Chapter Summaries

Xiao Long, an average-talented transmigrator in the Xiao Clan, gained Shendu’s powers and a Rainbow Stone through a selection system, then spent years mastering them. At seventeen, he lounged with Xiao Xun’er until a maid summoned them to meet the clan’s important guests.

• Xiao Long joked with Xiao Xun’er about admiring her, then recalled his past life and how he had been reborn as Xiao Yan’s older brother.
• After reaching qi introduction, Xiao Long chose the Shendu template and gained the Twelve Talismans, raising his talent enough to become a Dou Zhe at nine.
• When he advanced to Dou Zhe, Xiao Long chose Red-Eyed Roman’s Rainbow Stone, gaining the ability to control shadows and complete his Shendu powerset.
• Xiao Long tested his powers over the years, using the Talismans and Rainbow Stone, and reached Nine-Star Dou Zhe at seventeen.
• A maid found Xiao Long and Xiao Xun’er and told them the clan leader wanted them to meet the important guests who had arrived.

Xiao Long and Xiao Xun'er joined the Xiao Clan's reception for visitors from the Misty Cloud Sect, where Xiao Long recognized Nalan Yanran. Ge Ye began explaining the purpose of the visit, while Xiao Xun'er held Xiao Long's sleeve and said her hands felt cold.

• A maid told Xiao Long and Xiao Xun'er that Misty Cloud Sect guests had arrived, including a cold-looking young woman.
• Xiao Long and Xiao Xun'er discussed Nalan Yanran, her engagement to Xiao Yan, and Xiao Long's confidence that Xiao Yan's situation would soon improve.
• Xiao Long and Xiao Xun'er entered the reception hall, where Xiao Zhan and the clan elders hosted Ge Ye and four young Misty Cloud Sect disciples.
• Ge Ye praised Xiao Long's talent as a seventeen-year-old Nine-Star Dou Zhe, and Xiao Long recognized Nalan Yanran among the disciples.
• Ge Ye began explaining that the group had come on Yun Yun's orders, while Xiao Xun'er tugged Xiao Long's sleeve and said her hands felt cold.

Xiao Long forced Xiao Ning to give Xiao Yan a seat, then prompted Ge Ye to reveal that Nalan Yanran intended to dissolve her engagement to Xiao Yan. Xiao Long condemned Nalan Yanran in front of the gathering, and she angrily demanded to know what gave him the right.

• Xiao Long ordered Xiao Ning to surrender his seat to Xiao Yan, and Xiao Ning reluctantly obeyed.
• Xiao Long pointed out Nalan Yanran's attempts to signal Ge Ye and urged him to speak plainly.
• Ge Ye introduced Nalan Yanran and announced that the Misty Cloud Sect intended to dissolve her arranged marriage to Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Zhan shattered his teacup in anger as Ge Ye delivered the news.
• Xiao Long called Nalan Yanran someone without benevolence, righteousness, propriety, good faith, or filial piety, and she stood up to challenge his accusation.

Xiao Long publicly condemned Nalan Yanran for bringing the Misty Cloud Sect to annul her engagement to his younger brother, and Xiao Xun'er stopped Ge Ye from threatening the Xiao Clan. Nalan Yanran agreed not to break the engagement and instead demanded to marry Xiao Long, leaving him stunned.

• Xiao Long accused Nalan Yanran of being heartless, unrighteous, improper, faithless, and unfilial for publicly seeking to end the engagement.
• Nalan Yanran cried and insisted she had never wanted to marry someone she had only just met.
• A Five-Star Dou Zhe from the Misty Cloud Sect stood up to defend Nalan Yanran, and Xiao Long insulted his cultivation and intelligence.
• Ge Ye began threatening the Xiao Clan, but Xiao Xun'er stepped in front of Xiao Long and silenced him with her stare.
• Xiao Zhan said he would speak with the Nalan Family's old patriarch and that the Xiao Clan would no longer consider the Nalan Family close friends.
• Nalan Yanran declared that she would marry Xiao Long, stunning everyone.

