Recaps

Xiao Fan defeated Liu Qing with a powerful spear technique, destroying the Competition Stage and shocking the Inner Academy. Liu Qing conceded, and the next match began with Xiao Yan facing Yan Hao.

• Liu Qing attacked Xiao Fan with Great Splitter Rock, and Xiao Fan countered with Cloud Crane Shadow from his Thousand-Flame Spear.
• Their clash shattered the Competition Stage’s formation, but the First Elder contained the explosion’s remaining force.
• The crowd saw Liu Qing badly burned and defeated, while Xiao Fan remained standing; Liu Qing admitted his loss and conceded.
• Lin Xiuya resolved to win the tournament, while Xiao Fan privately believed he would be the ultimate victor.
• Xiao Yan and Yan Hao began their match on a nearby Competition Stage because the original one had been destroyed.

Xiao Yan fought Yan Hao on the Competition Stage and surprised the spectators by matching his strength despite his lower cultivation. As they prepared to settle the match with one move, Xiao Yan activated his Green Lotus Transformation and gathered power for an attack that made the crowd suspect he was using an Earth Tier Dou Technique.

• Yan Hao tested Xiao Yan in a fierce exchange and recognized that his strength rivaled that of an ordinary Seven-Star Dou Ling.
• Xiao Yan realized he could not win by meeting Yan Hao head-on and challenged him to decide the match with one move.
• Yan Hao agreed and summoned his enormous warhammer as Xiao Yan prepared the Xuan Heavy Ruler.
• Xiao Yan used the Green Lotus Transformation, raising his cultivation from Three-Star Dou Ling to the peak of Five-Star Dou Ling.
• Xiao Yan poured heavenly flames into his hands, and the spectators sensed a familiar aura and wondered whether he knew an Earth Tier Dou Technique.

Xiao Yan defeated Yan Hao with the Flame Splitting Wave Ruler and advanced to the tournament’s top five. The spectators then turned their attention to Xun’er’s upcoming match against Lin Xiuya.

• Xiao Yan and Yan Hao gathered power and unleashed the Flame Splitting Wave Ruler and Purple Extreme Lightning at the same time.
• Their attacks collided in a massive explosion that swallowed the Competition Stage despite the elders stabilizing its formation.
• When the energy cleared, Yan Hao lay defeated and Xiao Yan stood leaning on his Xuan Heavy Ruler.
• The First Elder announced Xiao Yan as the winner, and the crowd cheered as he advanced to the top five.
• The spectators looked ahead to Xun’er’s match against Lin Xiuya, whom they considered a formidable opponent.

Xiao Xun'er defeated Lin Xiuya, and Lin Yan and Xiao Fan's group withdrew from the remaining Strong Ranking Tournament matches, ending the tournament with Zi Yan declared champion. Xiao Fan claimed his quest rewards and prepared for the Black Tower, but a major upheaval struck before the planned trial.

• Xiao Xun'er defeated Lin Xiuya, surprising the spectators, then joined Xiao Yan as he praised her.
• The First Elder praised the tournament's unexpected results and postponed the championship matches until the next day.
• Lin Yan withdrew from the remaining matches, and Xiao Yan said that he and his companions would withdraw as well.
• The First Elder declared the tournament concluded and named Zi Yan first place, then told the top ten to gather in two days to discuss entering the Black Tower Lower Level.
• Xiao Fan claimed the tournament quest rewards, received forty alchemy experience, and found that he had not earned doubled rewards or championship points.
• Xiao Fan worried that the heavenly flame in the Black Tower had targeted him, but an enormous upheaval struck before the group could enter the trial.

Xun'er faced Ling Quan and the Black Annihilation Army, who arrived on the Clan Leader’s orders to escort her back to the clan, while Xiao Yan emerged from hiding and confronted Ling Quan’s contempt. Xiao Fan received a mission to defeat Ling Quan and headed toward the group.

• Xun'er told Xiao Yan to cultivate the sealed scroll once he reached Dou Wang, then pushed him into the woods when Yao Lao sensed powerful arrivals approaching.
• Ling Quan arrived with nine members of the Black Annihilation Army on Four-Winged Unicorns and told Xun'er he had come to escort her back to the clan.
• Ling Quan’s men attacked Xiao Yan after discovering him in the woods, but Xun'er ordered them to stop.
• Ling Quan belittled Xiao Yan and the Xiao Clan, prompting Xiao Yan to reach for his Xuan Heavy Ruler.
• Xiao Fan received a timed mission to defeat Ling Quan, sensed his location, and headed into the mountain range while Yue Yao watched.

