Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Sparring”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Three days after returning to Canaan Academy, Xiao Yan stabilizes his cultivation at the one-star Dou Master level.
• Eager to test his new strength, Xiao Yan agrees to spar with Lin Xiuya, a three-star Dou Master, at a private combat arena.
• Despite Xiao Yan’s confidence, Lin Xiuya completely controls the fight with his Mystic Tier Dou Technique, Coiling Snake Hand. Xiao Yan cannot land a meaningful attack, though neither fighter is injured.
• Lin Xiuya and Yan Hao point out Xiao Yan’s major weakness: although his cultivation method is excellent and his physical combat ability is strong, he lacks a powerful, high-grade Dou Technique. His best techniques are only High Yellow Tier.
• Xiao Yan realizes he urgently needs a Mystic Tier Dou Technique and decides to investigate whether Canaan Academy can provide one.
• During Enforcement Squad training, Xiao Yan discusses the group’s previous Black-Corner Region trial with Wu Protector. He specifically asks about opportunities to obtain stronger techniques.
• Wu Protector agrees that Mystic Tier techniques are necessary for Xiao Yan and promises to report the matter to the academy.
• Wu Hao offers to ask Wu Protector to teach Xiao Yan one of his personal techniques, but Xiao Yan and Hu Jia reject the idea because Dou Techniques are treated as serious personal inheritances passed between masters and disciples.
• Hu Jia then offers to ask her grandfather, President Hu Gan, to help Xiao Yan obtain a Mystic Tier Dou Technique. She even suggests that Xiao Yan could become Hu Gan’s disciple, hinting that Hu Gan values him highly.
• Xiao Yan is tempted by the opportunity but avoids making an immediate decision. He ends the chapter by asking Hu Jia to stop constantly disturbing Xun’er.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: His cultivation has advanced, but the spar exposes a serious gap in his combat arsenal. He becomes more aware that rapid cultivation alone is insufficient against skilled opponents and begins seeking a signature or trump-card technique. He also shows humility by refusing to accept Wu Protector’s techniques improperly and remains cautious about formally taking a master.
• Lin Xiuya: Demonstrates his superior combat experience and technical mastery. He acts as a mentor-like figure by explaining exactly why Xiao Yan lost and what kind of technique he needs.
• Yan Hao: Provides practical insight into the value of Mystic Tier techniques and emphasizes that similarly ranked Dou Masters can be separated greatly by their techniques.
• Wu Protector: Remains calm and professional despite having taken the group out without authorization. He listens to Xiao Yan’s assessment and acknowledges the legitimacy of his request for better techniques.
• Wu Hao: Shows loyalty and concern for Xiao Yan by offering to help him acquire Wu Protector’s techniques, though he does not fully understand the importance of the master-disciple relationship.
• Hu Jia: Becomes somewhat less hostile toward Xiao Yan and offers genuine assistance, though she continues to tease and argue with him. Her offer to involve Hu Gan reveals that she recognizes Xiao Yan’s value.
• Xiao Yan and Hu Jia: Their relationship softens slightly, shifting from open dislike toward sarcastic familiarity and reluctant cooperation.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus technique: Xiao Yan’s cultivation and natural combat ability are not enough to defeat an opponent with superior techniques and experience.
• The importance of inheritance: Dou Techniques are not merely combat tools; personal techniques represent a serious master-disciple inheritance and cannot be casually borrowed.
• Background and opportunity: Xiao Yan’s lack of powerful family backing leaves him without the resources that Lin Xiuya and the others possess, despite his remarkable cultivation speed.
• Practical experience: The Black-Corner Region trial and the spar both show Xiao Yan that real combat requires more than cultivation—it demands adaptability, specialized techniques, and experience.
• Mentorship and belonging: Xiao Yan’s possible connection to Hu Gan introduces the possibility of gaining both a powerful technique and a stronger position within Canaan Academy.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Lin Xiuya: Their spar establishes Lin Xiuya’s technical superiority and gives Xiao Yan a clear lesson about his shortcomings.
• Xiao Yan, Lin Xiuya, and Yan Hao: They discuss the role of Mystic Tier Dou Techniques and the need for a decisive combat skill.
• Xiao Yan and Wu Protector: Xiao Yan honestly explains his weaknesses, while Wu Protector responds by offering to seek academy support.
• Xiao Yan, Wu Hao, and Hu Jia: Their discussion clarifies the seriousness of master-disciple relationships and prevents Wu Hao from improperly offering Wu Protector’s techniques.
• Xiao Yan and Hu Jia: Hu Jia offers assistance through her grandfather, while Xiao Yan responds with skepticism and playful criticism. Their exchange shows their growing familiarity, though they still bicker constantly.

Chapter Summary

• Plot and events: Hu Jia brings Xiao Yan to Dean Hu Gan’s office, where Hu Gan offers him a Mystic Tier combat technique as thanks for rescuing Hu Jia in the Black-Corner Region. Xiao Yan initially refuses to treat it as a personal favor, insisting he acted out of loyalty and gratitude toward the academy. Hu Gan ultimately frames the technique as an academy reward, allowing Xiao Yan to accept it without reservation.
• Xiao Yan then asks Hu Gan to reward Wu Hao as well, emphasizing that Wu Hao’s dangerous assistance was essential to the rescue. Hu Gan agrees to consider this. Xiao Yan also asks about future opportunities to obtain more Mystic Tier techniques and is told to first master the one he has received.
• After Xiao Yan and Hu Jia leave, Great Elder Su Qian and Fire Elder reveal that they had been observing the conversation. They praise Xiao Yan’s integrity, gratitude, loyalty, and refusal to exploit the academy’s resources. The elders discuss a previously arranged plan involving Xiao Yan’s future, apparently sending him elsewhere for further development.
• Fire Elder decides not to take Xiao Yan as his formal disciple because he believes his own instruction might limit Xiao Yan’s rapid growth, particularly in alchemy. Su Qian accepts this decision and prepares to depart for an extended period, assuring Hu Gan that he can manage the dangerous presence within the Inner Academy while away.

Character Development

• Xiao Yan demonstrates humility and sincerity by refusing to seek personal benefits from Hu Gan, while also showing ambition through his interest in earning additional powerful techniques. His request that Wu Hao be rewarded highlights his fairness and loyalty.
• Hu Jia appears to care deeply about Xiao Yan and actively helps secure his reward, though she hides her concern behind an indifferent attitude.
• Hu Gan becomes increasingly impressed by Xiao Yan’s character. His teasing attitude gives way to genuine approval, and he rewards Xiao Yan while accepting his request on Wu Hao’s behalf.
• Wu Hao, though absent from the scene, is recognized as courageous and self-sacrificing for risking his life during the rescue.
• Fire Elder reveals both admiration and humility. Although he values Xiao Yan greatly, he acknowledges that Xiao Yan’s talent has advanced beyond what he can effectively teach.
• Su Qian and Hu Gan act as protective mentors, carefully planning Xiao Yan’s future and evaluating whether the academy can continue to support his growth.

Significant Themes

• Integrity and gratitude: Xiao Yan refuses to exploit personal relationships and insists that Wu Hao receive proper recognition.
• Loyalty and righteous conduct: The chapter emphasizes rewarding those who contribute, even when they are not the most visible or powerful participants.
• Mentorship and selflessness: Fire Elder’s willingness to give up the chance to become Xiao Yan’s master shows that true mentorship prioritizes a student’s future over personal pride.
• Ambition balanced by humility: Xiao Yan eagerly seeks greater strength but remains respectful and unwilling to accept undeserved advantages.
• Recognition of character: The academy’s elders value Xiao Yan not only for his talent but also for his moral conduct.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Hu Gan: Their exchange moves from formal gratitude and playful teasing to mutual respect. Xiao Yan’s request for Wu Hao’s reward particularly strengthens Hu Gan’s opinion of him.
• Xiao Yan and Hu Jia: Hu Jia quietly advocates for Xiao Yan and reacts protectively when Hu Gan threatens to withdraw the reward.
• Xiao Yan and Wu Hao: Though Wu Hao is not present, Xiao Yan’s defense of him demonstrates their trust and comradeship.
• Su Qian, Hu Gan, and Fire Elder: The three elders discuss Xiao Yan’s virtues, his future, and whether Fire Elder should mentor him. Their conversation reveals their collective concern for protecting and nurturing his potential.

Chapter Summary: “End-of-Term Test”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan pursues Sun Shi, a dangerous target wanted by the Canaan Academy Enforcement Squad, through the Black-Corner Region.
• Although Sun Shi initially escapes Xiao Yan’s sneak attack and has a higher cultivation level, Xiao Yan reveals that he has been deliberately holding back.
• When Sun Shi turns to fight, Xiao Yan easily counters his claw attack, breaks his Dou Technique, and defeats him with “Metalstone Break,” a High Mystic Tier close-combat technique given to him by Hu Gan.
• After confirming Sun Shi’s death, Xiao Yan searches his body for proof of identity and returns to Peace Town to complete the mission.
• Xiao Yan becomes dissatisfied with the Enforcement Squad missions because they have become too easy and provide little real combat experience. He considers seeking more dangerous opponents but worries about traveling too far and attracting the Blood Sect’s attention.
• He visits Xun’er’s residence, where he finds her chatting with Hu Jia. The three friends joke and argue comfortably, reflecting how close they have become over the past year.
• Hu Jia explains Canaan Academy’s annual End-of-Term Test, whose challenges may involve cultivation, combat, alchemy, or missions in the Black-Corner Region. Greater difficulty brings better rewards.
• Xiao Yan learns that, as both an Outer Academy student and a member of the Alchemy Department, he will face two separate tests. He becomes enthusiastic at the prospect of receiving valuable rewards, possibly including a Mystic Tier Dou Technique.
• After Hu Jia leaves, Xun’er offers Xiao Yan another Dou Technique scroll. Xiao Yan refuses, joking that relying on her for everything would make him a “kept man.” Xun’er becomes embarrassed but hides her deeper sadness and affection after he departs.

2. Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Demonstrates growing combat ability, tactical awareness, and confidence. He defeats a stronger opponent while barely exerting himself, showing that his true strength exceeds his apparent cultivation. However, he is frustrated that routine missions no longer help him improve and seeks more meaningful battles. He also shows pride and independence by refusing to depend excessively on Xun’er’s resources.
• Sun Shi: Revealed to be provocative and desperate when cornered. Despite possessing a higher cultivation level, he is completely outmatched once Xiao Yan stops holding back.
• Hu Jia: Continues to tease Xiao Yan about his nickname, “Little Flame Fist,” but also serves as the source of important information about the academy’s test. Her lively interactions show her familiarity and friendship with Xiao Yan and Xun’er.
• Xun’er: Remains caring and attentive toward Xiao Yan, worrying about his safety and offering him assistance. Her affectionate feelings are evident, but she is also quietly saddened by the emotional distance created by Xiao Yan’s reluctance to rely on her.
• Lin Xiuya and Wu Hao: Though not active in the chapter, they are mentioned as Xiao Yan’s potential sparring partner and part of his wider circle of friends.

3. Significant Themes

• Growth through adversity: Xiao Yan believes genuine combat is necessary for improvement and sees easy victories as inadequate training.
• Independence versus reliance: Xiao Yan appreciates Xun’er’s help but refuses to depend on her wealth and resources, valuing self-reliance and personal achievement.
• Hidden strength: Xiao Yan repeatedly conceals his capabilities, allowing opponents to underestimate him before overwhelming them.
• Friendship and companionship: The relaxed banter among Xiao Yan, Xun’er, and Hu Jia demonstrates the bonds they have formed despite their different personalities.
• Affection and emotional restraint: Xun’er’s concern and Xiao Yan’s oblivious or guarded response create an emotional tension, especially as she quietly longs for greater closeness.
• Rewards and ambition: The End-of-Term Test gives Xiao Yan a new goal and promises opportunities to obtain stronger techniques and resources.

4. Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Sun Shi engage in a brief pursuit and combat encounter, with Xiao Yan psychologically and physically dominating the confrontation.
• Xiao Yan, Hu Jia, and Xun’er interact like close friends, trading jokes and teasing one another. Hu Jia mocks Xiao Yan’s height and nickname, while Xiao Yan tries to drive her away.
• Hu Jia informs Xiao Yan about the End-of-Term Test and warns him not to underestimate its difficulty.
• Xun’er expresses concern for Xiao Yan’s safety and offers him a Dou Technique. His playful refusal embarrasses her, revealing both their closeness and the limits of Xiao Yan’s awareness of her feelings.

Chapter Summary: “Farewell Dinner”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan returns to the dormitory and finds Qian Mo, Yan Hao, and Lin Xiuya dressed formally.
• The three reveal that they are holding a farewell dinner because, after completing their first year, outstanding students will move from shared dormitories into individual lofts.
• While walking to dinner, the group encounters Liu Qing, Lin Xiuya’s longtime rival. Contrary to Xiao Yan’s expectations, the two exchange only a restrained nod rather than starting a fight.
• Lin Xiuya explains that he and Liu Qing are evenly matched and intend to settle their rivalry in the future Inner Academy competition.
• The group discusses advancement to the Inner Academy. Although Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing are already strong enough to qualify, Lin Xiuya plans to remain in the Outer Academy for another year.
• Lin Xiuya reveals that the top five freshmen entering the Inner Academy will be allowed to choose a treasure from the academy’s Library Pavilion, potentially including Earth Tier cultivation methods or Dou Techniques.
• Xiao Yan becomes extremely eager to delay his own entry for a chance at this reward.
• Qian Mo worries that his fighting style will make it difficult to rank among the top five, but he soon recovers his good humor.
• The four friends continue joking and eating late into the night, treating the dinner as a warm but temporary farewell.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Shows his youthful embarrassment when teased about his childhood friend, but also demonstrates curiosity and ambition. His priorities shift immediately when he learns about the possibility of obtaining Earth Tier treasures.
• Lin Xiuya: Reveals a mature and pragmatic side. He respects Liu Qing despite their rivalry and chooses to cultivate longer rather than enter the Inner Academy prematurely. His desire for the Library Pavilion reward also exposes his ambition.
• Qian Mo: Acts as the group’s joker, teasing Xiao Yan and lightening the mood. He briefly displays anxiety about his chances in the upcoming rankings but proves emotionally resilient and able to move past disappointment.
• Yan Hao: Remains blunt and protective, defending the relationship between Xiao Yan and his childhood companion and participating in the group’s camaraderie.
• Liu Qing: Though previously portrayed as Lin Xiuya’s rival, he demonstrates restraint and mutual respect by silently acknowledging Lin Xiuya instead of provoking a confrontation.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and transition: The farewell dinner marks the end of the group’s shared dormitory life and the beginning of a new stage, emphasizing how relationships change as characters advance.
• Rivalry and respect: Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing’s competition is intense but not based on hatred; their equal strength creates a respectful rivalry.
• Ambition and cultivation: The characters must balance immediate advancement with long-term growth and rewards. Lin Xiuya’s decision to wait reflects the importance of preparation.
• Youthful emotions: The chapter portrays the friends’ teasing, worries, excitement, and quick changes in mood as natural aspects of youth.
• Opportunity and status: The Library Pavilion and its Earth Tier treasures highlight the enormous value of advancement within Canaan Academy.

Character Interactions

• Qian Mo repeatedly teases Xiao Yan about his “little girlfriend,” while Yan Hao adds his own blunt support and Lin Xiuya intervenes to ease Xiao Yan’s embarrassment.
• Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing share a tense but respectful encounter, showing that their rivalry has boundaries.
• Lin Xiuya explains the Inner Academy and Library Pavilion to Xiao Yan, who responds with increasingly intense interest.
• Qian Mo expresses concern over competing for one of the five coveted places, prompting the others to comfort him.
• Despite the impending separation, the four friends end the chapter laughing and enjoying one another’s company.

Chapter Summary: “Second-Grade Pill”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Inner Academy selection tournament concludes, with fifty students qualifying. Most are at least Seven-Star Dou Masters, while the champion and runner-up are Great Dou Masters, demonstrating the Inner Academy’s exceptional strength.
• Xiao Yan is pleased with the results but remains more interested in seeing the Inner Academy himself. He leaves the celebration early to prepare for the Alchemy Department’s afternoon test.
• The test requires each participant to refine an unfamiliar Second-Grade Pill using a formula and two sets of ingredients.
• On his way to the Spirit Pill Pavilion, Xiao Yan encounters Han Xian, who congratulates him on becoming a Second-Grade Alchemist while conspicuously displaying his own Third-Grade Alchemist badge.
• Han Xian’s jealousy becomes clear. Although he currently outranks Xiao Yan, he fears Xiao Yan will surpass him and interfere with his plans in the Inner Academy. He hints that he intends to take action against Xiao Yan.
• At the alchemy test, Xiao Yan notices suspicious behavior: he is deliberately left with the central position, while Han Xian remains unusually quiet in the corner.
• Xiao Yan receives the formula for the Scarlet Flame Pill, a Second-Grade combat pill that temporarily increases the strength of fire-attributed Dou Qi.
• The other participants delay beginning the test, apparently waiting for Xiao Yan to start first. Recognizing the obvious trap, Xiao Yan calmly initiates the refinement, causing everyone else to begin as well.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Displays growing confidence as both a fighter and alchemist. He recognizes the difficulty of refining unfamiliar Second-Grade Pills but remains composed and observant when he detects Han Xian’s scheme.
• Han Xian: Reveals increasing jealousy and insecurity. His advancement to Third-Grade Alchemist has not eased his fear of Xiao Yan’s rapid progress. He begins moving from covert hostility toward an intentional plan to obstruct Xiao Yan.
• Alchemy Department students: Though initially cautious and competitive, they clearly respect Xiao Yan’s talent. Their coordinated delay suggests they are involved in, or at least cooperating with, Han Xian’s attempt to pressure him.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus seniority: Xiao Yan has studied alchemy for only about a year but is already threatening Han Xian’s position despite Han Xian’s higher current rank.
• Jealousy and rivalry: Han Xian’s hostility stems less from Xiao Yan’s present achievements than from the fear that Xiao Yan will surpass him in the future.
• Composure under pressure: Xiao Yan does not react impulsively to the suspicious arrangements or provocation. Instead, he observes the situation and responds strategically.
• The difficulty and prestige of alchemy: The large audience and the complexity of reading soul-power-infused formulas emphasize how rare and respected alchemists are at Canaan Academy.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Han Xian: Han Xian makes a superficially polite approach, but his exaggerated display of his Third-Grade badge exposes his desire to assert superiority. Xiao Yan responds indifferently, deepening Han Xian’s resentment.
• Xiao Yan and the test participants: The participants silently coordinate by refusing to begin until Xiao Yan does. Xiao Yan recognizes their behavior and deliberately starts the test, forcing them to reveal their intentions.
• Xiao Yan and the Alchemy Department elder: The elder explains the straightforward testing rules and distributes individualized formulas and ingredients, establishing the formal conditions for the competition.

