Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang purchases medicinal ingredients and a beginner's cauldron, hinting at his interest in alchemy.
• He sells a large batch of first-tier pills to the Mittel Auction House, surprising the master alchemist Gu Ni with their quality.
• Xiao Yang buys medicinal ingredients worth 150,000 gold coins from the Mittel Auction House.
• Galeo, a wealthy young master, becomes enraged and jealous upon seeing Ya Fei with Xiao Yang, leading him to secretly follow Xiao Yang.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: Shows interest in alchemy and proves to be a skilled alchemist, catching the attention of Gu Ni and Ya Fei.
• Ya Fei: Demonstrates professionalism and respect for Gu Ni, showing she values expertise and skill. She also shows interest in befriending Xiao Yang.
• Galeo: Reveals his jealous and lecherous nature, becoming enraged and fixated on Xiao Yang after seeing him with Ya Fei.

Significant Themes

• Expertise and Skill: Both Gu Ni and Ya Fei recognize and value Xiao Yang's alchemy skills.
• Jealousy and Envy: Galeo's actions are driven by his jealousy of Xiao Yang's association with Ya Fei.
• Power Dynamics: Galeo's behavior is influenced by his awareness of the power dynamics between the Jia Lie Clan and the Mittel Auction House, preventing him from acting rashly within the auction house.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang and Ya Fei: They interact professionally, with Ya Fei showing interest in Xiao Yang's alchemy skills and potential future business.
• Galeo and Ya Fei: Their interaction is tense and uncomfortable, with Galeo's advances rebuffed by Ya Fei.
• Galeo and Xiao Yang: Galeo becomes fixated on Xiao Yang, leading him to secretly follow Xiao Yang with the intention of settling a score.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang, with Mid-stage Mortal Realm soul power, notices Galeo and his guards following him but pretends not to.
• Xiao Yang leads them to a secluded alley, where Galeo confronts him, demanding humiliation for the previous match loss.
• Xiao Yang swiftly defeats Galeo and his guards, leaving Galeo severely injured.
• Xiao Yang returns home and begins preparing to refine a Dou Practitioner Pill, triggering a side quest to refine a Second-Grade Elixir for the first time.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates his powerful soul power and combat skills, showing no mercy to Galeo and his guards.
• Galeo is revealed to be resentful and vengeful, seeking to harm Xiao Yang due to jealousy of his talent.

Significant Themes

• Talent and jealousy: Xiao Yang's rapid progress in Dou Qi stages incites envy in Galeo, leading to his attempted humiliation and harm.
• Power dynamics: Xiao Yang's strength allows him to easily overpower Galeo and his guards, highlighting the importance of power in their society.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang vs. Galeo: Xiao Yang shows no fear or respect towards Galeo, swiftly defeating him and his guards with minimal effort.
• Xiao Yang vs. Guards: Xiao Yang easily overpowers and injures the guards, showing his formidable combat skills.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang successfully refines five batches of Second-Grade Dou Practitioner Pills over three days, with two mid-grade pills and the rest low-grade.
• He consumes the mid-grade pills, advancing his cultivation to the Nine-Star Dou Practitioner realm.
• Xiao Yang decides to leave the Xiao Household to train in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, aiming to enter Qingshan Town first to search for a cave from the original story.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang's dedication to refining pills and advancing his cultivation is evident, showing his determination and discipline.
• He demonstrates strategic thinking by planning to explore the cave from the original story and considering his future cultivation path, such as obtaining the Fallen Heart Flame.

