Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan survived a damaged cauldron and advanced to the final round, where he began refining a longevity pill against three foreign Alchemists preparing Imperial Pills. The chapter left all four competitors refining their chosen pills on the stone platforms.

• The three bamboo-hatted Alchemists provoked Liu Ling and Yaoyue, disrupting their cauldrons and causing both to fail.
• Xiao Yan used his soul power to contain the ripples that cracked his cauldron, finished his pill, and earned a dazzling green pillar of light on the Test Machine.
• Fama announced the final round, and the three foreign Alchemists brought out ingredients for Imperial Pills.
• Xiao Yan placed the enormous Heart of the Earth on his stone platform and revealed Heavenly Flames, stunning the other Alchemists and spectators.
• Xiao Yan spent ten hours refining a Ten-Thousand-Year Evergreen Vine, then added Azure Nether Fruit and Longevity King Sap to make the Azure Nether Longevity Pill.

Xiao Yan refined the Azure Nether Longevity Pill, elevating it to the seventh tier and summoning Pill Lightning. After Fama and Gu He examined the pill, the crowd marveled at its effects and began suspecting that Bu Jingyun was connected to the vanished alchemist Nie Feng.

• Xiao Yan finished refining the ingredients and formed the Azure Nether Longevity Pill, then deliberately let its energy ripple strike the other alchemists and spread across the square.
• Fama, Gu He, and Hai Bodong shielded the spectators as Pill Lightning gathered and struck the pill, strengthening and smoothing it.
• Xiao Yan opened the cauldron, captured the pill as it tried to escape, and showed it to Fama and Gu He.
• Gu He identified the pill as a sixth-tier recipe elevated to the seventh tier and described its life-extending, healing, and aptitude-improving effects.
• Gu He compared the pill to one made by Nie Feng, prompting suspicion among the crowd, but Fama changed the subject by asking Xiao Yan for the pill's name.

At the Alchemist Grand Ceremony, Bu Jingyun took a pill that restored his appearance and revealed himself as the young Xiao Yan, confirming he had become a Seventh-Grade Alchemist. Fama declared Xiao Yan the champion, and Xiao Yan captured three foreign alchemists who tried to escape.

• Three foreign alchemists challenged Fama’s decision and demanded that Bu Jingyun take a pill to reveal his true appearance.
• The three alchemists used the pill themselves and transformed into old men, then offered another pill to Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan swallowed the pill and revealed his youthful face; Nalan Yanran, Nalan Jie, and the spectators recognized him.
• Fama announced Xiao Yan as the champion, while Nalan Yanran left with Nalan Jie after hearing the crowd discuss their coming match.
• The three foreign alchemists tried to escape, but Fama attacked them and Xiao Yan captured all three, taking their Storage Rings and handing them to Fama.

Xiao Yan arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect to fulfill his three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran, while Yun Yun was absent and Yun Leng presided over the match. Xiao Yan offered to stand still and let Nalan Yanran win if she could touch him, and the chapter ended as she launched her attack.

• Xiao Yan climbed to the Misty Cloud Sect square, where disciples gathered to watch his match with Nalan Yanran.
• Yun Leng announced the rules, and Xiao Yan looked for Yun Yun before demanding that the match begin.
• Nalan Yanran asked why Xiao Yan had detoxified her grandfather, but he refused to explain.
• Xiao Yan promised not to fight back and said he would apologize if Nalan Yanran could break through his defense and touch him.
• Hai Bodong revealed that Xiao Yan had nearly killed Lv Man and the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor, shocking the spectators.
• Nalan Yanran steeled herself and charged Xiao Yan with her sword.

Nalan Yanran’s strongest attacks failed to break Xiao Yan’s transparent defensive barrier, and her sword shattered. After Xiao Yan offered to spare her from becoming his maid, she insisted on honoring their agreement, resigned as Young Sect Master, and pledged to serve him.

