Chapter Summaries

Zhu Kun watched a Jade Slip recording that revealed Zi Yan’s hardship and the care Xiao Meng had shown her, then realized he had killed Xiao Meng while trying to reunite them. As Amon waited for the tower to reopen, Xiao Meng’s plan to deliver the Sea Heart Flame to Xiao Yan left him alarmed.

• A Jade Slip showed Zi Yan injured and sharing a low-tier herb with Xiao Meng, who refined it into candy-like pellets and promised to help find Zi Yan’s parents.
• Zhu Kun recognized Xiao Meng in the recording and realized he had killed one of Zi Yan’s closest friends, leaving him devastated and fearful that they would become enemies.
• Amon waited in the flame passageway for the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower to reopen and mused that Xiao Meng was a sharp blade capable of hurting people through their hearts.
• After winning the Alchemist Tournament, Xiao Yan looked toward the Misty Cloud Sect and challenged Nalan Yanran to be ready.
• Zhou Mingrui told Amon that Xiao Meng had discovered his Sea Heart Flame and was insisting on personally giving it to Xiao Yan, causing Amon’s smile to stiffen.

After saving Nalan Jie, Xiao Yan obtained the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva and learned that Yao Chen feared his soul was being eroded by eerie beings. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhan discovered that every Xiao Clan member—and many people across Wutan City—had begun wearing matching monocles, and the clan gathered outside his hiding place.

• Xiao Yan cured Nalan Jie of his poison, received the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva, and hurried back to the inn.
• Yao Chen used the ingredient to prepare medicinal liquid and warned Xiao Yan to abandon him if the eerie beings ever changed who he was.
• Xiao Yan vowed never to leave Yao Chen, while Yao Chen urged him to remember that he was still his teacher.
• Xiao Zhan noticed that all the Xiao Clan members wore crystal monocles and made the same gesture, then recalled seeing the same behavior among prominent people in Wutan City.
• The monocled clan members gathered outside Xiao Zhan’s room, spoke in eerie unison, and began opening the door.

A black-robed figure told Xiao Zhan how the Xiao Tribe fell from being one of the Ancient Eight Clans to becoming the Xiao Clan of Wutan City. He revealed that his name was Xiao Yuanshan and identified himself as a member of the Xiao Tribe.

• The black-robed figure told Xiao Zhan about the Ancient Eight Clans and the five supreme Nine-Star Dou Sheng experts, including Xiao Xuan, Hun Tiandi, and Gu Yuan.
• The black-robed figure explained that Xiao Xuan tried to gather the Xiao Tribe’s bloodline power and break through to the Dou Emperor realm, but the Soul Clan attacked and destroyed most of the tribe’s strength.
• The black-robed figure said Gu Yuan protected the surviving members of the Xiao Tribe, who left the Central Plains and eventually declined into the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Zhan confirmed that the black-robed figure meant the Xiao Clan of Wutan City and asked for his identity.
• The black-robed figure revealed that he was Xiao Yuanshan and told Xiao Zhan to call himself a member of the Xiao Tribe.

Xiao Zhan learned from the disguised ancestor Xiao Yuanshan that the Soul Hall was targeting the Xiao Tribe and that the Amon Clan had replaced its members to draw the enemy's attention. After Xiao Zhan left, the supposed ancestor revealed to an Amon that the plan would use the Xiao Tribe's identity to gain influence and obtain the Ancient Jade.

• Xiao Yuanshan told Xiao Zhan that the Soul Clan's Soul Hall was preparing to attack the Xiao Tribe.
• Xiao Yuanshan revealed that he had secretly moved Xiao Zhan's clansmen away and left Amon Clan members posing as them.
• An Amon assumed Xiao Zhan's appearance and explained that the Amon Clan willingly accepted the risk as an ally of the Xiao Tribe.
• Xiao Zhan promised to repay the Amon Clan's sacrifice and asked where his clansmen had been taken.
• After Xiao Zhan left, the Amon asked Wu Meng whether he planned to use the Xiao Tribe's identity to enter the continent's affairs.
• Wu Meng said the Xiao Tribe was a useful asset for leveraging Xiao Yan's ties and obtaining the Ancient Jade.

