Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Cao Ying”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Zhong abandons his promise to show Xiao Yan and Xin Lan around, leaving them at an inn. Xiao Yan resumes cultivating, while Xin Lan hesitates outside his room, unable to gather the courage to speak with him.
• On the day of the Pill Tower’s official assessment, Ye Zhong takes them to the branch tower. The public preliminary test requires applicants to be under fifteen and at least Second-Grade Alchemists, resulting in a massive line.
• Because the Ye Clan is one of the Five Great Families, Ye Zhong uses their special status to bypass the preliminary examination and brings Xiao Yan and Xin Lan through a private entrance.
• Inside the assessment hall, Ye Zhong clashes with an elderly woman from the Bai Family. Their exchange reveals the long-standing hostility between the Bai and Ye Clans. The Bai elder threatens that the Ye Clan will lose its elders’ seats if it fails to rank among the top three in the next Pill Tower evaluation.
• Ye Zhong explains the political tension among the Five Great Families. Members of the Bai, Qiu, and Dan Families arrive, most displaying either open hostility or concealed disdain toward the declining Ye Clan.
• Xiao Yan observes the young candidates and notices a particularly young girl from the Dan Family, recognizing that her participation at such an age indicates considerable talent.
• The Cao Family eventually arrives, drawing everyone’s attention. Their leading young candidate is a striking girl whose beauty and presence overwhelm the other youths.
• Ye Zhong identifies her to Xiao Yan as Cao Ying, known as the Cao Family’s “little enchantress.”

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan remains focused and composed. He ignores the distractions surrounding the assessment, analyzes the candidates carefully, and shows no romantic interest in Cao Ying, remaining loyal to Xun’er.
• Xin Lan becomes increasingly shy and uncertain around Xiao Yan, suggesting she wants to approach him but lacks the courage to do so.
• Ye Zhong displays strong pride in the Ye Clan and deep resentment toward the other families’ contempt. Though provoked by the Bai elder, he remains confident because Xiao Yan may provide the Ye Clan with a way to regain its position.
• The Bai Family elder is shown to be openly antagonistic and vindictive. She takes pleasure in the Ye Clan’s decline and hopes to see Ye Zhong removed from the Pill Tower’s elders’ seats.
• Cao Ying is introduced as an exceptionally beautiful and presumably talented young alchemist whose arrival immediately commands the room’s attention.

Significant Themes

• Decline and restoration of family status: The Ye Clan’s former prestige has faded, and its rivals constantly remind it of that decline. The assessment represents a chance to recover its standing.
• Political rivalry: The Five Great Families compete not only through alchemy but also through influence within the Pill Tower. Old grievances continue to shape their interactions.
• Talent and age: The unusually young candidates demonstrate that age is an important measure of potential in the alchemical world, though Xiao Yan recognizes that appearance alone cannot determine ability.
• Composure amid provocation: Ye Zhong’s confidence and Xiao Yan’s calm contrast with the hostility, jealousy, and nervousness of those around them.
• First impressions and hidden strength: Cao Ying’s beauty initially defines her entrance, but her position within the Cao Family suggests that her true importance lies in her talent and strength.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Xin Lan: Their awkward distance is emphasized by Xin Lan’s inability to knock on his door.
• Xiao Yan and Ye Zhong: Ye Zhong relies on Xiao Yan as a potential solution to the Ye Clan’s crisis, while Xiao Yan follows him without fully engaging in the clan politics.
• Ye Zhong and the Bai elder: Their bitter verbal confrontation exposes decades of rivalry and mutual contempt.
• Ye Zhong and the other family elders: The Qiu and Dan Families do not openly insult him, but their disdainful looks still remind him of the Ye Clan’s weakened position.
• Xiao Yan and the young candidates: Xiao Yan observes them analytically, identifying the youngest Dan Family girl as talented and recognizing Cao Ying as the most remarkable arrival.
• Ye Zhong and Xiao Yan regarding Cao Ying: Ye Zhong warns Xiao Yan about Cao Ying’s identity, signaling that she will likely become an important figure in the assessment.

Summary: Pill Tower Examination

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Zhong confirms that the mysterious girl is Cao Ying, a legendary young genius of the Cao Family and one of the Five Great Families.
• He warns Xiao Yan that the Cao Family is hostile toward the declining Ye Clan and may target Xiao Yan because of his association with them.
• Xiao Yan learns that Cao Ying’s soul talent is extraordinary, but Ye Zhong explains that Xiao Yan’s superior Dou Qi cultivation largely compensates for her greater experience in alchemy. At present, the two are roughly equal in soul power.
• Xiao Yan becomes eager to compete with Cao Ying, seeing her as the first true rival of his generation in both alchemy and cultivation.
• Cao Ying senses Xiao Yan watching her, though she does not identify him or react strongly.
• Elder Qiu, a senior figure from the Pill Tower, arrives to personally oversee the final entrance examination. His appearance suggests that the Pill Tower’s leaders are taking a special interest in Cao Ying.
• Elder Qiu announces the rules: candidates will take examinations suited to their alchemist grades, and outstanding ordinary students who fail to become Formal Disciples may still become Registered Disciples. Members of the Five Great Families are excluded from the Registered Disciple option.
• The ordinary candidates’ grades are announced, with most being second- or third-grade alchemists. A thirteen-year-old named Song Qing, a third-grade alchemist, stands out but is ignored by Cao Ying.
• The Cao Family candidates finally reveal their grades:
  • Cao Dan, twelve years old, second grade
  • Cao Xiu, thirteen years old, third grade
  • Cao Ying, twelve years old, fourth grade

2. Character Developments

• Xiao Yan becomes more confident and combative after learning that Cao Ying is not overwhelmingly stronger than him. Rather than fearing her reputation, he looks forward to challenging her.
• Cao Ying is established as exceptionally perceptive, talented, and self-assured. Her calm indifference toward Song Qing and dramatic reveal of her fourth-grade status emphasize her confidence.
• Ye Zhong acts as Xiao Yan’s mentor and protector, explaining the relationship between Dou Qi, soul power, and alchemy. He also becomes hopeful that Xiao Yan’s performance may attract the attention of the Pill Tower’s leaders.
• Elder Qiu appears as an influential and approachable Pill Tower elder whose presence raises the importance of the examination.
• Song Qing is shown to possess genuine talent but also youthful arrogance, as he attempts to impress Cao Ying and receives no response.
• The elders of the Five Great Families reveal their differing attitudes: the Cao Family commands attention, while the Bai Family and others remain wary of the Ye Clan’s possible resurgence.

3. Significant Themes

• Talent versus experience: Cao Ying has trained in alchemy since childhood, while Xiao Yan has only studied for a short time. However, Xiao Yan’s exceptional Dou Qi and soul potential narrow the gap.
• Rivalry and ambition: Xiao Yan’s excitement at finding a worthy peer establishes a major potential rivalry between him and Cao Ying.
• Family power and political conflict: The examination is shaped by tension among the Five Great Families, especially the Cao Family’s hostility toward the weakened Ye Clan.
• Recognition and opportunity: Success in the examination could bring Xiao Yan directly to the attention of the Pill Tower’s powerful leaders and alter his future.
• Inherited privilege versus individual achievement: Members of the Five Great Families enter under special rules and possess extraordinary early advantages, while ordinary students must fight for limited opportunities.

4. Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Ye Zhong: Ye Zhong advises Xiao Yan about Cao Ying and the Cao Family, while Xiao Yan questions him about the true gap between their abilities. Their exchange strengthens their mentor-student relationship.
• Xiao Yan and Cao Ying: They do not speak directly, but Xiao Yan studies her as a rival, and Cao Ying senses his gaze. Their mutual awareness foreshadows future competition.
• Ye Zhong and Elder Qiu: Elder Qiu politely acknowledges Ye Zhong and asks whether the Ye Clan has produced a promising candidate. Ye Zhong subtly hints at Xiao Yan’s potential, hoping to attract attention.
• Elder Qiu and the assembled families: The elders treat Elder Qiu with respect and surprise, recognizing that his presence signals the importance of the examination.
• Song Qing and Cao Ying: Song Qing tries to show off after his results are announced, but Cao Ying ignores him completely, reinforcing the vast difference between their statuses and abilities.
• Cao Ying and the examination crowd: By announcing her fourth-grade alchemist rank last, Cao Ying deliberately creates suspense and leaves the entire crowd stunned.

Chapter Summary: A Twelve-Year-Old Fourth-Grade Alchemist!

Key Plot Points and Events

• The assessment begins, and Cao Ying, still only twelve years old, is revealed to be a fourth-grade alchemist, the highest-ranked participant. Her result shocks the entire hall and establishes her as an extraordinary prodigy.
• Dan Xuan, thirteen, is announced as a third-grade alchemist, while Dan Chen, only ten, is revealed to be a first-grade alchemist. Although her rank is lower, her age and potential impress Elder Qiu and attract Cao Ying’s attention.
• The Qiu and Bai Clan participants perform adequately, but they are overshadowed by the exceptional talents of Cao Ying and Dan Chen.
• During the Ye Clan’s turn, Ye Xin Lan is announced as a twelve-year-old second-grade alchemist. Before the audience can dismiss the Ye Clan’s showing as mediocre, Xiao Yan declares himself a twelve-year-old fourth-grade alchemist.
• Xiao Yan’s result causes an even greater uproar because he is unknown to the crowd and was not listed among the expected younger talents. An old woman hostile to the Ye Clan accuses Ye Zhong of fabricating Xiao Yan’s identity to attract attention.
• Elder Qiu senses that Xiao Yan is telling the truth. Ye Zhong explains that Xiao Yan is the student of an old friend entrusted to his care and is participating through the Ye Clan’s recommendation. Elder Qiu confirms that this is allowed and praises the Ye Clan for bringing such a promising candidate to the Pill Tower.
• Xiao Yan’s appearance dramatically changes the political situation among the Five Great Families. The elders realize that his talent could affect the major test scheduled ten years later and potentially alter the future of the Ye Clan and the elders’ council.
• Elder Qiu opens two gates of light, sending second- and third-grade participants to begin their formal assessments. Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and Xiao Yan remain because their abilities are already sufficient to guarantee passage.
• Cao Ying deliberately asks for her own assessment, clearly attempting to provoke a contest with Xiao Yan. Elder Qiu refuses, saying there will be opportunities for competition later. The chapter ends with Cao Ying and Xiao Yan exchanging intense, challenging looks.

