Chapter Summaries

Plot and key events

• Xiao Yun, newly transmigrated into the Battle Through the Heavens world, wakes to find himself accused of stealing an intermediate Huang-tier Dou Technique from Xiao Ning.
• Xiao Ning and the First Elder present the manual as evidence and urge punishment. Xiao Yun denies the theft, while Xiao Zhan challenges the lack of proof and defends his son.
• Xun Er arrives and confirms Xiao Yun spent the afternoon with her, supported by her maidservant’s testimony. The accusation collapses, and the elders leave without punishing him.
• A system then activates for Xiao Yun: he can make three daily attempts to copy an attribute from another person, with higher-quality attributes being harder to copy.
• Xiao Yun immediately targets Xiao Zhan’s Five-Star Da Dou Shi strength. The copy succeeds, instantly raising Xiao Yun from Two-Stage Dou Qi to Five-Star Da Dou Shi.

Character developments and interactions

• Xiao Yun begins confused and powerless, then gains confidence after Xun Er clears his name and excitement after discovering the system. He remains wary of his precarious start but quickly exploits his new ability.
• Xiao Zhan firmly protects Xiao Yun, questioning the evidence and resisting the elders’ attempt to condemn him.
• Xun Er unexpectedly intervenes on Xiao Yun’s behalf, saying he has looked after her. Her testimony silences Xiao Ning, who is reluctant to challenge her because of her powerful connections.
• Xiao Ning presses the theft accusation and resents Xiao Yun’s escape, while the First Elder uses the incident to criticize Xiao Zhan and disparage Xiao Yun.

Significant themes

• Unjust blame and family loyalty: Xiao Yun is accused on questionable evidence, while Xiao Zhan and Xun Er stand up for him.
• Power and status: The elders’ accusations reflect clan politics, and Xun Er’s influence helps end the dispute.
• Sudden transformation and opportunity: The system turns Xiao Yun’s weak position into extraordinary strength, setting up his rapid rise.

Chapter Summary: “Sixth-Rank Alchemist Token!”

Key plot points and events

• After the elders dismiss the accusations against him, Xiao Yun leaves the hall with Xun Er.
• Xun Er comforts him about Xiao Ning’s accusations and confirms that she believes in his innocence. Xiao Yun thanks her for defending him.
• Xiao Ning watches them from behind a tree, becoming furious and jealous over Xun Er’s unusually warm treatment of Xiao Yun.
• Xiao Yun ignores Xiao Ning, confident that his new strength as a Five-Star Da Dou Shi makes Xiao Ning insignificant.
• The system resets its daily copy attempt and randomly grants Xiao Yun a Sixth-Rank Alchemist Token, copying Pill King Gu He’s alchemy abilities.
• Xiao Yun receives Gu He’s vast knowledge, including pill theory, medicinal ingredients, refining methods, and flame control.
• He realizes that becoming a Sixth-Rank Alchemist may be even more valuable than possessing the strength of a Dou Emperor, since alchemy can provide powerful cultivation pills and earn him the respect of major forces.
• Back at his residence, Xiao Yun decides to use alchemy to increase his strength rapidly. However, he discovers that he lacks the money to purchase medicinal ingredients.
• He considers obtaining supplies from the Xiao Clan’s medicinal workshop, though it is controlled by the First Elder’s faction. He ultimately decides that Xun Er, whom he views as wealthy, may be able to help him.

Character developments

• Xiao Yun becomes increasingly confident after gaining Five-Star Da Dou Shi strength and Gu He’s alchemy inheritance. He begins planning his long-term rise rather than merely reacting to clan conflicts.
• Xun Er shows clear concern and trust toward Xiao Yun by defending and comforting him. Her changed attitude puzzles him because, in the original story, she was devoted almost exclusively to Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Ning develops stronger jealousy and resentment toward Xiao Yun after witnessing Xun Er’s closeness with him. His hostility is driven as much by romantic frustration as by the earlier dispute.
• Xiao Yun’s transmigrator perspective remains important: he compares current events with the original storyline and recognizes that Xun Er’s behavior may indicate that this world is changing.

Significant themes

• The value of knowledge and status: Xiao Yun recognizes that alchemical expertise can be more useful than raw combat power because it provides resources, influence, and access to powerful pills.
• Rapid personal transformation: The system continues converting Xiao Yun from a supposed weakling into someone with exceptional strength and specialized knowledge.
• Jealousy and social perception: Xiao Ning’s anger reflects the importance of Xun Er’s attention within the clan and the way others interpret her interactions.
• Resource limitations: Although Xiao Yun gains extraordinary abilities, he still lacks the money and materials needed to use them, creating a practical obstacle.
• Changing destiny: Xun Er’s unexpected interest in Xiao Yun suggests that events are diverging from the original narrative.

Character interactions

• Xun Er reassures Xiao Yun and publicly supports his character, while Xiao Yun responds with sincere gratitude.
• Their private conversation creates a warmer bond and hints at Xun Er’s growing interest in him.
• Xiao Ning silently observes them and reacts with hatred, setting up possible future conflict.
• Xiao Yun considers approaching Xun Er for help obtaining medicinal ingredients, which may further develop their relationship and intensify Xiao Ning’s jealousy.

Chapter Summary: “Xun Er’s Shock!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yun encounters Xun Er practicing alone in the clan square late at night.
• He admits that he needs money to purchase medicinal ingredients, and Xun Er casually gives him a Purple Gold Card containing 500,000 gold coins.
• In return, Xiao Yun promises to refine a sixth-rank pill for her, leaving Xun Er skeptical because he is publicly only a Two-Stage Dou Qi practitioner.
• Over the next several days, Xiao Yun discreetly purchases ingredients from multiple shops to avoid attracting attention.
• He retreats to a secluded cave in the Xiao Clan’s back mountain and spends three days refining pills.
• He successfully produces three Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills and a rare sixth-rank Spirit-Breaking Pill.
• Xiao Yun visits Xun Er and gives her the Spirit-Breaking Pill, explaining that it can help her break through to the Dou Zhe realm and potentially reach around six-star Dou Zhe immediately.

Character Development

• Xiao Yun demonstrates confidence in his hidden alchemical abilities and uses his knowledge strategically. He is cautious about concealing his strength, buying ingredients gradually and refining the pills in secret.
• He also shows generosity and a sense of responsibility by treating Xun Er’s money as a loan and compensating her with a valuable pill.
• Xun Er is portrayed as wealthy, attentive, and generous, but also increasingly astonished by Xiao Yun’s unexplained capabilities. Her initial belief that he was joking gives way to genuine shock and uncertainty.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and deception: Xiao Yun conceals his true abilities while appearing to be an ordinary, weak clan disciple.
• Trust and reciprocity: Xun Er helps Xiao Yun without hesitation, and he repays her with a pill far more valuable than the money she provided.
• Power and rarity: The chapter emphasizes the enormous value and scarcity of sixth-rank alchemists and pills in Jia Ma Empire.
• Foreshadowing: Xiao Yun’s ability to refine a sixth-rank pill suggests that his true potential is far greater than anyone in the Xiao Clan realizes.

Character Interactions

• Xun Er notices Xiao Yun’s troubled state and directly asks whether he needs help, revealing her concern for him.
• Xiao Yun accepts her financial assistance but insists that he will repay the favor.
• When he gives her the Spirit-Breaking Pill, Xun Er is stunned and repeatedly questions whether it is truly a sixth-rank pill.
• Her shock comes not only from the pill’s value, but from the contradiction between Xiao Yun’s apparent cultivation level and his extraordinary alchemical skill.

Chapter Summary: “Breakthrough in Strength!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Xiao Yun leaves, Xun Er takes the sixth-grade Spirit-Breaking Pill he gave her.
• The pill’s medicinal power rapidly increases her Dou Qi, allowing her to break through from the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi to the Dou Zhe realm.
• Her advancement does not stop there: she rises all the way to Six-Star Dou Zhe, an extraordinary result far beyond what ordinary pills could accomplish.
• Astonished by the pill’s effects, Xun Er’s opinion of Xiao Yun changes. She begins seriously questioning his true identity and hidden abilities.
• Determined to thank him, Xun Er leaves her courtyard to find Xiao Yun.
• On the way, she encounters Xiao Zhan and tells him about the pill and her breakthrough.
• Xiao Zhan initially refuses to believe that Xiao Yun could possess or provide a sixth-grade pill, given that Xiao Yun appears to be only at the Second Stage of Dou Qi.
• After sensing Xun Er’s strength himself, Xiao Zhan realizes that she truly has reached Six-Star Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Zhan becomes deeply suspicious of Xiao Yun’s origins and abilities. He wonders whether Xiao Yun has been hiding his real strength or encountered an extraordinary opportunity.
• He advises Xun Er to keep the matter secret so that the First Elder’s faction cannot exploit the information or create further trouble.