Nalan Yanran rejected her engagement to Xiao Yan, then declared she wanted to marry Xiao Long after he berated her. Xiao Long refused both matches and said he would go to the Imperial Capital to settle the matter, while Nalan Yanran insisted she would marry him anyway.

• Xiao Xun'er tried to stop Nalan Yanran from shifting the engagement to Xiao Long, and Nalan Yanran challenged her right to interfere.
• Xiao Long pushed Xiao Xun'er aside, rejected Nalan Yanran's proposal, and accused her of treating the Xiao family as though she could choose between the brothers.
• Nalan Yanran said she would consult her elders about whom to marry, while Ge Ye apologized to Xiao Zhan and offered Xiao Yan Qi Gathering Powder.
• Xiao Long took the jade box from Ge Ye and gave it to Xiao Yan, telling him to accept the gift.
• Xiao Long declared that neither he nor Xiao Yan would marry Nalan Yanran and said he would go to the Imperial Capital to settle the matter, but Nalan Yanran insisted she would marry him.

After Nalan Yanran left, the Xiao Clan elders argued over her offer to marry Xiao Long and the Qi Gathering Powder she had given Xiao Yan. Xiao Long defended his brother and left with Xiao Xun'er, suspecting that Nalan Yanran and the Misty Cloud Sect would cause trouble again.

• Nalan Yanran left the Xiao Clan with Ge Ye and the Misty Cloud Sect disciples after giving Xiao Long a sharp parting look.
• The First Elder proposed that Xiao Long marry Nalan Yanran, and the Second Elder agreed, hoping to strengthen the clan's ties and influence.
• The First Elder and Second Elder argued that Xiao Ning should receive the Qi Gathering Powder given to Xiao Yan as compensation.
• Xiao Long insulted the First Elder, defended Xiao Yan's claim to the powder, and warned the elders not to take it.
• Xiao Long took Xiao Xun'er and left the hall, then reflected that Nalan Yanran and the Misty Cloud Sect might seek trouble again.

Xiao Long prepared to break through in seclusion and invited Xiao Xun'er to join him at Jia Nan Academy. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan discovered that Yao Chen had been draining his Dou Qi from the ring for three years, and learned that the soul called Whitebeard offered to teach him alchemy and cultivation.

• Xiao Long invited Xiao Xun'er to accompany him to Jia Nan Academy, then went to a secluded pool in the Back Mountain to condense his Dou Qi.
• Xiao Yan left the main hall upset about his broken engagement and the clan's treatment of him, then examined the Ancient Jade box on a boulder.
• A voice from Xiao Yan's black ring revealed that it had absorbed his Dou Qi and caused his cultivation to regress for three years.
• Yao Chen urged Xiao Yan to become his son and promised to teach him alchemy and cultivation so he could regain his strength and dignity.
• Yao Chen identified himself as Whitebeard, a former near-Dou Sheng whose disciple had betrayed him, leaving only his soul inside the ring.

Xiao Long became a Dou Shi and chose the Bittersweet Tree as his breakthrough reward, learning that it had a use in the world of Battle Through the Heavens. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan began training under Yao Chen by swallowing Qi Gathering Powder, while Xiao Long asked Xiao Xun'er to give him something she cherished.

• Xiao Long compressed his Dou Qi into liquid and broke through to become a Dou Shi.
• Xiao Long chose the Bittersweet Tree over Heavenly Execution and Lesser Si Ming, then received information about the tree.
• Xiao Yan accepted Yao Chen as his master and agreed to swallow Qi Gathering Powder despite fearing its effects.
• Yao Chen protected Xiao Yan's meridians as the powder caused him intense pain, and Xiao Yan cursed him.
• Xiao Long visited Xiao Xun'er's courtyard and asked her to give him something she cherished, making her blush.

Xiao Long asked Xiao Xun'er for a treasured object to use with his bittersweet tree, and she gave him the jade pendant her mother had left her. The pendant began strengthening their bond and Xiao Long’s cultivation, just as a maid arrived to announce White-Haired Sister.

