Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan killed Ban Lao and turned the battle against the Black-Corner Region, but the Falling Heart Flame broke free from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower and renewed the threat to Canaan Academy. Xiao Yan lured it into the tower as the elders restored the seal, while a mysterious seven-colored serpent followed him inside before the barrier closed.

• Xiao Yan killed Ban Lao, shocking both armies and boosting Canaan Academy's morale as the Gold and Silver Elders began to doubt Han Feng.
• Han Feng hoped to free the Falling Heart Flame, but Xiao Yan pursued the Earthflame Sect Master before the tower's seal suddenly cracked and the flame emerged.
• Han Feng rallied the Black-Corner Region forces, and the Falling Heart Flame joined the fight against Su Qian while Xiao Yan intercepted its attack and was driven back.
• Xiao Yan provoked the Falling Heart Flame and rushed into the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, urging the elders to reinforce the seal as he lured it after him.
• The elders reformed the seal, but a powerful seven-colored serpent burst from a cultivation chamber and entered the seal before it closed, leaving Han Feng to howl as the Heavenly Flame aura vanished.

Xiao Yan confronted the Falling Heart Flame underground, but Queen Medusa joined the battle and was swallowed by it. After discovering the Origin Heart Flame hidden inside Medusa, Xiao Yan faced a failing barrier and kissed her in a desperate attempt to resolve the crisis.

• Xiao Yan lured the pursuing Falling Heart Flame into the magma world and searched for its hidden Origin Heart Flame.
• Queen Medusa transformed from the Rainbow Swallowing Sky Python and charged at the Falling Heart Flame, which swallowed her.
• Xiao Yan entered the Falling Heart Flame to protect Medusa, but his attacks failed to harm it.
• Xiao Yan discovered the Origin Heart Flame hiding inside Medusa as the Falling Heart Flame battered his Violet Flame barrier.
• Xiao Yan kissed Medusa as the barrier weakened and the two faced imminent danger.

Xiao Yan forced his way into Queen Medusa’s body to seize the Origin Heart Flame and spent months refining it while Jia Nan Academy recovered from Han Feng’s failed assault. After Han Feng learned that Xiao Yan might possess a Spirit-Realm Soul, he used a soul-searching technique on Han Xian and set out to contact the Soul Hall.

• Queen Medusa accused Xiao Yan of taking advantage of her, but the failing Violet Flame barrier forced him to enter her body and control the Origin Heart Flame.
• Xiao Yan guided the Origin Heart Flame through Queen Medusa’s meridians and into his own body to refine it.
• Han Feng withdrew from Jia Nan Academy after Elder Hao drove back the last Black-Corner Region fighters, while Su Qian’s duties guarding the sealed Falling Heart Flame kept the academy from retaliating.
• Han Xian warned Han Feng that the Falling Heart Flame was weakening and described Xiao Yan’s immense pressure during his recovery.
• Han Feng suspected Xiao Yan had reached the Spirit-Realm Soul, seized Han Xian, and searched his memories until he confirmed it.
• Han Feng laughed with relief and jealousy, then left to seek assistance from the Soul Hall.

Han Feng summoned the Black Alliance’s powerful members to Maple City, then revealed that he had invited Protector Xuan and the Soul Hall to harvest their souls. After Protector Xuan confirmed that Xiao Yan possessed a Spirit-Realm Soul, Han Feng proposed a plan to capture him and said Xiao Yan would emerge from his seal within two months.

• The Gold and Silver Elders and other Black Alliance leaders gathered, assuming Han Feng’s delayed arrival and formal procession were meant to honor them.
• Han Feng ignored the Gold and Silver Elders and warned them to take their places before an honored guest arrived.
• Protector Xuan and dozens of Soul Hall figures appeared, then slaughtered the assembled Black Alliance members, sparing only the Gold and Silver Elders.
• Han Feng presented a bound Jia Nan Academy student, and Protector Xuan searched his memories and confirmed that Xiao Yan had reached the Spirit-Realm Soul.
• Han Feng proposed a method to capture Xiao Yan, and told Protector Xuan that an informant expected Xiao Yan to emerge from his seal within two months.

