Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan learned the basics of formations from the Ninth-Grade Formation Compendium, shared the inheritance with Yao Lao, and used a Spirit-Gathering Formation to accelerate his cultivation. He traveled to Stone Desert City and arrived at the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps compound.

• Xiao Yan studied formations for fifty years in the Martial Dao Space and mastered formations of the fourth grade and below.
• Xiao Yan demonstrated a Fire Spirit Formation to Yao Lao, then transmitted formation knowledge to him for study.
• Xiao Yan set up a fourth-grade Spirit-Gathering Formation and cultivated overnight, bringing his Urchin Dou Crystal closer to a breakthrough to three-star Dou Spirit.
• Xiao Yan flew to Stone Desert City, entered through the city gate with help from the soldiers, and asked for directions to the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps.
• Xiao Yan reached the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps compound and saw its armed guards standing watch outside.

Xiao Yan reunited with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li in Stone Desert City and revealed that he had become a Two-Star Dou Spirit and a Fourth-Grade Alchemist. He gave his brothers high-tier cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, pills, and other resources, leaving them stunned by his generosity.

• Xiao Yan arrived at the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps and asked to see Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, who came out and recognized their younger brother.
• Xiao Yan told Xiao Ding and Xiao Li that he was a Fourth-Grade Alchemist and a Two-Star Dou Spirit who could fight Dou Emperors, then proved his Dou Spirit cultivation by materializing flames.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li brought Xiao Yan into the discussion hall, where he explained that his teacher's inheritance had accelerated his cultivation and alchemy.
• Xiao Yan gave Xiao Ding and Xiao Li matching Low Earth Tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques tailored to their affinities.
• Xiao Yan gave Xiao Ding a Storage Ring containing thousands of pills and numerous Mystic Tier Dou Techniques, astonishing both brothers.

Xiao Yan gave Xiao Ding and Xiao Li pills, cultivation methods, and formation jade slips to help them strengthen the family, then celebrated with the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps. The next morning, he met Qing Lin, discovered her Snakefolk scales, and reassured her that he accepted her and would protect her.

• Xiao Yan persuaded Xiao Ding and Xiao Li to accept a Storage Ring of pills and cultivation resources, along with jade slips containing Spirit-Gathering and Immovable Vajra Formations.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li hosted a welcoming banquet, where Xiao Yan and the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps drank and celebrated together.
• Qing Lin entered Xiao Yan's room to help him wash up, and Xiao Yan recognized her as the girl with Three-Flower Jade Serpent Eyes.
• Xiao Yan caught Qing Lin when she tripped, noticed the Snakefolk scales on her wrist, and saw her recoil in fear.
• Xiao Yan told Qing Lin that her scales were beautiful, explained that others' hatred was not her fault, and promised to protect her.

Xiao Yan healed Qing Lin’s hidden injuries and accepted her as his maid, then joined Xiao Ding and Xiao Li to discuss unifying Stone Desert City. The brothers agreed to move against the Sand Mercenary Corps, with Xiao Yan offering to force Luo Bu to join if he refused.

• Xiao Yan fed Qing Lin a First-Grade Pill and used his Dou Qi to heal the injuries left by her past abuse.
• Xiao Yan asked Qing Lin to stay by his side as his maid, and she eagerly accepted; he noticed signs that her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils might be awakening.
• Qing Lin led Xiao Yan to the Council Hall, where he found Xiao Ding and Xiao Li discussing the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps’ plans.
• Xiao Ding told Xiao Yan that trusted men had received pills, he and Xiao Li had advanced by one star using Xiao Yan’s cultivation techniques, and they were considering unifying Stone Desert City.
• Xiao Yan urged his brothers to proceed and said he would make Luo Bu join the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps if he refused; Xiao Ding and Xiao Li agreed.
• Xiao Yan told Xiao Ding and Xiao Li that Qing Lin was now his maid, and they accepted his decision, believing it would protect her from the mercenaries’ abuse.

