Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yu established a points system and new facilities that transformed the Xiao Court’s cultivation and competitive atmosphere. Ten months later, the Xiao Court and Black Seal City had grown in strength and reputation, with the court ranking among the Black-Corner Region’s top first-rate powers.

• Xiao Yu created the Treasure Pavilion, Mission Hall, point system, and Desolate Spirit-Gathering Tower, prompting Xiao Court members to compete for missions and cultivation resources.
• Xiao Yu assigned the facilities’ upkeep to the elders and entered secluded cultivation as the reforms improved the court’s atmosphere.
• Over the following ten months, Black Seal City became a peaceful refuge, while Xiao Court members grew stronger and more people sought to join.
• Xue You reached Nine-Star Dou Wang, redeemed an Earth Tier Low Grade cultivation technique, and gained confidence that he could defeat Pang Yuan.
• The Xiao Court rose among the Black-Corner Region’s top first-rate powers, and the Black Seal Auction attracted more experts seeking pills and trading goods.

After emerging from seclusion as a Four-Star Dou Emperor, Xiao Yu learned of a lead on a rare target in the central Black-Corner Region and prepared to leave Black Seal City. He put Xue You in charge of the Xiao Court and planned to seek higher-ranked Alchemists to address its pill shortage.

• Xiao Yu emerged from seclusion after advancing to Four-Star Dou Emperor in less than a year.
• Yan Mo reported finding a lead in a mountain range in the central Black-Corner Region, and Xiao Yu rewarded him with points for his work.
• Xiao Yu told Xue You to manage the Xiao Court while he was away.
• Xiao Yu considered the Xiao Court's shortage of fourth- and fifth-rank Alchemists and planned to recruit some during his trip.
• Xiao Yu packed supplies and resumed cultivation before leaving Black Seal City.

Xiao Yu found the Ten Thousand Beasts Fruit in a deserted mountain range, only to be ambushed by a Peak Sixth Tier Earthworm Magical Beast. After its corrosive slime attack, Xiao Yu activated the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations and prepared to fight.

• Xiao Yu searched the mountain range near Jia Nan Academy and found the Ten Thousand Beasts Fruit growing on a cliff.
• An Earthworm Magical Beast burst from underground and attacked Xiao Yu with its slime-covered body.
• Xiao Yu identified the creature as a Peak Sixth Tier magical beast and struck it with an energy dragon formed using the Great Desolate Flame.
• Xiao Yu tried to speak with the Earthworm Magical Beast, but it attacked again by spraying highly corrosive slime.
• Xiao Yu activated the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations and entered the Golden Flame Transformation.

Xiao Yu battled two sixth-order earthworm magical beasts guarding the Ten Thousand Beasts Fruit, then rescued a little girl who stole it and escaped with her. After flying a hundred li, he confronted the girl, who insisted the fruit belonged to her.

• Xiao Yu wounded an earthworm magical beast with his Five Qi Thunder and uncovered a pit filled with human skeletons.
• A second earthworm attacked, and the first recovered; Xiao Yu realized the two beasts had once been one and fought them together.
• A little girl in white stole the Ten Thousand Beasts Fruit while Xiao Yu fought the earthworms, drawing the beasts' attention.
• Xiao Yu swept in, grabbed the girl, and flew away with her before the earthworms could catch them.
• After landing a hundred li away, Xiao Yu stared at the fruit, and the girl hid it behind her back and claimed it was hers.

Xiao Yu met Zi Yan after she took the Ten Thousand Beasts Fruit, but she refused to trade it despite his offer of pills. He gave up the fruit and camped in the mountains to cultivate, unaware that Zi Yan had followed him into the shadows.

• Xiao Yu learned that the little girl was Zi Yan and asked her to hand over the Ten Thousand Beasts Fruit.
• Xiao Yu offered Zi Yan pills for the fruit, but his joking threat frightened her and she refused to trade.
• Xiao Yu decided not to force Zi Yan and walked away, leaving her conflicted over the fruit and his pills.
• Xiao Yu camped by a stream and began cultivating with a magic core as night fell.
• Zi Yan hid nearby, relieved that Xiao Yu had not noticed her, and watched him cultivate.

