Chapter Summaries

Xiao Qian and Xiao Xun'er discussed their ambitions and unequal positions as the Xiao Clan prepared to receive Jia Lie Bi’s apology. Xiao Yan summoned them to the Family Council Hall when Jia Lie Bi arrived with an Otto Family witness.

• Xiao Yu chased Xiao Yan through the breakfast room over his behavior the previous night, while Xiao Xun'er told her Xiao Qian had been badly injured protecting Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan worried about Xiao Qian’s injury and grew angry at the Jia Lie Family; Xiao Qian said Jia Lie Bi would soon come to the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Qian walked with Xiao Xun'er and asked about her future and why she had come to the Xiao Clan, but she gave him only a partial answer.
• Xiao Qian told Xiao Xun'er that reaching the continent’s summit was a privilege worth working for, while she said girls did not necessarily want that.
• Xiao Yan announced that Jia Lie Bi was approaching the clan gates to apologize and compensate the Xiao Clan, then pulled Xiao Qian toward the Family Council Hall as Xiao Xun'er watched them go.

Xiao Qian’s plan turned Jia Lie Bi’s attempt to use him as a hostage into the deaths of Jia Lie Bi and Jia Lie Ao, leaving the Xiao Clan to attack the Jia Lie forces. Xiao Zhan then declared that the Jia Lie Family would be wiped out and challenged the Otto Family to object.

• Xiao Zhan demanded the marketplace deeds from Jia Lie Bi before he could take Jia Lie Ao away.
• Jia Lie Bi seized Xiao Qian as a hostage and dragged him toward the gate, while Xiao Xun’er waited for a chance to intervene.
• Jia Lie Ao stabbed Jia Lie Bi, and Xiao Qian followed with a lethal strike at the gate.
• Jia Lie Bi stabbed Jia Lie Ao in a final act of revenge, and both father and son died.
• Xiao Qian left the aftermath to Xiao Zhan, who ordered the Xiao Clan forces to attack the Jia Lie Family’s elite troops.
• Xiao Zhan told the Otto Family that the Jia Lie Family would cease to exist and asked whether they objected.

After the Xiao Clan crushed the Jia Lie Family, Xiao Qian returned to cultivation while the clan’s fame spread through Wutan City. A year later, Xiao Yan’s cultivation had fallen to third-stage dou qi, shocking the clan and its guests.

• The Otto Family head accused Xiao Zhan of scheming, while Xiao Zhan privately credited Xiao Qian’s abilities for the Xiao Clan’s victory over the Jia Lie Family.
• Xiao Qian told Xiao Xun'er he disliked relying on schemes and preferred to destroy anyone who opposed him with a punch.
• News of the Jia Lie Family’s defeat spread through Wutan City, and Xiao Qian resumed cultivation as the Xiao Clan became the city’s leading power.
• A year later, Xiao Yan warned Xiao Qian that the next day’s dou qi test would bring a shock.
• At the testing square, the Testing Stone revealed that Xiao Yan had only third-stage dou qi, and he admitted his cultivation had steadily fallen over the past year.

After Xiao Yan lost his Dou Qi, Xiao Qian revealed an astonishing twenty-seventh stage of Dou Qi, shifting the clan and city's attention away from Xiao Yan's fall. The three friends left together, and Xiao Yan explained that his cultivated Dou Qi kept disappearing while Xiao Qian admitted he could not advance to Dou Zhe.

• Xiao Yan left the testing platform in despair until Xiao Qian and Xiao Xun'er encouraged him to keep believing in his return.
• Xiao Qian tested at the ninth stage of Dou Qi, then used his three dantians to display the eighteenth and twenty-seventh stages, shocking the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Qian told the crowd that they did not understand the world of geniuses, then took Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er out for drinks.
• News of Xiao Qian's twenty-seventh stage spread through Wutan City and overshadowed discussion of Xiao Yan's lost Dou Qi.
• In a private room, Xiao Yan told Xiao Qian and Xiao Xun'er that his Dou Qi vanished whenever he cultivated, while Xiao Qian revealed that he had multiple dantians but could not break through to Dou Zhe.

Xiao Qian followed Xiao Xun'er on a nighttime search of Xiao Zhan's bedroom, hoping to learn what she had come to the Xiao Clan to find. After they were nearly caught and hid together, Xiao Qian kissed her, then carried her away across the rooftops.

• Xiao Qian spotted a masked figure leaving Xiao Xun'er's room and pursued the figure through the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Qian discovered that the night-walker was Xiao Xun'er, secretly searching Xiao Zhan's bedroom for a hidden ancestral treasure.
• Xiao Qian and Xiao Xun'er hid behind a folding screen when a noise interrupted Xiao Zhan's sleep.
• Xiao Qian pulled Xiao Xun'er into an embrace and kissed her while they remained concealed from Xiao Zhan.
• Xiao Qian carried Xiao Xun'er out the window and across the rooftops after Xiao Zhan's snoring resumed.

Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Qian shared a tender moment before she revealed that the Gu Clan had sent her to find the Tou She Ancient God Jade, including the piece held by the Xiao Clan. Her honesty opened Xiao Qian’s eighth dantian, but their disagreement over Gu Yuan left them in conflict.

• Xiao Qian embraced Xiao Xun'er on the rooftop, and she asked whether he would return with her to the Gu Clan after her mission.
• Xiao Xun'er explained that her mission concerned the Tou She Ancient God Jade, and an eighth golden chain entered Xiao Qian and opened his eighth dantian.
• Xiao Xun'er revealed that the Gu Clan held one jade piece and that the Xiao Clan possessed another, while the Gu Clan had secretly protected the declining clan.
• Xiao Qian inferred that Xiao Xun'er was also meant to take the Xiao Clan's jade, and he criticized Gu Yuan for claiming the Gu Clan would only safeguard it.
• Xiao Xun'er protested that Xiao Qian was prejudiced against her father, while Xiao Qian silently recalled Gu Yuan's suppression of him.

Over three years, Xiao Yan remained stuck at the third stage of Dou Qi while Xiao Qian advanced rapidly and devoted himself to building a puppet. At the clan test, Xiao Xun'er reached the ninth stage, and she joined Xiao Qian in his courtyard as he prepared to let her sculpt the puppet's face.

• One year after Xiao Yan's decline, he angrily told Xiao Qian to stop defending and pitying him, and Xiao Qian walked away as Xiao Yan blamed himself.
• At the clan tests two and three years later, Xiao Yan remained at the third stage while Xiao Qian's announced strength rose to the forty-fifth stage; Xiao Qian missed the third test.
• Xiao Xun'er reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi, then went to Xiao Qian's courtyard and found him working on a humanoid puppet.
• Xiao Qian told Xiao Xun'er he had reached the seventy-second stage and explained that he was constructing a bone-based puppet body capable of wielding his magic core's power.
• Xiao Qian said the finished puppet could wield at least Dou Zong strength, and Xiao Xun'er eagerly persuaded him to let her sculpt its face.

Xiao Qian learned that Nalan Yanran had come to the Xiao Clan intending to break off her engagement to Xiao Yan, but she unexpectedly invited Xiao Qian to join the Misty Cloud Sect. He was left baffled by the offer and by the mysterious resonance his dantians felt near Nalan Yanran.

• Xiao Qun'er told Xiao Qian that Nalan Yanran viewed her engagement to Xiao Yan as a stain on her life and had come to erase it.
• Xiao Qian felt an inexplicable resonance in his nine dantians while watching Nalan Yanran, who noticed his gaze and stared back coldly.
• Nalan Yanran approached Xiao Qian and asked whether he was the Xiao Clan's renowned young genius with forty-five stages of Dou Qi.
• Nalan Yanran surprised the assembly by asking Xiao Qian to join the Misty Cloud Sect, and Ge Ye learned she was following orders he was not permitted to question.

Nalan Yanran came to the Xiao Clan to invite Xiao Qian to the Misty Cloud Sect and dissolve her engagement to Xiao Yan, but Xiao Xun'er forced her to abandon the invitation. Xiao Yan rejected Nalan Yanran, declared he would grow stronger and confront the Misty Cloud Sect in three years, and left after Xiao Zhan dismissed her; Xiao Qian also rejected her overture.

• Xiao Qian questioned Nalan Yanran's invitation, and Xiao Xun'er said he would not go, intimidating Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye until Ge Ye stopped her from pressing the matter.
• Ge Ye asked Xiao Zhan for Xiao Yan, then announced that the Misty Cloud Sect wanted Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran's engagement dissolved.
• Xiao Yan arrived, accused Nalan Yanran of humiliating his father and him, and refused to agree to her breaking off the engagement.
• Xiao Yan wrote "Repudiated" on paper with his bloody handprint, cast Nalan Yanran out of the Xiao Clan, and vowed to face the Misty Cloud Sect in three years.
• Xiao Zhan dismissed Nalan Yanran, and Ge Ye led her party away after she apologized and said she would visit Xiao Qian again.
• Xiao Qian told Nalan Yanran not to bother visiting because he had no interest in the Misty Cloud Sect.

Xiao Qian defended the Xiao Clan’s dignity by defeating a Misty Cloud Sect disciple with one punch, then challenged Nalan Yanran. Nalan Yanran accepted, determined to defend her sect’s reputation, and the chapter ended before their fight began.

