Recaps

Hun Tiandi returned to the Soul Realm gravely wounded and concealed it to save his clan from Xiao Clan forces, while Ling Hua went to the Stone Clan to report Shi Zhong Tian’s death. The Soul Realm vanished before Heavenly Net and Xiao Qing could reach it, and Ling Hua left the Stone Clan’s elders to face the news that their clan leader had not returned.

• Xiao Tian Ce urged Xiao Wu to stop hiding his abilities, and Xiao Wu apologized and agreed to address him more informally in private.
• Hun Tiandi ordered the Hun Clan’s Dou Sheng experts to conceal the Soul Realm after the Nihility Devouring Flame warned that Xiao Clan forces were close.
• The Hun Clan’s experts agitated the Soul Realm’s spatial nodes, causing the realm’s presence to vanish and killing nearby clansmen caught in the spatial power.
• Heavenly Net, Xiao Qing, and their companions arrived too late, then returned to report to Heavenly Net’s original self.
• Ling Hua reached the Stone Clan and told Grand Supreme Elders Shi Mo, Shi Qing, and Shi Lin that Shi Zhong Tian had not made it back.

After Shi Zhong Tian’s death, Ling Hua told the Stone Clan’s three venerables that Xiao Tian Ce had killed him and explained the events that led to the Xiao Clan’s hunt for Hun Tiandi failing. The venerables accepted that they could not seek revenge and began considering how to appease Xiao Tian Ce.

• A Stone Clan Dou Sheng reported that Shi Zhong Tian’s Soul Token had shattered, confirming his death.
• Shi Mo, Shi Qing, and Shi Lin demanded that Ling Hua explain what had happened and who had killed Shi Zhong Tian.
• Ling Hua named Xiao Tian Ce and recounted how Shi Zhong Tian had interfered with the Xiao Clan’s affairs, while Xiao Tian Ce had also threatened Ling Hua.
• The three venerables heard that Xiao Tian Ce was powerful enough to defeat Hun Tiandi and concluded the Stone Clan could not afford to seek revenge.
• Shi Qing apologized to Ling Hua, and Ling Hua affirmed the friendship between the Stone and Spirit Clans before leaving.
• Shi Lin and Shi Mo proposed calming the Stone Clan and finding a way to give Xiao Tian Ce an accounting for Shi Zhong Tian’s actions.

After hearing Xiao Tian Ce's demands, the Stone Clan leaders and Spirit Clan elders weighed whether to resist or yield to the Xiao Clan. The Spirit Clan decided to seek an alliance and began discussing an even larger tribute, while the Stone Clan leaders set out to learn Xiao Tian Ce's intentions.

• Shi Mo, Shi Lin, and Shi Qing agreed that the Stone Clan could not challenge the Xiao Clan and left together to visit Xiao Tian Ce.
• Ling Hua told the Spirit Clan elders that Xiao Tian Ce demanded three heavenly flames, 1,000 kinds of high-tier medicinal ingredients, and the Tou She Ancient God Jade.
• Ling Hua revealed the Xiao Clan's overwhelming strength, including Xiao Qing, two nine-star Dou Sheng Heavenly Demon Puppets, and dozens of other Dou Sheng Experts.
• Ling Hua outlined the Spirit Clan's options, and Ling Chen argued that accepting Xiao Tian Ce's terms and seeking an alliance was the only viable path.
• Ling Hua offered to resign as chief after the crisis, and Ling Yuan Sheng and Ling Jing Shan agreed to an alliance with the Xiao Clan.
• Ling Jing Shan proposed gathering five heavenly flames and offering 10,000 kinds of high-tier medicinal ingredients.

After the Xiao Clan’s operation failed to destroy the Hun Clan, Xiao Tian Ce tested Xiao Qing’s judgment and assigned her to find the clan. He and Heavenly Net then discussed gathering the Tou She Ancient God Jade and pushing Xiao Yan toward becoming a Dou Di.