Xiao Yu refined pills while Zi Yan watched him cultivate with the Spirit-Gathering Array and realized it could help her grow stronger. When she offered to trade the Ten Thousand Beasts Fruit for his pills and the array, Xiao Yu refused to give up the array and proposed refining pills for her instead.

• Xiao Yu spent the morning refining ten Fourth-Grade Pills and planned to attempt a Seventh-Grade Emperor's Extreme Pill after reaching Five-Star Dou Emperor.
• Zi Yan stayed near Xiao Yu overnight and absorbed the dense worldly energy gathered by his Spirit-Gathering Array.
• Xiao Yu caught Zi Yan following him and warned he would not give her pills unless she traded the Ten Thousand Beasts Fruit.
• Zi Yan offered the Ten Thousand Beasts Fruit in exchange for pills and the Spirit-Gathering Array, which she wanted to gather energy.
• Xiao Yu refused to give Zi Yan the array and offered to refine pills for her as part of the trade.

Xiao Yu exchanged refined pills for the Ten Thousand Beasts Fruit and spent the night cultivating beside Zi Yan. When he tried to send her away the next morning, she flew off in a huff after he refused to sell her his Spirit-Gathering Array or promise to make more pills.

• Xiao Yu handed Zi Yan the pills he had made and took the Ten Thousand Beasts Fruit, while she eagerly sampled the crunchy pills.
• Xiao Yu roasted rabbits for lunch, shared one with Zi Yan, and then cultivated inside his Spirit-Gathering Array as she joined him.
• After cultivating through the night, Xiao Yu told Zi Yan their deal was complete and asked her to leave.
• Zi Yan asked Xiao Yu to sell her the Spirit-Gathering Array, then asked him to tell her where he lived and promise to make more pills.
• Xiao Yu refused and threatened to break Zi Yan's legs if she stayed, so she flew away in a huff.

After a month of cultivation, Xiao Yu left his mountain retreat to explore the Black-Corner Region, while Zi Yan secretly followed his trail. He reached Rakshasa City, a stronghold of the Rakshasa Gate, and entered to see what the city was like.

• Xiao Yu packed up and left the mountain after deciding to explore the region before his next breakthrough.
• Zi Yan emerged after Xiao Yu departed, tracked his scent with her keen sense of smell, and set off after him.
• Xiao Yu flew for a day or two and spotted a large city below the clouds.
• Xiao Yu identified the city as Rakshasa City and recalled that it was controlled by the Rakshasa Gate.
• Xiao Yu entered Rakshasa City as the guards watched him warily.

Xiao Yu explored Rakshasa City and bought a valuable medicinal herb at a bargain before Su Mei, leader of the Rakshasa Gate, visited him. Su Mei explained that his reputation had spread across the Black-Corner Region, while Xiao Yu suspected she had another reason for seeking him out.

• Xiao Yu settled into an inn after exploring Rakshasa City and buying a valuable medicinal herb at a low price.
• Xiao Yu relaxed by his window until Su Mei arrived and introduced herself as the leader of the Rakshasa Gate.
• Xiao Yu asked how Su Mei had recognized him, and she said his portrait and his victories over Yuan Yi and Cheng Hong had circulated among major powers.
• Su Mei praised Xiao Yu's achievements, while Xiao Yu suspected his status as a Sixth-Rank Alchemist was another reason for her visit.

Su Mei visited Xiao Yu to ask whether he could refine the sixth-grade Ice-Skin Jade-Bone Pill, and Xiao Yu agreed to inspect its formula. After seeing his youth, composure, and potential, Su Mei became more interested in him than in the pill itself, leaving Xiao Yu to study the formula.

• Xiao Yu questioned Su Mei's reasons for visiting, and she asked whether rumors of his sixth-rank alchemy were true.
• Su Mei asked Xiao Yu to refine an Ice-Skin Jade-Bone Pill because she could not find help from Medicine Emperor Han Feng, and Xiao Yu agreed.
• Su Mei named the pill, and Xiao Yu admitted he had never heard of it because he had not been an alchemist for long.
• Su Mei reconsidered Xiao Yu's age and accomplishments, then handed him the pill formula from her neckline.
• Su Mei watched Xiao Yu study the formula and decided that meeting him could be more valuable than obtaining the pill.