Character Developments

• Xun Er: Gains a massive increase in power and becomes a Six-Star Dou Zhe. Her gratitude toward Xiao Yun deepens, while her curiosity about his secrets grows stronger. She also demonstrates discretion by agreeing to keep the pill’s existence confidential.
• Xiao Zhan: Shifts from disbelief to shock and concern after confirming Xun Er’s breakthrough. He begins to recognize that Xiao Yun may be far more mysterious and capable than he appears.
• Xiao Yun: Though absent for most of the chapter, his influence dominates the events. His ability to provide such a powerful pill raises major questions about his true capabilities and background.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and mystery: Xiao Yun’s apparent weakness contrasts sharply with the extraordinary pill he provides, suggesting concealed power or knowledge.
• Power and transformation: The pill dramatically changes Xun Er’s position and abilities, emphasizing the impact of rare treasures in the cultivation world.
• Trust and gratitude: Xun Er trusts Xiao Yun enough to take the pill and immediately seeks him out to express her thanks.
• Secrecy and political danger: Xiao Zhan understands that revealing Xiao Yun’s abilities could provoke conflict with the First Elder’s faction, making concealment necessary.
• Disbelief versus undeniable truth: Xiao Zhan’s skepticism collapses when he personally senses Xun Er’s Six-Star Dou Zhe strength.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Yun and Xun Er: Xiao Yun gives Xun Er the Spirit-Breaking Pill, fundamentally improving her strength and changing how she views him.
• Xun Er and Xiao Zhan: Xun Er informs Xiao Zhan of the pill and her breakthrough. Their conversation reveals both her gratitude toward Xiao Yun and Xiao Zhan’s growing suspicion.
• Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yun: Although Xiao Yun is not present, Xiao Zhan’s reactions establish a new tension: he now intends to question his son about the origin of the pill and the secrets he may be hiding.

Chapter Summary: How Dare You Tell Me to Get Lost?

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xun Er visits Xiao Yun to thank him for giving her the Spirit-Breaking Pill. After taking it, she advances to the Six-Star Dou Zhe level.
• Xun Er informs Xiao Yun that Xiao Zhan has noticed her improvement. Xiao Yun remains unconcerned, knowing Xiao Zhan would eventually discover the pill’s effects and would not spread the matter.
• The next morning, Xiao Yun’s system refreshes its daily copy attempt. He draws the Xiao Yi Xian—Woeful Poison Body entry, gaining the potential of an extremely powerful but dangerous constitution.
• Xiao Yun recognizes that the Woeful Poison Body can provide extraordinary growth, potentially reaching the Dou Zun realm or higher, but also carries the danger of poisoning its user without proper control.
• While heading to the clan hall, Xiao Yun encounters Xiao Ning, who mocks him over the previous theft accusation and attempts to provoke him.
• Xiao Ning repeatedly blocks Xiao Yun’s path and threatens him, claiming that Xun Er will not always be able to protect him.
• Tired of Xiao Ning’s harassment, Xiao Yun tells him bluntly to “get lost.”
• Enraged by Xiao Yun’s sudden defiance, Xiao Ning challenges him to a public duel, threatening to bring up the theft accusation at the clan assembly if Xiao Yun refuses.
• Xiao Yun accepts, despite being vastly stronger than Xiao Ning, because he does not want to reveal his true cultivation too openly. He follows Xiao Ning to the clan square.
• In front of the clan disciples, Xiao Ning arrogantly demands that Xiao Yun kneel, kowtow three times, and promise to stay away from Xun Er.
• Xiao Yun dismisses his boasting, prompting Xiao Ning to attack first by charging at him with his Dou Qi circulating.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yun: Becomes increasingly confident and assertive. He is pleased by Xun Er’s gratitude, gains the dangerous Woeful Poison Body, and openly refuses to tolerate Xiao Ning’s bullying. Although he hides his true strength, he is fully capable of controlling the confrontation.
• Xun Er: Successfully advances to Six-Star Dou Zhe through Xiao Yun’s pill and shows her appreciation by personally thanking him. Her connection with Xiao Yun remains close enough to provoke Xiao Ning’s jealousy and hostility.
• Xiao Ning: Reveals himself as arrogant, spiteful, and insecure. He assumes Xiao Yun is still weak and uses the theft accusation and Xun Er as leverage, becoming furious when Xiao Yun refuses to submit.
• Xiao Zhan: Though he does not appear directly, he notices Xun Er’s sudden increase in strength, establishing that Xiao Yun’s actions are beginning to attract the clan chief’s attention.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength versus outward weakness: Xiao Yun continues to conceal his real cultivation while allowing others to underestimate him.
• Power and restraint: Despite possessing overwhelming strength, Xiao Yun chooses not to reveal it unnecessarily and carefully manages how he responds to Xiao Ning.
• Dangerous talent and responsibility: The Woeful Poison Body offers extraordinary potential but carries serious risks, foreshadowing future challenges involving control and survival.
• Pride and social status: Xiao Ning relies on public humiliation and clan reputation, while Xiao Yun rejects the expected hierarchy by refusing to bow to someone who considers him inferior.
• Provocation and consequences: Xiao Ning’s constant harassment ultimately leads to a public confrontation that he believes will demonstrate his superiority, though the reader knows he has badly misjudged Xiao Yun.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Yun and Xun Er: Their exchange is polite and friendly, with Xun Er expressing sincere gratitude for the Spirit-Breaking Pill. Xiao Yun reassures her that she received value for her money.
• Xiao Yun and Xiao Zhan: Their relationship is indirect in this chapter. Xiao Yun expects Xiao Zhan to question him about Xun Er’s advancement but is not worried about his reaction.
• Xiao Yun and Xiao Ning: Their encounter shifts from verbal provocation to a formal duel. Xiao Yun remains calm and dismissive, while Xiao Ning grows increasingly enraged and overconfident.
• Xiao Ning and the clan disciples: Xiao Ning uses the public setting to intimidate Xiao Yun and gain social dominance, but the disciples’ comments also reinforce his mistaken belief that victory is certain.