Significant Themes

• The importance of hard work and dedication in cultivation and refinement, as seen in Xiao Yang's relentless efforts over three days.
• Xiao Yang's strategic planning and foresight, highlighting his intelligence and long-term thinking.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang informs Xiao Zhan of his decision to leave, with Xiao Zhan showing concern for his safety but ultimately not objecting.
• Xiao Yang visits Xun'er to inform her of his decision, with Xun'er expressing concern and reluctance to see him go but ultimately supporting his choice.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang decides to go to Canaan Academy, and Xun'er insists on accompanying him.
• Xun'er asks Xiao Yang to accompany her shopping, triggering a mission with generous rewards.
• Xiao Yang and Xun'er go shopping, escorted by guards due to threats from the Jia Lie Clan.
• Xiao Yang prepares to leave for the Magical Beast Mountain Range and tells Xun'er he won't come to say goodbye.
• Xun'er kisses Xiao Yang on the cheek before he leaves.
• Xiao Yang tells Xiao Yan about his plans to enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
• Xiao Yan is shocked to learn that Xiao Yang has reached the Nine-Star Dou Practitioner level and suspects he has divine bloodline.
• Xiao Yang enters the Magical Beast Mountain Range and defeats a First-Rank Magical Beast, Red Ice Snake, gaining experience and shop points.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: Shows growth in strength, reaching the Nine-Star Dou Practitioner level, and demonstrates his combat prowess by defeating the Red Ice Snake.
• Xun'er: Develops feelings for Xiao Yang, shown by her reluctance to see him go and her kiss on his cheek.
• Xiao Yan: Realizes Xiao Yang's potential and suspects he has divine bloodline, showing concern for his brother's safety and growth.

Significant Themes

• Growth and development: Xiao Yang's rapid increase in strength and Xiao Yan's realization of his potential.
• Relationships: The growing bond between Xiao Yang and Xun'er, and the brotherly concern between Xiao Yang and Xiao Yan.
• Power and danger: The threat from the Jia Lie Clan and the dangers Xiao Yang faces in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang and Xun'er: Their relationship deepens as they spend time together, with Xun'er showing affection and Xiao Yang being protective.
• Xiao Yang and Xiao Yan: The brothers share their plans and concerns, showing a strong bond and mutual respect.
• Xiao Yang and the Red Ice Snake: Xiao Yang demonstrates his combat skills and gains experience from defeating the Magical Beast.

Chapter Summary: “First Kill of a Second-Tier Magical Beast”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang detects movement behind him and immediately throws away the Red Ice Snake before leaping into a tree, demonstrating his heightened caution in the deeper regions of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
• Using his ability to see red-name information, he identifies the hidden creature as a newly advanced Second-Tier Iron-Horned Sheep.
• Eager to test himself against a stronger opponent and gain bonus experience, Xiao Yang activates a Gold Coin Doubling Card and an Experience Doubling Card.
• He throws a large stone into the bushes to force the beast into the open. The Iron-Horned Sheep charges out and attacks the tree he is standing on, eventually breaking it with its iron horn.
• Xiao Yang takes advantage of the beast’s horn becoming stuck in the tree. He uses Eight Extremes Collapse to strike its waist, breaking through its Battle Qi Veil and severely injuring it with the technique’s hidden force.
• After retreating to another tree and confirming through soul power that the beast is nearly helpless, Xiao Yang returns and delivers a second Eight Extremes Collapse to its head, killing it.
• The system rewards him with 8,400 Universal Experience and 12,600 Shop Points for defeating an opponent above his level. He also finds a valuable Second-Tier Magic Core inside the beast.
• To avoid attracting other Magical Beasts with the smell of blood, Xiao Yang cleans himself and applies deodorizing medicine before leaving the area.
• He consults a map marking Ten Thousand Medicines Hall’s herb-gathering routes and cliff locations. Having searched one route thoroughly, he begins traveling toward the next one in his continued search for cliffside caves.

Character Development

• Xiao Yang shows increased vigilance and combat awareness as he ventures deeper into the mountain range.
• He demonstrates growing confidence and ambition by deliberately targeting a Second-Tier Magical Beast rather than avoiding it.
• His combat strategy is careful and calculated: he provokes the beast, exploits its momentary vulnerability, strikes decisively, retreats to assess the situation, and only returns for the killing blow once victory is certain.
• The successful battle confirms that suppressing his cultivation and defeating stronger enemies is an efficient way to maximize his experience gains.
• Xiao Yang’s practical survival instincts are also evident in his immediate efforts to remove the blood scent and relocate after the kill.