Character Developments

• Cao Ying is established as confident, highly competitive, and eager for stimulation. Her interest shifts from Dan Chen to Xiao Yan after discovering an equal-level rival. She intentionally challenges him and begins viewing the assessment as something more exciting than a routine test.
• Xiao Yan makes a dramatic public entrance by revealing his fourth-grade strength. His half-year of hard cultivation in the Ye Clan has paid off, and his talent becomes a major source of hope for the Ye Clan. He also displays strong confidence and immediately accepts Cao Ying as a worthy opponent.
• Dan Chen is introduced as a shy but exceptionally talented ten-year-old. Her timid nature contrasts with her remarkable potential, and Cao Ying recognizes her as a possible future rival.
• Ye Zhong remains calm and politically composed. He refuses to dignify the hostile old woman’s accusations but properly explains Xiao Yan’s presence to Elder Qiu, protecting both Xiao Yan and the Ye Clan’s standing.
• Elder Qiu demonstrates perceptiveness and authority. He recognizes Xiao Yan’s genuine ability, validates his participation, and prevents the assessment from turning into an unnecessary confrontation.
• The hostile old woman becomes increasingly enraged as Xiao Yan’s success strengthens the Ye Clan’s position, but she is powerless to act against either Ye Zhong or a potential Pill Tower disciple.
• Ye Xin Lan shows courage by representing the Ye Clan despite the pressure of being the finale participant, though her relatively ordinary result is overshadowed by Xiao Yan’s revelation.

Significant Themes

• Exceptional talent and youthful genius: The chapter emphasizes how extraordinary it is for children to reach high alchemist ranks, especially through the contrast between ordinary participants and prodigies such as Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and Xiao Yan.
• Hidden strength and surprise: Xiao Yan’s unknown identity and sudden announcement demonstrate that appearances and reputation do not always reflect true ability.
• Competition among geniuses: Cao Ying and Xiao Yan immediately recognize each other as rivals, suggesting future contests and mutual development.
• Political influence of talent: Xiao Yan’s strength is not merely a personal achievement; it may affect the balance of power between the Five Great Families and the Ye Clan’s future.
• Pride, reputation, and rivalry: The hostile elders’ reactions show how family honor and political standing are tied to the younger generation’s accomplishments.
• Mentorship and opportunity: Xiao Yan’s participation through Ye Zhong’s recommendation illustrates how connections and guardianship can provide talented individuals access to influential institutions such as the Pill Tower.

Important Character Interactions

• Cao Ying and Dan Chen: Cao Ying notices Dan Chen’s extraordinary potential, while Dan Chen reacts shyly to the attention.
• Xiao Yan and Cao Ying: Their mutual eye contact develops into an unspoken challenge. Cao Ying is intrigued by the newcomer, while Xiao Yan welcomes the possibility of competing with her.
• Xiao Yan and Ye Zhong: Xiao Yan’s success reinforces Ye Zhong’s decision to support him, while Ye Zhong confidently defends his legitimacy before Elder Qiu.
• Ye Zhong and the hostile old woman: The old woman attempts to undermine the Ye Clan, but Ye Zhong ignores her accusations, refusing to grant her authority or satisfaction.
• Ye Zhong and Elder Qiu: Ye Zhong explains Xiao Yan’s background respectfully, and Elder Qiu accepts the explanation while acknowledging Xiao Yan’s value.
• Xin Lan, Ye Zhong, and Xiao Yan: Xin Lan respectfully greets them before entering the assessment, highlighting her connection to the Ye Clan’s senior figures and Xiao Yan.

Chapter Summary: “Formal Disciple of the Pill Tower!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The candidates who entered the Pill Tower’s assessment gates gradually return, though the confidential nature of the test prevents them from revealing their results.
• Xin Lan returns looking ashamed, confirming that she performed poorly. Xiao Yan comforts her, while Ye Zhong accepts the result with quiet disappointment.
• Elder Qiu announces the successful

Formal Disciples

• Cao Ying
• Xiao Yan
• Dan Chen
• and other talented candidates.
• The results highlight the decline of the Ye Clan:
  • The Bai and Qiu Families each gain one Formal Disciple.
  • Both Dan Family candidates and all three Cao Family candidates pass.
  • Without Xiao Yan, the Ye Clan would have produced no successful candidate.
• Registered Disciples are announced afterward, but the list does not concern Xiao Yan or the other Formal Disciples.
• Ye Zhong congratulates Xiao Yan and expresses confidence that he will eventually become famous across the Dou Qi Continent. Xiao Yan promises to continue striving forward.
• Elder Qiu gathers the Formal Disciples and opens a spatial wormhole to take them to their cultivation residences in the Inner Domain of Saint Pill City.
• Xiao Yan realizes that Elder Qiu can casually create spatial wormholes, identifying him as a Dou Venerable.
• The disciples travel aboard an extremely advanced flying vessel and arrive at the Disciple Domain, a vast mountainous area within the Pill Tower’s Inner Domain.
• Elder Qiu explains that the disciples will receive private residences, freedom, and access to abundant resources, but warns that those who stop progressing may eventually be assigned menial administrative work.
• He further explains that Pill Tower elders give daily alchemy lectures, greatly exciting the new disciples.
• When asked where the actual Pill Tower is located, Elder Qiu simply points toward it, revealing that it is already visible nearby.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan officially becomes a Formal Disciple of the Pill Tower, marking an important advancement in his alchemy career.
• He remains modest and respectful toward Ye Zhong, promising to live up to the elder’s expectations.
• Xiao Yan also displays greater confidence and assertiveness. He refuses to tolerate Cao Ying’s rudeness and is prepared to confront Cao Dan if necessary.
• His memories of his younger, arrogant self reveal a degree of self-awareness and humor about his past behavior.
• Xin Lan is shown to be disappointed and insecure after her poor performance, but Xiao Yan offers her emotional support.
• Ye Zhong becomes increasingly aware of how severely the Ye Clan has declined, though he takes pride in Xiao Yan’s success.
• Cao Ying remains proud and accustomed to receiving attention because of her exceptional talent and family status. Xiao Yan’s indifference unsettles her.
• Cao Dan is portrayed as arrogant, spoiled, and inexperienced in real combat. His anger grows when Xiao Yan ignores him.
• Elder Qiu is revealed to be both highly powerful and responsible for guiding the new disciples into the Pill Tower’s inner system.

Significant Themes

• Decline and renewal: The Ye Clan’s weakening contrasts with Xiao Yan’s arrival as a potential source of revival.
• Talent and resources: The major families can use their wealth and influence to cultivate powerful alchemists, while weaker clans struggle to maintain their former status.
• Merit versus family privilege: Xiao Yan succeeds through his own ability, despite lacking the prestigious background enjoyed by Cao Ying and the other great-family candidates.
• Continuous advancement: Becoming a Pill Tower disciple is not the end of the journey. The organization rewards continued growth and punishes stagnation.
• Humility versus arrogance: Xiao Yan’s restraint contrasts with Cao Ying’s entitlement and Cao Dan’s spoiled behavior.
• New beginnings: Entering the Disciple Domain represents the start of a more advanced stage of Xiao Yan’s cultivation and alchemy training.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Xin Lan: Xiao Yan consoles Xin Lan after her disappointing assessment, demonstrating his considerate side.
• Xiao Yan and Ye Zhong: Ye Zhong encourages Xiao Yan before they part, and Xiao Yan responds respectfully and confidently.
• Xiao Yan and Cao Ying: Cao Ying approaches Xiao Yan and questions him about his origins and master, but he responds with silence because of her discourteous attitude. His indifference shocks her.
• Xiao Yan and Cao Dan: Cao Dan insults and challenges Xiao Yan after interpreting his silence as arrogance. Xiao Yan calmly evaluates him and prepares to defeat him if necessary.
• Elder Qiu and the disciples: Elder Qiu asserts his authority, transports the disciples to the Disciple Domain, and explains both the privileges and responsibilities of joining the Pill Tower.

Chapter Summary: First Entering the Pill Tower

Key Plot Points and Events

• Elder Qiu reveals that the enormous “mountain” on the horizon is actually the Pill Tower headquarters, astonishing the assembled alchemists with its scale.
• He distributes identity tokens that will confirm their identities and assign them cultivation residences.
• Elder Qiu explains the Pill Tower’s rules: alchemy is the institution’s highest priority, while Dou Qi serves as its foundation. Sparring is permitted, but violence, ruthless attacks, and unauthorized entry into another disciple’s residence are forbidden and punishable by expulsion.
• Xiao Yan asks how disciples can obtain Dou Qi cultivation methods and techniques from the Pill Tower. Elder Qiu explains that Formal Disciples may access Mystic Tier resources, while Core Disciples—personal disciples of eighth-tier elders—can freely browse nearly the entire collection, including opportunities to obtain Heaven Tier techniques through exchanges.
• Elder Qiu encourages Xiao Yan not to neglect alchemy in favor of Dou Qi, warning him against pursuing too many paths at once.
• The disciples are dropped off at their cave residences. Xiao Yan, Cao Ying, and Dan Chen are the last to arrive because their residences are closest to the headquarters.
• Elder Qiu urges Xiao Yan and Cao Ying to cooperate peacefully, predicting that their talents will eventually bring them into contact within the Pill Tower.
• After landing, Cao Ying attempts to start a conversation with Xiao Yan, but he responds coldly and insists on keeping his distance.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Reveals that he is deeply interested in improving his Dou Qi cultivation in addition to his alchemy. He is excited by the Pill Tower’s vast collection of cultivation techniques but accepts Elder Qiu’s warning to prioritize alchemy. His guarded, distrustful personality remains clear, particularly in his interaction with Cao Ying.
• Cao Ying: Continues to display confidence and curiosity. She is intrigued by Xiao Yan’s apparent mastery of both alchemy and Dou Qi, something she finds difficult to believe. Rather than being discouraged by his rejection, she becomes more determined to understand him.
• Cao Dan: Remains resentful of Xiao Yan but is restrained by Elder Qiu’s warning and Cao Xiu’s advice. He privately dismisses Xiao Yan’s interest in Dou Qi as an act.
• Cao Xiu: Demonstrates greater maturity than Cao Dan, advising him not to provoke Xiao Yan and recognizing the value of maintaining a relationship with someone of Xiao Yan’s talent.
• Dan Chen: Though quiet and physically frail, she reacts strongly to the possibility of becoming a Core Disciple, showing her ambition and interest in advancing within the Pill Tower.
• Elder Qiu: Acts as both a stern administrator and an observant mentor. He recognizes Xiao Yan’s dangerous combat experience and attempts to guide him toward prioritizing alchemy while allowing him freedom to choose his own path.

