Recaps

Xiao Fan fought Xie Biyan to a stalemate while concealing his control over the Four-Winged Sky Demon Scorpion. He finally ordered the scorpion to attack Wu Ya from behind, leaving Wu Ya caught between it and Yun Yun.

• Xie Biyan attacked Xiao Fan after his offer was rejected, but Xiao Fan held him off with the Thousand-Flame Spear and burned away his poison ring’s toxins.
• Sikou Old Ghost recovered and moved to support the other fighters, so Xie Biyan sent the Four-Winged Sky Demon Scorpion to block him.
• Xiao Fan let the scorpion hold Sikou Old Ghost back while maneuvering their battle toward Yun Yun and Wu Ya.
• When the scorpion and Sikou Old Ghost drew close to Yun Yun and Wu Ya, Xiao Fan secretly ordered the scorpion to attack Wu Ya.
• The Four-Winged Sky Demon Scorpion unleashed its bloodline power and struck at Wu Ya from behind as Yun Yun restrained him from the front.

The Four-Winged Sky Demon Scorpion killed Wu Ya, prompting Xie Biyan to summon a Hall of Souls Dou Zong to support the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect. Xiao Fan faced Xie Biyan alone and was wounded, but used Chaos Flame to purge the blood Dou Qi from his injuries.

• The Four-Winged Sky Demon Scorpion ambushed and killed Wu Ya, then ate his body.
• Yun Yun sent Sikou Old Ghost to aid the other fighters while she joined the battle.
• Xie Biyan accused Xiao Fan of taking control of the Four-Winged Sky Demon Scorpion and summoned a Hall of Souls powerhouse to honor his deal with Xie Shan.
• The Hall of Souls powerhouse attacked Yun Yun and Sikou Old Ghost, while Xie Biyan sent the Blood Scorpion Demon Emperor to fight the Four-Winged Sky Demon Scorpion.
• Xie Biyan clashed with Xiao Fan, caught his spear, then slashed his shoulder with blood Dou Qi.
• Xiao Fan burned away the blood Dou Qi with Chaos Flame and began healing his wounds.

Xiao Fan fought Xie Biyan to a standstill, while Yun Yun and Sikou Old Ghost struggled against a Hall of Souls powerhouse. Xie Biyan recalled the Blood Scorpion Demon Emperor and prepared to fuse with it, intending to overwhelm Xiao Fan.

• Xiao Fan used the Thousand-Flame Spear and close combat to exchange a barrage of blows with Xie Biyan, who was enhanced by the Blood Soul Art.
• Xiao Fan's superior physique and recovery let him endure Xie Biyan's attacks, while Xie Biyan suffered from Xiao Fan's punches and spear strikes.
• Xie Biyan broke off the fight and called the Blood Scorpion Demon Emperor away from its battle with the Four-Winged Sky Demon Scorpion.
• Xiao Fan saw that Yun Yun and Sikou Old Ghost were struggling against the Hall of Souls powerhouse, so he sent the Four-Winged Sky Demon Scorpion to help them.
• Xiao Fan realized Xie Biyan intended to fuse with the Blood Scorpion Demon Emperor and advance to Five-Star Dou Zong before attacking him again.

Xiao Fan let Xie Biyan complete his fusion with the Blood Scorpion Demon Emperor, then used fallen heart flame to catch him off guard with Cloud Crane Shadow. The chapter ended with Xiao Fan’s attack exploding in the sky, leaving Xie Biyan’s fate unclear.

• Xie Biyan formed a blood cocoon around himself and the Blood Scorpion Demon Emperor, and Xiao Fan failed to break it with a spear strike.
• Xiao Fan secretly spread fallen heart flame over the cocoon, then used green lotus core flame to melt it.
• Xie Biyan absorbed the cocoon and emerged as a half-scorpion monster at late five-star Dou Zong strength.
• Xiao Fan gathered fire-attribute Dou Qi and unleashed the Earth Tier Dou Technique Cloud Crane Shadow at Xie Biyan.
• Xiao Fan triggered heart fire inside Xie Biyan, preventing him from defending against the black crane’s explosive strike.

