Chapter Summaries

After looting the Ten Thousand Scorpions Sect, Xiao Qing’s group traveled across the barren Chu Yun Empire and entered Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh. They sensed a Heavenly Flame deep within the poisonous mist and suspected it was the Netherworld Poison Flame.

• Xiao Qing put the Ten Thousand Scorpions Sect members to sleep, took its treasures and scriptures, and gave the cultivation methods and Dou Techniques to Xiao Yi Xian to study.
• Xiao Qing’s group spent half a month traveling through the Chu Yun Empire and decided to investigate Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh before returning to the Jia Ma Empire.
• The group rode the Ink Snake through the marsh’s poisonous mist, while Xiao Yi Xian resisted the urge to absorb it before she could control her Calamitous Poison Body.
• Xiao Qing used the Life Spirit Flame to shield the group as the increasingly toxic mist corroded the Ink Snake’s Dou Qi barrier.
• The Life Spirit Flame reacted with excitement deep in the marsh, and Qing Lin suggested that the Heavenly Flame there might be the Netherworld Poison Flame.

Xiao Qing and his companions identified the Heavenly Flame in the Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh as the Netherworld Poison Flame, which could eventually benefit Xiao Yi Xian. Xiao Yan and Yao Chen captured the flame, and the chapter ended with Xiao Qing arriving and greeting Yao Chen.

• Qing Lin recognized the Heavenly Flame as the Netherworld Poison Flame, and Xiao Qing cautioned that Xiao Yi Xian should not absorb it before controlling her Calamitous Poison Body.
• Xiao Yan told Yao Chen that he wanted to refine the Netherworld Poison Flame, but Yao Chen warned that he was too weak and needed to reach Dou Wang first.
• Yao Chen subdued the Netherworld Poison Flame and sealed it inside a Space Cage while Xiao Yan watched.
• Yao Chen sensed someone nearby and called them out, and Xiao Qing emerged with his companions and greeted Yao Chen.

Xiao Qing reunited with Yao Chen and Xiao Yan in the Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh and exchanged the Furywind Dragon Flame for the Netherworld Poison Flame, which suited Xiao Yi Xian. Xiao Qing planned to return to the Jia Ma Empire with his companions while Yao Chen prepared to leave with Xiao Yan.

• Xiao Qing arrived with Queen Medusa, Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Xiao Yi Xian, surprising Yao Chen and Xiao Yan.
• Yao Chen and Xiao Qing discussed Xiao Yan’s discovery of the Netherworld Poison Flame and its drawbacks for an alchemist.
• Xiao Qing offered the Furywind Dragon Flame in exchange for the Netherworld Poison Flame, and Yao Chen accepted.
• Yao Chen gave Xiao Yan the Bone Flame Ring, and Xiao Yan handed it over before Yao Chen stored the Furywind Dragon Flame.
• Yao Chen said he would leave with Xiao Yan, while Xiao Qing confirmed he was returning to the Jia Ma Empire to help Queen Medusa evolve.

Xiao Qing reassured his companions about the Soul Hall Guardian targeting the Jia Ma Empire and explained the faction to them during the journey home. After half a month, they reached a secluded valley in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, where Medusa began preparing for her evolution.

• Yao Chen warned Xiao Qing to be cautious of the Soul Hall Guardian, then left with Xiao Yan, who traveled away through the poisonous mist.
• Xiao Qing and his companions departed the Ten Thousand Poisons Marsh on Ink Snake and headed back toward the Jia Ma Empire.
• Xiao Qing explained the Soul Hall to Zi Yan and the others and reassured Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian that he could protect them from its Guardian.
• During the half-month journey, Xiao Qing and Xiao Yi Xian read Dou Technique scrolls while their companions rested or cultivated.
• Xiao Qing brought the group to a secluded valley in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, and Qing Lin stored Ink Snake away.
• Xiao Qing told Medusa to familiarize herself with the valley and prepare for her evolution before beginning it.

Xiao Qing brought Medusa into the Life-and-Death Gate’s secret realm to begin her evolution, after preparing a Recovery Pill for her. He cleared the realm of its servants and gathered their Energy Cores before Medusa undressed and faced the Life Spirit Flame.

• Xiao Qing gave Medusa a Sixth Grade Recovery Pill and told her to take it during her evolution if she was injured.
• Xiao Qing entered the secret realm with Medusa, leaving Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Xiao Yi Xian in the valley.
• The Mulan Three Elders obeyed Xiao Qing’s command to kill themselves, leaving behind three Energy Cores.
• Xiao Qing enslaved Xie Bi Yan and transformed him into an energy body, then collected his Energy Core with the others.
• Xiao Qing summoned the Life Spirit Flame, and Medusa undressed before the sea of green fire to begin evolving.