Xiao Yan completed the Earth-tier Flame Emperor Armor for his soul, advanced his Flame Mantra and cultivation, and awoke beside Queen Medusa after months of refining the Falling Heart Flame. Medusa challenged him to a fight over what had happened between them, but Xiao Yan’s question about whether she was pregnant left her stunned.

• Xiao Yan finished the soul-based Flame Emperor Armor using the Glazed Violet Flame, strengthening his soul and raising the Flame Mantra to the Mid Earth-tier.
• Xiao Yan reached Three-Star Battle Emperor and judged that his combined abilities let him contend with ordinary Dou Zongs and potentially stronger opponents.
• Xiao Yan returned to his body and awoke to find Queen Medusa beside him, then awkwardly acknowledged her after she demanded that he move away.
• Queen Medusa dressed and confronted Xiao Yan, insisting that they fight because he could not repay what had happened or give her the life she wanted.
• Xiao Yan asked whether Queen Medusa had become pregnant, and she reacted with shock and fury.

Xiao Yan and Queen Medusa fought after she feared he might have left her pregnant, but he subdued her with an improved Eight Extremes Collapse and persuaded her to stop attacking. He then offered to help the Snake-People Tribe obtain more land, leaving Medusa demanding an explanation.

• Queen Medusa questioned Xiao Yan about whether he might have caused a pregnancy, and his careless remark about nocturnal emissions enraged her.
• Queen Medusa attacked Xiao Yan with seven-colored energy, and he dodged her strikes while revealing that he had become a Battle Ancestor.
• Xiao Yan used an improved Eight Extremes Collapse to stun Queen Medusa, then held her down until she agreed not to attack.
• Xiao Yan released Queen Medusa, and she asked how he wanted to talk.
• Xiao Yan offered to help the Snake-People Tribe obtain more land, and Queen Medusa asked him to explain.

Xiao Yan and Queen Medusa agreed to establish a faction in the Black-Corner Region, with Medusa eventually receiving about one-third of its shares and helping manage it after Xiao Yan left for the Central Plains. After Xiao Yan emerged from the seal and apologized to Su Qian for refining the Falling Heart Flame, a messenger arrived with news that Han Feng had captured Han Yue and the others.

• Xiao Yan offered Queen Medusa a choice between a territorial exchange and joining his planned faction, and she negotiated for a larger share.
• Xiao Yan agreed to give Medusa roughly one-third of the faction's shares in return for greater responsibility, and she accepted the deal.
• Xiao Yan used his Glazed Violet Flame to cut through Mang Tian Chi's seal and emerged from the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower with Queen Medusa.
• Xiao Yan apologized to Su Qian for refining the Falling Heart Flame and promised to make reparations to Canaan Academy.
• A messenger arrived and told Xiao Yan that Han Feng had captured Han Yue and the others, shocking him.

Xiao Yan learned that Han Feng had abducted Han Yue and the others and prepared a dawn rescue with Ziyan and Medusa. The chapter ended with Han Feng and Protector Xuan waiting for Xiao Yan to emerge, while the captives remained imprisoned in Maple City.

• Hu Jia and the other captives received food from servants, and Yaoyue checked it for tampering while the girls worried over Xiao Yan’s long absence.
• Xiao Yan learned from Su Qian that Han Yue and the others had been taken to Maple City, and he asked Ziyan to help rescue them.
• Xiao Yan bowed to Medusa and asked her to join the rescue; she agreed in exchange for a favor.
• Xiao Yan set the rescue for dawn, and Ziyan told him that Ya Fei had been coming to see him.
• Protector Xuan asked Han Feng whether Xiao Yan had emerged, and Han Feng predicted that he would appear within days.

Xiao Yan confronted Han Feng in Maple City to demand the return of Han Yue and the others, then overwhelmed Han Feng with his Glazed Violet Flame and pursued him. As Han Feng called for Protector Xuan, Soul Hall forces emerged and activated a vast formation beneath Xiao Yan.

