Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan attempted to break through after six years of cultivation and successfully advanced beyond the ninth stage, but he could not form a Dou Qi spiral or transform his preliminary Dou Qi into true Dou Qi. Yao Lao examined him and found no physical problem, leaving both of them baffled by Xiao Yan’s unusual condition.

• Xiao Yan compressed his Dou Qi and began his breakthrough while Yao Lao sensed his remarkable talent and considered making him a disciple.
• Xiao Yan broke through and celebrated reaching Dou Zhe after six years of effort.
• Xiao Yan failed to use internal vision and discovered that his energy was still preliminary Dou Qi rather than true Dou Qi.
• Yao Lao examined Xiao Yan through the Bone Spirit Ring, found his body healthy, and could not explain why he had not formed a Dou Qi spiral.

After Yao Lao appeared from the ring, Xiao Yan learned that the elder could help him overcome his inability to advance to Dou Zhe. Yao Lao revealed the Origin Transformation Seal, a Secret Technique that would let Xiao Yan practice cultivation methods by filtering the violent elements from Dou Qi.

• Xiao Yan pretended to be frightened when Yao Lao revealed himself from the ancient black ring.
• Xiao Yan persuaded Yao Lao to address his stalled cultivation, and Yao Lao confirmed he had appeared to help.
• Yao Lao explained how Dou Zhe energy differed from Dou Qi stage energy and why Xiao Yan could not use cultivation methods.
• Yao Lao said Xiao Yan's resilient meridians could withstand a Secret Technique that filtered violent Dou Qi into gentler energy.
• Yao Lao transmitted the Origin Transformation Seal into Xiao Yan's mind.

Xiao Yan became Yao Lao’s nominal disciple and chose the Flame Mantra over a safer Earth Tier cultivation method. He endured its painful first practice on a mountain behind the Xiao Clan estate and emerged stronger, having taken his first step on the path ahead.

• Yao Lao explained that the Origin Transformation Seal would filter volatile elements from Dou Qi but make cultivation agonizing, then accepted Xiao Yan as his nominal disciple.
• Xiao Yan asked for a welcoming gift, and Yao Lao presented him with a Low Earth Tier cultivation method and the Flame Mantra, a Low Yellow Tier method that could evolve by devouring heavenly flames.
• Despite Yao Lao warning that the Flame Mantra carried a high risk of failure, Xiao Yan chose it, and Yao Lao agreed to join him in the gamble.
• On the mountain behind the Xiao Clan estate, Xiao Yan used the Origin Transformation Seal while cultivating the Flame Mantra and endured hours of severe pain.
• Xiao Yan stood up with a stronger aura, and Yao Lao watched as he celebrated completing his first step.

Xiao Yan revealed to Xiao Zhan that he had reached the seventeenth stage of Dou Qi, easing his father’s worries about his stalled cultivation. He then asked to borrow money for medicinal ingredients, and Xiao Zhan left to find a way to obtain it.

• Xiao Yan told Xiao Zhan that he had surpassed the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi and revealed his seventeenth-stage aura.
• Xiao Zhan celebrated Xiao Yan’s progress and offered to help him with anything he needed.
• Xiao Yan asked to borrow one hundred thousand gold coins to buy ingredients for cultivation pills.
• Xiao Zhan agreed to find a way to raise the money and left, wondering how to persuade the clan elders.

Xiao Yan used the money Xiao Zhan secured to buy ingredients for Yao Lao to refine Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and Tiger Bone Body-Tempering Pills. After Yao Lao explained how the concoctions would help strengthen Xiao Yan, he prepared a medicinal bath for him.

• Xiao Zhan gave Xiao Yan a Purple Gold Card containing one hundred thousand gold coins for his needs.
• Yao Lao listed the ingredients he needed, and Xiao Yan spent sixty-seven thousand gold coins buying them in Wutan City.
• Xiao Xun'er asked Ling Ying about Xiao Yan's recent behavior, and Ling Ying reported that Xiao Yan had accepted a powerful soul entity as his teacher.
• Yao Lao refined an enhanced batch of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and made four Tiger Bone Body-Tempering Pills.
• Yao Lao warned Xiao Yan not to swallow the potent liquid and told him to get into the bath after he diluted it in a tub of water.

After advancing to the eighteenth stage of Dou Qi and strengthening his combat skills, Xiao Yan learned that Xiao Ding and Xiao Li planned to leave Wutan City to seek their fortunes. He watched his brothers depart the next day, leaving him to watch over the Xiao Clan.

