Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan set out for Canaan Academy after giving Nalan Yanran a year to meet his conditions for becoming his maid. He reached the Black Domain Plains, where he searched for a settlement to ask for directions and obtain a map.

• Xiao Yan told Nalan Yanran to reach Dou Wang and survive three moves from him within a year if she still wanted to become his maid, then gave her medicinal pills as compensation if she chose to give up.
• Yun Yun suggested Nalan Yanran might have fallen for Xiao Yan and urged him to treat her carefully.
• Xiao Yan met the Great Elder of the Xiao Clan and learned that Xiao Zhan had been taken away on the day they were captured.
• Xiao Yan questioned Yao Ye at the imperial palace, gave her a few instructions, and then set off for Canaan Academy on Black Feather.
• Xiao Yan crossed Great Ridge City and reached the Black Domain Plains, where he flew low in search of a tribe and directions.
• Xiao Yan dismounted before approaching the settlement on foot to avoid drawing attention in the dangerous Black-Corner Region.

Xiao Yan entered a shabby tribe in the Black-Corner Region and killed several people over a toll and a bowl of beef noodles. After demanding a map, he forced the last gatekeeper to eat the noodles and attacked him when he obeyed.

• A gate archer demanded road tribute from Xiao Yan, who killed him by throwing an arrow through his chest and pinning him to a flagpole.
• Xiao Yan entered the tribe, ordered the surviving gatekeepers to fetch him a detailed map and beef noodles, and told Medicine Elder that he disliked the oppressive surroundings.
• Xiao Yan received the map and noodles, then killed Reggie after claiming that he did not eat beef.
• Xiao Yan ordered another guard to eat the noodles and killed him when he hesitated.
• The final guard gulped down the noodles, and Xiao Yan attacked him, mocking him for eating like a pig.

Xiao Yan joined Doma’s caravan to travel to Black Seal City, where an auction was soon to be held. When Ghost Shadow’s massive bandit force attacked, Xiao Yan charged into their ranks and slaughtered hundreds, leaving the bandit leader trying to assess his strength.

• Xiao Yan rejected a poor map, accepted a detailed one from the merchant Doma, and agreed to travel with his caravan to Black Seal City.
• On the road, Xiao Yan spotted factions marked on the map and told Doma that he had won just as the ground began to tremble.
• Doma recognized the approaching attackers as Ghost Shadow, a bandit force of nearly five thousand, and despaired.
• Xiao Yan armed himself with the Snow-Drinking Mad Saber and the Peerless Good Sword, leaped in front of the caravan, and charged into the riders after their leader ordered them to crush him.
• Xiao Yan killed hundreds of bandits in the first charge, then deflected their armor-piercing arrows and hurled them back to bring down more riders.
• Ghost Shadow’s leader ordered his cavalry to spread out and concluded that Xiao Yan relied on physical strength rather than Dou Qi.

Xiao Yan annihilated the Ghost Shadow cavalry before reaching Black Seal City, where he bought medicinal ingredients and headed to the auction house to sell items. He entered the appraisal room and faced a white-haired evaluator who could not discern his strength.

• The Ghost Shadow leader ordered ranged attacks and Golden Silkworm Silk Nets against Xiao Yan, but neither harmed him.
• Xiao Yan used Three Points Return to Origin Qi to turn the Ghost Shadow cavalry into ash, then returned to the carriage and rested.
• Doma's caravan reached Black Seal City, and Xiao Yan asked to visit the city's largest medicinal herb store.
• At Thousand Medicine House, Xiao Yan bought ingredients for several pills but found none that could restore the soul.
• After killing several dozen would-be robbers at an inn, Xiao Yan went to the auction house to obtain a VIP seat by offering items for auction.
• A maid led Xiao Yan to the appraisal room, where a white-haired old man scrutinized him but could not tell what made him unusual.

Xiao Yan secured a VIP seat at the Black Stamp Auction House by submitting Longevity-Extending Pills, then began bidding on auction items while feigning sleep. He outbid Fan Ling for the Thunder Bat Heavenly Wings, provoking the Blood Sect Young Sect Master.

• Xiao Yan had the white-haired appraiser value his Longevity-Extending Pills and received a second-tier VIP jade card.
• Xiao Yan entered the auction through the VIP passage and noticed the pale-faced young man who later appeared as Fan Ling.
• The auction began, and Xiao Yan won the Cold Edge longsword with a bid of two hundred thousand gold coins.
• Fan Ling showed interest in the Thunder Bat Heavenly Wings, but Xiao Yan bid two million gold coins before Fan Ling could place his first bid.
• Fan Ling raised his bid to three million gold coins, and Xiao Yan immediately countered with six million.