• Xiao Yan arrived at Maple City and demanded that Han Feng reveal where Han Yue and the others were being held.
• Han Feng and the Gold and Silver Elders taunted Xiao Yan and tried to provoke him, while Xiao Yan suspected a Soul Hall Protector was waiting in ambush.
• Xiao Yan struck Silver Elder with his Glazed Violet Flame, then crushed Han Feng's flame dragon and absorbed its Heartsea Flame into his Flame Emperor Armor.
• Han Feng fled toward the bamboo forest as Xiao Yan pursued him, while Gold Elder carried the injured Silver Elder away instead of stopping Xiao Yan.
• Han Feng shouted for Protector Xuan to save him, and black-fog figures appeared as a massive formation spread beneath Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan killed Han Feng, seized the Sea Heart Flame, and fought to escape Protector Xuan's Soul-Locking Formation. As the formation weakened, Protector Xuan turned on Han Feng and devoured his soul.

• Xiao Yan ignored Protector Xuan's threat about the captives and stomped Han Feng's body apart.
• Protector Xuan dragged out Han Feng's soul, but Xiao Yan seized the Sea Heart Flame from it and stored the flame's origin.
• Protector Xuan trapped Xiao Yan in the Soul-Locking Formation, but Xiao Yan used the Glazed Violet Flame to burn away its black clouds and weaken it.
• Protector Xuan ordered a Soul Envoy to fetch Xiao Yan's hostages and demanded that Han Feng devise a way to reinforce the formation.
• Han Feng revealed hidden soul-gathering measures in nearby cities, but Protector Xuan restrained him and devoured his soul.

Xiao Yan and Medusa battled Protector Xuan after he swallowed Han Feng's soul and gained a huge boost in power. The fight turned in Xiao Yan's favor until Protector Xuan detonated his black mist and charged at Medusa.

• Medusa killed the Dou Emperor Soul Envoy who discovered the pavilion was empty, while Ziyan escorted Han Yue and the others away through a spatial opening.
• Xiao Yan broke out of the Soul-Locking Formation and found Protector Xuan had swallowed Han Feng's soul, raising his strength to the Seven-Star Battle Ancestor level.
• Xiao Yan checked Medusa after soul waves gave her a headache, then handed her the black chain he had taken from Protector Xuan.
• Xiao Yan used the Three Mysteries of Heavenly Flame and Yin-Yang Twin Flames to match Protector Xuan's strengthened attacks, then trapped him with flame arms and pulled him into a powerful punch.
• Protector Xuan detonated his black mist to escape Xiao Yan's attack, absorbed some of the scattered power, and charged toward Medusa as Xiao Yan shouted after him.

Xiao Yan and Medusa defeated Protector Xuan through a desperate battle, with Xiao Yan capturing his soul inside the Soul-Breaking Nail. Medusa remained badly wounded but planned to refine the soul claw she had swallowed using Xiao Yan’s Falling Heart Flame.

• Medusa transformed into the Rainbow Swallowing Sky Python, burned her blood essence, and swallowed Protector Xuan’s Soul Claw Hand.
• Xiao Yan revealed his Clan Crest and intercepted Protector Xuan’s attack, allowing Medusa to bind him with her seven-colored barrier.
• Protector Xuan broke free by self-destructing and launched his Soul-Breaking Nail at Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan caught it inside his soul space and sealed it.
• Xiao Yan examined Medusa and found her soul injured, with Protector Xuan’s swallowed soul claw still clashing inside her.
• Medusa asked Xiao Yan for the Falling Heart Flame so she could refine the soul claw and recover, and Xiao Yan agreed.

Xiao Yan defeated Han Feng’s forces in Maple City, reunited with Yaoyue, Han Yue, and the other women, and sent them back toward the academy with Ziyan. He stayed behind with Medusa’s tiny body to claim Maple City and build a faction, then discussed the plan with Ya Fei, who said it would require changes.