Yun Shan gave Protector Wu Gu He's soul in exchange for more time and agreed to help the Soul Hall destroy the Xiao Clan after Xiao Yan's upcoming duel. Meanwhile, Wu Meng escorted the disguised Xiao Zhan out of Wutan City in an ordinary carriage to avoid alerting the Soul Hall, while the real “Xiao Zhan” remained at the estate.

• Yun Shan handed Protector Wu Gu He's soul, and Protector Wu accepted it as payment for extending their agreement.
• Protector Wu demanded Misty Cloud Sect manpower to destroy the Xiao Clan, and Yun Shan proposed waiting for Xiao Yan's duel to provide a pretext.
• Protector Wu agreed to wait less than half a month for Yun Shan to arrange the attack.
• Wu Meng took the disguised Xiao Zhan out of Wutan City by carriage, explaining that a quiet departure would avoid drawing the Soul Hall's attention.
• Xiao Zhan asked whether Gu Yuan was the ancient figure Wu Meng had mentioned, and Wu Meng said he probably was.
• At the Xiao Clan estate, the real “Xiao Zhan” adjusted his Monocle and smiled.

Xiao Yan negotiated with Queen Medusa over the Soul Fusion Pill Formula, using Qing Meng’s Three-Colored Fire Lotus to keep her at bay. Medusa agreed to protect Xiao Yan for three years in exchange for him gathering the ingredients and helping refine the pill, while her Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python form returned to the room’s antics.

• Qing Meng teased the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python with Companion Amethyst Source, and it transformed into Queen Medusa.
• Medusa demanded the Soul Fusion Pill Formula, but Xiao Yan refused to hand it over without negotiating.
• Qing Meng intimidated Medusa by presenting a Three-Colored Fire Lotus, while Mittel Tengshan rushed toward the room and Hai Bodong calmed him down.
• Xiao Yan offered to help Medusa obtain the pill if she protected him for three years and he gathered the ingredients, and Medusa accepted.
• Medusa returned to snake form, Qing Meng grabbed her by the tail, and the snake bit his Monocle before Hai Bodong arrived and Xiao Yan claimed he had been testing a Dou Technique.

Xiao Yan took a Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill and advanced from one-star to four-star Da Dou Shi before the Three-Year Agreement. As he prepared to face Nalan Yanran at the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Shan awaited his arrival with a plan to surprise him.

• Xiao Yan swallowed the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill with Qing Meng’s help and raised his cultivation by three stars.
• Hai Bodong brought Xiao Yan an invitation to the Misty Cloud Sect’s gathering, which Xiao Yan suspected was meant to bolster Nalan Yanran’s reputation.
• Hai Bodong told Xiao Yan that Yun Yun was away and might return for the Three-Year Agreement, while Yun Leng was suspected of arranging the public event.
• Xiao Yan asked Yao Chen whether Yun Zhi could be Yun Yun, and Yao Chen reassured him that they could withstand the Misty Cloud Sect’s hidden strength.
• Yun Shan watched the night sky and said he would welcome Xiao Yan the next day with a huge surprise.

Xiao Yan arrived at Misty Cloud Mountain to face Nalan Yanran in their Three-Year Agreement, while the assembled spectators and sect disciples sized up his strength. The duel began as Xiao Yan challenged Nalan Yanran’s confidence and revealed that he had reached the four-star Da Dou Shi level.

• Xiao Yan departed the Mittel Clan courtyard with Hai Bodong, then walked up Misty Cloud Mountain to meet Nalan Yanran.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran introduced themselves before the Misty Cloud Sect disciples, elders, and representatives of the empire.
• Hai Bodong, Jia Xingtian, and others discussed Xiao Yan’s strength as the spectators watched the confrontation.
• Yun Leng began laying out rules for the match, but Xiao Yan interrupted him and agreed with Nalan Yanran to let destiny decide.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran discussed the past and their reasons for fighting, and Nalan Yanran vowed not to hold back.
• Xiao Yan released the full aura of a four-star Da Dou Shi and challenged Nalan Yanran.