Chapter Summary: “Xiao Ning’s Defeat!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Xiao Clan disciples gather in the clan square to watch Xiao Ning challenge Xiao Yun.
• Because Xiao Ning is close to becoming a Dou Zhe while Xiao Yun is believed to possess only Two-Stage Dou Qi, the crowd expects Xiao Yun to be badly beaten.
• Confident in his advantage, Xiao Ning arrogantly offers Xiao Yun three free moves, claiming he does not want to be accused of bullying someone weaker.
• Xiao Yun immediately accepts and strikes Xiao Ning with a single slap, sending him flying and leaving the entire crowd stunned.
• Xiao Ning refuses to accept the defeat, claiming the first blow was a sneak attack. Xiao Yun then slaps him a second time, this time even more powerfully.
• Despite being severely injured and humiliated, Xiao Ning insists on enduring the promised third move so he will not lose face in front of the clan.
• Xiao Yun finishes the exchange with a powerful kick to Xiao Ning’s chest, launching him into a wall and knocking him unconscious.
• Xiao Yun calmly leaves the square while the disciples make way for him, their view of him completely transformed.
• He recognizes that defeating Xiao Ning publicly is also an insult to the First Elder’s branch, but he remains confident that his current strength is enough to handle any retaliation.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yun: Demonstrates that his true combat strength far exceeds what his apparent Two-Stage Dou Qi suggests. He remains calm, controlled, and confident throughout the fight, deliberately exploiting Xiao Ning’s arrogance and commitment to his own promise.
• Xiao Ning: Begins as smug and certain of victory but quickly becomes shocked, humiliated, and desperate to preserve his reputation. His refusal to withdraw—even after two devastating attacks—reveals his pride and concern for appearances. He ultimately suffers a crushing defeat and serious injuries.
• The Xiao Clan disciples: Their attitude shifts dramatically. They initially view Xiao Yun as weak and foolish for accepting the challenge, but after witnessing his overwhelming victory, they begin treating him with fear and respect.
• The First Elder’s faction: Though not directly present, it is positioned as a future source of conflict because Xiao Ning’s defeat publicly damages the faction’s prestige.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and underestimated ability: Xiao Yun’s apparent low cultivation causes others to dismiss him, but his actual power overturns their assumptions.
• Pride and reputation: Xiao Ning continues fighting mainly to avoid public humiliation, showing how pride can drive someone to make destructive choices.
• Arrogance leading to defeat: Xiao Ning’s decision to grant Xiao Yun three free moves stems from overconfidence and directly enables his downfall.
• Changing social status: Xiao Yun’s victory instantly changes how the clan sees him, demonstrating how strength can reshape reputation and authority.
• Impending factional conflict: The personal victory also becomes a political insult to the First Elder’s branch, suggesting that Xiao Yun’s success may provoke greater trouble.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Ning publicly taunts Xiao Yun and offers him three attacks, intending to humiliate him.
• Xiao Yun responds without arguing, using each promised move to punish Xiao Ning and expose the gap between appearances and reality.
• After the first strike, Xiao Ning accuses Xiao Yun of using a sneak attack; after the second, he questions how Xiao Yun possesses power approaching the Dou Zhe level.
• Xiao Yun ignores the questions and repeatedly reminds Xiao Ning of his promise to endure all three moves, forcing him to continue.
• Their confrontation ends with Xiao Yun decisively defeating Xiao Ning while the watching disciples serve as witnesses to Xiao Ning’s humiliation and Xiao Yun’s emergence as a serious force within the clan.

Chapter Summary: “He Must Give Me an Explanation Today!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After leaving the family square, Xiao Yun visits his father, Xiao Zhan, in the family hall.
• Xiao Zhan asks about the sixth-grade medicinal pill Xiao Yun gave Xun’er. Xiao Yun vaguely claims he obtained it through an extraordinary “opportunity,” refusing to reveal the system or the true source.
• Xiao Zhan accepts the explanation and is relieved that Xiao Yun may finally have the strength and resources to overcome the humiliation he suffered when everyone believed him to possess only Two-Stage Dou Qi.
• The First Elder storms into the hall, furious because Xiao Yun severely injured his grandson, Xiao Ning, during a confrontation at the family square.
• Xiao Yun explains that Xiao Ning challenged him first and even allowed him three moves. Xiao Ning’s defeat, he argues, was simply the result of being weaker and failing to honor his own challenge.
• Enraged, the First Elder attacks Xiao Yun with a powerful palm strike, relying on his strength as a Da Dou Shi.
• Xiao Yun casually blocks the attack without moving, forcing the First Elder several steps backward. Both the First Elder and Xiao Zhan are shocked, realizing Xiao Yun’s true strength is far beyond the Two-Stage Dou Qi he has publicly displayed.
• Unable to press the matter while Xiao Zhan protects his son—and wary of Xiao Yun’s hidden power—the First Elder leaves angrily, promising the conflict is not over.
• Xiao Zhan praises Xiao Yun, recognizing that his strength must be connected to the mysterious opportunity he mentioned.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yun: Displays remarkable composure, confidence, and rhetorical skill. He refuses to reveal his secrets while defending himself logically. His effortless defense against the First Elder confirms that he has been concealing overwhelming strength.
• Xiao Zhan: Shifts from concern and disbelief to pride and excitement. He becomes more confident in Xiao Yun’s future and is reassured that his son can now protect himself.
• First Elder: Reveals his partiality and temper by immediately confronting Xiao Yun on Xiao Ning’s behalf and attacking him directly. His confidence collapses into shock and embarrassment after discovering Xiao Yun’s hidden strength.
• Xiao Ning: Though absent from the scene, his defeat and injury establish that he provoked Xiao Yun but was unable to withstand the consequences of the challenge.
• Xun’er: Her earlier testimony about the medicinal pill and her strength helps convince Xiao Zhan that Xiao Yun’s claims are credible, even though she does not appear directly in the chapter.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and deception: Xiao Yun continues to conceal the true source and extent of his abilities, allowing others to underestimate him.
• Justice versus favoritism: The First Elder demands punishment for Xiao Yun while ignoring that Xiao Ning initiated the confrontation, exposing his biased treatment of his grandson.
• Parental pride and protection: Xiao Zhan’s attitude changes as he realizes Xiao Yun is no longer helpless. He protects his son politically while taking pride in his growth.
• Power overturning social judgment: Xiao Yun was once looked down upon because of his apparent low cultivation, but his effortless victory demonstrates how quickly status can change when true strength is revealed.
• Escalating family conflict: The First Elder’s humiliation and unresolved anger suggest that tensions within the Xiao family will intensify.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yun and Xiao Zhan have a cautious but supportive conversation about Xiao Yun’s mysterious opportunity.
• The First Elder confronts Xiao Yun through Xiao Zhan, accusing him of injuring Xiao Ning and demanding an explanation.
• Xiao Yun calmly counters the accusation, emphasizing Xiao Ning’s responsibility for initiating the fight.
• The First Elder attacks Xiao Yun, turning the dispute into a direct test of strength.
• Xiao Yun’s effortless defense reverses the power dynamic, while Xiao Zhan intervenes verbally to prevent the conflict from escalating further.

Chapter Summary: “Xiao Ning’s Shock! How Could This Be Possible?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Ning, badly injured after Xiao Yun defeated him in three moves, begs his grandfather, the First Elder, to avenge him and punish or expel Xiao Yun.
• The First Elder reveals that he tested Xiao Yun personally and believes Xiao Yun has reached at least the Da Dou Shi level. Xiao Yun effortlessly blocked an attack containing most of the First Elder’s strength and forced him backward.
• Xiao Ning is stunned because Xiao Yun was previously believed to possess only Two-Stage Dou Qi. He suspects Xiao Yun may have been hiding his abilities or encountered a powerful opportunity.
• The First Elder warns Xiao Ning not to provoke Xiao Yun until his origins and sudden rise in strength are investigated.
• As Xiao Yun walks through the Disciples’ Plaza, the clan disciples openly discuss his victory over Xiao Ning and the First Elder’s failed confrontation. Their attitude toward Xiao Yun has shifted from contempt and avoidance to fear and respect.
• Xiao Yun’s system resets his daily copying opportunity. He successfully obtains Pill King Gu He’s One-Star Dou King strength.
• The enormous power transforms and strengthens Xiao Yun’s body, elevating him beyond the Da Dou Shi realm and making him a One-Star Dou King.
• Xiao Yun encounters Xun Er, who checks whether he was injured by the First Elder. She notices that his aura has grown dramatically stronger since that morning but chooses not to question him.
• The chapter ends with Xiao Yun recognizing that, although he is now virtually unrivaled in Wu Tan City, the wider world—including the Central Plains—contains far greater challenges.

Character Development

• Xiao Yun: His rapid growth continues. After becoming a Dou King, he gains overwhelming confidence but also begins thinking beyond Wu Tan City and setting his sights on the larger world.
• Xiao Ning: His arrogance and hatred remain, but his defeat is compounded by fear and confusion. He is forced to acknowledge that Xiao Yun is far stronger than expected.
• The First Elder: Though furious over Xiao Ning’s injuries, he becomes cautious after realizing Xiao Yun may already rival or surpass him. His response shifts from confrontation to investigation.
• Xun Er: She remains concerned and supportive toward Xiao Yun. Her awareness of his mysterious advancement grows, and she begins viewing him as increasingly unfathomable.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and reversal of status: Xiao Yun’s transformation overturns the clan’s long-standing belief that he is useless.
• Power changing relationships: Once-dismissive disciples now respect and fear Xiao Yun, while former authorities such as the First Elder must treat him cautiously.
• Jealousy and resentment: Xiao Ning’s humiliation intensifies his envy of Xiao Yun’s strength and closeness with Xun Er.
• The limits of one’s environment: Even after reaching the peak of Wu Tan City’s power structure, Xiao Yun realizes this is only a small beginning compared with the wider cultivation world.
• Mystery surrounding Xiao Yun’s growth: His sudden advances create suspicion among others, especially the First Elder and Xun Er.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Ning and the First Elder: Xiao Ning demands revenge, but the First Elder reveals Xiao Yun’s terrifying strength and orders him to remain patient.
• Xiao Yun and the clan disciples: The disciples gossip about his victory, demonstrating the dramatic change in his reputation.
• Xiao Yun and Xun Er: Xun Er expresses concern for his safety, while Xiao Yun casually dismisses the First Elder’s threat. Her observation of his strengthened aura hints at her growing suspicion.