• Nalan Yanran’s sword and successive attacks stopped three feet from Xiao Yan, whose invisible defense Hai Bodong identified as a Dou Technique.
• Nalan Yanran unleashed Extreme Wind: Sun-Setting Splendor, but her sword auras vanished against Xiao Yan’s transparent spherical barrier.
• Nalan Yanran used Extreme Wind: Meteor Kill and tried to drill through the barrier, but her longsword shattered.
• Xiao Yan apologized for his past harshness and said Nalan Yanran could remain Young Sect Master without becoming his maid.
• Nalan Yanran rejected his pity, resigned as Young Sect Master, and declared she would serve Xiao Yan as his maid.

Nalan Yanran insisted on becoming Xiao Yan’s maid, while Yun Leng confronted Xiao Yan over the Mo Clan’s destruction and his claim that Yun Yun was his wife. Yun Leng ordered the Misty Cloud Sect to capture Xiao Yan, who broke free and faced the sect’s mountain-protecting formation.

• Nalan Yanran refused to leave Xiao Yan’s side, declaring that she had left the Misty Cloud Sect and would serve only him.
• Yun Leng questioned Xiao Yan about using the alias Bu Jingyun and destroying the Mo Clan, and Xiao Yan admitted both that he had destroyed the clan and that Yun Yun was his future wife.
• Yun Leng accused Xiao Yan of insulting the Misty Cloud Sect and ordered Feng, Huo, and Mu to capture him with a triangular energy barrier.
• Xiao Yan shattered the barrier and flew away, but Yun Leng activated the Cloud-Swallowing Sun-Covering Formation with nearly ten thousand sect members.
• Xiao Yan punched the formation, making it tremble and causing weaker Misty Cloud Sect disciples to cough up blood.

Xiao Yan defeated Yun Leng’s attacks and was confronted by Yun Shan, the former Misty Cloud Sect leader he had once saved. Yun Shan revealed Xiao Yan’s relationship with Yun Yun and demanded marriage and succession to the sect, but Xiao Yan refused to accept those terms, leaving them at odds.

• Yun Leng attacked Xiao Yan with a cloud claw and arrow, but Xiao Yan destroyed his attacks and warned him not to strike again.
• Yun Shan arrived and told Xiao Yan he would not interfere in Xiao Yan’s dispute with Nalan Yanran or his destruction of the Mo Clan.
• Yun Shan revealed that Yun Yun had given herself to Xiao Yan, shocking the crowd and Nalan Yanran.
• Yun Shan demanded that Xiao Yan marry Yun Yun immediately and become the Misty Cloud Sect’s leader, but Xiao Yan refused to marry before his family was present and rejected the leadership position.
• Xiao Yan said he would marry Yun Yun in time and insisted Yun Shan had no right to interfere, enraging Yun Shan.

Xiao Yan refused Yun Shan’s demand that he join the Misty Cloud Sect and fought off the Dou Zong’s attacks with his powerful defensive technique. After Yun Shan pierced the barrier and wounded him, he recognized Xiao Yan’s strength and let him leave, accepting pills as compensation while urging him to marry Yun Yun.

• Xiao Yan rejected Yun Shan’s demand and used Three Points Return to Origin Qi to absorb his attacks.
• Yun Shan struck Xiao Yan’s barrier and then used Extreme Wind: Meteor Kill to pierce it and wound Xiao Yan.
• Yun Shan revealed that Xiao Yan’s true cultivation was only Dou Ling, while Xiao Yan warned that he could wreak havoc on the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Xiao Yan’s shoulder healed quickly, and Yun Shan withdrew the sect-protecting grand formation and allowed him to leave.
• Xiao Yan gave Yun Shan a Storage Ring of valuable pills as compensation, and Yun Shan urged him to send betrothal gifts and marry Yun Yun soon.
• Xiao Yan asked Yun Shan where Yun Yun had gone.

Jia Xingtian confronted Xiao Yan over his suspected identity as Nie Feng and accused him of harming Yao Ye, while admitting he had targeted Xiao Yan’s family. Xiao Yan fought Jia Xingtian in the sky as Yun Shan prepared the Misty Cloud Sect for an impending attack.

