Chapter Summaries

Yun Yun refused to marry Gu He, and Yun Shan agreed not to force her while reflecting on Protector Wu’s demand. Across the Jia Ma Empire, Jia Xingtian and Nalan Su each planned to approach Yan Xiao, hoping to recruit his talents or seek his help.

• Yun Yun recalled her encounter with Yan Xiao and firmly asked Yun Shan to withdraw his command that she marry Gu He; Yun Shan agreed.
• Jia Xingtian learned that Yan Xiao had defeated Mu Zhan and controlled two flames, then urged Yao Yue to befriend him and draw him toward the Imperial Family.
• Nalan Su summoned Nalan Yanran after hearing that Yan Xiao was an alchemist with multiple flames.
• Nalan Su told Nalan Yanran that her grandfather was near death from the Branding Iron Poison Seal Python’s poison and that Yan Xiao might be able to save him.

Yun Leng planned a Battle at the Cloud Summit to strengthen Nalan Yanran before her three-year agreement with Xiao Yan, while Xiao Yan passed the Alchemist Guild’s fourth-grade examination as Yan Xiao. At the guild, Yao Yue invited him to the palace, Nalan Yanran begged him to treat her poisoned grandfather, and a Mittel Family messenger arrived with another request.

• Yun Leng proposed a Battle at the Cloud Summit where Nalan Yanran could face the empire’s young geniuses before confronting Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan refined a fourth-grade Qi Gathering Powder and passed the Alchemist Guild examination, astonishing Chairman Fa Ma.
• Yao Yue invited Xiao Yan to the palace at Jia Xingtian’s request and offered to exchange pointers on alchemy.
• Nalan Yanran asked Xiao Yan to use his flames to expel the poison from her grandfather Nalan Jie.
• A woman in a red dress entered and told Xiao Yan that Elder Hai of the Mittel Family requested his presence.

After passing the fourth-grade alchemist assessment, Yan Xiao faced competing appeals from Nalan Yanran, Ya Fei, and Yao Yue. He was about to refuse Nalan Yanran’s offer when an unknown elderly voice in his soul asked him to obtain the seven illusory azure spirit saliva.

• Fa Ma gave Yan Xiao his fourth-grade Alchemist Robe and urged him to attend the Alchemist Tournament in three days.
• Nalan Yanran offered Yan Xiao seven illusory azure spirit saliva in return for treating her grandfather, Nalan Jie.
• Ya Fei invited Yan Xiao to meet Elder Hai, hinting that Hai might show him another mysterious map fragment.
• Yao Yue left without pressing her own request, keeping her imperial grandfather’s invitation open.
• Yao Chen told Xiao Yan that the ingredient was no longer useful to them, and Xiao Yan prepared to refuse Nalan Yanran.
• An aged voice spoke directly in Xiao Yan’s soul and asked him to obtain the seven illusory azure spirit saliva.

Xiao Yan heard a mysterious voice from the pale yellow ring, whose ancient owner asked him to obtain seven illusory azure spirit saliva to preserve his fading soul. After Yao Chen judged the stranger had ties to the Pill Tower and meant them no harm, Xiao Yan agreed to cure Nalan Yanran's grandfather in exchange for the treasure, leaving Nalan Yanran questioning whether his flames were heavenly flames.

• Xiao Yan sensed a voice speaking through the pale yellow ring, and Yao Chen emerged from the Bone Flame Ring in shock.
• The ring's elder identified Yao Chen as an outcast of the Yao Clan and said he needed seven illusory azure spirit saliva to prolong his life.
• Yao Chen told Xiao Yan that the elder seemed genuinely connected to the Pill Tower and was not from the Hall of Souls.
• Xiao Yan agreed to remove the poison from Nalan Yanran's grandfather on the conditions that no one disturb or watch him and that the Nalan Family give him the seven illusory azure spirit saliva.
• Nalan Yanran accepted Xiao Yan's terms, then asked whether the crimson-blue flames he had released were genuine heavenly flames.

Xiao Yan revealed that he possessed a Heavenly Flame and followed Nalan Yanran to the Nalan Family to treat Nalan Jie’s Brand Poison. He began examining the dying old man with the Green Lotus Annihilation Flame.

• Xiao Yan admitted to Nalan Yanran that he possessed a Heavenly Flame, and she asked him to accompany her to the Nalan Family.
• Xiao Yan followed Nalan Yanran to the Nalan Mansion, where Nalan Su explained that Nalan Jie’s Brand Poison had resisted even Gu He’s treatment.
• Nalan Yanran told Nalan Su that Xiao Yan possessed a genuine Heavenly Flame, and Nalan Su promised the Nalan Family’s help if Xiao Yan saved his father.
• Xiao Yan entered the side room, examined the unconscious Nalan Jie, and touched his back with the Green Lotus Annihilation Flame.

