Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan prepared to capture the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame by learning Explosive Step, finding Rock-Gnawing Mice to use as bait, and laying a trail of purple liquid. The mist at his cave entrance began to dissipate, signaling that the flame had followed the bait toward him.

• Xiao Yan studied Yun Zhi’s Black Tier, Intermediate Level movement Dou Technique, Explosive Step, and tested the area where the fire beasts appeared.
• Xiao Yan found Rock-Gnawing Mouse burrows, smoked the creatures out, and caught more than a dozen in a sack.
• Xiao Yan released the mice to draw the fire beasts away, then used Explosive Step to enter the guarded territory and scatter purple liquid as bait.
• Xiao Yan left a trail of purple liquid leading to the cave, placed the remaining bait inside, and hid against the ceiling to wait.
• After an hour and a half, Xiao Yan saw the mist at the cave entrance begin to dissipate and realized the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame was approaching.

Xiao Yan tried to devour the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, but the Heavenly Flame overwhelmed his supplies and nearly killed him. As his consciousness faded, a second Divine Pattern awakened and restored his body and Dou Qi.

• Xiao Yan lured the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame into the cave with the purple liquid, swallowed the Ice Heart Pill, and seized its Flame Seed.
• Xiao Yan used his Xiao Clan Divine Pattern to devour the Flame Seed while consuming Qi-Replenishing Pills to sustain his Dou Qi.
• The cave collapsed around Xiao Yan, and the Ice Heart Pill's effects and his Qi-Replenishing Pills ran out before the devouring was complete.
• Xiao Yan's Dou Qi burned away, and as he neared death, he saw an indistinct woman who called him her child and promised to protect him.
• A second, hourglass-shaped Divine Pattern awakened inside the first, healing Xiao Yan and restoring his pills and Dou Qi.

Xiao Yan subdued the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, dramatically increased his strength, and discovered that his dimmed hourglass divine pattern might have rewound his body in time. After retrieving his belongings, he prepared to return to Qingshan Town and check on Xiao Yi Xian.

• Xiao Yan lured the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame into trusting him and subdued it, gaining a blood-red divine pattern and rising from a Three-Star Da Dou Shi to an Eight-Star Great Dou Master.
• Xiao Yan tested his double-pattern divine pattern, reaching the peak of nine stars with its first layer and Two-Star Dou Ling strength with its second, though the second layer quickly consumed his Dou Qi.
• Xiao Yan summoned three Flame Beasts and found that the hourglass divine pattern had gone dim after apparently restoring his body and reviving vanished medicinal effects.
• Xiao Yan wondered whether the hourglass divine pattern came from his mother and decided he would learn his clan’s origins once he became strong enough.
• Xiao Yan retrieved his hidden Storage Ring, changed into fresh clothes, and set off for Qingshan Town, concerned about Xiao Yi Xian.

After escaping Fallen Emperor Gorge, Xiao Yan traveled toward Qingshan Town and stopped at a mercenary camp, where he met Ka Gang’s squad. The camp came under threat from a Forest Wolf Pack just as the group prepared to take watch.

• Xiao Yan left Fallen Emperor Gorge, traveled mostly on foot through the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and headed toward Qingshan Town.
• Xiao Yan approached a campfire to ask for food and met the Blood Battle Mercenary Group, including Ka Gang, Qing Xin, Mo Shi, Mu Lan, and Ling'er.
• Ling'er accused Xiao Yan of sneaking up on the group, but Ka Gang invited him to join them and apologized for her behavior.
• Xiao Yan introduced himself and claimed to have eight-star strength, surprising the mercenaries and provoking Ling'er’s disbelief.
• A series of wolf howls alerted the squad that a Forest Wolf Pack had targeted their camp.

Xiao Yan confronted Ling'er over her hostility as the Blood Battle Mercenary Group fought off Forest Wolves drawn by their capture of a wolf cub. He saved the surrounded mercenaries with Mad Lion's Roar, revealing that he was an eight-star Dou Shi rather than an Eight-Star Dou Zhe.

