Chapter Summaries

The Amethyst Winged Lion King warned Xiao Yi Xian and the mercenaries to retreat before Gu He, Yun Yun, and Queen Medusa arrived to attack him. As the Lion King fought them above the underground passage, Xiao Yan continued evolving the Flame Mantra beneath the magma.

• The Amethyst Winged Lion King sensed approaching enemies and ordered Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and the others to evacuate while he guarded Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yi Xian led the group toward Stone Desert City, while Qing Lin sensed something strange and Queen Medusa resolved to investigate her later.
• After the mercenaries reached the city, Gu He and his companions confronted the Amethyst Winged Lion King above the passage, but he refused Gu He's offer and revealed his Peak Dou Emperor strength.
• The Lion King charged Gu He, Yun Yun stopped his first attack, and Queen Medusa's seven-colored strike collided with him, sending shock waves across Stone Desert City.
• Below the magma, Xiao Yan hurried the Flame Mantra's evolution after sensing the battle, but Yao Lao reassured him that the Lion King could hold off the attackers.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King held off Queen Medusa, Yun Yun, and Gu He’s group while Xiao Yan remained in seclusion. Just as their combined attacks threatened to kill him, Xiao Yan emerged with Dou Zong-level power and saved him.

• Queen Medusa struck the Amethyst Winged Lion King with the Purple Origin Rakshasa Seal, but he counterattacked with massive pillars of purple fire.
• Yun Yun and Queen Medusa joined forces to withstand the Lion King's attack while Gu He and the Misty Cloud Sect’s three Dou Wangs stayed back.
• After hours of fighting, the wounded Amethyst Winged Lion King continued guarding the underground passage as Queen Medusa and Yun Yun prepared their finishing attacks.
• Queen Medusa unleashed the Snake Seal Curse and Yun Yun used Extreme Wind: Meteor Kill against the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
• Xiao Yan emerged from the passage, suppressed the fighters with his Dou Zong aura, and erased both attacks with pale flames.
• The Amethyst Winged Lion King thanked Xiao Yan for the rescue, then cursed at him.

Xiao Yan used Yao Lao’s power to defeat Queen Medusa, Yun Yun, Gu He, and their companions, then revealed that he had kept them alive for a purpose. He confronted the wounded Queen Medusa by threatening the Snake-People Tribe, leaving her pride shaken.

• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li learned from Xiao Yi Xian that Xiao Yan was borrowing his teacher’s power, while the Sand Mercenary Group panicked at his arrival.
• Gu He offered his life and his collection to spare the others, and Yun Yun refused to let him die alone.
• Queen Medusa attacked Xiao Yan, but he used Spatial Lock to break her attack and struck her into the desert.
• Xiao Yan knocked Yun Yun, Gu He, and the others from the sky, then planted wisps of bone spirit cold flame inside them and said they were useful.
• Xiao Yan returned to his youthful form and found Queen Medusa and Yun Yun conscious while the others were unconscious.
• Xiao Yan warned Queen Medusa that she would not want anything to happen to the Snake-People Tribe.

Xiao Yan forced Queen Medusa and Yun Yun to serve him for twenty years, while demanding payment from the Misty Cloud Sect for its elders. He returned to Stone Desert City and agreed to give the Amethyst Winged Lion King a Transformation Pill.

• Xiao Yan threatened to kill Queen Medusa and destroy the Snake-People Tribe unless she served him for twenty years, and Medusa submitted to protect her people.
• Xiao Yan took Medusa's Storage Ring and offered her a few pills to heal her injuries.
• Yun Yun agreed to serve Xiao Yan for twenty years after arranging to return to the Misty Cloud Sect and hand her duties to the First Elder.
• Xiao Yan demanded that Gu He serve him and that the Misty Cloud Sect pay magic cores for three elders, then took their Storage Rings and returned to Stone Desert City.
• Xiao Yan reunited with Xiao Li and the Amethyst Winged Lion King, then agreed to give the Lion King a Transformation Pill.