Significant Themes

• Risk and calculated growth: Xiao Yang accepts danger in order to gain greater rewards and strengthen himself.
• Preparation and strategy: Victory comes not from brute force alone but from using terrain, timing, enemy weaknesses, and escape techniques.
• The value of challenging stronger opponents: The chapter reinforces the exceptional rewards Xiao Yang receives for defeating enemies above his level.
• Survival in a dangerous environment: Even after winning, he remains cautious because the blood may attract stronger Magical Beasts.
• Progress through exploration: His hunt is connected to a broader objective—searching mapped routes and cliffs for hidden caves and possible opportunities.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang has no direct interaction with other human characters in this chapter.
• His primary confrontation is with the Iron-Horned Sheep. Their encounter develops from cautious observation into a brief but intense battle, with Xiao Yang exploiting the beast’s reckless charging attacks and physical vulnerabilities.
• His interaction with the system is also significant, as the notification confirms the rewards and validates his strategy of fighting above his level.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang finishes exploring the second herb-gathering route without finding the cave.
• He encounters the herb-gathering team led by Xiao Yi Xian.
• Xiao Yang finds a natural cave with a Steelhide Boar family, which he kills and eats.
• He discovers the cliff with the White Orchid and the cave containing a Rock Snake.
• Xiao Yang accepts a side quest to find the treasure within the cave.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang's Universal Experience reaches 68,000, and his shop points approach 900,000.
• Xiao Yang demonstrates his combat skills by defeating the Rock Snake with a single punch.

Significant Themes

• Xiao Yang's determination and perseverance in finding the cave treasure.
• The dangers and rewards of exploring the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang avoids interacting with the herb-gathering team.
• Xiao Yang's encounter with the Rock Snake is a solo challenge, reflecting his independent nature.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang discovers a hidden cave with a mechanism, leading to a stone chamber filled with treasures.
• He completes the side quest "Cave Treasure Hunt" and receives rewards, including a map to a treasure in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
• He accepts two new side quests: "Find the Fragment Map" and "Treasure of the Magical Beast Mountain Range."
• Xiao Yang finds a hidden map in the skeleton's hand and completes "Find the Fragment Map," unlocking a new quest, "Collect the Demonic Flame Maps."

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates his patience, observation skills, and respect for the dead by bowing to the skeleton before searching it.
• He shows determination and ambition by accepting high-risk, high-reward quests and planning to improve himself to tackle them.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and Risk: Xiao Yang is willing to take on dangerous quests for substantial rewards, reflecting his ambition and understanding of risk-reward dynamics.
• Respect and Courtesy: He shows respect to the dead, indicating a level of moral integrity.
• Planning and Preparation: Xiao Yang plans his actions carefully, considering future developments and preparing accordingly.

Character Interactions

• There are no character interactions in this chapter, as Xiao Yang is alone throughout.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang finds a Purifying Lotus Demon Flame Fragment Map but decides to keep it for now due to a more pressing task reward.
• He clears the cave, finding treasures worth millions, and opens three stone boxes, obtaining a Violet Cloud Wings scroll.
• Xiao Yang uses the scroll, absorbing the remnant soul of a Fifth-Order Magical Beast and learning the Violet Cloud Wings technique.
• He practices and masters the technique, then buries the skeleton of the cave's original owner.
• Xiao Yang hears noises outside the cave and discovers Xiao Yi Xian's Blue Eagle eating the Rock Snake he killed earlier.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates his strategic thinking by keeping the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame Fragment Map for now.
• He shows respect for the cave's original owner by burying his skeleton.
• Xiao Yang exhibits caution and vigilance when encountering Xiao Yi Xian.

