Chapter Summaries

Xiao Fan forced Su Mei and the Rakshasa Gate to submit to him, using You Ruo’s strength and a chaos flame seed to secure her loyalty. Su Mei then revealed what she knew about the Heavenly Yin Sect and the Wild Lion Gang, drawing them into Xiao Fan’s plans.

• Su Mei guessed that Xiao Fan was from Jia Nan Academy’s Inner Academy, and he confirmed his identity and demanded her choice.
• You Ruo released her Dou Zong aura, and Xiao Fan refused to give Su Mei time to consider joining him.
• Su Mei submitted to Xiao Fan, who planted a chaos flame seed inside her to control her loyalty.
• Xiao Fan asked about the Heavenly Yin Sect and the Wild Lion Gang, and Su Mei told him what she knew about their leaders.

Xiao Fan, You Ruo, and Su Mei headed for Old Man Yin Gu’s forbidden mountain hideout after Su Mei revealed his rumored cultivation method. Xiao Fan detected an illusion-and-trapping formation as they entered, leaving them poised to uncover what lay beyond it.

• Xiao Fan decided to visit the Heavenly Yin Sect and the Mad Lion Gang, and Su Mei woke her trusted guard and instructed her on what to do.
• Xiao Fan used the chaos flame to conceal the auras of himself, You Ruo, and Su Mei as they flew toward Old Man Yin Gu’s mountain territory.
• Su Mei warned that Old Man Yin Gu rarely stayed at his sect and was rumored to extend his life by feeding on women’s flesh and blood.
• Xiao Fan, You Ruo, and Su Mei entered the mountain range, where Xiao Fan sensed and identified an illusion formation combined with a trapping formation.

Xiao Fan, You Ruo, and Su Mei discovered Old Man Yin Gu’s hidden cave, where he used the blood essence of tortured women to cultivate. Xiao Fan confronted him after destroying the blood pools and their formations, and Old Man Yin Gu launched a probing attack.

• Xiao Fan led Su Mei and You Ruo through the Mountain Range’s formations and into a concealed cave.
• Xiao Fan and his companions found dozens of mutilated female corpses hanging above blood pools, and Xiao Fan burned the corpses, blood, and skeletons.
• Xiao Fan followed the blood essence runes to a hall where Old Man Yin Gu was absorbing the essence to cultivate.
• Old Man Yin Gu awoke, recognized Su Mei, and asked her to introduce Xiao Fan and You Ruo.
• Xiao Fan dismissed Old Man Yin Gu as a dead man and destroyed the runes and blood essence, prompting Old Man Yin Gu to attack him.

Xiao Fan killed Old Man Yin Gu after discovering his blood-soaked cultivation practice, then recruited the Mad Lion Gang’s leader and prepared to join Xiao Yan in destroying the Black Alliance. The Inner Academy’s hidden forces began gathering near Maple City.

• Old Man Yin Gu tried to seize Xiao Fan as a hostage, but Xiao Fan revealed his Four-Star Dou Emperor strength, defeated him with one move, and burned him away with black flame.
• Xiao Fan told Su Mei he killed Old Man Yin Gu because he preyed on defenseless civilians, then vowed to kill anyone he encountered who did the same.
• Xiao Fan and his companions found Tie Wu, leader of the Mad Lion Gang, and forced him to submit after Xiao Fan defeated him in three punches and planted a chaos flame seed in his body.
• Xiao Fan decided to join forces with Xiao Yan to wipe out the Black Alliance, and only a few Inner Academy elders and Lin Xiuya’s group learned that the Rakshasa Gate and Mad Lion Gang had submitted.
• The Inner Academy’s concealed members began moving toward Maple City.

Xiao Fan led an allied force to Maple City to confront Han Feng and the Black Alliance, with the Inner Academy’s First Elder joining the assault. The battle began with Han Feng intent on taking Xiao Fan’s heavenly flames, while Xiao Fan’s allies charged the Black Alliance.

• Han Feng gathered the Black Alliance’s faction leaders in Maple City to assess their forces, but the Gold and Silver Elders sensed an approaching army.
• Xiao Fan arrived with Su Qian, Su Mei, Tie Wu, Xiao Yan, and their allied forces, startling Han Feng with his return and Four-Star Dou Emperor strength.
• Han Feng tried to persuade Su Qian to let their past conflict go, but Su Qian refused and confronted the Gold and Silver Elders.
• Han Feng decided to seize the two heavenly flames within Xiao Fan, believing doing so would let him reach the Dou Zong realm.
• Xiao Fan ordered the attack, and Tie Wu, Su Mei, the Inner Academy’s elders, and their followers charged the Black Alliance as Xiao Yan joined the fighting.

