Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan astonished the Xiao Clan by revealing that he had reached the Stone Tablet’s displayed limit of Nine-Star Dou Zhe, then took Xiao Xun'er to honor his late mother. As they left the Ancestral Grounds, he urged Xun'er not to restrain her own growth for his sake and promised he would catch up with her.

• Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er demonstrated their Dou Qi talent at the clan’s testing, and Xiao Yan arrived to congratulate Xun'er.
• Xiao Ning challenged Xiao Yan to prove his progress, so Xiao Yan tested at the Demon Testing Magic Stone Tablet and received a Nine-Star Dou Zhe result.
• Xiao Yan invited Xiao Xun'er to accompany him to the Ancestral Grounds to honor his mother, Ling Yao, and Xiao Mei watched them leave together.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er offered incense and tended Ling Yao’s grave, where Xun'er noticed the surname on the gravestone.
• As they left the Ancestral Grounds, Xiao Yan told Xun'er she need not hold herself back for him and promised he would catch up; Xun'er said she believed him.

Xiao Yan went to Wutan City to find a birthday gift for Xun'er, while Jia Lie Bi and Oba Pa conspired to assassinate him before he could strengthen the Xiao Clan. The plot ended with Jia Lie Bi arranging a contract with the Shadow Tower as an additional safeguard.

• Xiao Yan decided to visit Wutan City secretly to find a suitable gift for Xun'er's fourteenth birthday.
• Jia Lie Bi told Oba Pa that Xiao Yan's growing talent threatened both the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family.
• Jia Lie Bi and Oba Pa agreed to send their Dou Zhe death warriors to assassinate Xiao Yan, and Oba Pa offered five doses of Qi-Sealing Powder.
• Jia Lie Bi prepared a hundred-thousand-gold-coin payment and ordered a letter delivered to the Shadow Tower to hire an assassin.

Jia Lie Bi arranged an ambush to kill Xiao Yan, tracking his movements through ordinary informants and assembling seventeen Dou Zhe at the Treasure Stall. As the attackers closed in, a girl from the Misty Cloud Sect intervened, leaving Xiao Yan facing the ambush with an unexpected ally.

• Jia Lie Bi used hundreds of informants to follow Xiao Yan and kept Xiao Zhan occupied while death warriors and Ao Ba Family reinforcements prepared to attack.
• Xiao Yan browsed the Treasure Stall for Xun'er's birthday present and bought a pair of Image-Reflecting Pearls after warning the vendor to leave.
• Xiao Yan sensed seventeen Dou Zhe surrounding him and recognized that the opposing major families had likely targeted him.
• Four attackers charged Xiao Yan, but a girl in a Misty Cloud Sect robe repelled them with her Wind Spirit Splitting Sword.
• The girl told Xiao Yan she had intervened because she disliked seeing so many people gang up on one person, not because she meant to help him.

Xiao Yan protected a girl from deathsworn fighters who tried to kill him, revealing that he had reached the Dou Shi realm and defeating them with one attack. The girl escaped the fight unharmed but ended the chapter furious and embarrassed after Xiao Yan held her.

• The girl attacked the deathsworn fighters with her sword and wounded several, then let her guard down when they agreed to leave.
• The fighters ambushed the girl with Qi-Sealing Powder, but Xiao Yan caught her and burned the powder away with his Dou Qi.
• Xiao Yan revealed his Dou Qi Veil and demanded to know who had sent the fighters to kill him.
• The deathsworn fighters attacked Xiao Yan, who used Great Flame Palm to defeat them; the surviving fighters took their own lives.
• Xiao Yan checked on the girl, and she broke free of his embrace and called him a shameless jerk.

Xiao Yan gave Xiao Xun'er a pair of Image-Reflecting Pearls for her birthday after returning from Wutan City. Xiao Xun'er learned that the Jia Lie Family and Ao Ba Family had ordered an assassination against him, but chose to let Xiao Yan handle them; as she faced her imminent return to her family, she asked Ling Ying to secretly prepare an earth-tier fire cultivation method as a parting gift for Xiao Yan.

