Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Displaying Strength”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang proposes destroying the Jia Lie Clan, prompting Xiao Zhan to explain that the Xiao Household previously lacked the strength to do so. The Jia Lie and Oba Clans were long-established powers in Wu Tan City and might have united against the Xiao Household.
• Xiao Zhan reveals that he had planned to wait until reaching the Nine-Star Da Dou Shi realm before attacking. However, Xiao Yang demonstrates that he has already become powerful enough to change those plans.
• Xiao Yang tests his red Spirit Artifact gloves by striking a Black Gold Stone boulder. His casual punch releases a fireball powerful enough to crack the stone, form a deep crater, and melt part of it into magma.
• Xiao Zhan realizes that Xiao Yang did not use a battle skill and asks about his cultivation. Xiao Yang reveals that he is a Nine-Star Dou Master and that the gloves are among his strongest offensive artifacts.
• Xiao Yang admits he can kill the Jia Lie Clan’s main combatants alone but cannot eliminate every subordinate and potential future threat by himself. Xiao Zhan therefore decides to mobilize the entire Xiao Household.
• Xiao Zhan summons the clan’s elders, Dou Masters, and Dou Zhe. Under cover of night, they launch a coordinated assault on the Jia Lie Clan.
• The attack causes a massive explosion and fire in the northern part of Wu Tan City. Residents recognize that the Jia Lie Clan’s headquarters is burning and understand that the city’s power structure is about to change.
• Xiao Yang, Xiao Zhan, and the First Elder quickly reach Jia Lie Bi, the Jia Lie Clan’s leader. Jia Lie Bi assumes the Xiao Household is merely declaring war and attempts to stall for reinforcements.
• The three Xiao Household experts attack immediately. Xiao Yang uses a devastating flaming palm attack, followed by the First Elder’s blade strike, and Jia Lie Bi is overwhelmed before he can react.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: His extraordinary growth becomes undeniable. As a Nine-Star Dou Master equipped with powerful Spirit Artifact gloves, he can severely injure or kill top clan experts and is now the decisive force behind the Xiao Household’s offensive.
• Xiao Zhan: He shifts from cautious planning to decisive action after witnessing Xiao Yang’s strength. His protective and gentle demeanor gives way to the ruthless decisiveness expected of a clan head and former battle-hardened expert.
• Jia Lie Bi: He is caught unprepared and remains unaware that his son and Liu Xi have already died. His attempt to delay the Xiao Household fails when he realizes he is facing overwhelming power.
• The Xiao Household: The clan’s leadership and elite fighters unite for a major military operation, demonstrating new confidence and coordination.

Significant Themes

• Strength as the basis of political power: The Xiao Household’s ability to act against the Jia Lie Clan depends entirely on Xiao Yang’s sudden increase in power and the clan’s accumulated resources.
• Preparation versus opportunity: Xiao Zhan had intended to wait for a safer moment, but Xiao Yang’s demonstration of strength creates an opportunity for immediate action.
• Decisiveness and eliminating future threats: Xiao Yang emphasizes that victory requires removing not only the enemy leaders but also potential survivors who could seek revenge.
• Transformation of the city’s power structure: The burning Jia Lie Clan symbolizes the imminent collapse of one of Wu Tan City’s major powers.
• Family and collective strength: Although Xiao Yang is the key individual powerhouse, the attack relies on Xiao Zhan, the elders, and the clan’s broader forces to ensure a complete victory.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang challenges Xiao Zhan’s cautious approach by suggesting the Jia Lie Clan can be destroyed.
• Xiao Zhan initially misunderstands Xiao Yang’s actions with the Black Gold Stone, assuming he wants it for artifact refinement, but is stunned when Xiao Yang melts it with a single punch.
• Their conversation reveals mutual trust: Xiao Yang openly shares his cultivation and abilities, while Xiao Zhan immediately accepts the need to act.
• Xiao Zhan takes command of the clan’s mobilization, while Xiao Yang becomes the spearhead of the attack.
• Jia Lie Bi confronts Xiao Yang, Xiao Zhan, and the First Elder, but his complaints about being outnumbered are ignored as they launch a coordinated attack without negotiation.

Plot points and events

• Xiao Yang kills Jia Lie Bi with an Earth-Tier battle skill, while Xiao Zhan’s powerful energy blade cuts Jia Lie Bi’s corpse in two.
• Xiao Zhan and the Great Elder are shocked by Xiao Yang’s strength and by Xiao Zhan’s unexpectedly powerful attack. Xiao Yang confirms that his skill is Earth-Tier and gives Xiao Zhan a bottle of Third-Grade Qi-Recovery Pills.
• Jia Lie Nu arrives with Jia Lie Clan guards. As Xiao Zhan and the Great Elder engage him, Xiao Yang quickly burns through the guards with his Explosive Flame Gauntlets.
• Xiao Zhan’s strike shatters Jia Lie Nu’s Battle Qi Armor and badly wounds him. The Great Elder breaks his remaining arm, and Xiao Yang delivers the final blow. Xiao Yang then hunts down the fleeing guards and the clan’s other senior fighters.
• With most of the Jia Lie Clan’s leaders dead, Xiao Yang, Xiao Zhan, and the elders inspect the clan’s storeroom. Xiao Yang takes useful herbs and materials, then returns home to cultivate.
• By morning, news of the clan’s destruction has spread through Wu Tan City. The Oba Clan leaves the city, while Xiao Yang resumes his routine and later goes to meet Xiao Zhan.

Character developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates overwhelming combat power, resourcefulness, and confidence. He uses his rare pills and battle skill strategically, helps secure the clan’s defeat, and continues to focus on cultivation and rewards.
• Xiao Zhan reveals strength beyond what the Great Elder expected, showing that he too has grown more formidable. He remains proud and protective of Xiao Yang, checking whether the younger man has enough battle qi.
• The Great Elder shifts from disbelief at Xiao Yang’s power to accepting the scale of his abilities, and supports the attack on Jia Lie Nu.
• Jia Lie Nu is reduced from an enraged attacker to a helpless, fatally wounded opponent once Xiao Zhan and the Great Elder strike.

Significant themes

• Power and transformation: Xiao Yang and Xiao Zhan’s capabilities have advanced dramatically, changing the balance of power in the city.
• Family loyalty and cooperation: Xiao Yang, Xiao Zhan, and the Great Elder fight together to protect the Xiao Household.
• Consequences of violence: The Jia Lie Clan’s attack ends in its near-total destruction, while the Oba Clan responds by fleeing Wu Tan City.
• Cultivation and reward: Xiao Yang treats the battle not only as a decisive victory but also as a source of materials, experience, and further progress.

Character interactions

• Xiao Zhan praises Xiao Yang’s Earth-Tier skill and worries about the cost of using it; Xiao Yang reassures him by sharing recovery pills.
• Xiao Zhan and the Great Elder coordinate their attack on Jia Lie Nu, while Xiao Yang removes the surrounding guards.
• After the battle, Xiao Zhan invites Xiao Yang to take whatever he needs from the storeroom, and the elders accept his claim without objection.

Chapter Summary: “Wood Spirit Deer”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Zhan spends the entire night overseeing the Xiao Household’s seizure and inventory of the Jia Lie Clan’s assets after its destruction. Valuable items such as gold, medicinal ingredients, businesses, and other properties are assessed.
• To eliminate future threats, younger Jia Lie Clan members are to be relocated, while older members are publicly driven away and secretly hunted down.
• The fall of the Jia Lie Clan greatly benefits the Xiao Household, giving it more resources and room to expand.
• Xiao Yang asks Xiao Zhan for a map of the nearby Magical Beast Mountain Range, intending to train there before departing for Jia Nan Academy.
• Xiao Zhan provides a valuable map containing magical beast territories and resource locations, warning Xiao Yang not to let it leak.
• Xiao Yang rejects Xiao Zhan’s offer to send guards, explaining that the Xiao Household’s guards are too weak to assist him and might instead need protection themselves.
• Xiao Yang also asks the family to gather forging materials for him. Xiao Zhan agrees and offers to maintain contact through a Voice Transmission Token.
• After studying the map and its accompanying records, Xiao Yang identifies two Early Fourth-Order magical beasts: the Coldwater Frog and the Wood Spirit Deer.
• He rejects the Coldwater Frog because its attributes counter him, but chooses the Wood Spirit Deer because it is a wood-element beast vulnerable to his abilities.
• The Wood Spirit Deer recently advanced from the Third Tier to the Fourth Order, making it a relatively inexperienced and ideal target. Its antlers and blood essence are also valuable ingredients for Fourth-Grade elixirs.
• Xiao Yang plans a route through the mountain range, passing several Third-Rank magical beasts before reaching the deer.
• Before setting out, he decides to use his nearly sixty million experience points to improve his cultivation technique and increase his chances of victory.