Xiao Fan used his heavenly flames and secret techniques to overpower Han Feng, while Xiao Yan stepped in to protect a wounded Inner Academy elder. The battle remained unresolved when the supposedly ordinary black-robed Dou Wang revealed his true strength as a Dou Emperor.

• Han Feng charged at Xiao Fan with sea heart flame, but Xiao Fan raised his strength with the Nine Solar Transformations and struck him using fallen heart flame to disrupt his defense.
• Xiao Fan summoned the Thousand-Flame Spear and kept Han Feng on the defensive as Han Feng struggled to suppress the heart fire inside him.
• Xiao Yan stopped a black-robed fighter from finishing off a gravely wounded Inner Academy elder and took the fighter on himself.
• Xiao Yan used his Xuan Heavy Ruler to block the black-robed man's attacks, and the man revealed his power by launching a sudden strike.
• Han Feng identified the black-robed fighter as Elder Ban, the concealed Spotted Emperor, but a vast surge of power from Xiao Yan cut off his laughter.

Yao Lao’s power erupted through Xiao Yan to stop the Spotted Emperor, while Xiao Fan seized Han Feng’s lapse in attention and killed him. As Han Feng’s allies began to withdraw, a mysterious figure appeared and urged them to keep fighting Jia Nan Academy.

• The Spotted Emperor revealed himself as a Seven-Star Dou Huang and attacked Xiao Yan, but Yao Lao’s power blocked the strike and exposed his presence to Han Feng.
• Xiao Fan rushed Han Feng while Han Feng was distracted, broke through his hastily formed Sea Heart Flame shield, and pierced his chest with the Thousand-Flame Spear.
• Xiao Fan announced Han Feng’s death, and the Gold and Silver Elders, Yuan Yi, Yan, and the Spotted Emperor began distancing themselves from the fight.
• A hoarse voice urged the Black-Corner Region fighters to keep attacking Jia Nan Academy, and its formidable aura alarmed Yuan Yi, Yan, and the others.

Sand Protector revealed his Hall of Souls identity and tried to recruit Xiao Fan, who refused and attacked him. You Ruo appeared and struck Sand Protector down, leaving the battlefield stunned.

• A mysterious Dou Zong arrived and urged Yuan Yi and the other Black-Corner Region factions to keep fighting Jia Nan Academy.
• Sand Protector offered Xiao Fan a place in the Hall of Souls, but Xiao Fan identified the organization and rejected him.
• Sand Protector admitted he had served Han Feng and planned to seize Han Feng’s soul and report Yao Chen’s whereabouts.
• Xiao Fan charged Sand Protector, who knocked him back with a pitch-black chain.
• You Ruo ambushed Sand Protector, wounded him severely, and pierced his chest with pale purple energy.

You Ruo defeated the Hall of Souls' Sand Protector, and Xiao Fan captured Han Feng's soul and sealed both enemies away. Xiao Fan left the decision about the Black-Corner Region to Su Qian, who rejected a peace offer and ordered Jia Nan Academy to attack.

• You Ruo emerged from hiding and gravely wounded the Sand Protector with a single attack.
• Xiao Fan pulled Han Feng's soul from his body, ignored his offers of pill formulas and the Sea Heart Flame, and sealed him in a jade bottle.
• Xiao Fan killed the Sand Protector and sealed him away, then used heavenly flame on both captives.
• Xiao Fan deferred the choice of war or peace to Su Qian, while Yuan Yi and Yan asked the First Elder to make peace.
• After Xiao Fan urged Su Qian to crush the Black-Corner Region alliance, Su Qian ordered Jia Nan Academy's forces to attack without mercy.

Jia Nan Academy fought the Eight Gates and the Black Alliance rather than accept Yuan Yi’s offer of compensation, while Xiao Fan pursued the fleeing Spotted Emperor to propose a deal. The chapter ended with the Spotted Emperor revealing that he had joined Han Feng for Venerable Yao’s alchemy notes, giving Xiao Fan a possible bargaining point.

• Su Qian and Jia Nan Academy’s Elders attacked Yuan Yi’s forces, and Yuan Yi charged into the battle after rejecting reconciliation failed.
• Yuan Yi forced the Gold and Silver Elders to confront Su Qian, who fought them while they used their paired secret technique to hold him off.
• Xiao Fan pursued the Spotted Emperor as he slipped away from the battlefield, and You Ruo vanished after him.
• Xiao Yan worried about Yao Lao’s grief over Han Feng, but Yao Lao said he was all right and discussed using Han Feng’s and the Sand Protector’s souls to investigate the Hall of Souls.
• The Spotted Emperor stopped to ask why Xiao Fan was pursuing him, and Xiao Fan said he wanted to make a deal.
• The Spotted Emperor revealed that Han Feng had promised him Venerable Yao’s notes in exchange for joining the Black Alliance.