Xiao Fan defeated Xie Biyan, but Xie Biyan burned his soul to launch a final poisonous attack on Tianrong City. Xiao Fan stopped part of the poison, while the rest spread through the battlefield and left the city in danger.

• Sikou Qingtian joined the battles against the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, helping the Sikou Family gain the upper hand.
• Xiao Fan's Cloud Crane Shadow badly wounded Xie Biyan, who fell toward Tianrong City with almost no life left.
• Xie Biyan burned his Soul Origin to restore his body, then compressed his Dou Qi and soul into a poisonous attack aimed at Tianrong City.
• Xiao Fan pierced the energy mass with his spear, causing it to explode above the city, and used Chaos Flame to contain part of the poison.
• The remaining poison spread across the battlefield, killing two Dou Wangs and forcing the combatants to flee, while Sikou Qingtian could do nothing to stop it.

After Xie Biyan's death, a poisonous mist threatened to engulf Tianrong City, and the city's defenders struggled to buy time for its citizens to flee. The mist remained too dangerous to stop, and Chen Feng sacrificed himself to slow it as the city's fate stayed uncertain.

• The Hall of Souls expert left the battlefield and looked toward Tianrong City as the poisonous mist spread over it.
• Sikou Old Ghost blocked part of the mist and urged the citizens to flee, while Sikou Qingtian opened the city gates and ordered troops to guide the evacuation.
• Xie Changsha, Ben Lei, Yun Yun, and Xiao Fan joined Sikou Old Ghost and Sikou Qingtian in holding back the mist.
• Chen Feng touched the poisonous mist, realized it was destroying his body, and detonated himself to slow its descent.
• The experts saw that even Chen Feng's sacrifice had only delayed the mist briefly and wondered whether Tianrong City's people would survive.

Xiao Yi Xian broke the seals on her Woeful Poison Body and absorbed the poisonous mist threatening Tianrong City, while Xiao Fan sought a way to suppress the consequences. After killing the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect’s remaining elders and ordering its resources gathered, Xiao Fan stayed beside Xiao Yi Xian as Yun Yun revealed that she was nearing a breakthrough.

• Xiao Yi Xian activated her Woeful Poison Body, broke Xiao Fan’s Chaos Flame seals, advanced to Two-Star Dou Zong, and drew the poisonous mist into herself.
• Xiao Fan learned that the system could specify a refresh for the heavenly spirit poison body’s advancement method, but it required 10,000 source coins to refresh and 100,000 to redeem.
• Xiao Fan immobilized the battlefield’s experts and killed the remaining Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect elders, taking their Storage Rings.
• Xiao Fan asked Sikou Qingtian to collect the sect’s Storage Rings and resources, explaining that Xiao Yi Xian needed treasures to suppress her constitution; Sikou Qingtian and Sikou Old Ghost organized the search.
• Yun Yun told Xiao Fan that her Dou Qi was fluctuating and she felt close to breaking through after defending the civilians from the poisonous mist.

Xiao Fan guarded Yun Yun as she broke through while Xiao Yi Xian absorbed the poisonous mist and advanced to Three-Star Dou Zong. After Yun Yun completed her breakthrough, Xiao Fan trapped Iron Protector and unleashed a Three-Colored Fire Lotus, leaving the battle’s outcome unclear amid a massive explosion.

• Xiao Fan reassured Yun Yun that he could save Xiao Yi Xian, then stood guard while Yun Yun began breaking through.
• Xiao Yi Xian absorbed the poisonous mist and rose to Three-Star Dou Zong as Yun Yun reached the Dou Zong realm.
• Xiao Fan spotted Iron Protector, a Four-Star Dou Zong, and waited until Yun Yun had safely completed her breakthrough before attacking.
• Xiao Fan trapped Iron Protector in Shadow Prison and began fusing three heavenly flames into a Three-Colored Fire Lotus.
• Iron Protector shattered the prison but was caught in the Three-Colored Fire Lotus’s explosion, which left a huge void in the sky as Tianrong City’s experts watched.

Xiao Fan killed Iron Protector and recovered while Xiao Yi Xian absorbed the poisonous mist threatening Tianrong City. As Xiao Yi Xian neared her limit, Xiao Fan refreshed the system Shop and began exchanging the gathered supplies for source coins to obtain the cure for her Heavenly Spirit Poison Body.