Character Developments

• Xiao Zhan is shown as a ruthless but pragmatic clan leader. He prioritizes the Xiao Household’s survival and growth by eliminating possible Jia Lie Clan remnants, while also taking pride in the family’s newly acquired resources.
• Xiao Yang continues to display overwhelming confidence and independence. His strength has surpassed that of the household guards, and he now treats Fourth-Order magical beasts as viable targets rather than impossible threats.
• Xiao Yang also demonstrates strategic thinking: he evaluates elemental advantages, studies enemy behavior and strength, plans his route, and strengthens himself before engaging a dangerous opponent.
• The Xiao Household members’ attitudes toward Xiao Yang have changed. Even elders now treat him with respect because of his superior power.

Significant Themes

• Strength determines status: The respect shown to Xiao Yang reflects the Dou Qi Continent’s belief that power commands authority.
• Family advancement through conquest: The Xiao Household’s destruction of the Jia Lie Clan allows it to gain wealth, resources, and influence.
• Pragmatism and ruthlessness: Xiao Zhan’s handling of the Jia Lie survivors highlights the harsh measures required to secure a clan’s future.
• Preparation before danger: Xiao Yang does not rely solely on confidence; he gathers intelligence, exploits elemental weaknesses, and upgrades his cultivation before hunting the Wood Spirit Deer.
• Growth and opportunity: The Wood Spirit Deer’s recent breakthrough presents Xiao Yang with a rare chance to defeat a powerful opponent and gain valuable rewards.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang and Xiao Zhan have a cooperative relationship based on trust. Xiao Zhan supports Xiao Yang’s plans, provides the mountain-range map, offers assistance, and agrees to gather forging materials.
• Their exchange also emphasizes Xiao Yang’s growing independence: he respectfully refuses an escort because he is already stronger than the available guards.
• Xiao Household members greet Xiao Yang respectfully, demonstrating how his rising strength has altered his position within the family.
• Xiao Zhan remains concerned for Xiao Yang’s safety, reminding him to return before the Jia Nan Academy recruitment team arrives and offering the Voice Transmission Token for emergencies.

Chapter Summary: “Strength Surge!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang upgrades the Flame Manipulation Art from Low-Grade Earth Tier to Mid-Grade Earth Tier, spending 13 million shop points after deducting the cost of his previous upgrade.
• The upgraded technique greatly improves his cultivation:
  • Total Dou Qi and cultivation speed increase rises to +450%
  • Experience bonus rises to +80%
  • Dou Qi quality bonus rises to +240%
• The upgrade causes temporary swelling pain in Xiao Yang’s meridians and dantian because his current cultivation is insufficient to fully handle the advanced technique. The pain subsides after he circulates his Dou Qi, though it may return if he circulates it too quickly.
• Xiao Yang’s condensed flame becomes far more powerful, increasing in temperature by roughly 1.5 times and changing from dark red to purplish-black.
• He spends nearly 20 million experience improving Burning Flame Palm and Violet Cloud Wings to Perfect MAX. After digesting the insights for two days, he believes he could now defeat the Forestbone Demon Bull without injury.
• After eating and recovering, Xiao Yang bids farewell to Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, and Xun’er, secretly giving Xiao Zhan something before leaving.
• During four days of travel toward the inner region of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Yang kills several Third-Rank Magical Beasts. His experience rises back to around 40 million, while his shop points increase only slightly.
• Xiao Yang reaches the boundary between the outer and inner regions and begins searching for the Wood Spirit Deer. Using Xiao Zhan’s map and his soul power, he identifies an area with unusually dense natural energy.
• He conceals his scent with special medicine and investigates a nearby stream, finding evidence that the Wood Spirit Deer has visited but no sign that it lives there. He concludes that it may have a better habitat elsewhere nearby.

Character Development

• Xiao Yang becomes dramatically stronger through the cultivation technique upgrade and skill enhancements. His confidence rises considerably, and he now believes he can defeat powerful opponents with ease.
• He also demonstrates greater strategic awareness by managing his resources, selecting efficient upgrades, concealing his presence, and using terrain and the Wood Spirit Deer’s habits to track it.
• Despite his confidence, Xiao Yang recognizes the risks of practicing a technique beyond his current cultivation level and plans to break through to the Da Dou Shi realm soon.
• His relationship with his family and companions remains warm but restrained; his farewell is calm because he expects to return soon.
• Xiao Zhan receives a secret item from Xiao Yang, suggesting Xiao Yang is taking precautions or preparing his family for future developments.

Significant Themes

• Power gained through cultivation and technology: The system allows Xiao Yang to rapidly improve his cultivation technique and combat skills, turning him into a much stronger fighter.
• The risks of excessive strength: Higher-level techniques provide enormous benefits but place strain on Xiao Yang’s body, emphasizing that power must be supported by sufficient cultivation.
• Resource management: Xiao Yang carefully weighs shop points and experience, recognizing that quests provide more points while powerful enemies provide more experience.
• Preparation and strategy: His journey reflects calculated planning rather than reckless strength, including route planning, scent concealment, map use, and habitat analysis.
• Growth and confidence: Xiao Yang’s recent improvements give him a heightened sense of power, setting up future challenges that will test whether his confidence is justified.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang parts with Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, and Xun’er before leaving for the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Their farewell is affectionate but not overly emotional because his absence is expected to be temporary.
• He secretly gives Xiao Zhan an undisclosed item, implying trust and concern for his family.
• Xiao Yang’s thoughts also briefly compare his cultivation situation with Xun’er’s, noting that even someone from the Ancient Clan would not casually practice an excessively high-grade technique.

Chapter Summary: “Two Fourth-Order Magical Beasts!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang searches around a stream for the Wood Spirit Deer’s nest but finds only tracks.
• He notices smaller footprints accompanying the deer’s tracks and suspects it may have a fawn.
• Following the trail, he discovers a cave beneath a cliff containing Wood Spirit Deer droppings.
• Rather than entering blindly, Xiao Yang uses specially prepared firewood that creates irritating black smoke to force the inhabitants out.
• Two magical beasts emerge: the Wood Spirit Deer and an Early Fourth-Order Rock Mountain Roe Deer, revealing that the deer are likely a pair.
• Xiao Yang conceals his scent and retreats toward the stream, predicting that the cleanliness-loving Wood Spirit Deer will eventually go there to bathe.
• He prepares an ambush along the trail between the cave and stream, hiding in a thicket and waiting patiently.
• When the two beasts approach, Xiao Yang allows the Rock Mountain Roe Deer to pass before attacking the Wood Spirit Deer at close range.
• The Wood Spirit Deer reacts quickly, coating its antlers in green battle qi and charging him.
• Xiao Yang uses his wings to leap above it and summons a puppet to intercept and block its antler attack.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates increasing caution and tactical skill. Instead of entering the cave directly, he uses smoke to expose the beasts and studies their habits before attacking.
• He remains calm and patient while waiting in ambush, carefully concealing both his presence and battle qi.
• Xiao Yang also reveals his willingness to adapt his plans: the materials prepared for the Coldwater Frog are repurposed against the Rock Mountain Roe Deer.
• The Wood Spirit Deer is shown to be experienced and highly reactive in combat. Despite being caught by surprise and irritated by the smoke, it immediately counterattacks rather than fleeing.
• The Rock Mountain Roe Deer is introduced as another powerful Fourth-Order beast and appears to cooperate closely with the Wood Spirit Deer.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus brute force: Xiao Yang relies on planning, environmental manipulation, and ambush tactics rather than confronting two Fourth-Order beasts directly.
• Adaptability: He changes his strategy as new information emerges, especially after discovering the second magical beast.
• Caution in dangerous situations: Xiao Yang avoids entering unknown terrain and carefully studies the beasts’ movements before acting.
• Predator and prey dynamics: The chapter reverses expectations, with Xiao Yang tracking the beasts while also using stealth and deception to hunt them.
• Partnership and protection: The Wood Spirit Deer and Rock Mountain Roe Deer appear to share a close bond, potentially protecting the deer’s offspring.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang tracks the Wood Spirit Deer and indirectly discovers its relationship with the Rock Mountain Roe Deer.
• He uses smoke to provoke both beasts, prompting their furious emergence from the cave.
• The two beasts search together for the attacker, but Xiao Yang successfully hides his identity and scent.
• During the ambush, Xiao Yang targets the Wood Spirit Deer while avoiding an immediate confrontation with the Rock Mountain Roe Deer.
• The Wood Spirit Deer counterattacks with its antlers, but Xiao Yang’s aerial maneuver and summoned puppet disrupt its attack, setting up the next stage of the battle.

