Chapter Summaries

After arriving in the Central Plains, Xiao Yan learned about the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool and its upcoming opening. He decided to head for the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range without buying the map shopkeeper’s overpriced guide.

• Xiao Yan emerged from the spatial passage after fifteen days and learned from Yao Lao that they had reached the Northern Region of the Central Plains.
• Yao Lao described the Central Plains’ vast regions, and Xiao Yan went to a nearby city to buy a map.
• At the map shop, the shopkeeper told Xiao Yan that the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool would appear in the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range in half a month and could aid cultivation.
• Yao Lao confirmed the pool’s effects but cautioned that only ten people could use it, so Xiao Yan decided to set out early.
• Xiao Yan left without buying the shopkeeper’s map of the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range.

Xiao Yan traveled through the mountain range near Bone Transformation City to temper himself before heading to the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range and its Blood Pool. After ten days of fighting magical beasts, he emerged from the forest and prepared to fly toward the approaching energy tide.

• Xiao Yan decided to seek a spot in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool after Yao Lao assured him he could absorb its energy.
• Xiao Yan reached Bone Transformation City, bought supplies, and entered the nearby Magical Beast Mountain Range to train before continuing his journey.
• Xiao Yan spent ten days crossing the forest, killing magical beasts and evading the powerful Gray Wolf King with Yao Lao's spiritual power.
• Xiao Yan left the mountain range, reflected on the hardship of cultivation, and estimated he could reach the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range within half a day.
• Xiao Yan checked his map and unfurled his flame wings to fly north toward the energy tide.

Xiao Yan arrived at the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range to compete for entry to the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool and waited as the energy tide began. When the entrance opened, the gathered contestants rushed into the range.

• Xiao Yan reached the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range and found its entrance crowded with people seeking the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool.
• Xiao Yan observed several renowned young experts arrive, including disciples from the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, the Ten Thousand Chambers Pavilion, and the Bone Melting Sect.
• Xiao Yan and the other contestants waited nearly three days as energy surged through the mountain range and formed a dangerous tide.
• The crowd rushed into the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range when the entrance opened.

With Yao Lao guiding him through the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range, Xiao Yan reached the maze formation ahead of the other competitors. As he entered, a hidden gray-robed elder took a special interest in him, though Yao Lao had already noticed the watcher.

• Xiao Yan entered the mist-shrouded mountain range with the competitors while a Wind and Thunder Pavilion disciple headed for the entrance.
• Following Yao Lao's directions and concealment, Xiao Yan avoided powerful magical beasts and traveled through the night, overtaking stronger competitors.
• Yao Lao told Xiao Yan that the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan controlled Tianmu Mountain and that humans competed for eight places in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool.
• Xiao Yan reached the maze formation first and stepped through its tree gate.
• A concealed gray-robed old man watched Xiao Yan enter the maze, while Yao Lao revealed that he had noticed the watcher.

Xiao Yan passed through the maze formation and reached the Heavenly Mountain Platform, where Jin Shi explained that candidates had to climb to the summit through the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan’s sonic wave trial. As the trial began, Xiao Yan prepared to rely on his own sonic technique to advance.

• Xiao Yan followed Yao Lao’s guidance through the fog-filled maze and emerged onto Tianmu Mountain’s path among the Gold-Devouring Rats.
• Xiao Yan reached the Heavenly Mountain Platform and met Jin Shi, who told him the trials would determine who could claim the remaining spots in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool.
• Yao Lao recognized that Jin Shi was suffering from accumulated fire poison and said Xiao Yan’s heavenly flames could treat it.
• More than twenty candidates gathered on the platform, and Jin Shi announced that they had to reach the summit through the rat tide’s sonic waves to pass.
• Yao Lao urged Xiao Yan to go first, and Xiao Yan stood ready as Jin Shi started the trial and the rats fixed their gazes on the stairway.

Xiao Yan passed the Gold-Devouring Rats’ stairway trial by overcoming their sonic attack with a roar infused with dragon qi. Jin Shi led the seven successful challengers to the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool and explained that they would enter when the energy tide peaked.