Chapter Summary: “Ya Fei’s Shock! An Alchemist?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yun travels to the Mittel Auction House in Wu Tan City to sell a valuable pill and replenish his gold reserves after spending heavily on medicinal ingredients.
• He possesses a Fifth-Rank Qingxuan Pill, which allows a Dou Zhe to advance directly to the Da Dou Shi realm without side effects.
• The system assigns him a mission: earn Ya Fei’s high approval in exchange for a future opportunity to copy a trait.
• At the auction house, Xiao Yun meets Ya Fei and reveals that he wants to auction the Qingxuan Pill.
• Ya Fei is shocked by the pill’s quality and by Xiao Yun’s claim that he refined it himself. Since Fifth-Rank Alchemists are exceptionally rare, she realizes that Xiao Yun is far more powerful and valuable than his reputation suggests.
• Xiao Yun agrees to give the Mittel Auction House priority for future pill auctions, while Ya Fei promises to obtain the best possible price for him.
• The system reports 80% mission completion, indicating that the mission will be finalized once the pill is successfully sold.
• Ya Fei schedules the Qingxuan Pill as the final item in a major auction three days later and invites Xiao Yun to attend.

Character Development

• Xiao Yun: Demonstrates confidence, strategic thinking, and an understanding of his own value. Rather than merely selling the pill, he uses the opportunity to build a long-term relationship with the Mittel Auction House. His identity as a Fifth-Rank Alchemist begins to emerge publicly.
• Ya Fei: Moves from polite businesswoman to deeply astonished and highly interested negotiator. Her sharp judgment allows her to quickly recognize Xiao Yun’s potential and attempt to secure his future cooperation.

Significant Themes

• Hidden talent and overturned reputations: Xiao Yun’s seemingly weak status contrasts sharply with his extraordinary alchemical ability.
• Power of resources and connections: The Qingxuan Pill gives Xiao Yun financial leverage, while the auction house provides access to wealth, materials, and influence.
• Strategic relationships: Both characters recognize the mutual benefits of cooperating rather than treating the transaction as a one-time deal.
• Reputation and social status: Xiao Yun’s identity as a member of the Xiao Clan initially grants him attention, but his alchemical skill proves far more significant.

Character Interactions

• Ya Fei greets Xiao Yun warmly because of his previous purchases and his position as the Xiao Clan’s fourth young master.
• Xiao Yun surprises her by revealing the Fifth-Rank Pill, prompting disbelief and repeated questioning.
• When he confirms that he personally refined it, Ya Fei’s shock turns into admiration and commercial interest.
• Ya Fei attempts to secure priority access to Xiao Yun’s future pills, while Xiao Yun agrees because the relationship will help him obtain money and resources.
• Their interaction establishes a mutually beneficial partnership, with Ya Fei recognizing Xiao Yun as a potentially invaluable ally and business partner.

Chapter Summary: Could He Be a Dou Wang Expert?!

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Xiao Yun leaves the Mittel Auction House, Ya Fei reflects on her encounter with him. She is stunned to learn that he personally refined a Fifth-Rank Qingxuan Pill, especially because his calm demeanor and bearing contradict his poor reputation in Wu Tan City.
• Recognizing the immense value of a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, Ya Fei decides to cultivate a close relationship with Xiao Yun. She orders the auction house to replace the upcoming auction’s finale item with the Qingxuan Pill and aggressively promote it.
• Xiao Yun returns to the Xiao Clan, pleased that his system mission is already eighty percent complete. He expects the pill’s sale to finish the mission and grant him another opportunity to copy a trait.
• At the clan gates, Xiao Yun encounters the First Elder, who angrily confronts him for injuring his grandson and neglecting cultivation.
• Xiao Yun refuses to be intimidated and mocks the First Elder, pointing out that his grandson lost fairly in three moves.
• Enraged, the First Elder releases the strength of a Da Dou Shi and prepares to attack. Xiao Yun responds by releasing an overwhelming aura.
• The First Elder realizes that Xiao Yun’s strength is far beyond his expectations—possibly reaching the Dou Wang realm. Completely immobilized by fear, he is unable to continue his threats.
• Xiao Yun withdraws his pressure and leaves after warning the First Elder to consider his own ability before attempting another attack.
• Once Xiao Yun is gone, the First Elder is left trembling and terrified, realizing that confronting him may have placed his entire branch of the clan in danger.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yun: Demonstrates increasing confidence, composure, and dominance. He openly challenges the First Elder rather than avoiding confrontation and reveals that his true strength is vastly greater than the clan believes.
• Ya Fei: Shows her sharp political and commercial judgment. She quickly shifts from surprise to recognizing Xiao Yun as an invaluable potential ally and takes immediate steps to secure a relationship with him.
• First Elder: His arrogance collapses into fear. He begins the confrontation believing he can punish Xiao Yun, but ends the encounter convinced that Xiao Yun may be a Dou Wang expert and far beyond his ability to oppose.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and mistaken identity: Xiao Yun’s reputation as a useless young master contrasts sharply with his abilities as a powerful alchemist and possibly a Dou Wang.
• Power determining status: Ya Fei recognizes Xiao Yun’s value because of his Fifth-Rank alchemy, while the First Elder is forced to reconsider his attitude after sensing Xiao Yun’s overwhelming cultivation.
• Political calculation and alliances: Ya Fei immediately seeks to benefit from Xiao Yun’s potential, showing how strength and talent influence relationships within the larger power structure.
• Arrogance humbled by reality: The First Elder’s threats disappear once he encounters genuine power, emphasizing the danger of judging Xiao Yun by his former reputation.
• Growing momentum: The auction of the Qingxuan Pill and the revelation of Xiao Yun’s strength both advance his system mission and increase his influence within Wu Tan City and the Xiao Clan.

Character Interactions

• Ya Fei and Xiao Yun: Their meeting leaves Ya Fei impressed and eager to build a mutually beneficial connection with him.
• Ya Fei and the steward: Ya Fei gives direct orders to promote the Qingxuan Pill, while the steward reacts with shock upon discovering it is a Fifth-Rank Pill.
• Xiao Yun and the First Elder: Their confrontation begins with the First Elder’s insults and threats but ends with Xiao Yun reversing the power dynamic. Xiao Yun’s calm ridicule and overwhelming aura force the First Elder into silence and submission.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

Xun Er visits Xiao Yun and invites him to accompany her to the Xiao Clan market. While browsing, she picks up a wooden bracelet with a minor Dou Qi-recovery effect. Jia Lie Ao, the Jia Lie Clan’s young master, approaches and mocks both the bracelet and Xiao Yun, boasting that the Jia Lie Clan can provide Xun Er with better goods. He then insults Xiao Yun and Xiao Yan by calling them useless due to their low Dou Qi cultivation. Xun Er becomes angry and prepares to confront him, but Xiao Yun stops her and responds with a cutting insult, comparing Jia Lie Ao to a dog. Enraged, Jia Lie Ao challenges Xiao Yun to a public duel. Xiao Yun accepts without hesitation, surprising Jia Lie Ao and the surrounding spectators. The two move to the market’s open space as a crowd gathers, with Jia Lie Ao confident that he will easily defeat him.