• Xiao Yan used Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and a Tiger Bone Body-Tempering Pill to advance to the eighteenth stage of Dou Qi.
• Xiao Yan reflected on his progress in Eight Extremes Collapse and the Hundred-Forged Golden Sun Body, which he had learned from Yao Lao.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li visited Xiao Yan and told him they planned to venture out after Xiao Li became a Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Yan supported their decision and promised to watch over the Xiao Clan while they were away.
• Xiao Yan obtained Profound Tier cultivation methods for both brothers, then watched Xiao Ding and Xiao Li leave Wutan City the next day.

Over three years, Xiao Yan trained in secret while rumors about his cultivation spread through Wutan City. Nalan Yanran set out with Misty Cloud Sect representatives to break off their engagement, unaware that Xiao Yan was training in the hills when Xiao Xun'er came to see him.

• Xiao Ning spread conflicting rumors that Xiao Yan had either lost his talent or was hiding his strength, while the Grand Elder kept the truth about Yao Lao to himself.
• Nalan Yanran persuaded Yun Yun to let her break off her engagement with Xiao Yan, and Yun Yun told her to observe proper courtesies and bring gifts.
• Yun Leng agreed to handle the matter after learning the engagement was with the Xiao Clan, and Nalan Yanran departed for Wutan City with Deacon Ge Ye three days later.
• Xiao Yan trained his body under Yao Lao's soul-power attacks and complained that the Tiger Bone Body-Tempering Pill was losing its effectiveness.
• Yao Lao said he had a suitable pill formula for Xiao Yan's current condition, then teased him about his little girlfriend and returned to the Bone Flame Ring.
• Xiao Xun'er appeared in the hills and called out to Xiao Yan.

Xiao Xun'er confronted Yao Lao over Xiao Yan's punishing training, then accompanied Xiao Yan to meet the Misty Cloud Sect delegation and his nominal fiancée, Nalan Yanran. Nalan Yanran was struck by Xiao Yan's appearance as he took his seat in the main hall.

• Xiao Xun'er found Xiao Yan injured after training and demanded that Yao Lao explain his harsh methods.
• Yao Lao introduced himself as Yao Chen and explained that Xiao Yan needed difficult body-tempering training, while Xiao Xun'er offered to find him a suitable technique.
• Xiao Xun'er told Xiao Yan that the Misty Cloud Sect had arrived and that Xiao Zhan wanted him to come to the main hall.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er entered the hall, where Nalan Yanran recognized him as her nominal fiancé and felt a moment of regret.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er took the two empty seats beside Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning, leaving Xiao Ning jealous.

Nalan Yanran came to the Xiao Clan with Ge Ye to break off her engagement to Xiao Yan, provoking Xiao Zhan and the clan elders. Xiao Yan accepted her choice in principle but rejected the way she had forced the matter, then declared that he would repudiate her instead.

• Xiao Zhan introduced Xiao Yan to Nalan Yanran and tried to bring them closer, but Ge Ye announced that the Misty Cloud Sect had come to request the end of their engagement.
• Nalan Yanran stated that she wanted to control her own destiny and demanded that she and Xiao Yan dissolve their engagement.
• Xiao Zhan shattered his teacup and unleashed his aura, but Ge Ye's aura collapsed when he realized Xiao Zhan had reached the Nine-Star Great Dou Master level.
• Xiao Yan said he could accept the engagement ending if Nalan Su came in person to discuss it, and criticized Nalan Yanran for using the Misty Cloud Sect's backing to pressure the Xiao Clan.
• Nalan Yanran apologized for her approach but insisted on ending the engagement that day, and Xiao Yan declared that he would repudiate her as his wife.

Xiao Yan repudiated Nalan Yanran and defeated her in a fight, forcing her to accept the end of their engagement. As Nalan Yanran left the Xiao Clan, she vowed to return in three years and challenge him again.

• Xiao Yan wrote a letter repudiating Nalan Yanran, and the Xiao Clan stood against Ge Ye when he objected.
• Nalan Yanran challenged Xiao Yan, but he effortlessly dodged her attacks and stopped her with two fingers against her forehead.
• Nalan Yanran admitted defeat and promised to announce publicly that Xiao Yan had repudiated her.
• Nalan Yanran left with Ge Ye, then vowed to return in three years to fight Xiao Yan and reclaim her dignity.