Xiao Fan recruited the Spotted Emperor by offering him Venerable Yao’s alchemy notes, then returned to find Jia Nan Academy’s allies had nearly defeated the Black-Corner Region forces. As the Gold and Silver Elders escaped using their last-resort technique, the Silver Elder attacked Xiao Fan, whose fate was left uncertain after the strike buried him in the ground.

• Xiao Fan offered the Spotted Emperor alchemy notes from Venerable Yao, and they agreed to cooperate on Xiao Fan’s stated conditions.
• Xiao Fan and the Spotted Emperor returned to find Yan and Yuan Yi dead and the Earth Flame Sect and Eight Gates nearly defeated.
• The Gold and Silver Elders decided to use their last-resort technique to escape Su Qian, accepting that it could ruin their cultivation.
• The Gold and Silver Elders forced Su Qian back and fled, but the Silver Elder turned toward Xiao Fan and attacked him with a silver claw.
• Xiao Fan raised a heavenly flame shield and tried to retreat, but the claw shattered the shield and struck him, burying him in the ground as You Ruo arrived too late to stop it.

Silver Elder’s sneak attack left Xiao Fan gravely wounded, but You Ruo and Yao Lao killed Silver Elder and helped stabilize Xiao Fan. After the battle, You Ruo discovered the women’s soft armor beneath Xiao Fan’s clothes, while the Rakshasa Gate and Mad Lion Gang emerged to fill the power vacuum in the Black-Corner Region.

• Silver Elder struck Xiao Fan from behind, and Yao Lao stopped his escape with a wave of soul power.
• You Ruo pierced Silver Elder’s chest and killed him, while Gold Elder fled after mourning his brother.
• Xiao Yan found Xiao Fan unconscious and gravely wounded, and You Ruo carried him while Yao Lao gave her a pill to treat him.
• You Ruo took a pill for the injuries transferred through her contract with Xiao Fan, then discovered women’s soft armor beneath his torn clothes.
• Su Qian and Jia Nan Academy finished clearing the battlefield, and the Rakshasa Gate and Mad Lion Gang stood poised to rise after the Earth Flame Sect and Eight Gates fell.

After the Black Alliance's defeat, Xiao Yan decided to visit the Jia Ma Empire before eventually traveling to Central Plains, while Xiao Fan remained unconscious under You Ruo's care. The group left Maple City and took refuge in a mountain cave, where Yao Lao completed a pill to help Xiao Fan recover.

• The First Elder learned that the Spotted Emperor had survived and ordered the disciples to watch him without provoking him.
• Xiao Yan told the First Elder that he and Xiao Fan would visit the Jia Ma Empire and later head to Central Plains, and agreed to let Zi Yan join them.
• You Ruo instructed Su Mei and Tie Wu to return to their sects and develop them while they waited for further instructions.
• Xiao Yan, You Ruo, and Zi Yan left Maple City with the unconscious Xiao Fan as scouts arrived and spread news of the battle.
• Yao Lao completed a healing pill in a secluded mountain cave and handed it to You Ruo for Xiao Fan.

After recovering from Silver Elder’s attack, Xiao Fan learned more about the Black-Corner Region’s hidden powers and comforted You Ruo. A system reward triggered a breakthrough that raised him to the Five-Star Dou Emperor realm and made him a Sixth-Tier Alchemist.

• Xiao Yan reported that scouts were heading to Maple City, and Yao Lao explained that the Black-Corner Region held powerful factions beyond the Black List.
• Xiao Fan awoke and comforted You Ruo, who had been terrified by his near-fatal injury.
• Xiao Fan agreed to let Zi Yan stay with them and promised to keep refining pills for her.
• Xiao Fan learned that You Ruo had killed Silver Elder and that Yao Lao had spent soul power protecting him.
• Xiao Fan received a system reward, broke through to the Five-Star Dou Emperor realm, and advanced to become a Sixth-Tier Alchemist.

After checking his system panel, Xiao Fan worried about Xiao Yi Xian’s worsening circumstances and accepted a quest to return to the Jia Ma Empire within fifteen days. He raced across the Black-Corner Region with You Ruo and reached the empire’s borders after ten days.

• Xiao Fan checked his panel and noticed Xiao Yi Xian’s affinity had risen sharply while Han Jue’s had fallen.
• Xiao Fan worried that Xiao Yi Xian’s experiences in the Chu Yun Empire had deepened her attachment to him and resolved to return to the Jia Ma Empire.
• The system issued Xiao Fan a quest to check in within the Jia Ma Empire in fifteen days, with increased rewards for arriving sooner.
• Xiao Fan left Yao Lao, Xiao Yan, and Zi Yan, promising Zi Yan he would return for her after she went to Wutan City with Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Fan traveled rapidly with You Ruo, who transformed into a small snake and rode on his shoulder, and she deterred a pursuing Peak Dou Emperor with her Dou Zong aura.
• Xiao Fan crossed the Black-Corner Region in ten days and saw the Jia Ma Empire ahead.