• Ge Ye reunited with the girl after driving off a Shadow Tower Dou Shi who had been lurking nearby, and the girl left Wutan City with him.
• Xiao Xun'er confronted Xiao Yan when he returned to the Xiao Clan, and he gave her a pair of Image-Reflecting Pearls for her birthday.
• After Xiao Yan left, Xiao Xun'er asked Ling Ying who had targeted him, and Ling Ying identified the Jia Lie Family, the Ao Ba Family, and their Shadow Tower assassin.
• Xiao Xun'er ordered Ling Ying to find the Shadow Tower's headquarters but refused his offer to eliminate the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family, saying Xiao Yan could deal with them himself.
• Ling Ying reminded Xiao Xun'er that she would soon have to return to her family when she advanced to Dou Zhe, and she asked him to secretly obtain an earth-tier fire cultivation method for Xiao Yan.

After Xiao Yan’s attempted assassination, Xiao Zhan called the Xiao Clan’s leaders to decide how to respond, and Xiao Yan revealed his Six-Star Dou Shi strength to secure their support for confronting the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Families. The chapter ended when a guard announced that Nalan Yanran of the Nalan Family had arrived with an old man from the Misty Cloud Sect.

• Xiao Zhan told the Xiao Clan’s elders that more than a dozen powerful Dou Zhe had attacked Xiao Yan at the Treasure Stall, and the elders suspected the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Families.
• The Second and Third Elders argued against taking action, but Xiao Zhan insisted that the Xiao Clan could not ignore the attack on his son.
• Xiao Yan challenged the Third Elder’s objection and revealed that he was a Six-Star Dou Shi, silencing the elders.
• Xiao Yan declared that the strength of the Xiao Clan depended on its strongest member and said the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Families would eventually be uprooted.
• A guard announced that an old man from the Misty Cloud Sect and Nalan Yanran of the Nalan Family were waiting to see Xiao Zhan.

Nalan Yanran arrived at the Xiao Clan and revealed that she rejected her arranged engagement to Xiao Yan, challenging him to prove he was worthy of becoming her husband. Xiao Yan agreed to fight her, while Xiao Xun'er urged him to win without humiliating her too badly.

• Xiao Yan remembered that Nalan Yanran was his childhood fiancée, and Xiao Xun'er teased him about her visit.
• Xiao Zhan welcomed Nalan Yanran and Elder Ge Ye to the Xiao Clan, where Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran recognized each other from the Treasure Stall.
• Nalan Yanran said she rejected the marriage arranged by their grandfathers and wanted to choose her own destiny.
• Nalan Yanran drew her sword and challenged Xiao Yan, while the Xiao Clan members doubted she could defeat the fifteen-year-old Six-Star Dou Shi.
• Xiao Yan asked Xiao Xun'er whether he should win or lose on purpose, and she told him to win without making Nalan Yanran's defeat too embarrassing.

Nalan Yanran challenged Xiao Yan to a duel, hoping to break free of the engagement, but his overwhelming strength secured his victory. Xiao Yan offered to dissolve their engagement, yet Nalan Yanran destroyed the agreement and left, insisting she would remain bound to him unless he divorced her.

• Nalan Yanran came to the Xiao Clan intending to challenge her fate and end her engagement to Xiao Yan.
• Nalan Yanran announced that she was a Nine-Star Dou Zhe, and Xiao Yan revealed that he was a Six-Star Dou Shi.
• Nalan Yanran attacked Xiao Yan, but he caught her sword and defeated her with a gentle tap to her forehead.
• Xiao Yan wrote a Marriage Dissolution Agreement and offered it to Nalan Yanran after she accepted her loss.
• Nalan Yanran tore up the agreement and left with Old Ge, declaring she would not dissolve the engagement unless Xiao Yan gave her a Divorce Letter.
• Xiao Yan wondered aloud about girls’ thoughts, while Xiao Xun’er laughed, understanding Nalan Yanran’s feelings.

