Chapter Summaries

Xiao Fan told Xiao Yan that the Gu Clan would not send a Dou Sheng to help Starfall Pavilion, while Xun'er stayed behind despite her clan's wishes. As Dou Zun experts began arriving in response to Starfall Pavilion's call, the Third Heavenly Venerate learned that the Hall of Souls' plans had leaked and moved up the attack.

• Xun'er apologized to Xiao Yan because the Gu Clan would not send a Dou Sheng expert, and Xiao Yan reassured her that he understood.
• Xun'er remained at Starfall Pavilion, protected in secret by Gu Chen, while Xiao Yan promised not to let her down.
• Xiao Fan told Xiao Yan to receive the Dou Zun experts who had begun joining Starfall Pavilion, drawn by the chance to connect with its renowned alchemists.
• Xiao Yan flew to Starfall Pavilion's main hall to meet the arriving experts, while Xiao Fan watched the Hall of Souls through Mo Shang's perspective.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate learned that Starfall Pavilion knew of the planned attack and ordered the Hall of Souls to move up its schedule.

The Third Heavenly Venerate asked Mo Shang about the planned attack on Starfall Pavilion and explained that the large force would also serve as a warning to the continent’s factions. He then discussed promoting Mo Shang with the Fourth Heavenly Venerable and Eighth Heavenly Venerate, who agreed that Mo Shang could earn his chance through the coming battle.

• The Third Heavenly Venerate asked Mo Shang why they needed so many experts to attack Starfall Pavilion, and Mo Shang replied that the Third Heavenly Venerate could defeat it alone.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate explained that the expedition would demonstrate the Hall of Souls’ strength and sent Mo Shang to summon the Fourth Heavenly Venerable and Eighth Heavenly Venerate.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate told the Fourth Heavenly Venerable and Eighth Heavenly Venerate that he was considering cultivating and promoting Mo Shang.
• The Fourth Heavenly Venerable warned that Mo Shang lacked seniority and strength to support another promotion, while the Eighth Heavenly Venerate argued that a strong showing in battle could earn him merit.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate assigned the Eighth Heavenly Venerate to tell Mo Shang that success against Starfall Pavilion could bring him a promotion and cultivation resources.

The Eighth Heavenly Venerate encouraged Mo Shang to earn merit in the upcoming attack on Starfall Pavilion and gave him unrestricted access to the treasury so he could grow stronger. Mo Shang entered the treasury, intent on using its resources before the assault in three days.

• The Third Heavenly Venerate and the other leaders planned to annihilate Starfall Pavilion in three days.
• The Eighth Heavenly Venerate told Mo Shang that the Third Heavenly Venerate wanted to promote him, but he needed to earn merit and prove his strength.
• The Eighth Heavenly Venerate gave Mo Shang a token authorizing him to take whatever resources he wanted from the treasury.
• Mo Shang showed the token to the treasury guard, who verified the order and led him into the underground passage.
• Mo Shang and the guard reached an enormous stone gate deep beneath the treasury.

Mo Shang entered the Hall of Souls' treasure vault and discovered he could absorb its rare medicinal ingredients with the chaos flame. He kept swallowing the supplies under a Five-Star Dou Zun's watch, while the vault's stores rapidly dwindled.

• Mo Shang used the jade tablet from the Eighth Heavenly Venerate to open the treasure vault and entered alone.
• A gray-robed Five-Star Dou Zun warned Mo Shang that he could use the resources but must not remove or damage them.
• Mo Shang swallowed a purple sun hundred-thousand herb, and the chaos flame absorbed its dangerous energy while making it appear that he was suffering.
• Mo Shang confirmed the vault guardian would honor the Heavenly Venerates' order, then claimed his special constitution protected him.
• Mo Shang swallowed more precious medicinal ingredients as the guardian expected him to collapse, and the vault's supplies steadily diminished.

Mo Shang consumed rare fire-attribute medicinal ingredients in the Hall of Souls treasury, using the Chaos Flame to absorb their violent potency and strengthen himself. After the treasury guard caught him taking nearly a third of its stock and threw him out, Mo Shang returned to his Main Hall to refine the ingredients and raise his cultivation.