• Xiao Yan killed the remaining Soul Envoys, collected their treasures, and found Ziyan and the women hiding in a spatial layer.
• Xiao Yan promised to take Ziyan beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to search for treasure, then reunited with Yaoyue, Han Yue, and the others.
• Xiao Yan asked Ziyan to send the women back to the academy while he stayed in Maple City to establish a faction with Medusa.
• Xiao Yan announced a banquet at the Mitel Auction House and reunited with Ya Fei there.
• Ya Fei heard Xiao Yan’s plans and said they would need to change the plans ahead.

Ya Fei explained how she had prepared to take over Han Feng’s territory, but the deaths of many of his leaders left Xiao Yan facing a shortage of experts. She proposed targeting the Black Emperor Sect as the base for their new force, and the chapter ended with Xiao Yan and Ya Fei welcoming leaders from across the region at a banquet.

• Ya Fei told Xiao Yan that Mittel agents had prepared to take over Han Feng’s affiliated forces and had summoned their remaining leaders to meet him.
• Ya Fei revealed that Han Feng had gathered and apparently killed most of those forces’ leaders, leaving them short of Dou Emperors and Dou Wangs.
• Xiao Yan agreed to seek unaffiliated experts while Ya Fei proposed that they target the Black Emperor Sect and establish their new force in Black Emperor City.
• Xiao Yan and Ya Fei arrived at the Welcome Pavilion, where leaders from Maple City and Han Feng’s former forces had gathered.
• Ya Fei welcomed the assembled leaders on behalf of Mittel, and the banquet began.

After securing Ya Fei’s leadership over the local factions, Xiao Yan recruited Hai Bodong with the promise of pills that could help him reach Dou Zong. He then captured the Gold and Silver Elders and bound them to serve Ya Fei, leaving Xiao Yan with more manpower for taking over Han Feng’s territory.

• Ya Fei secured the factions’ acceptance of her leadership at the banquet, while Xiao Yan’s aura kept the attendees from resisting.
• Xiao Yan offered Hai Bodong an Emperor’s Extreme Pill and a Sect-Breaking Pill to help him advance, and Hai Bodong pledged himself to Xiao Yan’s faction.
• Xiao Yan tracked down the Gold and Silver Elders in a remote mountain range and captured both as they tried to flee.
• Xiao Yan made the Gold and Silver Elders accept Soul Seals and ordered them to serve Ya Fei at the Mitel Auction House.
• Xiao Yan headed back toward Jia Nan Academy, thinking that the two elders would help him take over Han Feng’s territory.

Xiao Yan returned to Canaan Academy and reunited with the women, then discussed building a new force to take over Han Feng’s territory. With Xiao Yu and Mo Shishi’s advice, he settled on Heavenly Gate as its name and planned to recruit academy students and his brothers.

• Xiao Yan returned to his courtyard, joined the women preparing dinner, and helped make a banquet with grilled fish.
• After the meal and wine, Xiao Yan told Xiao Yu and Mo Shishi that he had captured the Gold and Silver Elders and sent them to Ya Fei in Maple City.
• Xiao Yu and Mo Shishi proposed recruiting Heavenly Gate students to ease the new force’s manpower shortage, and Xiao Yan agreed to seek about thirty recruits.
• Xiao Yu suggested bringing Xiao Ding and Xiao Li into the force, while Mo Shishi proposed keeping Heavenly Gate as a talent-training organization within Canaan Academy.
• Xiao Yan decided the new force would keep the name Heavenly Gate, and Xiao Yu and Mo Shishi agreed.

Xiao Yan took Ziyan into the magma beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, where they discovered a second Falling Heart Flame and the remains of its former owner. The owner appeared as a weakened soul, identified himself as Yao Tianhuo, and flew into a rage after Ziyan called him dumb for dying while refining a Heavenly Flame.