• Mu Lan admitted the Forest Wolves were pursuing the Blood Battle Mercenary Group because they had captured a Forest Wolf King's cub, and he urged Xiao Yan to escape with Ling'er if the fight went badly.
• The Forest Wolves attacked, and the mercenaries—including Ka Gang, Qing Xin, Mo Shi, and Mu Lan—fought while Ling'er stayed behind Xiao Yan.
• As the mercenaries began to lose ground, Ling'er apologized to Xiao Yan and offered to fight, but he pulled her back and rebuked her for seeking kindness only when she needed help.
• Xiao Yan told the mercenaries to seal their ears and unleashed Mad Lion's Roar, killing dozens of Forest Wolves in one strike.
• The mercenaries realized Xiao Yan was an eight-star Dou Shi, not an Eight-Star Dou Zhe.

After returning to Qingshan Town, Xiao Yan found the Myriad Medicine Pavilion sealed off by a poisonous mist and rushed inside to search for Xiao Yi Xian. He discovered her seemingly dead in her bedroom, but her heart began beating again just as he prepared to carry her away.

• Xiao Yan helped the Blood Battle Mercenary Group defeat the Forest Wolves, then cooked a meal from their meat and refused the squad's rewards.
• The mercenary squad returned to Qingshan Town and parted ways with Xiao Yan, who headed for the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
• Xiao Yan learned that poisonous mist had erupted inside the pavilion, killing some people and leaving others unconscious, while Xiao Yi Xian remained missing.
• Xiao Yan burned through the poisonous mist with the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame and found Xiao Yi Xian lying pale on her bed.
• Xiao Yan mistook the poison around Xiao Yi Xian's mouth and nails for evidence that she had killed herself, but her heart suddenly started beating again.

Xiao Yan rescued Xiao Yi Xian from the poisonous mist consuming the Myriad Medicine Pavilion and took her to a secluded valley in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. As they began to talk about what had happened, Xiao Yi Xian asked whether he had heard of the Woeful Poison Body.

• Xiao Yan used the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame to protect himself from Xiao Yi Xian's poison and found her alive inside the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.
• Xiao Yi Xian confessed that the deadly mist came from her body, and Xiao Yan reassured her that he did not consider her evil.
• Xiao Yan carried Xiao Yi Xian away as mercenaries set fire to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion and flew with her into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
• Xiao Yan brought Xiao Yi Xian to a secluded valley where they settled in his thatched shelter, and he caught and roasted fish for them to eat.
• Xiao Yi Xian asked Xiao Yan whether he had ever heard of the Woeful Poison Body.

Xiao Yi Xian told Xiao Yan that her woeful poison body would eventually kill her, and he promised to seek a cure from Pill King Gu He at the Misty Cloud Sect. After spending a month together, they parted, with Xiao Yan leaving to find a way to save her.

• Xiao Yi Xian revealed her woeful poison body and explained that its growing toxicity would eventually overwhelm and kill her.
• Xiao Yan reassured Xiao Yi Xian that he would not fear or hate her, and he decided to visit the Misty Cloud Sect to seek help from Pill King Gu He.
• Xiao Yan asked Xiao Yi Xian to delay consuming poison as long as she could, and she promised to stay alive.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian spent about a month together while she recovered and advanced to Nine-Star Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Yi Xian gave Xiao Yan a sachet made from flowers and herbs, and Xiao Yan departed using his Flying Dou Technique.

Xiao Yan arrived in Black Rock City to take the First-Rank Alchemist examination, but the Alchemist Guild guards barred him because he lacked a badge or letter of introduction. As another Fourth-Rank Alchemist arrived with a silver-haired girl, Xiao Yan's attention fixed on her.

• Xiao Yan entered Black Rock City, rested at an inn, and set out the next morning to find the Alchemist Guild.
• The guards stopped Xiao Yan at the entrance because he had neither an Alchemist Badge nor a letter of introduction.
• Lin Fei arrived with Master Otto and entered after the guards recognized her and his standing as a Fourth-Rank Alchemist.
• Xiao Yan learned that Master Otto's endorsement allowed Lin Fei to enter, leaving him unsure how to proceed.
• Another Fourth-Rank Alchemist arrived with a mysterious silver-haired girl, and Xiao Yan stared at her.

Xiao Yan tried to enter the Alchemist Guild in Black Rock City for the first-rank examination, but President Frank demanded proof after learning he had studied alchemy on his own. Xiao Yan revealed a blood-red flame and explained that he had subdued a heavenly flame, leaving Frank and the others stunned.