• Xiao Xun'er mistook Xiao Long’s request for a romantic advance and became flustered, then asked if he wanted a token of love.
• Xiao Long explained that he needed a treasured object from someone with whom he shared an emotional bond to help his cultivation.
• Xiao Xun'er gave Xiao Long the jade leaf pendant her mother had left her, saying it was the thing she treasured most.
• Xiao Long placed the pendant beneath the bittersweet tree, which began filling it with pink light as his sensitivity to Dou Qi improved.
• A maid arrived in Xiao Xun'er's courtyard, and Xiao Long learned that White-Haired Sister had come instead of the pink-haired girl.

Xiao Yi Xian visited Xiao Long because her Woeful Poison Body had flared after she tested an unfamiliar herb, and he took her inside to help. Xiao Xun'er guarded the courtyard, growing jealous and wondering what they were doing, before they emerged sooner than she expected.

• Xiao Long recalled meeting Xiao Yi Xian in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and using the Horse Talisman to suppress the poison in her Woeful Poison Body.
• Xiao Yi Xian told Xiao Long that an herb she had tested had triggered another poisonous backlash.
• Xiao Xun'er arrived and grew jealous as Xiao Yi Xian spoke familiarly with Xiao Long.
• Xiao Long asked Xiao Xun'er to guard the courtyard while he and Xiao Yi Xian went inside to deal with her condition.
• Ling Ying offered to investigate, but Xiao Xun'er refused to let him disturb Xiao Long.
• Xiao Long and Xiao Yi Xian soon came back out, and Xiao Xun'er exclaimed at how quickly they had finished.

Xiao Long explained that he had treated Xiao Yi Xian’s lingering condition, while Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Xun'er exchanged polite but misleading claims about how often Xiao Long mentioned each other. Xiao Yi Xian left for home, and Xiao Long told Xiao Xun'er that he had found a possible way to resolve Xiao Yi Xian’s condition but would keep her secret.

• Xiao Long told Xiao Xun'er he had only suppressed Xiao Yi Xian’s condition, and Xiao Xun'er blushed as she reconsidered her suspicions.
• Xiao Yi Xian introduced herself to Xiao Xun'er and falsely said Xiao Long often mentioned her, easing Xiao Xun'er's jealousy.
• Xiao Yi Xian declined Xiao Long’s offer to stay at the Xiao Clan and explained she needed to return to process medicinal herbs.
• Xiao Long told Xiao Yi Xian he had found a possible way to deal with her condition, then watched her leave.
• Xiao Xun'er asked what was wrong with Xiao Yi Xian, and Xiao Long told her not to pry into her secret.

Xiao Yan recovered from the Qi Gathering Powder and began preparing to learn alchemy, while Xiao Long funded his training and asked him to investigate the Woeful Poison Body. Xiao Yan learned that Yao Chen knew of a possible cure but could not yet recall the method, leaving Xiao Long to consider another way to help Xiao Yi Xian.

• Xiao Yan reached the peak of the eighth stage of Dou Qi after surviving the Qi Gathering Powder, and Yao Chen urged him to begin alchemy lessons.
• Xiao Yan worried about the powerful enemies tied to Yao Chen, then resolved to learn alchemy after recalling how Xiao Long had stood up for him.
• Xiao Yan asked Xiao Long for money to buy alchemy ingredients, and Xiao Long gave him a jade card containing about fifty thousand gold coins.
• Xiao Long asked Xiao Yan to look into a cure for the Woeful Poison Body, and Xiao Yan asked Yao Chen about it through their mental link.
• Yao Chen explained that the Woeful Poison Body grew increasingly poisonous and said he knew a Poison Pill Method, but could not remember it yet.
• After Xiao Yan left, Xiao Long decided he would have to rely on the Bittersweet Tree to help Xiao Yi Xian avoid her tragic fate.