Character developments

• Xiao Yun remains calm and self-assured despite being publicly mocked. His sharp response reveals greater confidence and a willingness to stand up for himself, while his immediate acceptance of the challenge suggests that he is concealing far greater strength than others realize.
• Xun Er shows strong loyalty toward Xiao Yun and the Xiao Clan, becoming visibly angered when Jia Lie Ao insults them. She also demonstrates confidence in Xiao Yun’s abilities, choosing not to interfere because she knows he can handle Jia Lie Ao.
• Jia Lie Ao is arrogant, provocative, and status-conscious. He underestimates Xiao Yun because of his reputation as a weak cultivator and allows his anger to push him into issuing a public challenge.

Significant themes

• Underestimation and hidden strength: The crowd assumes Xiao Yun will lose because of his supposed Two-Stage Dou Qi, while Xun Er knows his true capabilities.
• Pride and provocation: Jia Lie Ao’s arrogance turns a minor shopping encounter into a public confrontation.
• Loyalty and defense of honor: Xun Er defends Xiao Yun and Xiao Yan when they are insulted, while Xiao Yun chooses to answer Jia Lie Ao’s hostility directly.
• Public reputation: The market crowd and the duel create a stage where Xiao Yun’s real abilities may be revealed.

Character interactions

Xun Er and Xiao Yun interact comfortably as companions while shopping. Xun Er confronts Jia Lie Ao when he belittles Xiao Yun, but Xiao Yun intervenes and verbally humiliates Jia Lie Ao. Jia Lie Ao then attempts to provoke Xiao Yun by questioning his courage and masculinity. Xiao Yun accepts the challenge, while Xun Er watches confidently from the sidelines. The chapter ends just before the fight begins.

Chapter Summary

• Confrontation in the marketplace: Jia Lie Ao attacks Xiao Yun after arrogantly insulting him and the Xiao Clan. Confident that Xiao Yun is only a weak Two-Stage Dou Qi fighter, Jia Lie Ao and his lackeys expect him to be defeated easily.
• Xiao Yun’s overwhelming strength: Xiao Yun effortlessly slaps Jia Lie Ao away, sending him flying and knocking out several teeth. The attack shocks everyone because its power appears to be at the level of a Da Dou Shi—or even greater—despite Xiao Yun’s supposed reputation as a weakling.
• Jia Lie Ao is brutally punished: Xiao Yun mocks Jia Lie Ao for threatening to knock out his teeth, then steps on and breaks his right wrist. When Jia Lie Ao invokes his father’s status as the Jia Lie Clan leader, Xiao Yun remains unmoved. He later crushes Jia Lie Ao’s left knee after challenging him to repeat his insults.
• Arrogance turns to desperation: Jia Lie Ao loses all of his earlier confidence and begs for mercy. Xiao Yun rejects his apology, accusing him of regretting only that he is about to die rather than truly recognizing his wrongdoing.
• The lackeys flee for help: Jia Lie Ao orders his followers to report the incident to his father and have the Jia Lie Clan retaliate. Although the lackeys initially threaten Xiao Yun, they become frightened by his cold gaze and immediately run away.
• Xiao Yun challenges the Jia Lie Clan: Jia Lie Ao warns that his father, a Da Dou Shi, will kill Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun laughs off the threat, revealing that his true strength as a Dou Wang makes him entirely unafraid. He calmly sits nearby and waits for the Jia Lie Clan to arrive.
• News spreads through Wu Tan City: Jia Lie Ao’s defeat and mutilation quickly become the talk of the marketplace and spread throughout the city, reaching the three great clans.

Character Development and Interactions

• Xiao Yun displays extreme confidence, ruthlessness, and composure. He has transformed from someone widely considered a weak “trash” into a powerful figure who easily dominates Jia Lie Ao and openly challenges an entire clan.
• Jia Lie Ao undergoes a dramatic reversal from arrogant aggressor to terrified victim. His reliance on his father’s authority proves useless, and his inability to understand Xiao Yun’s true strength leaves him increasingly uneasy.
• The lackeys shift from mocking spectators to intimidated bystanders. Their fear of Xiao Yun overwhelms their loyalty and bravado.
• Xiao Yun and Jia Lie Ao’s exchange centers on humiliation, power, and retribution: Jia Lie Ao’s insults and threats are answered with physical punishment and Xiao Yun’s calm refusal to be intimidated.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and mistaken identity: Xiao Yun’s apparent weakness conceals overwhelming power, exposing how dangerous it is to judge someone by reputation.
• Power overturning status: Jia Lie Ao’s clan background and his father’s position cannot protect him once Xiao Yun demonstrates superior strength.
• Retribution and humiliation: Xiao Yun punishes Jia Lie Ao for his insults, turning the arrogant aggressor into a helpless beggar.
• The collapse of arrogance: Jia Lie Ao’s confidence disappears once he encounters undeniable power, while Xiao Yun’s calmness emphasizes the vast difference between them.
• Escalating clan conflict: The public assault is likely to provoke retaliation from the Jia Lie Clan and intensify tensions among Wu Tan City’s three great clans.

Chapter Summary: “One More Word and I’ll Kill You!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jia Lie Ao’s lackeys return to the Jia Lie Clan in panic and report that Xiao Yun severely beat Jia Lie Ao, breaking one of his arms and one of his legs.
• Furious, Jia Lie Bi gathers five or six Dou Shi experts and rushes to the marketplace to avenge his son.
• While waiting, Jia Lie Ao continues insulting and threatening Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun finally slaps him and warns that he will kill him if he keeps talking.
• Jia Lie Bi arrives, sees his injured son, and demands an explanation from Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun calmly argues that Jia Lie Ao’s foul behavior deserved punishment.
• Jia Lie Bi orders his Dou Shi fighters to cripple Xiao Yun.
• The five attackers charge, but Xiao Yun effortlessly kills all of them within moments: two are destroyed by a single palm strike, while three others are pierced through the chest by concentrated Dou Qi.
• The marketplace falls silent as Jia Lie Bi and Jia Lie Ao realize that Xiao Yun is vastly stronger than expected.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yun: Remains calm, confident, and disdainful throughout the confrontation. His actions reveal overwhelming strength and a willingness to kill those who threaten him. He also shows that he will not tolerate continued insults.
• Jia Lie Ao: Shifts from arrogant and threatening to frightened and helpless. Although he initially relies on his father’s protection, the deaths of the five Dou Shi leave him stunned and terrified.
• Jia Lie Bi: Begins enraged and overconfident, assuming his clan’s experts can easily defeat Xiao Yun. After witnessing their effortless deaths, he becomes shocked and fearful, realizing he may have provoked an opponent far beyond his expectations.

Significant Themes

• The danger of underestimating others: Jia Lie Bi assumes Xiao Yun is weak because of his reputation, only to discover that Xiao Yun’s true power is extraordinary.
• Power and intimidation: Xiao Yun’s calm demeanor contrasts with the Jia Lie Clan’s aggression, showing that genuine strength does not require loud threats.
• Family loyalty and revenge: Jia Lie Bi immediately acts to defend his son, but his impulsive desire for revenge places the entire group in danger.
• Consequences of arrogance: Jia Lie Ao’s insults and Jia Lie Bi’s contempt lead directly to the destruction of their forces.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yun and Jia Lie Ao engage in a tense exchange marked by Jia Lie Ao’s insults and Xiao Yun’s increasingly direct warnings.
• Jia Lie Bi confronts Xiao Yun as an angry father and clan leader, while Xiao Yun mocks the Jia Lie Clan’s discipline and refuses to show fear.
• The final interaction is largely unspoken: Xiao Yun’s effortless slaughter of the Dou Shi communicates his superiority, leaving Jia Lie Bi shocked and unsure how to respond.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• A Xiao Clan disciple reports that Xiao Yun severely injured Jia Lie Ao, the Jia Lie Clan’s young master, breaking all four of his limbs in the marketplace.
• Jia Lie Bi, the Jia Lie Clan Leader, has gone to confront Xiao Yun with his men, raising fears of open conflict between the two clans.
• The elders gather in the main hall to discuss the crisis. The Second and Third Elders worry that Xiao Yun’s actions have disrupted the fragile balance among the three great clans and may bring retaliation against the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Zhan decides to go to the marketplace with guards to protect Xiao Yun and determine what happened.
• Upon arriving, Xiao Zhan sees a corpse lying at the scene, creating an even more serious and dangerous situation. The chapter ends on this cliffhanger.