• Mo Shang ate rare fire-attribute medicinal ingredients while the treasury guard watched, and he explained away his ability to absorb their potency as a difference in constitution.
• The guard decided not to stop Mo Shang, and Mo Shang continued eating before secretly sending a wisp of Chaos Flame beneath a shelf.
• The guard discovered that nearly a third of the treasury's medicinal ingredients had vanished and slapped Mo Shang out of the treasury.
• A waiting Dou Zun explained the guard's reputation to Mo Shang, who hurried away and returned the Jade Tablet to the Eighth Heavenly Venerate.
• Mo Shang returned to his Main Hall and used the Chaos Flame to refine the medicinal potency into Dou Qi, gradually increasing his One-Star Dou Zun cultivation.

Mo Shang concealed his true strength while joining the Hall of Souls' forces as they set out to destroy Starfall Pavilion. Xiao Fan warned Xiao Yan that the attack was underway, and the two went to discuss the threat away from the gathered guests.

• After three days of cultivation, Mo Shang reached late-stage Three-Star Dou Zun but disguised his strength as Peak Two-Star Dou Zun before assembling with the Hall of Souls.
• The Eighth Heavenly Venerate praised Mo Shang's breakthrough and told him to stay near him during the attack on Starfall Pavilion.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate assembled the Hall of Souls' experts and led them aboard warships toward Starfall Pavilion.
• Sensing the approaching force through his connection with Mo Shang, Xiao Fan hurried to the Main Hall and informed Xiao Yan that the Third Heavenly Venerate, the Fourth Heavenly Venerable, the Eighth Heavenly Venerate, and more than a dozen Dou Zun experts were coming.
• Xiao Yan signaled Venerable Feng and then flew with Xiao Fan to a rear hall to discuss the impending attack.

With the Hall of Souls advancing on the Starfall Pavilion, Xiao Fan and the others prepared for war and secured aid from several major factions. The defenses were organized, but the battle’s outcome still depended on whether Yao Chen could break through to Dou Sheng and face the Third Heavenly Venerate.

• Xiao Fan revealed that the Hall of Souls' experts were approaching, then announced that he had broken through to One-Turn Dou Zun and would confront the Fourth Heavenly Venerate.
• Xiao Yan volunteered to hold off the Eighth Heavenly Venerate while the others prepared to face the remaining enemies.
• Venerable Feng reported that the Pill Tower, Burning Flame Valley, Myriad Sword Pavilion, and likely the Flower Sect would send help, while the Sound Valley refused to join.
• The group decided that disciples below Dou Emperor would shelter behind Xiao Fan's Turtle Spirit Grand Array as they organized the pavilion's defenses.
• Gu Chen told Xun'er that the Gu Clan would not intervene, and Xun'er watched the Main Hall with growing resolve.
• Venerable Feng, Xiao Yan, Iron Sword Venerable, and Heavenly Fire Venerable took charge of receiving allies, organizing fighters, guiding disciples, and controlling the array, while Xiao Fan disappeared.

Xiao Fan converted the Storage Rings of the Dou Zun experts he had killed into 940,000 Source Coins, then spent most of them on a World-Leaping Disk and a Demon Spirit Fruit. He brought the fruit to Yao Lao, believing it would help his teacher break through, and began burning through the barriers around the Mountain Cave.

• Xiao Fan fed Storage Rings from fallen Hall of Souls and Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan experts to the system, protesting as it deducted conversion losses and offered only 120 Source Coins in compensation.
• Xiao Fan converted all the remaining rings and accumulated 940,000 Source Coins, while Mo Shang secretly watched the Eighth Heavenly Venerate with black flame swirling at his fingertips.
• Xiao Fan redeemed the World-Leaping Disk and Demon Spirit Fruit for 850,000 Source Coins and examined the damaged disk and potent fruit.
• Xiao Fan went to Yao Lao's Mountain Cave, announced that he had obtained something to help with the breakthrough, and used chaos flame to burn through the restrictive barriers.