Chapter Summary: “Experience Surpasses 100 Million!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang uses two fully repaired Fourth-Order Puppets against a pair of Early Fourth-Order Magical Beasts: a Wood Spirit Deer and a Rock Mountain Roe Deer.
• One puppet restrains the Wood Spirit Deer while Xiao Yang attacks it from the air with his Burning Flame Palm. Despite its sharp battle-qi leaf blades, the deer cannot overcome Xiao Yang’s speed and defensive barrier.
• Xiao Yang strikes the Wood Spirit Deer twice with his flaming palm, killing it almost instantly.
• Enraged by its companion’s death, the Rock Mountain Roe Deer charges Xiao Yang recklessly. It ignores the puppet attacking it and focuses entirely on Xiao Yang.
• Xiao Yang avoids its boulders using his Violet Cloud Wings while both puppets gradually tear through its stone armor and Battle Qi Armor.
• Once the Roe Deer is severely weakened, Xiao Yang and the puppets finish it off. His final Burning Flame Palm reduces it to charcoal.
• The two kills grant Xiao Yang nearly 140 million Universal Experience and several million shop points, raising his total experience above 180 million.
• He collects the Rock Mountain Roe Deer’s Magic Core and takes the valuable Wood Spirit Deer corpse with him.
• Rather than return to the Xiao Household, Xiao Yang immediately heads toward the Coldwater Frog, intending to hunt another powerful beast.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: Demonstrates improved combat awareness, speed, and tactical coordination. He effectively combines aerial mobility, his Burning Flame Palm, and the two puppets to defeat opponents stronger than himself. His excitement over the enormous experience reward reinforces his growing confidence and ambition.
• The Puppets: Prove crucial despite having limited combat abilities. Their physical strength and durability allow them to restrain one beast and steadily wear down the other.
• Rock Mountain Roe Deer: Its grief and rage over the Wood Spirit Deer’s death cause it to fight recklessly, abandoning defense and allowing the puppets to inflict serious damage.
• Wood Spirit Deer: Shows dangerous offensive abilities through its razor-sharp battle-qi leaf blades, but possesses weaker defenses and is quickly overwhelmed by Xiao Yang’s flames.

Significant Themes

• Strength through preparation: Repairing and carrying the puppets gives Xiao Yang a major advantage in a difficult battle.
• Tactical cooperation: Xiao Yang’s aerial attacks work effectively because the puppets restrict and distract the beasts.
• The value of stronger opponents: Defeating enemies above his level provides far greater experience rewards, encouraging Xiao Yang to seek increasingly dangerous challenges.
• Grief and vulnerability: The Roe Deer’s emotional reaction to its companion’s death causes it to lose tactical judgment and ultimately contributes to its defeat.
• Resource gathering and advancement: Xiao Yang treats the beasts as valuable sources of experience, magic cores, and materials, emphasizing his continual pursuit of cultivation growth.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang coordinates closely with both puppets, using them to block, restrain, and injure the Magical Beasts while he attacks from the air.
• The Wood Spirit Deer attempts to counter Xiao Yang with battle-qi leaf blades, but he evades or blocks them before overpowering it.
• The Rock Mountain Roe Deer focuses obsessively on Xiao Yang after witnessing the Wood Spirit Deer’s death, ignoring the puppets until their attacks have already caused severe injuries.
• After the battle, Xiao Yang exploits the beasts’ remains and immediately moves on to his next target, the Coldwater Frog.

Chapter Summary: “An Alchemist Seeks Revenge?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Following the destruction of the Jia Lie Clan, the Xiao Household takes control of its businesses and assets, causing heavy activity at the clan compound.
• A middle-aged Fourth-Rank Alchemist arrives at the Xiao Household’s entrance and demands to see Xiao Zhan.
• He releases a powerful aura, overwhelming the Eight-Star Dou Zhe guard captain and causing nearby merchants and visitors to flee.
• Xiao Zhan arrives with the three great elders and attempts to address the situation peacefully.
• The alchemist asks whether the Xiao Household destroyed the Jia Lie Clan, then reveals that his registered disciple, Liu Xi, had been staying with the Jia Lie Clan and is now dead.
• Xiao Zhan deduces that Liu Xi was the mysterious young man associated with Galeo and the Jia Lie Clan, but avoids admitting that his household was responsible.
• The alchemist claims Liu Xi died because of the Xiao Household and demands two million gold coins as compensation.

Character Developments

• Xiao Zhan demonstrates caution and political awareness. Although angered by the accusation, he remains diplomatic because he senses that the alchemist is a powerful Dou Ling, stronger than himself.
• The three great elders share Xiao Zhan’s alarm and uncertainty, realizing that the Xiao Household may now face retaliation from an external powerhouse.
• The middle-aged alchemist is introduced as intimidating and arrogant. His supposed concern for Liu Xi appears insincere, as he shows little grief and ultimately reveals that his main goal is financial gain.
• Liu Xi, though already dead, is established as the alchemist’s disciple and as someone who had been secretly involved with the Jia Lie Clan.
• Xiao Yang is indirectly implicated, since Xiao Zhan suspects he killed both Liu Xi and Galeo, but Xiao Zhan deliberately withholds this information.

Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: The alchemist uses his overwhelming cultivation and status to dominate the Xiao Household before negotiations even begin.
• Political caution: Xiao Zhan must balance defending his clan with avoiding a confrontation against a stronger opponent.
• Greed disguised as justice: The alchemist frames his demand as compensation for a murdered disciple, but his lack of emotion and explicit monetary demand suggest revenge is merely a pretext for extortion.
• Consequences of expansion: By destroying the Jia Lie Clan and absorbing its assets, the Xiao Household gains influence but also inherits its enemies and unresolved conflicts.

Character Interactions

• The alchemist humiliates the guard captain through his aura, establishing his superiority.
• Xiao Zhan respectfully confronts him and offers to discuss the matter inside the reception hall.
• Their conversation shifts from suspicion about the Jia Lie Clan to the revelation of Liu Xi’s identity.
• Xiao Zhan carefully questions the alchemist while concealing what he knows.
• The alchemist ends the exchange by demanding two million gold coins, creating a direct conflict between his claim of revenge and his apparent desire for wealth.

Key events

• The middle-aged Fourth-Rank Alchemist reveals that he came to extort the Xiao Household, not to avenge his nominal disciple Liu Xi. Believing the family has profited from the Jia Lie Clan’s downfall, he demands gold and repeatedly raises his price when they try to negotiate.
• Xiao Zhan and the elders offer compensation, but the alchemist threatens to destroy the household. Xiao Zhan finally orders every fighter of Dou Master rank or higher to attack.
• Xiao Zhan unveils a metal puppet and a powerful saber, while his aura reveals he has reached Nine-Star Da Dou Shi. The alchemist is surprised by the rare puppet and intrigued by the saber, fighting carefully so he can seize both and interrogate Xiao Zhan.
• The alchemist overwhelms the defenders. Xiao Zhan and the elders are injured, and several guards are put out of action.
• Xun’er orders her hidden protector, Ling Ying, to help Xiao Zhan. But Ling Ying senses something, withdraws, and returns to her side.
• Xiao Yan asks Medicine Elder for help. Medicine Elder tells him to wait and promises the family will be safe. Xiao Yan can only watch, resolving to become strong enough to protect his family.
• A winged figure arrives through the sky, surrounded by red-and-black flames, just as the danger escalates.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Zhan moves from attempted negotiation to open resistance, revealing concealed strength and equipment. His determination inspires the household to join the fight, though he is ultimately outmatched.
• The alchemist is exposed as greedy and coercive. His interest shifts from money to Xiao Zhan’s unusual puppet and saber.
• Xun’er takes action to protect Xiao Zhan by dispatching Ling Ying, while Ling Ying’s sudden retreat suggests an unexpected danger or complication.
• Xiao Yan feels powerless but turns the crisis into a resolve to grow stronger. Medicine Elder remains calm and withholds direct intervention.
• The Xiao Household’s leaders try bargaining with the alchemist, but his escalating demands make clear that negotiation will not satisfy him.