• Yun Shan persuaded Xiao Yan to stay at the Misty Cloud Sect, and Xiao Yan agreed to visit Yun Yun.
• Jia Xingtian arrived after breaking through to Dou Zong and accused Xiao Yan of being Nie Feng and having harmed Yao Ye.
• Xiao Yan confronted Jia Xingtian over poisoning his pills, hunting him, and capturing his family; Jia Xingtian admitted to targeting the family.
• Xiao Yan challenged Jia Xingtian and flew into the sky to fight him.
• Yun Shan warned Yun Yun that Jia Xingtian intended to attack the Misty Cloud Sect and ordered her to gather its elders and disciples.
• Fama and Hai Bodong recognized that Yun Shan was activating the Sky Dragon Cloud-Breaking Formation.

Jia Xingtian activated the Sky Dragon Cloud-Breaking Formation to confront the Misty Cloud Sect and Xiao Yan, while Yun Shan answered with the Cloud-Swallowing Sun-Covering Formation. The confrontation escalated when Jia Xingtian summoned the Jia Ma Empire’s Nethersea Flood Dragon, which had also reached Dou Zong, leaving Xiao Yan uncertain whether to call on his teacher.

• Fama explained that the Sky Dragon Cloud-Breaking Formation gathered soldiers’ Dou Qi and killing intent, and that Jia Xingtian had once used it to kill a Dou Zong expert.
• Jia Xingtian tried to recruit Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan refused and accused him of waiting for Yun Shan and Xiao Yan to weaken each other.
• Yun Shan arrived with Yun Yun and the other experts, and Jia Xingtian revealed his plan to trap them all.
• Jia Xingtian activated the Sky Dragon Cloud-Breaking Formation, and Yun Shan activated the Cloud-Swallowing Sun-Covering Formation to protect the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Jia Xingtian summoned the Nethersea Flood Dragon, which Fama revealed had broken through to Dou Zong, while Xiao Yan considered asking his teacher for help.

Xiao Yan and his allies tried to stop Jia Xingtian and the Nethersea Flood Dragon from breaking the Misty Cloud Sect’s formation. The Nethersea Flood Dragon wounded Xiao Yan, Yun Yun, Fama, and Hai Bodong, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Jia Xingtian and the Nethersea Flood Dragon attacked the Misty Cloud Sect’s formation together, while Yun Shan shielded the sect and its disciples.
• Xiao Yan organized a counterattack, sending Mitel Tengshan, Nalan Jie, Mu Chen, and other experts to reinforce the formation as he and Yun Yun, Fama, and Hai Bodong confronted the Nethersea Flood Dragon.
• Xiao Yan and the others struck the Nethersea Flood Dragon’s tail, with Xiao Yan’s attack carving the deepest wound.
• The Nethersea Flood Dragon kept attacking and swept its tail into Xiao Yan, Yun Yun, Fama, and Hai Bodong, injuring and driving them back.

Xiao Yan, Yun Yun, Fama, and Hai Bodong battled the Nethersea Flood Dragon, but Hai Bodong was gravely wounded while protecting Yun Yun. Xiao Yan and Yun Yun unleashed their fused Maha Boundless technique, and as it swept toward the beast, Jia Xingtian could not intervene because Yun Shan attacked him.

• Xiao Yan assigned roles and led the assault on the Nethersea Flood Dragon while Yun Yun, Fama, and Hai Bodong attacked its weak points and restrained it.
• The Nethersea Flood Dragon broke free, then targeted Fama and Hai Bodong with its tail and blue flames; Hai Bodong took the brunt of the flames to protect Yun Yun.
• Xiao Yan gave Fama an Azure Nether Longevity Pill to save Hai Bodong, then joined Yun Yun to face the beast.
• Xiao Yan and Yun Yun combined their tornadoes with Wind-Cloud Fusion: Maha Boundless, creating a massive black tornado that absorbed the Nethersea Flood Dragon's flames and surged toward it.
• Jia Xingtian tried to intervene, but Yun Shan fired three arrows at him, forcing him to defend himself instead.

Xiao Yan and Yun Yun defeated the Nethersea Flood Dragon, but the battle left Xiao Yan exhausted and Yun Yun badly wounded. As Jia Xingtian began powering the Sky Dragon Cloud-Breaking Formation with the lives of the Imperial Capital’s citizens, Xiao Yan rushed to stop him.