• Xiao Fan killed Iron Protector with the Three-Colored Fire Lotus, and the blast destroyed Iron Protector's Storage Ring along with him.
• Sikou Qingtian ordered the Imperial Family and allied factions to gather supplies for Xiao Fan, while Yun Yun and the returned civilians waited as Xiao Yi Xian absorbed the poisonous mist.
• Xiao Yi Xian absorbed nearly all the mist and reached the late stage of Three-Star Dou Zong, while Xiao Fan recovered his strength.
• Sikou Qingtian gave Xiao Fan the Storage Rings collected from the Imperial Family and allied families, and Xiao Fan flew to Xiao Yi Xian as her condition worsened.
• Xiao Yi Xian asked Xiao Fan if she was going to die, and he held her while checking the seven-colored lines spreading toward her heart.
• Xiao Fan refreshed the Shop, saw that awakening the Heavenly Spirit Poison Body cost 100,000 source coins, and began exchanging the gathered supplies for coins.

Xiao Fan exchanged the supplies Sikou Qingtian and the others had provided for enough Source Coins to obtain the method to awaken Xiao Yi Xian’s heavenly spirit poison body. He completed the transformation and emerged with her unconscious in his arms, telling Yun Yun that he had fulfilled his task.

• Xiao Fan exchanged the Storage Rings’ supplies for over a hundred thousand Source Coins and bought the heavenly spirit poison body awakening method from the system.
• Xiao Yi Xian absorbed the poisonous mist until her strength reached the peak of Three-Star Dou Zong, while Xiao Fan began awakening her soul inside the chaos flame.
• Xiao Fan drew the toxins from Xiao Yi Xian’s body into seven-colored lines and merged them into her soul, transforming her constitution and removing the deadly mark on her abdomen.
• Xiao Fan dressed the unconscious Xiao Yi Xian, gathered her in his arms, and withdrew the chaos flame.
• Xiao Fan returned to Yun Yun and told her he had fulfilled his task.

Xiao Fan claimed the rewards for destroying the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, and Xiao Yi Xian awakened her heavenly spirit poison body, gaining the ability to become an Alchemist. After the Sikou Family took control of the Chu Yun Empire, Xiao Fan, Yun Yun, and Xiao Yi Xian left for the Jia Ma Empire, restoring the Dead Zone as they departed.

• Xiao Fan claimed the mission reward and advanced from One-Star Dou Zong to Three-Star Dou Zong as Sikou Qingtian watched.
• Sikou Old Ghost returned with the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect's supplies and handed Xiao Fan the Storage Ring.
• Xiao Yi Xian awoke, embraced Xiao Fan, and learned that her heavenly spirit poison body let her cultivate and become an Alchemist.
• Sikou Qingtian regained control of the Chu Yun Empire and honored Xiao Fan and Xiao Yi Xian as its Divine Son and Divine Maiden.
• Xiao Fan brought Xiao Yi Xian to absorb the poison near Dinggu City, raising her strength to the middle stage of Four-Star Dou Zong.
• Xiao Yi Xian restored the Dead Zone as the three left for the Jia Ma Empire, and Sikou Qingtian bowed toward it after hearing the news.

After the Misty Cloud Sect's destruction, Xiao Yan became the Flame Alliance's leader and rose to three-star Dou Emperor while coping with Yao Lao's capture. Ya Fei brought him medicinal ingredients, and the chapter ended with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li discussing her closeness to Xiao Yan as Xiao Li avoided his duties.

• The Mittel and Mu Families gained influence after the war, while the weakened Nalan Family avoided punishment because Nalan Yanran had secretly opposed the Misty Cloud Sect.
• The Xiao Clan returned to the Imperial Capital, and the factions that fought the Misty Cloud Sect formed the Flame Alliance with Xiao Yan as its first leader.
• Ya Fei visited Xiao Yan and gave him the medicinal ingredients he needed, then left to oversee the Mittel Family's affairs.
• Xiao Yan returned to his alchemy room, handled Yao Lao's medicine cauldron, and let his anger over his teacher's capture surface again.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li discussed Ya Fei's interest in Xiao Yan, and Xiao Li left to inspect the disciples' training rather than handle the reports.