• Xiao Yan charged up the stone stairway and endured the Gold-Devouring Rats’ sound waves with Yao Lao’s spiritual protection and his own Dou Qi.
• Xiao Yan unleashed a roar containing a trace of dragon qi, overpowering the rats’ combined sonic attack and reaching the summit.
• Jin Shi declared the trial passed for Xiao Yan and six others, then ended the trial and ordered the unsuccessful challengers escorted out.
• Jin Shi led the successful challengers through the summit’s rock formations to the volcanic crater containing the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool.
• Jin Shi explained that the challengers had to wait until the energy tide peaked before entering the pool.

Jin Shi warned the cultivators about the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool’s fire poison, then offered Xiao Yan access to a hidden site beneath it in exchange for curing his affliction. Xiao Yan accepted and received a Spatial Boundary Mirror to enter the depths when the pool refilled.

• Jin Shi warned everyone that the fire poison grew stronger deeper in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool and that they had to leave within three days.
• Jin Shi and Jin Gu asked Xiao Yan to examine Jin Shi’s fire poison, and Xiao Yan found that it had penetrated deep into his marrow.
• Xiao Yan said the poison could be removed, and Jin Shi offered him access to the pure energy beneath the pool in exchange for a cure.
• Jin Shi explained that the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan had discovered the hidden site and that Xiao Yan’s heavenly flames could protect him from its fire poison.
• Xiao Yan agreed to cure Jin Shi after returning safely and received a Spatial Boundary Mirror from him.
• Jin Shi and Jin Gu discussed the danger of the hidden site as Xiao Yan headed toward the crater.

Xiao Yan entered the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool after a five-colored energy pillar filled the volcanic crater. He descended to the Spatial Boundary Mirror, opened a passage with the dark-gold skull, and cautiously swam inside.

• A five-colored energy vortex formed above the crater and released a pillar of energy into it.
• Jin Shi urged everyone to move out, and Xiao Yan and the others rushed into the crater toward the full Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool.
• Xiao Yan entered the blood pool and swam toward its bottom, relying on his Heavenly Flames and Fire Spirit Body to withstand the fire poison.
• The dark-gold skull grew hot near the Spatial Boundary Mirror, and Xiao Yan used it to open a passage through the barrier.
• Xiao Yan enveloped himself in his fused Heavenly Flames and cautiously swam into the passage.

Xiao Yan entered the Blood Pool’s sealed depths and discovered that his Fire Spirit Body could absorb both its dense energy and the deadly Heavenly Mountain Fire Poison. He broke through to Dou Emperor on the third day and continued cultivating, drawing closer to two-star Dou Emperor.

• Xiao Yan entered the area sealed by the Spatial Boundary Mirror and found its blood-red energy saturated with corrosive Heavenly Mountain Fire Poison.
• At Yao Lao’s suggestion, Xiao Yan let the fire poison enter his body and found that he could absorb it to strengthen his body and cultivate.
• Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Emperor on the third day, and Yao Lao celebrated his rapid advancement.
• Xiao Yan continued absorbing the Blood Pool’s energy, steadily building his Dou Qi and approaching two-star Dou Emperor.

Xiao Yan continued absorbing blood-colored energy while the Xiao Empire expanded its campaign through the Black-Corner Region. Jia Xingtian and Yan Luotian demanded Jia Nan Academy submit to imperial rule, then confronted the Black Emperor Sect, whose leader offered them a gift.

• Xiao Yan’s hair turned blood-red as he focused on controlling the growing energy within him.
• Jia Xingtian and Yan Luotian arrived at Jia Nan Academy, where Hu Gan refused their demand to place the academy under imperial policy and was given half a month to decide.
• The Xiao Empire’s army advanced through the Black-Corner Region, bringing nearly eighty thousand troops to Black Emperor City.
• Jia Xingtian demanded that Mo Tianxing choose whether the Black Emperor Sect would surrender or fight.
• Mo Tianxing offered Jia Xingtian a green Storage Ring as a gift for the marshals and the Xiao Emperor.

Mo Tianxing offered Jia Xingtian Bodhi Transformation Body Saliva in exchange for Black Emperor City remaining independent, and Jia Xingtian agreed to report the request to Xiao Zhan. Meanwhile, Jin Shi and Jin Gu worried that Xiao Yan had remained in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool for over three months, and Jin Shi prepared to search for him.