• The Nethersea Flood Dragon was trapped in Xiao Yan’s black tornado, nearly shredded, and fled toward the imperial palace as the tornado weakened.
• Xiao Yan ran out of Dou Qi and fell, but Yun Yun caught him; after he teased her, she kissed him before Fama interrupted them.
• Hai Bodong thanked Xiao Yan for the Azure Nether Longevity Pill, and Fama agreed to pay one hundred million gold coins for a pill of his own.
• Fama and Hai Bodong warned that Jia Xingtian could unleash the Sky Dragon Cloud-Breaking Formation by sacrificing the Imperial Capital’s citizens.
• As blood mist spread across the sky, Xiao Yan flew to intervene, while Yun Shan confronted Jia Xingtian about endangering the citizens.

Jia Xingtian sacrificed Imperial Capital civilians to power a blood-red attack that gravely wounded Yun Shan and threatened the Misty Cloud Sect’s formation. Xiao Yan took Yun Yun’s place in the defense, but as the formation weakened, he tried absorbing its sea of clouds and nearly lost control of the energy inside his body.

• Jia Xingtian used the civilians’ blood to form a blade that broke Yun Shan’s shield, wounded him, and damaged the Misty Cloud Sect’s barrier.
• Xiao Yan learned how to control the Cloud-Swallowing Sun-Covering Formation from Yun Yun and took over the defense against Jia Xingtian.
• Xiao Yan and Jia Xingtian exchanged attacks as the formation weakened, while Xiao Yan warned that further civilian deaths could turn the army against Jia Xingtian.
• Xiao Yan drew the sea of clouds into his body, causing his meridians to swell until Medicine Elder suppressed him with soul power.
• Yun Yun, Hai Bodong, and Fama rushed to Xiao Yan’s side but could not help as his swollen body threatened to burst.

Xiao Yan fused four kinds of energy into a gigantic form and defeated Jia Xingtian, breaking the Sky Dragon Cloud-Breaking Formation and devastating the Imperial Capital. He then collapsed with his life force nearly exhausted and severe soul damage, and Yun Yun took him to the Misty Cloud Sect to seek treatment.

• Xiao Yan used Three Points Return to Origin Qi to fuse Force Qi, soul force, Heavenly Flame, and attribute-less Dou Qi, first restoring his body and then growing to a hundred zhang tall.
• Xiao Yan struck Jia Xingtian through his blood-red shield and shattered the Sky Dragon Cloud-Breaking Formation, damaging the Imperial Capital with the shockwave.
• Xiao Yan shrank back to normal and fell, and Yun Yun caught him before he hit the ground.
• Fama examined Xiao Yan and said his life force was nearly exhausted and his soul badly damaged; Yun Yun fed him two Longevity-Extending Pills, restoring some color to his face.
• Yun Yun carried Xiao Yan toward the Misty Cloud Sect's main hall to search its herb treasury for medicine that could restore his soul.

Xiao Xun'er anxiously pressed Ling Ying for news about Xiao Yan and grew jealous as she heard about the women and dangers in his life. Ling Ying recounted Xiao Yan's recent adventures, ending with Xiao Xun'er worried about him after Lv Man summoned the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor.

• Xiao Xun'er complained that Ling Ying had not returned and demanded an update on Xiao Yan, while the green figure tried to avoid the coming confrontation.
• Ling Ying told Xiao Xun'er that Xiao Yan had met Qinglin in Stone Desert City and discovered her Bishi Sanhua Pupil.
• Ling Ying explained that Xiao Yan had spent three months cultivating underground, raising his physical strength to rival a Tier Six Magical Beast.
• Ling Ying recounted how the Nine-Colored Swallowing Heaven Python transformed into Medusa and attacked Xiao Yan, making Xiao Xun'er jealous of his closeness with her.
• Ling Ying said Xiao Yan removed Hai Bodong's seal and helped protect Qinglin from Lv Man, who summoned the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor.
• Xiao Xun'er asked whether Xiao Yan was safe, leaving Ling Ying and the green figure speechless.

Ling Ying recounted Xiao Yan’s rise and expanding influence to Xiao Xun’er, who realized he was gathering control over factions across the Northwestern Continent. She learned that Xiao Yan had slept with Yun Yun and was left hurt and angry despite Ling Ying’s attempt to soften the news.