Chapter Summary: “Dark Undercurrents”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan begins refining the unfamiliar pill formula with intense concentration and a solemn attitude, determined to avoid distractions.
• Spectators gather outside the testing grounds and praise Han Xian, a young Third-Grade Alchemist regarded as the Alchemy Department’s leading genius.
• Lu Mu challenges Han Xian’s reputation, arguing that Xiao Yan is actually the greater talent. He highlights Xiao Yan’s extraordinary progress—from a complete beginner to a Second-Grade Alchemist in only a year—and reveals that Xiao Yan is not yet twelve and possesses Super S-rank aptitude.
• Lu Mu provides enthusiastic commentary on Xiao Yan’s refinement, correctly observing that Xiao Yan has progressed to the pill-forming stage despite never having seen the formula before.
• Han Xian overhears Lu Mu’s praise and silently marks him as someone to punish later, though he acknowledges Lu Mu’s accurate understanding of Xiao Yan’s progress.
• Han Xian signals two accomplices, who deliberately cause their medicine cauldrons to explode. The explosions create confusion and appear to threaten Xiao Yan’s refinement.
• Xiao Yan remains calm; the disturbance barely affects his cauldron.
• Han Xian then activates a secret spiritual-power array obtained from his clan. The other alchemists contribute their spiritual energy, allowing the array to launch a concealed attack against Xiao Yan’s spiritual power through his medicine cauldron.
• Han Xian intends to make the attack appear to be backlash from a failed refinement, hoping to leave Xiao Yan seriously injured and bedridden for several years.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Demonstrates exceptional focus, composure, and rapidly developing alchemical talent. His calm reaction to the explosions shows that he is difficult to disrupt, even during the vulnerable pill-forming stage.
• Han Xian: Is revealed to be far more ruthless and insecure than his public reputation suggests. Rather than competing fairly, he secretly organizes an attack designed to cripple Xiao Yan and eliminate him as a rival.
• Lu Mu: Shows both strong admiration for Xiao Yan and resentment toward Han Xian. His knowledge of alchemy allows him to recognize Xiao Yan’s progress, and his public commentary makes him an outspoken supporter of the younger prodigy.
• The other alchemists: Act as Han Xian’s accomplices, deliberately sacrificing their own refinements to create a distraction and channel their spiritual power into the attack.

Significant Themes

• True talent versus established reputation: Han Xian is celebrated because of his current rank, while Xiao Yan’s rapid growth suggests far greater long-term potential.
• Focus and mastery: The chapter emphasizes that successful alchemy requires complete concentration, especially during pill formation.
• Jealousy and threatened authority: Han Xian’s position as the department’s leading figure is threatened by Xiao Yan’s emergence, exposing the insecurity beneath his confidence.
• Deception and hidden conflict: The public sees a normal alchemy test, while Han Xian secretly turns it into an assassination-like scheme.
• Youth and potential: Xiao Yan’s age and extraordinary progress make him a startling rival to older, more established alchemists.

Character Interactions

• Lu Mu publicly compares Xiao Yan favorably to Han Xian, unintentionally provoking Han Xian.
• The spectators enthusiastically debate the reputations and potential of the two alchemists.
• Lu Mu argues with a skeptical observer over whether he can accurately identify Xiao Yan’s progress from outside the cauldron.
• Han Xian silently vows to punish Lu Mu while coordinating with the other alchemists.
• The chapter ends with Han Xian and his allies turning the testing ground into a coordinated ambush against Xiao Yan.

Summary of “Killing in Return”

Key Plot Points and Events

• While Xiao Yan appears to be refining pills during the Alchemy Department’s end-of-term test, Han Xian and several others secretly combine their soul power to disrupt his cauldron.
• Xiao Yan had anticipated their suspicious behavior and was not genuinely refining a pill. Instead, he had hidden specially prepared smoke bombs inside his cauldron.
• When Han Xian’s soul power enters the cauldron, Xiao Yan deliberately detonates it, filling the testing grounds with thick smoke and breaking the formation Han Xian had organized.
• Taking advantage of Han Xian’s dizziness and confusion, Xiao Yan approaches him under cover of the smoke and brutally defeats him in a one-sided beating.
• After the smoke clears, Han Xian is found unconscious. Xiao Yan calmly claims that Han Xian suffered an alchemical backlash.
• The supervising elder understands what really happened but chooses not to interfere, recognizing that Han Xian had plotted against Xiao Yan and wishing to avoid conflict between their powerful backers.
• Xiao Yan threatens the two participants whose cauldrons had exploded earlier, warning that they may suffer the same fate as Han Xian. Intimidated, they withdraw, while several others also quit out of fear.
• Xiao Yan is left as the only serious participant. The remaining competitors become so nervous that they make mistakes and fail to refine their pills.
• Xiao Yan successfully completes the test and is the only student from the Alchemy Department to pass.
• Afterward, spectators misunderstand the situation, and enthusiastic commentary makes Xiao Yan the center of attention, forcing him to spend considerable time escaping the crowd.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Demonstrates strong foresight, clever preparation, combat experience, and psychological control. Rather than being caught off guard, he turns Han Xian’s scheme against him and uses intimidation to eliminate the remaining threats.
• Han Xian: His arrogance and reliance on numbers and pills are exposed. Although he leads the attack, his unstable cultivation and lack of combat ability leave him helpless once Xiao Yan closes the distance.
• The supervising elder: Shows practical neutrality and political awareness. He recognizes Han Xian’s wrongdoing but deliberately avoids taking sides because both Han Xian and Xiao Yan have influential supporters.
• The other participants: Their willingness to follow Han Xian collapses once he is defeated. Fear overtakes their desire for the test’s rewards, causing them to withdraw or lose focus.
• The remaining competitors: Their intimidation becomes so severe that they cannot concentrate and fail the alchemy test.

Significant Themes

• Cunning versus brute force: Xiao Yan defeats a coordinated attack through planning and deception rather than relying solely on strength.
• Retribution and justice: Han Xian’s attempt to sabotage Xiao Yan is immediately returned upon him, matching the chapter’s title.
• Power and intimidation: Once Xiao Yan establishes his superiority, the others submit without requiring further violence.
• Political neutrality and self-preservation: The elder recognizes the truth but chooses silence to avoid becoming entangled in the conflict.
• Psychological warfare: Xiao Yan’s smoke, sudden attack, threats, and composed behavior destroy his opponents’ confidence as effectively as his physical strength does.

Character Interactions

• Han Xian and Xiao Yan: Han Xian attempts to interfere with Xiao Yan’s soul power, but Xiao Yan counters by detonating his cauldron and ambushing him. Their encounter ends with Xiao Yan decisively beating Han Xian unconscious.
• Xiao Yan and the elder: Xiao Yan offers a false explanation for Han Xian’s condition. The elder sees through it but tacitly accepts the explanation and removes Han Xian for treatment.
• Xiao Yan and the two other conspirators: Xiao Yan first advises them to withdraw, then openly threatens them when they resist. They retreat after realizing the elder will not protect them.
• Xiao Yan and the spectators: The spectators misinterpret the events and celebrate him as the sole successful participant, creating unwanted attention that Xiao Yan struggles to escape.

Chapter Summary: Battle Against Liu Qing

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan, Lin Xiuya, and Yan Hao arrive at the testing grounds for the academy’s practical combat examination. Qian Mo is absent because his test involves completing a mission.
• Vice Principal Hu Gan presides over the examination, impressing the students by displaying his golden Dou Qi Wings, a symbol of Dou King-level strength.
• Hu Gan explains that students will fight in one-on-one matches. Winners automatically pass, while losers may still pass if they demonstrate sufficient ability.
• Liu Qing is called as the first contestant. Expecting to fight Lin Xiuya, he is surprised when Hu Gan instead pairs him with Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan initially doubts his chances, reasoning that Liu Qing is comparable to Lin Xiuya and likely possesses a powerful trump-card technique. He then changes his strategy, deciding to attack aggressively and prevent Liu Qing from using his strongest move.
• The battle begins with both fighters immediately using Mystic Tier Dou Techniques. Rather than testing each other cautiously, they repeatedly collide their techniques head-on.
• Their rapid exchanges exhaust their Dou Qi and strain their bodies. After several clashes, they are forced to abandon Dou Techniques and fight through physical combat alone.
• Both fighters suffer severe bruising and bleeding, but neither gives in. Xiao Yan’s physical training allows him to keep pace, though Liu Qing’s greater age, size, and physical development eventually give him the advantage.
• Liu Qing knocks Xiao Yan down and acknowledges that Xiao Yan is exceptionally strong, admitting that Xiao Yan could defeat him after a few more years of growth.
• Despite appearing defeated, Xiao Yan confidently claims he can win immediately. Before Liu Qing can react, Xiao Yan uses a concealed attack to knock him unconscious.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Demonstrates determination, tactical adaptability, and a refusal to accept defeat. He begins the fight believing he is at a disadvantage but quickly develops an aggressive strategy. His extensive physical training and ability to use multiple Dou Techniques in succession reveal how much he has progressed. His final hidden attack shows that he had not yet exhausted every resource.
• Liu Qing: Initially underestimates Xiao Yan because he does not consider him worthy of using his spear or strongest technique. As the battle progresses, he abandons his contempt and recognizes Xiao Yan as a serious opponent. His final acknowledgment shows respect for Xiao Yan’s talent and potential.
• Lin Xiuya: Understands Xiao Yan’s capabilities better than most observers but remains doubtful that Xiao Yan can defeat Liu Qing. He recognizes the danger of their strategy and notices Xiao Yan’s unusually stubborn refusal to yield.
• Yan Hao: Acts as an interested observer, voicing the students’ surprise at Xiao Yan’s ability to match Liu Qing’s repeated Mystic Tier techniques.
• Hu Gan: Maintains control over the examination and appears to deliberately arrange a challenging matchup. His judgment allows performance, not merely victory, to determine whether a student passes.