Xiao Yan accepted the Misty Cloud Sect’s recommendation but postponed choosing between it and Jia Nan Academy. To eliminate the Jia Lie and Ao Ba families, he planned to fake his death and lure their leaders into a deadly funeral banquet.

• Ge Ye gave Xiao Yan a recommendation letter from the Misty Cloud Sect, and Xiao Yan accepted it while leaving his future options open.
• Xiao Yan proposed spreading a false report that he was dying from his duel with Nalan Yanran and holding a funeral to draw out the Jia Lie and Ao Ba families.
• Xiao Yan revealed that a mole had leaked his movements and told the Xiao Clan to keep the mole alive so he could carry the false news to the two families.
• Xiao Yan instructed Xiao Zhan to act ill and arrange a public funeral outside the Xiao Clan to make the story convincing and keep the enemy leaders from suspecting an ambush.
• Xiao Yan assessed the families’ Dou Shi forces and proposed hiring a Three-Star Great Dou Master from the Shadow Tower so the Xiao Clan could outnumber the enemy leaders at the trap.

The Xiao Clan staged Xiao Yan’s funeral to lure the Jia Lie and Ao Ba families’ leaders into an assassination plot, while Xiao Yan remained alive in an ice coffin. Jia Lie Bi attended with his brothers and the Ao Ba leader, and Xiao Xun'er kept vigil as the targets arrived.

• Rumors of Xiao Yan’s death spread, and Jia Lie Bi confirmed that a spy had seen his body placed in a coffin.
• Jia Lie Bi suspected the Xiao Clan’s apparent weakness was a trap but decided to attend the funeral with his brothers and the Ao Ba Family’s leader.
• The Xiao Clan held the funeral with First Elder Xiao Lie in charge, concealing a plan to eliminate the upper ranks of the Jia Lie and Ao Ba families.
• The Shadow Tower provided two Three-Star Da Dou Shi assassins for free, with the Xiao Clan suspecting Xiao Xun'er had paid for them.
• Xiao Yan lay alive in an ice coffin while Xiao Xun'er kept vigil beside him.
• Jia Lie Bi and the other funeral targets arrived as the Xiao Clan’s trap awaited them.

Nalan Su confronted Nalan Yanran at the Misty Cloud Sect over rumors that she had killed Xiao Yan after demanding a duel. Nalan Yanran explained that Xiao Yan had defeated her and was alive when she left, and Nalan Su promised to correct the story and suppress the rumors.

• A disciple summoned Nalan Yanran to meet her father, Nalan Su, at the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Nalan Su scolded Nalan Yanran for secretly visiting Wutan City and allegedly killing Xiao Yan in a duel.
• Nalan Yanran denied killing Xiao Yan and said he had defeated her in one move before she left.
• Nalan Yanran explained that she had intended to end the engagement by defeating Xiao Yan, but abandoned the plan after losing.
• Nalan Su accepted Nalan Yanran's account, apologized for blaming her, and vowed to explain the truth to Nalan Jie and suppress the rumors.
• Nalan Yanran clenched her fists and vowed to punish whoever had blamed her.

Xiao Yan’s funeral drew Jia Lie Bi and the Jia Lie Family, who came to confirm that Xiao Yan was dead, while the Xiao Clan prepared to strike. Xiao Zhan sealed the venue and declared war on the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Families, but the ambush began with the bald guard killing Jia Lie Xiu.

• Jia Lie Bi arrived at Xiao Yan’s funeral with his family, offered ten thousand gold coins, and confirmed Xiao Yan lay in the ice coffin.
• Jia Lie Ao leered at Xiao Mei and was protected from her by the bald guard, while Xiao Lie warned the visitors to behave.
• Aoba Rui attended in place of Oba Pa and claimed that his elder brother had fallen ill, making Jia Lie Bi uneasy.
• Demon Steel Walls sealed the venue, and Xiao Zhan accused the Jia Lie and Ao Ba Families of assassinating Xiao Yan and declared that he would fight Jia Lie Bi to the death.
• The bald guard stabbed Jia Lie Xiu through the chest, killing one of Jia Lie Bi’s Da Dou Shi before the battle began.