Xiao Yan defeated Nalan Yanran in their agreed duel, revealing that he was also the alchemist Yan Xiao and forcing the Misty Cloud Sect and Nalan Family to confront the consequences of their past actions. After Nalan Yanran tried to take her own life, Xiao Yan knocked away her sword and stopped her.

• Yun Leng froze when Xiao Yan revealed the strength of a Four-Star Da Dou Shi, while Yun Shan and Yun Meng discussed Yun Leng’s foolishness.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran began their duel, and Xiao Yan’s strength and ancient ruler gave him the advantage despite fighting with one hand.
• Nalan Yanran targeted Xiao Yan’s head and briefly drove him back, but Xiao Yan revealed his Green Lotus Core Flame, prompting Fa Ma to recognize him as Yan Xiao.
• Xiao Yan used Thunder Flash and Eight Extremities Collapse to defeat Nalan Yanran, then struck her down after refusing Yun Leng’s request to show mercy.
• Nalan Yanran accepted her defeat and tried to cut her throat, but Xiao Yan knocked her sword away before Nalan Jie reached her.

After defeating Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan burned the Divorce Letter and tried to leave, but Yun Leng used Mo Cheng’s murder as a pretext to detain him. When Yun Leng attacked, Xiao Yan fought back and escaped into the sky, though his wig fell before the crowd.

• Nalan Jie thanked Xiao Yan for stopping Nalan Yanran, and Xiao Yan found the worn Divorce Letter she had carried.
• Xiao Yan burned the letter, told Nalan Yanran their past was over, and started down the mountain.
• Yun Leng accused Xiao Yan of being connected to Mo Cheng’s murder and demanded that he cooperate with an investigation.
• Xiao Yan refused, and Yun Leng attacked him; Xiao Yan countered with Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler and flew away on his wings.
• Xiao Yan’s wig drifted down in front of the stunned crowd.

After winning the Three-Year Agreement, Xiao Yan attacked Yun Leng with a powerful fire lotus, leaving the Misty Cloud Sect elder badly injured. When three elders moved to detain him, Hai Bodong and Jia Xingtian intervened, and Yun Leng summoned help with a whistle.

• Xiao Yan's wig fell off, prompting laughter from the crowd and deepening Nalan Yanran's regret over losing to him.
• Furious at Yun Leng, Xiao Yan used Qing Meng to form a Three-Colored Fire Lotus and launched it at the elder.
• Yun Leng's Mystic Rock Shield shattered, and the fire lotus severely burned and injured him.
• Yun Leng accused Xiao Yan of killing Mo Cheng and ordered three Misty Cloud Sect elders to stop him.
• Hai Bodong declared Xiao Yan his brother, and Jia Xingtian joined him in forcing the three elders back.
• Yun Leng blew a whistle to summon help.

Yun Shan arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect plaza and initially refused to let Xiao Yan leave, despite the support Xiao Yan gathered from several Dou Huang experts. He then revealed that Yun Yun had asked him to accept a marriage proposal from a young man named Yao Yan, leaving Xiao Yan panicked and Nalan Yanran fascinated by the drama.

• Yun Shan appeared above the plaza, heard Yun Leng's account, and said Xiao Yan could not leave the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Hai Bodong, Jia Xingtian, and Ling Ying backed Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yan drew on Yao Chen's strength to raise his aura.
• Yun Leng apologized and admitted Mo Cheng's death might have another cause, but Yun Shan still insisted Xiao Yan stay for a separate reason.
• Yun Shan explained that Yun Yun had pledged herself to a young man and asked him to accept a marriage proposal from someone named Yao Yan.
• Xiao Yan realized Yun Shan meant him, panicked under Ling Ying's puzzled gaze, and Nalan Yanran watched the revelation with keen interest.

Yun Yun arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect and learned that Nalan Yanran had lost to Xiao Yan, while the crowd realized Yao Yan was one of his aliases. As Yun Shan pushed for Yun Yun to marry Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan revealed his true name to her, leaving her stunned.