Xiao Yu refined an Ice-Skin Jade-Bone Pill for Su Mei and declined her invitation to visit Rakshasa Gate. He left the city on foot, planning to break through to Five-Star Dou Emperor on his journey back to Black Seal City.

• Su Mei brought Xiao Yu three sets of ingredients and payment, and he agreed to refine the Ice-Skin Jade-Bone Pill within three days.
• Xiao Yu studied the pill formula and ingredients, then successfully refined the pill on his first attempt.
• Su Mei collected the pill, praised Xiao Yu's alchemy, and invited him to visit Rakshasa Gate, but he declined.
• Su Mei hinted at dinner and a 'sparring session,' and Xiao Yu said he might visit another time before bidding her farewell.
• Xiao Yu left the city on foot, intending to break through to Five-Star Dou Emperor on his return journey.

Zi Yan followed Xiao Yu’s scent away from Rakshasa City while Xiao Yu advanced to Five-Star Dou Emperor and returned to Black Seal City. He found the Xiao Court’s reforms had built a loyal faction, and he resolved to make it a powerful force.

• Zi Yan found two traces of Xiao Yu’s scent at Rakshasa City and chased the trail leading away from the city.
• Xiao Yu traveled through the Black-Corner Region, cultivated along the way, and advanced to Five-Star Dou Emperor.
• Xiao Yu used Near-Horizon Wind Thunder to reach Black Seal City and returned to the Xiao Court.
• Xue You welcomed Xiao Yu’s return, and the Xiao Court’s members bowed and shouted their greeting.
• Xiao Yu saw the Xiao Court’s loyalty and believed it could grow into a powerful faction under his command.

Xiao Yu entered seclusion and refined five Emperor's Extreme Pills, using his flames, lightning, and careful preparation to produce pills of exceptional quality. He barely elevated the final pill to the seventh grade by using the Great Desolate Flame to gather natural energy, and then prepared to recover.

• Xiao Yu collected the ingredients from Xue You and ordered that no one disturb him while he refined pills in the palace.
• Xiao Yu studied the Emperor's Extreme Pill formula and spent a day simulating the refinement before beginning the actual process.
• Xiao Yu refined the ingredients with the Myriad Transformation Flame and Returning-to-Truth Lightning, successfully producing an Emperor's Extreme Pill.
• Xiao Yu refined all five pills, but struggled to raise the final one from the sixth grade to the seventh.
• Xiao Yu used the Great Desolate Flame to gather natural energy, allowing the final Emperor's Extreme Pill to barely reach the seventh grade.

Xiao Yu completed five Emperor's Extreme Pills and remained in seclusion to consume them and improve his strength. When his aura erupted across the Xiao Court, the elders realized he had emerged stronger and summoned them to the Palace.

• Xiao Yu prepared himself to consume the five Emperor's Extreme Pills without wasting their medicinal power.
• Xue You and the other four elders discussed Xiao Yu's seclusion, his plans to refine Emperor's Extreme Pills, and the Xiao Court's shortage of capable alchemists.
• A powerful aura erupted from the center of the Xiao Court, and the elders recognized it as Xiao Yu's strength.
• Xiao Yu summoned the five elders to the Palace, and they flew there together.

After reaching Eight-Star Dou Emperor, Xiao Yu arranged to auction three Emperor's Extreme Pills to obtain rare ingredients for his future breakthrough to Dou Zong. News of the auction drew the interest of Medicine Emperor Han Feng and Jia Nan Academy’s Elder Huo, who planned to attend.

• Xiao Yu summoned the Xiao Court elders and ordered them to organize an auction of three Emperor's Extreme Pills, accepting high-grade medicinal ingredients and publicizing a list of desired materials.
• Xiao Yu scheduled the auction in Black Seal City for a month later, and Xue You recognized that the bidding rules would help gather the ingredients Xiao Yu needed.
• News of the auction spread across the Black-Corner Region, and Han Feng learned that the Xiao Court’s master was another Sixth-Rank Alchemist.
• Elder Huo asked the dean of Jia Nan Academy for permission to attend the auction, hoping to obtain an Emperor's Extreme Pill and meet Xiao Yu; the dean agreed to accompany him, and Elder Huo asked to bring someone along.