Character developments

• Xiao Yun: His reputation as someone powerful and increasingly formidable continues to grow. Although he is viewed as impulsive, both Xiao Zhan and the Grand Elder believe he would not have attacked Jia Lie Ao without being provoked.
• Grand Elder: His behavior is unusually cautious and supportive of Xiao Yun. Despite Xiao Yun having badly injured his grandson previously, he repeatedly defends Xiao Yun and urges the clan to investigate before blaming him. His fear stems from knowing that Xiao Yun possesses overwhelming strength—possibly that of a Dou Wang—and that Jia Lie Bi may be heading toward disaster.
• Xiao Zhan: He demonstrates strong faith in his son and immediately moves to intervene, prioritizing Xiao Yun’s safety. He firmly rejects the Second Elder’s attempt to place all blame on Xiao Yun.
• Second and Third Elders: They remain suspicious and anxious, focusing on the political consequences of Xiao Yun’s actions. They are especially bewildered by the Grand Elder’s sudden change in attitude.

Significant themes

• Hidden strength and fear: Xiao Yun’s true power is known only to a few, causing the Grand Elder to behave very differently from before.
• Family loyalty: Xiao Zhan instinctively supports his son, while the Grand Elder’s loyalty becomes complicated by his fear of Xiao Yun’s overwhelming abilities.
• Political balance and clan conflict: The incident threatens the unstable peace among the three major clans and may escalate into open confrontation.
• Appearances versus reality: The elders interpret the Grand Elder’s behavior as strange, unaware that he is acting out of fear and self-preservation.
• Uncertainty and escalation: The discovery of a corpse suggests that the marketplace confrontation has become far more serious than a simple dispute between young masters.

Character interactions

• The Second and Third Elders pressure Xiao Zhan and criticize Xiao Yun, while Xiao Zhan defends his son.
• The elders repeatedly question the Grand Elder’s silence and unexpected defense of Xiao Yun.
• The Grand Elder cautiously argues that Jia Lie Ao may have provoked Xiao Yun and that the matter should be investigated before judgment is passed.
• Xiao Zhan and the Grand Elder both act to protect Xiao Yun, though for different reasons: Xiao Zhan out of paternal trust, and the Grand Elder out of fear of Xiao Yun’s true strength.

Chapter Summary: Slaying Jia Lie Bi and His Son

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Zhan arrives at the marketplace and discovers Jia Lie Bi, patriarch of the Jia Lie Clan and a Five-Star Da Dou Shi, already dead.
• Xiao Yun stands nearby, revealing that he killed Jia Lie Bi with a single palm strike despite Jia Lie Bi’s considerable strength.
• Jia Lie Ao, Jia Lie Bi’s arrogant son, is found kneeling and begging for mercy. His arm and one leg had already been broken during the confrontation.
• Jia Lie Ao apologizes for his earlier insults and promises that the Jia Lie Clan will serve the Xiao Clan, but Xiao Yun refuses to forgive him.
• Xiao Yun breaks Jia Lie Ao’s remaining leg, reminding him of his earlier arrogance, then kills him with another palm strike.
• Xiao Yun also kills the remaining Jia Lie Clan members who accompanied their patriarch, eliminating nearly the entire upper echelon of the clan.
• The marketplace falls silent as witnesses hide in fear. The death of Jia Lie Bi shocks Wu Tan City, since he was one of its most powerful figures.
• Xiao Zhan, the Second Elder, and the Third Elder arrive after the battle. They are stunned by Xiao Yun’s overwhelming strength.
• Xiao Zhan mocks the elders for previously blaming Xiao Yun and insisting that he be handed over to the Jia Lie Clan.
• The elders are left speechless, while the Second Elder realizes that the absent First Elder had likely known about Xiao Yun’s true power and deliberately supported him.
• Xiao Zhan feels proud and relieved, recognizing that Xiao Yun can no longer be dismissed as a weak or useless young man.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yun: Demonstrates overwhelming strength and decisive brutality. He shows no mercy toward Jia Lie Bi, Jia Lie Ao, or the clan members who supported them, establishing himself as someone far beyond the expectations of the Xiao Clan and Wu Tan City.
• Jia Lie Ao: Experiences a complete reversal from arrogance to terror. After seeing his father killed instantly, he abandons his pride and begs desperately for his life, but his earlier cruelty and insults lead to his execution.
• Jia Lie Bi: His death proves that even a powerful Five-Star Da Dou Shi is helpless against Xiao Yun.
• Xiao Zhan: Shifts from concern over his son’s recklessness to intense pride. He uses the result of the battle to rebuke the elders who had doubted Xiao Yun.
• Second and Third Elders: Their confidence and criticism collapse when they witness Xiao Yun’s strength. They are forced to reconsider their judgment of him.
• First Elder: Although absent, he is revealed to have been perceptive and cautious. His earlier defense of Xiao Yun suggests that he had already recognized Xiao Yun’s hidden power.

Significant Themes

• Reversal of power and status: Those who once looked down on Xiao Yun are forced to fear and respect him.
• Consequences of arrogance: Jia Lie Ao’s earlier insults and confidence disappear once his father is defeated, but his pleas cannot undo his actions.
• Strength as authority: Xiao Yun’s victory completely changes the balance of power between the Xiao and Jia Lie Clans.
• Justice and vengeance: Xiao Yun treats Jia Lie Ao’s death as punishment for his provocation and cruelty, showing that he will not tolerate threats against himself or his family.
• Recognition after humiliation: The battle publicly disproves the belief that Xiao Yun is weak, bringing pride to Xiao Zhan and silencing his detractors.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yun and Jia Lie Ao: Jia Lie Ao begs repeatedly for forgiveness, but Xiao Yun responds coldly, reminding him of his previous arrogance before killing him.
• Xiao Yun and the Jia Lie Clan: The clan members plead that they were uninvolved, yet Xiao Yun shows no mercy and wipes them out.
• Xiao Zhan and the elders: Xiao Zhan sarcastically confronts the Second and Third Elders, forcing them to face how wrong they were about Xiao Yun.
• The elders and Xiao Yun: Their fear and silence reflect their changed perception of him—from a troublesome weakling to an overwhelmingly powerful figure.
• Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yun: Xiao Zhan watches his son with pride, realizing that Xiao Yun’s strength has restored his reputation and secured the Xiao Clan’s standing in Wu Tan City.

Chapter Summary: “What? A Dou Wang Expert?”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The Jia Lie Clan falls into chaos after Xiao Yun kills its patriarch, Jia Lie Bi, a Five-Star Da Dou Shi, along with Jia Lie Ao and several other clan experts.
• Guards report Jia Lie Bi’s death to the First Elder, who remains calm because he already suspects Xiao Yun’s overwhelming strength.
• Xiao Ning is shocked to learn that Xiao Yun was responsible. The First Elder reveals that, based on the aura Xiao Yun displayed during their previous confrontation, Xiao Yun is likely a Dou Wang.
• Xiao Ning realizes how foolish and dangerous his past provocations were. He understands that Xiao Yun could have killed him effortlessly but deliberately spared his life.
• Xiao Yun, Xiao Zhan, the Second Elder, and the Third Elder return to the Xiao Clan. The elders, who once opposed or looked down on Xiao Yun, now flatter him and praise him for eliminating the Jia Lie Clan.
• The elders recognize that the Jia Lie Clan’s businesses and resources can now be absorbed by the Xiao Clan, potentially doubling its strength and making it the leading clan in Wu Tan City.
• A letter arrives from the Misty Cloud Sect announcing that Nalan Yanran will visit the Xiao Clan the following day.
• Xiao Yun immediately understands that Nalan Yanran intends to annul her engagement with Xiao Yan, following the events of the original storyline. However, unlike before, Xiao Yun is now powerful enough to view both Nalan Yanran and the Misty Cloud Sect as insignificant threats.

