Chapter Summaries

Xiao Qian challenged the Misty Cloud Sect disciples at the mountain gate, and the ancient stone stele revealed an unprecedented cultivation result. Nalan Yanran, Lin Ye, Liu Ling, and the stewards gathered in astonishment as the stele displayed eighty-one stages of Dou Qi and could not assign a rating.

• Xiao Qian taunted Ling Feng and the Misty Cloud Sect disciples after Ling Feng refused to stop him.
• The stone stele recorded Xiao Qian's skeletal age as fifteen, his Dou Qi as ninth stage, and his test time as one hour with an SS rating.
• Xiao Qian released his Dou Qi, causing the stele to display increasingly high readings until it reached eighty-one stages and declared its rating unassignable.
• Nalan Yanran arrived and stared in disbelief at Xiao Qian's result, which surpassed her record and showed eighty-one stages of Dou Qi.
• Lin Ye, Liu Ling, and several Dou Ling-level stewards arrived at the mountain gate to witness the astonishing display.

Xiao Qian’s extraordinary test result prompted Elder Yun Lei to offer him direct admission to the Inner Sect, while Nalan Yanran defended him and the sect’s rules. Xiao Qian refused, revealing that he had only taken the test for fun and never intended to join the Misty Cloud Sect.

• Yun Lei, Yun Sheng, and Yun Li arrived as Xiao Qian finished his test, and Xiao Qian challenged the elders over their apparent support for Nalan Yanran.
• Nalan Yanran shielded Xiao Qian, urged the elders to enforce the sect rules, and rejected Ling Feng’s claim that the disciples had acted for her sake.
• Yun Lei praised Nalan Yanran, then offered Xiao Qian direct admission to the Inner Sect after learning that the test stele could not measure his talent.
• Ling Feng protested the exception, and Yun Lei sent him flying with dou qi and rebuked him for questioning an elder.
• Nalan Yanran supported Xiao Qian’s admission, but Xiao Qian said he had only taken the test for fun and did not intend to join the Misty Cloud Sect.

Xiao Qian initially refused to join the Misty Cloud Sect, but Great Elder Yun Leng offered him a way to remove his restraints if he became the Sect Master's direct disciple within a year. Xiao Qian accepted, and after Elder Yun Lei assigned him an Inner Sect place, Yang Yuan and Lin Ye challenged the decision.

• Xiao Qian told Nalan Yanran he had come only to learn why she had said those words, then Yun Leng contacted him and claimed the sect could remove his restraints.
• After Yun Leng mentioned the Nihility Devouring Flame, Xiao Qian asked what he needed to do and learned he had one year to become the Sect Master's direct disciple by ranking among the Inner Sect's top three and approaching the Gate of Life and Death.
• Xiao Qian agreed to join the Misty Cloud Sect, and Elder Yun Lei replaced Yang Yuan with him as the Inner Sect's thirty-second-ranked disciple.
• Yang Yuan protested being sent back to the Outer Sect, while Lin Ye argued that Xiao Qian should remain there until he reached Dou Zhe and proved himself through a challenge.

Xiao Qian revealed that he had already advanced to Dou Zhe, then used the Testing Stone Stele to display a nine-star Dou Zhe result at age fifteen. Yang Yuan accused him of cheating and challenged him to a duel, and Xiao Qian beckoned him to come forward.

• Xiao Qian dismissed the difficulty of advancing to Dou Zhe, angering the disciples and prompting Lin Ye to point out that this year's Qi Gathering Powder had already been distributed.
• Xiao Qian announced that he had already broken through, but discovered that his cultivation limit had been locked again and he could no longer increase his Dou Qi.
• Xiao Qian placed his hand on the Testing Stone Stele, which displayed that he was a fifteen-year-old nine-star Dou Zhe.
• Yang Yuan challenged Xiao Qian to a duel and accused him of cheating when Xiao Qian seemed reluctant to respond.
• Xiao Qian denied Yang Yuan's accusation with a calm gesture and told him, "Come."