Xiao Yan used his earlier bids to disguise his interest and acquire the Lotus Demonic Flame Fragment Map, then watched the auction compete over Longevity-Extending Pills and the Three Thousand Lightning Movement. The chapter ended as the Earth-tier movement skill was unveiled and Medicine Elder told Xiao Yan it suited him perfectly.

• Fan Ling threatened Xiao Yan after Xiao Yan bid six million gold coins for the Thunder Bat Heavenly Wings, but Xiao Yan ignored him.
• Xiao Yan feigned sleep until he won the Lotus Demonic Flame Fragment Map for twenty thousand gold coins, concealing how much he wanted it.
• Fan Ling, Morhan, and the Sky Snake Mansion competed for two Longevity-Extending Pills, which the Sky Snake Mansion won for seven million gold coins.
• The auctioneer introduced the Earth-tier movement battle skill Three Thousand Lightning Movement, and Medicine Elder told Xiao Yan it would suit him better than Wind God Leg.

Xiao Yan provoked Fan Ling into buying the Three Thousand Lightning Movement for twenty million gold coins, then watched as the auction house revealed its final item, the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill. Medicine Elder recognized the pill and told Xiao Yan to bid for it.

• Xiao Yan and Fan Ling raised the bidding for the Three Thousand Lightning Movement until Fan Ling claimed he had twenty million gold coins, despite his men having less.
• The auctioneer accepted Fan Ling's bid, and Fan Ling won the battle skill for twenty million gold coins.
• The auctioneer had a cold-iron cage raised around the platform before unveiling the final item in a cold jade box.
• Xiao Yan recognized the golden pill as the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill after Medicine Elder named it.
• Medicine Elder told Xiao Yan to bid for the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill.

Xiao Yan won the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill at auction, hoping to use its Dragon Qi to strengthen his Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. After learning that the pill’s seller was Han Feng and that he would have to fulfill two favors, Xiao Yan left the auction house, while a burly man arrived to ask about his identity.

• The auctioneer introduced the Seventh-Grade Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill and explained its power to help its user break through after severe injury.
• Xiao Yan outbid Morhan and the Sky Snake Mansion, winning the pill with a bid of thirty million.
• Steward Hu gave Xiao Yan the Storage Ring containing his purchases, and Xiao Yan paid the remaining balance with his Purple-Gold Card.
• Steward Hu told Xiao Yan that the pill belonged to Medicine Emperor Han Feng and required him to fulfill two favors when summoned.
• Xiao Yan left the auction house and headed for the city gate, while a burly middle-aged man asked Steward Hu whether he had discovered Xiao Yan’s background.

Xiao Yan waited in the forest for the factions pursuing the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill to reveal themselves, then confronted the Blood Sect, Sky Snake Mansion, and Black Skull. He left Elder Qing shaken by revealing that he knew the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor and Lv Man had been injured.

• Steward Hu told the Eight Gates Gate Master that Xiongba had slaughtered Ghost Shadow, and the Gate Master decided to wait for a chance to seize the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill.
• Xiao Yan traveled toward Jia Nan Academy and stopped in a quiet forest, where the Blood Sect, Sky Snake Mansion, and Black Skull waited to ambush him.
• Xiao Yan slept through the night while the three major forces refused to attack first, each wary of the others.
• Xiao Yan called the ambushers out and challenged them to fight over the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill.
• Xiao Yan asked Elder Qing whether the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor and Lv Man had recovered from their injuries, startling her.

Xiao Yan drove Sky Snake Mansion away, then used one attack to destroy the Blood Sect warriors and wound Fan Lao before taking Three Thousand Lightning Movement from Fan Ling. He flew toward Canaan Academy and stopped near Peace Town, where the Death Spirit Tree enforced the town’s rules.

• Xiao Yan frightened Elder Qing and the people from Sky Snake Mansion into leaving, and Morhan withdrew with his men to watch from nearby.
• Fan Lao sent the Blood Sect warriors to attack Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan used Three Points Return to Origin Qi to destroy them and badly wound Fan Lao.
• Fan Lao fled, while Xiao Yan took Fan Ling’s Storage Ring and found Three Thousand Lightning Movement inside.
• Xiao Yan called Black Feather and flew toward Canaan Academy, stopping near Peace Town because flight was forbidden within a hundred li of the academy.
• Xiao Yan approached Peace Town, where the corpses hanging from the Death Spirit Tree warned visitors from the Black-Corner Region to obey the rules.