Significant Themes

• Respect for the dead and their belongings.
• Strategic decision-making based on current priorities.
• Caution and vigilance in potentially dangerous situations.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang interacts with Xiao Yi Xian's Blue Eagle, Xiao Lan, which warns him upon seeing him.
• Xiao Yi Xian, upon hearing Xiao Lan's cry, looks toward the cave and sees Xiao Yang, expressing surprise.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Little Fairy Doctor falls off a cliff while trying to sneak up on Xiao Yang, but he catches her.
• They explore a hidden cave together, and Xiao Yang completes a side mission, receiving rewards.
• At the cave entrance, they encounter Mu Li, who is looking for Little Fairy Doctor and suspects Xiao Yang of having valuable items.

Character Developments

• Little Fairy Doctor: Shows gratitude and curiosity, reveals her identity as a physician from the Ten Thousand Medicines Hall.
• Xiao Yang: Displays quick reflexes and calmness under pressure, shows interest in Little Fairy Doctor but maintains composure.
• Mu Li: Reveals greed and hostility, suspicious of Xiao Yang and interested in Little Fairy Doctor.

Significant Themes

• Trust and betrayal: Little Fairy Doctor trusts Xiao Yang enough not to reveal his secret, while Mu Li is suspicious and greedy.
• Appearances vs. reality: The cave is found to be empty, but Xiao Yang has already taken the treasures.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang and Little Fairy Doctor: They cooperate to explore the cave, and she thanks him for saving her.
• Little Fairy Doctor and Mu Li: She is annoyed by his presence and suspicious of his intentions.
• Mu Li and Xiao Yang: Mu Li is hostile and suspicious of Xiao Yang, wanting to inspect his Storage Ring.

Chapter Summary: “Mu Li”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Li demands that Xiao Yang surrender his Storage Ring, claiming any treasures found in the stone chamber belong to him.
• Xiao Yi Xian protects Xiao Yang and openly challenges Mu Li’s entitlement and greed.
• Mu Li reveals his arrogance and possessiveness by threatening Xiao Yang and offering Xiao Yi Xian the position of mercenary leader’s wife if she sides with him.
• Xiao Yang accepts a system mission requiring him to kill Mu Li and all the mercenaries accompanying him.
• After activating experience- and points-multiplying cards, Xiao Yang attacks with the Violet Cloud Wings. He effortlessly kills the mercenaries before they can escape.
• Mu Li panics, begs for his life, and offers treasure and money in exchange for mercy. Xiao Yang kills him with a flame-enhanced kick.
• The system confirms the mission’s completion, granting Xiao Yang experience and shop points.
• Xiao Yi Xian realizes that Mu Li’s death will provoke his father, Mu She, leader of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group. Fearing retaliation, she asks Xiao Yang to protect her.
• Xiao Yang recognizes that his actions have altered Xiao Yi Xian’s original fate and may leave her vulnerable without protection. A new side mission appears just as he considers helping her.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: Demonstrates overwhelming combat ability, strategic use of his system, and ruthless efficiency against enemies. Though morally ambiguous and motivated partly by attraction, he begins considering responsibility for Xiao Yi Xian’s survival.
• Xiao Yi Xian: Sees Mu Li’s true nature and becomes openly disgusted by him. Her trust in Xiao Yang deepens after witnessing his strength, and she becomes willing to depend on him for protection.
• Mu Li: His false charm and pursuit of Xiao Yi Xian collapse into greed, intimidation, cowardice, and desperation. He changes from an arrogant aggressor into a terrified supplicant before being killed.
• Mu She: Does not appear directly, but is established as a powerful and dangerous future antagonist because of his devotion to his son.

