Chapter Summaries

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.

Gu Lie tested Xiao Yan’s resolve by overwhelming him with his aura, while Xiao Tian Ce chose not to interfere and let Xiao Yan continue facing hardship. Xiao Xun'er stayed in Wutan City for three years, and Xiao Tian Ce killed a Black Smoke Army member searching for the Tou She Ancient God Jade, leaving its whereabouts uncertain.

• Gu Lie insulted Xiao Yan and forced him to one knee with his aura, but Xiao Yan vowed to become strong enough to bring Xiao Xun'er back openly and honorably.
• Xiao Tian Ce stopped Xiao Tian Ming from intervening, explaining that Xiao Yan needed to face hardship himself, and said they would watch Gu Lie.
• Xiao Yan recovered with Gu Lie’s healing pill and reaffirmed his determination to cultivate, while Xiao Xun'er returned to Gu Lie and secured three years to remain with Xiao Yan.
• Gu Lie questioned Xiao Xun'er about the Tou She Ancient God Jade, but she said she had never found it in the Xiao Clan.
• A Black Smoke Army member entered Wutan City to search for the jade, and Xiao Tian Ce killed him before he could reach Xiao Zhan’s courtyard.
• Xiao Tian Ming suggested taking the jade directly from Xiao Zhan, and Xiao Tian Ce had not yet answered.

Xiao Tian Ce frightened Gu Lie into leaving Wutan City without Xiao Xun'er, then returned to Heaven Beyond. Xiao Yan renewed his resolve to cultivate, while Xiao Tian Ce declared Huang Min and Huang Lingyun's training complete and joined them in preparing hot pot.

• Xiao Tian Ming agreed to trust Xiao Tian Ce, who had Gu Lie's dead subordinate left outside Gu Lie's courtyard as a warning.
• Gu Lie sensed Xiao Tian Ce's aura, hid the corpse, and summoned the Black Smoke Army before departing Wutan City with his people without Xiao Xun'er.
• Yao Chen emerged from Xiao Yan's Storage Ring, explained that Gu Lie's power had forced him to hide, and urged Xiao Yan to grow strong enough to stand beside Xun'er.
• Xiao Yan pledged to accept Yao Chen's cultivation methods, and Yao Chen promised him a fortuitous opportunity once he reached Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Tian Ce returned to Heaven Beyond and declared Huang Min and Huang Lingyun's training complete after they reached early-stage seven-star Dou Sheng.
• Huang Min proposed Earth Demon Bull hot pot, and Xiao Tian Ce sent Ling Yun to catch one while she heated the broth with her heavenly flame.

Xiao Tian Ce considered the Gu Clan’s interest in the Tou She Ancient God Jade while Gu Yuan weighed the risks of taking it from the Xiao Clan. Back in Heaven Beyond, Xiao Qing accepted the idea of a marriage alliance, and Xiao Tian Ce asked her about Ling Hua’s progress in the Spirit Clan.

• Xiao Tian Ce asked Xiao Feng to bring Huai En from the Jia Ma Empire back to Heaven Beyond.
• Gu Lie told Gu Yuan that Xiao Tian Ce had appeared in Wutan City, and Gu Yuan concluded that he was protecting the Tou She Ancient God Jade held by Xiao Zhan.
• Gu Lie proposed abducting Xiao Zhan to obtain the jade, but Gu Yuan warned that provoking Xiao Tian Ce could lead to war and decided to reconsider.
• Gu Lie reported that Xun'er possessed a bloodline powerful enough to suppress his ninth-grade bloodline, and Gu Yuan agreed not to rush her relationship with the Xiao Clan boy.
• Xiao Qing told Xiao Tian Ce she had no objection to marrying as part of the Gu Clan alliance, and he said she could choose one or more of the women they sent.
• Xiao Tian Ce asked Xiao Qing whether Ling Hua had taken control of the Spirit Clan, and she began to tell him what had happened.

Xiao Tian Ce discussed the Spirit Clan’s turmoil, the Stone Clan’s recovery, and other matters with Xiao Qing before the Xiao Clan hosted Gu Yuan’s party to renew their marriage alliance. Xiao Qing arrived at the banquet’s end to announce that the martial arena was ready, setting up the next stage of the alliance proceedings.