Xiao Yan entered Peace Town, proved his identity as a Jia Nan Academy student, and received a badge and directions to the academy. After revealing Black Feather, he flew to Canaan City and set out for Jia Nan Academy the next morning, in time for the Inner Academy Exam.

• Xiao Yan entered Peace Town and told Huo De that he was an eighteen-year-old Jia Nan Academy student named Xiao Yan, trained by Instructor Ruo Lin.
• Huo De confirmed Xiao Yan's identity in the academy records and gave him an azure badge for entry, noting that the Inner Academy Exam would take place the next day.
• Xiao Yan gave Huo De bottles of Qi-Replenishing Pills and healing medicine, then warned him that his flying pet would be arriving.
• Xiao Yan summoned Black Feather, whose immense size and nearly fifth-tier strength frightened Huo De, the students, and the townspeople.
• Huo De gave Xiao Yan a map, and Xiao Yan flew Black Feather to Canaan City before resting overnight and departing for Jia Nan Academy at dawn.

Xiao Yan finally appeared at Canaan Academy’s Inner Academy Selection Tournament after arriving exhausted and disheveled, astonishing the students who had imagined him as a talented young man. He met Xue Beng in the arena while searching for Xun'er, and Xue Beng challenged whether he was worthy of her.

• Xiao Xun'er defeated her opponent with a single strike, while the crowd cheered her victory.
• The referee called Xiao Yan for his match against Xue Beng, but Xiao Yan was asleep in the stands until he heard his name.
• Xiao Yan stood up and announced himself, shocking the spectators and academy elders with his unkempt appearance.
• Xun'er saw Xiao Yan and worried that his soul was badly injured, while Xiao Yan searched the square for her without using his soul power.
• Xue Beng confronted Xiao Yan and declared that he was not worthy of Miss Xun'er.

Xiao Yan defeated Xue Beng when Xue Beng charged out of the fighting ring, then reunited with Xun'er and fell asleep in her care. Bai Shan interrupted their quiet night to criticize Xiao Yan, but Xun'er ordered him to leave.

• Xiao Yan taunted Xue Beng, who charged at him but veered off course and ran out of the ring.
• The vice principal upheld the rules, and the referee declared Xiao Yan the winner despite the crowd's protests.
• Xiao Yan reunited with Xun'er, gave Ruo Lin a bottle of pills, and returned with Xun'er to her residence.
• Xun'er helped Xiao Yan bathe and change, then held him as he fell asleep in a pavilion.
• Bai Shan arrived and insulted Xiao Yan, but Xun'er threatened to drive him away, so he left.

Xiao Yan and Xun'er reunited after he awoke, and they discussed his travels, his relationships with other women, and the possibility of Xun'er returning to her clan. Xun'er decided to stay with Xiao Yan and asked him to deal with anyone her clan sent to retrieve her, while the selection tournament was about to resume.

• Xun'er drove Wu Hao and Hu Jia away when they disturbed Xiao Yan, who had just woken up.
• Xiao Yan told Xun'er about his travels and admitted what had happened with Yun Yun, Yao Ye, and Ya Fei.
• Xiao Yan explained that his feelings for the other women did not mean they could easily be together, and Xun'er grew jealous and questioned his intentions.
• Xiao Yan realized Xun'er was considering returning to her clan, but she refused and told him to handle anyone who came to take her back.
• Xun'er reminded Xiao Yan that dawn was near and the selection tournament was about to begin again.

Xiao Yan faced Lu Mu in the Inner Academy Exam, but Lu Mu’s attacks could not harm him and the referee declared Xiao Yan the winner. After the students protested, Vice Principal Hu Gan voided the previous results and changed the remaining matches to a free-for-all, leaving the exam participants to fight for the final fifty places and their rankings.

• Lu Mu told Xiao Yan to surrender and leave Xun'er, but Xiao Yan mocked Lu Mu’s unstable Dou Qi and refused.
• Lu Mu attacked Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan stood unmoved, prompting the spectators to accuse them of fixing the match.
• Xun'er told Ruo Lin that Xiao Yan’s body had reached the level of a Tier Six Magical Beast.
• The referee declared Xiao Yan the winner, and the students protested that the match had been rigged.
• Vice Principal Hu Gan declared all previous results void and announced a free-for-all, with the last fifty people remaining in the arena entering the Inner Academy.