Significant themes

• Power and vulnerability: the Xiao Household’s wealth and courage cannot compensate for the gap between its fighters and a Dou Ling.
• Greed and coercion: the alchemist exploits the family’s recent gains, treating them as an opportunity for profit.
• The drive to protect loved ones: Xiao Yan’s helplessness becomes motivation to grow stronger.
• Hidden strength and mystery: Xiao Zhan’s equipment, Xun’er’s concealed protector, and the winged arrival hint that powerful forces and secrets surround the conflict.

Chapter Summary: Breakthrough to Nine-Star Da Dou Shi!

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Xiao Household is overwhelmed by a mysterious middle-aged man, revealed to be an Eight-Star Dou Ling. He effortlessly repels Xiao Yang’s Fourth-Order Puppets and toys with Xiao Zhan, the elders, and the household guards.
• Rather than killing them, the man demands three and a half million gold coins as compensation for the Xiao Household’s initial attack.
• Just as Xiao Zhan considers accepting the humiliating terms to protect his clan, Xiao Yang arrives and warns everyone to retreat.
• Xiao Yang launches a powerful flaming palm attack, but the middle-aged man easily destroys it with a flaming fist. He then faces three Fourth-Order Puppets simultaneously while remaining confident and composed.
• The middle-aged man recognizes that Xiao Yang’s flying technique and fire-enhancing gloves make him difficult to capture. He also becomes greedy, realizing the gloves could greatly increase his strength—possibly allowing him to contend with a weak Dou Wang.
• To force Xiao Yang into a disadvantage, the man focuses on threatening Xiao Zhan and the others, believing Xiao Yang will not abandon them.
• Xiao Yang responds by using the game system and instantly adding 900,000 cultivation experience. His cultivation surges from his previous realm through every stage to reach Nine-Star Da Dou Shi.
• A Dou Crystal forms in Xiao Yang’s dantian, confirming his breakthrough and stabilizing his new realm.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates decisive leadership and a willingness to protect his family. Rather than continuing an unwinnable battle with puppets alone, he reveals a dramatic increase in cultivation and reaches the peak of the Da Dou Shi realm.
• Xiao Zhan recognizes the overwhelming gap between his group and the middle-aged man. Although humiliated and desperate to preserve the clan, he obeys Xiao Yang’s command and helps organize the retreat.
• The middle-aged man shifts from casual amusement to serious caution after noticing Xiao Yang’s flight ability, gloves, and potential threat. His greed also becomes clear as he covets Xiao Yang’s equipment.
• Xun’er initially fears that Xiao Yang’s breakthrough has damaged his potential, but Ling Ying reassures her that his foundation is exceptionally stable. Her concern reveals her strong emotional investment in Xiao Yang.
• Ling Ying is astonished by the quality of Xiao Yang’s aura, judging it superior even to that of powerful Ancient Clan Da Dou Shi experts.
• Xiao Yan reacts with enthusiastic amazement, while Medicine Elder remains focused on understanding the mystery behind Xiao Yang’s stable, abnormal advancement.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power and sudden advancement: Xiao Yang’s system grants him an explosive breakthrough that defies normal cultivation principles.
• Protection and responsibility: Xiao Yang’s decision to reveal his strength is driven by his desire to save Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Household.
• Greed versus caution: The middle-aged man’s desire for Xiao Yang’s gloves makes him more dangerous, but it also causes him to take Xiao Yang seriously.
• The limits of external tools: While the puppets and weapons greatly aid the Xiao Household, they cannot fully bridge the gap against a genuine Eight-Star Dou Ling.
• Mystery surrounding Xiao Yang: Even experienced observers cannot explain how he achieves such a stable and powerful breakthrough, increasing speculation about his cultivation technique and true capabilities.

Character Interactions

• The middle-aged man taunts and bargains with Xiao Zhan while deliberately injuring, but not killing, the Xiao Household’s people.
• Xiao Yang warns Xiao Zhan to withdraw, and Xiao Zhan immediately trusts and follows his instructions.
• Xiao Yang and the middle-aged man exchange attacks, with the latter easily neutralizing Xiao Yang’s flaming palm and becoming interested in his gloves.
• The middle-aged man attempts to use Xiao Zhan and the others as hostages in practice, expecting Xiao Yang to protect them.
• Xun’er worries about Xiao Yang’s condition, while Ling Ying calms her by confirming that the breakthrough has not harmed him.
• Xiao Yan celebrates Xiao Yang’s astonishing power increase, while Medicine Elder silently investigates its origin.

Chapter Summary: “Everyone Was Shocked”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang completes a sudden breakthrough from Nine-Star Dou Master to Nine-Star Da Dou Shi, shocking the middle-aged Eight-Star Dou Ling who had been attacking the Xiao Household.
• The middle-aged man realizes that Xiao Yang’s previous attack, launched while he was only a Nine-Star Dou Master, had already rivaled a Dou Ling’s power. He becomes frightened and considers retreating.
• Using his perfectly mastered low-grade Earth-Tier Violet Cloud Wings, Xiao Yang moves so quickly that the middle-aged man cannot react.
• Xiao Yang coats his fist in dark crimson flames and lands a devastating punch, shattering the man’s Battle Qi Armor and breaking several bones in his arms and ribs.
• With the help of his three puppets, Xiao Yang prevents the injured man from escaping. The man attempts to plead for his life by offering his wealth, but Xiao Yang kills him with a punch to the head.
• The system rewards Xiao Yang with 30.6 million Universal Experience and 560,000 store points for killing an Eight-Star Dou Ling. Xiao Yang regrets not killing him before breaking through, since doing so would have yielded far more experience.
• Xiao Yang takes the man’s Storage Ring and returns to the Xiao Household. He distributes healing pills to the injured family members, whose wounds begin recovering rapidly.
• Xiao Yang explains to Xiao Zhan that the dead Dou Ling had been drawn there because of an alchemist Xiao Yang previously killed.
• After the battle, Xiao Zhan leads Xiao Yang to a private courtyard for a discussion, while the First Elder remains behind to supervise reconstruction.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates an enormous increase in strength, speed, and combat dominance after reaching Nine-Star Da Dou Shi. His killing intent and anger over being forced to break through make him particularly ruthless.
• He also shows continued resourcefulness by combining his flames, Violet Cloud Wings, and puppets to overwhelm a stronger opponent.
• Xiao Yang remains protective of the Xiao Household, immediately treating their injuries and apologizing to Xiao Zhan for arriving late.
• The middle-aged Dou Ling shifts from confidence to fear, regret, and desperation after realizing that Xiao Yang’s new strength makes escape impossible. His attempt to bargain for his life fails.
• Xiao Zhan is relieved by Xiao Yang’s return but deeply worried that the sudden breakthrough may have damaged his potential. He views Xiao Yang as someone capable of eventually becoming a Dou Emperor.
• The Xiao Household members, including Xiao Zhan and the elders, are left stunned by Xiao Yang’s ability to kill an opponent who had previously overwhelmed them.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming growth and hidden potential: Xiao Yang’s explosive breakthrough reveals that his true strength far exceeds what others expected.
• Consequences of underestimating an opponent: The middle-aged man assumes Xiao Yang remains weak, only to be killed almost instantly after the breakthrough.
• Protection and responsibility: Xiao Yang’s return is not merely a display of power; he uses his resources to heal and protect his family.
• Power and opportunity cost: Xiao Yang gains immense strength but loses the greater experience multiplier associated with killing enemies at a lower cultivation level.
• Family concern versus ambition: Xiao Zhan prioritizes Xiao Yang’s long-term potential over immediate victory, worrying that rapid advancement could harm him.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang and the middle-aged man engage in a brief but decisive confrontation, ending with Xiao Yang rejecting the man’s plea for mercy.
• Xiao Yang interacts with the Xiao Household by providing healing pills and receiving their respectful greetings.
• Xiao Zhan reassures Xiao Yang that he is not to blame for arriving late, while Xiao Yang explains the circumstances behind the attack.
• In private, Xiao Zhan questions Xiao Yang about the safety of his breakthrough. Xiao Yang calms him by claiming that he had deliberately suppressed his cultivation and suffered no harmful aftereffects, though Xiao Zhan remains internally astonished by the abnormal scale of his advancement.