• Xue Mei arrived at the Alchemist Guild with President Frank, determined not to let Lin Fei outdo her in their examination.
• Frank learned that Xiao Yan wanted to take the first-rank alchemist examination without a mentor's recommendation and questioned him about his training.
• Xiao Yan said he had studied Alchemical Notes on his own for several months and had already refined a first-rank pill, prompting Xue Mei and Frank to doubt him.
• Frank offered to recommend Xiao Yan if he could prove he was capable of refining pills.
• Xiao Yan raised a blood-red flame in his palm, astonishing everyone, then clarified that he was not a fourth-rank alchemist and had merely subdued a heavenly flame.

Xiao Yan revealed his Myriad Beast Spirit Flame to Frank, who agreed to recommend him for the First-Rank Alchemist examination. After registering at the Alchemist Guild, Xiao Yan followed Ya Han to the examination room.

• Frank reached toward Xiao Yan's blood-red flame, but Xiao Yan withdrew it and warned him that it could burn anyone else to ashes.
• Xiao Yan identified the flame as the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, ranked twenty-second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, and Frank agreed to recommend him for the examination.
• Xue Mei grew jealous of the attention Frank gave Xiao Yan as they entered the Alchemist Guild and met Otto.
• Xiao Yan registered with receptionist Ya Han, giving his name, age, and Lu Chang as his instructor.
• Ya Han told Xiao Yan that Lu Chang was not in the Guild's records, then led him to the First-Rank Alchemist examination room.

Xiao Yan entered Black Rock City's First-Rank Alchemist examination alongside Lin Fei and Xue Mei, whose expensive cauldrons drew attention. Chairman Frank began the examination by assigning each candidate a random First-Rank Pill recipe and two hours to refine it, leaving the candidates poised to begin.

• Ya Han escorted Xiao Yan to the examination hall, where Teya checked his paperwork and gave him admission number seven.
• Xiao Yan entered the spacious hall and took his place at a station beside Lin Fei and Xue Mei.
• Lin Fei displayed her Red Fire Cauldron, and Xue Mei answered with her Cold Flame Cauldron, impressing the watching alchemists.
• Frank announced that candidates had two hours and three sets of ingredients to refine a First-Rank Pill, then called them forward to draw recipes.

Xiao Yan drew the exceptionally difficult Cyclone Qi Pill formula for the alchemist assessment and began studying and refining it. As he lit his blood-red flame inside the guild’s cauldron, the vessel cracked, leaving his attempt in jeopardy.

• Xu Lin drew the easy Fire Condensing Pill formula, while Zhang Feng drew the difficult Power Condensing Pill formula.
• Fei Lin drew the Power-Enhancing Pill and challenged Lin Fei, while Xue Mei drew the easy Blood Condensing Pill and warned that Xiao Yan might be formidable.
• Xiao Yan drew the authentic, exceptionally difficult Cyclone Qi Pill formula, prompting Frank to regret his bad luck and Otto to question Frank’s interest in him.
• Frank started the timed assessment, and all eleven candidates began refining their pills with three attempts each.
• Xiao Yan studied the Cyclone Qi Pill formula, then lit a blood-red flame in his cauldron, causing cracks to spread across it.

Xiao Yan’s heavenly flame destroyed his examination cauldron, but he formed a replacement from Dou Qi and used it to complete a Cyclone Qi Pill. Lin Fei and Xue Mei’s cauldrons exploded as they rushed to keep pace with him.

• Xiao Yan’s heavenly flame shattered his first-grade cauldron, and Otto and Frank revealed that he possessed the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.
• The examinees crowded around Xiao Yan, while he decided to condense a medicinal cauldron from Dou Qi rather than give up.
• Xiao Yan activated the first stage of his Divine Pattern and formed a Dou Qi cauldron with the help of his heavenly flame.
• Xiao Yan rapidly refined the ingredients and completed a Cyclone Qi Pill, catching it in his hand.
• Lin Fei and Xue Mei increased their flames in response to Xiao Yan’s declaration, and both of their cauldrons exploded.

Xiao Yan passed the First-Rank Alchemist examination and received official status, then agreed to trade a wisp of his heavenly flame to Frank for a fourth-grade pill. Frank could not provide the requested Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill because the Guild lacked purple spirit crystal, but Xiao Yan revealed that he had some.