• Xiao Yan recruited former Heavenly Gate members, graduating students, and alchemists to staff the Outer Heavenly Gate before Su Qian dragged him to replenish the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower with Heartfire.
• Xiao Yan brought Ziyan into the magma sea and followed a small manifestation of the Falling Heart Flame deep underground.
• Xiao Yan and Ziyan entered a hidden sphere and found a second Falling Heart Flame floating above a skeleton.
• An illusory old man appeared, and Xiao Yan guessed that he had died while trying to refine a second Falling Heart Flame.
• The old man introduced himself as Yao Tianhuo, the Skyfire Venerable, and exploded in anger when Ziyan called him dumb and said he had been stuffed to death.

Xiao Yan negotiated with Yao Tianhuo for the Juvenile Falling Heart Flame, offering to help restore his soul in exchange for the Five-Wheel Separation Flame Method. As they prepared to leave, Ziyan sensed something deep beneath the magma, and Xiao Yan decided they should investigate while using their speed and concealment to avoid the Flame Lizardmen.

• Xiao Yan stopped Yao Tianhuo from attacking Ziyan, then asked to take the Juvenile Falling Heart Flame back to the academy as a replacement for the flame he had refined.
• Yao Tianhuo agreed to give Xiao Yan the Juvenile Falling Heart Flame if he helped restore his soul, and offered the Five-Wheel Separation Flame Method as a reward.
• Xiao Yan gave Yao Tianhuo Seven-Colored Green Spirit Saliva, helping him recover some strength, and Yao Tianhuo removed his Soul Seal from the scroll before they prepared to leave.
• Ziyan sensed something drawing her toward the depths of the magma, but Yao Tianhuo warned that a terrifying presence lurked below.
• Xiao Yan argued that the danger might be unable to leave the depths, then proposed using Ziyan's spatial power, his Spirit-Realm Soul, and their speed to avoid the Flame Lizardmen.
• Yao Tianhuo realized Xiao Yan could conceal them from the lizardmen, while Xiao Yan knew that only two Half-Saints were below.

Xiao Yan and Ziyan descended through the magma concealed inside a Flame Lizardman corpse, while Yao Tianhuo hid in Xiao Yan’s soul space. After a High-Tier Battle Venerable Red-and-White Lizardman discovered them and gave chase, the trio fled toward the depths, where an ancient roar suddenly erupted.

• Xiao Yan persuaded Yao Tianhuo to accompany him and Ziyan into the deeper magma, then gave Yao Tianhuo a pouch of souls and a Juvenile Falling Heart Flame to restore his soul power.
• Yao Tianhuo discovered Protector Xuan imprisoned inside a fireball of Falling Heart Flame in Xiao Yan’s soul space, then examined the pouch and realized it held nearly a hundred souls.
• Xiao Yan and Ziyan arranged for two Dou Emperor-level Flame Lizardmen to fight, hollowed out the defeated one’s corpse, and concealed themselves inside it to descend unnoticed.
• As they neared the reddish-black magma, Xiao Yan accelerated the corpse, prompting the Red-and-White Lizardman to discover and pursue them; Yao Tianhuo used Xiao Yan and Ziyan’s power to drive them farther downward.
• With the Red-and-White Lizardman about to catch them, Xiao Yan prepared to fight, but a colossal ancient roar suddenly shook the magma.

Xiao Yan and his companions encountered Dragon Emperor Zhukun in the dark space beneath the magma, where he awkwardly reunited with his daughter, Ziyan. Zhukun explained how he had been trapped in the Ancient Emperor’s Cave Dwelling, and Ziyan promised to visit him before teasing him about his mistake.

• After the crimson-white lizardman died, Xiao Yan and his companions appeared in a dark space before the enormous Zhukun.
• Zhukun silently struggled to find the right words to greet Ziyan until Xiao Yan introduced them and guided him toward revealing his identity.
• Ziyan learned that Zhukun was her father, confronted him about leaving her alone, and then spoke privately with him about her life.
• Zhukun told Ziyan he had been trapped after entering the Ancient Emperor’s Cave Dwelling with her as an egg and sending her away to protect her.
• Ziyan accepted Zhukun as her father, promised to visit him, and called him a lousy Dragon Emperor for getting trapped while seeking treasure.