Xiao Fan helped Yao Lao absorb the Demon Spirit Fruit as he fused with the bones of a Saint of Creation, then guarded him while anticipating Starfall Pavilion’s coming battle. Aboard the Hall of Souls’ warships, the Eighth Heavenly Venerate ordered Mo Shang to kill Xiao Fan and gave him a Bloodstone that could unleash a Four-Revolution Dou Venerate’s full-power strike, while Mo Shang secretly planned how to avoid killing his Original Body.

• Xiao Fan entered Yao Lao’s cave and used the Demon Spirit Fruit to accelerate the fusion of the Dou Sheng bones with Yao Lao’s body.
• As Yao Lao’s aura rose toward Dou Sheng, Xiao Fan sat by the cave entrance to guard him and turned his thoughts to Mo Shang.
• Aboard a Hall of Souls Sky-Reaching Warship, the Eighth Heavenly Venerate told Mo Shang that killing Xiao Fan could earn him a nomination as a new Heavenly Venerate.
• The Eighth Heavenly Venerate gave Mo Shang a Bloodstone that could unleash the Fourth Heavenly Venerable’s full-power strike and warned him to seize the chance to kill Xiao Fan.
• Mo Shang accepted the mission but privately considered how to appear to fulfill it without killing his Original Body.

The Hall of Souls attacked the Starfall Pavilion and its allied factions, led by the Third Heavenly Venerate, whose Half-Saint strength overwhelmed the assembled experts. Xiao Yan defied him and resisted his pressure with Heavenly Flames and Three Thousand Burning Flame as the battle began.

• The Starfall Pavilion gathered Dou Zun experts and allies, including the Pill Tower, Burning Flame Valley, and Myriad Sword Pavilion, to prepare for a conflict with the Hall of Souls.
• The Hall of Souls arrived aboard Sky-Reaching Warships and sealed the grassland around the Starfall Pavilion, trapping the scouts and preventing messages from getting through.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate revealed the Starfall Pavilion's hidden gateway and challenged its experts as Xiao Yan and Venerable Feng led their forces out to meet him.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate pressured Xiao Yan, who resisted with Heavenly Flames and Three Thousand Burning Flame and refused to yield.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate ordered the Hall of Souls to kill everyone, and both sides charged into battle across the plain.

Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan confronted the Hall of Souls’ Fourth and Eighth Heavenly Venerates while Starfall Pavilion’s allies prepared to engage the remaining attackers. The battle spread across the field as Iron Sword Venerable and Sword Venerable challenged the Hall of Souls’ Dou Zun experts.

• Xiao Fan arrived to face the Fourth Heavenly Venerate, while Xiao Yan headed off the Eighth Heavenly Venerate.
• Xiao Fan attacked the Fourth Heavenly Venerate with the Three Thousand Burning Flame and Bone Spirit Cold Flame, then fused them into a black-and-white lotus that exploded against his chains.
• Xiao Yan used the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations to fight the Eighth Heavenly Venerate, while Venerable Feng called on the allied Dou Zun experts to help.
• Tang Zhen kept his blood-red stone hidden as he watched the Third Heavenly Venerate, and Sword Venerable and Iron Sword Venerable agreed to race to defeat their Hall of Souls opponents.
• Sword Venerable and Iron Sword Venerable unleashed powerful streams of sword Qi at the Hall of Souls’ Dou Zun experts.

Starfall Pavilion and the Hall of Souls fought across the plain as Heavenly Fire Venerable activated the Turtle Spirit Grand Array and the Third Heavenly Venerate threatened to kill everyone unless Yao Chen appeared. Xiao Fan attacked the Fourth Heavenly Venerate with the Great Heaven Creation Palm, leaving his opponent sensing imminent death.

• Heavenly Fire Venerable activated the Turtle Spirit Grand Array, summoning a massive flaming black tortoise around Starfall Pavilion's Spatial Passage.
• Venerable Feng fought Mo Shang, who used black flame to form armor and withstand Venerable Feng's wind attacks.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate demanded that Yao Chen appear within ten breaths and threatened to kill everyone from Starfall Pavilion.
• Xiao Fan cut off the Fourth Heavenly Venerate's taunt with a powerful Great Heaven Creation Palm attack.