Significant Themes

• True character revealed: Mu Li’s threats expose the greed and brutality hidden beneath his previously polished behavior.
• Power and vulnerability: Xiao Yang’s strength allows him to dominate the mercenaries, while Xiao Yi Xian’s lack of protection leaves her exposed to the consequences.
• Cause and effect: Xiao Yang’s interference creates a “butterfly effect,” changing Xiao Yi Xian’s future and potentially placing her in greater danger.
• Moral ambiguity and protection: Xiao Yang is not purely altruistic, but he still considers protecting Xiao Yi Xian from a fate he helped create.
• System-driven progression: Missions and multiplier cards turn the conflict into both a personal confrontation and an opportunity for Xiao Yang’s growth.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Yi Xian shields Xiao Yang and verbally condemns Mu Li’s attempt to seize his possessions.
• Mu Li threatens Xiao Yang while trying to manipulate Xiao Yi Xian with promises of status.
• Xiao Yang silently responds through overwhelming violence, killing Mu Li’s men and then Mu Li himself.
• After the battle, Xiao Yi Xian asks Xiao Yang to become her protector, marking a shift from merely accompanying him to relying on him directly.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang accepts a series of quests to help Xiao Yi Xian resolve her Calamity Poison Body issue, with rewards including vast amounts of Universal Experience and Shop Points.
• Xiao Yi Xian offers to take Xiao Yang to a secluded small valley filled with rare medicinal herbs in exchange for his help in escaping Qingshan Town.
• Xiao Yang agrees and begins training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, staying in the small valley for three months while hunting Magical Beasts and gathering herbs.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: Shows determination and resourcefulness in accepting the quests and utilizing the small valley's resources for training. He also demonstrates his alchemy skills by creating a new cabin.
• Xiao Yi Xian: Reveals her knowledge of the small valley and its herbs, showing her resourcefulness in survival. She also displays caution and wariness towards Xiao Yang.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation and growth: Xiao Yang's focus on improving his cultivation technique and gaining experience through quests and Magical Beast hunting.
• Trust and caution: Xiao Yi Xian's cautious behavior towards Xiao Yang, highlighting the importance of trust in their relationship.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang and Xiao Yi Xian: Their interaction is marked by mutual benefit and caution, with Xiao Yang agreeing to help Xiao Yi Xian in exchange for access to the small valley's resources. Xiao Yi Xian, in turn, is wary of Xiao Yang but agrees to his terms.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang's cultivation technique upgrades, granting him increased Universal Experience and strength.
• Xiao Yang shares the Seven-Colored Poison Manual with Little Fairy Doctor, revealing the truth about her Calamity Poison Body.
• Xiao Yang obtains the Poison Pill Method and learns about the enhanced version using Netherworld Poison Flame.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: Becomes stronger with his upgraded cultivation technique, shows concern and care for Little Fairy Doctor.
• Little Fairy Doctor: Struggles with the revelation of her condition, finds hope in Xiao Yang's words.

Significant Themes

• The burden of the Calamity Poison Body and Little Fairy Doctor's struggle with her fate.
• Xiao Yang's growth in strength and his desire to help those in need.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang and Little Fairy Doctor: They grow closer, with Xiao Yang comforting Little Fairy Doctor after she learns the truth about her condition. He offers her hope by revealing the potential solution to her problem.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang shares the complete Poison Pill Method with Xiao Yi Xian, but the required materials are extremely rare and difficult to obtain.
• Xiao Yi Xian feels hopeless about gathering the required materials and considers giving up.
• Xiao Yang decides to break through to Dou Master before seeking the treasure marked on the map.
• Xiao Yang spends 180,000 Universal Experience points to directly breakthrough to Nine-Star Dou Master, causing a significant commotion.
• Xiao Yang plans to test his new strength by finding a Third-Rank Magical Beast, starting with the Silver-Backed Ape that previously chased him.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yi Xian: Discovers the Poison Pill Method but feels hopeless about gathering the required materials. Her mood improves after seeing Xiao Yang's breakthrough.
• Xiao Yang: Breaks through to Nine-Star Dou Master, demonstrating his power and confidence.

Significant Themes

• The difficulty of gathering rare materials for alchemy.
• The power and ease of cultivation boosts gained through the system.
• Xiao Yang's growing strength and confidence.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang shares the Poison Pill Method with Xiao Yi Xian, showing his trust and care for her.
• Xiao Yi Xian is shocked and confused by the commotion caused by Xiao Yang's breakthrough.
• Xiao Yang informs Xiao Yi Xian of his plans to test his strength, showing his consideration for her safety.