Chapter Summary: Jia Nan Academy

Key Plot Points and Events

• After defeating a Dou Ling expert, Xiao Yang is examined by Xiao Zhan, who confirms that he is unharmed. Xiao Zhan is surprised to discover that Xiao Yang’s foundation is extremely stable, while his own recent pill-assisted advancement has left him comparatively unstable.
• Xiao Yang returns to his courtyard, where Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian are waiting anxiously for him. Xun’er embraces him and personally checks his meridians, becoming shocked that his sudden rise to the ninth star of his new realm has caused no instability despite him using no medicinal pills.
• Xun’er playfully pushes Xiao Yi Xian into Xiao Yang’s arms, teasing her and creating an embarrassed, affectionate interaction between the three.
• Xiao Yang tells the two women about his recent experiences and shares venison and frog meat with them. They leave after dinner.
• Xiao Yan visits later to check whether Xiao Yang was injured. A hidden soul-force voice also examines Xiao Yang before Xiao Yan is reassured. The two brothers chat briefly before Xiao Yan departs.
• News of Xiao Yang’s victory spreads throughout Wu Tan City. The major factions are shocked that the Xiao Household killed a Dou Ling expert, and more visitors begin bringing gifts to the household.
• Two days later, Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian inform Xiao Yang that Xiao Yu has returned. They prepare to travel to Yellow Flame City, the regional recruitment site for Jia Nan Academy.
• Xiao Yang, Xun’er, Xiao Yi Xian, and other qualified Xiao Household members gather at the household entrance. The family now treats Xiao Yang with increased respect and awe because his strength has surpassed even Xiao Zhan’s.
• Xiao Yu arrives to lead the group. She had not planned to return this year, but the First Elder asked her to come back because Xiao Yang and Xun’er intended to enroll in Jia Nan Academy.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: Demonstrates extraordinary strength and an exceptionally stable foundation after defeating a Dou Ling expert. His standing within the Xiao Household rises sharply, and he is now respected as its strongest member or at least stronger than Xiao Zhan.
• Xiao Zhan: Recognizes that Xiao Yang’s foundation is far more solid than his own, prompting a subtle acknowledgment of the risks of relying on medicinal pills for advancement.
• Xun’er: Shows deep concern and affection for Xiao Yang by personally inspecting his condition. Her knowledge and experience also allow her to appreciate how abnormal his rapid, stable breakthrough is. She behaves playfully toward Xiao Yi Xian.
• Xiao Yi Xian: Becomes increasingly shy and embarrassed around Xiao Yang, especially when Xun’er pushes her into his embrace, suggesting growing romantic feelings.
• Xiao Yan: Remains protective and cautious, personally verifying Xiao Yang’s condition and relying on the mysterious soul-force presence within him for confirmation.
• Xiao Yu: Returns to guide the younger members toward Jia Nan Academy, taking on a practical and responsible role within the group.

Significant Themes

• Strength and respect: The Xiao Household’s attitude toward Xiao Yang changes dramatically after he displays overwhelming power, emphasizing the importance of strength in the Dou Qi Continent.
• Foundation versus rapid advancement: Xiao Yang’s stable cultivation contrasts with Xiao Zhan’s pill-assisted but temporarily unstable breakthrough, highlighting the dangers of pursuing power without a solid foundation.
• Affection and developing relationships: Xun’er’s concern, her teasing of Xiao Yi Xian, and Xiao Yi Xian’s bashfulness deepen the emotional and romantic dynamics among the characters.
• Equal opportunity and talent: Jia Nan Academy is presented as an institution that values ability over social status, allowing commoners and nobles alike to enter if they meet the required cultivation level.
• Rising reputation: Xiao Yang’s victory brings both fame and political attention, as outside factions begin visiting the Xiao Household with gifts.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yang discuss his condition, with Xiao Zhan verifying that he suffered no injury.
• Xun’er embraces Xiao Yang and examines him, revealing her worry and affection.
• Xun’er mischievously forces Xiao Yi Xian into Xiao Yang’s arms, teasing them both.
• Xiao Yang comforts Xiao Yi Xian and invites both women into his courtyard for food and conversation.
• Xiao Yan visits Xiao Yang to ensure he is unharmed, and the two share a brief brotherly discussion.
• Xiao Yang, Xun’er, Xiao Yi Xian, and Xiao Yu unite with the other qualified Xiao Household members to begin their journey toward Jia Nan Academy.

Chapter Summary: “How to Enter the Inner Academy”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yu guides Xiao Yang, Xun’er, Xiao Yi Xian, and the other Xiao clan members through Jia Nan Academy’s Outer Academy. She explains that the Outer Academy offers flexible classes, missions, cultivation resources, and hunting expeditions in a nearby Magical Beast Forest.
• Xiao Yang asks how to enter the Inner Academy. Xiao Yu explains that the usual route is the Inner Academy Selection Tournament, but registration has already begun and the tournament is likely to start soon.
• Although Xiao Yang could probably win the tournament, Xiao Yu warns that missing registration may make participation difficult. Another option is obtaining an elder’s recommendation and passing an assessment.
• Xiao Yu suggests that Xiao Yang wait a year so he can compete for one of the top five positions and gain access to the Academy Treasury, which may contain Earth Tier cultivation methods and combat techniques.
• Xiao Yang rejects the idea of waiting because his true goal is to obtain the Fallen Heart Flame. He asks whether Xiao Yu knows any elders who could help him enter the Inner Academy.
• Xiao Yu admits she does not personally know any elders but offers to ask her mentor for assistance. She also recommends speaking with Teacher Elena, her mentor’s close friend, who is supervising the current student assessments.
• After traveling for more than three hours, the group reaches Yellow Flame City, where Jia Nan Academy is conducting its recruitment examinations.
• Xiao Yu negotiates with an officer and leads the group past the soldiers guarding the recruitment area. They enter a tent where academy members are conducting tests.
• Xiao Yu introduces the group to Teacher Elena, a bold and striking academy instructor. Elena prepares to test them, producing a testing crystal from her clothing.
• Xiao Yang notices Elena’s unusual storage ring and briefly looks toward her cleavage out of curiosity. Xun’er immediately pinches him, humorously reminding him to control his attention.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: Remains focused and pragmatic. He is uninterested in the tournament’s rewards and refuses to waste a year in the Outer Academy, prioritizing the Fallen Heart Flame instead. His curiosity and occasional awkwardness around Elena also provide comic relief.
• Xiao Yu: Shows greater respect for Xiao Yang after learning how powerful he is. She actively helps him navigate the academy system and offers practical solutions for entering the Inner Academy.
• Xun’er: Continues to observe Xiao Yang closely and playfully disciplines him when he becomes distracted by Elena.
• Elena: Is introduced as a confident, uninhibited, and friendly academy instructor. Her connection to Xiao Yu’s mentor may make her an important ally in helping Xiao Yang enter the Inner Academy.
• Other Xiao clan members: React with awe to the possibility of Earth Tier rewards, emphasizing the gap between their previous resources and Jia Nan Academy’s opportunities.

Significant Themes

• Ambition versus patience: Xiao Yu encourages Xiao Yang to wait for the tournament’s rewards, but Xiao Yang’s urgent goal drives him to seek a faster route.
• Access to power and opportunity: The academy’s hierarchy, recommendations, assessments, and treasury show that advancement depends not only on strength but also on timing and connections.
• Knowledge and preparation: Xiao Yu’s explanation of the academy helps Xiao Yang understand the unfamiliar environment and plan his next move.
• Romantic and comedic tension: Xun’er’s reaction to Xiao Yang’s brief interest in Elena adds playful possessiveness and lightens the chapter’s focus on cultivation and advancement.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yu patiently explains Jia Nan Academy’s structure and recruitment process to Xiao Yang and the others.
• Xiao Yang questions Xiao Yu directly about the Inner Academy and relies on her knowledge while challenging her suggestion to wait.
• Xiao Yu offers to use her mentor’s connections and introduces Xiao Yang to Elena.
• Elena greets Xiao Yu warmly, embraces her, and jokes about the Xiao clan’s attractive appearance.
• Xun’er playfully pinches Xiao Yang after he becomes distracted by Elena, highlighting their familiar and teasing relationship.