Hu Gan turned the selection tournament into a mass attack on Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan effortlessly defeated the charging students. As thousands joined the fray, the clever competitors withdrew, leaving Xiao Yan surrounded by injured students and an open space.

• Hu Gan announced that the competing students could all challenge Xiao Yan, and the competitors gathered on the field.
• Xun'er teased Xiao Yan and threatened to join the attack, while Hu Gan ordered the referee to record the battle.
• The competitors charged Xiao Yan, who sent them flying with single punches and kicks.
• Falling students struck spectators and the high platform, prompting students from the stands to join the siege.
• Hu Gan allowed the assessment to remain open to all students, while he and the elders joked about entering the fight themselves.
• After nearly half an hour, Lu Mu, Xiao Xun'er, Hu Jia, Bai Shan, and Wu Hao avoided attacking Xiao Yan as the others retreated, and Xiao Yan opened his eyes to find the arena strewn with injured students.

Xiao Yan used taunts and his overwhelming strength to reduce the Inner Academy selection field and choose the final five. Hu Gan ended the tournament, leaving Xiao Yan among the finalists alongside Xun'er, Hu Jia, Wu Hao, and Xiao Yu.

• Xiao Yan taunted the remaining students into charging him, then knocked the reckless attackers out of the arena.
• Xun'er challenged Xiao Yan and struck him, prompting the other students to join the attack; Xiao Yan evaded her and targeted Bai Shan.
• Xiao Yan eliminated Bai Shan and chased Hu Jia around the arena before returning to the other contestants.
• Xiao Yan deliberately left Xun'er, Hu Jia, Wu Hao, and Xiao Yu among the final five, and Hu Gan declared the tournament over.
• Xun'er left with Xiao Yu after glaring at Xiao Yan, Wu Hao apologized and wished them happiness, and Hu Jia threatened Xiao Yan before leaving.

Xiao Yan sparred with Hu Gan and the academy elders, overwhelming them with his physical strength before conceding to preserve their dignity. Hu Gan declared the tournament over and announced that the top five would visit the Book Repository the next day.

• Hu Gan challenged Xiao Yan to a spar using physical strength alone, and Xiao Yan sent him flying with a single punch.
• The elders secretly used Dou Qi to fight Xiao Yan, who later conceded after tumbling out of the arena; Hu Gan called the match a draw.
• Xiao Yan gave Hu Gan healing medicine for the injured students, while Bai Shan continued to glare at him with resentment.
• Hu Gan announced that the top fifty would enter the Inner Academy in seven days and the top five would visit the Book Repository the next day.

Xiao Yan and the other tournament finalists entered Canaan Academy’s Book Repository to choose treasures. He found Earth Tier cultivation methods for Xun'er and Xiao Yu, while the group continued searching for items suited to themselves.

• Hu Gan led the top five finalists to the Book Repository, where its two guardians examined Xiao Yan and praised his physical strength, soul power, and Heavenly Flame.
• The guardians opened the Spatial Lock, and Hu Gan explained that each finalist could take only one item from the repository.
• Inside, Xiao Yan told Xun'er and Xiao Yu to watch for bright light clusters and offered to help them find suitable items.
• Xiao Yan caught a Tier Six water-attributed Magic Core but discarded it, then selected a High-Grade Earth Tier cultivation method for Xun'er.
• Xiao Yan found Xiao Yu a Low-Grade Earth Tier water cultivation method called Wavebreaker Art, and she thanked him.

Xiao Yan found a Nine-Eyed Purple Divine Flower that could repair and strengthen his soul, and helped his companions obtain cultivation methods. After leaving the Book Repository, he traveled with the new students to the Inner Academy, where its elders were surprised by Xun'er and puzzled that they could not discern Xiao Yan's strength.

• Xiao Yan grabbed a brilliant purple light cluster and found a Nine-Eyed Purple Divine Flower, which Xun'er identified as a rare medicine that could repair soul injuries and raise soul level.
• Xiao Yan gave Hu Jia an Earth Tier wood-element cultivation method, then joined the others in finding Wu Hao an Earth Tier cultivation method.
• The five students returned to the Book Repository entrance, where two elders told them to keep the place secret, and Hu Gan led them out.
• Xiao Yan spent several days with Xun'er before traveling with Hu Gan and the new students through a hidden silver gate to the Inner Academy.
• Elder Su and Qing Elder praised Xun'er and could not discern Xiao Yan's strength, while Hu Gan kept the new students' abilities secret.