Xiao Yan helped Qing Lin recover from malnutrition and abuse, then taught her to cultivate Dou Zhi Qi. After Yao Lao provided a cultivation method and techniques suited to her Three-Flower Jade Serpent Eyes, Qing Lin quickly reached the First Stage of Dou Qi.

• Xiao Ding arranged for Qing Lin to stay beside Xiao Yan, while he and Xiao Li discussed unifying Stone Desert City.
• Xiao Yan gave Qing Lin three second-grade medicines and instructed her to use them for three days to restore her health.
• After Qing Lin's health improved, Xiao Yan taught her how to sense and cultivate the energy of heaven and earth.
• Yao Lao sent Xiao Yan a cultivation method and four Dou Techniques tailored to Qing Lin's Three-Flower Jade Serpent Eyes.
• Xiao Yan set up a First-Rank Spirit-Gathering Formation as Qing Lin cultivated, and she reached the First Stage of Dou Qi in less than half a day.

Over a month, Qing Lin rapidly advanced her cultivation while Xiao Yan reached Three-Star Dou Spirit and helped the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps unify Stone Desert City. After his brothers reported finding a scorching underground passage in the eastern desert, Xiao Yan set out with Qing Lin to investigate a possible Heavenly Flame site.

• Qing Lin advanced from First Stage Dou Qi to Seventh-Stage Dou Zhi Qi through Xiao Yan's training and resources, while Xiao Yan broke through to Three-Star Dou Spirit.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li helped the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps bring every mercenary corps in Stone Desert City under its control, with Luo Bu joining as its third commander.
• Xiao Yan had Xiao Ding and Xiao Li send mercenaries to search three locations marked on the Heavenly Flames map, promising a Low Mystic Tier reward to whoever found a site.
• Xiao Li told Xiao Yan that a mercenary had found an underground passage east of Stone Desert City that grew intensely hot deeper inside.
• Xiao Yan left with Qing Lin to investigate the passage, while Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stayed behind at the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps.

Xiao Yan found the underground magma lake where the Green Lotus Core Flame was hidden and discovered that its guardian, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent, was stronger than expected. He wounded the serpent with a combined Heavenly Flame attack, and it emerged from the magma to attack him while Qing Lin remained protected.

• Xiao Yan reached the hidden passage with the mercenaries, rewarded them with medicinal pills, and carried Qing Lin down into the tunnels.
• Xiao Yan sensed the strongest fire-element energy and followed it with Qing Lin to an enormous underground magma lake.
• Qing Lin detected the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent beneath the magma, and Xiao Yan judged that the beast had nearly reached the Fifth Tier.
• Xiao Yan protected Qing Lin with the Spirit Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Formation and fused Myriad-Beast Spirit Flame with Yama Flame into a fire lotus.
• Xiao Yan sent the fire lotus into the magma, wounding and awakening the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent.
• The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent burst from the magma and lunged at Xiao Yan with both heads.

Xiao Yan defeated the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent and explained Qing Lin’s Three-Flower Jade Serpent Eyes to her. Qing Lin began trying to subdue the weakened serpent, with Xiao Yan ready to intervene.

• Xiao Yan battered the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent with Eight Extremes Collapse and the Myriad-Beast Spirit Flame until it could no longer resist.
• Xiao Yan told Qing Lin that her Three-Flower Jade Serpent Eyes could enslave snake-type magical beasts and absorb their Dou Zhi Qi.
• Xiao Yan explained how Qing Lin could subdue the Peak Fourth Tier serpent and promised to help if anything went wrong.
• Qing Lin approached the serpent, focused her Dou Zhi Qi into her eyes, and told it to submit or Xiao Yan would beat it to death.

Qing Lin used the Three-Flower Jade Serpent Eyes to subdue the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent and glimpsed its past and the azure lotus deep in the magma. The technique’s signal reached Sky Snake Palace, whose master sent Lü Man and the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor to retrieve Qing Lin alive.