Significant Themes

• Alchemy versus martial cultivation: The Pill Tower values alchemy above all else, creating tension for Xiao Yan, who seeks to develop both alchemical skill and Dou Qi.
• Ambition and access to power: Core Disciple status represents extraordinary privileges, including access to high-level techniques and personal instruction from eighth-tier elders.
• Pride and rivalry: Xiao Yan and Cao Ying possess comparable talent but are both too proud to easily accept or trust one another.
• Discipline and institutional order: The Pill Tower’s strict rules emphasize that even gifted disciples must control their behavior and respect boundaries.
• First impressions and hidden potential: Characters form judgments based on reputation and visible talent, while Xiao Yan’s unusual combination of alchemy and combat ability makes him difficult for others to understand.

Character Interactions

• Elder Qiu warns Xiao Yan and Cao Dan indirectly about violence, though Cao Dan mistakenly believes the warning is aimed at him.
• Cao Xiu cautions Cao Dan against provoking Xiao Yan, showing that he values diplomacy over hostility.
• Elder Qiu encourages Xiao Yan and Cao Ying to cooperate, but both only outwardly agree; their pride prevents genuine reconciliation.
• Cao Ying tries to engage Xiao Yan by teasingly addressing him as “Junior Brother,” but Xiao Yan rejects the familiarity and insists they do not yet know who is older.
• Xiao Yan refuses to discuss his private affairs with Cao Ying, while Cao Ying’s curiosity and competitiveness intensify because of his unexplained ability in Dou Qi.

Chapter Summary: “A Second Round?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cao Ying refuses to accept Xiao Yan’s earlier dismissal and challenges him to a Dou Qi spar, hoping to discover his true strength.
• Xiao Yan warns her that she is not his opponent and suggests competing through alchemy instead. Cao Ying interprets his repeated use of “Junior Sister” and his dismissive attitude as arrogance.
• Angered, Cao Ying attacks with the flame-based Dou Technique “Voidfire Blaze Rend,” displaying the peak strength of a Nine-Star Dou Master.
• Xiao Yan overwhelms her through superior combat experience. He charges directly through her technique, disrupts her offensive rhythm, shatters her flame attack, and knocks her away with a single punch.
• Cao Ying is badly embarrassed and temporarily unable to stand, though Xiao Yan had deliberately restrained his strength. She uses a high-grade medicinal pill to recover.
• Cao Ying concedes that Xiao Yan is stronger in Dou Qi but declares that she will surpass him in alchemy. Xiao Yan calmly accepts the challenge.
• Dan Chen unexpectedly emerges from behind a tree. Neither Xiao Yan nor Cao Ying had sensed her approach, hinting at hidden abilities or secrets connected to the Dan Family.
• Dan Chen reveals that she is afraid to walk back to her cave alone in the dark. Xiao Yan agrees to accompany her, while Cao Ying grows increasingly jealous and resentful before returning alone.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Demonstrates overwhelming combat ability, tactical experience, and confidence. He remains emotionally detached toward Cao Ying but shows gentleness toward Dan Chen because of her timid personality. His caution about being alone with an injured girl also reveals his awareness of potential misunderstandings involving Xun’er.
• Cao Ying: Her pride and competitive nature push her into a fight she cannot win. She suffers humiliation but retains her dignity by acknowledging Xiao Yan’s superiority in combat while shifting the competition to alchemy. Her jealousy becomes evident when Xiao Yan treats Dan Chen more kindly than he treats her.
• Dan Chen: Appears extremely timid, sensitive, and dependent on others for reassurance. Her ability to approach without being detected suggests that she may possess unusual talents or conceal important family secrets. She is noticeably more comfortable asking Xiao Yan for help than Cao Ying.

Significant Themes

• Combat experience versus cultivation: Xiao Yan’s battlefield experience allows him to defeat Cao Ying easily despite her respectable cultivation and powerful technique.
• Pride and rivalry: Cao Ying’s wounded pride drives her challenge, but the defeat strengthens rather than eliminates her determination to compete with Xiao Yan through alchemy.
• Hidden strength and appearances: Cao Ying’s graceful exterior conceals stubbornness, while Dan Chen’s fragile appearance may conceal mysterious abilities.
• Misunderstanding and jealousy: Cao Ying interprets Xiao Yan’s behavior as arrogance and favoritism, deepening her resentment when he shows Dan Chen compassion.
• Kindness beneath aloofness: Though Xiao Yan acts cold and dismissive, he is still soft-hearted toward vulnerable people and cannot ignore Dan Chen’s fear.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Cao Ying: Their exchange shifts from verbal provocation to physical conflict. Xiao Yan’s effortless victory humiliates Cao Ying, creating a stronger rivalry focused on alchemy.
• Xiao Yan and Dan Chen: Xiao Yan adopts a gentle, reassuring attitude toward her, agreeing to escort her through the dark forest.
• Cao Ying and Dan Chen: Dan Chen is intimidated by Cao Ying, while Cao Ying becomes irritated by Dan Chen’s ability to receive Xiao Yan’s attention and kindness.
• Cao Ying and Xiao Yan after the fight: Cao Ying formally acknowledges his combat strength but vows to defeat him in alchemy, while Xiao Yan responds with calm confidence.

Chapter Summary: “Terrifying Indeed!?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan escorts the fearful Dan Chen to her newly assigned cave residence. Although the residence is enormous and completely safe, Dan Chen is terrified of entering it alone.
• Dan Chen reveals that her body is unusual and that she cannot touch other people, though she continues clinging to Xiao Yan’s robes for reassurance.
• With Xiao Yan’s encouragement, Dan Chen finally enters the residence by herself. Xiao Yan waits until she confirms that nothing dangerous has happened, then leaves.
• Xiao Yan explores his own cave residence and is amazed by the Pill Tower’s luxurious facilities, including a cultivation chamber, pill-refining room, medicinal fields, and martial arts hall.
• The next day, Xiao Yan travels to the Pill Tower headquarters aboard a Spirit-Nurturing Ark. He reflects on how excessively protected and pampered the Pill Tower’s alchemists are.
• At the gathering point, Cao Ying remains angry with Xiao Yan and avoids him, while Dan Chen quietly stays near her brother, Dan Xuan.
• Cao Ying’s followers gather around her, and Song Qing attempts to engage her in conversation. She ignores him and instead deliberately addresses Xiao Yan, inviting him to dinner as an apology for her behavior the previous night.
• Xiao Yan responds ambiguously, saying he suffered no loss and will not reveal what happened. His words cause everyone to misunderstand the situation.
• Dan Xuan then apologizes to Xiao Yan for Dan Chen having caused him trouble, making the onlookers assume Xiao Yan was involved in scandalous incidents with both Cao Ying and Dan Chen. The chapter ends with the humorous conclusion that Xiao Yan is “terrifying indeed.”

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Shows patience and consideration toward Dan Chen, while remaining discreet about his own secrets. He is impressed by the Pill Tower’s resources but also recognizes the potential dangers of raising alchemists in excessive comfort. His calm, teasing response to Cao Ying demonstrates his growing confidence.
• Dan Chen: Remains extremely timid and fearful, especially when alone or in darkness, but manages to overcome her fear with Xiao Yan’s encouragement. Her inability to touch others is presented as an important mystery.
• Cao Ying: Still resentful after her previous confrontation with Xiao Yan. She uses a sweet, seemingly apologetic invitation to redirect attention toward him, likely to conceal what happened between them and manipulate the surrounding crowd.
• Dan Xuan: Acts protectively toward Dan Chen and courteously apologizes to Xiao Yan on her behalf.
• Song Qing: Confident because of his high standing among the new disciples, but is embarrassed when Cao Ying ignores him in favor of Xiao Yan.