Medusa underwent her evolution in the green sea of flames, becoming a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python and reaching Two-Star Dou Zong. After surviving the heavenly lightning tribulation, she thanked Xiao Qing for helping her complete the evolution and confirmed that a newborn soul had emerged within her body.

• Medusa took the Sixth Grade Recovery Pill, transformed into a giant purple snake, and plunged into the green sea of flames to undergo evolution.
• Xiao Qing sent life force into Medusa as the flames burned her body, while the pill's medicinal power helped her endure the damage.
• As Medusa's body was reduced to charred remains, Xiao Qing released the Life Spirit Flame's stored life force, and she emerged as a tiny Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python.
• Medusa's eyes turned cold and bewitching, and she faced a heavenly lightning bolt before successfully overcoming the tribulation.
• Medusa returned to human form and told Xiao Qing that her evolution had raised her cultivation to Two-Star Dou Zong.
• Medusa thanked Xiao Qing for his help, and Xiao Qing asked whether a newborn soul had appeared within her body.

After Medusa’s evolution, Xiao Qing agreed to find a Spirit-Merging Pill formula to resolve the conflict between her soul and the newly born Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. He left the secret realm with the sleeping Little Seven-Colored Snake, and Zi Yan and Qing Lin learned that she was Medusa.

• Medusa told Xiao Qing that the newborn snake soul was fighting her for control and that she needed time to recover.
• Xiao Qing promised to seek a Spirit-Merging Pill formula from Fa Ma at the Alchemist Association in Jia Ma Sacred City.
• Medusa rested, and the Little Seven-Colored Snake appeared in her place.
• Xiao Qing lured the snake with Concomitant Purple Crystal Source, claimed her as his master, and let her fall asleep around his wrist.
• Xiao Qing used the Life-and-Death Seal to leave the secret realm and emerged in the small valley before Zi Yan and Qing Lin.
• Xiao Qing showed them the sleeping Little Seven-Colored Snake, and she woke as they wondered whether she was Medusa.

Xiao Qing explained Medusa’s current state, gave Zi Yan Energy Cores and Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian pills, then secluded himself to refine a Huangji Pill. As he absorbed it to raise his cultivation, a sinister mass of black mist appeared at the border of the Jia Ma Empire.

• Xiao Qing explained Medusa’s evolution, and the Little Seven-Colored Snake fled into his sleeve when Zi Yan wanted to play with it.
• Xiao Qing told Zi Yan to wait until she reached the High-Rank Dou Emperor stage for a Huangji Pill, then gave her Energy Cores to absorb.
• Xiao Qing gave Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian pills suited to their cultivation and went into seclusion.
• Xiao Qing refined a Huangji Pill and swallowed it, drawing in medicinal power and energy from his surroundings.
• A strange mass of black mist emerged at the border of the Jia Ma Empire, emitting a sinister laugh.

Jia Xing Tian feared that the expert who had killed the neighboring empires’ strongest fighters would target the Jia Ma Empire, until Wu Protector appeared and forced him to submit. Wu Protector ordered him to lead an attack on the Xiao Household, leaving Jia Xing Tian resigned to obeying to save his life.

• Jia Xing Tian worried that the Jia Ma Royal Family would be targeted after learning that Xie Bi Yan and other powerful experts had been killed.
• Wu Protector appeared in Jia Xing Tian’s room, crushed the furnishings with his aura, and forced Jia Xing Tian to kneel and beg for his life.
• Wu Protector asked whether the Jia Ma Empire had a clan surnamed Xiao, and Jia Xing Tian described the Xiao Household’s relocation to the Imperial Capital.
• Jia Xing Tian told Wu Protector that the Mittel Family’s strongest protector was a Six-Star Dou Huang.
• Wu Protector ordered Jia Xing Tian to massacre the Xiao Household and kill its protector if he interfered.
• After Wu Protector left, Jia Xing Tian accepted that resistance was futile and decided he had to obey.

After advancing to Nine Star Dou Emperor, Xiao Qing fed the Little Seven-Colored Snake and flew toward Jia Ma Sacred City. There, Jia Xing Tian ordered the Xiao Household seized, while Hai Bo Dong and Muzer Tengshan fought to stop the royal forces.

• Xiao Qing reached Nine Star Dou Emperor after cultivating with the Huangji Pill and the valley’s dense energy.
• Xiao Qing fed the Little Seven-Colored Snake Concomitant Purple Crystal Source, then left for Jia Ma Sacred City after telling Zi Yan he would be away.
• Jia Xing Tian led armed soldiers to the Xiao Household and ordered them to take it down.
• Hai Bo Dong confronted Jia Xing Tian to defend the Xiao Household, and the two flew into the sky to fight.
• Yan Shi blocked Muzer Tengshan, explaining that he owed Jia Xing Tian a favor, and the two began fighting as soldiers charged the Xiao Household.