Ling Quan came to escort Xun'er back to her clan and questioned Xiao Yan about the Xiao Clan's piece of the key, but Xiao Yan did not understand what he meant. Xiao Fan intervened when Ling Quan tried to separate the pair, and began using his Radiant Sun Transformations to face the Black Annihilation Army.

• Xun'er rebuked Ling Quan for insulting Xiao Yan, and Ling Quan asked Xiao Yan about the Xiao Clan's portion of the key.
• Ling Quan ordered Xun'er to return with him, and she warned Xiao Yan to keep the Tou She Ancient God Jade's whereabouts secret before saying goodbye.
• Xiao Yan held on to Xun'er until Xiao Fan emerged from the woods and offered to fight Ling Quan.
• Ling Quan sent two members of the Black Annihilation Army to attack Xiao Fan, who used his first two Radiant Sun Transformations to rise from Dou Ling to One-Star Dou Wang.
• Xiao Fan activated his third Radiant Sun Transformation as Ling Quan watched in astonishment.

Xiao Fan used Bright Sun Three Transformations to overpower the Black Annihilation Army soldiers and then faced their Seven-Star Sword Formation. He broke the formation by exploiting its illusory sword phantoms and letting his soft armor block a solid strike.

• Xiao Fan's strength surged to Three-Star Dou Wang, and he knocked two Black Annihilation Army soldiers unconscious with one strike each.
• The remaining seven soldiers formed the Seven-Star Sword Formation, while Xun'er explained its abilities to Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Fan recognized that the formation's sword phantoms could switch between illusory and solid attacks and could grow stronger by drawing on his responses.
• Xiao Fan charged a formation member instead of blocking the phantom behind him, and his pale blue soft armor stopped its solid strike as his spear knocked the soldier down.
• The injured soldier fell, and the Seven-Star Sword Formation broke apart.

Xiao Fan overwhelmed Ling Quan after pushing the Radiant Sun Transformation to its dangerous Fifth Transformation. Xun'er departed with the Black Annihilation Army, and Xiao Yan discovered that Xiao Fan had collapsed unconscious.

• Xiao Fan broke the Black Annihilation Army's Seven-Star Sword Formation and knocked its soldiers from the sky.
• Xiao Fan activated the Fourth and then Fifth Transformation, reaching Eight-Star Dou Wang strength despite the strain threatening to destroy his body.
• Xiao Fan used his speed and power to defeat Ling Quan and smash him into the ground.
• Xiao Fan identified himself as Xiao Fan of the Xiao Clan and asked Xiao Yan and Xun'er whether they needed more time together.
• Xun'er left on the Unicorn after saying farewell to Xiao Yan and Xiao Fan.
• Xiao Yan turned to Xiao Fan and found him unconscious beside the Spear.

Xiao Yan brought the unconscious Xiao Fan back to Pan Gate, where Yao Lao examined him and Medusa briefly emerged from Xiao Fan’s sleeve. Yao Lao concluded that Medusa and Xiao Fan had formed a rare Snake-People Tribe soul contract, and Xiao Yan left to prepare medicine while Yue Yao waited outside.

• Xiao Yan carried the unconscious Xiao Fan back to the Inner Academy, and the First Elder watched them leave before remarking on Xiao Fan’s strength.
• Yao Lao examined Xiao Fan and found that he was not in serious danger despite the strain caused by his Secret Technique.
• Medusa emerged from Xiao Fan’s sleeve, explained that she had awakened because of the unusual energy, then returned to his arm as her soul fusion neared completion.
• Yao Lao told Xiao Yan that Medusa carried a strong trace of Xiao Fan’s soul aura and suggested they had formed a rare Snake-People Tribe contract.
• Xiao Yan left to refine medicine for Xiao Fan, saw Yue Yao waiting outside, and looked forward to her meeting Medusa.

Xiao Fan woke after the Fifth Transformation with severely damaged meridians and a weakened soul, but Yue Yao gave him a precious pill that fully healed him. Afterward, he discovered that the pill had added moon god's power to his system items, leaving him to wonder what it was.

• Xiao Fan regained consciousness and found that the Fifth Transformation had left his meridians badly damaged and his soul weakened.
• Yue Yao gave Xiao Fan a pill kept in a box made from superior-grade purple thornwood, but he initially refused to take it.
• Yue Yao pushed the pill into Xiao Fan's mouth, healing his injuries and soul while a full-moon mark briefly appeared on his forehead.
• Xiao Fan noticed that Medusa absorbed some of the pill's silvery-white energy, then checked his system panel after Yue Yao left.
• Xiao Fan saw moon god's power among his items and suspected it came from Yue Yao's pill and was connected to the Moon's Sorrow quest.

