yao shared grilled meat with Xun Er, Qing Lin, and the others before playing the Astral Flute by the bonfire. Its music soothed everyone and eased their exhaustion, leaving them curious about the flute’s effect.

• Xun Er took the honey-flavored grilled meat from Xiao Yao, while Xiao Yu shared the spicy meat with Xue Ni.
• Xiao Yao cooked more meat for the group, and Xiao Ning asked to try his honey-flavored cooking.
• After they finished eating, Xiao Yao offered to play a calming flute piece for the group.
• Xiao Yao played the Astral Flute with Dou Qi, sending blue-green sound waves through the surroundings and bringing the listeners deep tranquility.
• Xue Ni asked whether the effect came from a soundwave Dou Technique, and Xiao Yao explained that the Astral Flute soothed the mind and dispelled tangled thoughts.

Qing Ling'er danced for Xiao Yao and the others, and the group spent more than half a month training under his pressure. After Qing Lin reached the Da Dou Shi level, Xiao Yao revealed that he would use the Fallen Heart Flame for their next training, surprising Instructor Ruo Lin and the others.

• Qing Ling'er performed a dance to Xiao Yao's flute music and teased Xun Er, prompting Xiao Yao to reassure Xun Er that he preferred watching her perform.
• More than half a month later, Xiao Yao ended the group's pressure training and told them to cultivate on their own for the remaining ten days.
• Xiao Ning worried that his progress would slow, while Qing Lin announced that she had broken through to the Da Dou Shi level.
• Xiao Yao explained that the group had grown accustomed to the pressure and revealed the Fallen Heart Flame as their next training method.
• Xun Er identified the flame, and Instructor Ruo Lin asked why it was not producing heartfire; Xiao Yao explained that he had refined it and controlled its effects.

Xiao Yao taught Mentor Ruo Lin and the others how to cultivate with the Fallen Heart Flame and helped them prepare for the Inner Academy Selection Tournament. Three days before the tournament, he brought Xun Er and Qing Lin to the crowded arena where the competition was about to begin.

• Mentor Ruo Lin tested Xiao Yao’s Fallen Heart Flame and confirmed that its Heart Fire tempering matched the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower’s effects.
• Mentor Ruo Lin praised the girls’ progress, accepted a bottle of Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pills from Xiao Yao, and left.
• Xiao Yao guided Xun Er and the others through Heart Fire tempering while he cultivated beside them.
• Xiao Yao gave Qing Lin two bottles of Emperor’s Extreme Pills so she could replenish the cultivation absorbed from White Fang and the Flood Dragon.
• Xiao Yao told the girls to rest before the selection tournament, and they thanked him for training them over the past month.
• Three days later, Xun Er and Qing Lin brought Xiao Yao to the packed arena at Jia Nan Academy.

Xiao Yao joined Xun Er, Qing Lin, and Instructor Ruo Lin to watch the Inner Academy Selection Tournament, where the elders noticed his powerful soul perception and alchemy talent. As the tournament was about to begin, Xun Er reminded him that the top five could choose a reward from the Library Pavilion.

• Xun Er and Qing Lin brought Xiao Yao to the tournament stands, where Instructor Ruo Lin had saved them seats.
• Instructor Ruo Lin thanked Xiao Yao for helping her students advance and for giving her a pill, and Xiao Yao promised that they would remember her when they entered the Inner Academy.
• Xiao Yao sensed the elders on the judges' platform, and the elders noticed his unusual soul force and fire-attributed Dou Qi.
• Fire Old Man and the other elders discussed Xiao Yao's alchemy ability and whether he might join the academy's independent Alchemy Department.
• Instructor Ruo Lin explained the elders' positions, and Xun Er told Xiao Yao that the tournament's top five could choose a reward from the Library Pavilion.