Chapter Summary: “Hunting Third-Rank Magical Beasts!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang enters a banana grove inhabited by a Mid-Third-Rank Silver-Backed Ape, along with weaker ape-type magical beasts.
• The ape is hostile because Xiao Yang previously killed one of its offspring and its mate, a Second-Tier Iron-Horned Sheep.
• The Silver-Backed Ape attacks by throwing boulders and uprooting trees, but Xiao Yang easily predicts and dodges its movements using his soul power and Violet Cloud Wings.
• Xiao Yang confronts the beast directly instead of avoiding its attacks. His flaming punch, reinforced by Hidden Force, shatters the ape’s palm and destroys much of its hand.
• When the wounded ape attempts to flee, Xiao Yang pursues it and strikes its back, creating a deep wound. A second Hidden Force attack pierces its torso and destroys its internal organs, killing it.
• The system rewards Xiao Yang with 160,000 Universal Experience and 50,000 Shop Points, doubled by the temporary multiplier cards he activated.
• He extracts the ape’s Magic Core, stores the corpse, restores his Dou Qi by spending experience, and immediately continues hunting.
• Over the course of one day, Xiao Yang kills eight Third-Rank magical beasts, gaining more than one million Universal Experience.
• After exhausting the known nearby targets, he returns to the small valley, where Xiao Yi Xian—who appears to be recovering—offers him roasted meat.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates a major increase in confidence and combat ability after his breakthrough. Unlike in the past, when he had to flee from stronger opponents, he now believes he can confront Third-Rank magical beasts head-on.
• His mastery of soul power, aerial movement, Dou Qi flames, and Hidden Force allows him to overpower an enemy far larger and physically stronger than himself.
• Xiao Yang becomes increasingly pragmatic and efficient, planning his hunting route, exploiting experience multipliers, and refusing to waste time while the cards remain active.
• Xiao Yi Xian appears to have recovered substantially and resumes caring for Xiao Yang by preparing food and inviting him to rest and eat.

Significant Themes

• Growth and self-confidence: Xiao Yang’s decision to meet the ape’s attacks directly reflects his transformation from a fighter who once fled danger into one capable of dominating stronger foes.
• Efficiency and ambition: He treats the multiplier cards as a limited opportunity and hunts continuously to maximize his rewards.
• Power through preparation: His earlier mapping of Third-Rank beasts’ locations enables him to kill eight in one day.
• The rewards of challenging stronger enemies: The system grants dramatically greater experience and points for defeating opponents above Xiao Yang’s level.
• Predator and prey: The ape initially sees Xiao Yang as a threat to be crushed, but Xiao Yang’s superior speed, technique, and power quickly reverse the roles.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang and the Silver-Backed Ape engage in a brief but violent confrontation driven by the ape’s desire for revenge.
• Xiao Yang’s interaction with the beast highlights the contrast between its raw physical strength and his refined combat skill.
• Upon returning, Xiao Yang reconnects with Xiao Yi Xian, whose offer of food provides a quiet, supportive contrast to his exhausting day of slaughter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Four mercenaries (Danilo, Miga, Chen Jian, Johnson) navigate the Magical Beast Mountain Range, aiming for a treasure location.
• They encounter a figure flying towards their target valley, suspected to be a Dou King expert.
• Xiao Yang, now a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner, reaches the treasure's location, finding a hidden cave underwater.
• He discovers an underground space and a sealed room behind a smooth rock wall.

Character Developments

• Danilo: Shows leadership, caution, and knowledge of the terrain.
• Miga: Has sharp eyesight and notices the figure in the sky.
• Xiao Yang: Advances to Nine-Star Dou Practitioner, demonstrates strategic thinking, and uses soul power to explore the hidden cave.