Significant Themes

• Fear versus courage: Dan Chen’s fear of the dark and empty spaces contrasts with her gradual willingness to act independently.
• Privilege and overprotection: Xiao Yan questions whether the Pill Tower’s luxurious treatment has weakened its disciples by shielding them from hardship and danger.
• Secrets and appearances: Several characters conceal important truths, while incomplete information causes outsiders to draw exaggerated conclusions.
• Humor through misunderstanding: Cao Ying’s vague remarks and Dan Xuan’s apology make Xiao Yan appear far more scandalous and dangerous than he really is.
• Trust and emotional support: Dan Chen depends on Xiao Yan’s reassurance, showing how even a small act of kindness can help someone overcome fear.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Dan Chen: He patiently escorts and reassures her, while she relies on him for courage despite being unable to touch people.
• Xiao Yan and Cao Ying: Their tense, indirect exchange reflects their unresolved conflict. Cao Ying pretends to apologize, while Xiao Yan subtly warns her that he will keep their previous encounter secret.
• Xiao Yan and Dan Xuan: Dan Xuan respectfully apologizes for Dan Chen, unintentionally adding to the rumors surrounding Xiao Yan.
• Cao Ying and Song Qing: Song Qing attempts to flatter Cao Ying, but she dismisses him and uses Xiao Yan as the focus of attention instead.
• Xiao Yan and the Pill Tower: Xiao Yan admires its facilities but remains skeptical of the sheltered lifestyle it provides its disciples.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Yan speaks with Dan Xuan after noticing the strange reactions of those around him. Dan Xuan explains that his sister, Dan Chen, wishes to live and cultivate independently, despite his concerns for her.
• Xiao Yan reveals that he entered the Pill Tower through the Ye Clan and intends to help the clan in its future assessment. Dan Xuan understands the political implications but assures him that the Dan Family has no hostility toward the Ye Clan.
• Their conversation becomes friendlier, while Cao Ying remains isolated after her earlier behavior. Song Qing, jealous of Xiao Yan’s interaction with others and resentful of being ignored by Cao Ying, begins to harbor hostility toward Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan attends an eighth-grade elder’s lecture and continues a disciplined routine of studying at the Pill Tower, refining pills, cultivating Dou Qi, and practicing combat techniques.
• After a month, Xiao Yan successfully breaks through to the Great Dou Master realm. He condenses a Dou Crystal, gains the ability to project Dou Qi, and forms Dou Qi Armor.
• His breakthrough makes him think of his family, his desire to return home, and the arranged marriage contract with Nalan Yanran. Troubled by these thoughts, he abandons cultivation for the night and falls asleep while muttering about refusing the marriage.

Character developments

• Xiao Yan becomes less guarded toward Dan Xuan but remains cautious around the broader group. His steady training and use of pills lead to a smooth breakthrough. Despite his growing strength, he remains emotionally attached to his family and anxious about the consequences of his marriage contract.
• Dan Xuan is shown to be sociable, perceptive, generous, and politically reasonable. He understands Xiao Yan’s connection to the Ye Clan without treating him as an enemy.
• Dan Chen demonstrates growing independence by choosing to live and cultivate on her own rather than relying on her brother.
• Cao Ying remains proud and resentful, particularly because Xiao Yan treats Dan Xuan warmly while continuing to ignore her.
• Song Qing develops clear animosity toward Xiao Yan after being dismissed by Cao Ying and seeing her attention directed toward him.

Significant themes

• Discipline and gradual growth: Xiao Yan’s breakthrough is presented as the result of consistent training, study, and preparation rather than luck alone.
• Power and responsibility: His new strength could greatly improve the Xiao Clan’s position, but Xiao Yan recognizes that greater achievements—especially becoming a seventh-grade alchemist—would be needed to elevate the clan across the wider region.
• Family and homesickness: His success is overshadowed by concern for his father, brothers, and the Xiao Clan, whom he cannot currently return to help.
• Duty versus personal choice: Dan Chen’s desire for independence and Xiao Yan’s anxiety over his inherited marriage contract both reflect the struggle between personal wishes and family expectations.
• Hidden tensions and rivalry: Political alliances, jealousy, and romantic competition continue to shape the relationships within the Pill Tower.

Character interactions

• Xiao Yan and Dan Xuan form a more trusting and relaxed friendship after openly discussing the Ye Clan and the Dan Family’s position.
• Dan Xuan discusses his protective relationship with Dan Chen, while Xiao Yan encourages him to view her independence as a positive development.
• Cao Ying’s treatment of Xiao Yan and Song Qing creates jealousy among the other disciples, indirectly increasing hostility toward him.
• Xiao Yan’s thoughts after his breakthrough reveal that, despite his outwardly calm and detached behavior, his family and marriage obligations remain major emotional concerns.

Chapter Summary: “Song Qing”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan wakes in a calm state and attends a Pill Tower lecture on the fundamentals of medicinal properties and strengths. He learns that herbs’ properties can vary depending on their growing conditions.
• After class, a female disciple tells him that several members of their cohort have been beaten. The attacker is a powerful girl in red who defeated Cao Dan and his followers after they teased her.
• The girl also insults the Pill Tower disciples, claiming they are weak “pill-poppers” and that she could defeat an entire group of them.
• Xiao Yan initially refuses to get involved, agreeing privately that most of the disciples—excluding himself—are not particularly strong.
• He becomes suspicious when he realizes the girl was specifically sent to fetch him. By bluffing that her actions could result in expulsion from the Pill Tower, he forces her to reveal that Song Qing instructed her to bring Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan eventually goes to the scene, where he finds the red-clad girl standing over the defeated Cao Dan and his companions. A crowd of disciples watches without intervening.
• Rather than helping Cao Dan, Xiao Yan joins the spectators and deliberately announces his arrival to Dan Xuan and Dan Chen.
• Dan Xuan admits that he stayed because he did not want to miss seeing a member of the Cao Family beaten. Xiao Yan approves of this attitude, and the two laugh together while the surrounding disciples react with surprise.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Demonstrates his usual composure, indifference to unnecessary conflicts, sharp judgment, and mischievous intelligence. He refuses to act blindly, questions the girl’s motives, and uses a convincing bluff to uncover Song Qing’s involvement. His detached attitude toward Cao Dan also reveals his lack of sympathy for the Cao Family.
• The girl in red: Established as bold, aggressive, and exceptionally strong. Despite her delicate appearance, she easily defeats numerous Pill Tower disciples and openly challenges their abilities. Her identity appears significant, given that no one dares interfere with her.
• Dan Xuan: Reveals a less straightforward side beneath his honest appearance. He openly enjoys seeing Cao Dan suffer and shares Xiao Yan’s willingness to watch rather than help.
• Cao Dan: Continues to be portrayed as arrogant and troublesome. His teasing provokes the red-clad girl, resulting in his humiliation and defeat.
• Song Qing: Does not appear directly, but his role becomes important when Xiao Yan discovers that he arranged for the girl to bring him to the incident.
• Cao Ying: Watches the confrontation but does not seek Xiao Yan’s help, reinforcing her pride and unwillingness to lower herself by asking him for assistance.

Significant Themes

• Strength and arrogance: The incident contrasts the confidence of the Pill Tower disciples with the overwhelming combat ability of the girl in red.
• Factional resentment: The crowd’s amusement at Cao Dan’s defeat shows that many disciples dislike or resent the Cao Family.
• Suspicion and self-protection: Xiao Yan refuses to act without understanding the situation and recognizes that being summoned may be part of a scheme.
• Pill cultivation versus practical combat: The girl’s insult highlights the gap between alchemical advancement and actual fighting ability.
• Detachment from unnecessary conflict: Xiao Yan prioritizes his cultivation and avoids involvement unless there is a clear reason to act.

Character Interactions

• The female disciple anxiously tries to persuade Xiao Yan to intervene, but he questions her motives and exposes her connection to Song Qing.
• Xiao Yan encounters Dan Xuan and Dan Chen at the scene, greeting them publicly to make his presence known.
• Dan Xuan privately explains that he is watching because Cao Dan is being beaten, leading to shared laughter and camaraderie between him and Xiao Yan.
• Cao Ying reacts dismissively to Xiao Yan’s arrival, while the surrounding disciples become curious and uneasy about his involvement.

Chapter Summary: “A Favor?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan and Dan Xuan prepare to leave while Cao Dan’s group faces off against the red-clad girl, but Xiao Yan knows the others will soon try to involve him.
• Kong, a chubby senior disciple, accuses Xiao Yan of standing by while one of their own is being bullied. Song Qing then steps in, pretending to mediate while pressuring Xiao Yan to fight.
• Xiao Yan recognizes that Song Qing is deliberately trying to provoke him into confronting the girl, likely so she can defeat or embarrass him.
• Song Qing attempts several arguments: appealing to group loyalty, claiming that women should not be forced to fight, and implying that Xiao Yan lied about possessing combat skills.
• After several disciples mock Xiao Yan and call him a coward, Xiao Yan unexpectedly agrees to “accept help” from Song Qing.
• Instead of fighting the red-clad girl immediately, Xiao Yan suddenly punches Song Qing, then challenges the surrounding disciples to attack him together.
• Xiao Yan defeats more than a dozen opponents using only his physical strength, deliberately hitting the disciple who insulted his appearance especially hard.
• He explains that fighting the girl after she had already defeated many people would be unfair, so he first leveled the situation by defeating an equivalent group himself. Song Qing is enraged and faints.
• Rather than leave, Xiao Yan becomes eager to continue, viewing the encounter as a useful warm-up and an opportunity to test his combat strength.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Displays his sharp perception, sarcasm, confidence, and unwillingness to be manipulated. He turns Song Qing’s scheme against him and reveals overwhelming physical combat ability without using Dou Qi. His desire to continue fighting also shows his growing eagerness to measure his strength after a long period without a serious battle.
• Song Qing: His false image as a reasonable peacemaker collapses. His jealousy and malicious intentions become obvious as he repeatedly pressures Xiao Yan and recruits others to mock him. His plan backfires disastrously, leaving him badly beaten and humiliated.
• Cao Ying: Demonstrates that she immediately sees through Song Qing’s clumsy manipulation. She remains calm and detached, quietly resenting his interference, and appears amused when Xiao Yan defeats the group.
• Dan Xuan and Dan Chen: Watch the confrontation in surprise. Dan Xuan recognizes that the situation resembles the earlier attack involving Cao Dan’s group.
• The surrounding disciples: Initially follow Song Qing’s lead and mock Xiao Yan, but quickly become victims of his counterattack.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and retaliation: Song Qing attempts to use group pressure and social expectations to force Xiao Yan into a disadvantageous fight, but Xiao Yan exposes and reverses the scheme.
• Pride and humiliation: The disciples’ insults provoke the conflict, while Song Qing’s failure demonstrates the danger of underestimating an opponent.
• Strength beyond appearances: Xiao Yan is dismissed as cowardly and physically unimpressive, yet he defeats the entire group without using Dou Qi.
• Fairness as a weapon: Xiao Yan twists Song Qing’s demand for a “fair” confrontation into a logical justification for beating everyone first.
• Combat as self-testing: Xiao Yan views the fight not merely as retaliation but as a welcome chance to assess and enjoy his abilities.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Song Qing engage in a verbal battle, with Xiao Yan repeatedly exposing the flaws in Song Qing’s arguments.
• Xiao Yan deliberately invokes Cao Ying, forcing Song Qing to reveal his anxiety about how she perceives him.
• Song Qing rallies the surrounding disciples against Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan responds by defeating them all at once.
• Cao Ying watches the conflict with amusement, recognizing both Song Qing’s scheme and Xiao Yan’s calculated counterattack.
• After defeating Song Qing, Xiao Yan humorously positions his battered face toward Cao Ying, further mocking his failed attempt to impress her.