Xiao Yu replenished the Treasure Pavilion and found a familiar little girl hiding on its third floor. She had tracked him to Xiao Court, and he asked how she had managed to get inside.

• Factions across the Black-Corner Region began searching for medicinal herbs after hearing the news.
• Xiao Yu reviewed Xiao Court’s progress, then went to the Treasure Pavilion to restock its items.
• Xiao Yu found a little girl with pale-purple hair in a corner of the third floor, despite the restrictions protecting access to it.
• The little girl hugged Xiao Yu’s thigh and said she had followed his scent, suffered along the way, and run out of pills.
• Xiao Yu set her down and asked how she had tracked him and entered Xiao Court.

Xiao Yu discovered that Zi Yan had joined the Xiao Court and allowed her to stay, while setting rules for her conduct. He learned she had run out of points because she did not know about the Mission Hall.

• Zi Yan told Xiao Yu how she followed his scent to Black Seal City and joined the Xiao Court after learning he was its boss.
• Zi Yan explained that she had earned an elder-level token by beating up several elders but had not taken anything from the Treasure Pavilion.
• Xiao Yu learned Zi Yan had been in the Xiao Court for a month and could not remember the name of the elder who admitted her.
• Xiao Yu agreed to let Zi Yan stay, ordered her to call him Court Master, and warned her not to steal or cause trouble.
• Zi Yan said she had run out of points, and Xiao Yu discovered she did not know what the Mission Hall was.

Xiao Yu approved preparations for the Xiao Court Auction and agreed to oversee the sale of an Emperor's Extreme Pill. He learned that Zi Yan had been appointed the Sixth Elder and had left to gather medicinal ingredients for a mission.

• Zi Yan headed to the Mission Hall to take a mission after Xiao Yu told her she needed points.
• Xiao Yu spent a month writing and reviewing his ideas while the Xiao Court prepared for its auction and renamed Black Seal City Xiao City.
• Xue You reported that the Xiao Court Auction had been expanded and that it would feature an Emperor's Extreme Pill.
• Xiao Yu agreed to oversee the auction himself to deter any Dou Huang experts from causing trouble.
• Xiao Yu learned that Xue You had accepted Zi Yan into the Xiao Court and appointed her Sixth Elder, then docked Xue You's next month's allowance.
• Xue You told Xiao Yu that Zi Yan had gone to gather medicinal ingredients for a mission and expected to return within a month.

As Xiao Court’s auction drew crowds and powerful factions to Xiao City, Yan brought Pang Yuan to make amends for the Earth Flame Sect’s past offense. Xiao Yan attended with Elder Huo, who planned to bid on an Emperor’s Extreme Pill, leaving Xiao Yan eager to see the rare pill.

• Vendors discussed the auction’s Emperor’s Extreme Pills and Xiao Court as crowds filled Xiao City.
• Yan warned Pang Yuan not to cause trouble and planned to apologize to Xiao Court’s Court Master to repair the Earth Flame Sect’s relationship with them.
• The auction began, drawing visitors and first-rate factions to Xiao Court’s largest building.
• Elder Huo arrived at the VIP entrance with Xiao Yan and explained that he had brought him to broaden his horizons and see a top sixth-rank pill.
• Xiao Yan questioned whether Elder Huo could win an Emperor’s Extreme Pill, and Elder Huo insisted that Jia Nan Academy’s standing would secure one.

Xiao Yan attended Xiao Court’s auction with Elder Huo and began to suspect that Xiao Court’s master might be his older cousin, a Sixth-Rank Alchemist. As the auction got underway under Xue You’s supervision, Xiao Yu watched from a private room until a familiar voice bidding below caught his attention.

• Xiao Yan asked Elder Huo about Xiao Court and learned that its master was a powerful Sixth-Rank Alchemist who had made the Emperor’s Extreme Pill.
• Xiao Yan wondered whether Xiao Court’s master was his older cousin, but he had not yet met him to confirm it.
• Xue You opened the crowded auction, where the audience stayed quiet because they feared Xiao Court’s power.
• Xiao Yu oversaw the auction from a private room, then lost interest and read while eating grapes.
• A youthful bid for a green wood immortal vine sounded familiar to Xiao Yu, who sat up and looked toward the auction floor.