Significant Themes

• Determination and refusal to surrender: Xiao Yan continues fighting despite exhaustion, injury, and apparent defeat.
• Hidden strength and strategic deception: Xiao Yan’s outward disadvantage conceals an unused final attack, emphasizing that appearances can be misleading.
• Growth and potential: Liu Qing recognizes that Xiao Yan’s greatest weakness is not lack of talent but lack of age and physical development. The battle establishes Xiao Yan as someone whose future strength may surpass current elite students.
• Respect earned through combat: Liu Qing’s attitude changes from disdain to genuine respect after Xiao Yan proves himself.
• Physical effort versus natural advantage: The fight contrasts Xiao Yan’s youth and intense training with Liu Qing’s greater size, age, and physical maturity.
• Testing beyond simple victory: Hu Gan’s rules reinforce that a fighter’s performance and displayed ability matter even if they lose.

Character Interactions

• Hu Gan’s unexpected pairing of Xiao Yan and Liu Qing surprises both fighters and the watching students.
• Liu Qing questions Xiao Yan’s lack of a weapon, while Xiao Yan challenges Liu Qing’s decision not to use his spear, creating an early tension between them.
• Lin Xiuya and Yan Hao analyze the battle from outside the arena, with Lin recognizing the physical cost of Xiao Yan and Liu Qing’s technique-heavy exchange.
• During the fight, Liu Qing’s contempt gradually becomes respect as Xiao Yan matches him blow for blow.
• After knocking Xiao Yan down, Liu Qing openly praises his strength. Xiao Yan responds with confidence and overturns Liu Qing’s apparent victory by unleashing his hidden attack.

Chapter Summary:

Library Pavilion

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan defeats Liu Qing in the end-of-term tournament. Although Xiao Yan collapses from exhaustion, Liu Qing loses consciousness first, so Hu Gan declares Xiao Yan the winner.
• Hu Gan reveals that Xiao Yan won by using his soul power. As a second-tier alchemist, Xiao Yan’s spiritual attack was strong enough to knock out the already weakened Liu Qing.
• Lin Xiuya and Yan Hao recognize that the victory was legitimate. They acknowledge that Xiao Yan’s tactics forced Liu Qing into a position where the soul attack could be decisive.
• After recovering from his injuries, Xiao Yan remains at Canaan Academy during the vacation because he is reluctant to interrupt his cultivation routine.
• Hu Gan summons Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan discovers that the academy’s Grand Elder, Su Qian, requested the meeting.
• Su Qian informs Xiao Yan that his excellent performance in both cultivation and alchemy has earned him access to the academy’s Library Pavilion, which contains powerful Earth Tier cultivation methods and Dou Skills.
• Su Qian transports Xiao Yan to a secluded valley using extraordinary spatial power. There, Xiao Yan meets the Hundred Elder and Thousand Elder, two ancient guardians of the pavilion.
• The elders examine Xiao Yan instantly and determine that he is a twelve-year-old Peak Three-Star Dou Master with unusually strong soul power and the potential to refine third-tier pills.
• After confirming that Xiao Yan qualifies to enter, the two elders use seals to remove the pavilion’s spatial restrictions, opening the way into the Library Pavilion.

2. Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Demonstrates courage, combat intelligence, and versatility by combining Dou Qi with alchemist soul power. His victory earns him recognition from the academy’s elders. He also becomes more aware of the enormous gap between his strength and that of true experts such as Su Qian and the pavilion guardians.
• Liu Qing: Despite his toughness and reputation, he is defeated after Xiao Yan exploits the opening created during their brutal battle. His collapse emphasizes both Xiao Yan’s strategic ability and the unpredictable nature of combat.
• Hu Gan: Shows pride in Xiao Yan’s courage and fighting spirit. He also protects Xiao Yan from rumors by explaining the true reason for Liu Qing’s defeat.
• Lin Xiuya and Yan Hao: Gain a deeper appreciation of Xiao Yan’s abilities. Their discussion shows that they respect his victory rather than viewing it as a trick.
• Su Qian: Appears powerful, dignified, and fair-minded. He personally supports Xiao Yan’s admission to the Library Pavilion and treats him as a promising junior rather than showing favoritism.
• Hundred Elder and Thousand Elder: Are established as highly perceptive and powerful guardians. Their initial skepticism gives way to approval after they assess Xiao Yan’s talent.

3. Significant Themes

• Courage and fighting spirit: Hu Gan emphasizes that the willingness to fight boldly is more valuable than talent alone.
• Strategy over brute strength: Xiao Yan defeats the stronger Liu Qing by creating the right conditions and using his alchemist soul power at a decisive moment.
• Recognition earned through ability: Xiao Yan’s poor background does not prevent him from receiving elite opportunities; his accomplishments convince the academy elders that he deserves them.
• The vast hierarchy of power: Xiao Yan is impressed and intimidated by how easily the elders perceive his abilities and manipulate space, reminding him that he still has much to learn.
• Reward and ambition: Xiao Yan’s immediate concern about receiving his promised reward highlights his practical nature, while his excitement over the Library Pavilion reveals his intense desire to grow stronger.

4. Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Hu Gan: Xiao Yan nervously asks about his reward even while being carried away for treatment, prompting Hu Gan to respond with both amusement and irritation. Hu Gan later publicly clarifies the cause of Liu Qing’s defeat.
• Lin Xiuya and Yan Hao: They discuss whether Liu Qing was simply unlucky, ultimately agreeing that Xiao Yan’s victory was earned. Yan Hao humorously imagines how badly Lin Xiuya’s elegant image would suffer if he had been beaten like Liu Qing.
• Xiao Yan and Su Qian: Su Qian explains Xiao Yan’s reward and personally leads him to the Library Pavilion. Xiao Yan responds with respect and growing awe at Su Qian’s strength.
• Su Qian and the pavilion elders: Su Qian respectfully requests permission for Xiao Yan to enter. Hundred Elder initially questions whether Xiao Yan is receiving special treatment, but Su Qian explains his qualifications and the elders approve him.
• Xiao Yan and the guardians: Though the elders barely interact with him directly, their instantaneous evaluation of his cultivation and soul power leaves Xiao Yan startled and humbled.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Su Qian permits Xiao Yan to enter the Library Pavilion, warning him that he may choose only one treasure and could potentially leave empty-handed.
• Outside, Su Qian reveals his true purpose for visiting the Thousand and Hundred Elders: he wants them to temporarily leave seclusion and help oversee Canaan Academy.
• Su Qian explains that Xiao Yan’s exceptional alchemy talent cannot be properly nurtured by the academy and that he hopes to send him to the Pill Tower in the Central Plains to find a suitable teacher.
• The Elders initially resist, arguing that they cannot both leave the academy unguarded and questioning whether Xiao Yan can truly gain entry to the Pill Tower.
• Su Qian admits that his deeper goal is to have them monitor the dangerous spiritual being sealed within the Inner Academy. The Elders reluctantly agree to help.
• Inside the Library Pavilion, Xiao Yan discovers that treasures are stored in protective light spheres. The stronger the treasure, the more difficult it is to break its barrier.
• He first obtains a sixth-grade pill formula, but considers it of limited immediate use because his current alchemy ability is only around the third grade.
• Near the end of his allotted time, Xiao Yan discovers the far more valuable Earth Tier Dou Technique, Nether Dragon Prison-Suppressing Song.
• He releases the pill formula and struggles desperately to break the technique’s purple barrier. Just as the pavilion begins rejecting him, he succeeds and is expelled from the building with the technique in hand.

Character developments

• Xiao Yan demonstrates good judgment by valuing the sixth-grade pill formula, yet remains ambitious enough to gamble it for a technique better suited to his present needs.
• His usual calmness gives way to desperation as time runs out, revealing how strongly he desires the Earth Tier Dou Technique.
• Su Qian shows strategic leadership and concern for Xiao Yan’s future. He uses the opportunity to persuade the two Elders to resume their responsibilities without directly revealing that this was his main objective at first.
• Thousand Elder and Hundred Elder remain cautious and duty-bound, prioritizing the academy’s safety, but eventually agree to Su Qian’s plan.
• The Elders’ references to the Headmaster show their continued loyalty to the academy’s orders and rules.

Significant themes

• Opportunity and risk: Xiao Yan must sacrifice a valuable, immediately obtainable treasure for the chance to gain something far more powerful.
• Talent requiring proper guidance: Su Qian recognizes that Xiao Yan’s potential exceeds what Canaan Academy can provide and seeks stronger instruction for him.
• Duty versus personal wishes: The Elders’ reluctance reflects the burden of guarding the academy and the dangerous being within it.
• The value of patience and persistence: Xiao Yan succeeds only because he refuses to abandon the Nether Dragon Prison-Suppressing Song despite the immense resistance and limited time.
• Power and responsibility: The discussion of the sealed spiritual being emphasizes the academy’s policy of controlling and preserving powerful natural entities rather than destroying them.

Character interactions

• Su Qian encourages Xiao Yan before sending him into the pavilion, while warning him not to be greedy.
• Su Qian, Thousand Elder, and Hundred Elder debate Xiao Yan’s future, the possibility of sending him to the Pill Tower, and the need to protect Canaan Academy.
• The Elders challenge Su Qian’s proposal, but he redirects the conversation and persuades them to take responsibility for academy affairs.
• Xiao Yan’s interaction with the Library Pavilion is a struggle between his will and the protective barrier surrounding the desired technique, ending in his successful acquisition of the treasure.

Chapter Summary: A Journey Far Afield Once More?