• Xiao Yan caught Lin Fei and Xue Mei after their cauldrons exploded, then dropped Lin Fei onto the floor while gently setting Xue Mei down.
• Otto declared Lin Fei and Xue Mei's results a draw, and four of the eleven candidates passed the examination with Xiao Yan finishing first.
• Xiao Yan registered as a First-Rank Alchemist and received an alchemist's robe and badge.
• Frank asked Xiao Yan to provide a small wisp of his heavenly flame for the Alchemist Guild and offered one million gold coins and a fourth-grade pill in return.
• Xiao Yan requested a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, but Frank said he lacked purple spirit crystal; Xiao Yan replied that he had some.

Xiao Yan sold a massive piece of purple spirit crystal to the Alchemist Guild and received payment along with a promise to refine Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills. He prepared to hand over a child flame of the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, leaving the little puppy bald after plucking off its flaming fur.

• Otto joined Frank in negotiating to share the cost of acquiring the child flame, while Xue Mei and Lin Fei stayed outside.
• Xiao Yan showed Frank and Otto a human-head-sized piece of purple spirit crystal, which Frank agreed to buy for eight million gold coins and use to refine Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills.
• Frank paid Xiao Yan nine million gold coins, including the one million he had promised, and said the pills would be ready within three days.
• Frank presented Xiao Yan with a fourth-grade White Flame Cauldron that could withstand extreme heat.
• Xiao Yan entered the Divine Pattern Space and plucked a large handful of flaming fur from the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, leaving the little puppy bald.

Xiao Yan entrusted the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame’s child flame to the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild and spent three days cultivating while he waited for his Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill. When the pill arrived, he opened the box and discovered two pills inside.

• Xiao Yan explained how the guild could nourish the child flame, and Frank decided to save it for a future fifth-rank alchemist.
• Xiao Yan returned to the inn and spent three days condensing his Dou Qi, but he remained an Eight-Star Great Dou Master.
• The innkeeper delivered a sealed box from the Alchemist Guild, and Xiao Yan rewarded him with First-Rank Pills before entering seclusion.
• Xiao Yan burned through the box’s Dou Qi seal and found two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills inside.

Xiao Yan discovered that Frank and Otto had each refined a high-quality Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, and he swallowed both at once to accelerate his cultivation. After enduring the pills’ searing effects and using his recovered hourglass divine pattern to restore his condition, he broke through to Dou Ling.

• Xiao Yan recognized the two patterned Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills as gifts from rival alchemists Frank and Otto.
• Xiao Yan left a heavenly flame warning on his door, then swallowed both pills at once and began cultivating.
• The pills’ intense potency burned through Xiao Yan’s body and expanded his dou qi vortex as he endured the pain without using his divine pattern.
• Xiao Yan absorbed enough potency to reach the peak of nine stars, but realized it was insufficient to advance to Dou Ling.
• Xiao Yan activated his hourglass divine pattern to restore his physical condition while retaining his peak nine-star strength, then absorbed the remaining medicinal effects and advanced to Dou Ling.

Xiao Yan stabilized his new Dou Ling cultivation in Black Rock City and prepared to leave after a meal. Lin Fei sent four of her father’s men to force him to meet the city lord, but Xiao Yan quickly defeated them.

• Xiao Yan became a one-star Dou Ling, filled his expanded Dou Qi Vortex, and tested his ability to shape Dou Qi.
• Xiao Yan bathed, changed, and ordered a feast before leaving Black Rock City.
• Four men confronted Xiao Yan at the inn and demanded that he come with them to meet their master.
• Xiao Yan refused, and the men threatened to take him by force.
• Lin Fei revealed to Xue Mei that she had arranged the confrontation to teach Xiao Yan a lesson and bring him to her father, the city lord.
• A violent explosion sent the four men flying from the inn, all trailing smoke and landing in a neat row.

Xiao Yan refused Lin Fei's invitation to a gathering at the City Lord's Mansion until Xue Mei offered him a fast ride to the Imperial Capital on the Xue Family's flying beast. He agreed and arrived with the two women at the imposing mansion.

• Xiao Yan defeated four men who had confronted him, then found Lin Fei and Xue Mei watching nearby.
• Xue Mei explained that the City Lord of Black Rock City had invited Xiao Yan to a gathering, but Xiao Yan declined and said he was heading to the Imperial Capital.
• Lin Fei apologized and begged Xiao Yan to attend because she feared her father's punishment if she failed to deliver the invitation.
• Xue Mei offered the Xue Family's Abyssal Sky to take Xiao Yan to his destination, and he agreed to visit the City Lord's Mansion.
• Xiao Yan, Xue Mei, and Lin Fei rode there in a luxurious carriage and arrived in less than ten minutes.