Xiao Fan attacked the Fourth Heavenly Venerable with the Great Heaven Creation Palm, but the Third Heavenly Venerate intervened. Yao Lao revealed Dou Sheng-level power to protect Xiao Fan, while Mo Shang’s attack let the Fourth Heavenly Venerable escape.

• Xiao Fan struck the Fourth Heavenly Venerable with the Great Heaven Creation Palm, and the Fourth Heavenly Venerable defended himself with Blood Soul Chaos Heaven.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate attacked Xiao Fan, but Yao Lao appeared and dissolved the Half-Saint’s palm strike with his Heavenly Flame.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate recognized Yao Lao as a Dou Sheng, and Xun'er put away the white sphere she had been holding.
• Xiao Fan’s Great Heaven Creation Palm shattered the Fourth Heavenly Venerable’s shield and weakened him.
• Mo Shang attacked Xiao Fan with a blood-colored sphere, giving the Fourth Heavenly Venerable time to escape to the Third Heavenly Venerate’s side.

Yao Lao revealed that he had advanced to Dou Sheng and overwhelmed the Third Heavenly Venerate in a brief clash, leaving him badly injured. The Third Heavenly Venerate remained in disbelief as Yao Lao’s victory secured Starfall Pavilion’s position in the battle.

• The Fourth Heavenly Venerable praised Mo Shang for interrupting Xiao Fan’s assault, while the Third Heavenly Venerate doubted that Yao Lao had truly reached Dou Sheng.
• Yao Lao confirmed his breakthrough, prompting Starfall Pavilion’s elders and disciples to celebrate and the Hall of Souls forces to falter.
• Yao Lao attacked the Third Heavenly Venerate with a fire dragon formed from the Bone Spirit Cold Flame as Mo Shang pulled the injured Fourth Heavenly Venerable away.
• Yao Lao’s flames engulfed the Third Heavenly Venerate, then contracted back into his palm and revealed the Heavenly Venerate with a greatly weakened aura and a burned-to-bone right hand.
• Xiao Fan felt reassured by Yao Lao’s victory, while the Third Heavenly Venerate struggled to accept that Yao Lao had surpassed him and reached Dou Sheng.

After breaking through to Dou Sheng, Yao Lao attacked the Hall of Souls forces gathered at the plain, killing half their members and gravely wounding the three Heavenly Venerables. He spared the Third Heavenly Venerate to avoid provoking the Hall of Souls into a greater conflict, then drove the survivors away.

• Yao Lao revealed his Dou Sheng breakthrough, shifting the balance of power in Starfall Pavilion’s favor.
• Yao Lao unleashed a white fire dragon, and the Fourth Heavenly Venerable used a pill to restore his strength before he, the Third Heavenly Venerate, and the Eighth Heavenly Venerate formed the Three Stars Supporting the Moon Formation.
• Mo Shang and the other Hall of Souls experts poured their Dou Qi into the formation to protect their group from Yao Lao’s attack.
• Xiao Fan sent Yao Lao a voice transmission urging him not to go too far, and Yao Lao chose to spare the Third Heavenly Venerate to avoid provoking the Hall of Souls.
• Yao Lao’s fire dragon shattered the formation, annihilated half the Hall of Souls group, and gravely wounded the three Heavenly Venerables.
• Yao Lao swept the surviving Hall of Souls experts off the plain and ordered them to leave.

Yao Lao drove back the Hall of Souls after breaking through to Dou Sheng, securing the Starfall Pavilion and winning the support of the factions that had come to its aid. The guests gathered inside the pavilion, where Xiao Fan teased Xiao Yan and Xun'er before heading to the Main Hall.

• Yao Lao seized the Hall of Souls' Sky-Reaching Warships and sent the Third Heavenly Venerate and his wounded companions fleeing.
• Yao Lao thanked the allied factions and invited their experts into the Starfall Pavilion to talk.
• Xiao Fan checked the pavilion's casualties and found that no one had suffered life-threatening injuries.
• The allied experts entered the pavilion, where Yao Lao welcomed Gu Chen and his companions.
• Xiao Fan teased Xiao Yan and Xun'er for spending time together instead of reassuring people in the Main Hall, then left them alone.