Fa Ma and Hai Bo Dong defended the Xiao Household from Jia Xing Tian, but Wu Protector appeared, killed Jia Xing Tian, and attacked Fa Ma. Xun'er recognized the Soul Hall's interest in the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade and chose to remain in the estate for now.

• Fa Ma stopped the Imperial Capital soldiers and joined Hai Bo Dong in protecting the Xiao Household, warning Jia Xing Tian to leave.
• Wu Protector emerged from the black mist, dismissed Jia Xing Tian as trash, and captured his soul with a chain.
• Tian Ye watched Jia Xing Tian's body fall as Hai Bo Dong and Fa Ma prepared to face Wu Protector.
• Wu Protector attacked Fa Ma, who dodged his chain after his palm seal failed to stop it.
• Xun'er suspected the Soul Hall had come for the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade and considered whether to alert the Gu Clan.
• Ling Ying offered to take Xun'er away, but she chose to stay and watch the battle.

Xiao Qing arrived just in time to save Fa Ma and defeat Wu Protector, then went with Fa Ma to the Alchemist Association. Xun'er chose to keep Xiao Qing’s apparent display of Dou Zun abilities secret from her clan.

• Wu Protector’s Three-Stage Soul Lock shattered Fa Ma’s crimson medicinal cauldron and nearly struck him.
• Xiao Qing emerged from a spatial crack, immobilized Wu Protector, and revealed his soul body by crushing the black mist around him.
• Xiao Qing imprisoned Wu Protector in a Space Cage and collected his black soul pouch and Storage Ring.
• Xiao Qing asked Fa Ma to take him to the Alchemist Association, while Xun'er told Ling Ying not to report the incident to her clan.
• At the Alchemist Association, Fa Ma, Hai Bo Dong, and Mite'er Tengshan thanked Xiao Qing for saving their lives.

After defeating Jia Xing Tian, Xiao Qing arranged for the Mittel Family to take over the Jia Ma Royal Family and ordered the battle’s details kept secret. He left the Imperial Capital without taking the Tou She Ancient God Jade, while the Mittel Family began its assault on the royal family.

• Xiao Qing thanked Fa Ma, Hai Bo Dong, and Mite'er Tengshan for protecting the Xiao Household, then declared that the Mittel Family should take over the Jia Ma Royal Family.
• Xiao Qing ordered Fa Ma and Hai Bo Dong to suppress news of the black mist expert, then received the Spirit-Merging Pill recipe from Fa Ma and gave him a jade slip of alchemy insights.
• Xiao Qing departed the hall, and Hai Bo Dong and Mite'er Tengshan left to take over the Jia Ma Royal Family while Fa Ma went to speak with the Imperial Capital’s experts.
• Xiao Qing considered the danger of keeping the Tou She Ancient God Jade and decided to leave it for Xiao Yan, then vanished from the sky above the Imperial Capital.
• Hai Bo Dong and Mite'er Tengshan led the Mittel Family guards in storming the Jia Ma Royal Family and slaughtering its remaining loyalists.

Yun Yun learned that the Jia Ma Royal Family had fallen to the Mittel Family and feared the Misty Cloud Sect might be attacked while Yun Shan tried to break through. Xiao Qing bound Wu Protector with the Life-and-Death Seal, questioned him about the Soul Hall, and ordered him to delay his mission against the Xiao Household.

• Fa Ma and Hai Bo Dong secured the Imperial Capital experts' silence about the recent events.
• A Misty Cloud Sect Elder told Yun Yun that Fa Ma had killed Jia Xing Tian and the Mittel Family had taken over the Jia Ma Royal Family.
• Xiao Qing returned to the valley, captured Wu Protector's soul in a barrier, and bound him with the Life-and-Death Seal.
• Wu Protector revealed the Soul Hall's ranks, two branch hall locations, and his order from Venerable Elder Qin Tian to obtain the Xiao Household's Ancient Jade without exposing the Soul Hall or massacring the family.
• Xiao Qing ordered Wu Protector to resume his mission while delaying it as long as possible and collecting souls only without attracting the Soul Hall's notice.

Xiao Qing refined a Spirit-Merging Pill to help Medusa fuse with her newly evolved body. After taking it, Medusa’s aura became more complete and stable, and she began sensing the changes within herself.

• Xiao Qing studied the Soul Hall’s Dou Techniques and practiced summoning its black mist before deciding he would return to Jia Nan Academy once Zi Yan and the others finished cultivating.
• Xiao Qing used Life Spirit Flame to grow and refine medicinal herbs, then formed them into a Spirit-Merging Pill.
• Medusa emerged from Xiao Qing’s sleeve and asked whether the pill could resolve her problem.
• Xiao Qing explained that the Spirit-Merging Pill would fuse her soul and body, and Medusa took it.
• Medusa’s soul began fusing with her body, and after her aura briefly surged and settled, she opened her eyes with a newfound sense of completeness.