Xiao Yan’s clan’s ambush exposed Jia Lie Bi’s forces to a staged funeral and a coalition of Xiao Clan fighters, Shadow Tower assassins, and mercenaries. Xiao Yan survived the Purple Cloud Leopard’s attack, and Jia Lie Bi was left facing certain defeat as he learned Xiao Yan had used his supposed death as a pretext to destroy the Jia Lie and Ao Ba families.

• A Shadow Tower assassin killed Jia Lie Xiu, while Xiao Ying badly wounded Jia Lie Hu during the confusion over Jia Lie Ao.
• Xiao Yan climbed out of the coffin and revealed that the supposed guests were mercenaries hired by the Xiao Clan, which had also paid the Mittel Family to help set the trap.
• Jia Lie Bi sent his concealed Purple Cloud Leopard after Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan blocked its attack with a dou qi veil and escaped serious injury.
• Xiao Zhan fought and killed the Purple Cloud Leopard, while the Xiao Clan elders and Shadow Tower assassins surrounded Jia Lie Bi’s group and killed Jia Lie Hu and Aoba Rui.
• Xiao Yan told Jia Lie Bi that his apparent death had given the Xiao Clan an excuse to eliminate the two families, and Jia Lie Bi remained the last man standing against them.

Oba Pa went to the Xiao Clan and offered valuable secrets in exchange for sparing the Ao Ba Family. He revealed that he knew the location of the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, a Heavenly Flame, leaving the Xiao Clan to consider his offer.

• Oba Pa realized the Xiao Clan would eventually target the Ao Ba Family and decided to use a family treasure to bargain for their survival.
• The Xiao Clan’s Three Great Elders celebrated taking control of sixty percent of the Jia Lie Family’s businesses, while Xiao Yan remained hidden in plain sight.
• Oba Pa arrived alone at the Xiao Clan’s council hall and offered half of the Ao Ba Family’s businesses.
• Xiao Zhan rejected the offer, arguing that the Xiao Clan could take the businesses regardless.
• Oba Pa offered the Qi-Sealing Powder formula and the coordinates of a treasure in exchange for sparing his family, then identified the treasure as the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.

Xiao Yan learned about the value and danger of heavenly flames after Oba Pa offered the Xiao Clan a map to one in exchange for his family’s survival. Xiao Yan kept the map and wondered whether obtaining a heavenly flame could let him become an alchemist.

• Xiao Xun'er explained that heavenly flames were rare, powerful aids to alchemy and combat, and that the myriad beast spirit flame ranked twenty-second.
• Oba Pa told Xiao Yan that his family’s ancestor had found the flame in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, where an alchemist was burned to death trying to subdue it.
• Oba Pa explained that he had kept the map hoping his son would become a high-ranking alchemist, but offered it to save the Ao Ba Family from its crisis.
• Xiao Zhan accepted Oba Pa’s proposal, and Xiao Xun'er confirmed that the map was genuine, though its coordinates might be slightly outdated.
• Oba Pa promised to deliver the Qi-Sealing Powder formula in three days and left after Xiao Zhan guaranteed his family room to survive.
• Xiao Yan held the map and asked Xiao Xun'er whether a heavenly flame could help him become an alchemist, and she encouraged him.

As the Xiao Clan consolidated its control of Wutan City, Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er shared a farewell moment before her return to awaken her bloodline. On his coming-of-age day, Xiao Yan accepted Xun'er's Earth Tier Flame Manipulation Art and endured an elaborate ceremony reserved for him alone.