Xiao Long tested his fire abilities, then disguised himself and visited the Mittel Auction House to sell magical-beast materials and ask about a High Xuan Tier cultivation method. Ya Fei told him the method had not arrived, but his commissioned statue was ready.

• Xiao Long tested his speed and crimson flame on Back Mountain, then noticed that his Dou Qi circulated more slowly with his Xuan Tier cultivation method.
• Xiao Long considered acquiring Yao Lao's Earth Tier cultivation method through Xiao Yan and decided to ask about it after Xiao Yan became acquainted with Yao Lao.
• Xiao Long used the Monkey Talisman to disguise himself and went to the Mittel Auction House in Wutan City.
• Xiao Long sold Ya Fei a haul of magical-beast materials and asked whether she had found a High Xuan Tier cultivation method.
• Ya Fei said supplies were tight and the method had not arrived, then told Xiao Long that his commissioned statue was finished; Xiao Long asked her to bring it in.

Xiao Long used the Rat Talisman on a life-sized statue of his grandfather, Xiao Lin, and successfully brought him back to life. Xiao Lin awoke confused about his death, and Xiao Long began to explain what had happened.

• Ya Fei showed Xiao Long the life-sized statue of Xiao Lin and invited him to consign valuables to an upcoming auction.
• Xiao Long asked whether the auction house bought Da Dou Shi-level magic cores and said he would have one before long.
• Xiao Long returned to the Xiao Clan, took the statue to Back Mountain, and infused it with the Rat Talisman's power.
• The statue transformed into Xiao Lin, who recognized Xiao Long but was bewildered by his changed appearance.
• Xiao Long told Xiao Lin that he was already dead, and Xiao Lin demanded a short explanation.

Xiao Long revived Xiao Lin with the Rat Talisman and brought him back to confront the Xiao Clan’s decline. After Xiao Lin reunited with Xiao Zhan, Xiao Long wondered whether the Misty Cloud Sect was connected to the enemy who had nearly killed his grandfather.

• Xiao Lin accepted that he was a statue animated by Xiao Long’s secret art, then learned the Xiao Clan had left Jia Ma Holy City and fallen into infighting and decline.
• Xiao Long took Xiao Lin to meet Xiao Zhan, who initially suspected an illusion until Xiao Lin demonstrated his familiar Dou Qi and proved his identity.
• Xiao Lin told Xiao Zhan he had survived his old enemy’s attack and spent more than a decade recovering in hiding.
• Xiao Long considered whether the wind-attribute enemy who defeated Xiao Lin might have come from the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Xiao Xun'er questioned Xiao Long about his thoughts of Nalan Yanran, and he explained that he was investigating his grandfather’s enemy.

Xiao Lin returned to the Xiao Clan, reclaimed authority over its branches, and appointed Xiao Long young clan leader. After Xiao Long accepted the title without its duties, Xiao Lin gave him the Tou She Ancient God Jade, exposing the danger of the clan’s most coveted artifact.

• Xiao Lin revealed that he had survived and ordered the Three Great Elders to place the other branches under the main branch.
• Xiao Lin named Xiao Long young clan leader and declared that Xiao Long’s words would carry his authority.
• The Xiao Clan disciples gathered to hear that Xiao Lin was alive, while Xiao Xun'er worried the news might end her time with Xiao Long.
• Xiao Long objected to becoming young clan leader but agreed when Xiao Lin said he would only hold the title.
• Xiao Lin gave Xiao Long the Tou She Ancient God Jade, which Xiao Long recognized as the artifact sought by the Gu Clan and Soul Clan.

Xiao Long discovered that the Sheep Talisman reacted to the Tou She Ancient God Jade and learned that Xiao Xun'er had come to the Xiao Clan to pursue it. He left to study the jade while Xiao Xun'er reported that her mission remained on track and rejected her clan's proposed engagement.