Xiao Yan brought Yun Yun, Gu He, Queen Medusa, and the others under his control and offered them rewards for serving him. He assigned Yun Yun the Mo Family’s fate, promised Gu He a path to higher alchemy, and used the offer of bloodline evolution to make Queen Medusa apologize.

• Xiao Yan gave the Amethyst Winged Lion King a Transformation Pill, which he fed to the Little Lion King so the cub could begin transforming into human form.
• Gu He and the others woke after surviving the previous night, and Yun Yun explained how Xiao Yan had taken them into his service.
• Yun Yun warned Gu He not to question Xiao Yan about the Heavenly Flame, and Queen Medusa mocked Yun Yun for accepting her new role.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li asked what to do about the Mo Family, and Xiao Yan told Yun Yun to handle them and seize their accumulated wealth.
• Xiao Yan promised Gu He that hard work could make him a seventh-tier Alchemist and named him as the future chief Alchemist of a faction in the Black-Corner Region.
• Xiao Yan offered to help Queen Medusa evolve her bloodline and break through to Dou Zong, then withdrew the offer until she apologized to him.

Xiao Yan arranged for Xiao Ding and Xiao Li to join him in the Black-Corner Region, while Queen Medusa departed for her tribe and Xiao Yi Xian showed jealousy over his attention to her. Yun Yun discovered the Mo Family’s atrocities and attacked Mo Cheng, who tried to flee.

• Xiao Yan warned Yun Yun’s three Dou Wang elders not to reveal his identity and told Yun Yun to settle her affairs within five days.
• Xiao Yan invited Xiao Ding and Xiao Li to leave Stone Desert City and build a faction with him in the Black-Corner Region, and they agreed.
• Queen Medusa told Xiao Yan she needed to return to her tribe, then left after he ordered her to hurry back.
• Xiao Yi Xian teased Xiao Yan about admiring Queen Medusa, and Xiao Yan playfully called her jealous.
• Yun Yun investigated the Mo Family and learned they had abducted ordinary people for experiments, then confronted Mo Cheng as he tried to escape and unleashed Extreme Wind: Meteor Kill.

Yun Yun left the Misty Cloud Sect in Yun Leng’s hands and decided to take Nalan Yanran with her, despite Xiao Yan traveling with them. In Stone Desert City, Hai Bodong arrived to have Xiao Yan remove his seal, and Xiao Yan brought Queen Medusa to meet him.

• Yun Yun killed Mo Cheng with Extreme Wind: Meteor Kill and demanded that the head of the Mo Family face her.
• Yun Yun warned Yun Leng to stop indulging the Mo Family, entrusted him with the sect’s affairs, and secretly instructed three elders to watch him.
• Yun Yun visited Nalan Yanran and told her she would leave the Jia Ma Empire with Xiao Yan; Nalan Yanran firmly agreed to go despite her misgivings.
• Queen Medusa returned to Stone Desert City, and Xiao Yan told her to wait for Yun Yun and an old acquaintance before they set out for the Black-Corner Region.
• Hai Bodong arrived in Stone Desert City and asked Xiao Yan how he would remove his seal; Xiao Yan summoned Queen Medusa, who recognized Hai Bodong.

Xiao Yan had Queen Medusa remove Hai Bodong’s seal, restoring his Dou Emperor strength, and received the remaining half of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map. After Xiao Yan promised Hai Bodong a chance to pursue greater strength in the Black-Corner Region, Hai Bodong agreed to join his faction and travel with him.

• Queen Medusa dissolved Hai Bodong’s seal, restoring his strength and causing him to unleash a wave of freezing energy.
• Hai Bodong gave Xiao Yan the remaining half of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map and promised to repay his help.
• Xiao Yan invited Hai Bodong to join his faction and promised to help him break through to Dou Zong within twenty years.
• Xiao Yan told Hai Bodong that Queen Medusa, Gu He, Yun Yun, and the Amethyst Winged Lion King would also join him, and said the lion was close to becoming a seventh-rank Magical Beast.
• Hai Bodong decided to join Xiao Yan’s trip to the Black-Corner Region.