• Qing Lin awakened the Three-Flower Jade Serpent Eyes and marked the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent, freezing it into submission.
• Qing Lin saw visions of the serpent’s life and the azure lotus at the magma’s deepest point.
• The Three-Flower Jade Serpent Eyes’ fluctuations reached Sky Snake Palace, alerting its master to a bearer in the Jia Ma Empire.
• The Sky Snake Palace master ordered Lü Man to bring the bearer back alive and unharmed.
• Lü Man rode the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor as they set off toward the northwest.

After Qing Lin subdued the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent, Xiao Yan gave it healing and fire-element pills that triggered its transformation toward the Fifth Tier. The serpent’s breakthrough sent energy through its contract with Qing Lin, rapidly raising her Dou Qi and putting her body in danger.

• Qing Lin exhausted her Soul Power after completing the contract, and Xiao Yan caught her and gave her a Qi-Nourishing Pill before she fell asleep.
• Xiao Yan gave the wounded Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent an Azure Nether Healing Spirit Pill, which healed its injuries and stirred its potential to reach the Fifth Tier.
• Xiao Yan gave the serpent a Flame-Pattern Pill, and its body grew as its aura rose from the Peak Fourth Tier toward the Fifth Tier.
• The serpent’s transformation sent energy through its soul contract with Qing Lin, rapidly advancing her Dou Qi from the fourth stage to the seventh while her meridians and skin showed signs of damage.

Xiao Yan sealed Qing Lin’s excess energy after her breakthrough and learned that the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent had found the Green Lotus Core Flame beneath the magma. He descended with the serpent and reached the Heavenly Flame, entering the cyan light surrounding it.

• Xiao Yan used a fifth-grade sealing array to contain Qing Lin’s surging energy, letting her safely benefit from it as she cultivated.
• Qing Lin woke in Xiao Yan’s arms and learned that the serpent’s breakthrough had helped her advance to Seven-Stage Dou Zhi Qi.
• Qing Lin asked the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent about a lotus-shaped flame, and it confirmed that a cyan flame lay below the magma.
• Xiao Yan protected himself with the Undying Divine Flame and followed the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent down through the magma.
• Xiao Yan borrowed Yao Lao’s soul power to raise his strength to One-Star Dou Zong as they approached the cyan glow.
• Xiao Yan found the Green Lotus Core Flame and swam into the cyan light surrounding it.

Xiao Yan retrieved the Green Lotus Core Flame in its protective lotus and escaped the magma cavern with Qing Lin. Outside, Queen Medusa appeared and demanded that he hand over the Heavenly Flame, threatening to kill them if he refused.

• Xiao Yan cut the green lotus from its stem and secured the Green Lotus Core Flame inside its natural container.
• Xiao Yan returned to Qing Lin, explained the Heavenly Flame’s identity, and flew with her out of the cavern.
• Xiao Yan sensed Queen Medusa waiting near the cave and called her out of hiding.
• Queen Medusa revealed herself and demanded Xiao Yan surrender the Heavenly Flame or die.

Xiao Yan revealed his borrowed Dou Zong strength to Queen Medusa, then offered to use the Myriad-Beast Spirit Flame to help her evolve in exchange for the Snakefolk Tribe’s Sand Mandrake. Queen Medusa accepted and led Xiao Yan and Qing Lin toward the Snakefolk Tribe.

• Queen Medusa confronted Xiao Yan over the Heavenly Flame, but he raised his strength from Three-Star Dou Spirit to One-Star Dou Zong and persuaded her to negotiate.
• Xiao Yan deduced that Queen Medusa sought a Heavenly Flame to evolve her bloodline and become a Dou Zong, then refused to give her the Green Lotus Core Flame.
• Xiao Yan revealed the Myriad-Beast Spirit Flame and offered to help Queen Medusa evolve her bloodline in exchange for the Sand Mandrake.
• Queen Medusa accepted the trade and invited Xiao Yan to the Snakefolk Tribe.
• Queen Medusa flew toward the tribe, and Xiao Yan followed with Qing Lin in his arms.