Xiao Fan returned to the Imperial Capital and installed a spirit-gathering formation at the Xiao Clan estate while Yun Yun and Xiao Yi Xian went to see the remains of the Misty Cloud Sect. Xiao Yan mistook Xiao Fan’s concealed appearance for an intruder, drawing the Flame Alliance’s powerful figures to the estate.

• Yun Yun asked to visit the destroyed Misty Cloud Sect, and Xiao Yi Xian accompanied her while Xiao Fan went to the Imperial Capital.
• Xiao Fan found Xiao Yan refining pills in the Xiao Clan residence and sensed that Xiao Yan had reached the Three-Star Dou Emperor realm.
• Xiao Fan exchanged the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect’s remaining resources for source coins, then bought a spirit-gathering formation and a Five-Star Dou Zong puppet.
• Xiao Fan inscribed formation patterns around the Xiao Clan estate and activated the spirit-gathering formation as Xiao Yan finished refining a sixth-grade pill.
• Xiao Yan sensed the formation’s energy and appeared in the air, so Xiao Fan disguised himself in black robes and the Flame Alliance’s powerful figures rushed to the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Fan disguised himself and tested Xiao Yan, then effortlessly repelled Hai Bodong and Jia Xingtian when they intervened. Believing Xiao Fan sought the Tou She Ancient God Jade, Xiao Yan began preparing a powerful fire lotus while Xiao Fan watched.

• Xiao Fan fought Xiao Yan while concealing his identity and limiting his strength to a Three-Star Dou Emperor.
• Hai Bodong and Jia Xingtian attacked Xiao Fan after Xiao Yan withdrew, but Xiao Fan blocked them with chaos flame and the Void Blade.
• Xiao Yan suspected Xiao Fan was after the Tou She Ancient God Jade and refused to give it up because it might reveal whether his father was alive.
• Xiao Yan combined the Green Lotus Core Flame, a pale flame, and the Sea Heart Flame as Hai Bodong and Jia Xingtian cautiously watched Xiao Fan.
• Xiao Ding and the others had evacuated the Xiao Clan members below while Xiao Yan prepared his fire lotus.

Xiao Fan effortlessly neutralized Xiao Yan’s Three-Colored Fire Lotus, then revealed himself as Xiao Yan’s senior brother and comforted him. Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan vanished together to speak privately, while Xiao Ding examined the supplies Xiao Fan had sent.

• Xiao Yan attacked Xiao Fan with a Three-Colored Fire Lotus, prompting Hai Bodong to flee from its destructive power.
• Xiao Fan used chaos flame to swallow and suppress the Fire Lotus, shocking Xiao Yan, Jia Xingtian, and Hai Bodong.
• Xiao Fan removed his black robe and revealed his identity, and Xiao Yan became overwhelmed with guilt about failing their teacher.
• Xiao Fan sent a storage ring to Xiao Ding, then took Xiao Yan away with chaos flame to speak privately.
• Xiao Ding inspected the supplies in the storage ring and went with Xiao Li to discuss them in the reception hall.

After Yao Lao was captured by the Hall of Souls, Xiao Fan resolved to strengthen Xiao Yan and prepare to rescue their teacher. He secured the Xiao Clan’s position and protection, then set out with Xiao Yan to gather their companions before leaving for the Central Plains.

• Xiao Yan told Xiao Fan that two Soul Hall Protectors had captured Yao Lao, and he relayed Yao Lao’s advice to seek help from Venerable Feng in the Central Plains.
• Xiao Fan revealed that he had found the turtle spirit earth flame for Xiao Yan and promised to begin a training plan before they traveled to the Central Plains.
• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan agreed with Xiao Ding to contribute some of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect’s cultivation methods and combat skills to the Flame Alliance in exchange for disciples’ contributions.
• Xiao Fan reassured Jia Xingtian that the Xiao Clan’s ambitions lay elsewhere, and Jia Xingtian chose to enter seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to the Dou Zong Realm, leaving Hai Bodong in charge of the alliance.
• Xiao Fan gave the Xiao Clan a five-star Dou Zong puppet to guard it while he and Xiao Yan were away.
• Xiao Fan took Xiao Yan toward the abandoned Misty Cloud Sect to pick up two women, then planned to visit You Ruo before setting off.