Chapter Summary: “Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan approaches Tang Huohuo, a fierce young woman from Burning Flame Valley, after seeing her defeat Cao Dan and several others.
• Rather than defending Cao Dan, Xiao Yan challenges Tang Huohuo to a sparring match because he recognizes her as a worthy opponent.
• Tang Huohuo immediately recognizes Xiao Yan and introduces herself, though she refuses to explain how she knows him.
• The two begin by suppressing part of their strength and testing each other through close-quarters combat. Both use fire-attributed Dou Qi and rely heavily on physical strength.
• Their battle escalates as they summon Dou Qi armor and incorporate Dou Techniques. Although Tang Huohuo’s cultivation is one or two stars higher, Xiao Yan gradually gains the upper hand because of his greater combat experience and decisiveness.
• Cao Dan escapes while the two fight. Cao Ying and Cao Xiu choose not to seek revenge after learning Tang Huohuo’s identity, recognizing that provoking Burning Flame Valley would be unnecessary.
• Tang Huohuo admits that her skills are inferior, but her pride as a member of Burning Flame Valley prevents her from accepting defeat.
• She activates the secret technique Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame, causing her aura to surge to the level of a near High-Rank Da Dou Shi.
• Tang Huohuo explains that the technique temporarily weakens the user but does not damage their foundation. She asks Xiao Yan to concede rather than fight against her overwhelming advantage.
• Xiao Yan, fascinated by the secret technique and unwilling to admit defeat, accepts the challenge despite knowing that Tang Huohuo now possesses superior strength.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Demonstrates his exceptional combat ability, overcoming an opponent with higher cultivation through experience, physical training, and decisive tactics. He also reveals a strong interest in the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame, suggesting that he may seek to learn or acquire it later. His refusal to surrender highlights his confidence and stubborn determination.
• Tang Huohuo: Is established as proud, straightforward, and honorable. She acknowledges Xiao Yan’s superiority in their initial exchange rather than making excuses, but her pride in Burning Flame Valley compels her to continue. Her willingness to warn Xiao Yan about the technique’s advantage shows that she values a fair victory.
• Cao Ying: Displays restraint and political awareness by refusing to retaliate on Cao Dan’s behalf. She also recognizes the growing gap between herself and Xiao Yan in both Dou Qi cultivation and alchemy.
• Cao Dan: Is portrayed as arrogant but cowardly, quickly fleeing after being defeated and attempting to complain once he reaches Cao Ying.
• Cao Xiu: Acts as a quiet supporter of Cao Dan but, like Cao Ying, understands that confronting Burning Flame Valley is not worth the risk.

Significant Themes

• There is always someone stronger: Tang Huohuo’s realization reflects the chapter’s emphasis on humility and the vast differences in strength and experience among cultivators.
• Experience versus raw cultivation: Xiao Yan’s lower cultivation does not prevent him from gaining the advantage because his life-and-death experience makes him more decisive and battle-tested.
• Pride and honor: Tang Huohuo cannot accept defeat while representing Burning Flame Valley, yet she still refuses to claim an unfair victory without warning Xiao Yan.
• The pursuit of greater power: Xiao Yan’s immediate fascination with the secret technique shows his constant search for methods that can increase his strength.
• Political caution and factional influence: Cao Ying and Cao Xiu avoid revenge because Tang Huohuo’s affiliation makes retaliation strategically unwise.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Tang Huohuo: Their encounter evolves from mutual testing into genuine respect. They fight as equals at first, and both enjoy meeting a capable opponent. Tang Huohuo’s secret technique shifts the balance, but Xiao Yan’s refusal to yield keeps the conflict unresolved.
• Xiao Yan and Cao Dan: Xiao Yan does not intervene out of sympathy for Cao Dan; he simply uses the situation as an opportunity to challenge Tang Huohuo.
• Cao Dan and Cao Ying: Cao Dan seeks support after escaping, but Cao Ying silences him and refuses to indulge his desire for revenge.
• Cao Family and Burning Flame Valley: The Cao family’s reluctance to retaliate reflects the significant influence and reputation of Burning Flame Valley.

Chapter Summary: “Tang Zhen”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan fights Tang Huohuo again after she reaches a higher level of cultivation. She adopts a defensive stance at first, allowing him to attack fairly, but her superior speed, strength, Dou Qi, and combat experience quickly overwhelm him.
• Tang Huohuo eventually stops holding back and defeats Xiao Yan through simple physical attacks, without using any Dou Technique. Xiao Yan struggles because the gap in cultivation is too large for his comparable techniques to overcome.
• Xiao Yan prepares to use the Earth Tier Dou Technique Nether Dragon Prison-Suppressing Song, hoping to defeat the stronger Tang Huohuo. However, he realizes the technique is too dangerous for a sparring match and may result in serious injury or death.
• Rather than risk killing or severely harming her, Xiao Yan admits defeat. Tang Huohuo ends her use of the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame, immediately entering its weakened aftermath.
• A mysterious red-haired old man appears and reveals himself as Tang Zhen, the Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley and Tang Huohuo’s father. He had observed the entire fight and was impressed by Xiao Yan’s restraint.
• Tang Zhen privately takes Xiao Yan and Tang Huohuo away through spatial distortion. He speaks with Xiao Yan in a friendly, almost familial manner, asking about his background and experiences.
• Tang Zhen then invites Xiao Yan to visit Burning Flame Valley and offers him the chance to learn the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame, a treasured technique of the valley.
• Suspicious of Tang Zhen’s unusual behavior and Tang Huohuo’s earlier interference at the Pill Tower, Xiao Yan asks whether Tang Zhen came specifically to find him. Tang Zhen confirms that he did.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Demonstrates maturity, restraint, and sound judgment. Although he has a powerful technique that might have changed the battle, he refuses to use it in a friendly contest because it could kill Tang Huohuo. His ability to recognize the difference between fighting for victory and fighting for survival highlights his growing composure and honor. He also displays sharp intuition by questioning Tang Zhen’s motives rather than accepting the invitation blindly.
• Tang Huohuo: Reveals herself to be far stronger and more experienced in combat than Xiao Yan initially expected. Her enhanced cultivation makes her overwhelmingly dominant, but she becomes visibly upset when she learns Xiao Yan had considered but abandoned a powerful counterattack. Her childish reaction around her father contrasts with her fierce battle persona.
• Tang Zhen: Is introduced as the powerful and influential Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley. Despite his status, he behaves warmly and casually toward Xiao Yan. His interest in Xiao Yan, willingness to offer the valley’s prized technique, and admission that he sought Xiao Yan out suggest an undisclosed purpose.

Significant Themes

• Restraint over victory: Xiao Yan chooses not to use overwhelming power merely to win a sparring match, emphasizing morality and control over pride.
• The dangers of power: The Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame grants Tang Huohuo tremendous strength but leaves her weakened afterward, while Xiao Yan’s Earth Tier technique carries potentially lethal consequences.
• Hidden motives and political influence: Tang Zhen’s unexpected appearance and invitation indicate that Xiao Yan has attracted the attention of powerful factions. The chapter builds mystery around why Burning Flame Valley specifically wants him.
• Respect between rivals: Although Tang Huohuo defeats Xiao Yan, the encounter establishes mutual recognition of their abilities. Tang Zhen likewise respects Xiao Yan’s judgment and character.
• Appearance versus reality: Tang Zhen’s unassuming, friendly manner contrasts sharply with his immense authority and cultivation, while Tang Huohuo’s childish behavior around him differs from her formidable combat presence.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Tang Huohuo engage in a one-sided but meaningful sparring match, with her overwhelming him through superior cultivation.
• Xiao Yan refuses to escalate the fight lethally, earning Tang Zhen’s approval but frustrating Tang Huohuo, who feels her victory was partly undermined.
• Tang Zhen comforts his daughter in a surprisingly affectionate manner, then evaluates Xiao Yan’s conduct and abilities.
• During their private conversation, Tang Zhen treats Xiao Yan warmly before presenting the extraordinary offer to teach him the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame.
• Xiao Yan responds cautiously, directly challenging Tang Zhen about his motives. Tang Zhen confirms that Xiao Yan—not merely circumstance—was the reason he came to the Pill Tower.