Xiao Fan toasted the allied factions after the Hall of Souls’ defeat, then joined the Dou Zun experts as they congratulated Yao Lao on becoming a Dou Sheng. Yao Lao summoned Xiao Fan to his cultivation quarters and reflected on how much his disciple’s mysterious strength and secrets exceeded his expectations.

• Xiao Fan entered the Main Hall, toasted the gathered factions, and received an enthusiastic response from the Dou Zong powerhouses.
• Xiao Fan joined the private gathering of Dou Zun experts and warmly greeted Tang Zhen, who thanked him for helping save Tang Huo'er.
• The gathered experts congratulated Yao Lao on his breakthrough and discussed how it would strengthen the Starfall Pavilion.
• Yao Lao left the gathering, and Xiao Fan followed him to his cultivation quarters, where Yao Lao invited him inside.
• Yao Lao considered Xiao Fan’s many secrets and recalled that he had never heard of the spirit fruit Xiao Fan gave him during his breakthrough.

After Yao Lao reached Dou Sheng, he gave Xiao Fan a Sky-Reaching Warship and discussed their plans for the Gu Clan Celebration. Xiao Fan said he would leave the next day for the Moon God Trials, and Yao Lao promised to protect Starfall Pavilion while he was gone.

• Xiao Fan bound a Sky-Reaching Warship to his soul and tested how it expanded and shrank.
• Yao Lao said he planned to accompany Xiao Yan to the Gu Clan Celebration, and Xiao Fan said he also intended to visit the Gu Clan and the Heavenly Tomb.
• Xiao Fan told Yao Lao about Yue Yao and the upcoming Moon God Trials, then said he would leave the next day.
• Yao Lao assured Xiao Fan that he would keep Starfall Pavilion safe while Xiao Fan faced the trials.

After leaving Starfall Pavilion, Xiao Fan headed toward the Spirit Clan and saw how Yao Lao’s breakthrough had spread across the continent. Meanwhile, the injured Hall of Souls leaders put Mo Shang in charge of their Central Plains forces while they entered seclusion, leaving him with authority that could help both him and Xiao Fan—but under close scrutiny.

• Xiao Fan left Starfall Pavilion with a keepsake from Xun'er that would let him enter Ancient Emperor City, then set out for the Spirit Clan.
• Xiao Fan learned that scouts had spread news of Yao Lao defeating the Third Heavenly Venerate, raising the alchemist world's admiration for him.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate announced that he, the Fourth Heavenly Venerable, and the Eighth Heavenly Venerate would enter seclusion and temporarily abandon plans against Starfall Pavilion.
• The Third Heavenly Venerate gave Mo Shang a jade tablet and appointed him to oversee the Hall of Souls' Central Plains forces, ordering the others to follow his arrangements.
• The Third, Fourth, and Eighth Heavenly Venerates told Mo Shang that his performance could earn him their recommendation as the next Heavenly Venerate, while privately treating the appointment as a test.
• Mo Shang accepted the authority and recognized that he could use it to build influence, though he knew the Hall of Souls would watch him closely.

In the Spirit World, Yue Yao awakened the dragon spear as Granny hoped she would survive her trial, while Xiao Fan traveled toward Sound Valley amid news of Starfall Pavilion’s victory. Xiao Yi Xian and Yun Yun headed for Starfall Pavilion, and the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan continued its plans to kill Xiao Fan despite Yao Chen’s breakthrough to Dou Sheng.

• Yue Yao grasped the awakened dragon spear as an illusory Palace began descending from the sky, and Granny declared that the Saintess would prevail.
• Xiao Fan hurried toward the Sound Valley location he had found while people across the Central Plains discussed Starfall Pavilion’s victory over the Hall of Souls.
• Xiao Yi Xian rebuffed the Azure Sword Sect’s Sect Master, who fled after sensing her strength, and later died when multicolored markings consumed his blood essence.
• Xiao Yi Xian and Yun Yun left for Starfall Pavilion through a space wormhole to attend its grand exchange gathering and see Xiao Fan.
• The Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan dismissed Yao Chen’s breakthrough as no obstacle and ordered its forces to continue the plan to bring back Xiao Fan’s head.