Xiao Fan parted ways with Yun Yun, Xiao Yi Xian, and Nalan Yanran, giving them trial talismans before taking Xiao Yan toward the Central Plains. He began Xiao Yan’s training by forcing him to carry a massive boulder under crushing pressure and heart-fire tempering as they headed for the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

• Nalan Yanran explained that she had returned to the Misty Cloud Sect ruins to wait for Yun Yun, and Yun Yun said she and Xiao Yi Xian needed to train without following Xiao Fan.
• Xiao Fan redeemed three Peak Dou Zong Full-Power Strike trial talismans and gave them to Yun Yun, Xiao Yi Xian, and Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan passed his talisman to Nalan Yanran in gratitude for saving the Xiao Clan Elders, and she accepted it.
• Xiao Fan kissed Yun Yun and Xiao Yi Xian goodbye, prompting Yun Yun to kick him away and send Xiao Yan flying after him.
• Xiao Fan began Xiao Yan’s training by making him carry a huge boulder toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range while enduring Dou Zong pressure and heart fire.
• After half a day, Xiao Fan told Xiao Yan to carry the Xuan Heavy Ruler as well.

Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan traveled to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, where Xiao Yan advanced to Four-Star Dou Emperor and they set out to find a turtle spirit earth flame. There, Xiao Fan reunited with Zi Yan, whose powerful punch broke through his Dou Qi barrier.

• Xiao Fan made Xiao Yan carry a stone palace while suppressing his Dou Qi and training his body with the heart fire.
• Xiao Fan freed Xiao Yan, gave him blood-red pills, and helped him advance to Four-Star Dou Emperor.
• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan left a Dou Technique scroll inside the abandoned palace and entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range to seek the turtle spirit earth flame.
• Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan encountered Kai Jin fighting Zi Yan near the Snake-People Tribe settlement.
• Zi Yan recognized Xiao Fan and attacked him, shattering his Dou Qi barrier with a punch.

Xiao Fan learned that You Ruo was pregnant and hurried to the Snake-People Tribe, where he discovered that battle injuries had left her needing to remain in the Sacred Ground to protect the unborn child. He promised to prepare a seventh-grade Heavenly Soul Blood Fusion Pill within six months, while You Ruo remained out of reach.

• Zi Yan told Xiao Fan that You Ruo was carrying a baby, and he rushed ahead to the Snake-People Tribe.
• The First Elder told Xiao Fan that You Ruo and the unborn child were stable but needed the Sacred Ground’s secret technique after she expended too much energy in battle.
• Xiao Fan asked how he could help and rejected the sixth-grade Snake Marrow Bone-Transforming Pill as insufficient.
• Xiao Fan promised to prepare a seventh-grade Heavenly Soul Blood Fusion Pill within six months.
• Xiao Fan looked toward the Sacred Ground, unable to see You Ruo yet.

Xiao Fan left the Snake-People Tribe with Xiao Yan and Zi Yan, heading toward the Turtle Spirit Earth Flame while training them along the way. After a month of travel, the system Shop refreshed, but its most tempting goods cost far more than Xiao Fan could afford.

• Xiao Fan accepted that he could not meet You Ruo yet and left the Snake-People Tribe with Xiao Yan and Zi Yan to return to Jia Nan Academy.
• Xiao Fan used physical sparring to train Xiao Yan and Zi Yan during their journey toward the Turtle Spirit Earth Flame, and later trained them himself after catching them cheating.
• Xiao Fan and his companions traveled for a month, left the Jia Ma Empire, and stopped overnight on a hilltop.
• Xiao Fan set up a bed from his Storage Ring and assigned Xiao Yan the night watch while he waited for the system Shop to refresh.
• The refreshed Shop offered the Great Azure Nirvana Finger and Three Thousand Lightning Illusory Body, but Xiao Fan had only 520 source coins and decided to consider cheaper items instead.

Xiao Fan exchanged materials from Xiao Yan’s Storage Ring for an Earthfire Pill and a Wan Huo Atlas to help Xiao Yan devour the turtle spirit earth flame. The three reached the flame’s location in the desert, where Xiao Fan struck the ground to uncover it.