• Xiao Qian asked Xiao Zhan for permission to handle the insult, and Xiao Zhan agreed.
• Xiao Qian faced the Misty Cloud Sect disciple and knocked him unconscious with a single punch.
• Ge Ye explained that Xiao Qian’s Dou Qi rivaled that of a Six-Star Dou Zhe despite him not reaching the Dou Zhe realm.
• Xiao Qian mocked Ge Ye and challenged Nalan Yanran after Ge Ye called the defeated disciple only average.
• Nalan Yanran drew her Emerald Long Sword and prepared to fight Xiao Qian to defend her teacher and sect.

Xiao Qian defeated Nalan Yanran despite limiting himself to Ninth Stage Dou Qi, then beat her until Ge Ye intervened. After Xiao Qian showed Nalan Yanran her battered reflection, she fainted, leaving the square stunned.

• Xiao Qian blocked Nalan Yanran's sword and used his superior combat instincts to overcome her Willow Floss Movement Technique.
• Nalan Yanran unleashed the Wind-Form Spirit-Splitting Sword, but Xiao Qian continued to pressure her and left her wounded.
• Nalan Yanran lost control and attacked recklessly, allowing Xiao Qian to strike her down.
• Nalan Yanran tried to resume fighting, and Xiao Qian knocked away her sword and beat her until Ge Ye rescued her.
• Xiao Qian showed Nalan Yanran her bruised face in Xiao Xun'er's mirror, and she spat blood and fainted.

After Xiao Qian humiliated Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan revealed that his ability to cultivate had returned and vowed to repay those who had scorned him. The next morning, Xiao Qian received a letter from Nalan Yanran, and its contents left him shaken enough to destroy it before Xiao Xun'er could read it.

• Xiao Xun'er wondered why Nalan Yanran had approached Xiao Qian, and Xiao Qian suspected the Misty Cloud Sect wanted to recruit him because of his nine dantians.
• Xiao Yan told Xiao Qian that his talent had returned and he could cultivate again, then thanked him for his support and vowed to make Nalan Yanran pay when their three-year agreement came due.
• Nalan Yanran gave Ge Ye a letter to deliver to Xiao Qian, and Ge Ye left it at the Xiao Clan after avoiding the humiliation of entering the compound.
• Xiao Xun'er suspected Nalan Yanran was still trying to recruit Xiao Qian, but Xiao Qian froze after reading her letter and hid its contents from her.
• Xiao Qian shredded the letter with Dou Qi, leaving Xiao Xun'er alarmed about what it had said and how it might affect their relationship.

Xiao Qian went to confront Nalan Yanran about the cryptic sentence in her letter, while Xiao Xun'er struggled with the distance she felt growing between them. Nalan Yanran revealed that Misty Cloud Sect Great Elder Yun Leng had instructed her to invite Xiao Qian to join the sect and use the sentence if he refused.

• Xiao Qian told Xiao Xun'er to cultivate at home and left, while she decided not to have Ling Ying follow him.
• Xiao Qian visited Ge Ye and went to Nalan Yanran's room to ask what the sentence in her letter meant.
• Nalan Yanran demanded that Xiao Qian kneel and apologize, and he pinned her against the door and threatened to kill her if she pointed her sword at him again.
• Nalan Yanran said she did not know the sentence's meaning but revealed that Yun Leng had told her to invite Xiao Qian to join the Misty Cloud Sect and use the words if he refused.
• Xiao Qian concluded that the matter was more complicated than Xun'er had said and dismissed Yun Leng as unqualified to interfere.

Xiao Xun'er struggled with jealousy and insecurity after Xiao Qian returned from meeting Nalan Yanran, then was hurt when he said he might visit the Misty Cloud Sect and could not reveal why. As she wrestled with her feelings beneath the moon, Xiao Qian discovered that all nine of his dantians had awakened and the golden chains binding them had begun to crack.

• Xiao Xun'er anxiously waited for Xiao Qian to return while Ling Ying knelt nearby, then greeted Xiao Qian with tea when he arrived.
• Xiao Qian reassured Xiao Xun'er about Nalan Yanran but admitted he might visit the Misty Cloud Sect and refused to explain what he had learned.
• Xiao Xun'er left for her room, and later reflected on their emotional distance before breaking down alone at the stone table.
• Xiao Qian discovered that all nine dantians had awakened and that cracks in their golden chains gave him a chance to advance to Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Qian realized the chains represented Xiao Xun'er's feelings for him and wondered what their breaking would mean.

Nalan Yanran challenged Xiao Qian again, but he beat her and left her bruised. Xiao Xun'er helped her recover, then revealed her fierce determination not to let anyone take Xiao Qian from her.