Xiao Yan refined Energy-Gathering Pills while Gu He became convinced that a mysterious alchemist guided him. Queen Medusa offered Qing Lin the Snake-People Tribe’s succession and secret techniques, and Qing Lin accepted the techniques so she could better help Xiao Yan.

• Hai Bodong returned to the Mittel Family and arranged to meet Xiao Yan again in the Black-Corner Region.
• Xiao Yan used Fourth-Tier Magic Cores to refine two Fifth-Grade Energy-Gathering Pills, and Gu He marveled at the pills’ potential.
• Queen Medusa visited Qing Lin and offered to make her the Snake-People Tribe’s queen and her disciple, but Qing Lin refused because she wanted to remain Xiao Yan’s maid.
• Queen Medusa offered to teach Qing Lin the tribe’s secret techniques in exchange for Qing Lin helping the Snake-People Tribe when she could.
• Qing Lin accepted Queen Medusa’s offer because she wanted to help Xiao Yan sooner.

Yun Yun returned with the Mo Family’s wealth and brought Nalan Yanran to meet Xiao Yan, who welcomed her and encouraged her to keep their three-year agreement. Their reunion was interrupted when Queen Medusa confronted White Fang and Lu Man, who had come to seize Qing Lin for her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

• Yun Yun brought the ransom for the Misty Cloud Sect’s elders and the Mo Family’s accumulated wealth to Xiao Yan and the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Yan welcomed Nalan Yanran, accepted her determination to challenge him at the three-year agreement, and encouraged her to keep training.
• A distant clash of Dou Emperor energy shook the hall, and Xiao Yan and Yun Yun hurried out to investigate.
• White Fang and Lu Man confronted Queen Medusa above Stone Desert City while Qing Lin stayed below with Little Spirit.
• Lu Man planned to take Qing Lin to the Heavenly Snake Mansion, while White Fang agreed to hold off Queen Medusa.

Queen Medusa, Yun Yun, and Xiao Yan stopped Lu Man and White Fang from taking Qing Lin. Xiao Yan subdued the pair with his borrowed Dou Zong power, then brought Qing Lin to make White Fang choose between submitting to her Contract or dying.

• Queen Medusa attacked White Fang and guarded Qing Lin while Lu Man tried to seize the girl.
• Yun Yun arrived and fought Lu Man, keeping her from reaching Qing Lin as Queen Medusa battered White Fang.
• Xiao Yan arrived, praised Qing Lin for reaching One-Star Dou Zhe, and watched Lu Man and White Fang decide to retreat.
• Xiao Yan used the Heaven-tier Possession Dou Technique to unleash Dou Zong-level pressure and slam Lu Man and White Fang into the sand.
• Xiao Yan brought Qing Lin to White Fang and offered him a choice: submit to her Contract or die.

After Bai Ya and Lu Man joined Xiao Yan, the Xiao Clan sent elders and fighters to Stone Desert City, where the Third Elder took charge of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. Xiao Yan emerged from seclusion, received a scroll from Xun'er, and later walked with Xiao Yi Xian while Nalan Yanran watched them with bitterness.

• Bai Ya and Lu Man submitted to Qing Lin, and Xiao Yan gained two high-level Dou Emperor workers.
• The Xiao Clan's Third Elder arrived in Stone Desert City with four clansmen, and Xiao Ding and Xiao Li welcomed them.
• The Third Elder took control of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group while Xiao Ding and Xiao Li focused on cultivation.
• Xiao Yan emerged from seclusion at the eightieth stage of Dou Qi and received a Dou Technique scroll from Xun'er through the Third Elder.
• The Third Elder told Xiao Yan that Xun'er would attend Jia Nan Academy and asked whether he would go; Xiao Yan said he would and would write to her.
• Xiao Yan gave Energy-Gathering Pills to Shi Batian, then walked with Xiao Yi Xian as Nalan Yanran watched them from a window.