Xiao Yan purged the Brand Poison from Nalan Jie and accepted the seven illusory azure spirit saliva as his reward. When Nalan Su offered him anything else, Xiao Yan pointed to Nalan Yanran and declared that she was what he wanted.

• Xiao Yan used the Green Lotus Annihilation Flame to force the Brand Poison from Nalan Jie's bones while Nalan Yanran and Nalan Su watched in distress.
• Yao Chen supplied Xiao Yan with Soul Force as he endured the strain of the treatment and burned away the final traces of poison.
• Xiao Yan discovered Brand Poison on his own fingertips, hid them in his sleeve, and accepted the seven illusory azure spirit saliva from Nalan Su.
• Nalan Su invited Xiao Yan to a banquet and offered the Nalan Family's treasures in gratitude for saving Nalan Jie.
• Xiao Yan rejected the offers and pointed at Nalan Yanran, saying that she was what he wanted.

Xiao Yan arranged to spar with Nalan Yanran at the Nalan Family, then returned to his guest room and used the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva on his ring in hopes of awakening its sleeping owner. The ring absorbed the saliva’s radiance and began to release a terrifying surge of Soul Force.

• Xiao Yan asked Nalan Yanran to spar with him, and she agreed to meet him the next day at the Nalan Family.
• Xiao Yan removed his Thousand Illusion Mask in his guest room and told Yao Chen that the senior in the ring had fallen silent.
• Yao Chen advised Xiao Yan to refine the Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva and apply it to the ring to awaken the senior.
• Xiao Yan refined the flower into a glowing droplet and pressed it against the ring, which absorbed its radiance and began glowing pale gold.
• The ring slipped from Xiao Yan’s finger, then erupted with a vast Soul Force shock wave that threatened to annihilate his soul.

Xiao Yan and Yao Chen met the ancient soul preserved in the Holy Pill Ring, who revealed that he had been the Little Pill Tower’s former tower master and was betrayed by his disciple, Hun Xuzi. The old man asked them to call him Elder Dan, leaving Xiao Yan wondering whether unseen forces had brought him to the Xiao Clan.

• Elder Dan emerged from the ring and thanked Xiao Yan for the seven illusory azure spirit saliva that restored his awareness.
• Elder Dan recognized Yao Chen as a former Pill Tower member and learned that Yao Chen had been betrayed by a disciple allied with the Hall of Souls.
• Yao Chen realized Elder Dan had been the Little Pill Tower’s former tower master, a Four-Star Dou Sheng and Grandmaster Alchemist.
• Elder Dan revealed that Hun Xuzi had been his disciple and had ambushed him with Hun Clan experts, nearly annihilating his soul.
• Elder Dan recounted how unseen forces carried his remnant soul through the void until it reached Xiao Yan, then told them to call him Elder Dan.

Elder Dan offered Xiao Yan and Yao Chen his alchemy knowledge and soul cultivation method in exchange for secrecy and a promise to deliver his ring to the Dan Family in the Central Plains. The next morning, Xiao Yan met Nalan Yanran at the Nalan Mansion sparring platform, and their match began.

• Elder Dan asked Xiao Yan and Yao Chen to keep his existence secret from the Hall of Souls and offered to pass on his alchemy experience, ancient pill formulas, and soul cultivation method.
• Elder Dan asked Xiao Yan to deliver his Holy Pill Ring to a direct descendant of the Dan Family and encouraged him to join the Pill Tower; Xiao Yan agreed.
• Elder Dan returned to the ring to recover, while Xiao Yan meditated through the night.
• Xiao Yan arrived at the Nalan Mansion sparring platform, where Nalan Yanran, Nalan Su, and Nalan Jie awaited him.
• Nalan Yanran explained that a secret technique concealed her true cultivation, then rose into the air to begin the match.

Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran exchanged powerful attacks in their sparring match, with Xiao Yan using his heavy sword to overcome her Wind Spirit Splitting Sword. Nalan Yanran activated her wind-field technique and launched Xiao Yan into the air with Song of the High Sky.

• Nalan Yanran attacked Xiao Yan with Thousand Wind Gale, but he shattered the gales with a punch.
• Nalan Yanran drew her longsword and used her speed and wind blades against Xiao Yan, whose Dou Qi Armor blocked the attack.
• Xiao Yan struck back with Nether Flame, and Nalan Yanran met it with a gale from her sword; their clash shook the sparring platform.
• Nalan Yanran sent five energy swords at Xiao Yan with Wind Spirit Splitting Sword, and Xiao Yan deflected them with his heavy sword and Disorder-Splitting Wind Ruler Technique.
• Nalan Yanran used Thousand Winds Follow to absorb ambient wind energy and replenish her Dou Qi.
• Nalan Yanran unleashed Song of the High Sky, expanding an azure wind domain that broke Xiao Yan's momentum and hurled him into the air.

Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran’s duel escalated until Hai Bodong intervened and stopped their attacks. After the duel, Hai Bodong invited Xiao Yan to the Mittel Family, but Yun Xiaotian and Liu Ling arrived before Xiao Yan answered.

• Nalan Yanran used Hurricane Sword and formed Dou Qi Armor as Xiao Yan countered her wind field with Fire-Blowing Palm to propel himself toward her.
• Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran’s attacks collided, but Hai Bodong appeared between them and dispersed both techniques with his icy dou qi.
• Xiao Yan recognized Hai Bodong as the Ice Emperor, while Hai Bodong admired the duel and discussed the upcoming Battle at the Cloud Summit with Nalan Jie.
• Hai Bodong confirmed Nalan Jie’s poison had been cleared and invited Xiao Yan to visit the Mittel Family.
• Yun Xiaotian and Liu Ling arrived, calling out to Nalan Yanran before Xiao Yan could respond to Hai Bodong’s invitation.

Yun Xiaotian explained that the Misty Cloud Sect would hold a Battle at the Cloud Summit as a stage for young talents and a public warm-up for Nalan Yanran’s Three-Year Agreement with Xiao Yan. After Nalan Jie objected to using the event to humiliate Xiao Yan, Yun Xiaotian declared that he would defeat Xiao Yan himself and avenge his past humiliation.

• Yun Xiaotian and Liu Ling arrived at the Combat Platform and found Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan after their fierce exchange of moves.
• Yun Xiaotian announced the Battle at the Cloud Summit and invited Xiao Yan, who said he had no interest in competing.
• Yun Xiaotian revealed that the event would build attention for Nalan Yanran’s Three-Year Agreement with Xiao Yan and help establish her reputation as the next sect master.
• Nalan Jie condemned the plan to use the event to belittle Xiao Yan and urged the Misty Cloud Sect to keep the contest separate from the agreement.
• Yun Xiaotian vowed to defeat Xiao Yan before Nalan Yanran could challenge him and unleashed his Da Dou Shi aura, boasting of his Gale Demon Wolf Fifty-Four Consecutive Slashes.

Xiao Yan struggled to contain his anger over the Misty Cloud Sect’s planned Battle at the Cloud Summit before leaving the Nalan Mansion with Hai Bodong. Xiao Lin visited Yun Yun to ask about the Heavenly Poison Pearl and the contest’s age limit, and Yun Yun realized he might qualify to compete.

• Xiao Yan suppressed his fury at Yun Xiaotian’s words after Yao Chen warned him not to act rashly.
• Hai Bodong left the Nalan Mansion with Xiao Yan, while Nalan Yanran remained silent and Yun Xiaotian stayed behind.
• Xiao Lin appeared inside the Misty Cloud Sect’s main hall, surprising Yun Yun with his presence and Dou Emperor cultivation.
• Xiao Lin asked Yun Yun about the Heavenly Poison Pearl offered at the Battle at the Cloud Summit, and she said Yun Shan had ordered it as a prize.
• Xiao Lin asked whether anyone under thirty could enter the contest, and Yun Yun realized that he might be eligible.

Xiao Lin asked Yun Yun to register Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin for the Battle at the Cloud Summit, then gave her the Wind-Splitting Beast's Beast Core as thanks and compensation. He teased Yun Yun about the Earth-Rejuvenating Pill and escaped her furious attack, leaving her to shout after him.

• Yun Yun became excited by Xiao Lin's pills and strength, but he declined to enter the Alchemist Tournament and asked her to register Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin for the Battle at the Cloud Summit.
• Xiao Lin told Yun Yun that Qing Lin was a girl he had rescued and that Xiao Yi Xian was a friend he had met in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, just like Yun Yun.
• Xiao Lin gave Yun Yun a Ninth-Rank Wind-Splitting Beast's Beast Core, which he said could help her break through to Dou Zong, and described it as thanks and compensation for future losses.
• Xiao Lin teased Yun Yun by mentioning another Earth-Rejuvenating Pill, making her blush with embarrassment and fury.
• Yun Yun attacked Xiao Lin with Extreme Wind-Meteor Kill, but he dodged, departed, and left her shouting for him to come back.

At the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Tournament, Xiao Yan discovered that the Windwalk Pill formula was faulty and revealed a powerful flame while restarting his refinement. The chapter ended with Jia Xingtian pressing Hai Bodong about the price he had agreed to for Xiao Yan's help in the Battle at the Cloud Summit.