After claiming his mission rewards and recovering from his injuries, Xiao Fan joined the Strong Ranking students summoned by the First Elder. The students chose to face the dangerous heart-fire tempering in the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, and the First Elder led them onward.

• Xiao Fan claimed 280 Dou Qi points and 2,800 Source Coins, then raised his Dou Qi points to 980 and approached the Dou Wang rank.
• Xiao Fan emerged fully recovered and spoke with Xiao Yan about his fight with Ling Quan; neither mentioned Xun'er.
• The First Elder warned Xiao Fan and the other Top Ten students that this year's tempering at the bottom of the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower could cost them their lives, and offered a Dou Technique Pavilion opportunity if they withdrew.
• Lin Xiuya, Yan Hao, Liu Qing, Lin Yan, and the remaining students chose to enter the tower rather than give up the heart-fire tempering.
• The First Elder praised their resolve and led the students onward, believing the reinforced seal would keep them safe.

The First Elder led Xiao Fan, Xiao Yan, and the other top ten students to the bottom of the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower to undergo origin heart flame body tempering. They accepted the risky procedure, and the chapter ended as the flames entered their bodies under the elders’ watch.

• The First Elder brought the group to the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, where Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan greeted the Pan Gate before entering.
• As they descended, Zi Yan told Xiao Fan she had finished the candy beans and asked him to make more.
• The First Elder led the students to a chamber above a black hole, where two elders revealed nine portions of origin heart flame.
• The First Elder warned that the flames were unusually violent and gave them only a twenty percent chance of success, but none of the students withdrew.
• The two elders sent the nine flames into the students’ bodies, and the First Elder stayed to monitor their condition.

Xiao Fan and the others underwent origin heart flame body tempering while the elders monitored the dangerous process and worried over the fallen heart flame’s sudden silence. Qin Zhen and Qian Mo failed, Xiao Yan steadied himself, and Xiao Fan endured the pain with little trouble as the others relied on their own strength.

• The First Elder and two elders discussed the unusually violent origin heart flame and worried that the fallen heart flame’s quiet might signal a coming attack.
• The elders confirmed that the seals remained intact and arranged to alert the Outer Academy if the fallen heart flame stirred.
• Qin Zhen faltered, so the First Elder extracted the origin heart flame and laid him unconscious; Qian Mo soon failed as well.
• Xiao Yan grimaced and swayed, but the First Elder allowed him more time, and he eventually steadied.
• Xiao Fan contained the origin heart flame with his chaos flame and felt only faint pain, while Lin Xiuya and the others endured through willpower and Zi Yan relied on her formidable physique.

After a day in the Black Tower, the First Elder inspected the seal beneath it and discovered that the fallen heart flame had grown several times stronger and taken the form of a giant Fire Python. As it attacked the inner formation, he called the elders to the tower and ordered all students to retreat.

• The Gray-Robed Elder and another elder watched Xiao Fan and the other students endure a full day inside the Black Tower, while the First Elder went below to inspect the seal.
• The First Elder found the outer formation intact, then searched the magma beneath a concealed formation for signs of the fallen heart flame.
• The First Elder heard increasingly rapid heartbeats and sensed the fallen heart flame's energy surging upward through the magma.
• A gigantic, nearly transparent Fire Python emerged from the magma and turned toward the First Elder.
• The First Elder retreated behind the protective formation as the Fire Python attacked it, then summoned all elders and ordered the students to withdraw at least a hundred meters from the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower.

The fallen heart flame broke through the lowest seal in the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, forcing the elders to evacuate Xiao Fan, Xiao Yan, and the others. As they reached the exit, they saw the Invisible Fire Python trapped inside a pillar of light, and Xiao Fan realized it had singled him out.

• The giant flame serpent shattered the lowest seal, and the First Elder raised a new barrier through the tower.
• The two protecting elders ordered Lin Yan, Xiao Fan, Xiao Yan, and the others to leave while they hurried toward the bottom of the tower.
• Lin Yan and the others discussed the unusually violent eruption as they climbed, then found blood-red energy and a pillar of light filling the tower's center.
• The group saw magma surge upward and the Invisible Fire Python thrash inside the barrier near the exit.
• The Invisible Fire Python fixed its gaze on Xiao Fan, who sensed the fallen heart flame had noticed him and suppressed his chaos flame.