Xiao Qian defeated Yang Yuan with his golden true fire and asked Elder Yun Lei to let him enter the Inner Sect. Yang Yuan then rose after breaking through to Dou Shi, leaving Xiao Qian facing a much stronger opponent.

• Yang Yuan unleashed his wind-attribute Dou Qi and attacked Xiao Qian, but Xiao Qian dodged his strike and sent him flying with a knee to the abdomen.
• Yang Yuan used the Exploding Wave Art, but Xiao Qian’s true-fire-coated palm cut through the wind surge and struck his sword.
• Xiao Qian’s blow bent Yang Yuan’s sword into his chest, sending him crashing across the plaza and leaving him motionless.
• Xiao Qian asked Elder Yun Lei if he could enter the Inner Sect, and Elder Yun Lei praised his strength and agreed.
• Yang Yuan struggled to his feet and erupted with more than ten times his previous Dou Qi, revealing that he had broken through to Dou Shi.

Xiao Qian continued fighting Yang Yuan after Yang Yuan broke through to Dou Shi, using his Devouring Attribute to weaken Yang Yuan’s Dou Qi Veil while appearing to struggle. He unleashed the Heaven-Burning Claw at the end of the chapter, leaving the outcome of the attack unresolved.

• Yang Yuan formed a complete Dou Qi Veil and launched a fierce sword assault on Xiao Qian, who accepted Nalan Yanran’s concern and chose to keep fighting.
• Yang Yuan’s attacks drove Xiao Qian onto the defensive, while the onlookers cheered and Lin Ye hoped Xiao Qian would remain in the Outer Sect.
• Xiao Qian secretly used his left palm’s Devouring Attribute to weaken Yang Yuan’s Dou Qi Veil with each collision.
• Elder Yun Lei and Elder Yun Li noticed Yang Yuan’s defenses weakening, and Yun Lei grew more impressed by Xiao Qian’s skill and experience.
• Xiao Qian gathered Golden Flame into the enormous Heaven-Burning Claw and sent it crashing toward Yang Yuan.

Xiao Qian defeated Yang Yuan with a hidden surge of power and earned direct admission to the Inner Sect. Nalan Yanran took him to arrange his residence, while Liu Ling and Lin Ye recognized him as a potential rival.

• Xiao Qian's Golden Flame claw shattered Yang Yuan's Dou Qi Veil and blasted him across the field.
• Elder Yun Lei praised Xiao Qian's combat skill as the crowd watched Yang Yuan fall.
• Nalan Yanran approached Xiao Qian and asked him to keep sparring with her, while Liu Ling arrived with news of her advancement pills and grew jealous of their closeness.
• Xiao Qian helped the wounded Yang Yuan up and handed him to a steward before Elder Yun Lei admitted him to the Inner Sect at thirty-second place.
• Nalan Yanran seized Xiao Qian's wrist and took him to arrange his supplies and accommodation beside her residence.
• Lin Ye warned Liu Ling that Xiao Qian could threaten the top Inner Sect disciples, and Elder Yun Lei welcomed the turmoil Xiao Qian might bring.

Yun Shan spoke with Protector Wu about Xiao Qian’s year of observation and the promise to help Yun Shan break through to Dou Zong once Xiao Qian joined them. After discovering three chains in his dantians when he looked at Nalan Yanran, Xiao Qian tested her feelings by taking her hand, and she fled into her house in embarrassment.

• Protector Wu told Yun Shan that Xiao Qian would be observed for a year and promised Yun Shan a breakthrough to Dou Zong when Xiao Qian joined them.
• Yun Shan asked whether Protector Wu possessed the Nihility Devouring Flame, and Protector Wu angrily warned him not to ask about it.
• Nalan Yanran brought Xiao Qian to her residence and waited for his reaction, but he stared at her strangely.
• Xiao Qian examined his Nine Dantians and found three emerald chains, realizing that Nalan Yanran had become entangled in his feelings after Xun'er.
• Xiao Qian took Nalan Yanran’s hand, and she hurried inside, telling him to use his token to open the neighboring house and not get handsy with her again.