• Xiao Long told Xiao Lin that the Tou She Ancient God Jade was tied to the enemies who had attacked him and that Xiao Xun'er had come to the Xiao Clan for it.
• Xiao Lin agreed to focus on rebuilding the clan and asked how to handle the Nalan Family; Xiao Long said Little Yanzi could marry Nalan Yanran and promised to deal with Nalan Jie if needed.
• Xiao Long told Xiao Xun'er that he and Xiao Lin had discussed the clan's future, while she worried about what Xiao Lin might have revealed about her background.
• Xiao Xun'er asked Ling Ying to report that her mission remained unaffected and that Xiao Lin's return might help them learn more about the jade.
• Ling Ying told Xiao Xun'er that her clan favored an engagement with the Lei Clan's young master, but she rejected the proposal and went to make Osmanthus Cake.

Xiao Long entered the Tou She Ancient God Jade and experienced part of Tou She Ancient God's life, learning about his inheritance and the complete Flame Mantra. He discovered the locations of several Heavenly Flames and considered cultivating the Flame Mantra to help Xiao Yi Xian.

• Xiao Long used the Sheep Talisman to enter the Tou She Ancient God Jade and witnessed Tou She Ancient God's memories as a Heavenly Flame.
• Xiao Long learned that Tou She Ancient God had scattered copies of the Flame Mantra, sealed his inheritance behind the jade and the cultivation method, and imprisoned the intelligent nihility devouring flame and purifying lotus demon flame.
• Xiao Long gained two Heaven-tier cultivation methods, four Heaven-tier Dou Techniques, a flame-based alchemy art, and the complete Flame Mantra.
• Xiao Long sensed the locations of the golden emperor burning heaven flame and the myriad beast spirit flame, the latter in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
• Xiao Long considered cultivating the Flame Mantra because he might need at least three Heavenly Flames to resolve Xiao Yi Xian's condition, then made his decision.

Xiao Long rejected the Flame Mantra and began cultivating the Fire Emperor Profound Canon, whose power drew fire-attribute dou qi from the surrounding area. Yao Chen noticed the disturbance and offered Xiao Yan the Flame Mantra, persuading him to cultivate it so he could eventually help Xiao Long.

• Xiao Long decided to keep his existing high-level Tian Tier cultivation method in mind and chose the Fire Emperor Profound Canon instead of the Flame Mantra.
• Xiao Long began switching to the Fire Emperor Profound Canon, and its circulation created a vortex that drew in fire-attribute dou qi from a hundred li away.
• Xiao Yan failed to prepare Spirit Liquid, and the flame he had lit went out as Xiao Long absorbed the nearby fire-attribute dou qi.
• Yao Chen recognized the disturbance as evidence that Xiao Long was likely cultivating a Tian Tier method.
• Xiao Yan asked Yao Chen for a better cultivation method, and Yao Chen revealed that his Yellow Tier Flame Mantra could evolve to Tian Tier.
• Yao Chen told Xiao Yan that the Flame Mantra was designed for controlling heavenly flames and could help with the Woeful Poison Body, and Xiao Yan agreed to cultivate it so he could help Xiao Long.

Xiao Long calmed Xiao Xun'er’s golden emperor burning heaven flame and discovered that his dou qi had gained some of its properties. After arranging for Xiao Lin to remain behind as a stone statue while Xiao Long traveled, Xiao Long set out for the Magical Beast Mountain Range to hunt magical beasts and investigate the myriad beast spirit flame.

• Xiao Xun'er’s golden emperor burning heaven flame ran wild when she entered Xiao Long’s courtyard, and Xiao Long absorbed the gathered flames to protect her.
• Xiao Xun'er’s clothes were burned away, so she changed into Xiao Long’s clothes, and he comforted her before they made and ate more osmanthus cakes together.
• Xiao Long noticed that his dou qi carried traits of the golden emperor burning heaven flame and resolved to test his strength in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
• Xiao Long discovered that his connection to Xiao Lin broke when he traveled too far, so Xiao Lin announced that he was going into seclusion to heal.
• Xiao Long said goodbye to Xiao Xun'er and flew toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range to hunt magical beasts and search for the myriad beast spirit flame.