2. Character Developments

• Xiao Yun: Demonstrates extraordinary composure and confidence after defeating Jia Lie Bi. His strength is now believed to have reached the Dou Wang level, making him one of the most powerful figures in the region. He remains indifferent to the elders’ praise and unconcerned about the Misty Cloud Sect’s challenge.
• Xiao Ning: Experiences a major psychological shift from arrogance to fear and humility. He finally recognizes the enormous gap between himself and Xiao Yun and feels grateful that Xiao Yun spared him.
• First Elder: Moves from implicit opposition or caution toward reluctant acknowledgment of Xiao Yun’s superiority. Though bitter about the situation, he accepts that Xiao Yun is far beyond his own level.
• Xiao Zhan: Feels proud and satisfied as the clan members who once looked down on his son now seek his favor.
• Second and Third Elders: Quickly abandon their former attitudes and begin openly flattering Xiao Yun, hoping to benefit from his strength and the clan’s expected rise.
• Nalan Yanran: Does not appear directly, but her planned visit establishes her intention to annul her engagement with Xiao Yan, backed by the authority of the Misty Cloud Sect.

3. Significant Themes

• Reversal of status and power: Xiao Yun’s rise from a supposed weakling to a Dou Wang completely changes how the clan treats him.
• Consequences of arrogance: Xiao Ning recognizes that his previous behavior toward Xiao Yun nearly cost him his life.
• Power and political influence: Jia Lie Bi’s death shows how one powerful individual can destroy a clan’s leadership and reshape the balance of power in an entire city.
• Hypocrisy and opportunism: The Second and Third Elders immediately switch from opposition to flattery once Xiao Yun proves his strength.
• Fate versus altered destiny: Xiao Yun recognizes the familiar events from the original story but wonders whether his presence will change the expected outcome.
• Confidence born from strength: Unlike the original Xiao Yan, Xiao Yun does not fear the Misty Cloud Sect and sees its attempt to pressure the Xiao Clan as trivial.

4. Character Interactions

• The guards inform the First Elder of Jia Lie Bi’s death, while the First Elder responds with controlled calm.
• Xiao Ning questions his grandfather, desperate to confirm whether Xiao Yun could truly have killed a Five-Star Da Dou Shi. The First Elder explains that Xiao Yun’s aura was unmistakably that of a Dou Wang.
• Upon returning to the clan, the Second and Third Elders enthusiastically praise Xiao Yun for securing the Jia Lie Clan’s resources, while Xiao Yun ignores their flattery.
• Xiao Zhan observes the elders’ changed behavior and takes pride in seeing his son finally receive the respect he deserves.
• The arrival of the Misty Cloud Sect’s letter changes the mood in the hall. Xiao Zhan reacts with concern, while Xiao Yun remains calm because he already knows Nalan Yanran’s purpose and believes the sect poses no real threat.

Chapter Summary: Nalan Yanran Comes to Break Off the Engagement!

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Xiao Clan disciples gather in the training square, excitedly discussing the arrival of Nalan Yanran, a celebrated young genius and personal disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect’s leader.
• Because Nalan Yanran is engaged to Xiao Yan—who has remained at only three stages of Dou Qi for years—the disciples speculate that she has come to cancel the marriage.
• Xiao Yan overhears their mockery. Though the insults still hurt, three years of humiliation have left him outwardly numb and accustomed to being called “trash.”
• In the clan hall, Xiao Zhan, the elders, Xiao Yun, and Xiao Yan receive Nalan Yanran and the gray-robed Misty Cloud Sect elder, Ge Ye.
• Before Xiao Zhan can exchange formal pleasantries, Nalan Yanran directly announces that she has come to dissolve her engagement with Xiao Yan.
• She offers a fourth-grade medicinal pill, Qi Gathering Powder, as compensation from the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Xiao Zhan is enraged, believing that using a single pill to end an engagement arranged by their grandfathers is deeply disrespectful and humiliates the Xiao Clan.
• When Ge Ye releases the pressure of a Seven-Star Da Dou Shi, the atmosphere becomes tense. The clan elders look toward Xiao Yun, recognizing that he now possesses considerable authority within the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Yun dismisses the offered pill as inadequate and openly criticizes Nalan Yanran and the Misty Cloud Sect for treating the Xiao Clan so lightly.
• Nalan Yanran mocks Xiao Yun as a weak young master with only two stages of Dou Qi and challenges him to produce a better pill.
• Ge Ye interrupts her, sensing that Xiao Yun’s true strength is unusual and potentially dangerous. Despite this warning, Nalan Yanran remains proud and refuses to be intimidated.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yan: His continued humiliation is emphasized. He has moved from anger and resistance to emotional numbness, but his calm response suggests growing endurance.
• Xiao Yun: He demonstrates confidence, authority, and a willingness to confront a powerful sect openly. His behavior implies that his apparent cultivation level does not reflect his actual abilities.
• Nalan Yanran: She is shown as proud, confident, and determined to control her own future. However, her arrogance leads her to underestimate the Xiao Clan and provoke Xiao Yun.
• Xiao Zhan: He reacts as a protective clan leader and father, defending the Xiao Clan’s dignity and refusing to accept what he views as a humiliating settlement.
• Ge Ye: Unlike Nalan Yanran, he is cautious and perceptive. He recognizes that Xiao Yun’s aura is difficult to read and senses a possible threat.

Significant Themes

• Honor and humiliation: The broken engagement is not merely a personal matter; it is treated as an insult to the Xiao Clan’s dignity.
• Social prejudice and power: Xiao Yan and Xiao Yun are judged by their apparent cultivation levels, while the Misty Cloud Sect assumes its status gives it the right to act superior.
• Hidden strength: Xiao Yun’s mysterious aura suggests that appearances can be deceptive and that those labeled “trash” may possess unexpected power.
• Pride and defiance: Nalan Yanran’s pride clashes with Xiao Zhan’s defense of family honor and Xiao Yun’s refusal to submit.
• Endurance under ridicule: Xiao Yan’s numbness reflects the psychological impact of prolonged public humiliation.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Yan and the clan disciples: Their mocking conversation reinforces Xiao Yan’s isolation and damaged reputation.
• Nalan Yanran and Xiao Zhan: She makes her demand directly, while he rejects the disrespectful manner in which she attempts to end the engagement.
• Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yun: Their confrontation becomes the chapter’s central conflict, with Xiao Yun ridiculing her compensation and Nalan Yanran responding with contempt.
• Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran: Ge Ye attempts to restrain her after sensing danger from Xiao Yun, revealing a contrast between his caution and her arrogance.
• Xiao Yun and the Xiao Clan elders: The elders silently defer to him, confirming his rising influence within the clan.

Chapter Summary: “Dou Wang Expert? How Is That Possible!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Nalan Yanran insists that Xiao Yan sign an agreement dissolving their engagement, threatening that the matter will not end peacefully otherwise.
• The Xiao Clan elders refuse to comply. They argue that the engagement was arranged by Old Master Nalan and that Nalan Yanran must provide a convincing reason before demanding its cancellation.
• The elders emphasize that accepting a fourth-grade medicinal pill in exchange for dissolving the engagement would make the Xiao Clan appear weak and humiliated.
• Angered by their defiance, Nalan Yanran invokes the Misty Cloud Sect’s influence, but the Second Elder points out that her personal decision is separate from the sect’s authority.
• Nalan Yanran then turns her anger toward Xiao Yun, insulting him as a Two-Stage Dou Qi “trash” and threatening to cripple him.
• Confident that Xiao Yun cannot threaten her, she allows him to attack first and promises not to move for one strike so that she will not be accused of bullying him.
• Xiao Yun launches an apparently ordinary palm strike, but an overwhelming aura erupts from him. Ge Ye immediately recognizes the danger and warns Nalan Yanran to dodge.
• Nalan Yanran is too slow to react. Xiao Yun stops his palm just before her face, but the force from the strike destroys the tables and chairs behind her.
• Shocked and terrified, Nalan Yanran realizes that Xiao Yun’s supposed Two-Stage Dou Qi cultivation is completely false. His strength appears to surpass that of an ordinary Dou Shi and may even exceed Ge Ye’s.
• Ge Ye concludes that they may not be able to leave the Xiao Clan peacefully.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yun: Reveals that his apparent weak cultivation is a deliberate façade. He remains calm and mocking throughout the confrontation, demonstrating overwhelming strength without actually injuring Nalan Yanran.
• Nalan Yanran: Begins arrogant and certain of her authority, expecting the Xiao Clan to submit. Her confidence collapses when Xiao Yun effortlessly overwhelms her, leaving her frightened, humiliated, and questioning his true cultivation.
• Xiao Yan: Remains silent and tense during the dispute, while the elders and Xiao Yun effectively defend the Xiao Clan’s dignity on his behalf.
• The Xiao Clan Elders: Show unexpected unity and resolve, refusing to let Nalan Yanran or the Misty Cloud Sect bully the clan into signing the dissolution agreement.
• Ge Ye: Initially dismisses Xiao Yun as harmless, but quickly recognizes the terrifying level of his power and becomes deeply wary.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and deceptive appearances: Xiao Yun’s supposed weakness is exposed as a disguise, overturning everyone’s assumptions about him.
• Pride and humiliation: Nalan Yanran’s arrogance leads her to underestimate Xiao Yun, resulting in a public loss of confidence and status.
• Dignity and resistance to oppression: The Xiao Clan elders refuse to surrender their honor despite the Misty Cloud Sect’s influence.
• The danger of underestimating others: Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye both assume Xiao Yun is powerless, only to discover that he may be far stronger than either expected.
• Power and authority: The chapter contrasts institutional influence—the Misty Cloud Sect—with personal strength, which Xiao Yun reveals can completely change the balance of power.