Significant Themes

• Greed and Caution: The mercenaries' greed for treasure is balanced with caution about potential dangers (like magical beasts or the Dou King expert).
• Preparation and Perseverance: Xiao Yang's thorough preparation (perfecting battle techniques, mapping the route) pays off as he reaches the treasure location.

Character Interactions

• Danilo and Miga: Danilo leads the group, while Miga's keen eyesight proves useful.
• Xiao Yang and the Mercenaries: Xiao Yang is unaware of the mercenaries following him, while the mercenaries are curious about Xiao Yang's identity and intentions.

Chapter Summary: “Those Who Came After”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang hides near an underground river after extinguishing his flame and senses four people entering the cave.
• The newcomers are revealed to be four middle-aged men, all Da Dou Shi-level cultivators: two at the Two-Star level and two at the Three-Star level.
• Xiao Yang secretly observes them and learns that the scar-faced leader, Danilo, knows about a hidden ruin in the cave.
• Danilo explains that he discovered the ruin while fleeing a powerful Third-Rank Magical Beast. He proposes dividing the treasure, claiming forty percent for himself and giving the other three men twenty percent each.
• The group plans to activate a mechanism in the cave wall. Danilo warns that a puppet is hidden inside and that he was previously unable to defeat it alone.
• Before opening the mechanism, Danilo notices damp footprints and realizes someone has already entered the area. The group begins searching for the intruder.
• Xiao Yang determines that hiding is no longer practical and reveals himself.
• Danilo pretends to invite Xiao Yang to join their treasure expedition, but he and the others surround him with clear murderous intent.
• Danilo orders the others to kill Xiao Yang without considering that he might be the powerful Dou Wang they encountered earlier.
• Xiao Yang activates experience- and points-doubling cards, surrounds himself with a dark-red Battle Qi Veil, coats his fist in flames, and uses Snow-Treading Without a Trace to move behind Johnson.
• The chapter ends as Xiao Yang strikes Johnson’s head. The punch shatters Johnson’s Battle Qi Armor and lands directly against his skull.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: Demonstrates superior perception, caution, and confidence. He evaluates the four men’s cultivation and techniques, realizes they pose little threat, and chooses to confront them once his hiding place is compromised. His decisive use of movement and flame-based attacks highlights his overwhelming advantage.
• Danilo: Established as the group’s leader and the person who discovered the ruin. He is calculating and outwardly polite but quickly reveals his ruthless nature when he orders Xiao Yang killed.
• Miga, Johnson, and the fourth cultivator: Follow Danilo’s lead and readily participate in the ambush. Their willingness to kill Xiao Yang shows their greed and lack of concern for outsiders.
• Johnson: Becomes the first target of Xiao Yang’s counterattack because of his comparatively weaker Two-Star Da Dou Shi cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Greed and betrayal: The men enter the ruin seeking wealth and immediately regard Xiao Yang as an obstacle to eliminate rather than a potential ally.
• Deception and hidden intentions: Danilo’s friendly invitation masks his intent to kill Xiao Yang, emphasizing the danger of trusting appearances.
• Power imbalance: Although the four men believe their numbers give them an advantage, Xiao Yang’s strength, speed, and abilities far exceed theirs.
• The unknown history of the ruin: Xiao Yang realizes that the treasure site existed before his arrival and that others already knew of it, challenging his assumption that the system-generated map revealed a newly created location.

Character Interactions

• The four men quietly coordinate while entering the cave, with Danilo controlling the group and suppressing the bald man’s questions.
• Danilo negotiates the treasure shares and receives the others’ agreement.
• After discovering Xiao Yang’s footprints, the group shifts from exploration to a coordinated search and potential assassination.
• Danilo attempts to manipulate Xiao Yang with a false offer of cooperation before ordering the attack.
• Xiao Yang responds not with negotiation but with a sudden, overwhelming counterattack against Johnson.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang effortlessly kills Johnson, a two-star Great Dou Master, shocking Danilo and the others.
• Xiao Yang pursues and kills Danilo, Chen Jian, and Miga, who attempt to flee.
• Xiao Yang finds and activates a hidden passage guarded by a puppet, which he then defeats after a prolonged battle.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates his immense power and ruthlessness, instilling fear in his enemies.
• Xiao Yang shows strategic thinking by avoiding a direct confrontation with the puppet and waiting for its energy to deplete.