The Invisible Fire Python broke free from the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower as First Elder Su Qian and the other elders tried to trap it with the Thousand-Layer Seal. The seal was breached, releasing a violent aura across the Inner Academy and as far as the Black-Corner Region.

• Su Qian warned Xiao Fan and the others to leave, then led the elders to prepare the headmaster's formation when the tower's seal began to fail.
• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan left the tower but stayed nearby in the sky, while Lin Xiuya and the others evacuated to safety.
• The Invisible Fire Python burst through the tower's spire, setting the surrounding area ablaze and revealing itself to the gathered students.
• Su Qian and the elders cast the Thousand-Layer Seal over the tower to contain the python.
• The python compressed its flames into a snake-shaped fire and exploded it against the formation, tearing a hole in the seal and releasing its savage aura.

Han Feng sensed heavenly flames in Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy and summoned powerful allies to help him seize them. Meanwhile, the Inner and Outer Academy elders prepared another attempt to reseal the Invisible Fire Python in the tower.

• Han Feng recognized the heavenly flame aura coming from the Inner Academy and ordered Han Beng to summon the Earth Flame Sect, the Eight Gates, the Blood Sect, and two other powerful men.
• Han Feng planned to obtain and refine a second heavenly flame, then cursed the man who had withheld the Flame Mantra from him.
• The Invisible Fire Python battered the formation until several Inner Academy elders ran out of Dou Qi, leaving the First Elder and eight elders to hold the seal.
• Hu Gan arrived with Outer Academy reinforcements, allowing the exhausted Inner Academy elders to recover while the newcomers maintained the seal.
• After half an hour, the First Elder ordered the recovered elders back into position and had instructors assemble around the tower to prepare the next sealing formation.
• Students watching the operation grew eager to join in and help.

The First Elder and the Jia Nan Academy instructors resealed the Fire Python inside the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, but Han Feng arrived with forces from the Black-Corner Region to claim the Heavenly Flame. Xiao Yan and Xiao Fan learned more about Han Feng’s betrayal of Yao Lao as the opposing sides prepared for a fight.

• The First Elder, Hu Gan, and more than eighty instructors tightened the formation and forced the Fire Python back into the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower.
• Yao Lao sensed that outside factions had arrived, and Han Feng appeared with a group whose bloody aura silenced the watching students.
• Han Feng asked the First Elder to release the Heavenly Flame, but Hu Gan and the First Elder accused him of trying to steal it and refused.
• Han Feng revealed his own Heavenly Flame, prompting Xiao Yan to worry about Yao Lao and Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan to reassure their teacher.
• Yao Lao explained that Han Feng had betrayed him after being denied the Flame Mantra, and said Han Feng had stolen half of it.
• Han Feng threatened the First Elder, then two figures—one gold and one silver—stepped forward from behind him.

Han Feng and the Black-Corner Region forces attacked the Inner Academy to seize the heavenly flames, while Xiao Yan and Xiao Fan watched from hiding. Xiao Yan was exposed during the chaos, and Fan Lao recognized him and charged in pursuit.

• Han Feng summoned the Gold and Silver Elders, who agreed to help him in exchange for a promised reward.
• Han Feng’s forces attacked the Inner Academy as the Gold and Silver Elders engaged First Elder Su Qian and the other elders fought the invaders.
• Han Feng flew toward the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, but Hu Gan intercepted him before he could break the seal.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Fan stayed hidden while Yao Lao advised them to wait for an opportunity and avoid the fighting.
• A blast from a nearby battle forced Xiao Yan to fly into view, and Fan Lao recognized him, drove off the three elders fighting him, and rushed toward Xiao Yan.

Fan Lao recognized Xiao Yan as the killer of his son and attacked him, while Xiao Fan joined the fight against the Peak Dou Emperor. As Fan Lao trapped them with blood threads and hurled spears, Zi Yan, Lin Xiuya, and Liu Qing intervened, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Fan Lao identified Xiao Yan by his green flames and Thunder Bat Sky Wings, then attacked him in revenge for his son's death.
• Xiao Yan evaded Fan Lao's strike with Three Thousand Lightning Movement and taunted him.
• Xiao Fan attacked Fan Lao with Heavenly Flames, then joined Xiao Yan as they faced his growing power.
• Fan Lao bound the area with blood-colored threads, but Xiao Yan and Xiao Fan burned through them with their Heavenly Flames.
• Fan Lao hurled blood spears at Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan, but Zi Yan caught one while Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing intercepted the other.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Fan remained trapped in Fan Lao’s blood-shadow cage while Zi Yan, Lin Xiuya, and Liu Qing joined the battle. Fan Lao quickly injured the three fighters, but as he prepared another attack on Zi Yan, Xiao Yan and Xiao Fan drew his attention.

• Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing joined Zi Yan in front of the cage as Xiao Yan and Xiao Fan worked to break free.
• Zi Yan destroyed Fan Lao’s blood snakes and repeatedly attacked his shield, forcing him to form Bloodthirst Armor.
• Liu Qing blocked Fan Lao’s Blood Demon Hand to save Zi Yan, while Lin Xiuya launched a sword attack; Fan Lao countered and knocked both men from the sky.
• Fan Lao struck Zi Yan with his Bloodthirst Seal, sending her to the ground with only minor injuries.
• Fan Lao formed another enormous blood-red palm to attack Zi Yan, but Xiao Yan and Xiao Fan called out to him from the cage.

Xiao Yan revealed Dou Emperor-level strength and fought Fan Lao while Xiao Fan helped Zi Yan and secretly prepared the Five-Direction Space-Sealing Formation around the battlefield. Xiao Fan then raised his strength to four-star Dou Wang and flew up to activate the plan.

• Xiao Yan shattered Fan Lao's spear and unleashed a Dou Emperor-level aura, drawing the attention of the fighters and Han Feng, who coveted his Green Lotus Core Flame.
• Xiao Fan helped the injured Zi Yan reach the gathered students, then returned toward the battle while Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing watched Xiao Yan fight Fan Lao.
• Xiao Fan used his Shadowless Mask to secretly plant formation flags around the battlefield for the Five-Direction Space-Sealing Formation.
• Xiao Fan activated the first three transformations of Nine Solar Transformations, reaching four-star Dou Wang, then flew into the air to put his plan into action.

Xiao Fan activated a formation that forced everyone on the battlefield to fight on the ground, while Xiao Yan gravely wounded Fan Lao. Xiao Fan struck Fan Lao as he tried to escape, and Han Feng moved to save him.

• Xiao Fan warned the Inner Academy elders about his formation, and the First Elder ordered them to follow Xiao Fan’s instructions and descend.
• Xiao Fan activated the formation, which trapped the battlefield beneath a barrier and prevented everyone from flying.
• Xiao Yan unleashed a powerful attack inside Fan Lao’s Blood Sea, destroying much of it and leaving Fan Lao gravely wounded.
• Fan Lao attempted to escape with Blood Escape, but Xiao Fan used Three Thousand Lightning Movement and Eight Extremes Collapse to slam him into a boulder.
• Fan Lao begged Han Feng to save him and offered him the Blood Sect, so Han Feng rushed toward him while Hu Gan struggled to stop him.

Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan captured Fan Lao, and Xiao Fan killed him after Han Feng failed to bargain for his release. Meanwhile, the Fallen Heart Flame broke free of the Inner Academy's seal, leaving Han Feng and the elders focused on the heavenly flame.

• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan cornered Fan Lao, while Han Feng offered to grant them favors in exchange for his release.
• Xiao Fan rejected Han Feng's offer and hinted that he knew Han Feng had betrayed and killed his master, terrifying Han Feng.
• The Fallen Heart Flame burst out of the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower, drawing the Inner Academy elders away from the battlefield.
• Xiao Fan killed Fan Lao, and Han Feng turned his attention to the escaped heavenly flame.
• Han Feng refused Elder Duan's proposal to attack the Inner Academy elders while they resealed the flame.
• The First Elder and the other elders formed the Thousand-Layer Seal, but the Fallen Heart Flame shattered it and escaped completely.

The Fallen Heart Flame broke free of the elders’ seal and attacked Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan, who joined forces to fight the Fire Python. They learned that its huge body was only an outward form and began searching for the flame’s hidden essence.

• The Invisible Fire Python shattered the elders’ seal, injured several elders, and emerged from the Heavenly Flame Qi Refining Tower.
• The Fire Python targeted Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan, who dodged its raining flames and decided to subdue it.
• Xiao Yan struck the Fire Python with the Xuan Heavy Ruler, but its outer body remained unharmed and knocked him back.
• Xiao Fan pierced the Fire Python’s back with the Thousand-Flame Spear, then withdrew when invisible fire spread across its scales.
• Xiao Yan relayed Yao Lao’s explanation about the Fallen Heart Flame’s hidden essence, and Xiao Fan searched the Fire Python’s body for it.
• Han Feng watched Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan fight as the Sea Heart Flame within him stirred.