• Xiao Qing told Xiao Tian Ce that Ling Hua was struggling against united Spirit Clan elders, and Xiao Tian Ce declined to send him more experts.
• Xiao Qing reported that Shi Hun Tian had stabilized the Stone Clan, and Xiao Tian Ce ordered her to monitor both clans, arrange an alchemy exchange with the Yao Clan, and search for Xiao Chen.
• Gu Yuan selected several outstanding Gu Clan women, including Gu Yue, to accompany him to the Xiao Clan’s marriage alliance gathering.
• Xiao Chun welcomed Gu Yuan’s party into Heaven Beyond, where Xiao Tian Ce greeted them and hosted a banquet.
• Xiao Qing entered the banquet hall and announced that the martial arena was ready.

Xiao Tian Ce and Gu Yuan arranged a marriage alliance between the Xiao and Gu Clans, then agreed to exchange a Ninth-Level Spirit Gathering Array for the Gu Clan’s Tou She Ancient God Jade. The chapter ended with Gu Yue and Xiao Qing discussing Xiao Xuan and the Xiao Clan’s past.

• Xiao Qing joined the Gu Clan girls at a banquet, and Xiao Tian Ce and Gu Yuan led everyone to the Martial Arts Arena so the young people could meet and consider matches.
• The Xiao Clan youths presented themselves, and the two clans exchanged lists before holding a reception without their elders, leaving the young people free to choose without pressure.
• Gu Yuan agreed to trade the Tou She Ancient God Jade for a Ninth-Level Spirit Gathering Array, with the jade to be delivered after Xiao Tian Ce established the array.
• Xiao Tian Ce admitted he had warned Gu Lie in Wutan City and asked Gu Yuan to keep the Gu Clan out of Xiao Clan affairs there; Gu Yuan agreed.
• Gu Yue and Xiao Qing spoke at the reception about the Xiao Clan’s history, and Xiao Qing recalled how her intervention had spared lives but led to years of internal strife.
• Gu Yue told Xiao Qing that Xiao Xuan’s soul remained in the Gu Clan’s Heavenly Tomb and had taken control of its Third Layer.

At the Xiao Clan assessment, Xiao Yan revealed that he had recovered his cultivation and defeated Xiao Ning, while Xiao Xun'er impressed the clan by reaching One-Star Dou Zhe. After the assessment, Yao Chen prepared to give Xiao Yan the cultivation method he had promised.

• At the Heaven Beyond marriage gala, Gu Yue and Xiao Qing grew close, and Gu Yue Yuan departed the next day to gather materials for Xiao Tian Ce's Ninth-Level Spirit Gathering Array.
• At the Xiao Clan assessment, Xiao Yan displayed Seventh Stage of Dou Qi, astonishing the clan and delighting Xiao Zhan.
• Xiao Xun'er revealed that she had reached One-Star Dou Zhe, then realized Xiao Yan had concealed his own cultivation and agreed to keep it secret.
• Xiao Ning challenged Xiao Yan and accused him of cheating, but Xiao Yan swiftly knocked him off the Fighting Platform and won.
• On the Xiao Clan's Back Mountain, Yao Chen told Xiao Yan he would give him the cultivation method he had promised.

Xiao Yan chose the untested Flame Mantra after learning it might help resurrect Yao Chen, while Xiao Tian Ce secured a copy from Yao Chen in exchange for a promise of aid. Xiao Tian Ce then discussed the method with Xiao Tian Ming and said he would study it before choosing a Xiao Clan cultivator.

• Yao Chen offered Xiao Yan Flame Mantra, a Yellow Tier low-grade method said to evolve by absorbing heavenly flames, or an Earth Tier method.
• After Yao Chen explained that Flame Mantra could fulfill a condition for his resurrection, Xiao Yan chose it and vowed to avenge Yao Chen’s betrayal by Han Feng.
• Xiao Tian Ce approached Yao Chen and offered a favor and future help resurrecting him in exchange for a copy of Flame Mantra.
• Yao Chen agreed to copy the method, and Xiao Tian Ce gave him a Heavenly Mechanism Token to call for help.
• Xiao Tian Ce returned to the Xiao Clan Old Residence, where Xiao Tian Ming urged him to choose someone to cultivate Flame Mantra; Xiao Tian Ce said he would study it first and noted that Qinglian was searching for heavenly flames.

At the Xiao Clan’s old residence, Qinglian reported that Medusa had taken the green lotus core flame, then sensed a cluster of Heavenly Flames inside Tuoshe Ancient Emperor’s Cave. Xiao Tian Ce revealed that he knew where the cave was but could not enter without the complete Tou She Ancient God Jade, and the chapter ended with Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun waiting at the Heavenly Secret Tower Branch.