• Ling Ying described how Xiao Yan had grown from a Dou Zhe to a powerful Dou Huang and investigated the Xiao Clan’s troubles in the Imperial Capital.
• Ling Ying revealed that Xiao Yan had treated Nalan Jie, swindled the Nalan Clan, and secured loans from major Imperial Capital factions.
• Xiao Xun’er listed Xiao Yan’s influence over the Mitel Family, Poison Sect, Misty Cloud Sect, Snake-People Tribe, and Sky Snake Mansion, then wondered whether she was one of his pieces.
• Ling Ying told Xiao Xun’er that Xiao Yan had won the Alchemist Grand Ceremony as a Seventh-Grade Alchemist and defeated the Misty Cloud Sect’s attempt to keep him there.
• Ling Ying revealed that Yun Shan had used Yun Yun’s relationship with Xiao Yan to threaten him, and admitted that Xiao Yan had slept with Yun Yun.
• Xiao Xun’er grew tearful and angry, while Ling Ying suggested Xiao Yan might not have initiated the relationship.

Xiao Xun'er learned that Xiao Yan had fought to protect the Misty Cloud Sect and suffered severe injuries after defeating Jia Xingtian. She ordered Ling Ying to protect him as he recovered and traveled toward Canaan Academy.

• Ling Ying told Xiao Xun'er that Yun Shan and Jia Xingtian had tried to keep Xiao Yan in the Jia Ma Empire, and Xiao Xun'er briefly decided to return to her clan.
• After hearing Xiao Yan was badly injured, Xiao Xun'er demanded to know what had happened during the destruction of the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Ling Ying recounted how Xiao Yan used the Cloud-Swallowing Sun-Covering Formation's energy to defeat Jia Xingtian and destroy the Sky Dragon Cloud-Breaking Formation, but severely damaged his body and soul.
• Ling Ying warned that seeking soul-restoring herbs from Xiao Xun'er's clan could expose Xiao Yan to danger, and said he might recover with help from the Black-Corner Region or Canaan Academy.
• Xiao Xun'er sent Ling Ying to protect Xiao Yan while he recovered and traveled toward Canaan Academy.

After more than a month unconscious, Xiao Yan awoke at the Misty Cloud Sect, where Nalan Yanran had cared for him. He learned that Yao Ye had taken control of the empire and that his father, Xiao Zhan, was missing, then asked to be left alone to recover.

• Nalan Yanran and Yun Yun discussed their feelings for Xiao Yan while he remained unconscious.
• Xiao Yan woke and drank tea that Nalan Yanran fed him.
• Yun Yun told Xiao Yan that Yao Ye had taken control of the empire, declared Jia Xingtian dead, and sent Xiao Yan's family to the Misty Cloud Sect, but Xiao Zhan was missing.
• Yun Yun explained that the Misty Cloud Sect had lost nearly one-third of its disciples and that its grand formation was damaged.
• Xiao Yan sent Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran away, then asked Medicine Elder why he felt so weak.
• Medicine Elder said Xiao Yan had nearly died after attempting to fuse Dou Techniques.

Xiao Yan learned that his body and soul had been severely damaged after fusing four different energies, then used Heavenly Flame Lotus Seeds to begin recovering. Once he was well enough to leave bed, he prepared to depart for Canaan Academy, while Yun Yun struggled to accept his leaving.

• Medicine Elder told Xiao Yan that he had badly injured his body and soul, and said he would need to reach Dou Wang before attempting the energy fusion again.
• Xiao Yan ate his Heavenly Flame Lotus Seeds, whose energy fueled the Yin-Yang Twin Flame as it repaired his damaged body.
• Medicine Elder reminded Xiao Yan that Canaan Academy's Inner Academy assessment was less than a month away and warned that Xun'er might be angry with him.
• Xiao Yan left his room on the Misty Cloud Sect's back mountain and met Nalan Yanran and Yun Yun at the peak.
• Xiao Yan told Yun Yun he planned to return to Canaan Academy, and Yun Yun said she would not stop him but asked whether he could rest a few more days.