• Mo Tianxing showed Jia Xingtian and Yan Luotian a rare treasure and identified it as Bodhi Transformation Body Saliva.
• Jia Xingtian questioned Mo Tianxing’s motives, and Mo Tianxing asked that Black Emperor City remain independent in exchange for the gift.
• Jia Xingtian said he could not decide without reporting the request to the Xiao Emperor, and Mo Tianxing accepted his answer.
• Jia Xingtian’s army bypassed Black Emperor City and continued its campaign while he sent news of Mo Tianxing’s gift to the imperial capital.
• Jin Shi and Jin Gu watched the depleted Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool and worried about Xiao Yan, who had been inside for more than three months.
• Jin Shi decided he would descend to the bottom of the pool if Xiao Yan had not emerged by the end of the day.

Xiao Zhan reached the Dou Zun Realm and ordered Jia Xingtian to seize Black Emperor City. At Tianmu Mountain, Xiao Yan’s breakthrough stirred the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, and a tremendous aura emerged as he was about to come out.

• Xiao Zhan used the rewards from his children’s births to reach the Dou Zun Realm and became invincible across the territory surrounding the Xiao Empire’s capital.
• After learning Mo Tianxing had offered the Bodhi Transformation Body Saliva, Xiao Zhan ordered Jia Xingtian to seize Black Emperor City and bring it under the empire’s control.
• At Tianmu Mountain, Jin Gu and Jin Shi watched a whirlpool form in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool as natural energy poured into it, suspecting Xiao Yan was breaking through.
• Xiao Yan’s rising aura spread across Tianmu Mountain and drew the attention of nearby Dou Zong experts, while Jin Shi and Jin Gu realized he had reached Dou Zong.
• The Blood Pool erupted in towering columns of water, and a crane-like cry shook Tianmu Mountain as Xiao Yan prepared to emerge.

Xiao Yan emerged from the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool as a One-Star Dou Zong and entered a brief state of enlightenment. He began removing Jin Shi’s Heavenly Mountain Fire Poison, securing the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan’s friendship.

• Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Zong and appeared above the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, astonishing Jin Shi, Jin Gu, and the watching cultivators.
• Xiao Yan briefly entered a profound state, then examined his transformed body and confirmed his strength had stabilized at One-Star Dou Zong.
• Xiao Yan thanked Jin Shi and Jin Gu for the cultivation site and offered to fulfill his promise to remove their fire poison.
• Jin Shi promised the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan’s friendship and offered its knowledge and information in return for Xiao Yan’s help.
• Xiao Yan summoned his fused heavenly flames and guided them into Jin Shi to burn away the accumulated fire poison.

After curing Jin Shi’s fire poison, Xiao Yan learned about the Four Pavilions Competition and traveled to the Wind and Thunder Pavilion’s East Pavilion to compete. He arrived at the Wind and Thunder Mountain Range and joined the crowds heading toward the venue.

• Xiao Yan cured Jin Shi’s fire poison, and Jin Shi thanked him and invited him to seek help from the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan.
• Jin Shi told Xiao Yan that the Four Pavilions Competition would begin in a few days, and Xiao Yan agreed to attend after Yao Lao urged him to go.
• Yao Lao explained the competition’s entry rules, and Xiao Yan used his map to determine that the East Pavilion was several days away.
• Xiao Yan traveled to the Wind and Thunder Mountain Range, where the East Pavilion was hosting the competition after winning the previous gathering.
• Xiao Yan arrived outside the mountain range and joined the crowds heading toward the East Pavilion, unsure whether the competition had started.

Xiao Yan arrived at the Wind and Thunder Pavilion for the Four Pavilions Assembly and passed the strict contestant screening with ease. He reached Thunder Mountain’s crowded summit as the four pavilion masters appeared, including the East Pavilion’s Thunder Venerable.

• Xiao Yan entered the Wind and Thunder Mountain Range on foot and hurried through the forest toward Thunder Mountain.
• At the mountain’s ascent, Elder Huo explained the assembly’s qualifying requirements, and Xiao Yan passed the screening without difficulty.
• Xiao Yan climbed to the summit and surveyed the packed silver plaza, its enormous tower, and the Wind and Thunder Pavilion’s guards.
• A thunderbolt struck the summit, and the four pavilion masters emerged from it to take their seats as the crowd identified Thunder Venerable.

Xiao Yan watched the Four Pavilions Assembly’s four Venerables gather at Thunder Mountain, including Venerable Feng, Yao Lao’s old friend. Yao Lao chose to wait until after Xiao Yan’s match to meet him, while Thunder Venerable opened the assembly.