Chapter Summary: “An Invitation from Burning Flame Valley”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Burning Flame Valley Master Tang Zhen confirms that his invitation to Xiao Yan is connected to the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame, a powerful secret technique. Although he refuses to disclose the full reason for the invitation, he promises that the trip will benefit Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan initially declines because Tang Zhen’s motives seem suspicious and the Pill Tower has restrictions on its disciples. Tang Zhen then reveals that he has already obtained permission from the Pill Tower.
• Elder Qiu appears and confirms that the Pill Tower’s three giants personally approved Xiao Yan’s visit. With this confirmation, Xiao Yan accepts the invitation.
• Tang Zhen immediately opens a spatial wormhole and departs with Xiao Yan and Tang Huohuo for Burning Flame Valley.
• At the Pill Tower, Elder Qiu reports Xiao Yan’s departure to the three giants. Their conversation reveals that they are also acting under the orders of a mysterious and influential figure.
• During the journey, Tang Zhen explains the principles behind the

Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame

• The technique requires the user to possess and borrow the power of flames.
• It temporarily merges violent flame energy into the body to increase strength.
• The increased power causes a later period of weakness due to backlash.
• The technique has three transformations and requires three different flames.
• Tang Huohuo demonstrates that she possesses two flames—the Golden Spirit Flame and the Azure Astral Flame—allowing her to use only the second transformation.
• Tang Zhen reveals his own powerful flame, the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame, ranked twelfth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan demonstrates his usual caution and refuses to trust Tang Zhen without verification. However, his strong interest in the Three Mysterious Changes gradually overcomes his hesitation once the Pill Tower confirms the invitation.
• Tang Zhen appears mysterious but sincere. He remains unwilling to reveal his true purpose, yet he takes steps to reassure Xiao Yan and personally escorts him to Burning Flame Valley.
• Elder Qiu acts as the Pill Tower’s representative, validating Tang Zhen’s claims and showing that Xiao Yan’s movement has been approved by the highest authorities.
• Tang Huohuo is introduced as a capable Burning Flame Valley cultivator who has already mastered the second transformation of the secret technique. Her flames establish her strength and connection to the Valley.
• The three Pill Tower giants reveal that they do not fully control the situation surrounding Xiao Yan’s departure, hinting at the influence of a more powerful, unseen figure.

Significant Themes

• Trust and caution: Xiao Yan must decide whether Tang Zhen’s secretive invitation is safe. His decision depends on official confirmation rather than blind trust.
• Power through flame: Flames are presented not merely as tools for alchemy but as sources of combat strength and bodily transformation.
• Hidden authority and manipulation: The Pill Tower’s giants approve Xiao Yan’s departure while apparently following someone else’s orders, suggesting a larger political or mysterious scheme.
• Opportunity versus danger: Xiao Yan’s desire to obtain a powerful technique conflicts with the risks of entering an unfamiliar faction’s territory.

Important Character Interactions

• Tang Zhen attempts to persuade Xiao Yan by promising access to the Three Mysterious Changes, while Xiao Yan repeatedly questions his motives.
• Elder Qiu reassures Xiao Yan that the Pill Tower has approved the journey, resolving the central obstacle to his acceptance.
• The Pill Tower giants discuss Xiao Yan’s departure and reveal their own uncertainty about the person directing events.
• During the journey, Tang Zhen teaches Xiao Yan about the secret technique, while Tang Huohuo supplements the explanation by displaying her two flames.
• The chapter ends with Xiao Yan recognizing Tang Zhen’s silver flame as the rare and powerful Nine Dragons Lightning Flame, increasing the significance of the Burning Flame Valley invitation.

Chapter Summary: “Heavenly Flames”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan recognizes the flame in Tang Zhen’s hand as the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame, Burning Flame Valley’s inherited Heavenly Flame, ranked twelfth among the twenty-three known Heavenly Flames.
• Tang Zhen teases Xiao Yan about wanting it. Xiao Yan admits his interest in the upcoming Pill Association, where the top ten contestants will gain the opportunity to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame, a ninth-ranked Heavenly Flame.
• The Pill Association occurs once every thirty years, allows only one attempt per person, and offers the possibility of becoming a candidate for one of the Pill Tower’s giant positions. Because of the Heavenly Flame prize, the next competition is expected to be exceptionally fierce.
• Tang Zhen explains that the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame reaches its full potential only when powered by powerful flames. He recounts how a former Burning Flame Valley master used the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame and two beast flames to challenge a stronger opponent, while an ancient expert supposedly used three Heavenly Flames to amplify his strength even at the Dou Saint level.
• Xiao Yan questions how anyone could wield three Heavenly Flames when people are generally believed capable of subduing only one. Tang Zhen has no clear answer, suggesting that Dou Saints may possess extraordinary methods.
• After traveling through a spatial wormhole for several days, Tang Zhen brings Xiao Yan and Tang Huohuo to the Blazing Fire Mountain Range, where Burning Flame Valley is located.
• Xiao Yan discovers that Burning Flame Valley exists within a separate hidden realm, accessible through a spatial rift. This causes him to reassess the valley’s strength and the true power of the major factions.
• Tang Zhen takes them directly to the Battle Skill Pavilion, where the inheritance of the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame is kept.
• Three elders initially refuse to open the pavilion because Tang Zhen lacks the required approval from the chief elders. After Tang Zhen displays an unidentified red token or authority object, they comply and open the doors.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan is shown to be more experienced and perceptive than before. He immediately identifies the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame and understands its value, though he restrains his greed out of respect for Burning Flame Valley. His ambition to compete in the Pill Association becomes clear, as does his desire to acquire a stronger Heavenly Flame.
• Xiao Yan also becomes increasingly suspicious of Tang Zhen’s motives. He realizes that Tang Zhen may have brought him to Burning Flame Valley specifically to teach him the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame, though he cannot understand why Tang Zhen appears so eager to help.
• Tang Zhen demonstrates deep knowledge of Heavenly Flames and the valley’s secret inheritance. His teasing manner reveals that he understands Xiao Yan’s ambitions, while his decisive use of authority shows his position as Valley Master.
• Tang Huohuo serves as a guide and representative of Burning Flame Valley, explaining the nature of the Blazing Fire Mountain Range and proudly introducing the valley’s hidden realm.
• The three elders are cautious and rule-bound, initially challenging Tang Zhen’s authority but immediately obeying once he presents proof of his special authorization.

Significant Themes

• The allure and danger of power: Heavenly Flames are coveted by alchemists and fire cultivators, but attempting to control them can easily result in death.
• Ambition versus risk: Xiao Yan must balance his desire for greater strength and a superior flame against the dangers and limitations of subduing Heavenly Flames.
• Hidden strength of major factions: Burning Flame Valley’s separate realm reveals that the great powers of the continent possess abilities and resources far beyond their public reputations.
• Inheritance and opportunity: The Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame represents a rare inheritance that could dramatically increase Xiao Yan’s combat power.
• Mystery and manipulation: Tang Zhen’s unexplained willingness to help Xiao Yan creates uncertainty about his real intentions and suggests that learning the technique may serve a larger purpose.

Character Interactions

• Tang Zhen playfully exposes Xiao Yan’s desire for the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame, while Xiao Yan responds with humility and restraint.
• Their discussion shifts from the Pill Association to the mechanics and legendary history of the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame.
• Xiao Yan challenges Tang Zhen’s explanation about using multiple Heavenly Flames, briefly leaving Tang Zhen unable to answer.
• Tang Huohuo proudly explains Burning Flame Valley’s environment and hidden location, while Xiao Yan quietly evaluates the valley’s power.
• At the Battle Skill Pavilion, the elders’ hesitation creates a brief conflict with Tang Zhen. Tang resolves it without argument by displaying an object that proves his authority.

Chapter Summary: “Dou Saint!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Zhen brings Xiao Yan and Tang Huohuo to the third floor of Burning Flame Valley’s Battle Skill Pavilion, where the inheritance crystal of the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame is kept.
• Xiao Yan places his hand on the crystal and receives the complete technique, along with the accumulated insights of generations of Burning Flame Valley experts.
• The crystal emits an unusually powerful red light, revealing that Xiao Yan’s compatibility with the technique is even greater than Tang Huohuo’s and exceeds anything Tang Zhen has previously witnessed.
• An elderly expert known as the Flame Cloud Ancestor appears and orders Tang Zhen and Tang Huohuo to leave while he waits for Xiao Yan to finish absorbing the inheritance.
• A mysterious, childlike but immensely powerful figure arrives through the void. He is revealed to be connected to the Pill Tower and is at least a Dou Venerable, while Flame Cloud Ancestor is identified as a One-Star Dou Saint.
• Their conversation reveals that Xiao Yan may be the descendant of an important figure or clan connected to Burning Flame Valley’s ancestors. The two experts are testing whether Xiao Yan is genuinely connected to that lineage.
• If Xiao Yan is authentic, Burning Flame Valley intends to repay an old debt of gratitude through him. However, Flame Cloud Ancestor refuses to involve the valley in the Pill Tower’s larger conflict, believing that preserving Burning Flame Valley’s inheritance is already the most he can do.
• After Xiao Yan finishes receiving the inheritance, he discovers that Tang Zhen and Tang Huohuo have departed and that the elderly man before him is actually Flame Cloud Ancestor in disguise.
• Flame Cloud Ancestor immediately asks Xiao Yan to activate the technique. Xiao Yan admits he has only just learned it, but the ancestor assures him that he can protect him during the attempt.
• The childlike Pill Tower expert identifies Xiao Yan as a Pill Tower disciple and reassures him that he may safely test the technique.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Gains the complete inheritance of the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame and becomes aware that Burning Flame Valley considers him extraordinarily compatible with it. His possible connection to a powerful ancestral figure becomes a major mystery.
• Tang Zhen: Becomes deeply impressed by Xiao Yan’s talent and admits that, had Xiao Yan not joined the Pill Tower, he would have recruited him into Burning Flame Valley.
• Tang Huohuo: Her confidence in her own status as Burning Flame Valley’s foremost current disciple is shaken when Xiao Yan’s compatibility surpasses hers.
• Flame Cloud Ancestor: Reveals himself as a cautious but powerful guardian of Burning Flame Valley. He is willing to investigate Xiao Yan and repay an ancestral debt but refuses to commit the valley to the Pill Tower’s dangerous political struggle.
• Pill Tower expert: Appears youthful but possesses tremendous power. He views Xiao Yan as an important potential ally and is concerned about the threats facing the Pill Tower.

Significant Themes

• Inheritance and destiny: The crystal preserves not only a technique but generations of experience, emphasizing the importance of legacy and accumulated wisdom.
• Hidden identity and ancestry: Xiao Yan’s origins may connect him to a powerful figure whose influence affects both Burning Flame Valley and the Pill Tower.
• Political neutrality and survival: Burning Flame Valley must choose between repaying an old favor and avoiding a conflict involving terrifying powers.
• Talent and recognition: Xiao Yan’s compatibility with the secret technique confirms that his abilities are exceptional, even compared with Burning Flame Valley’s elite.
• Trust and verification: The powerful elders do not blindly accept Xiao Yan’s identity; they intend to judge him through his actions and ability to use the inherited technique.