Chapter Summary: “3 Peerless Geniuses!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During the Jia Nan Academy entrance testing, Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian discreetly compete for Xiao Yang’s attention by placing their hands on his waist, making him uncomfortable.
• Irina explains that applicants must possess at least Eighth-Stage Dou Qi and introduces Jia Nan Academy’s potential-ranking system:
  • Eighth-Stage Dou Qi:

F-Rank

• Ninth-Stage Dou Qi:

E-Rank

• One- to Five-Star Dou Practitioner:

D- to S-Rank

• Five-Star Dou Practitioner and above qualify as S-Rank or higher, though such talent is extremely rare.
• Two ordinary members of the Xiao Household qualify with Eighth-Stage Dou Qi and receive F-Rank ratings.
• Xiao Yi Xian reveals that she is a Six-Star Dou Practitioner at sixteen, placing her above the academy’s S-Rank standard.
• Xun’er then announces that she is a Six-Star Dou Practitioner at fifteen, shocking everyone again.
• Xiao Yang delivers the greatest surprise: he is a Nine-Star Da Dou Shi at sixteen.
• To prove his strength, he manifests exceptionally powerful Battle Qi Armor, confirming his cultivation and leaving the tent silent.
• Xiao Yang asks to bypass the Outer Academy and participate directly in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament. Irina agrees to report the matter and explains that he may either enter through the tournament or receive an elder’s recommendation.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates overwhelming strength and composure, establishing himself as the most extraordinary talent present. He also shows ambition by seeking immediate entry into the Inner Academy.
• Xiao Yi Xian is revealed to possess remarkable talent and cultivation far beyond normal expectations. Her playful possessiveness toward Xiao Yang remains evident.
• Xun’er is shown to be equally gifted, reaching Six-Star Dou Practitioner at only fifteen. She remains calm and confident even amid the astonishment surrounding her.
• Irina shifts from calm examiner to intensely excited recruiter after discovering the group’s abilities. She recognizes Xiao Yang and the two girls as exceptional talents.
• Xiao Yu gains prestige for bringing such geniuses to the academy and is promised a substantial reward, potentially including a Profound-Tier Battle Skill.

Significant Themes

• Extraordinary talent and competition: The chapter centers on the discovery of three young cultivators whose abilities far exceed ordinary academy standards.
• Hidden strength and surprise revelations: Xiao Yi Xian, Xun’er, and especially Xiao Yang conceal their true cultivation until testing, creating escalating shocks.
• Ambition and advancement: Xiao Yang’s desire to enter the Inner Academy reflects his refusal to be limited by standard procedures.
• Romantic rivalry and possessiveness: Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian’s subtle competition over Xiao Yang adds humor and interpersonal tension.
• Recognition and status: Cultivation level determines how students are treated, and the group’s power immediately earns them admiration and respect.

Character Interactions

• Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian silently compete over Xiao Yang’s attention, while he awkwardly avoids taking sides.
• Xiao Yu repeatedly hints that the initial revelations are not the full extent of the group’s talent, building anticipation for Xiao Yang’s announcement.
• Irina praises Xiao Yu for bringing the geniuses and offers her increasingly valuable rewards.
• The male students admire Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian, but threatening pressure from the girls—or their unseen protectors—causes the students to recoil.
• Irina and Xiao Yang establish a respectful relationship after she recognizes his superior strength and begins arranging a special path for his admission.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang suppresses his Battle Qi Armor and apologizes to Instructor Irina after demonstrating his strength.
• Irina explains that recruiting Xiao Yang, Xiao Yu, and the other geniuses benefits her as an Outer Academy instructor, since instructors receive rewards for bringing talented students into Jia Nan Academy.
• She affectionately hugs and kisses Xiao Yu, promising to request more elixirs for her.
• Irina informs the group that they will remain for seven days before Jia Nan Academy’s flying convoy arrives. Xiao Yang and the others can wait in Wu Tan City and be picked up directly, sparing Xiao Yang the usual journey.
• After registration, Irina explains the likely formats of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament. The preliminary rounds usually involve one-on-one battles, while the top five may be determined through arena defenses, round-robin matches, group battles, or a large free-for-all. The top five earn access to Jia Nan Academy’s Treasure Pavilion.
• Back at his courtyard, Xiao Yang reviews his status and decides to strengthen himself before entering the academy.
• He spends six million Shop Points upgrading Violet Cloud Wings from Low Earth Tier to Mid Earth Tier and nineteen million upgrading Burning Flame Palm to Mid Earth Tier. Both skills become Mastered, though the expense leaves him distressed.
• Xiao Yang then spends twenty million Universal Experience to advance both his Alchemist and Artifact Refiner professions from Fourth Rank to Fifth Rank.
• Completing these advancements grants him major rewards, including Fifth-Grade pill formulas, elixir ingredients, spirit artifact blueprints, crafting materials, experience, and Shop Points.
• After several days of absorbing the new knowledge, Xiao Yang awakens on the sixth day, though he has not fully processed everything and plans to continue during the journey.
• He claims his rewards and immediately receives new quests to become a Sixth-Rank Alchemist and Sixth-Rank Artifact Refiner, each promising enormous rewards. He accepts both without hesitation.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang continues to prioritize preparation and rapid growth before entering Jia Nan Academy. His willingness to spend vast resources shows his determination to maximize his combat power and professional abilities.
• He advances from a Fourth-Rank to a Fifth-Rank Alchemist and Artifact Refiner, marking a significant expansion of his talents beyond combat.
• His battle strength improves substantially as both of his Earth-Tier skills reach the Mid Earth Tier.
• Instructor Irina becomes increasingly supportive of Xiao Yang and the Xiao Household, viewing their recruitment as highly beneficial to her career and rewards.
• Xiao Yu receives Irina’s affection and promise of additional elixirs, reinforcing her value as one of the academy’s newly recruited geniuses.

Significant Themes

• Power through preparation: Xiao Yang uses the waiting period before the tournament to improve every aspect of his abilities.
• The cost of advancement: His powerful upgrades require enormous quantities of Shop Points and Experience, emphasizing that greater strength comes with increasingly painful sacrifices.
• Talent and opportunity: Jia Nan Academy’s interest in Xiao Yang and the other S-Rank geniuses highlights how exceptional talent creates special treatment and opportunities.
• Continuous ambition: Rather than being satisfied with reaching Fifth Rank, Xiao Yang immediately accepts quests for Sixth Rank, showing his relentless drive for improvement.
• Versatility and self-reliance: His growth as both a fighter and a crafter suggests that success will depend on more than battle skills alone.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang and Irina: Xiao Yang respectfully thanks Irina for her assistance, while she enthusiastically supports him and arranges special transportation.
• Irina and Xiao Yu: Irina openly expresses her affection for Xiao Yu, hugging and kissing her and promising to obtain more elixirs for her.
• Irina and the Xiao Household: Irina praises the family for producing multiple geniuses and regards their recruitment as a major accomplishment.
• Xiao Yang and the academy: Though not directly interacting with Jia Nan Academy’s officials, Xiao Yang’s registration, special pickup arrangement, and tournament preparation establish his increasingly important status within the academy system.