Xiao Yan learned that Xun'er had sent him the Ancient Saint Body Tempering Art, a harsh low Heaven-tier technique tied to the Primordial Chaos Sage. Gu Yuan secretly watched Xiao Yan, bristled at his confidence and his closeness to Xun'er, and decided to warn his daughter to preserve her chastity until her bloodline awakened.

• Xiao Yan read Xun'er's scroll, and Yao Lao explained the Ancient Saint Body Tempering Art's origins and brutal cultivation requirements.
• Xiao Yan suspected Gu Yuan had chosen the technique and declared that no one could stop him from marrying Xun'er if she wanted to marry him.
• Gu Yuan watched Xiao Yan through the void and resented that Xun'er favored an outsider and had fallen for him.
• Gu Yuan acknowledged Xiao Yan's alchemy talent but decided he would need to become a Ninth-Rank Alchemist to marry Xun'er.
• Gu Yuan resolved to warn Xun'er to preserve her chastity until her bloodline fully awakened.

Xiao Yan tempered his body with the newly fused Myriad Beast Green Lotus Flame while the Amethyst Winged Lion King broke through to Dou Zong. After the celebration, Queen Medusa tried to persuade Xiao Yan to help evolve her bloodline, but he refused to do so yet.

• Xiao Yan practiced the Ancient Saint Body Tempering Art with the Myriad Beast Green Lotus Flame for more than a dozen days.
• The Amethyst Winged Lion King broke through to Dou Zong and assumed human form above Stone Desert City.
• Xiao Yan, Yun Yun, and Gu He congratulated the Lion King, and the Desert Iron Mercenary Group held a banquet to celebrate.
• Queen Medusa visited Xiao Yan after the banquet and tried to tempt him into helping her evolve her bloodline.
• Xiao Yan told Queen Medusa he would help her when the time was right, and she left determined to win him over.

Xiao Yan led his companions into the Black-Corner Region and chose Medicine Emperor Han Feng as their first target, seeking revenge for Yao Lao. The party reached Maple City and confronted Han Feng and Elder Ban, with Xiao Yan declaring that Han Feng would die.

• Xiao Yan bade farewell to the Third Elder and the Desert Iron Mercenary Group before leading his party out of Stone Desert City.
• After crossing the Jia Ma Empire and the Black Domain Great Plains, Xiao Yan announced that they would kill Han Feng to establish their name in the Black-Corner Region.
• Xiao Yan's party learned that Han Feng was a peak Dou Emperor with many allies, then rested near Maple City before setting out the next day.
• Han Feng and Elder Ban sensed powerful intruders arriving in Maple City while discussing a deal for an Emperor's Extreme Pill.
• Xiao Yan appeared before Han Feng and Elder Ban and accused Han Feng of betraying his master and defiling his lineage.

Xiao Yan confronted Han Feng over his betrayal of Yao Chen and led a force of experts against him in Maple City. As the city-wide battle began, Xiao Yan borrowed Yao Lao's power and prepared to face Han Feng himself.

• Han Feng offered Elder Ban an Emperor's Extreme Pill and a Sect Breaking Pill in exchange for help, and Elder Ban agreed to fight the other attackers.
• Xiao Yan ordered his forces to attack, and Han Feng swallowed a Blood-Burning Qi Burst Pill before summoning his heavenly flame to battle the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
• Queen Medusa went to fight Elder Ban while Yun Yun, Gu He, Lu Man, and White Fang engaged Han Feng's Dou Wang subordinates.
• Xiao Yan asked Yao Lao to lend him power so he could fight Han Feng in his teacher's place, and Yao Lao agreed.
• Xiao Yan unleashed terrifying pressure, shocking everyone in Maple City with the arrival of another powerful expert.

Xiao Yan pursued Han Feng, revealed himself as Yao Lao’s disciple, and defeated him with the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. He killed Han Feng and destroyed his soul, avenging his teacher and taking the Sea Heart Flame.