Xiao Fan returned to the Jia Ma Empire with You Ruo and claimed a system reward that advanced him to Six-Star Dou Emperor. You Ruo decided to return to the Snake-People Tribe, and the pair spent the night together in a secluded cave before flying onward.

• Xiao Fan crossed Demon-Suppressing Pass, completed his mission, and received enough Dou Qi points to reach Six-Star Dou Emperor.
• You Ruo said she needed to return to the Snake-People Tribe because her people and duties required her presence.
• Xiao Fan offered to accompany You Ruo, and she agreed as the two set off together.
• Xiao Fan prepared a secluded cave for You Ruo, and they spent an intimate night there.
• Xiao Fan and You Ruo flew out of the cave afterward, with Xiao Fan looking pleased and You Ruo glaring at him.

After five days of traveling together, Xiao Fan and You Ruo reached Sand City and visited the Iron Cavalry Mercenary Group. Xiao Fan discovered that Han Jue had grown ambitious and no longer intended to indulge his former subordinate, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Xiao Fan and You Ruo disguised themselves and traveled toward the Snake-People Tribe, enjoying several days away from their duties.
• In Sand City, Xiao Fan revealed his identity at the Iron Cavalry Mercenary Group's residence and was welcomed by Yuan Wen.
• Yuan Wen told Xiao Fan that the Iron Cavalry Mercenary Group had grown stronger through its alliance with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.
• Han Jue arrived as a Three-Star Dou Ling, and Xiao Fan sensed that he had begun to harbor ambitions beyond serving him.
• Xiao Fan decided to discard Han Jue as a disobedient subordinate, and Han Jue replied with a veiled warning.

Xiao Fan and You Ruo left Sand City for the Snake-People Tribe, where You Ruo reflected on her people’s harsh living conditions and conflict with the Jia Ma Empire. She reunited with her people and ordered every Snake-People leader to gather in the Holy City.

• You Ruo overwhelmed Han Jue with her Dou Zong aura, and Xiao Fan left the Iron Cavalry Mercenary Group with her.
• Xiao Fan and You Ruo flew across the Tagor Desert toward the Snake-People settlements, discussing their past and the tribe’s struggle to find suitable territory.
• You Ruo described the Snake-People’s hardships and her hope to lead them out of the desert, and Xiao Fan promised her dream would come true.
• You Ruo released her aura near Yue Mei’s territory, and Yue Mei and the Snake-People welcomed their queen’s return.
• You Ruo learned that the tribe had withdrawn and focused on defense during her absence, then ordered every leader to report to the Holy City.

Yue Mei and the Snake-People chiefs waited for Queen Medusa as she met with the tribal elders, who approved of her relationship with Xiao Fan and plotted to secure his talents for their future children. You Ruo left with Xiao Fan after he promised to prepare the best pills for their child, while the elders were left to reconsider their schemes.

• Mo Bass questioned Yue Mei about the queen's return and argued against avoiding conflict with the Jia Ma Empire.
• Hua She'er told the chiefs that the queen was meeting with the elders, then hurried away without explaining further.
• The Four Great Elders approved of You Ruo and Xiao Fan's relationship and debated what pills to prepare for their future child.
• The Fourth Elder accidentally revealed the elders' plan to offer Yue Mei and Hua She'er to Xiao Fan, angering You Ruo.
• Xiao Fan promised to provide the best pills for their child, and You Ruo left with him after warning the elders not to meddle.
• The Fourth Elder was knocked beneath the table after he resumed complaining about You Ruo's temper.

You Ruo returned to the Holy City and confronted the Eight Great Chiefs over their failure to protect the Snake-People Tribe, then announced Xiao Fan was her future husband. When Mo Bass and the other chiefs objected, they set standards for her mate that Xiao Fan appeared likely to meet.

• You Ruo entered the great hall with Xiao Fan and subdued Mo Bass with her aura after he insulted Xiao Fan.
• You Ruo rebuked the Eight Great Chiefs for failing to retaliate against human incursions and ordered the tribe to prepare for possible war with the Jia Ma Empire.
• You Ruo declared that Xiao Fan was her future husband, shocking the chiefs and prompting Mo Bass to object.
• Xiao Fan asked the chiefs what kind of mate would deserve You Ruo, and they named strength, talent, and high-tier alchemy as requirements.
• The chiefs mocked Xiao Fan, unaware that their standards might match his own abilities.