Chapter Summary:

Xun’er’s Confession

Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang claims his latest system rewards, gaining fifth-grade pill formulas, Spirit Artifact blueprints, and related materials.
• He explains that fifth-grade refining is currently his limit because his low cultivation causes severe fatigue during prolonged high-level refining. Further advancement will require reaching the Dou Ling realm.
• Xiao Yang repairs and strengthens three fourth-grade puppets. Because their souls are incomplete, they can only be restored to roughly Five-Star Dou Spirit strength.
• Rather than waste valuable purchased souls to improve them further, Xiao Yang gives the puppets to Xiao Zhan to protect the Xiao Household.
• Xiao Yang meets Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian, who tell him that Xiao Yu has come to see them before Jia Nan Academy’s arrival. The group goes to Wu Tan City’s square to meet the academy’s convoy.
• Jia Nan Academy arrives aboard flying Griffins. Teacher Irina welcomes them and has arranged a spacious Griffin for their journey.
• Xiao Yang, Xun’er, Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Yu, and two other Xiao clan members board the Griffin. The trip to Jia Nan Academy will take twenty to thirty days and pass through the dangerous Black-Corner Region, though a Dou Wang elder will accompany them for protection.
• After settling in, Xun’er asks to speak with Xiao Yang. She begins revealing that she is not truly a member of the Xiao Household and comes from a powerful family in the Central Plains.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: His refining abilities continue to improve, but his cultivation remains the main limitation. He has grown strong enough that his repaired puppets are no longer useful to him personally, allowing him to prioritize protecting his family.
• Xun’er: She becomes more emotionally serious and decides to reveal her hidden identity and origins. Her statement that Xiao Yi Xian is “family” indicates growing acceptance and closeness between the three.
• Xiao Yi Xian: She shows tact by offering to leave when Xun’er’s secret is about to be revealed, but accepts Xun’er’s invitation to stay. Her embarrassed reaction suggests she is increasingly comfortable with their intimate, family-like relationship.
• Xiao Zhan: Receives the three strengthened puppets, improving the Xiao Household’s defenses.
• Irina: Acts as the group’s teacher and guide, arranging a comfortable Griffin and reassuring everyone about the dangers of the journey.
• Xiao Yu and the other clan members: Feel pressure and envy because Xiao Yang’s group is much younger yet considerably stronger, motivating them to cultivate harder.

Significant Themes

• Strength and limitations: Xiao Yang’s accomplishments are impressive, but his low cultivation still restricts how far he can refine and repair artifacts.
• Protection of family: He gives the puppets to Xiao Zhan rather than keeping them, showing responsibility toward the Xiao Household.
• Hidden identities and origins: Xun’er’s confession introduces the importance of her true Central Plains background and suggests that her identity may affect future events.
• Found family and acceptance: Xun’er explicitly includes Xiao Yi Xian as part of their family, strengthening the bond among the three.
• Growth and departure: The journey to Jia Nan Academy marks a transition into a new stage of cultivation and adventure.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang and Xun’er openly travel together while holding hands with Xiao Yi Xian, provoking admiration and envy from the Xiao clan members.
• Irina attempts to assist Xiao Yang but realizes he has become stronger than her, highlighting his rapid progress.
• Xun’er confides in Xiao Yang while Xiao Yi Xian remains present, signaling trust and the beginning of a major revelation.

Chapter Summary

Plot and events

Xun’er reveals that the Ancient Clan has ordered her to return to the Central Plains within three to six months to focus on cultivation. The clan has long wanted her to return because of her powerful bloodline and potential to inherit the Golden Emperor Incinerating Flame, though her father previously allowed her to remain with the Xiao family to enjoy a normal childhood. Xun’er now feels she must leave because Xiao Yang and Xiao Yi Xian are growing rapidly, and she does not want to fall behind. She also hopes the Ancient Clan may possess a cure or solution for Xiao Yi Xian’s Calamity Poison Body.
After discussing their future, Xiao Yang promises to become powerful enough to face Xun’er’s clan and marry her openly. The two share their first kiss, deepening their relationship.

Character development

Xun’er shows maturity and determination by accepting the need to leave Xiao Yang and cultivate. She is also willing to confront her clan’s opposition to their relationship and vows to become strong enough to resist the elders. Xiao Yang responds with confidence, promising to reach the level of Dou Saint—or even Dou Emperor—and personally seek her out. His resolve reflects his growing ambition and commitment. Xiao Yi Xian’s importance to both of them is also emphasized, as Xun’er genuinely cares about her survival and Xiao Yang’s feelings for her.

Themes

The chapter focuses on love tested by separation, ambition and self-improvement, and defying social or familial barriers. It also highlights loyalty and sacrifice, since Xun’er leaves partly to protect her future with Xiao Yang and to seek help for Xiao Yi Xian. The promise of returning stronger establishes a long-term goal for Xiao Yang.

Character interactions

Xun’er confides in Xiao Yang about her impending departure and reassures him that she will wait. Xiao Yang comforts her and vows to claim her openly despite the Ancient Clan’s resistance. Xiao Yi Xian is present during the emotional discussion but discreetly leaves after noticing the intimate atmosphere, briefly creating a sense of awkwardness and possible jealousy. Once alone, Xiao Yang embraces Xun’er, and they share a tender first kiss. Xun’er later teasingly asks whether Xiao Yi Xian was his first kiss, revealing a hint of jealousy, and Xiao Yang reassures her that she was his first.

Plot points and events

• Xun’er promises to search for a cure for Xiao Yi Xian’s Calamity Poison Body and regrets that her current Voice Transmission Token only works within the same continent. Xiao Yang promises to craft a longer-range replacement.
• Xiao Yang spends ten million Universal Experience points to advance his soul from Late Mortal Realm to Early Spirit Realm. He can now sense and gradually absorb spiritual energy, allowing him to cultivate his soul directly.
• He buys and masters the Low Black Tier soul technique Soul-Congealing Thorn, then begins absorbing the knowledge of a Fifth-Rank Alchemist and Artifact Refiner.
• After ten days of study, Xiao Yang chooses a blueprint for a Fifth-Rank Voice Transmission Bracelet. He learns the design and begins crafting it aboard the flying beast.
• Two days into the work, energy gathers around Xiao Yang’s room. Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian notice the disturbance and take turns keeping watch outside his door.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yang grows substantially in soul power, gains a potent soul attack, and develops his artifact-refining skills. He also acts thoughtfully toward Xun’er by trying to create a way for them to stay in contact across great distances.
• Xun’er shows affection for Xiao Yang, kissing him before leaving, and concern for Xiao Yi Xian’s illness. She and Xiao Yi Xian later cooperate to guard Xiao Yang while he works.
• Xiao Yi Xian remains part of the close-knit group and joins Xun’er in protecting Xiao Yang during his crafting.

Significant themes

• Progress through cultivation and knowledge: Xiao Yang uses experience points and study to rapidly expand his abilities.
• Affection and loyalty across distance: Xun’er and Xiao Yang seek ways to preserve their connection despite being separated by continents.
• Care and mutual support: Xun’er’s effort to find a cure for Xiao Yi Xian and both women’s vigil for Xiao Yang highlight the group’s concern for one another.

Chapter Summary: Jia Nan Academy

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yang successfully refines a Fifth-Grade Spirit Artifact, a Voice Transmission Bracelet, despite being only a Nine-Star Da Dou Shi. The process severely exhausts his energy.
• Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian wait outside his room. Xiao Yang gives the bracelet to Xun’er, explaining that it has a greater communication range than a Voice Transmission Token, though long-distance messages may experience slight delays.
• Concerned for Xiao Yang’s health, both women urge him to rest. He falls asleep immediately, while they quietly leave after Xiao Yi Xian tucks him in.
• Over the next dozen days, the Griffin convoy continues toward Canaan City. Xiao Yang spends the journey cultivating, while other Griffins collect additional students.
• Upon nearing the city, Xiao Yu informs Xiao Yang that they have arrived. Xiao Yang reunites with Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian, and the three descend from the Griffin together.
• Xiao Yang protects both women from the cold and strong winds with his Dou Qi as they approach the city.
• After landing, Irina distributes Jia Nan Academy badges and leads the students through Canaan City into the enormous academy.
• The new students gather in a large circular plaza resembling an arena. Hundreds of students from the surrounding three countries are present.
• The opening ceremony begins when Vice Dean Hu Gan silences the crowd with his powerful aura and welcomes the new students to Jia Nan Academy’s Outer Academy.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang demonstrates his growing strength and technical ability by refining a Fifth-Grade Spirit Artifact while still at the Da Dou Shi level. His powerful soul strength allows him to maintain awareness of his surroundings even while concentrating on artifact refinement.
• His exhaustion shows the physical and mental cost of his abilities, but he remains considerate by completing the bracelet for Xun’er before resting.
• Xun’er displays strong concern and affection for Xiao Yang, feeling guilty that her request contributed to his exhaustion.
• Xiao Yi Xian also shows increasing care for Xiao Yang, helping Xun’er look after him and tucking him in before leaving.
• Xiao Yang’s relationship with both women remains close and mutually supportive as they begin their new stage at Jia Nan Academy.