• Yun Yun arrived at the devastated square and asked Nalan Yanran about the Three-Year Agreement, learning that she had lost to Xiao Yan.
• Yun Yun recognized Yao Yan, and the crowd, including Nalan Yanran and Yun Leng, realized that Yao Yan was Xiao Yan.
• Yun Shan declared that he intended to keep Xiao Yan at Misty Cloud Mountain so he could marry Yun Yun.
• Ling Ying agreed not to interfere as long as Xiao Yan remained safe, while Hai Bodong insisted on staying to celebrate the wedding.
• Xiao Yan weighed his feelings for Yun Yun, Xun'er, and Xiao Meng, then admitted to Yun Yun that his real name was Xiao Yan.

After Xiao Yan revealed his identity, Yun Yun learned that Yun Shan had publicly exposed their past and proposed marriage, leaving her mortified. Rumors spread that Xiao Yan had manipulated Nalan Yanran into the Three-Year Agreement, while Xiao Yan struggled to defend himself as his reputation spiraled.

• Xiao Yan told Yun Yun that Yun Leng had tried to stop him from leaving and that Yun Shan had wanted him to marry her.
• Yun Yun apologized to Yun Shan and asked to cancel the marriage, but Yun Shan revealed their past in the Magical Beast Mountain Range to the crowd.
• The Misty Cloud Sect disciples speculated that Xiao Yan had pursued Yun Yun and had been the one to divorce Nalan Yanran.
• Nalan Jie concluded that Xiao Yan had engineered the engagement dispute and publicly humiliated Nalan Yanran, while she tried to correct his assumptions.
• Xiao Yan heard the rumors and wondered how he could explain himself, reflecting that he had promised to take responsibility for Yun Yun while still thinking of Xun'er and Xiao Meng.

Xiao Yan refused to settle his relationship with Yun Yun immediately, so Yun Shan challenged him to return in three years and fight for an answer. Queen Medusa then appeared as Xiao Yan’s hired bodyguard, drawing the Misty Cloud Sect’s hostility and renewed scrutiny toward him.

• Xiao Yan told Yun Shan he would take responsibility for Yun Yun one day but first needed to resolve his feelings for other women.
• Yun Yun asked to be treated as though Yun Zhi had never existed, but Yun Shan insisted Xiao Yan answer to her and the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Yun Shan proposed a Three-Year Agreement: Xiao Yan would fight him in three years, winning the right to marry Yun Yun or losing and agreeing to stay and marry her.
• Xiao Yan accepted the challenge, while Jia Xingtian recognized that Yun Shan’s terms benefited the Misty Cloud Sect either way.
• Queen Medusa emerged from Xiao Yan’s sleeve and revealed she was his round-the-clock hired bodyguard, prompting Yun Shan and Yun Yun to confront her over Gu He’s death.

After the Three-Year Agreement, Xiao Yan learned that he would have to face Yun Shan, who might become a Dou Zong, in three years and began considering how to grow stronger. As Hai Bodong and Ling Ying departed, Xiao Yan also learned more about the power he would need to pursue Xun'er, while Yao Chen warned that her clan stood among the continent’s strongest forces.

• Xiao Yan told Yun Shan the Three-Year Agreement was over and left Misty Cloud Mountain with Queen Medusa, who said she had come to protect him.
• Yao Chen warned Xiao Yan that Yun Shan could become a Dou Zong and suggested that absorbing two more Heavenly Flames might give Xiao Yan a chance to defeat him.
• Amon, controlling Hai Bodong, said he would stay with the Mittel Clan, help protect the Xiao Clan, and leave Xiao Yan to deliver the Purple Spirit Pill when it was ready.
• Ling Ying said he would report Xiao Yan’s relationships to Xun'er and warned that Xiao Yan needed to defeat Yun Shan to have a chance of marrying her.
• Yao Chen guessed that Xun'er belonged to a powerful clan and told Xiao Yan to aim to become a high-level Dou Zun.

After Xiao Yan left Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran asked to enter the dangerous Life and Death Gate to narrow the gap between them. Yun Meng then proposed a covert plan with Soul Hall to destroy the Xiao Clan, and Protector Wu agreed.