Character Interactions

• Tang Huohuo warns Xiao Yan not to touch the surrounding battle-skill scrolls, while Tang Zhen guides him toward the inheritance.
• Tang Zhen and Tang Huohuo react with shock to Xiao Yan’s extraordinary compatibility and discuss the possibility of recruiting him.
• Flame Cloud Ancestor dismisses their questions and sends them away so he can personally observe Xiao Yan.
• Flame Cloud Ancestor and the Pill Tower expert debate whether Burning Flame Valley should support the Pill Tower. The Pill Tower figure argues that no faction will remain safe if the Pill Tower is destroyed, while Flame Cloud Ancestor insists on protecting only his valley’s lineage.
• After Xiao Yan awakens, Flame Cloud Ancestor urges him to demonstrate the technique immediately, while the Pill Tower expert calmly reassures him and identifies himself as an ally.

Chapter Summary: “A Windfall from Heaven”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan is stunned to discover that Flame Cloud Ancestor is a Dou Saint, a realm far beyond the Dou Venerables he has encountered in the Central Plains.
• Under Flame Cloud Ancestor’s guidance, Xiao Yan attempts to cultivate the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame. Though inexperienced and repeatedly makes mistakes, the ancestor secretly stabilizes his chaotic Dou Qi, allowing him to complete the technique’s circulation.
• Xiao Yan lacks any flame within his body, so the technique produces no increase in strength. However, an unexplained mark appears on his forehead, which is exactly what Flame Cloud Ancestor and the other powerful figure had hoped to see.
• Flame Cloud Ancestor offers Xiao Yan an extraordinarily generous arrangement:
  1. He may cultivate in Burning Flame Valley whenever he wishes, with all his needs provided, but he must not reveal his connection to the valley.
  2. He must strengthen and develop the Xiao Clan, with Burning Flame Valley willing to assist.
  3. The Xiao Clan may not develop in the Central Plains; if it does, Burning Flame Valley will sever all ties and settle its debts and grievances with the clan.
• Xiao Yan is suspicious because the offer seems overwhelmingly favorable and asks why Burning Flame Valley is treating him so well. Flame Cloud Ancestor only says that Burning Flame Valley owes him this, offering no further explanation.
• After Flame Cloud Ancestor leaves, the childlike figure reveals himself as the Pill Tower Ancestor, currently using the name “Niu Er.”
• The Pill Tower Ancestor explains that Xiao Yan’s recent series of strange benefits and powerful allies likely originate from Xun’er. He refuses to reveal her current circumstances but assures Xiao Yan that neither ancestor is deceiving him and that Xiao Yan can confirm the truth with Xun’er later.
• The chapter ends with a dramatic warning from the Pill Tower Ancestor: despite Xiao Yan’s ambitions to become a Dou Venerable or Dou Saint, his current cultivation path is a dead end.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan demonstrates humility, caution, and responsibility. He respectfully follows Flame Cloud Ancestor’s instructions, questions the suspiciously generous offer, and remains committed to strengthening the Xiao Clan.
• His trust in the mysterious ancestors increases slightly after the Pill Tower Ancestor invokes Xun’er, whom Xiao Yan deeply trusts.
• Xiao Yan’s confidence in his own talent and diligence is challenged by the Pill Tower Ancestor’s blunt declaration that his present cultivation route cannot lead him further.
• Flame Cloud Ancestor is revealed to be an immensely powerful Dou Saint who secretly assists Xiao Yan and appears to hold a personal debt or obligation toward him.
• The Pill Tower Ancestor maintains a playful, childlike appearance and manner but displays deep insight, authority, and a willingness to speak frankly about Xiao Yan’s future.
• Xun’er does not appear directly, but her influence is revealed to be central to the events surrounding Xiao Yan and the extraordinary support he has received.

Significant Themes

• Hidden debts and unseen connections: Burning Flame Valley’s generosity is tied to an undisclosed debt, suggesting that Xiao Yan’s current circumstances are connected to forces and relationships beyond his understanding.
• Destiny and protection: Powerful figures are quietly guiding Xiao Yan, while Xun’er appears to be influencing events from behind the scenes.
• Trust and uncertainty: Xiao Yan must decide how much to trust Flame Cloud Ancestor, the Pill Tower Ancestor, and others while lacking the full truth.
• The limits of talent and effort: Xiao Yan believes his talent and diligence can carry him toward higher realms, but the Pill Tower Ancestor’s final statement suggests that proper direction or a fundamental change is necessary.
• Responsibility toward one’s clan: The arrangement emphasizes Xiao Yan’s duty to rebuild and protect the Xiao Clan, even as he pursues personal cultivation.
• The vast gap between realms: The appearance of Dou Saints reinforces how far beyond Xiao Yan’s current level the true pinnacle of power lies.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and Flame Cloud Ancestor: Flame Cloud Ancestor acts as both teacher and benefactor, guiding Xiao Yan’s cultivation and offering him support while withholding the true reason behind it. Xiao Yan responds respectfully but remains wary.
• Xiao Yan and the Pill Tower Ancestor: Their conversation shifts from formal introductions to a probing discussion of Xiao Yan’s confusion, Xun’er’s involvement, and his future potential. The ancestor alternates between teasing behavior and serious revelations.
• Flame Cloud Ancestor and the Pill Tower Ancestor: They appear to be cooperating in Xiao Yan’s interest, particularly regarding the successful activation of the mark. Their mutual confidence suggests they understand more about Xiao Yan’s circumstances than they reveal.
• Xiao Yan and Xun’er: Though separated and not directly present, Xun’er remains the emotional foundation of Xiao Yan’s trust. Her suspected involvement gives him reassurance amid the increasingly mysterious events.

Chapter Summary: Soul Hall and Soul Techniques

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Pill Tower Ancestor warns Xiao Yan that Soul Hall will eventually pursue and kill him because of an ancient grudge between Soul Hall and the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Yan realizes that this old conflict may also explain why Burning Flame Valley treated him favorably and why Xun’er strongly dislikes Soul Hall.
• Rather than becoming frightened or hiding, Xiao Yan calmly asks the Ancestor how he can survive. The Ancestor praises his composure and confirms that he has chosen Xiao Yan as a potential successor to an important opportunity.
• The Ancestor explains that Pill Tower’s disciples have poor combat strength because Soul Hall has systematically weakened alchemists over the years. Soul Hall tolerated alchemists who focused only on soul power and alchemy while suppressing those who cultivated Dou Qi and martial strength.
• Xiao Yan learns that ancient alchemists once possessed Soul Techniques, methods for directly cultivating and weaponizing the soul. These techniques allowed alchemists to rival Dou Qi cultivators in battle.
• Soul Hall once seized or destroyed nearly all high-level Soul Techniques across the continent, causing alchemists’ combat abilities to decline and leaving Pill Tower without a strong foundation in soul-based battle techniques.
• The Pill Tower Ancestor reveals that he has found an ancient alchemist’s inheritance site that may contain powerful Soul Techniques. However, the inheritance can only be obtained by someone of Xiao Yan’s age and nature, while the Ancestor himself cannot claim it.
• He invites Xiao Yan to accompany him and obtain the inheritance. Xiao Yan recognizes that the techniques could greatly increase his strength, though he remains cautious about whether the Ancestor is telling the complete truth.
• The Ancestor eventually downplays the immediate danger from Soul Hall, explaining that Xiao Yan should remain safe as long as he does not openly reveal his identity.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan demonstrates remarkable calmness and maturity when confronted with the possibility of death and a powerful enemy. Instead of panicking, he immediately seeks practical guidance.
• He becomes more aware of his Xiao Clan heritage and the possibility that his family once possessed major influence or conflicts in the Central Plains.
• Xiao Yan’s cautious but opportunistic nature is emphasized: he does not blindly trust the Ancestor, yet he is willing to consider the inheritance because of its potential to transform his combat strength.
• The Pill Tower Ancestor reveals himself as both knowledgeable and manipulative. He understands the weaknesses of Pill Tower and has deliberately sought Xiao Yan because he believes Xiao Yan can obtain the inheritance.
• His serious warnings about Soul Hall contrast with his playful, misleading behavior later, showing that he enjoys teasing Xiao Yan and controlling the flow of the conversation.

Significant Themes

• Inherited grudges and destiny: Xiao Yan is being drawn into conflicts created by his ancestors, particularly the Xiao Clan’s mysterious relationship with Soul Hall.
• The decline of knowledge: Soul Hall’s suppression of Soul Techniques represents the destruction and monopolization of knowledge, leaving alchemists powerful in creation but weak in direct combat.
• The balance between alchemy and martial strength: The chapter criticizes the separation of alchemy from Dou Qi cultivation and suggests that true strength requires mastery of both.
• Facing danger rather than fleeing: Xiao Yan accepts that Soul Hall may become his enemy but refuses to live defensively or abandon his path.
• Trust and manipulation: The Ancestor offers Xiao Yan a valuable opportunity, but his shifting tone and half-truths leave Xiao Yan uncertain about his real motives.

Character Interactions

• The conversation between Xiao Yan and the Pill Tower Ancestor begins as a grave warning about Soul Hall but gradually becomes a discussion of Pill Tower’s historical weaknesses.
• Xiao Yan repeatedly challenges the Ancestor’s claims, asking why he is being targeted and how the proposed inheritance will actually help him.
• The Ancestor responds with praise, sarcasm, and deliberately dramatic statements, testing Xiao Yan’s temperament while persuading him to accept the mission.
• Their interaction establishes a relationship built on mutual usefulness: the Ancestor needs Xiao Yan to obtain the Soul Techniques, while Xiao Yan may gain the power necessary to survive future conflict with Soul Hall.