Xiao Yan took Xiao Xun'er shopping at the Xiao Family Market, then visited the Mittel Auction House to sell pills and buy medicinal ingredients. He left two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills with Ya Fei and Gu Ni to send to the Imperial Capital for auction, with his purchases to be charged against the proceeds.

• Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er went to the Xiao Family Market, where Xiao Yan bought her an Emerald Crystal Bracelet.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er arrived at the Mittel Auction House, where Ya Fei and Gu Ni came to greet them.
• Xiao Yan presented Ya Fei with two peak fourth-grade Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills and asked to buy medicinal ingredients.
• Gu Ni said the pills should be auctioned in the Imperial Capital for a higher price and offered to let Xiao Yan purchase on credit until the proceeds arrived.
• Xiao Yan agreed to leave the pills with Ya Fei and Gu Ni.

Xiao Yan learned that the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Families had invited a fourth-rank alchemist to challenge the Xiao Clan, while Ya Fei warned him and used her authority to drive their representatives from the Mittel Auction House. After Xiao Yan left, Ya Fei wistfully wondered how much longer she would have the chance to help him.

• Ya Fei told Xiao Yan that the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Families had brought Liu Xi’s fourth-rank alchemist master to Wutan City, and Xiao Yan thanked her for the warning.
• Gu Ni gave Xiao Yan the herbs he requested and offered to deduct their cost from the proceeds of the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill auction.
• Xiao Yan and his companions found Jia Lie Ao and Liu Xi causing a disturbance over herbs at the Mittel Auction House.
• Ya Fei ordered the guards to throw Jia Lie Ao, Liu Xi, and their companions out, and the guards beat them before ejecting them.
• Xiao Yan told Ya Fei she did not need to help him with such trivial matters, and Ya Fei wondered if she might soon have nothing left to help him with.

After Jia Lie Ao and Liu Xi were thrown out of the Mittel Auction House, Xiao Yan refined the Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill and took Yao Lao’s advice to improve his alchemy. He then revealed to Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan’s three elders that he had refined the pill himself, leaving them stunned.

• Jia Lie Ao and Liu Xi were mocked by onlookers outside the Mittel Auction House, and Jia Lie Ao privately planned to deal with the Xiao Clan once his family’s first elder returned.
• Xiao Yan refined the Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill after two failed attempts, and Yao Lao urged him to take his alchemy talent seriously.
• Xiao Yan accepted Yao Lao’s advice and refined four more pills without failure, producing one of perfect quality.
• Xiao Yan decided to offer his lowest-quality pill for auction in the Xiao Clan’s name and keep the other four for himself.
• Xiao Yan told Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan’s three elders that he had refined the pill himself, and the hall fell silent.

Xiao Yan revealed that he could refine peak third-rank pills and arranged for the Xiao Clan to auction a Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill and stock up on ingredients to fight its rivals. Meanwhile, Lin Hong backed the Jia Lie and Ao Ba families, and Wutan City settled into a tense calm as both sides prepared for a decisive clash.

• Xiao Yan confirmed his alchemy skill to Xiao Zhan and the three elders, who urged him to keep his rank secret until he could protect himself.
• Xiao Yan asked the Xiao Clan to auction the Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill and buy ingredients so he could refine pills against the Jia Lie and Ao Ba families.
• Lin Hong dismissed Liu Xi's complaint about the Mittel Auction House and agreed to make pills for Jia Lie Bi and Oba Pa in exchange for eighty percent of the profits.
• Lin Hong claimed the Xiao Clan's alchemist was only a novice third-rank alchemist, reassuring Jia Lie Bi and Oba Pa that he could defeat their rival.
• The Three Great Families lowered their banners and maintained a wary peace while preparing for a final struggle over Wutan City.

The Xiao Clan’s Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill stunned Wutan City’s auction crowd and revealed that its alchemist could refine peak third-tier pills. The Jia Lie Family relied on Lin Hong to counter the threat, while Xiao Yan continued strengthening his body and resumed refining pills.

• Ya Fei auctioned the Xiao Clan’s Jade Marrow Golden Body Pill, and Li Feng won it for 240,000 gold coins.
• The Jia Lie Family’s Second Elder reported the pill’s origins, prompting Jia Lie Bi and Lin Hong to reassess the Xiao Clan’s alchemist.
• Lin Hong reassured Jia Lie Bi that he would refine fourth-tier pills to force the Xiao Clan’s alchemist to back down.
• Xiao Yan advanced his Hundred-Forged Golden Sun Body by taking Jade Marrow Golden Body Pills without consuming all four at once.
• The Xiao Clan’s Second Elder and Third Elder returned with medicinal ingredients, and Xiao Yan began refining pills continuously.