• Xiao Tian Ce dismissed most of the gathered experts and discussed the failed operation with Xiao Wu, Xiao Fei, Xiao Teng, Xiao Qing, and Heavenly Net.
• Xiao Qing argued that the Stone Clan and Spirit Clan would likely submit without an invasion, though Xiao Tian Ce ordered preparations to attack if they gave no explanation within half a month.
• Xiao Qing recommended monitoring cities across the Central Plains for signs of the hidden Hun Clan, and Xiao Tian Ce gave her authority to lead the search.
• After the others left, Xiao Tian Ce and Heavenly Net discussed collecting the Tou She Ancient God Jade and relying on Xiao Yan and the Nihility Devouring Flame to reach the Dou Di Realm.

Xiao Tian Ce tasked Heavenly Net with secretly collecting the eight pieces of the Tou She Ancient God Jade and promised to free him from his restraints in the Great Thousand World. Meanwhile, the Three Venerables of the Stone Clan came to negotiate over Shi Zhong Tian’s offense, and Xiao Tian Ce left Heavenly Net to state the Xiao Clan’s conditions.

• Xiao Tian Ce asked Heavenly Net to collect the Tou She Ancient God Jade in secret and promised him freedom in the Great Thousand World, provided he still helped when needed.
• Xiao Qing announced the arrival of the Three Venerables of the Stone Clan, who came to make peace with the Xiao Clan.
• The Three Venerables apologized for Shi Zhong Tian’s actions and offered to accept any terms, while Heavenly Net used his strength to pressure them.
• Xiao Tian Ce explained how Shi Zhong Tian’s interference had ruined the Xiao Clan’s attempt to kill Hun Tiandi and said the clan still wanted compensation.
• Xiao Tian Ce handed the negotiations to Heavenly Net, who told the Three Venerables that they only needed to agree to three conditions.

At Heavenly Secret Tower, the Stone Clan faced Xiao Tian Ce’s demand to become a vassal, while the Spirit Clan arrived and offered far more than the requested apology terms. The Spirit Clan secured an alliance led by the Xiao Clan, and Xiao Qing escorted its delegation to complete the handover.

• Heavenly Net demanded the Tou She Ancient God Jade and received it from the Three Venerables of the Stone Clan.
• Heavenly Net ordered the Stone Clan to become a Xiao Clan vassal, and Shi Mo, Shi Qing, and Shi Lin protested the condition.
• Ling Hua arrived with Ling Jing Shan, Ling Yuan Sheng, and Ling Chen and offered the Tou She Ancient God Jade, ten thousand kinds of high-tier medicinal ingredients, and five heavenly flames.
• Ling Jing Shan announced that Ling Hua would resign as Spirit Clan Chief, and Ling Chen proposed an alliance with the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Tian Ce accepted the alliance on the condition that the Xiao Clan lead, then ordered Xiao Qing to handle the Spirit Clan’s handover and lodging.

Xiao Tian Ce secured the Stone Clan’s agreement to provide its God-Demon Body Refining Art and gave Heavenly Net a Ninth-Tier Spiritual Array to conceal his puppet nature. He then explained to Xiao Qing why Ling Hua’s long tenure as Spirit Clan Chief proved his political skill despite his apparent weakness, while judging his poor talent would limit his future strength.

• Heavenly Net demanded the Stone Clan’s God-Demon Body Refining Art, and the Three Venerables agreed to provide it despite warning that it required Stone Clan bloodline power.
• Heavenly Net explained that the art might suit his Heavenly Demon Puppet body, and Xiao Tian Ce gave him a Ninth-Tier Spiritual Array to hide what he was.
• Xiao Qing reported that the Spirit Clan seniors seemed to have another purpose, and Xiao Tian Ce reasoned that the clan had accepted his demands because it needed something from the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Tian Ce told Xiao Qing that Ling Hua had gained the Spirit Clan Chief position through remarkable political methods and retained it for a thousand years despite being only an Early-Stage Two-Star Dou Sheng when he took office.
• Xiao Tian Ce judged that Ling Hua’s poor talent would likely cap him at Eight-Star Dou Sheng, preventing him from controlling the Spirit Clan’s elders.

The Gu Clan debated how to respond to the Xiao Clan’s growing power and decided to send younger members on an exchange visit. Meanwhile, Xiao Tian Ce learned that Ling Yun and Min'er had subdued the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan and begun expanding across the Beast Region.