• Qinglian returned after Medusa took the green lotus core flame, and Xiao Tian Ce persuaded him not to pursue her.
• Qinglian sensed several Heavenly Flames, including the wind fury dragon flame, and Xiao Tian Ce identified their location as Tuoshe Ancient Emperor’s Cave.
• Xiao Tian Ce told Qinglian and Xiao Tian Ming that he had found the cave but could not enter without the complete Tou She Ancient God Jade, and he warned them to keep it secret.
• Xiao Tian Ce sent Xiao Feng to meet Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun after learning the branch’s leaders were away.
• Qinglian settled on Xiao Tian Ce’s shoulder to sleep, while Xiao Tian Ming prepared to return to Heaven Beyond because his family was pressuring him to marry.
• Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun admired the Heavenly Secret Tower Branch’s reception hall.

At the Heavenly Secret Tower Branch, Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun sought help, and Xiao Feng revealed that Yun Shan was alive and had reached Dou Zong. Xiao Tian Ce barred the Tower from interfering in the Jia Ma Empire, while Qinglian revealed he had taken lotus seeds and a Lotus Platform that Xiao Yan was meant to find.

• Jia Xingtian asked the Heavenly Secret Tower to refine a pill for the Imperial Family's injured sixth-tier magical beast, while Yun Yun requested help obtaining a gift from the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
• Xiao Feng told Yun Yun that Yun Shan was alive, had advanced to Dou Zong, and remained in the Misty Cloud Sect's forbidden grounds, so she left to see him.
• Jia Xingtian asked the Tower to strike at the Misty Cloud Sect, but Xiao Tian Ce ordered Xiao Feng not to interfere, and Xiao Feng refused the request.
• Xiao Tian Ce arrived with Qinglian and reprimanded Xiao Feng for speaking carelessly about affairs in the Jia Ma Empire, then sent him back to his post at the Xiao Clan Old Residence.
• Qinglian revealed that he had taken lotus seeds and the Lotus Platform from the desert, depriving Xiao Yan of those opportunities, and Xiao Tian Ce decided to keep him in Heaven Beyond.

After learning that the Yan Clan’s Tou She Ancient God Jade had vanished, Xiao Tian Ce reconsidered his path to Dou Di and chose to pursue a breakthrough as a Spiritual Array Grandmaster. He secretly entered Jia Nan Academy’s Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower and descended toward the aura of Dragon Emperor Zhu Kun.

• Heavenly Net told Xiao Tian Ce that the Yan Clan’s Tou She Ancient God Jade had disappeared, and Xiao Tian Ce considered whether the Yan Clan, Hun Clan, Gu Clan, or Heavenly Net was responsible.
• Xiao Tian Ce rejected relying solely on Xiao Yan, heavenly flames, or collecting the Tou She Ancient God Jade, and decided that becoming a Spiritual Array Grandmaster offered the safest route to Dou Di.
• Xiao Tian Ce placed Xiao Qing in charge of Heavenly Secret Tower and clan affairs during his planned seclusion, then secretly traveled to Jia Nan Academy instead of returning to Heaven Beyond.
• Using the Tou She Ancient God Jade pieces from the Yao Clan, Stone Clan, and Spirit Clan, Xiao Tian Ce sensed a call from Jia Nan Academy and entered the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower unnoticed.
• Xiao Tian Ce restrained the fallen heart flame and left its Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations mark intact for Xiao Yan, then descended through the magma and sensed Dragon Emperor Zhu Kun’s powerful aura.

Xiao Tian Ce found Zhu Kun imprisoned beneath Jia Nan Academy and discovered that a grandmaster-level Spiritual Array on Tou She Ancient God's bronze doors kept him trapped. He concealed his ability to free Zhu Kun for now, secured Zhu Kun's cooperation to study the array, and ended by revealing that Zhu Kun's child was alive.

• Xiao Tian Ce introduced himself to Zhu Kun, shared wine with him, and learned that a mysterious power from the bronze doors stopped him from breaking his chains.
• Xiao Tian Ce recognized the power as a grandmaster-level Spiritual Array and examined how the Tou She Ancient God Jade fragments functioned as its array core.
• Xiao Tian Ce told Zhu Kun he could not free him yet, while privately intending to keep him imprisoned until he could study the array and protect the Xiao Clan's allies.
• Zhu Kun agreed to help Xiao Tian Ce study the array in exchange for his promised three favors.
• Xiao Tian Ce told Zhu Kun that the Ancient Void Dragon Clan had split into four Dragon Islands and revealed that Zhu Kun's child was still alive.