• The Xiao Clan consolidated its dominance over Wutan City, while the Ao Ba Family allied with it and Aoba Wen became its exclusive alchemist.
• Xiao Xun'er told Xiao Yan she would soon return to her family after becoming a Dou Zhe, and Xiao Yan promised he would come to her when she needed him.
• Xiao Xun'er gave Xiao Yan the Earth Tier Flame Manipulation Art as a loan, and he accepted it as his coming-of-age gift.
• Xiao Xun'er led Xiao Yan to the ceremonial square, where he reflected that his feelings for her might be more than brotherly.
• Xiao Lie presided over Xiao Yan's special Ancestoral Coming-of-Age Ceremony, which the elders extended to three hours.

After Xun'er left Wutan City, Xiao Yan replaced his cultivation method with the Flame Manipulation Art and rapidly advanced to Two-Star Great Dou Shi. He prepared to leave Wutan City for the Tagor Desert, carrying the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade and planning to bid farewell to his mother.

• Xun'er said goodbye to Xiao Yan and left the Xiao Clan to return to her clan.
• Xiao Yan mastered the Flame Manipulation Art overnight and advanced to Two-Star Great Dou Shi.
• Xiao Yan told Xiao Zhan he planned to leave Wutan City and travel to the Tagor Desert to visit his eldest and second brothers.
• Xiao Zhan entrusted the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade to Xiao Yan and told him to visit the Ancestral Grounds to bid farewell to his mother.

Before leaving Wutan City, Xiao Yan awakened the Xiao Clan’s bloodline power through an encounter with his ancestor Xiao Xuan. He set out to seek Heavenly Flames and strengthen the Clan Mark, carrying a map to the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.

• Xiao Yan visited his mother Ling Yao’s grave, then followed the glow of his Ancient Jade to the Xiao Clan’s Nameless Tomb.
• Xiao Yan met Xiao Xuan’s remnant soul, learned about the Xiao Clan’s decline, and heard of Xiao Xuan’s failed attempt to reach Dou Di.
• Xiao Xuan awakened a single-lined Divine Pattern on Xiao Yan’s forehead and explained that Heavenly Flames could strengthen the Clan Mark.
• Xiao Yan recognized that his map pointed to the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, ranked twenty-second among the Heavenly Flames.
• Xiao Yan bade farewell to his mother again and departed Wutan City, planning to travel through the Magical Beast Mountain Range toward the Tagor Desert.

Xiao Yan reached Qingshan Town on his way to the Heavenly Flames location deep in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and learned about the town’s famous physician, Xiao Yi Xian. He secured a place in the mercenary party accompanying her by demonstrating his strength.

• Xiao Yan arrived in Qingshan Town after a three-day journey and stopped at a teahouse to rest.
• The shopkeeper told Xiao Yan that Xiao Yi Xian was Qingshan Town’s renowned physician and introduced her as the creator of the teahouse’s heart-cleansing tea.
• Xiao Yan saw Xiao Yi Xian arrive at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion and learned that she was organizing mercenaries to accompany her into the mountains to gather herbs.
• Xiao Yan joined the recruitment crowd and broke a tree with one punch to prove he met the Two-Star Dou Zhe requirement.
• The recruiting mercenary accepted Xiao Yan into Xiao Yi Xian’s party.

Xiao Yan joined a mercenary expedition into the Magical Beast Mountain Range, where he impressed the group with his strength and encountered a rare fruit near a cliff. The chapter ended with him accidentally catching Xiao Yi Xian’s hand as they both reached for it.

• The Wolf Head Mercenary Group’s young commander tried to court Xiao Yi Xian and ordered the mercenaries onward into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
• A Fallen Leaf Snake poisoned a mercenary, but Xiao Yi Xian treated him with her antidote.
• The party fought several magical beasts, and Xiao Yan drove back an Earth Demon Ape with one punch.
• At the herb-gathering grounds, the young commander made Xiao Yan and other temporary mercenaries clear vegetation while his own men rested.
• Xiao Yan found a fragrant red fruit growing beside a cliff and accidentally caught Xiao Yi Xian’s hand as they both reached for it.