• Xiao Tian Ce told Xiao Qing that Ling Hua was easy to control and advised her not to interfere in the Spirit Clan’s internal divisions.
• Gu Yuan and the Gu Clan elders discussed the Xiao Clan’s annexation of the Spirit Clan and Stone Clan and the fate of their Tou She Ancient God Jade pieces.
• Gu Lie urged Gu Yuan to recall Xun'er from the Xiao Clan in Wutan City, but Gu Yuan decided to leave her there for now.
• Gu Dao proposed sending Gu Clan youths to the Xiao Clan to assess its intentions, and Gu Yuan assigned Gu Lie and Gu Dao to oversee the exchange.
• Huang Jiuji brought Xiao Tian Ce a letter reporting that Ling Yun and Min'er had subdued the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan and were expanding across the Beast Region.

Xiao Tian Ce discussed the Xiao Clan’s rising standing and an upcoming exchange tournament, while Xiao Qing was left to manage the Heavenly Secret Tower after Heavenly Net departed. The chapter ended with Xiao Qing receiving the Spirit Clan’s four elders at headquarters.

• Xiao Tian Ce told Huang Jiuji that he had found a way to restore Huang Jiuji’s body, though it would take at least five to ten years.
• Xiao Chun told Xiao Tian Ce that the Gu Clan wanted to bring its young talents for an exchange, and Xiao Tian Ce proposed inviting the Yao, Yan, Lei, Stone, and Spirit Clans as well.
• Xiao Chun urged Xiao Tian Ce to consider marriage, but Xiao Tian Ce declined and asked him to arrange a match for Xiao Qing instead.
• Xiao Chun arranged the exchange gathering, and Xiao Tian Ce spent the night on the rooftop longing for his loved ones from his previous life.
• Heavenly Net left Xiao Qing to oversee the Heavenly Secret Tower, and Xiao Qing complained that he was another hands-off boss.
• Xiao Qing welcomed the Spirit Clan’s four elders and told them to bring their requests directly to her.

Xiao Qing negotiated with Ling Hua, who proposed making the Spirit Clan a Xiao Clan vassal in exchange for support taking control of it. Ling Hua then promised to persuade the Yao Clan to become a vassal too, and Xiao Tian Ce set out after reading Xiao Qing’s report.

• Xiao Qing told the Spirit Clan elders that the Xiao Clan would leave their internal affairs alone and offer help only when needed.
• Ling Jing Shan, Ling Chen, and Ling Yuan Sheng left Ling Hua behind as a supposed bridge between the clans, hoping to clear their path to power.
• After the three elders departed, Ling Hua proposed making the Spirit Clan a vassal of the Xiao Clan if Xiao Qing would support him in uniting it.
• Ling Hua offered to persuade the Yao Clan to become a Xiao Clan vassal, and Xiao Qing agreed to support him if he succeeded.
• Xiao Qing reported the agreement to Xiao Tian Ce, who burned her message and disappeared to investigate Ling Hua’s plan.

Xiao Tian Ce learned that Huang Min and Huang Lingyun had brought most of the Beast Region under the Xiao Clan’s banner, then welcomed the Primordial Emperor Clans for their exchange. Ling Hua brought Yao Dan to agree to an alliance with the Xiao Clan, while Xiao Tian Ce recognized that Ling Hua had maneuvered Yao Dan into terms that could later make the Yao Clan a vassal.

• Xiao Tian Ce approved Xiao Qing’s efforts to bring the Yao Clan under the Xiao Clan’s influence and told her to watch for trouble from the Hun Clan.
• Huang Min and Huang Lingyun returned from the Beast Region, reporting that every major magical beast clan except the Ancient Void Dragon Clan was under their banner.
• Xiao Tian Ce ordered his disciples to cultivate toward Seven-Star Dou Saint after Huang Lingyun explained how his reputation and spiritual arrays had helped them subdue the Beast Region.
• The Primordial Emperor Clans arrived for their exchange, and Xiao Tian Ce received their leaders before returning to Heavenly Strategy Manor.
• Ling Hua and Yao Dan visited Xiao Tian Ce at night, and Yao Dan offered an alliance, annual pills, and the Tou She Ancient God Jade in exchange for Xiao Clan protection.
• Xiao Tian Ce accepted Yao Dan’s offer, recognizing Ling Hua’s plan to draw the Yao Clan into an arrangement that could become Xiao Clan subordination, and Yao Dan produced the jade.