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan is expelled from the Library Pavilion after barely obtaining a treasure at the last moment. Su Qian initially worries that he failed to choose anything, but Xiao Yan reveals that he acquired the Mid-Earth Tier Dou Technique, Nether Dragon Prison-Suppressing Song.
• Su Qian and the ancient stone elders, Thousand Elder and Hundred Elder, react with surprise because countless students have attempted to obtain the technique but failed. The technique apparently chooses its own qualified master.
• Thousand Elder gives Xiao Yan additional scrolls containing guidance and methods for cultivating techniques related to the dragon-based art.
• Hundred Elder questions Xiao Yan about how easily he broke the protective barriers around earlier treasures. Xiao Yan honestly explains that he obtained a sixth-grade medicinal pill formula with little difficulty, leaving the elders stunned.
• Back in the Spirit Pill Pavilion, Xiao Yan examines the Nether Dragon Prison-Suppressing Song. It is a powerful soundwave technique modeled after a dragon’s roar, capable of attacking both the body and soul, potentially shattering meridians and destroying an opponent’s spirit.
• Xiao Yan reflects on a conversation with Su Qian, who invites him to travel to the Central Plains and Central Domain. Su Qian explains that the Northwestern Continent is far weaker: a Dou Sect is rare and powerful there, while the Central Plains contains many such experts and far more advanced alchemists.
• Su Qian warns that remaining in the northwest may limit Xiao Yan’s future, whereas the Central Plains offers the chance to become a genuinely powerful expert. Xiao Yan immediately accepts the journey.
• Xiao Yan is given two days to settle his affairs before departing. Before leaving, he deeply bows to Su Qian and vows to repay the academy’s kindness.
• After Xiao Yan leaves, Su Qian nostalgically recalls the Central Plains and hints that he may want Xiao Yan as a personal disciple.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan demonstrates remarkable talent and courage. He successfully obtains a rare technique that defeated countless previous candidates and casually acquires a sixth-grade pill formula. Rather than being intimidated by the Central Plains’ dangers, he eagerly accepts the opportunity to broaden his horizons.
• Su Qian becomes more openly supportive of Xiao Yan’s future. He recognizes that Xiao Yan’s potential exceeds what Canaan Academy and the Northwestern Continent can offer and acts as a mentor guiding him toward greater challenges.
• Thousand Elder shows respect for Xiao Yan’s talent by personally giving him supplementary cultivation materials. His reaction confirms that Xiao Yan is viewed as an exceptional student.
• Hundred Elder remains abrasive and difficult to read, but his silence after learning of Xiao Yan’s effortless achievement suggests that he is impressed despite his hostile manner.
• Su Qian’s final remark reveals a growing personal interest in Xiao Yan, possibly indicating his intention to formally accept him as a disciple.

Significant Themes

• Talent recognized by destiny: The Library Pavilion’s treasures choose their owners, suggesting that Xiao Yan’s success reflects both ability and a special compatibility with the Nether Dragon technique.
• The limits of one’s environment: The chapter contrasts the Northwestern Continent with the Central Plains, emphasizing that remaining in a comfortable region can restrict growth.
• Ambition versus complacency: Xiao Yan chooses uncertainty and danger over becoming a dominant but limited figure in his homeland.
• Mentorship and gratitude: Su Qian and the elders support Xiao Yan’s development, while Xiao Yan acknowledges the academy’s role in shaping him and promises to repay its kindness.
• The widening world: The Central Plains is presented as a new stage filled with stronger experts, superior alchemists, and greater opportunities.

Character Interactions

• Su Qian initially questions Xiao Yan’s delay but quickly becomes pleased when he learns what Xiao Yan obtained.
• Thousand Elder encourages Xiao Yan to cultivate the technique properly and rewards him with additional guidance.
• Hundred Elder challenges Xiao Yan’s claims, creating an awkward but revealing exchange that highlights Xiao Yan’s extraordinary abilities.
• Su Qian privately persuades Xiao Yan to leave the Northwestern Continent by explaining the vast gap between regional and Central Plains experts.
• Xiao Yan’s farewell to Su Qian emphasizes their deepening mentor-student bond, while Su Qian’s final words suggest that their relationship may soon become even closer.

Chapter Summary: “Xun’er’s Decision”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan, preparing to leave for the Central Plains, visits Instructor Ruo Lin before departing.
• He asks Ruo Lin to deliver a storage ring to his father in Wutan City. The ring contains a letter and a large supply of healing pills, most of them first-tier pills that Xiao Yan refined himself.
• Ruo Lin is shocked to discover both the quantity of pills and Xiao Yan’s progress as an alchemist. She had not realized that he had been studying alchemy under the Grand Elder.
• Xiao Yan then visits Xun’er, feeling guilty because his sudden departure may seem like another abandonment after she traveled to Canaan Academy largely because of him.
• He explains that he has decided to go to the Central Plains. Rather than becoming upset, Xun’er reacts with surprise and calmly accepts his decision.
• Xun’er reveals that she can accompany Xiao Yan. She intends to return to the Central Plains and visit her clan, making Xiao Yan both shocked and delighted.
• After Xiao Yan leaves, Xun’er summons Ling Lao, the mysterious Dou Emperor who once saved Xiao Yan and others in the Black-Corner Region.
• She orders Ling Lao to inform her clan that she will return to the Central Plains. She also plans to loosen some of her restrictions so that she will not fall too far behind Xiao Yan in strength.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Demonstrates increased maturity and responsibility. He makes arrangements to support the Xiao Clan through the pills he personally refined, while also confronting his guilt about leaving Xun’er. His growing strength and alchemical ability become clear.
• Instructor Ruo Lin: Remains affectionate toward Xiao Yan but is stunned by how much he has progressed. Her pride in recruiting him is reinforced, though she is embarrassed that she knew so little about his accomplishments.
• Xun’er: Reveals greater composure and hidden authority. Although she initially reacts with genuine surprise to the news of the Central Plains, she quickly decides to accompany Xiao Yan. Her calm response masks deeper plans involving her clan and her own power.
• Ling Lao: His respectful submission to Xun’er confirms her extraordinary status and background. Despite being a powerful Dou Emperor, he treats her as his superior and obeys her without question.

Significant Themes

• Separation and reunion: Xiao Yan’s departure raises the possibility of another separation from Xun’er, but her decision to accompany him turns departure into a shared journey.
• Growth and changing identities: Xiao Yan is no longer merely a student; he has become a capable alchemist and an increasingly powerful cultivator. Xun’er likewise begins moving beyond the restrained identity she has maintained at the academy.
• Family duty: Xiao Yan sends valuable medicine to aid the Xiao Clan, while Xun’er prepares to return to her own clan and confront or reconnect with her origins.
• Hidden power and status: Xun’er’s secret influence is emphasized through Ling Lao’s appearance and obedience, suggesting that her true identity and abilities are far greater than Xiao Yan realizes.
• Mutual support: Despite Xiao Yan’s fear that she may resent him, Xun’er supports his ambitions and chooses to remain by his side.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Ruo Lin: Their reunion is warm and teasing. Ruo Lin scolds him affectionately for not visiting, then becomes astonished by the alchemy supplies he entrusts to her.
• Xiao Yan and Xun’er: Xiao Yan honestly explains his plans and worries about hurting her. Xun’er reassures him, accepts his decision, and surprises him by promising to travel with him.
• Xun’er and Ling Lao: Their exchange exposes Xun’er’s hidden authority. She commands him to notify her clan, while he responds with complete deference.

Chapter Summary: “Central Plains Situation”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan prepares to leave Canaan Academy for the Central Plains and the Pill Tower. Because of the sudden departure, he only says farewell to a few close acquaintances and senior figures.
• Su Qian, Hu Gan, Fire Elder, and Xun’er accompany him to the departure point. Xun’er’s decision to join the journey is accepted without surprise.
• Lin Xiuya and the others hold a farewell meal for Xiao Yan, while Lu Mu reacts dramatically and begs him not to leave. Wu Hao offers his good wishes, and Hu Jia is forcibly confined by Hu Gan after trying to follow Xiao Yan.
• Fire Elder gives Xiao Yan advice about studying alchemy diligently at the Pill Tower. Xiao Yan respectfully promises to remember his guidance and remain connected to Canaan Academy.
• Xiao Yan and Xun’er depart on a Griffin Beast with Su Qian as their guide. The journey to the Central Domain is expected to take about three months.
• During the journey, Xun’er explains the major power structure of the Central Plains, introducing the famous hierarchy: “one hall, one tower, two sects, three valleys, and four pavilions.”
• She describes the Four Directions Pavilion as influential but relatively weak, the two sects and three valleys as powerful organizations connected to Dou Saints, and the Pill Tower as the central holy land of alchemists.
• Xun’er then explains the threat of the Soul Hall, an evil organization that captures powerful souls, especially those belonging to alchemists and fallen experts. The Soul Hall is the mortal enemy of the Pill Tower and is opposed by nearly every major faction.
• Although Xiao Yan learns that the Soul Hall’s endurance may be connected to conflicts at a higher level, Xun’er refuses to elaborate.
• During the trip, Xiao Yan spends considerable time with Xun’er and successfully begins cultivating the Earth Tier Dou Technique, the Nether Dragon Prison-Suppressing Song, with Su Qian’s assistance.

2. Character Developments

• Xiao Yan shows maturity and gratitude as he respectfully bids farewell to his mentors and friends. He accepts his new responsibilities and becomes increasingly eager to understand the Central Plains and its powerful organizations.
• He also demonstrates rapid progress by mastering the Nether Dragon Prison-Suppressing Song under Su Qian’s guidance.
• Xun’er becomes Xiao Yan’s companion and guide. She reveals extensive knowledge of the Central Plains’ power structure, though her reactions to the Soul Hall and the “higher level” of conflict suggest that she knows more than she is willing to disclose.
• Su Qian acts as both escort and mentor. He remains amused by Xiao Yan’s ignorance of the Central Plains but intends to correct Xun’er’s oversimplified explanations later.
• Fire Elder displays genuine affection and concern for Xiao Yan, offering him final instruction before departure.
• Hu Gan takes a strict but protective attitude toward Hu Jia, preventing her from impulsively following Xiao Yan.
• Hu Jia, Lu Mu, and Xiao Yan’s other acquaintances reveal how strongly Xiao Yan’s departure affects those who have become attached to him.