• Nalan Yanran arrived at Xiao Qian's courtyard and demanded another fight, offering rewards until he agreed to fight for three fourth-order magical beast skeletons.
• Xiao Qian defeated Nalan Yanran and left her with superficial injuries while the onlookers discussed the fight.
• Xiao Xun'er helped Nalan Yanran into the courtyard and gave her tea to take with a healing pill.
• Nalan Yanran told Xiao Xun'er that Xiao Qian had refused to join the Misty Cloud Sect, and Xiao Xun'er reacted with surprise and hidden joy.
• When Nalan Yanran asked about her relationship with Xiao Qian, Xiao Xun'er admitted she did not know, then declared that she would not let anyone take him away.

Nalan Yanran trained with Xiao Qian for half a month and prepared to return to the Misty Cloud Sect, while Xiao Xun'er reluctantly allowed him to leave. Xiao Qian promised to return when he could stand as her equal, but defined their bond as companionship only.

• Xiao Xun'er warned Nalan Yanran not to covet Xiao Qian and claimed she could make the Misty Cloud Sect disappear from the Jia Ma Empire.
• Nalan Yanran kept challenging Xiao Qian each morning for half a month and eventually reached four-star Dou Zhe.
• Nalan Yanran said she was returning to the Misty Cloud Sect, and Xiao Qian agreed to go there after three more days.
• Xiao Xun'er allowed Xiao Qian to leave, and he promised to return when he could stand before her as an equal.
• Xiao Xun'er asked what they were to each other and whether he would stay with her forever, and Xiao Qian said he would remain her companion, but only her companion.

Xiao Qian rejected Xiao Xun'er’s love, insisting that romance would hinder his pursuit of power, but Xiao Xun'er returned the next day and persuaded him to share a pure love with her. They embraced, leaving their future together unresolved in the final three days.

• Xiao Qian told Xiao Xun'er he would avoid romantic attachment so he could pursue power without emotional burdens.
• Xiao Qian said their ten years together remained precious memories, but he would keep moving forward; Xiao Xun'er left in tears.
• Xiao Qian stood alone through the night, and Xiao Xun'er returned the next day with renewed resolve.
• Xiao Xun'er asked Xiao Qian to set aside their reservations and family feud to share a pure love and make memories together.
• Xiao Qian agreed, and Xiao Xun'er embraced him as they set aside the obstacles between them.

Xiao Qian and Xiao Xun'er spent the first two days of their three-day date in Wutan City, sharing gifts and attending an auction. As sunset fell after the second day, Xun'er suggested they spend their final day drinking together.

• Xiao Qian and Xiao Xun'er explored Wutan City's streets and market, where Xiao Qian bought her a Purple Jade Hairpin and placed it in her hair.
• Xiao Qian and Xiao Xun'er attended an auction at the Wutan City branch of the Mittel Auction House, where Ya Fei presented a Purple Cloud Immortal Dress.
• Xiao Xun'er bid twenty-five thousand gold coins for the dress and told Xiao Qian it was a gift for him.
• Xiao Qian and Xiao Xun'er left the auction together, and Xun'er suggested they go drinking on their last day as a couple.

Xiao Qian and Xiao Xun'er shared a romantic meal before saying a painful farewell at the Xiao Clan entrance. Xiao Qian left with his puppet and the method Xiao Xun'er had prepared, while the chains in his dantian shattered.

• Xiao Qian met Xiao Xun'er at the restaurant, and they shared food, wine, stories, and a dance before kissing.
• Xiao Xun'er returned Xiao Qian's puppet, which she had made to resemble herself, and gave him a jade slip explaining how to refine its meridians.
• Xiao Xun'er told Xiao Qian they had broken up and were no longer lovers, then embraced him as they faced their parting.
• Xiao Qian left with the puppet as Xiao Xun'er watched him disappear, and the chains in his dantian shattered.

Aboard a Flying Magical Beast, Xiao Qian withdrew into memories of the girl who had left, while Nalan Yanran waited for him to accept her challenge. Xiao Qian realized how deeply the girl’s presence had shaped his daily life, and the chapter left him grieving her absence.

• Ge Ye warned the young man not to provoke Xiao Qian before they learned why the Great Elder valued him.
• Nalan Yanran demanded that Xiao Qian accept her challenge, but he refused and named his puppet Fairy Spirit Puppet.
• Nalan Yanran speculated that Xiao Qian had made the puppet because of forbidden feelings for his sister, and Xiao Qian ignored her.
• Xiao Qian froze upon finding his teacup empty, then slowly poured tea after Nalan Yanran broke the silence.
• Xiao Qian saw his disheveled reflection and realized the girl’s absence had exposed how much she had become part of his life.