Xiao Tian Ce accepted Yao Dan’s offer of an alliance after Ling Hua maneuvered the Yao Clan into effectively following the Xiao Clan, then agreed to secretly help Ling Hua regain control of the Spirit Clan. After warning Ling Hua about the Hun Clan, Xiao Tian Ce received Gu Dao and Gu Lie, who came to discuss closer ties with the Xiao Clan.

• Yao Dan presented the Tou She Ancient God Jade, and Xiao Tian Ce accepted the Yao Clan’s alliance on terms that placed it under Xiao Clan leadership.
• After Yao Dan left, Xiao Tian Ce challenged Ling Hua over deceiving him, but accepted Ling Hua’s explanation and acknowledged his role in bringing the Yao Clan under the Xiao Clan’s influence.
• Xiao Tian Ce agreed to lend Ling Hua a few Xiao Clan experts in secret so he could regain control of the Spirit Clan after the Seven-Clan Gathering.
• Xiao Tian Ce warned Ling Hua that the Hun Clan could threaten the Spirit, Stone, and Yao Clans once Hun Tiandi recovered, and Ling Hua agreed to watch the Hun Clan’s movements.
• Gu Dao and Gu Lie visited Xiao Tian Ce to congratulate him on defeating the Hun Clan and express the Gu Clan’s desire for closer ties with the Xiao Clan.
• Gu Lie accused Xiao Tian Ce of trying to cow the Gu Clan into submission, and Xiao Tian Ce invited him to continue speaking.

Xiao Tian Ce subdued Gu Lie after Gu Lie challenged him, sealed his Dou Qi, and kept him in Xiao Clan territory while Gu Dao contacted Gu Yuan. Gu Yuan concluded that Xiao Tian Ce likely wanted the Gu Clan’s Tou She Ancient God Jade and considered using Xiao Xuan’s old favor to bring Gu Lie and Gu Dao home.

• Gu Lie questioned Xiao Tian Ce about the Xiao Clan’s ambitions, and Xiao Tian Ce warned that the Gu Clan could choose friendship or enmity.
• When Gu Lie continued to defy him, Xiao Tian Ce seized him, sealed his Dou Qi with a Spiritual Array, and warned that he would die if he left Heaven Beyond.
• Xiao Tian Ce explained his Spiritual Array methods to Huang Jiuji, affirmed his trust in him, then continued studying how to become a Spiritual Array Grandmaster.
• Gu Dao sent Gu Yuan an account of the incident, and Gu Yuan summoned two members of the Three Immortals of the Gu Clan to discuss what Xiao Tian Ce intended.
• Gu Yuan suspected Xiao Tian Ce wanted the Gu Clan’s Tou She Ancient God Jade and warned that Gu Lie and Gu Dao could be used as leverage.
• The two elders proposed invoking the Xiao Clan’s debt to Xiao Xuan to secure Gu Lie and Gu Dao’s return.

Gu Yuan visited the Xiao Clan to secure the return of Gu Lie and Gu Dao, and was repeatedly astonished by the clan’s defenses, resources, and powerful figures. After confirming the elders were safe, he asked Xiao Tian Ce to remove the dangerous energy inside Gu Lie.

• Gu Yuan left the Ancient Realm, checked the Tou She Ancient God Jade, and traveled to Heaven Beyond to meet Xiao Tian Ce.
• Xiao Bieli guided Gu Yuan through the Xiao Clan’s defenses and facilities, where Gu Yuan encountered the Green Lotus Saint and apologized for scanning the manor with his soul power.
• Xiao Tian Ce welcomed Gu Yuan and introduced Huang Jiuji and Xiao Chun; Gu Yuan recognized Huang Jiuji as a member of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix Clan with Emperor Realm soul power.
• Gu Yuan asked about the child flame once traded between their clans, and Xiao Tian Ce revealed that he had absorbed it after it had been enhanced until it could no longer merge with the Gu Clan’s main flame.
• Xiao Bieli brought Gu Dao and Gu Lie to meet Gu Yuan, who detected lethal energy inside Gu Lie and asked Xiao Tian Ce to remove it.