• Han Feng fled from the battle, but Xiao Yan stopped the Amethyst Winged Lion King from pursuing him and chased Han Feng himself.
• Xiao Yan showed Han Feng the Bone Spirit Cold Flame and declared that he had come to clean house for his teacher, Yao Lao.
• Xiao Yan overwhelmed Han Feng’s Sea Heart Flame, battered him, and crippled all four of his limbs.
• Han Feng realized that Yao Lao was alive, and Xiao Yan crushed his neck, killing him.
• Han Feng’s soul begged Xiao Yan for mercy and offered the Sea Heart Flame and information about another Heavenly Flame, but Xiao Yan burned it away with the Bone Spirit Cold Flame.

Xiao Yan killed Han Feng, took the sea heart flame and his treasures, and began refining the flame as Maple City fell under his control. News of the Alchemy Emperor’s death shook the Black-Corner Region, and Jia Nan Academy’s Su Qian weighed how to respond to its powerful new neighbor.

• Xiao Yan claimed Han Feng’s sea heart flame after Han Feng’s soul dissipated, while the city’s defenders lost their will to fight.
• Queen Medusa and the Amethyst Winged Lion King killed Elder Ban, and Yun Yun, White Fang, and Lu Man defeated Maple City’s remaining forces.
• Xiao Yan ordered Yun Yun to spare surrendered people unless they had committed unforgivable crimes, then secluded himself to refine the sea heart flame using materials from Han Feng’s Nether Sea Ring.
• Gu He’s soul power helped purge Maple City of those guilty of unforgivable evil, while news of Han Feng’s death and Elder Ban’s downfall spread through the Black-Corner Region.
• Su Qian and two elders discussed the threat posed by the experts who had taken Maple City, and Su Qian chose to observe their attitude toward Jia Nan Academy before acting.

Xiao Yan founded the Flame Alliance in Flame City, assigned its leaders and halls, and directed it to gather resources and produce pills for his cultivation. Half a month later, he broke through to the ninety-ninth stage of Dou Qi, and a pillar of crimson radiance rose from his chamber as the alliance watched in awe.

• Xiao Yan emerged from seclusion after absorbing the Sea Heart Flame, advancing his Flame Mantra to Low Earth Tier and reaching the ninety-second stage of Dou Qi.
• Xiao Ding and Yun Yun reported on Flame City's condition, and Xiao Yan approved a purge of people guilty of monstrous crimes.
• Xiao Yan named his faction the Flame Alliance and appointed its hall masters, deputy hall masters, and deputy alliance leader.
• Xiao Yan ordered the alliance to gather resources and have Gu He produce pills, promising him insights to help him become a Seventh-Rank Alchemist after three years.
• Half a month later, Xiao Yan absorbed another Energy-Gathering Pill and reached the ninety-ninth stage of Dou Qi, releasing a pillar of crimson radiance that astonished the alliance.
• Nalan Yanran saw Xiao Yan's breakthrough and wondered whether taking Energy-Gathering Pills would destabilize his Dou Qi.

After reaching the hundredth stage of Dou Qi, Xiao Yan gained a life-transcending physique and blood-vitality power that could suppress souls. When a Soul Hall Protector infiltrated the Flame Alliance to capture him, Xiao Yan revealed his strength and struck him with the Beast King Lotus Heart Flame, leaving the protector gravely weakened.

• Xiao Yan told Yao Lao that his blood and vitality had grown far stronger and could suppress souls and ghosts.
• Xiao Yan inspected the Flame Alliance and found its members occupied with managing its territory, expanding its reach, and cultivating.
• Yao Lao warned Xiao Yan that a Seven-Star Dou Huang intruder had entered the alliance and was likely targeting him.
• A Soul Hall Protector discovered Xiao Yan's hidden secret and tried to retreat after Yao Lao lent Xiao Yan his strength, raising him to Dou Zong power.
• Xiao Yan pursued the Soul Hall Protector and struck him with the Beast King Lotus Heart Flame, destroying his black mist and leaving him badly injured.