Queen Medusa brought Xiao Yan and Qing Lin to the Snakefolk Holy City, where she declared Xiao Yan an honored guest and arranged for him to stay beside her hall. Xiao Yan agreed to refine pills for the Snakefolk Tribe during the three months Queen Medusa needed to prepare a secret technique, while the Commander-in-Chief and Mobas viewed him with hostility.

• Queen Medusa flew to the Holy City with Xiao Yan and Qing Lin, while Xiao Yan reassured Qing Lin that he would protect her.
• The Medusa Snake Guard welcomed Queen Medusa at the city walls and questioned her choice to bring a human guest.
• Hua She'er challenged Xiao Yan's presence, but Queen Medusa identified him as a Fifth-Grade Alchemist she had invited.
• Queen Medusa introduced Xiao Yan to the Commander-in-Chief and Mobas, then ordered everyone to treat him as they would treat her.
• Queen Medusa assigned Xiao Yan a side hall beside her main hall, provoking jealousy from the Commander-in-Chief and Mobas.
• Xiao Yan agreed to refine pills for the Snakefolk Tribe for three months, then followed a guide with Qing Lin to the side hall.

Xiao Yan clashed with Mobas and the Grand Commander after they blocked his path, then revealed his immense power and began summoning the Four Symbols formations. Queen Medusa arrived with four elders as the Vermilion Bird formation was still taking shape, and she demanded to know what Xiao Yan was doing.

• Mobas attacked Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan repelled him with the seventh level of the Yama Palm while the Grand Commander watched.
• Xiao Yan sent Qing Lin away on the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent and flew into the sky to face Mobas and the Grand Commander.
• Xiao Yan's cultivation surged from Three-Star Dou Spirit to Four-Star Dou Zong, shocking Mobas, the Grand Commander, Yue Mei, and the other snakefolk.
• Xiao Yan summoned the Azure Dragon and White Tiger formations and began forming the Vermilion Bird formation.
• Queen Medusa arrived with four Peak Dou Emperor elders and asked Xiao Yan to explain himself.

Xiao Yan forced Queen Medusa to accept punishment for Mobas and Kuixing after they defied her orders and provoked him. He left the Snakefolk Tribe under Queen Medusa’s humiliating agreement to accompany him for three days, then woke the next morning to Qing Lin trying to get him out of bed.

• Xiao Yan threatened to destroy the Snakefolk Tribe unless Queen Medusa gave him a satisfactory explanation for Mobas and Kuixing’s attack.
• Queen Medusa agreed to Xiao Yan’s demands: Mobas would be crippled, Kuixing would lose an arm, and she would accompany Xiao Yan for three days.
• Queen Medusa killed Mobas after Yue Mei interrupted his attempt to defend himself, and Kuixing severed his own right arm.
• Xiao Yan accepted the punishment, returned to the side hall, and reminded Queen Medusa to visit him for three days.
• Qing Lin praised Xiao Yan after witnessing his show of force, and he led her into the side hall.
• The next morning, Qing Lin tried to wake Xiao Yan in his room.

Xiao Yan discussed Queen Medusa’s evolution secret art with her during her three-day stay, while the Snakefolk Tribe misread their time together. Afterward, Xiao Yan claimed system rewards for obtaining the Green Lotus Core Flame, gaining an artifact-refining legacy, a soul-suppressing Dao Artifact, and a rare cultivation treasure.

• Xiao Yan woke to find Qing Lin pinned beneath him, then learned Queen Medusa had come to see him.
• Xiao Yan told Queen Medusa he had no improper intentions and discussed the details and risks of her evolution secret art with her.
• Queen Medusa returned to her bedchamber after three days, leaving the male snakefolk heartbroken by rumors about her stay with Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan checked the system rewards for intercepting the Green Lotus Core Flame and its related treasures.
• The system granted Xiao Yan a Ninth-Rank Artifact Refiner Legacy, a Soul-Swaying Spirit-Suppressing Bell, and Earth-Core Crimson Flame Marrow.