Xiao Tian Ce restored Gu Lie’s strength after punishing him, then hosted Gu Yuan and showed him the Xiao Clan’s ninth-grade Spirit Gathering Array. Gu Yuan was astonished by its cultivation benefits and eagerly asked who had created it.

• Xiao Tian Ce restored Gu Lie to Early Eight-Star Dou Saint strength and warned him not to act disrespectfully again.
• Xiao Tian Ce invited Gu Yuan to stay, and they shared wine while discussing unifying the Dou Qi Continent and Xiao Xuan.
• Gu Yuan asked about the Spirit Gathering Arrays, so Xiao Tian Ce brought him, Gu Lie, and Gu Dao to the ninth-grade array.
• Gu Yuan and the others entered the array and discovered that its liquid Dou Qi greatly accelerated cultivation, though it required at least Half-Saint strength to enter safely.
• After experiencing the array’s effects, Gu Yuan eagerly asked Xiao Tian Ce who had created it.

Xiao Tian Ce showed Gu Yuan and the Gu Clan elders the Ninth-Level Spirit Gathering Array, where Gu Dao advanced a cultivation stage. Gu Yuan agreed to consider Xiao Tian Ce’s price of the Gu Clan’s Tou She Ancient God Jade and Emperor Seal Art, then secretly met with Gu Dao and Gu Lie, who had uncovered surprising information about the array.

• Xiao Tian Ce explained that he had created the Ninth-Level Spirit Gathering Array and described his past use of Spiritual Arrays against the Hun Clan.
• Gu Dao broke through from Late-Stage Seven-Star Dou Saint to peak seven-star Dou Saint inside the array and promised Xiao Tian Ce a favor.
• Impressed by the array, Gu Yuan asked Xiao Tian Ce to name terms for building another one.
• Xiao Tian Ce demanded the Gu Clan’s Tou She Ancient God Jade and Emperor Seal Art, and Gu Yuan asked for a month to decide about the jade.
• After drinking with Xiao Tian Ce until midnight, Gu Yuan feigned drunkenness, then met privately with Gu Dao and Gu Lie, who reported that they had learned something surprising about the array.

Gu Yuan and his elders decided to seek a Spirit Gathering Array from the Xiao Clan in exchange for the Gu Clan’s Tou She Ancient God Jade, and proposed a marriage alliance to secure their relationship. Xiao Tian Ce expected Gu Yuan to agree and planned to provide an array with restrictions, then readily promised Huang Jiuji two heavenly flames.

• Gu Lie reported the Spirit Gathering Array’s benefits, and Gu Yuan asked Gu Dao and Gu Lie whether the Gu Clan should trade its Tou She Ancient God Jade for one.
• Gu Dao argued that the array could strengthen the Gu Clan more than keeping the jade, and Gu Lie proposed a marriage alliance between the clans.
• Gu Yuan agreed to pursue the exchange and told Gu Lie and Gu Dao to persuade the Gu Clan’s elders.
• Xiao Tian Ce explained to Huang Jiuji that he had avoided threatening Gu Lie because he wanted to repay the Gu Clan and prevent future resentment.
• Xiao Tian Ce revealed that he would give the Gu Clan an exceptionally effective Ninth-Level Spirit Gathering Array that Half-Saints could not enter, limiting its ability to produce more Dou Sheng experts.
• Huang Jiuji requested two heavenly flames, and Xiao Tian Ce agreed at once, saying he would give Huang anything the Xiao Clan possessed.

Huang Jiuji chose two Heavenly Flames for Huang Min and Huang Lingyun, while Xiao Xun'er learned that the Xiao Clan had returned and that the Gu Clan planned to arrange her marriage. The chapter left Xiao Xun'er furious over the elders’ decision and unwilling to let them choose her future.