Significant Themes

• Power and its consequences: Xiao Yang's immense strength instills fear and submission in his enemies, but also leads to their demise.
• Strategic thinking: Xiao Yang's ability to outsmart his enemies and adapt his tactics is crucial to his victories.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang's interactions with Danilo and the others are characterized by fear and submission, as they beg for mercy but ultimately meet their end at his hands.
• Xiao Yang's battle with the puppet showcases his agility and strategic thinking, as he avoids direct confrontation and waits for the puppet's energy to deplete.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang discovers three Fourth-Tier Metal Puppets, each with a Fourth-Tier Magic Core, and stores them in his Storage Ring.
• He finds a stone chamber with sixteen stone blocks and a closed stone door. After deducing the correct sequence, he opens the door, completing Side Quest 3.
• Inside the opened chamber, he finds a tomb belonging to a Dou King-level artifact refiner and learns about the man's life and Artifact-Refining Inheritance.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates his knowledge of mechanisms and artifact refining, showing growth in his understanding and capabilities.
• He expresses surprise and excitement upon discovering a genuine Spirit Artifact, indicating his ambition and curiosity.

Significant Themes

• The theme of inheritance and legacy is explored through the artifact refiner's tomb and his Artifact-Refining Inheritance.
• The contrast between Magic Core Weapons and Spirit Artifacts highlights the potential for growth and power on the Dou Qi Continent.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang interacts with the environment and mechanisms, showcasing his problem-solving skills and adaptability.
• He engages with the artifact refiner's legacy, demonstrating his interest in artifact refining and growth as a character.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang discovers a Peerless Spirit Artifact refining furnace and gathers artifact-refining materials.
• He finds damaged Spirit Artifacts and a Ten-Thousand-Year Wood box containing the Ghostcraft Manual, an artifact-refining inheritance.
• Xiao Yang absorbs the knowledge, changes his class to artifact refiner, and completes side quests to become a First-Rank Artifact Refiner.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates his decisiveness and opportunism by immediately storing the valuable artifact and materials.
• He shows patience and thoroughness in examining the scrolls and artifacts.
• Xiao Yang's absorption of the Ghostcraft Manual indicates his adaptability and eagerness to learn new skills.

Significant Themes

• The value and rarity of Spirit Artifacts and artifact-refining materials.
• The importance of inheritance and knowledge transfer, as seen in the Ghostcraft Manual.
• Xiao Yang's adaptability and willingness to explore new professions.

Character Interactions

• None in this chapter, as Xiao Yang is alone in the stone chamber.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang explores the stone chamber and finds cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, and artifact-refining blueprints.
• He takes the High Black Tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques but has little interest in the artifact-refining blueprints.
• After leaving the stone chamber, Xiao Yang returns to the little valley and reunites with Xiao Yi Xian.
• He decides to allocate his experience points and shop points.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: Shows interest in the cultivation methods and Dou Techniques but not the artifact-refining blueprints. He allocates experience points to improve his soul realm and Dou Technique proficiency.
• Xiao Yi Xian: Shows delight and relief upon seeing Xiao Yang's return, hinting at her growing affection for him. She cooks for him and shows a more caring side.

Significant Themes

• Xiao Yang's growth and improvement in his cultivation and skills.
• Xiao Yi Xian's growing attachment to Xiao Yang.
• The importance of cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, and artifact-refining blueprints in the Dou Qi Continent.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang and Xiao Yi Xian reunite, and she cooks for him, showing a more nurturing side.
• Xiao Yang embraces Xiao Yi Xian, showing affection and acceptance of her Calamity Poison Body.
• Xiao Yang decides to allocate experience points, showing his proactive approach to improving his abilities.