• Xiao Fan took materials from Xiao Yan’s Storage Ring and redeemed an Earthfire Pill and a Wan Huo Atlas.
• Xiao Fan gave Xiao Yan the Earthfire Pill and explained that the Atlas could locate unclaimed special flames.
• Xiao Fan left the Atlas unused and let Zi Yan sleep on his bed before the three continued their journey.
• Xiao Fan, Xiao Yan, and Zi Yan crossed the forest and traveled through the desert toward the turtle spirit earth flame.
• Xiao Fan identified the location on the map and sent a huge palm imprint crashing toward the desert ground.

Xiao Fan, Xiao Yan, and Zi Yan encountered the giant turtle manifestation of the turtle spirit earth flame in the desert, and Xiao Fan fought his way into its mouth. He identified the brown flames as the earth flame and absorbed the beast’s energy with the chaos flame until it reached saturation, while three old men in the Mulan Empire sensed the outburst and hurried toward it.

• Xiao Fan struck at the sea of sand, and the giant turtle emerged and swallowed his attack.
• Xiao Fan used spatial power to punch the turtle beneath the jaw, knocking it back into the sand.
• The turtle created a vast sandstorm, but Xiao Fan flew into its mouth through the chaos flame’s protection.
• Xiao Fan recognized the brown flames on the turtle’s teeth as the turtle spirit earth flame.
• The turtle unleashed a torrent of energy, which the chaos flame swallowed until it reached saturation, and the remaining blast shot into the sky.
• Three old men in the Mulan Empire sensed the energy and vanished toward its source.

Xiao Fan devoured the Turtle Spirit Earth Flame, advanced to Four-Star Dou Zong, and helped Xiao Yan begin absorbing the weakened flame. The Mulan Three Elders arrived seeking the treasure and attacked Xiao Fan and Zi Yan.

• Xiao Fan bound the Turtle Spirit with Chaos Flame, extracted its Earth Flame origin, and devoured it, boosting his strength and recovery.
• Xiao Fan told Xiao Yan to absorb the weakened Turtle Spirit Earth Flame, and Xiao Yan swallowed the Earth Flame Pill before consuming it.
• Xiao Fan called Zi Yan over and admired her newly awakened ability to move through space.
• The Mulan Three Elders arrived, assumed Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan were weak, and claimed the area as Mulan Empire territory.
• Xiao Fan invited Zi Yan to take on the elders, but she reclined in a chair instead, and one elder struck at them.

Xiao Fan defeated the Mulan Three Elders and took their Storage Rings, then waited as Xiao Yan subdued the turtle spirit earth flame and broke through to Six-Star Dou Emperor. The group returned to the Black-Corner Region, where Su Mei and Tie Wu faced secret opposition from established factions.

• Xiao Fan revealed his Four-Star Dou Zong strength, defeated the Mulan Three Elders, and made them hand over their Storage Rings before letting them go.
• Xiao Yan finished subduing the turtle spirit earth flame and advanced from Four-Star to Six-Star Dou Emperor.
• Xiao Yan told Xiao Fan that the Flame Mantra had advanced from Earth Tier Low Grade to Earth Tier Middle Grade.
• Xiao Fan took Xiao Yan and Zi Yan to the Black-Corner Region, reaching it in ten days.
• Su Mei and Tie Wu controlled the region's overt affairs, while established factions secretly schemed against them.

Xiao Fan, Xiao Yan, and Zi Yan traveled toward Black Emperor City for the Black Emperor Sect’s auction. When they encountered Jia Nan Academy instructor and student Mo Ling fleeing pursuers, Xiao Yan chose to help them, and the attackers charged.

• Su Mei warned Tie Wu against reacting recklessly to pressure from unaffiliated fighters in Maple City.
• Xiao Fan learned of the Black Emperor Sect’s upcoming auction and set out for Black Emperor City with Xiao Yan and Zi Yan.
• Xiao Fan took the heavenly treasures Zi Yan found, promising to refine them for her later.
• The group encountered a wounded Jia Nan Academy instructor and his student, Mo Ling, pursued by black-clad men.
• After the instructor confirmed their affiliation, Xiao Yan offered them protection and the pursuers attacked.