Significant Themes

• Dedication and sacrifice: Xiao Yang pushes himself to exhaustion to fulfill his promise to Xun’er.
• Technological and cultivation advancement: The Voice Transmission Bracelet represents Xiao Yang’s unusual mastery of artifact refinement and his ability to create superior tools.
• Companionship and mutual care: Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian prioritize Xiao Yang’s well-being, while Xiao Yang protects them during the journey.
• Transition and new beginnings: The group leaves their previous environment and formally enters Jia Nan Academy, marking the beginning of a new phase of growth and challenges.
• Scale and opportunity: The immense size of Canaan City and the academy emphasizes the broader world Xiao Yang and the others are entering.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Yang explains the bracelet’s abilities to Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian, then gives it to Xun’er and promises to make another for Xiao Yi Xian.
• Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian insist that Xiao Yang rest after seeing how exhausted he is.
• Xiao Yi Xian quietly cares for Xiao Yang by arranging his blanket while he sleeps.
• Xiao Yu informs Xiao Yang that the group is about to reach Jia Nan Academy.
• Xiao Yang shields Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian from the wind during their descent.
• Vice Dean Hu Gan formally addresses and welcomes the assembled new students, beginning the academy’s entrance proceedings.

Chapter Summary: “Fame Spreads Through the Outer Academy!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jia Nan Academy’s welcome ceremony concludes with speeches from academy leaders and mentors.
• The students learn about the Inner Academy, which is the academy’s true foundation and offers major cultivation benefits. Graduates are expected to reach at least the Dou Ling realm, with some potentially becoming Dou Wangs.
• The Inner Academy Selection Tournament is announced for one week later. New students are encouraged to watch and learn from the Outer Academy’s strongest senior students.
• The new students are divided into ten Yellow Tier classes. Xiao Yang, Xun’er, and Xiao Yi Xian are assigned to Yellow Tier Class Four under Mentor Irina.
• Irina explains the academy’s courses, assigns dormitories, and gives the students free time to explore before regular classes begin after the selection tournament.
• Several male students approach Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian because of their beauty. Xiao Yang openly claims both women and embraces them.
• When the students attempt to confront him, Xiao Yang releases the pressure of a Da Dou Shi and manifests his dark crimson armor. His strength terrifies the group, and they flee.
• Xiao Yang, Xun’er, and Xiao Yi Xian explore Jia Nan Academy together over the next several days. Their appearance and unusual relationship attract widespread attention.
• Xiao Yang chooses to spend his limited remaining time with Xun’er rather than cultivate, refine pills, or create Spirit Artifacts.
• The trio becomes famous throughout the Outer Academy, especially because Xiao Yang is a new student who has already reached the Da Dou Shi realm.
• Irina informs Xiao Yang that she has secured him a place in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: Demonstrates overwhelming strength and confidence by intimidating the students who challenge him. Despite his talent and upcoming opportunities, he prioritizes spending time with Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian. His reputation as an exceptional young genius grows rapidly.
• Xun’er: Remains openly affectionate toward Xiao Yang and shows no objection when he claims her publicly, reinforcing their close relationship.
• Xiao Yi Xian: Similarly accepts Xiao Yang’s possessive gesture and appears happy beside him, confirming her emotional closeness to him.
• Irina: Recognizes the trio’s exceptional potential and places them in her class for the benefits their future achievements may bring her. She also actively supports Xiao Yang by obtaining him a tournament spot.
• The other students: Initially act boldly toward Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian, but their confidence collapses once Xiao Yang reveals his Da Dou Shi cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Strength commands respect: Xiao Yang’s cultivation immediately silences opposition and establishes his dominance within the new student group.
• Fame and reputation: His extraordinary age-to-strength ratio, combined with the trio’s appearance, causes their fame to spread rapidly through the Outer Academy.
• Romantic possessiveness and rivalry: Xiao Yang’s public claim over Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian provokes jealousy and confrontation from other students.
• Youth and opportunity: The Inner Academy represents a major path toward higher cultivation and future status, while the selection tournament becomes an important milestone.
• Prioritizing relationships: Xiao Yang temporarily sets aside cultivation and crafting to enjoy time with the people close to him before their opportunities and responsibilities increase.

Character Interactions

• Academy leaders and mentors introduce the students to the structure and importance of the Inner Academy.
• Irina places Xiao Yang, Xun’er, and Xiao Yi Xian together because of their great potential.
• Male students flirt with Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian, prompting Xiao Yang to embrace them and declare that they already belong to him.
• The jealous students challenge Xiao Yang, but his display of Da Dou Shi strength frightens them into retreat.
• Xiao Yang, Xun’er, and Xiao Yi Xian spend several days exploring the academy together, becoming a highly visible and talked-about group.

Chapter Summary: The Selection Tournament Begins

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jia Nan Academy’s annual Inner Academy selection tournament begins, drawing Outer Academy students, instructors, and residents of Jia Nan City to the central plaza.
• Irina escorts Xiao Yang, Xun’er, and Xiao Yi Xian into the restricted tournament area and explains the competition format:
  • Initial rounds consist of one-on-one arena matches.
  • Rankings will be based on victories, defeats, and overall performance.
  • The top fifty will advance, with the final five selected through rules that have yet to be announced.
• Irina explains the valuable rewards available through the Inner Academy treasury, including high-grade pills, rare Magic Cores, Earth Tier techniques, and precious alchemical materials.
• Xiao Yang asks Irina to care for Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian after he enters the Inner Academy, since returning to the Outer Academy may be difficult. Irina agrees, jokingly referring to the two girls as his “little girlfriends.”
• Xiao Yang, Xun’er, and Xiao Yi Xian meet Instructor Ruo Lin, who is impressed by Xiao Yang and recognizes his connection to Xiao Yu. Ruo Lin is also introduced as the future recruiter for Wu Tan City.
• The tournament officially begins, with numerous powerful Dou Masters entering the arena.
• Xiao Yang is matched against Liu Yi, a jealous Black Tier Class Two student who resents Xiao Yang’s popularity and relationship with Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian.
• Liu Yi attacks first with a powerful wind-attributed sword technique, but Xiao Yang calmly catches the sword between two fingers, shocking the spectators and establishing a dramatic difference in their strength.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yang: Displays confidence and composure. He is unconcerned by the tournament’s rewards and remains indifferent to Liu Yi’s provocation. His effortless defense reveals that his true strength greatly surpasses that of ordinary Outer Academy contestants.
• Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian: Their affection for Xiao Yang is openly acknowledged through Irina’s teasing, and both react shyly without denying the relationship.
• Irina: Acts as Xiao Yang’s supportive instructor and shows pride in having him as a student. She also promises to protect Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian after Xiao Yang enters the Inner Academy.
• Ruo Lin: Shows immediate interest in Xiao Yang after learning that he is Xiao Yu’s powerful clansman. Her future role in recruiting students from Wu Tan City is established.
• Liu Yi: Is introduced as jealous, arrogant, and resentful. He dismisses Xiao Yang’s cultivation as artificially obtained and attacks largely to prove his own superiority.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and underestimated talent: Xiao Yang’s status as a new student causes others to doubt his cultivation, but his effortless response demonstrates that appearances are misleading.
• Competition and advancement: The tournament represents an opportunity to enter the Inner Academy and gain access to rare treasures, techniques, and resources.
• Jealousy versus confidence: Liu Yi’s emotional motives contrast sharply with Xiao Yang’s calm self-assurance.
• Affection and loyalty: Xiao Yang’s concern for Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian’s future highlights his protective feelings, while Irina’s promise emphasizes their supportive relationships.
• Public reputation: Xiao Yang’s fame has already spread throughout the academy, making his first match a spectacle watched with unusual interest.

Character Interactions

• Irina advises Xiao Yang about the tournament and reassures him of his chances.
• Xiao Yang entrusts Xun’er and Xiao Yi Xian to Irina’s care, prompting playful teasing and embarrassed reactions.
• Irina introduces Xiao Yang’s group to Ruo Lin, who admires Xiao Yang and compliments Irina’s good fortune.
• Liu Yi insults Xiao Yang and questions the legitimacy of his strength, particularly attacking his relationship with the two girls.
• Xiao Yang refuses to argue and instead answers Liu Yi’s hostility through overwhelming technique, catching his sword between two fingers and leaving the entire audience stunned.