Xiao Tian Ce told Zhu Kun that his daughter Zi Yan was safe, then began studying the array sealing Zhu Kun inside Tou She Ancient God's Cave Mansion. Two years later, Xiao Yan arrived in the Jia Ma Empire and went to the Nalan Family, prompting Xiao Tian Ming to question his motives.

• Xiao Tian Ce told Zhu Kun that Zi Yan had been found by the Great Elder of Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy and was doing well, and Zhu Kun thanked him.
• Xiao Tian Ce activated his Mind's Eye and repeatedly studied the grandmaster-level spiritual array on the bronze doors as the days passed.
• Xiao Tian Ming learned that Xiao Yan had entered the Imperial Capital for the Three-Year Agreement and ordered the branch to keep watching Yun Shan.
• Xiao Tian Ming reflected that Xiao Yan had grown to Two-Star Great Dou Master and low fourth-grade alchemist, while Yao Chen had feigned a slumber after a battle with the Heavenly Snake Mansion.
• Xiao Yan learned from Ya Fei that the Nalan Family possessed the seven illusory azure spirit saliva and disguised himself to apply for a job there.
• Xiao Tian Ming heard that Xiao Yan had gone to the Nalan Family and questioned why he had acted before his appointment with Nalan Yanran.

Xiao Tian Ming learned that Xiao Yan had gone to treat Nalan Jie under the name Yan Xiao, while Xiao Tian Ce finally mastered the grandmaster-level Spiritual Array and freed Zhu Kun. The chapter ended with Zhu Kun refusing to explore Tou She Ancient God's Cave Mansion with Xiao Tian Ce and choosing to find his child.

• The Heavenly Secret Tower branch master told Xiao Tian Ming that Xiao Yan was seeking the Nalan Family's Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva while treating Nalan Jie's Brand Poison as Yan Xiao.
• Xiao Tian Ming ordered the branch master not to report on Xiao Yan unless his safety was threatened.
• Xiao Yan used the Green Lotus Core Flame to secure the chance to treat Nalan Jie, attracted Nalan Yanran's curiosity, and drew Mu Zhan's jealousy after clashing with him over Ya Fei.
• After nearly two years of study, Xiao Tian Ce succeeded in understanding the grandmaster-level Spiritual Array and absorbed its spiritual energy into his Token.
• Zhu Kun broke the chains binding him and regained his freedom, then declined Xiao Tian Ce's invitation to explore the Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion so he could find his child.

Xiao Tian Ce secured Zhu Kun’s promise to leave the Heavenly Huang Clan alone, then entered Tou She Ancient God’s Cave Mansion and confronted the Emperor Grade Nascent Pill. After using a prepared grandmaster-level spiritual array to withstand its attack, he activated the Qinglian God-Trapping Array to trap it.

• Xiao Tian Ce warned Zhu Kun not to harm the Heavenly Huang Clan, and Zhu Kun agreed before leaving.
• Xiao Tian Ce opened the ancient Bronze Gate with the incomplete Tou She Ancient God Jade and entered the cave mansion.
• Xiao Tian Ce found heavenly flames and powerful cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, then encountered the Emperor Grade Nascent Pill disguised as Tou She Ancient God.
• The Emperor Grade Nascent Pill attacked Xiao Tian Ce, but he completed his prepared grandmaster-level spiritual array and evaded the strike.
• The Emperor Grade Nascent Pill unleashed a Heaven-Tier High-Level Dou Technique, and Xiao Tian Ce activated the Qinglian God-Trapping Array around them.

Xiao Tian Ce trapped the Emperor Grade Nascent Pill and learned that Origin Qi existed but could not be reached without becoming a Dou Di. After refining the pill and securing it, he tried to break open the Ancient Emperor Stone Statue but failed, leaving the Emperor’s Origin beyond his reach.

• Xiao Tian Ce used the Qinglian God-Trapping Array to bind the Emperor Grade Nascent Pill and questioned him about the cave mansion’s secrets.
• The Emperor Grade Nascent Pill revealed that Origin Qi could let Xiao Tian Ce become a Dou Di, but said Tou She Ancient God had sealed it behind a barrier that only a Dou Di could break.
• The Emperor Grade Nascent Pill taunted Xiao Tian Ce, believing he lacked the Flame Mantra, but Xiao Tian Ce revealed that he already had it and dispersed the pill’s sentience.
• Xiao Tian Ce sealed the Emperor Grade Nascent Pill in a jade bottle and stored it in his Storage Ring.
• Xiao Tian Ce punched the Ancient Emperor Stone Statue, but its protective force repelled the blow without leaving a mark.