After Medusa completed her evolution, Xiao Qing spent three months refining pills while she and his companions cultivated. He prepared to return with them to Jia Nan Academy after nearly three years away.

• Medusa fully fused with her Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python body and thanked Xiao Qing, offering to protect him as repayment.
• Xiao Qing refined pills for three months while Medusa watched and Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Xiao Yi Xian cultivated.
• Xiao Qing emerged from seclusion and reunited with Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Xiao Yi Xian.
• Xiao Qing refused to give Zi Yan a Huangji Pill until she reached High-Rank Dou Shi and mastered her Dou Qi.
• Xiao Qing told the group to prepare to return to Jia Nan Academy in a few days, and Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian looked forward to seeing it.

Wu Protector gave Yun Shan a Sect-Breaking Pill in exchange for his promise to help the Soul Hall after reaching the Dou Zong realm, leaving Yun Shan uncertain whether the arrangement would benefit the Misty Cloud Sect. In Jia Ma Sacred City, Nalan Yanran told Nalan Jie that she had taken a month of leave to do something beyond returning home, but had not yet revealed what it was.

• Wu Protector appeared in Yun Shan's cultivation chamber and offered him a Sect-Breaking Pill.
• Yun Shan accepted the pill, promised to fulfill Wu Protector's demands after breaking through, and received a jade slip to contact him.
• Wu Protector warned Yun Shan against trickery and left, while Yun Shan wondered whether the Soul Hall's offer would bring disaster to the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Nalan Jie asked Nalan Yanran how long she would stay after returning from the Misty Cloud Sect, and she said she had taken a month of leave.
• Nalan Yanran told Nalan Jie she had another purpose for taking leave, but did not say what it was.

Nalan Yanran’s decision to dissolve her engagement left Nalan Jie gravely ill, while Xiao Yan risked his life to absorb the Furywind Dragon Flame and evolve the Flame Mantra. Xiao Yan survived the refinement, and Yao Chen waited as his aura continued to rise.

• Nalan Yanran told Nalan Jie she had broken off her engagement to Xiao Yan for the Misty Cloud Sect, and Nalan Jie coughed up black blood in shock.
• News spread that Nalan Jie had become bedridden, and Xiao Zhan visited the Nalan Family before returning home at dusk.
• Near the Chu Yun Empire, Xiao Yan asked Yao Chen to help him absorb the Furywind Dragon Flame so he could catch up to Xiao Qing.
• Yao Chen weakened the flame and gave Xiao Yan its source flame seed, which Xiao Yan swallowed after taking a Blood Lotus Pill.
• Xiao Yan guided the flame through the Flame Mantra while using Ice Spirit Cold Spring to endure the heat, completing one cycle before collapsing.
• Yao Chen treated Xiao Yan with a Wound-Repairing Pill, and an earthen-yellow barrier formed around him as his aura rose.

Xiao Qing returned to the Black-Corner Region with his companions and entered Black Mark City to seek the Demonic Flame Fragment Map and gather intelligence. He forced Yuan Yi, the master of the Eight Gates, to submit and had him lead them to the sect’s treasure vault.

• After two months of travel, Xiao Qing and his companions reached Black Mark City aboard the Ink Snake.
• The Ink Snake flew over the city walls, frightening the guards, while Xiao Qing decided to head to Jia Nan Academy before hunting Black-Corner Region experts.
• Yuan Yi intercepted the group, and Xiao Qing offered him the choice to submit or die.
• Xiao Qing immobilized Yuan Yi, who chose to submit and swallowed a pill containing a wisp of Life Spirit Flame.
• Xiao Qing ordered Yuan Yi to take them to the Eight Gates’ treasure vault, and Yuan Yi led the group into the city.

Xiao Qing questioned Yuan Yi about a Demonic Flame Fragment Map and ordered him to monitor the Black Emperor Sect and Feng City before heading back to Jia Nan Academy. At Peace Town, Enforcement Elder Wu Tianlang confronted Ink Snake, recognized Xiao Qing, and welcomed him and his companions home as academy reinforcements arrived.

• Xiao Qing showed Yuan Yi the Demonic Flame Fragment Map, but Yuan Yi had never seen a similar map and agreed to watch for one at future auctions.
• Xiao Qing ordered Yuan Yi to monitor the Black Emperor Sect and Feng City and crush a jade slip if anything unusual happened, then left with Zi Yan and the others aboard Ink Snake.
• Wu Tianlang flew out to meet Ink Snake near Peace Town, ready to protect the town until reinforcements arrived.
• Xiao Qing greeted Wu Tianlang, who was astonished by Xiao Qing's Dou Emperor Peak cultivation and Medusa's strength, then welcomed the returning group.
• Academy Elders arrived after finding Peace Town unharmed, and an aged voice excitedly called Xiao Qing his disciple.