Nalan Yanran struggled to deny her growing affection for Xiao Qian before bringing him to the Inner Sect dining hall. There, she defended him against Lin Ye’s condescension, while Xiao Qian laughed at her unexpected use of Xiao Yan’s words.

• Nalan Yanran argued with her reflection about her feelings for Xiao Qian, then hurried out when he called for her.
• Nalan Yanran brought Xiao Qian to the Inner Sect dining hall, where Lin Ye mocked him for boasting after defeating lower-ranked disciples.
• Nalan Yanran challenged Lin Ye’s double standard and defended Xiao Qian by saying he was younger and should not be underestimated.
• Xiao Qian laughed at Nalan Yanran for using Xiao Yan’s words to defend him, and she stamped on his toes in embarrassment.
• Lin Ye grew sullen and ate in silence as Nalan Yanran turned away, her reddened ears betraying her embarrassment.

Xiao Qian’s appetite brought him and Nalan Yanran closer as she offered him her meal allowance and invited him to eat with her from then on. Liu Ling saw their intimacy, confronted them, and stormed off after Xiao Qian boasted that he would become a personal disciple.

• Nalan Yanran watched Xiao Qian devour the food, scolded him, and found herself tenderly drawn to him despite their playful scuffle over her touch.
• Lin Ye told Liu Ling that Nalan Yanran was flirting with Xiao Qian, prompting Liu Ling to abandon his pill-making after an explosion and head for the Dining Hall.
• At the Dining Hall, Nalan Yanran offered Xiao Qian her full allowance of magical beast meat and moved her meal to his table so they could eat together.
• Xiao Qian called Nalan Yanran his meal ticket and asked how much food the top-ranked Inner Sect disciple received; after learning it was fifty jin, he said he would become a personal disciple.
• Liu Ling accused Xiao Qian of shameless boasting, but Nalan Yanran rebuked him, and he left after threatening them.

Xiao Qian and Nalan Yanran fought playfully at the training grounds, where he used a trick to defeat and tickle her. After she fled, Xiao Qian unlocked his fourth Dantian and wondered if tormenting Nalan Yanran was the way to unlock it.

• Xiao Qian casually complained that a meal had not helped him advance, then challenged Nalan Yanran to fight.
• Nalan Yanran showed off her improved Willow Floss Movement Technique and repeatedly touched Xiao Qian's head while dodging his attacks.
• Xiao Qian shattered the ground to throw Nalan Yanran off balance, tackled her, and tickled her until she escaped by headbutting him.
• Nalan Yanran ran off promising revenge, and Xiao Qian wondered whether he had gone too far.
• A strange chain unlocked Xiao Qian's fourth Dantian, prompting him to suspect that tormenting Nalan Yanran had triggered it.

Ling Qingzhu reappeared through the Fairy Spirit Puppet and introduced herself to Xiao Qian, who asked her to teach him a martial art. She demonstrated the ninth-grade Nine Heavens Falling Blossom Dance, ending with a powerful strike that surged toward him.

• Ling Qingzhu explained that she could inhabit the Fairy Spirit Puppet through a special soul contract, while Xiao Qian admitted he had not repaired its meridians.
• Xiao Qian and Ling Qingzhu introduced themselves and discussed his rapid cultivation and his earlier sparring with Nalan Yanran.
• Xiao Qian asked Ling Qingzhu to teach him a martial art, and she agreed to demonstrate the Nine Heavens Falling Blossom Dance despite the puppet's restricted meridians.
• Ling Qingzhu performed the dance, then sent a powerful storm-like attack rushing toward Xiao Qian.