3. Significant Themes

• Farewell and emotional bonds: Xiao Yan’s departure emphasizes the relationships he has formed at Canaan Academy and the academy’s role as a lasting home.
• Growth and transition: Leaving the academy marks Xiao Yan’s movement from a familiar environment into the far more dangerous and powerful Central Plains.
• The scale of the world: Xun’er’s explanation reveals that Xiao Yan has only begun to understand the continent’s true hierarchy and the existence of forces far beyond his previous experience.
• Knowledge and hidden identities: Xun’er’s guarded responses and Su Qian’s awareness of her background suggest that important truths about the Central Plains—and Xun’er herself—remain concealed.
• The conflict between good and evil: The Soul Hall’s predatory pursuit of souls establishes a major overarching threat and positions Xiao Yan, as a future powerful alchemist, as a potential target.
• Mentorship and preparation: Fire Elder’s advice and Su Qian’s technical guidance show Xiao Yan receiving both emotional support and practical training for the challenges ahead.

4. Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan respectfully accepts Fire Elder’s final advice and reassures him that he will not forget his teachings.
• Hu Gan and Xiao Yan discuss Hu Jia’s reaction, with Hu Gan explaining that he has confined her to stop her from joining the journey.
• Xun’er spends much of the journey talking privately with Xiao Yan, explaining the Central Plains and warning him about the Soul Hall.
• Su Qian listens to Xun’er’s account and silently recognizes that she is understating the strength of the major factions. He plans to give Xiao Yan a fuller explanation later.
• Xiao Yan and Xun’er grow closer through their prolonged time together, spending more time with each other during the journey than they had in the Xiao Clan.
• Su Qian supports Xiao Yan’s cultivation of the Nether Dragon Prison-Suppressing Song, allowing him to master the powerful technique far faster than expected.

Arrival at Ye City — Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Qian leads Xiao Yan and Xun’er to Horizon City, where Xiao Yan sees a massive spatial wormhole for the first time. Su Qian explains that such wormholes are built by Dou Venerables and maintained by Dou Sects, demonstrating the Central Plains’ advanced power and prosperity.
• Their journey continues through a combination of spatial wormholes and magical beasts. They eventually arrive at Ye City rather than the Pill Region itself.
• Su Qian reveals that Ye City is controlled by the Ye Clan, one of the Pill Tower’s Five Great Clans. He intends to seek help from an old friend within the clan, a Seventh-Grade Alchemist who may assist Xiao Yan.
• At the Ye Clan manor, Su Qian reunites enthusiastically with Ye Zhong. Their teasing, insults, and shared memories reveal a long-standing and sincere friendship.
• Su Qian and Ye Zhong decide to postpone business discussions and spend the evening drinking. Xiao Yan and Xun’er are given accommodations and leave the elders to reminisce.
• While walking together, Xiao Yan and Xun’er discuss her planned return to her family. Xun’er admits that she has not yet revealed the full truth about her origins and background, but promises that she will tell him someday.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: His awe at the spatial wormhole emphasizes how unfamiliar he still is with the Central Plains’ scale and power. He remains impatient to advance and reach the Pill Region, even straining his voice while practicing an Earth Tier sonic Dou Technique. Meeting the possibility of a Seventh-Grade Alchemist makes him nervous, but Xun’er’s encouragement restores his confidence.
• Xun’er: She continues to support and reassure Xiao Yan, showing both affection and emotional sensitivity. Her hesitation when discussing her family reveals anxiety about the secrets surrounding her identity, though she reaffirms her trust and promises eventual honesty.
• Su Qian: His extensive connections become clear when he brings Xiao Yan to the Ye Clan. His lively reunion with Ye Zhong also reveals a warmer, more youthful side beneath his stern elderly persona.
• Ye Zhong: He is introduced as Su Qian’s old friend and a powerful Seventh-Grade Alchemist with considerable status in the Ye Clan. His playful rivalry with Su Qian suggests a deep bond formed over many years.

Significant Themes

• The grandeur and power of the Central Plains: The spatial wormhole and Ye Clan’s influence show Xiao Yan that the Central Plains is far more advanced and powerful than the places he has previously known.
• Friendship across time: Su Qian and Ye Zhong’s reunion emphasizes that enduring friendships can survive decades of separation and remain full of warmth and familiarity.
• Trust and concealed identities: Xun’er’s hidden origins create emotional tension, but Xiao Yan makes clear that his loyalty depends on her character rather than her background.
• Encouragement and ambition: Xun’er and Su Qian both encourage Xiao Yan to believe in his future, reinforcing his determination to reach greater heights in both cultivation and alchemy.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Qian humorously scolds Xiao Yan for his impatience and damaged voice, showing their mentor-student familiarity.
• Xun’er comforts Xiao Yan when he becomes intimidated by the prospect of meeting a Seventh-Grade Alchemist.
• Su Qian and Ye Zhong exchange insults and jokes while clearly expressing genuine affection and respect.
• Xiao Yan reassures Xun’er that he will not blame her for concealing her origins as long as she does not intend to harm him.
• Xun’er promises that she will eventually reveal the truth about her past, strengthening the mutual trust between them.

Chapter Summary: “Surprise”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After arriving in the Central Domain, Xiao Yan becomes increasingly excited by the region’s abundant heaven-and-earth energy, which greatly accelerates his cultivation.
• Su Qian brings Xiao Yan and Xun’er to meet Ye Zhong, the First Elder of the Ye Clan and a Seventh-Grade Alchemist.
• Before discussing Xiao Yan, Ye Zhong confides in Su Qian about the Ye Clan’s crisis. The clan must rank among the top three in an assessment ten years later or lose its seat among the Pill Tower’s elders.
• The assessment depends heavily on the younger generation, but the Ye Clan lacks talented successors. Its only promising junior may not be capable of becoming a Seventh-Grade Alchemist within the decade.
• Su Qian introduces Xiao Yan as a potential solution and asks Ye Zhong to help him enter the Pill Tower.
• Ye Zhong examines Xiao Yan and is astonished to discover that he is only twelve years old, already a Five-Star Dou Master, and possesses the soul strength of at least a Third-Grade Alchemist.
• Xiao Yan clarifies that he is currently only a Second-Grade Alchemist, but Su Qian reveals that he has studied alchemy for just over a year and was raised in the comparatively impoverished Northwestern Continent.
• Realizing Xiao Yan’s extraordinary talent despite his limited resources and training, Ye Zhong declares that he may possess the potential to become an Alchemical Grandmaster.
• Ye Zhong agrees to help Xiao Yan enter the Pill Tower, but before explaining the process, he unexpectedly asks whether Xiao Yan is interested in arranging a marriage.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: His confidence and ambition grow as he experiences the Central Domain’s superior cultivation environment. His exceptional talent is publicly recognized, strengthening his hope of entering the Pill Tower and advancing his alchemy.
• Ye Zhong: Initially burdened and pessimistic about his clan’s future, he becomes enthusiastic and hopeful after discovering Xiao Yan’s abilities. He quickly views Xiao Yan as an invaluable prospect for the Ye Clan.
• Su Qian: Acts as Xiao Yan’s advocate and deliberately emphasizes his student’s accomplishments and humble origins. He takes pride in shocking Ye Zhong with Xiao Yan’s talent.
• Xun’er: Remains alongside Xiao Yan during the meeting, though she does not play an active role in the conversation.
• The Ye Clan: Its declining influence and shortage of young talent are established as a major concern, making Xiao Yan’s arrival potentially significant to its survival.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus environment: Xiao Yan’s achievements are remarkable because he developed them without the advantages available in the Central Domain.
• The pressure of succession: The Ye Clan’s fate depends on whether its younger generation can meet the Pill Tower’s demanding standards.
• Recognition and opportunity: Xiao Yan’s talent earns him access to institutions and possibilities that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.
• Political and familial alliances: Entry into the Pill Tower—and possibly a marriage arrangement—appears connected not only to ability but also to clan interests and strategic relationships.
• Humility masking extraordinary ability: Xiao Yan presents himself modestly, while others gradually realize how exceptional he truly is.

Character Interactions

• Su Qian and Ye Zhong interact as old friends, teasing and arguing like children despite their high status.
• Ye Zhong initially treats Xiao Yan as an ordinary junior but becomes increasingly astonished as he learns about Xiao Yan’s age, cultivation, alchemy, and background.
• Su Qian proudly promotes Xiao Yan’s accomplishments, contrasting his humble origins with the standards of the Central Domain.
• Ye Zhong and Su Qian reach an agreement for Xiao Yan to enter the Pill Tower, but Ye Zhong then shifts the conversation dramatically by proposing a possible arranged marriage.

Chapter Summary: “Marriage Contract”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Zhong abruptly proposes that Xiao Yan marry Xin Lan, shocking Xiao Yan and causing Su Qian to spit out his wine.
• Ye Zhong explains that the proposal is connected to the Ye Clan’s upcoming Pill Tower assessment. Since the assessment concerns the younger generation, Xiao Yan could participate as the Ye Clan’s son-in-law.
• Ye Zhong believes Xiao Yan’s extraordinary talent, combined with ten years of support from the Ye Clan, could allow him to pass the assessment and restore the clan’s position.
• Xin Lan, introduced as the Ye Clan’s most talented junior, is already a First-Grade Alchemist and a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner despite being around Xiao Yan’s age.
• Ye Zhong openly asks Xiao Yan to enter a marriage contract with Xin Lan, promising the Ye Clan’s backing.
• Xin Lan becomes distressed after realizing that the proposal is being made for the clan’s benefit rather than out of personal affection.
• Xiao Yan refuses to accept the arrangement, unwilling to enter a marriage merely for political or cultivation advantages.
• Xun’er intervenes and claims that Xiao Yan already has a prearranged marriage contract connected to an ancestral debt between the Xiao Clan and another family.
• Xiao Yan supports Xun’er’s explanation, using it as a respectful excuse to reject Ye Zhong’s proposal.
• Although Ye Zhong cannot openly challenge the supposed prior engagement, he is deeply frustrated because he sees Xiao Yan as the Ye Clan’s best chance to survive the Pill Tower assessment.

2. Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Demonstrates independence and loyalty to his own principles. Despite recognizing the advantages of Ye Clan support, he refuses to sacrifice his freedom or emotions for political gain. He also becomes increasingly impressed by Xun’er’s cleverness.
• Xun’er: Shows quick thinking and social skill by inventing a convincing prior marriage contract to protect Xiao Yan. Her intervention suggests both her concern for him and her ability to navigate complicated social situations.
• Ye Zhong: Reveals how desperate the declining Ye Clan has become. His sudden friendliness and marriage proposal show that he views Xiao Yan primarily as a potential savior for the clan, though he also tries to act within the bounds of social propriety.
• Xin Lan: Is introduced as talented but timid and obedient. Her immediate despondency reveals that she understands the pressure placed on her as a member of the Ye Clan and feels unable to resist its decisions.
• Su Qian: Acts as a concerned elder and observer. He recognizes the practical benefits of Xiao Yan joining the Ye Clan but allows Xiao Yan to decide for himself.

3. Significant Themes

• Personal choice versus family obligation: Xiao Yan rejects the idea that clan interests should determine his marriage, while Xin Lan feels compelled to submit to those same obligations.
• Marriage as a political alliance: Ye Zhong treats marriage as a strategic tool for securing talent and strengthening the Ye Clan’s chances in the Pill Tower assessment.
• The burden of clan survival: The declining Ye Clan’s desperation drives Ye Zhong’s actions and places pressure on Xin Lan.
• Talent and environment: Xin Lan’s achievements highlight the advantages of the Central Domain’s cultivation environment, while Xiao Yan reflects on how different his and Xun’er’s circumstances have been.
• Cleverness and diplomacy: Xun’er’s fabricated explanation demonstrates that intelligence and social tact can be as useful as strength in avoiding conflict.

4. Character Interactions

• Ye Zhong and Xiao Yan: Ye Zhong tries to persuade Xiao Yan with promises of support and future success, while Xiao Yan politely but firmly refuses.
• Ye Zhong and Xin Lan: Ye Zhong treats Xin Lan as both a treasured talent and a means of preserving the clan, revealing the tension between familial care and political calculation.
• Xiao Yan and Xun’er: Xun’er protects Xiao Yan from the unwanted proposal, and Xiao Yan silently praises her for producing an effective excuse.
• Su Qian and Ye Zhong: Su Qian questions the sudden marriage proposal and evaluates its potential benefits for Xiao Yan, while Ye Zhong explains the clan’s desperate plan.
• Xin Lan and Xiao Yan: Xin Lan observes Xiao Yan with curiosity, but their first meaningful interaction is overshadowed by the forced marriage proposal and her awareness of her limited freedom.

Chapter Summary: “Is That Really True?!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Zhong explains that the Ye Clan must place among the top three in the upcoming Pill Tower assessment or face severe consequences. He had considered arranging a marriage between Xin Lan and Xiao Yan so that Xiao Yan could represent the Ye Clan.
• Xun’er proposes a compromise: instead of a genuine marriage, the Ye Clan should treat the arrangement as a temporary contract. Xiao Yan can publicly pose as Xin Lan’s husband during the assessment, then leave afterward.
• Su Qian supports the idea, pointing out that the Pill Tower is unlikely to investigate whether Xiao Yan remains married after the assessment.
• Ye Zhong accepts the plan, promising to provide Xiao Yan with the resources and training needed to become a seventh-tier alchemist. Xiao Yan will study with the Ye Clan for six months before taking the Pill Tower’s disciple recruitment examination.
• After leaving the courtyard, Xin Lan awkwardly says goodbye and flees, embarrassed by the earlier marriage discussion.
• Xun’er playfully teases Xiao Yan about Xin Lan’s beauty. Xiao Yan reassures her that no one compares with her, causing her to blush and briefly become embarrassed.
• Xun’er then reminds Xiao Yan that he already has a real childhood marriage agreement—with Nalan Yanran. Xiao Yan recalls his father mentioning the engagement when he was very young.
• Shocked that the arrangement is genuine and publicly known, Xiao Yan declares that he will refuse the marriage when he returns home. He insists that he wants freedom and will not marry someone he does not love.
• Xun’er reacts with obvious delight and repeatedly questions him about the person he might actually want to marry, though Xiao Yan admits he does not know.

2. Character Developments

• Xun’er demonstrates quick thinking, social awareness, and strategic intelligence by finding a solution that protects both Xiao Yan and the Ye Clan. Her playful teasing also reveals her romantic interest and happiness at Xiao Yan’s rejection of an arranged marriage.
• Xiao Yan successfully avoids being tied to Xin Lan through a permanent marriage, but discovers that he already has an unwanted engagement with Nalan Yanran. His strong reaction emphasizes his desire for personal freedom and love rather than obligation.
• Ye Zhong shifts from worry and hesitation to relief and optimism. He accepts the temporary arrangement because preserving the Ye Clan matters more to him than maintaining perfect dignity.
• Xin Lan remains shy and embarrassed after the marriage discussion, highlighting her discomfort with being placed at the center of such an arrangement.
• Su Qian acts as a trusted mediator, reinforcing Xun’er’s plan and helping Ye Zhong see its practical value.

3. Significant Themes

• Duty versus personal freedom: The Ye Clan views marriage as a political and practical tool, while Xiao Yan rejects the idea of sacrificing his freedom to fulfill an arrangement made in childhood.
• Strategic compromise: Xun’er’s proposal shows how seemingly impossible conflicts can be resolved through appearances, contracts, and mutual benefit.
• Arranged marriage and romantic choice: Xiao Yan’s discovery of his engagement with Nalan Yanran raises the conflict between family expectations and choosing a partner based on love.
• Reputation versus survival: Ye Zhong is willing to risk the Ye Clan’s reputation if it allows the clan to survive its crisis.
• Playful romance: Xun’er’s teasing and happiness at Xiao Yan’s declaration suggest her growing emotional investment in him, while Xiao Yan remains largely unaware of her feelings.

4. Character Interactions

• Xun’er and Ye Zhong: Xun’er respectfully but confidently offers the solution that changes the entire negotiation.
• Su Qian and Ye Zhong: Their long friendship allows Su Qian to reassure Ye Zhong and encourage him to trust Xun’er.
• Ye Zhong and Xiao Yan: They reach an agreement in which Xiao Yan will represent the Ye Clan in exchange for training resources, without requiring him to marry Xin Lan.
• Xiao Yan and Xun’er: Their affectionate teasing reveals their closeness. Xiao Yan compliments Xun’er, while she later mischievously exposes his forgotten engagement and enthusiastically questions his romantic feelings.
• Xiao Yan and his father, indirectly: Xiao Yan’s childhood memory of his father arranging the engagement with Nalan Yanran becomes the source of his present frustration and determination to oppose the marriage.

Chapter Summary: “Aunt Xue”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Because of Ye Zhong’s influence within the Ye Clan, Xiao Yan’s request to study alchemy is approved almost immediately.
• He is brought to an advanced alchemy chamber, where he meets Xin Lan again. Their earlier near-betrothal creates an awkward atmosphere between them.
• Aunt Xue arrives and announces that she will supervise Xiao Yan’s alchemy training. Suspicious of his background and displeased by his apparent interest in Xin Lan, she warns that she will have him expelled if he fails to meet her standards.
• Xiao Yan refines a Second-Grade healing pill for evaluation. Aunt Xue harshly identifies more than twenty flaws in his technique, including his failure to use his soul power effectively and mistakes in handling medicinal ingredients.
• Though embarrassed and irritated, Xiao Yan accepts her criticism because he recognizes her exceptional alchemical skill. He estimates that she is at least a sixth-grade alchemy master.
• Xin Lan then demonstrates her own technique. Although her alchemy rank is lower, Xiao Yan notices several aspects of her methods that are worth learning.
• Aunt Xue has Xiao Yan refine another pill to prove how quickly he can correct his mistakes. After three hours of instruction, the lesson ends.
• In private, Aunt Xue admits to Xin Lan that her harshness toward Xiao Yan was partly motivated by his earlier statement about marrying Xin Lan. However, she acknowledges that Xiao Yan possesses remarkable comprehension and can immediately correct the errors she identifies.
• Xiao Yan encounters Xin Lan afterward and learns that he is expected to accompany her in studying medicinal ingredients. He realizes this arrangement was likely made by Ye Zhong to bring him closer to the Ye Clan—and possibly to Xin Lan.
• Xiao Yan becomes concerned that the next six months will involve constant interaction with Xin Lan, adding another complication to his effort to grow stronger.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Demonstrates confidence, composure, and humility when confronted by Aunt Xue. Rather than becoming angry at her criticism, he recognizes its validity and quickly improves, revealing unusually strong alchemical insight and adaptability.
• Xin Lan: Remains shy and easily embarrassed around Xiao Yan because of the marriage misunderstanding. She is obedient toward Aunt Xue but also becomes protective of Xiao Yan, defending his intentions and worrying that he might be expelled.
• Aunt Xue: Initially appears cold, severe, and openly hostile toward Xiao Yan. Her behavior is partly motivated by her protectiveness toward Xin Lan. Beneath her harsh exterior, she is perceptive and fair enough to acknowledge Xiao Yan’s genuine talent.
• Ye Zhong: Although absent from the chapter’s main events, his influence is evident in the speed with which Xiao Yan gains access to training and in the arrangements that place him alongside Xin Lan.