• Yun Shan rebuked Yun Leng for his actions and told Yun Yun that she had good taste before leaving with Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran behind.
• Nalan Yanran told Yun Yun she would not object to her relationship with Xiao Yan, then insisted on entering the Life and Death Gate to improve herself.
• Yun Shan explained to Yun Meng that the Life and Death Gate was a sealed space containing past Sect Leaders' inheritances, magical beasts, and trials.
• Yun Meng offered to lead Misty Cloud Sect's shadow operations and described how the Jia Lie Clan, Aoba Clan, and Soul Hall could be used to disguise an attack on the Xiao Clan.
• Yun Meng said the scheme would make Yun Leng and Yun Shan appear to be the masterminds while concealing Soul Hall's role, and suggested Xiao Yan could be killed in an accident or by Yun Shan three years later.
• Protector Wu accepted Yun Meng's plan to proceed against the Xiao Clan.

Wu Meng introduced Xiao Zhan to the Amethyst Winged Lion King, which had agreed to guard the Xiao Tribe’s new underground clan grounds for ten years in exchange for two Humanoid Transformation Pills. The chapter ended with Amon’s plan to guide Xiao Zhan into becoming a convincing mastermind whose schemes would be attributed to the clan leader himself.

• Xiao Zhan told Wu Meng that the underground clan grounds felt stifling, and Wu Meng promised the clan could safely explore the valley under the protection of a sixth-tier magical beast.
• Wu Meng led Xiao Zhan outside and introduced him to the Amethyst Winged Lion King, which confirmed its agreement to guard the Xiao Tribe for ten years in return for two Humanoid Transformation Pills.
• Wu Meng brought the Amethyst Winged Lion King to the underground plaza, where Xiao Zhan introduced it to the assembled Xiao Clan members as their protector.
• Amon planned to shape Xiao Zhan’s thinking and gradually delegate authority so that others would eventually believe Xiao Zhan was the mastermind behind the clan’s schemes.

Xiao Zhan met Amon, the leader of an allied clan who wanted help returning to his home plane. Amon proposed supporting the Xiao Clan until one of its members became a Dou Emperor, leaving Xiao Zhan stunned by the alliance’s purpose.

• Xiao Qing offered the Little Amethyst Winged Lion King candied hawthorn, and it ate the treat before walking away as she teared up.
• Wu Meng showed Xiao Zhan a hidden passage and explained that it led to an ally named Amon, whose strength was recovering from old injuries.
• Wu Meng led Xiao Zhan through the passage to Amon’s strange stone hall, where Amon asked whether they had come to collect a Spirit Worm.
• Amon introduced himself as the leader of the Amon Clan and told Xiao Zhan that he wanted to return to his home plane, the Great Thousand World.
• Amon explained that their alliance would support the Xiao Clan in producing a Dou Emperor, who would then help him return home, and Xiao Zhan struggled to believe him.

Amon and Wu Meng explained the Soul Clan’s plans to Xiao Zhan and offered the Xiao Clan Spirit Worms to strengthen its members in exchange for an alliance. Xiao Zhan accepted, pledging the Xiao Tribe’s loyalty to the Amon Clan as the two clans agreed to advance together.

• Wu Meng explained that the Xiao Clan’s Ancient Jade was one of eight pieces needed to open the Ancient God Cave Mansion, and Xiao Zhan handed it to him for safekeeping.
• Wu Meng warned Xiao Zhan that the Soul Clan planned to eliminate the ancient clans secretly, beginning with the weak Xiao Tribe.
• Amon offered Spirit Worms that could grant Xiao Clan members Dou Wang or Dou Huang strength, while explaining that the power could be reclaimed and would bind the clans together.
• Wu Meng told Xiao Zhan he would respect his choice and that the Xiao Clan could survive in the valley without the alliance, though it would have to rely on itself.
• Xiao Zhan pledged the Xiao Tribe’s loyalty to the Amon Clan, and Amon promised that his clan would stand by the Xiao Tribe.