Ling Qingzhu demonstrated Flower Shadow Shatter to Xiao Qian and began teaching him its movements and energy circulation. When Xiao Qian struggled to adapt the technique to Dou Qi, Ling Qingzhu touched the back of his neck to guide him, leaving him to try the crucial movement.

• Xiao Qian complained that Ling Qingzhu's first martial art seemed too feminine, so she offered to teach him the more forceful Flower Shadow Shatter.
• Ling Qingzhu demonstrated Flower Shadow Shatter, and Xiao Qian eagerly asked her to teach him.
• Ling Qingzhu explained the technique's movements and Origin Energy routes, while Xiao Qian struggled to adapt them to his Dou Qi.
• Ling Qingzhu guided Xiao Qian's movements through her soul power using a branch, helping him improve but not overcome the technique's key bottleneck.
• Ling Qingzhu touched the back of Xiao Qian's neck to demonstrate how his Dou Qi should form and disperse a vortex.

Xiao Qian learned to apply Ling Qingzhu’s martial arts and discussed how Dou Techniques and martial arts could improve one another. After Ling Qingzhu left, Xiao Qian practiced through the night, keeping Nalan Yanran awake and unsettled by their earlier touch.

• Xiao Qian quickly grasped how to guide Origin Energy and demonstrated a powerful six-petaled martial art to Ling Qingzhu.
• Ling Qingzhu explained the Tianxuan Continent’s cultivation realms, and Xiao Qian compared them with the Dou Qi realms.
• Xiao Qian and Ling Qingzhu analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of martial arts and Dou Techniques and discussed ways to combine their advantages.
• Xiao Qian offered Ling Qingzhu a partnership, but she declined his handshake and said she looked forward to his guidance before leaving to recover her soul power.
• Xiao Qian returned to his courtyard and practiced the martial art for over half the night, while Nalan Yanran lay awake thinking about their earlier skin contact.

Xiao Qian sparred with Nalan Yanran, then learned how the Misty Cloud Sect restricted access to its cultivation methods and combat skills. Nalan Yanran brought him to a compatibility test for the sect’s core technique, Extreme Wind, where Lin Ye appeared to mock him.

• Xiao Qian used Nalan Yanran’s attacks to practice controlling six Dou Qi explosions, then defeated her when she challenged him to a duel.
• Xiao Qian asked Nalan Yanran about powerful Dou Techniques, and she explained the sect’s floor-based access and merit requirements.
• Xiao Qian dismissed the lower floors’ offerings and said he would become a direct disciple, but Nalan Yanran told him of another shortcut.
• Nalan Yanran led Xiao Qian to the Cultivation Technique Hall and showed him the compatibility test for Extreme Wind.
• Lin Ye appeared and mocked Xiao Qian for hoping to advance in a single step.

Xiao Qian entered the Wind Cloud Art compatibility test despite Lin Ye’s warnings that his fire-element Dou Qi would make him incompatible. As the test unleashed a storm of wind blades against him, the disciples watched to see whether he would fail or reveal a miracle.

• Lin Ye explained that compatibility with the Wind Cloud Art was required to inherit the sect master position and tried to turn Xiao Qian against Nalan Yanran.
• Nalan Yanran urged Xiao Qian to take the test and challenged Lin Ye for twisting her words.
• Xiao Qian dismissed Lin Ye’s provocation and stepped into the emerald ring to begin the test.
• Xiao Qian’s Dou Qi surged outward and became blazing golden true fire, shocking the watching disciples.
• The Wind Cloud Art scroll unleashed a raging storm and sent countless sharp wind blades toward Xiao Qian.

Xiao Qian transformed his Dou Qi to include the wind attribute and gained the Wind Cloud Art’s recognition. The technique chose him as its successor, earning him access to the fifth floor of the Dou Technique Pavilion.