Significant Themes

• Humility and learning: Xiao Yan’s willingness to accept criticism allows him to benefit from Aunt Xue’s expertise despite his pride and irritation.
• Talent versus foundation: Xiao Yan’s technical foundation contains serious flaws, but his ability to understand and correct mistakes suggests exceptional potential.
• Protective affection: Aunt Xue’s hostility comes from her concern for Xin Lan, while Xin Lan’s defense of Xiao Yan hints at her growing emotional interest.
• Social and romantic pressure: Xiao Yan’s accidental involvement in a potential marriage arrangement complicates his stay in the Ye Clan and threatens to distract him from his pursuit of strength.
• Hidden motives behind arrangements: Xiao Yan suspects that Ye Zhong’s decision to pair him with Xin Lan is not merely for academic convenience but may be an attempt to draw him into the clan.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Xin Lan: Their exchanges are polite but awkward, with Xin Lan blushing and Xiao Yan struggling to navigate the implications of their supposed marriage connection.
• Xiao Yan and Aunt Xue: Aunt Xue tests and criticizes him harshly, while Xiao Yan responds with calm respect. Their relationship begins with hostility but develops a foundation of professional recognition.
• Aunt Xue and Xin Lan: Their affectionate, teasing relationship contrasts sharply with Aunt Xue’s treatment of Xiao Yan. Xin Lan acts spoiled around her aunt, while Aunt Xue teases her about already favoring Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan and Ye Zhong: Though they do not meet directly in the chapter, Ye Zhong’s influence shapes Xiao Yan’s training arrangements and forces him into closer contact with Xin Lan.

Chapter Summary: “Farewell”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan spends his first day studying the Ye Clan’s extensive collection of alchemy manuals and becomes deeply impressed by the resources of Canaan Academy’s Alchemy Department and the grandeur of the Pill Tower.
• Late that night, Xun’er visits him under the pretense of checking on his studies. During their conversation, she reveals that she will soon return to her clan for approximately half a year.
• Xiao Yan correctly deduces that the mysterious black-robed Dou Emperor who once protected him was Ling Lao, one of Xun’er’s hidden protectors. Xun’er is surprised that he uncovered the truth.
• Xun’er admits that she secretly arranged for Ling Lao to follow and protect Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan does not blame her and instead wishes to thank Ling Lao personally.
• Their impending separation creates an emotionally charged atmosphere. They briefly hold hands, but both become embarrassed by the unusual intimacy, and Xun’er hurriedly leaves.
• Before departing, Xun’er gives Xiao Yan a cryptic warning: he should avoid drawing attention to the surname “Xiao” and should not mention the Xiao Clan too openly in the Central Plains.
• Xiao Yan is unable to understand the reason for the warning but recognizes that Xun’er is concealing something connected to her background and the Xiao Clan.
• The next morning, Xiao Yan discovers that Xun’er has already left. Though saddened, he resolves to cultivate and become stronger so that he can eventually understand her fully and reunite with her as an equal.
• One month later, Su Qian departs from the Ye Clan and returns to Canaan Academy. He jokes with Xiao Yan about not trying to make him stay, then leaves him with the hope that Xiao Yan will surprise him the next time they meet.
• Xiao Yan becomes visibly emotional after Su Qian’s departure, though he denies crying and blames the wind and sand.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Shows increasing emotional attachment to Xun’er and begins to recognize that his feelings for her may be deeper than ordinary childhood affection. He also demonstrates greater deductive ability by identifying Ling Lao’s connection to Xun’er. Despite his sadness, he recommits himself to cultivation and strength.
• Xun’er: Reveals more of her protective and secretive nature. She has quietly arranged for Ling Lao to guard Xiao Yan and is clearly troubled by the secrets surrounding her identity and the Xiao Clan. Her emotional reaction to separating from Xiao Yan suggests that her feelings for him are deepening.
• Su Qian: Continues to act as a teasing but caring elder toward Xiao Yan. His departure emphasizes the end of Xiao Yan’s period of protection and guidance under the Canaan Academy elders.
• Ye Zhong: Remains a steady caretaker for Xiao Yan within the Ye Clan and notices Xiao Yan’s concealed grief after Su Qian leaves.

Significant Themes

• Farewell and separation: Both Xun’er’s departure and Su Qian’s return mark important emotional separations in Xiao Yan’s life.
• Hidden identities and secrets: Xun’er’s mysterious origins, Ling Lao’s protection, and the warning about the Xiao surname suggest that Xiao Yan’s family background is tied to larger dangers and political complexities.
• Growing affection: The awkward hand-holding and emotional tension indicate Xiao Yan and Xun’er’s relationship developing beyond childhood companionship.
• Strength as preparation: Xiao Yan views cultivation as the means to overcome helplessness, protect those important to him, and eventually uncover the truth.
• Emotional restraint: Xiao Yan and Xun’er both conceal their feelings, while Xiao Yan also tries to hide his sadness after Su Qian’s departure.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Xun’er: Their nighttime conversation combines affection, trust, secrecy, and impending separation. Xun’er reassures him about her return while withholding the truth about her background.
• Xiao Yan and Ling Lao: Although Ling Lao does not appear directly, Xiao Yan acknowledges his past protection and expresses gratitude toward him.
• Xiao Yan and Su Qian: Their farewell is affectionate and humorous, reflecting the bond between a respected elder and his student.
• Xiao Yan and Ye Zhong: Ye Zhong quietly observes Xiao Yan’s emotions and gently brings him back after Su Qian departs.

Chapter Summary: Arrival at Saint Pill City

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan completes six months of intensive study under Aunt Xue and reaches the peak of the Dou Master stage, advancing at an exceptional rate of nearly one star per month.
• On the final day of his training, Aunt Xue affectionately teases and fusses over him, treating him like a son or nephew despite his embarrassment.
• Xiao Yan formally thanks Aunt Xue for her instruction and promises to help the Ye Clan survive its major test ten years later. He also vows to repay her personally if she ever needs him.
• Aunt Xue jokingly suggests that Xiao Yan marry Xin Lan so they can become family, embarrassing Xin Lan and leaving Xiao Yan awkwardly silent.
• Xiao Yan prepares to leave for the Pill Tower disciple examination. Xin Lan reveals that she will also take the test, despite believing she has almost no chance of passing.
• Xiao Yan encourages Xin Lan, but is surprised to learn that even though she is a talented teenage Second-Grade Alchemist, she considers herself far below the Pill Tower’s standard.
• The following day, Xiao Yan, Xin Lan, Grand Elder Ye Zhong, and another Ye Clan elder depart for Saint Pill City. They travel through a spatial wormhole and arrive after roughly seven or eight days.
• Saint Pill City is introduced as the sacred center of alchemy on the Dou Qi Continent. Its vast Outer Domain is crowded with alchemists, while the city also contains a more exclusive Inner Domain.
• Ye Zhong plans to show Xiao Yan and Xin Lan around the city before the examination begins.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Reaches the peak of the Dou Master stage, demonstrating extraordinary cultivation talent and discipline. His confidence remains steady rather than arrogant, and he shows gratitude, loyalty, and a strong sense of responsibility toward Aunt Xue and the Ye Clan.
• Aunt Xue: Her relationship with Xiao Yan has changed from teacher and student to something strongly resembling a mother and son. Her affection is sincere but excessive, expressed through teasing, physical affection, and matchmaking.
• Xin Lan: Remains shy and self-conscious, especially around Xiao Yan, but takes a meaningful step forward by choosing to participate in the examination despite expecting failure. Her willingness to face humiliation shows determination beneath her insecurity.
• Ye Zhong: His concern for Xiao Yan’s success reveals how important Xiao Yan has become to the Ye Clan’s future. He views Xiao Yan as their best hope of preserving their position among the Five Great Clans.
• The Ye Clan: Its decline is emphasized. The clan rarely visits Saint Pill City because of its weakened status and would likely have avoided the examination without Xiao Yan’s support.

Significant Themes

• Mentorship and familial bonds: Aunt Xue’s transformation into a maternal figure highlights how teacher-student relationships can develop into genuine family-like affection.
• Responsibility and repayment: Xiao Yan believes that kindness creates obligations. He separates his promise to help the Ye Clan from his personal desire to repay Aunt Xue.
• Confidence versus insecurity: Xiao Yan trusts his preparation and abilities, while Xin Lan’s talent is undermined by her lack of confidence and awareness of the Pill Tower’s difficult standards.
• Decline and hope: The Ye Clan’s weakened position contrasts with the hope represented by Xiao Yan’s talent and determination.
• The scale of the wider world: Saint Pill City’s enormous population of alchemists introduces a much higher level of competition and establishes the Pill Tower as a formidable center of power.

Character Interactions

• Aunt Xue repeatedly teases Xiao Yan about Xin Lan and physically fusses over him, while Xin Lan tries to defend him and becomes embarrassed by the marriage suggestion.
• Xiao Yan and Xin Lan share a quiet conversation in which she admits her lack of confidence. He responds with encouragement, showing his concern for her growth.
• Xiao Yan and Ye Zhong exchange familiar remarks during the journey. Ye Zhong jokes about whether an alchemist needs protection, though his decision to escort Xiao Yan reflects deep concern.
• Upon arriving in Saint Pill City, Ye Zhong shifts into a guide and mentor role, promising to introduce the younger pair to the city before the decisive examination.