Chapter Summary: “Sea Ruins”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Despite his doubts, Xiao Yan agrees to accompany the Pill Tower Ancestor to an unknown ruin, reasoning that a powerhouse of the Ancestor’s level could harm him regardless of his resistance.
• He spends the night reflecting on the Ancestor’s strange behavior, particularly the connection he hinted at between Xiao Yan’s cultivation, the Xiao Clan’s feud with Soul Hall, and an ancient secret.
• The next morning, the Pill Tower Ancestor takes Xiao Yan through a spatial wormhole directly to the southeastern sea. Their journey from the Central Plains takes only about three hours, demonstrating the terrifying power of a Dou Saint.
• They arrive at a barren, lifeless island made entirely of blue-gray stones. The ruin is hidden beneath a large boulder through an opening no larger than a dog hole.
• The Ancestor explains that the ruin contains an inheritance—possibly the last soul-technique inheritance on the continent outside Soul Hall—and tells Xiao Yan that obtaining it will depend on his own fortune.
• The Ancestor reveals that the island is located atop the corpse of an ancient magical beast, whose death may have helped conceal the inheritance from Soul Hall.
• Xiao Yan enters the cave alone. Inside, he discovers several dried corpses, apparently young people who died while attempting the inheritance.
• Before he can escape, Xiao Yan suddenly loses control of his body, collapses, and becomes overwhelmed by a strange force or influence. He loses consciousness, believing he may be doomed.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Shows his characteristic mixture of caution, curiosity, and recklessness. Although he recognizes the danger, his adventurous and gambling nature pushes him to enter the ruins. He also remains perceptive, questioning the Pill Tower Ancestor’s motives and reflecting on the unusual nature of the site.
• Pill Tower Ancestor: Becomes more mysterious and emotionally complex. He demonstrates immense spatial power but refuses to explain his true intentions fully. His private memories reveal that he discovered the inheritance in a previous life as a fisherman and has waited over a century for someone capable of succeeding where others failed.
• The Ancestor’s concern for Xiao Yan becomes clearer when he silently hopes that Xiao Yan will survive, suggesting that his motives are not purely self-serving.

Significant Themes

• Risk and opportunity: Great inheritances are hidden in dangerous, unremarkable places rather than surrounded by spectacular signs or guardians.
• The burden of history: The ruin and inheritance have survived the era of Soul Hall’s dominance, while the Ancestor fears that the Soul Hall and Soul Clan may soon eliminate the remaining opposition.
• Trust and uncertainty: Xiao Yan must rely on someone whose intentions he cannot understand, while the Ancestor entrusts the future of the inheritance—and perhaps the fight against Soul Hall—to Xiao Yan.
• The cost of inheritance: The corpses inside the cave foreshadow that obtaining the soul technique may require severe sacrifice or may even be fatal.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan repeatedly questions the Pill Tower Ancestor about the ruin, its appearance, and the presence of a guardian. The Ancestor responds bluntly, dismissing Xiao Yan’s romantic expectations about treasure-hunting sites.
• The Ancestor encourages Xiao Yan to enter but offers no protection or detailed explanation, insisting that success depends on Xiao Yan’s own fortune.
• Their relationship combines the Ancestor’s superior knowledge and power with Xiao Yan’s cautious suspicion and youthful curiosity.

Summary of “Soul Extinguished”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan loses consciousness in the cave but awakens in a strange, boundless space filled with white mist and light.
• He discovers that he no longer has a physical body or Dou Qi and realizes that only his soul has entered the ruin’s trial.
• Understanding that the trial concerns soul power, Xiao Yan begins exploring the empty space while fearing that failure will leave him like the dried corpses outside.
• The white surroundings gradually shift to yellow, then red, revealing a guiding light in the distance. Xiao Yan follows it as increasing pressure bears down on his soul.
• He eventually reaches a statue holding a luminous pearl. The pressure becomes so intense that he nearly collapses and must crawl the final distance.
• Xiao Yan manages to seize the pearl, causing the pressure to vanish and briefly restoring his strength.
• Before he can recover fully, the space suddenly turns black and an even more powerful pressure descends upon him. His soul is unable to withstand it and appears to shatter.
• Xiao Yan awakens back in the cave, seemingly alive, but discovers that he cannot move because he no longer possesses a body. He sees his own corpse lying before him.

Character Development

• Xiao Yan remains cautious and analytical despite his fear, quickly deducing that the trial involves his soul rather than his physical body.
• His survival instinct and determination become central as he endures the increasingly severe pressure.
• He displays extraordinary perseverance, continuing even after exhaustion leaves him unable to walk and forcing him to crawl toward the pearl.
• His confidence is undermined when the second wave of pressure overwhelms him, leaving his ultimate condition uncertain and exposing the limits of his current soul strength.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance under impossible conditions: Xiao Yan continues forward despite exhaustion, pain, and the near certainty of collapse.
• The fragility of the soul: The trial emphasizes that spiritual strength is distinct from physical cultivation and that Xiao Yan’s soul remains dangerously vulnerable.
• Uncertainty and deceptive hope: Obtaining the pearl appears to end the trial, but the sudden second assault reveals that apparent success may only be another stage of the test.
• Life, death, and identity: Xiao Yan’s separation from his body blurs the boundary between survival and death, culminating in the disturbing sight of his own corpse.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan has no direct interaction with other characters during the trial.
• The Pill Tower Ancestor and the ruin’s creator influence events indirectly: Xiao Yan reasons that the trial is not intended as a pointless trap, while the statue and pearl serve as the trial’s central mechanisms.
• Memories of Wu Protector’s brutal training help Xiao Yan measure the intensity of the soul pressure and reinforce his determination to continue.

Chapter Summary: “Death Notice”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yan discovers that he has truly died during the trial. Although his consciousness remains intact, he has no body, voice, or control over his movements and is forced to watch his own corpse become mummified.
• The Pill Tower Ancestor waits outside the cave for three months, believing Xiao Yan has failed. Xiao Yan realizes that the Ancestor did not intentionally sacrifice or deceive him, and he feels little hatred toward him.
• Xiao Yan’s consciousness begins shifting between locations, allowing him to witness people learning of his death. Some react with grief, while others merely sigh or forget him quickly.
• Elder Qiu sends a death notice to Ye Zhong. Ye Zhong is devastated, smashing a teacup, and Ye Xin Lan collapses upon hearing that something has happened to Xiao Yan.
• The news reaches Su Qian, Fire Elder, and Hu Gan. Fire Elder erupts in fury, blaming the Pill Tower and Su Qian’s connections, while Su Qian becomes numb with grief and decides to personally inform Xiao Yan’s family.
• Su Qian travels to Wutan City and visits the Xiao Clan. Xiao Yan follows him, emotionally dreading the moment his father will hear the news.
• In the Xiao Clan’s main hall, Su Qian struggles to speak before finally announcing: “Xiao Yan met with an unfortunate end.”
• Xiao Zhan is devastated. His hair turns white overnight, and he becomes physically and emotionally incapacitated. Xiao Yan watches helplessly, desperately wishing he could comfort his father and tell him that he is still present.
• Two weeks later, Xiao Yan’s funeral has ended, but the memorial remains surrounded by offerings. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li return to find their father broken by grief, repeating that Xiao Yan is gone.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: Moves from disbelief and resistance to painful acceptance of his death. Though unable to interact with the living, his emotions remain strong, especially his guilt and anguish over the suffering of those who love him.
• Pill Tower Ancestor: Revealed as regretful rather than malicious. His sorrow and confusion show that Xiao Yan’s death was not part of a deliberate betrayal.
• Ye Zhong and Ye Xin Lan: Their reactions demonstrate how deeply Xiao Yan had affected the Ye Clan. Ye Zhong’s rage and Xin Lan’s collapse reveal their emotional attachment to him.
• Su Qian: Changes from a powerful elder into a grieving, burdened messenger. He struggles to deliver the news and personally travels to Wutan City out of responsibility and respect for Xiao Yan.
• Fire Elder: Responds with explosive anger, directing his grief toward the Pill Tower and the circumstances surrounding Xiao Yan’s death.
• Xiao Zhan: Suffers the most visible collapse. His concern for his son and inability to accept the loss transform him from a steady father into a physically weakened, devastated man.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li: Their arrival at the funeral emphasizes the continuing spread of grief through Xiao Yan’s family.

Significant Themes

• The finality of death: Xiao Yan’s intact consciousness contrasts painfully with his complete inability to affect the world, reinforcing that death has separated him from everything familiar.
• Helplessness and survivor-like guilt: Xiao Yan can witness the pain caused by his death but cannot speak, comfort anyone, or correct their misunderstanding.
• The cost of love: The sorrow of Xiao Yan’s friends and family proves the depth of their bonds with him, but their love also intensifies his suffering as he watches them mourn.
• Responsibility and regret: The Pill Tower Ancestor, Su Qian, and others must confront the consequences of Xiao Yan’s presumed failure and death, even though none may have intended harm.
• Family and homecoming: Returning to Wutan City as a spirit turns Xiao Yan’s homecoming into a tragic inversion of reunion: he sees his father again but cannot reveal himself.
• The isolation of grief: Each character experiences sorrow differently—anger, numbness, collapse, or quiet mourning—showing how death affects an entire community.

Character Interactions

• The Pill Tower Ancestor waits for Xiao Yan and unknowingly confirms his death, while Xiao Yan silently observes him without resentment.
• Elder Qiu communicates the death through letters, triggering reactions from Cao Ying, Song Qing, Dan Xuan, Dan Chen, Ye Zhong, and others.
• Fire Elder angrily confronts Su Qian, blaming the institutions connected to Xiao Yan’s death; Hu Gan restrains him.
• Su Qian visits the Xiao Clan and faces Xiao Zhan, struggling to deliver the devastating news.
• Xiao Yan silently watches his father receive the announcement and later sees Xiao Ding and Xiao Li return to mourn with him, unable to offer any comfort.