• Huang Jiuji asked Xiao Tian Ce for the Yin-Yang Twin Flames and the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame for Huang Min and Huang Lingyun, and Xiao Tian Ce agreed to provide them after their seclusion.
• Xiao Yan used Xiao Xun'er’s money to gather medicinal ingredients for Yao Chen and cultivated with the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.
• Xiao Xun'er questioned Ling Ying about the mysterious watcher, and they concluded that the watcher might belong to the Xiao Clan.
• Ling Ying received news that the Xiao Clan had returned, defeated the Soul Hall, wounded Hun Tiandi, and formed an alliance with the Stone Clan and Spirit Clan.
• Ling Ying told Xiao Xun'er that the Gu Clan ordered her return within three months and intended to arrange marriages with Xiao Clan talents.
• Xiao Xun'er erupted in anger and released a golden flame when Ling Ying revealed that she was among the marriage candidates.

Ling Ying tried to help Xiao Xun'er by approaching Xiao Yan, but Xiao Tian Ming stopped him and kept watch over the Xiao Clan residence. After Ling Ying reported the surveillance to Gu Yuan, Gu Yuan discussed the Xiao Clan’s growing strength with Xiao Tian Ce while watching the younger clans compete.

• Xiao Xun'er became ill and lost interest in cultivation after learning the Gu Clan might take her back for a marriage alliance, so Ling Ying decided to seek out Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Tian Ming intercepted Ling Ying, warned him not to approach Xiao Yan, and let him return after Ling Ying refused to abandon his plan to protect Xiao Xun'er.
• Ling Ying returned to the Xiao Clan residence, where a powerful aura repeatedly stopped him from approaching Xiao Yan, so he sent a message to Gu Yuan.
• Gu Yuan read Ling Ying’s message and concluded that a Xiao Clan expert was guarding the residence, making it unlikely that the Tou She Ancient God Jade could be recovered.
• Gu Yuan praised the Xiao Clan’s younger generation to Xiao Tian Ce, then pointed out that the Xiao Clan youths watching the competition seemed stronger than the competitors.

At a Xiao Clan martial competition, Gu Yao boasted that no one his age in the clan could challenge him, prompting Xiao Clan talents far stronger than his opponents to step forward. He chose Xiao Xinghe to fight, and their battle began with Xiao Xinghe holding the advantage.

• Xiao Wu identified Xiao Xingzhu, Xiao Xingmei, Xiao Xingyao, and Xiao Xinghe as Peak Dou Ling geniuses who had not joined the competition.
• After Gu Yao won first place, he rejected his reward and challenged the Xiao Clan to send out its other young talents.
• The Xiao Clan youths revealed their strength, including several Dou Wang experts, and Gu Yao insisted on choosing his own opponent.
• Gu Yao selected Xiao Xinghe, and Xiao Xingzhu, Xiao Xingmei, and Xiao Xingyao urged Xiao Xinghe to teach him a lesson without going too far.
• Xiao Xinghe and Gu Yao exchanged blows, while Gu Yuan judged that Xiao Xinghe was fighting calmly and had the greater chance of winning.

Xiao Xinghe defeated Gu Yao in a training-ground duel, overcoming the Gu Clan youth’s secret arts and speed with a body-refining technique and a sword. After the fight, Gu Yuan proposed renewed marriage alliances between the Gu and Xiao Clans, and Xiao Tian Ce suggested that Xiao Qing choose among outstanding Gu Clan youths.

• Xiao Xinghe fought Gu Yao, repeatedly overpowering him as Xiao Wu and the clan leaders watched.
• Gu Yao used a secret art to raise his strength to Peak Dou Ling and attacked with the Phantom Soul Seal, but Xiao Xinghe’s body-refining technique kept him from being injured.
• Xiao Xinghe drew his longsword, struck Gu Yao across the chest, and won the duel; the Xiao Clan Stewards treated Gu Yao while Xiao Xinghe received his reward.
• Gu Yuan praised Xiao Tian Ce’s leadership and proposed that the Gu and Xiao Clans resume marriage alliances.
• Xiao Tian Ce agreed and invited Gu Yuan to bring outstanding young men from the Gu Clan so Xiao Qing could choose a husband.

Gu Yuan arranged a marriage alliance between Xiao Qing and the Gu Clan while the Gu elders considered exchanging their Tou She Ancient God Jade for a Ninth-Level Spirit Gathering Array. Meanwhile, Hun Tiandi chose to sacrifice his own clansmen to heal, leaving the Soul Clan preparing to act as the Xiao Clan’s influence grew.