After two months of refining medicines for the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan emerged from seclusion as a Fourth-Rank Alchemist and delivered a huge stockpile to his father. With the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Families drawing customers away from the Xiao Family Market, Xiao Zhan and the elders prepared to counterattack.

• Xiao Yan mass-produced first-rank medicines, refined second- and third-rank pills, and successfully made a nearly perfect fourth-rank pill.
• Xiao Zhan and the three elders worried as the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Families used cheap medicines and third-rank pills to take half the Xiao Family Market’s customers.
• Xiao Yan emerged from seclusion and gave Xiao Zhan a Storage Ring containing 3,200 first-rank medicines, 300 second-rank pills, eighteen third-rank pills, and one fourth-rank pill.
• Xiao Yan told Xiao Zhan and the elders that he had refined everything himself and had become a Fourth-Rank Alchemist.
• Xiao Zhan and the elders celebrated the new supplies and resolved to launch the Xiao Clan’s counterattack.

The Xiao Clan’s renewed pill supply drove customers and merchants away from the Ao Ba and Jia Lie Family markets, leaving Jia Lie Bi and Lin Hong alarmed by the Xiao Clan’s apparent alchemical strength. The chapter ended with the Xiao Clan celebrating Xiao Zhan’s merchants’ infiltration and efforts to undermine its rivals.

• A guard told Oba Pa that the Xiao Family Market had stocked a large batch of high-quality pills, drawing away customers and unsettling merchants.
• Lin Hong accused Liu Xi of slacking, then told Jia Lie Bi that the Xiao Clan likely had an alchemy prodigy and a powerful teacher behind its pills.
• Jia Lie Bi realized the Xiao Clan might have produced its own alchemist and smashed a table in anger.
• Lin Hong privately considered abandoning the Jia Lie Family if a powerful alchemist was backing the Xiao Clan.
• The First, Second, and Third Elders praised Xiao Zhan for planting spies among the merchants, who were spreading panic and poaching traders from rival markets.

Xiao Yan left the Xiao Clan to train in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, trusting his family to handle the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Families. In Qingshan Town, he searched for a rare herb and recognized the approaching white-clothed woman as Xiao Yi Xian.

• Xiao Zhan assigned the First Elder to strengthen the marketplace's defenses against the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Families.
• Xiao Yan told Yao Lao he planned to train in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and would leave after informing the people who needed to know.
• Xiao Yan departed without telling Xiao Xun'er, while Xiao Zhan allowed him to go.
• Xiao Yan arrived in Qingshan Town carrying the Heavy Xuan Ruler and searched its shops for blood lotus essence, finding other valuable herbs instead.
• Xiao Yan spotted a white-clothed woman surrounded by mercenaries and recognized her as Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Yan entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range searching for an expert's cave abode that held a fragment map, but found no trace of it. He fought a Scarlet Flame Leopard and chased it when it fled.

• Xiao Yan exchanged a brief smile with Xiao Yi Xian before entering the mountains alone the next day.
• Xiao Yan spent several days searching for the cave abode and gathering herbs while fending off magical beasts, but found nothing.
• A mature Tier 2 Scarlet Flame Leopard charged Xiao Yan, who met its attack with the Heavy Xuan Ruler.
• Xiao Yan and the Scarlet Flame Leopard fought a prolonged battle, trading blows until the battered beast grew afraid and fled.
• Xiao Yan put the Heavy Xuan Ruler into his Storage Ring and raced after the fleeing Scarlet Flame Leopard.

Xiao Yan killed the Scarlet Flame Leopard and discovered a basin full of medicinal herbs, which led him to the hidden Little Mountain Valley he had been searching for. He entered the valley and wondered whether Xiao Yi Xian had found it yet.

• Xiao Yan caught up with the badly wounded Scarlet Flame Leopard and killed it with Eight Extremes Collapse.
• Yao Lao praised Xiao Yan's growing combat skills, and Xiao Yan found medicinal herbs scattered across the basin.
• Xiao Yan recognized the basin as the likely location of the Little Mountain Valley from the original story.
• Xiao Yan gathered the valuable herbs and found a fog-shrouded entrance to the valley.
• Xiao Yan entered the Little Mountain Valley, admired its rare herbs and rich energy, and wondered if Xiao Yi Xian had discovered it.