Xiao Yan advanced his artifact-refining skill and continued cultivating while refining pills for the Snakefolk Tribe, then began making a Seal-Breaking Pill. As the pill neared completion, its energy shook the meditation chamber and drew Queen Medusa to the sealed door, where she suspected Xiao Yan was refining a Sixth-Grade Pill.

• Xiao Yan raised his artifact-refining level to the seventh grade and spent three months cultivating, reaching Peak Five-Star Dou Spirit while guiding Qing Lin to Six-Star Dou Practitioner.
• Xiao Yan gave Hua She'er and Yue Mei their share of the pills, rejected Yue Mei's seduction, and told them to inform Queen Medusa to come herself if she wanted to use a honey trap.
• Hua She'er supplied Xiao Yan with the medicinal ingredients he needed, and Xiao Yan told the two commanders not to disturb him for five days.
• Xiao Yan mastered the Seal-Breaking Pill formula in the Martial Dao Space and began refining the Sixth-Grade pill with his Undying Divine Flame as Yao Lao watched.
• After two days, the forming pill released a powerful energy wave that shook the chamber, prompting Queen Medusa to appear outside and wonder if Xiao Yan was refining a Sixth-Grade Pill.

Xiao Yan refined a Sixth-Grade Seal-Breaking Pill and a High-Grade Sixth-Rank Earth-Core Pill, then prepared to break through to the Battle King realm. Queen Medusa said the Snakefolk Tribe’s transformation ritual would begin in about ten days, while Xiao Yan entered seclusion on his upgraded Green Lotus Seat.

• Xiao Yan’s Seal-Breaking Pill produced a purple pillar of light, and its successful refinement helped him advance from peak Five-Star Dou Spirit to Six-Star Dou Spirit.
• A black-robed man sensed the Sixth-Grade Pill’s birth near the Snakefolk Temple, noticed the tribe’s unusual mobilization, and returned toward Jama Sacred City to warn his Sect Master.
• Xiao Yan refined the Earth-Core Pill from the Earth-Core Lotus Seeds, Earth-Core Crimson Flame Marrow, Scarlet Essence Lingzhi, and other ingredients, producing a High-Grade Sixth-Rank pill and a powerful red pillar of light.
• Queen Medusa praised Xiao Yan’s alchemy and told him the materials for her secret technique were nearly ready, with the transformation ritual planned for about ten days later.
• After resting for three or four days, Xiao Yan gave Qing Lin control of the side-hall formation and began preparing to break through to the Battle King realm on his Fifth-Grade Green Lotus Seat.

Xiao Yan refined the Earth-Core Pill and Green Lotus Core Flame, advancing to Four-Star Peak Battle King while strengthening his body and cultivation art. He emerged from seclusion, agreed to wait three days before Queen Medusa’s secret art, and praised Qing Lin for guarding him.

• Xiao Yan swallowed the Earth-Core Pill, refined its medicinal force, and reached Peak Dou Spirit with a Dou Spirit-level body.
• Xiao Yan refined the Green Lotus Core Flame into his third Heavenly Flame, which tempered his body and powered his cultivation.
• Queen Medusa tried to reach Xiao Yan after preparing the secret art, but Qing Lin refused to let her enter while he was in seclusion.
• Xiao Yan broke through to Four-Star Peak Battle King and emerged with golden-red and azure Dou Qi wings, astonishing Queen Medusa and the Snakefolk experts.
• Queen Medusa agreed to wait three days before performing the secret art, and Xiao Yan thanked Qing Lin for protecting his seclusion.
• Xiao Yan assessed his gains: the Nine-Stripe Flame Spirit Body, a Mid Earth Tier Heaven-Burning Divine Art, and greatly increased strength and Dou Qi reserves.