• Thunder Venerable welcomed the arriving guests as Sword Venerable arrived on a giant sword.
• Yellow Springs Venerable appeared and traded barbed remarks with Sword Venerable about their past defeats.
• Venerable Feng arrived in an azure whirlwind, and Xiao Yan recognized him as Yao Lao’s longtime friend.
• Yao Lao told Xiao Yan he would meet Venerable Feng after Xiao Yan’s match, intending to present his disciple to his old friend.
• Thunder Venerable addressed the crowd to open the Four Pavilions Assembly and rang a clear bell.

Xiao Yan entered the Four Pavilions Assembly’s battle royal and quickly stood out as the contestants fought to leave only eight in the arena. With about eleven fighters remaining, the spectators and the Four Pavilions’ disciples recognized him as a likely Dou Zong and a dark horse, though the contest had not yet ended.

• Thunder Venerable announced that the fifty-four contestants would fight until only eight remained, and Xiao Yan entered the arena.
• Xiao Yan studied the Four Pavilions’ representatives, trying to identify the Starfall Pavilion disciple, then prepared for the contest to begin.
• The battle royal erupted, and Xiao Yan sent his first attacker flying with a single move, drawing attention from the contestants and spectators.
• Xiao Yan kept fighting through the chaos but could not determine which representative belonged to the Starfall Pavilion because the four had not moved.
• As the field dwindled to about eleven contestants, the Sword Venerable and Thunder Venerable recognized Xiao Yan’s strength, while Venerable Feng called him the assembly’s dark horse.

Xiao Yan helped a Starfall Pavilion disciple defeat their attackers, then faced Wang Chen of the Yellow Springs Pavilion in single combat. Wang Chen raised his strength to the quasi-Dou Zong level, but Xiao Yan’s attacks overwhelmed him as their battle neared its end.

• Xiao Yan joined a Starfall Pavilion disciple against a trio and helped defeat them, leaving only the Four Pavilions’ disciples and Xiao Yan in the arena.
• Wang Chen challenged Xiao Yan to single combat, and Xiao Yan fought him using an emerald-green energy ruler to conceal his identity.
• Wang Chen blocked Xiao Yan’s attacks with black Dou Qi and raised his aura to the quasi-Dou Zong level.
• Wang Chen used Bone-Corroding Round Dagger Dance, but Xiao Yan countered with Eight-Level Collapse as their clashes cracked Silverwood Square.
• Xiao Yan’s aura surpassed Wang Chen’s, and his close-range blows left Wang Chen coughing up blood as the battle approached its conclusion.

Xiao Yan won the tournament at Thunder Mountain and revealed that he was Yao Chen’s disciple, allowing Yao Chen to reunite with his old friend Venerable Feng. After Venerable Feng departed, Yao Chen prepared to take Xiao Yan to pursue the Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire.

• Wang Chen surrendered to Xiao Yan, who then defeated the Myriad Sword Pavilion and Wind and Thunder Pavilion disciples before the Starfall Pavilion contestant conceded second place.
• Thunder Venerable announced Xiao Yan as champion, and Xiao Yan identified himself as being from the Northwest Continent.
• Xiao Yan stopped Venerable Feng and revealed that he was Yao Chen’s disciple, prompting Venerable Feng to take them away from Thunder Mountain.
• Yao Chen reunited with Venerable Feng and confirmed that Han Feng had betrayed him, while Venerable Feng offered him Star Jade to summon help if needed.
• Venerable Feng left, and Yao Chen returned to Xiao Yan’s Storage Ring to prepare for their pursuit of the Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire.

At Yao Lao’s suggestion, Xiao Yan traveled to the Burning Flame Valley to seek the Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire and the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations. He reached the Blazing Fire Mountain Range, where the intense fire energy stirred his cultivation and brought him close to a breakthrough.

• Yao Lao advised Xiao Yan to visit the Burning Flame Valley and explained that its secret technique, the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations, could temporarily boost his strength.
• Xiao Yan traveled through a space wormhole to the southwestern Central Region, where onlookers were astonished to see him fly as a Dou Zong.
• After two or three days, Xiao Yan reached Tianhuang City and headed straight for the Blazing Fire Mountain Range.
• Xiao Yan’s cultivation advanced to the peak of One-Star Dou Zong as he traveled, and the mountain range’s dense fire energy brought him close to breaking through.
• Xiao Yan entered the volcanic mountain range and encountered its abundant, unusually ferocious magical beasts.