Character Interactions

• Nalan Yanran confronts Xiao Yan and pressures him to dissolve the engagement.
• The Xiao Clan elders challenge Nalan Yanran’s authority and defend the clan’s reputation.
• Nalan Yanran verbally attacks Xiao Yun, provoking him into accepting her one-move challenge.
• Xiao Yun responds by frightening Nalan Yanran without touching her, turning her own confidence against her.
• Ge Ye shifts from dismissing Xiao Yun to urgently warning Nalan Yanran and acknowledging that the situation has become dangerous.

Chapter Summary: “Ge Ye Cowered on the Spot!”

Key plot points and events

Nalan Yanran is shocked when Xiao Yun effortlessly deflects her initial attack, realizing that his strength far exceeds the rumors surrounding him. Ge Ye, a Seven-Star Da Dou Shi from the Misty Cloud Sect, accurately senses that Xiao Yun may already be a Dou Ling or even stronger, but Yanran dismisses his warning. Humiliated by being intimidated by someone she considered trash, Yanran draws her sword and launches a lethal attack at Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun casually snaps the sword with two fingers, then releases his overwhelming aura, revealing himself to be a Dou Wang. Terrified, Yanran is rendered speechless. Ge Ye immediately apologizes on her behalf and pleads for mercy, emphasizing that the Misty Cloud Sect has no intention of becoming enemies with the Xiao Clan. Xiao Yun withdraws his pressure and orders them to discuss the marriage contract with Xiao Yan, while warning them not to harbor hostile intentions.

Character developments

Xiao Yun’s true power is dramatically revealed. His calm demeanor, effortless defense, and overwhelming aura establish him as a figure far beyond the Xiao Clan’s apparent status. Nalan Yanran’s confidence and pride collapse as she realizes she has badly underestimated him. Her belief that Xiao Yun is “trash” is completely shattered, leaving her frightened, humiliated, and unable to speak. Ge Ye proves more perceptive than Yanran, recognizing the danger immediately and abandoning formal pride to protect her and avoid conflict with Xiao Yun. The Xiao Clan’s elders and Xiao Zhan remain notably composed, suggesting they already knew or suspected Xiao Yun’s strength.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes the danger of judging people by reputation or background. It also highlights the contrast between arrogance and true strength: Yanran relies on her status as a Misty Cloud Sect disciple, while Xiao Yun needs no boasting and demonstrates his superiority effortlessly. Pride, humiliation, and the reversal of power are central themes, as the supposedly superior visitors are forced into a submissive position before the Xiao Clan. The scene also reinforces the importance of deterrence and restraint—Xiao Yun demonstrates overwhelming power but chooses not to escalate the conflict once Ge Ye apologizes.

Character interactions

Nalan Yanran dismisses Ge Ye’s warning and challenges Xiao Yun out of anger and wounded pride. Xiao Yun responds to her hostility with mockery and calm intimidation, asking whether his strength is sufficient for her to cripple him. Ge Ye then steps between them, apologizes on Yanran’s behalf, and assures Xiao Yun that the Misty Cloud Sect does not seek conflict. Xiao Yun accepts the apology but issues a stern warning, directing them to handle the marriage-contract matter with Xiao Yan and making clear that any threat to the Xiao Clan will be met without mercy.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye leave the Xiao Clan after the failed engagement repudiation, with Nalan deeply humiliated by Xiao Yun’s overwhelming strength and confidence.
• On the journey back to the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran vows to cancel her engagement with Xiao Yan and force him to come personally to sign the agreement.
• She plans to report Xiao Yun’s actions to her teacher, Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect’s leader and a powerful Three-Star Dou Emperor, believing Yun Yun will avenge her humiliation.
• Back at the Xiao Clan, the elders relax after the confrontation ends without violence.
• Xiao Yan kneels before his father, Xiao Zhan, and promises to cultivate for three years so he can defeat Nalan Yanran, restore his dignity, and defend the Xiao Clan’s honor.
• Xiao Zhan encourages him, while Xiao Yun reminds Xiao Yan to work hard and fulfill his promise.
• After leaving the hall with Xun Er, Xiao Yun receives a system notification announcing that he has completed a plot quest: humiliating Nalan Yanran and defending the Xiao Clan.
• His reward is a trait-copying opportunity. He copies Yun Yun’s “Three-Star Dou Emperor Strength” trait, instantly rising from Dou Wang level to Dou Emperor level.
• Xiao Yun is thrilled by his sudden power increase and amused by the irony that Nalan Yanran intends to seek Yun Yun’s help against him, unaware that he now possesses the same level of strength.

Character Developments

• Nalan Yanran: Her pride is badly wounded, but rather than reflecting on her actions, she becomes more determined and vengeful. Her confidence shifts from personal ability to reliance on Yun Yun’s status and power.
• Ge Ye: He remains cautious and realistic, recognizing the danger of provoking Xiao Yun and warning Nalan Yanran against further conflict. However, he ultimately cannot change her mind.
• Xiao Yan: His humiliation strengthens his resolve. Though currently only at the third stage of Dou Qi, he commits himself to a three-year cultivation goal and promises to defeat Nalan Yanran.
• Xiao Zhan: He feels concern and sympathy for Xiao Yan but supports his son’s determination. He also openly acknowledges Xiao Yun’s role in preserving the clan’s honor.
• Xiao Yun: He protects the Xiao Clan without seeking praise, supports Xiao Yan’s challenge, and gains a massive increase in strength through the system.
• Xun Er: She remains supportive and curious, questioning whether Xiao Yan can truly surpass Nalan Yanran while trusting the unfolding situation.

Significant Themes

• Honor and humiliation: The chapter centers on the Xiao Clan’s damaged reputation and the characters’ desire to restore or defend their dignity.
• Revenge and determination: Both Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan respond to humiliation by making future vows, setting up a longer-term conflict.
• Power and status: Nalan Yanran believes Yun Yun’s Dou Emperor strength makes the Misty Cloud Sect untouchable, but Xiao Yun’s new ability completely overturns that assumption.
• Fate and irony: Nalan Yanran intends to use Yun Yun to punish Xiao Yun, only for Xiao Yun to acquire Yun Yun’s exact level of strength.
• Family loyalty: Xiao Yun protects his clan and supports his younger brother, while Xiao Zhan stands behind Xiao Yan’s determination.

Character Interactions

• Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye: Ge Ye attempts to calm her and warn her against provoking Xiao Yun, but Nalan rejects his advice and relies on Yun Yun’s power.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan: Xiao Yan makes his three-year vow before his father, who accepts the challenge and promises to wait for him.
• Xiao Yun and Xiao Yan: Xiao Yun defends the clan, encourages Xiao Yan to honor his promise, and reinforces their brotherly bond.
• Xiao Yun and Xun Er: Xun Er praises Xiao Yun’s performance and questions Xiao Yan’s chances, while Xiao Yun responds cautiously.
• Xiao Yun and the system: The system rewards Xiao Yun for completing the plot quest, granting him Yun Yun’s Three-Star Dou Emperor strength and dramatically changing the balance of power.