• Xiao Qian withdrew his fire-attribute Dou Qi and changed the Dou Qi within his three activated Dantian to a wind attribute.
• Xiao Qian released emerald-green wind-attribute Dou Qi, confusing the Wind Cloud Art and shocking the disciples as Lin Ye insisted Xiao Qian could not achieve compatibility.
• The Wind Cloud Art withdrew its energy, trembled, and triggered a violent shaking and brilliant radiance that drew senior disciples and Dou Wang elders to the Cultivation Technique Hall.
• The Wind Cloud Art descended before Xiao Qian and passed its cultivation details into his mind, recognizing him as its successor.
• Nalan Yanran told Xiao Qian that gaining the Wind Cloud Art qualified him to access the core Dou Techniques on the fifth floor of the Dou Technique Pavilion.

Nalan Yanran brought Xiao Qian to the fifth floor of the Dou Technique Pavilion, where he discovered powerful wind techniques and asked about a legendary axe. The deacon revealed that the Mountain-Splitting Axe was in the Gate of Life and Death, the burial grounds of past sect masters.

• The deacon examined Xiao Qian's identity token and explained that the mark of inheriting a core cultivation method let him choose any Dou Technique on the fifth floor.
• Nalan Yanran showed Xiao Qian the floor's mid-level Mystic Rank techniques and the Extreme Wind techniques, including two whose power rivaled Earth Rank techniques.
• The deacon warned Nalan Yanran and Xiao Qian that teaching the sect's techniques to outsiders meant cripplement and expulsion.
• Xiao Qian showed interest in the two strongest Extreme Wind techniques, but Nalan Yanran warned that he lacked the required wind mastery and swordsmanship.
• Xiao Qian dismissed swords as unnecessary and said he would only use a weapon weighing over a thousand jin.
• The deacon recalled that a past sect master had wielded the Mountain-Splitting Axe and revealed it was kept in the Gate of Life and Death.

Xiao Qian obtained the Extreme Wind: Setting Sun Radiance Jade Slip and headed with Nalan Yanran to cultivate at Wind Thunder Gorge. Meanwhile, Liu Ling received a Foundation-Building Pill from Gu He to deliver to Yanran and began plotting how to use it.

• Xiao Qian chose Extreme Wind: Setting Sun Radiance, and the Deacon gave him its Jade Slip with instructions to return it within three months.
• Nalan Yanran took Xiao Qian toward Wind Thunder Gorge and explained its eighteen levels and the difficulty of reaching the twelfth.
• Xiao Qian learned that Yun Yun was cultivating in Wind Thunder Gorge and had reached its sixteenth level.
• Liu Ling returned to Gu He, who gave him a Foundation-Building Pill for Yanran and explained that Yun Yun had provided the pill formula.
• Liu Ling argued that Gu He should keep the pill, then promised to deliver it to Yanran in a way that would make her famous.

Xiao Qian visited Wind Thunder Gorge with Nalan Yanran and learned how its dangerous wind and lightning tested cultivators. Ignoring Nalan Yanran’s warning to descend by the stairs, he jumped straight into the gorge, and the Record Stone began announcing what appeared to be a new record.

• Nalan Yanran brought Xiao Qian to Wind Thunder Gorge and explained that cultivators needed wind-attribute Dou Qi to survive its lower levels.
• Nalan Yanran showed Xiao Qian the Record Stone, which listed Lin Ye as first among disciples at the seventh level, Yun Jue as first among deacons at the ninth, and Yun Leng as first among elders at the twelfth.
• Nalan Yanran revealed that she had reached the fourth level as a Three-Star Dou Zhe and warned Xiao Qian that his fire affinity might make him weak with wind.
• Xiao Qian asked what happened when someone broke a record, then leaped straight into the gorge before Nalan Yanran could stop him.
• Nalan Yanran’s Identity Token warmed as the Record Stone rumbled and glowed, drawing the sect’s attention and signaling that a new record may have been set.