• Xiao Tian Ce proposed that Xiao Qing marry a Gu Clan woman, and Gu Yuan agreed to bring candidates to Heaven Beyond within half a month.
• Xiao Qing accepted the arrangement and began settling the Heavenly Secret Tower’s affairs so she could return on time.
• Nihility devouring flame suggested using another Emperor Clan’s bloodline to heal Hun Tiandi, but Hun Tiandi rejected the risk and ordered him to take bloodline power from hundreds of thousands of Soul Clan members instead.
• Gu Yuan told the Gu Clan elders to gather suitable women for the marriage alliance and explained that Xiao Qing was the Xiao Clan’s heir.
• Gu Dao revealed that the Ninth-Level Spirit Gathering Array had advanced him to peak Seven-Star Dou Saint in two hours and that Xiao Tian Ce had offered to establish one in the Ancient Realm.
• Gu Yuan told the elders that Xiao Tian Ce wanted the Tou She Ancient God Jade in exchange, and he asked them to discuss whether the clan should accept.

The Gu Clan debated exchanging its Tou She Ancient God Jade for the Xiao Clan’s Ninth-Level Spirit Gathering Array and decided to bring Xiao Xun'er back. In Heaven Beyond, Xiao Tian Ce welcomed the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan as a vassal in exchange for protecting it and overseeing access to the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool.

• Gu Yuan told the Gu Clan elders that the Xiao Clan was too powerful to challenge for its Tou She Ancient God Jade, leaving their own jade as the only possible price for the array.
• Gu Yuan agreed to bring Xiao Xun'er back from the Jia Ma Empire and ordered the Black Smoke King to handle it.
• Huang Min and Huang Lingyun emerged from seclusion after breaking through, and Xiao Tian Ce congratulated them.
• Xiao Bieli reported that Jin Shi and Jin Gang of the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan had arrived seeking the Xiao Clan’s protection.
• Jin Shi explained that human visitors to the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool were hunting his clan, and Xiao Tian Ce agreed to protect them in exchange for two pool-cultivation places and a chance for Xiao Clan members to oversee entry.
• Jin Shi accepted the terms and declared the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan a vassal species of the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Tian Ce learned that Gu Lie had gone to the Jia Ma Empire to retrieve Xiao Xun'er and arrived in Wutan City to oversee the encounter. Gu Lie reached the Xiao Clan and met Xiao Xun'er, while Xiao Tian Ce and Xiao Tian Ming watched from hiding and suspected Gu Lie also sought the Tou She Ancient God Jade.

• The Gu Clan agreed to exchange its Tou She Ancient God Jade for the Xiao Clan's Ninth-Level Spirit Gathering Array and decided to send juniors to Heaven Beyond for marriage alliances.
• Gu Lie set out for the Jia Ma Empire with the Black Smoke Army, and Xiao Tian Ce traveled to Wutan City after learning of his mission.
• Xiao Tian Ce and Xiao Tian Ming discussed Xiao Yan, Yao Chen, and Han Feng while waiting for Gu Lie to arrive.
• Gu Lie sent a Dou Wang into Wutan City to search for the Tou She Ancient God Jade, then went to the Xiao Clan and asked Xiao Zhan for a room.
• Xiao Xun'er met Gu Lie and recognized him as her Uncle Lie, while he sensed her powerful bloodline.

Gu Lie came to the Xiao Clan to take Xiao Xun'er back, but she confessed her love to Xiao Yan and asked him to meet her uncle first. Xiao Tian Ce secretly stopped Xun'er from revealing the greater Xiao Clan to Xiao Yan, intending to let him grow stronger through hardship.

• Gu Lie told Xiao Xun'er that the Gu Clan wanted her to return, and she asked to stay because she loved Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Xun'er declared her feelings to Xiao Yan, and he confessed that he had always loved her too.
• Xiao Xun'er told Xiao Yan that she would soon be taken back to her clan and urged him to grow strong enough for them to reunite.
• Xiao Tian Ce warned Xiao Xun'er not to tell Xiao Yan about the greater Xiao Clan, and Xiao Yan agreed to meet Gu Lie.
• Xiao Tian Ce told Xiao Tian Ming that keeping Xiao Yan ignorant of the Xiao Clan was part of a trial meant to spur his growth.