• A bamboo hat burst from the gray-robed youth, revealing a Chu Yun Empire badge and alarming Yao Yue, Liu Ling, and Xiao Yan.
• During the Windwalk Pill assessment, many contestants, including Liu Ling, Yao Yue, and Xiao Yan, failed when their cauldrons produced black ash.
• Xiao Yan realized the supplied formula was faulty, while the gray-robed youth mocked the Jia Ma Empire's alchemists and claimed to be in the lead.
• Xiao Yan challenged the gray-robed youth and revealed an ethereal red-cyan flame, which Fa Ma recognized as a heavenly flame.
• Jia Xingtian confronted Hai Bodong about recruiting Xiao Yan for the Battle at the Cloud Summit, and Hai Bodong let slip that Xiao Yan had demanded an additional agreement before refusing to explain it.

At the alchemist tournament, Xiao Yan raced the Gray-Robed Youth to finish refining their pills while Jia Ma’s spectators watched. Elsewhere, Yun Yun absorbed the Wind-Splitting Beast Core, endured its violent energy, and began experiencing the beast’s wind-based instincts and abilities.

• Yao Ye, Ya Fei, and Nalan Yanran reflected on Xiao Yan’s hidden strength and watched him become Jia Ma’s hope against the Gray-Robed Youth.
• Xiao Yan and the Gray-Robed Youth continued refining their ingredients as the Little Princess and Liu Ling worried about the foreign contestant taking the top spot.
• Yao Yue and the others sensed that the pills were nearing completion, and Xiao Yan struck his cauldron, sending his pill flying in cyan flames.
• Yun Yun began refining the Wind-Splitting Beast Core in a secluded Misty Cloud Sect chamber, but its fierce energy tore through her meridians.
• A Wind-Splitting Beast phantom dragged Yun Yun’s soul into a stormy vision, where she experienced the creature’s swift movements and wind techniques.

Yun Yun broke through to Dou Zong after transforming her wind-element cultivation. At the Third-Round Competition, Xiao Yan attempted to refine the Three-Pattern Clear Spirit Pill with multiple flames, leaving the competition amid a blaze of crimson fire.

• Yun Yun incorporated the Wind-Splitting Beast's wildness into her cultivation and reached Dou Zong.
• Xiao Yan began refining the Three-Pattern Clear Spirit Pill Fa Ma had given him, while Yan Li's pill fragrance surpassed his.
• Yao Chen urged Xiao Yan to focus, and Xiao Yan steadied his soul force before switching from the nether flame to the Qingyun Flame.
• Xiao Yan's flames became chaotic during the change, but he calmed himself and regained control.
• Xiao Yan decided to refine the true Three-Pattern Clear Spirit Pill, and crimson flames erupted from his body and engulfed him.

Xiao Yan completed a Three-Pattern Clear Spirit Pill while Yan Li produced a pinnacle fourth-grade Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill. With Elder Dan awake and guiding him, Xiao Yan used his heavenly flame to refine a Four-Pattern Purple Spirit Pill, astonishing the onlookers.

• Xiao Yan and Yan Li finished their pills, with Yan Li revealing a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill.
• Elder Dan awakened and explained how Xiao Yan could use a fourth flame to create a Four-Pattern Purple Spirit Pill.
• Xiao Yan summoned his green lotus core flame, causing the other flames in the square to bow and collapse.
• Xiao Yan infused the pill with the heavenly flame and formed the fourth purple pattern.

Xiao Yan completed a Four-Pattern Purple Spirit Pill, and Gu He confirmed it was a fifth-grade pill, validating Xiao Yan’s victory in the Alchemist Tournament. Gu He had also fully recovered from his injuries and advanced to Four-Star Dou Emperor.

• Xiao Yan finished refining the Four-Pattern Purple Spirit Pill, while Elder Dan warned him that attempting a higher-grade pill could ruin his efforts and injure him.
• Fa Ma examined Xiao Yan’s pill but could not identify it, and Yan Li accused Xiao Yan of cheating.
• Gu He arrived after fully recovering from his injuries and advancing to Four-Star Dou Emperor, then sensed a heavenly flame within the pill.
• Gu He confirmed the pill was fifth grade, and Fa Ma declared Yan Xiao the tournament champion.

After winning the Alchemist Tournament, Xiao Yan faced questions from Gu He about his heavenly flame and teacher. Gu He chased a mysterious watcher, while Yan Li fled the city and was stopped on the road by a terrifying fifth-order python.

• Xiao Yan won the tournament with a fifth-grade pill, earning admiration from Nalan Jie and Nalan Yanran.
• Gu He questioned Xiao Yan about his teacher and the green lotus core flame, then asked whether he had sensed the bone spirit cold flame; Xiao Yan denied knowing anything about it.
• Gu He sensed someone watching him, attacked a concealed corner, and pursued the fleeing shadow while ordering Liu Ling to stay behind.
• As the crowd focused on Gu He's pursuit, Yan Li slipped away, disguised himself, and fled toward the Chu Yun Empire.
• Yan Li was halted near Black Rock Mountain by a huge black python emitting poisonous gas, which he recognized as a fifth-order magical beast.