Chapter Summaries

Xu Ran stunned the Alchemist Guild with nine pill-marked pills, while Xiao Yan challenged the Little Medical Fairy to a Second Grade Alchemist examination to recover his confidence. The examination was arranged, and Foklan and Otto learned that Xu Ran was the legendary Seventh-Rank Alchemist.

• Xu Ran's nine pills all bore pill markings, and Foklan announced who had passed the First Grade Alchemist examination.
• Xiao Yan challenged the Little Medical Fairy to take the Second Grade Alchemist examination, and she agreed to refine three pills at once.
• Foklan ordered the Guild to prepare the Second Grade Alchemist examination, drawing the crowd back to watch.
• Xu Ran declined to participate, saying he had come only to help Xian'er obtain her certification.
• Xu Ran confirmed he was the legendary Seventh-Rank Alchemist, and Foklan and Otto bowed to him.

Foklan and Otto revealed Xu Ran as the legendary seventh-rank alchemist, stunning Xue Mei and Feilin. Xu Ran then explained that Little Medical Fairy had learned alchemy from him only weeks earlier and could already refine third-rank pills, leaving the four alchemists stunned by the gap in their abilities.

• Foklan and Otto respectfully introduced Xu Ran as the elusive seventh-rank alchemist, shocking Xue Mei and Feilin.
• Xue Mei asked whether Xu Ran was truly so young, and he explained that his body remained youthful despite his age.
• Foklan asked if Little Medical Fairy was Xu Ran’s disciple, and Xu Ran said she was his girlfriend, whom he had taught alchemy after they met weeks earlier.
• Xu Ran explained that Little Medical Fairy’s prior experience identifying medicinal herbs helped her learn alchemy quickly.
• Xu Ran said Little Medical Fairy could refine third-rank pills and might manage fourth-rank pills, while stronger cultivation could let her reach fifth rank.
• Otto, Foklan, Xue Mei, and Feilin felt their years of alchemy study had been for nothing.

Xu Ran offered to take Xue Mei and Feilin as servants, and both accepted despite Otto and Foklan also vying to serve him. The Little Medical Fairy defeated Xiao Yan in the alchemy assessment by refining three second-rank pills and then three third-rank pills, leaving him crushed.

• Xu Ran offered Xue Mei and Feilin the chance to serve as his maids in exchange for occasional guidance, and both eagerly agreed.
• Otto and Foklan competed to become Xu Ran's assistants, but Xu Ran refused their help with pill refining.
• Xiao Yan successfully refined a second-rank pill, but the Little Medical Fairy matched her earlier feat by refining three second-rank pills at once.
• The Little Medical Fairy announced she would attempt the third-rank assessment, restored her Dou Qi with a recovery pill, and began refining under Foklan's and Grandmaster Otto's supervision.
• After about an hour, the Little Medical Fairy refined three third-rank pills, while Xiao Yan collapsed in despair.

Xiao Yan refused to accept his loss to Little Medical Fairy and pleaded with Yao Lao to help him pass a Fourth-Rank Alchemist assessment. Yao Lao agreed to intervene once, but warned Xiao Yan that he would no longer help unless Xiao Yan’s life was in danger.

• Yao Lao marveled at Little Medical Fairy’s alchemy talent and suspected Xu Ran’s skills might reach the Eighth or Ninth Rank.
• Little Medical Fairy confronted Xiao Yan and demanded that he honor their wager by kowtowing to Xu Ran and calling him Grandfather.
• Xiao Yan denied losing and announced that he would take the Fourth-Rank Alchemist assessment, claiming he could refine Fourth-Rank Pills.
• Yao Lao criticized Xiao Yan for trying to cheat after losing, while Xiao Yan pleaded that he could not bear to acknowledge Xu Ran as his grandfather.
• Yao Lao agreed to help Xiao Yan this once and said he would not intervene again unless Xiao Yan’s life was in danger.

Xiao Yan announced that he would refine a Fourth-Rank Pill with Yao Lao’s help, hoping to defeat Little Medical Fairy and win the contest. After Xu Ran exposed his hidden assistance, Little Medical Fairy insisted on attempting a Fourth-Rank Pill herself, leaving both sides preparing to compete.

• Yao Lao agreed to help Xiao Yan refine a Fourth-Rank Pill, though he felt ashamed that his disciple had put them in this position.
• Xiao Yan proudly announced his plan, shocking the Alchemist Guild and the audience.
• Foklan warned Xiao Yan that the Guild could provide ingredients but could issue only a Third-Rank Alchemist badge in Black Rock City.
• Xu Ran revealed that he knew about the soul inside Xiao Yan, and Little Medical Fairy declared that she would attempt a Fourth-Rank Pill too.
• Xiao Yan denied that Xu Ran could prove he was receiving outside help, while Yao Lao reluctantly promised to assist him just this once.

Yao Lao reluctantly refined a fourth-rank pill for Xiao Yan, while Xu Ran revealed to the alchemists that Yao Lao was a soul hiding inside Xiao Yan and doing the refining for him. Little Medical Fairy began her own fourth-rank pill attempt, leaving Xiao Yan anxious that she might succeed.

• Yao Lao warned Xiao Yan that he would help him only this once and end their master-disciple bond if he repeated such behavior.
• Yao Lao refined an entry-level fourth-rank pill, astonishing Foklan and Otto Grandmaster with Xiao Yan’s sudden mastery.
• Xu Ran told Foklan, Otto Grandmaster, Xue Mei, and Feilin that Yao Lao was a powerful alchemist whose soul lived inside Xiao Yan and was controlling his body.
• Xu Ran encouraged Little Medical Fairy, and she regained her confidence and began preparing to refine a fourth-rank pill herself.
• Yao Lao felt ashamed of helping Xiao Yan and questioned whether Xiao Yan might eventually covet his Heavenly Flames.
• Yao Lao told Xiao Yan he would not help again if Little Medical Fairy also refined a fourth-rank pill, while Xiao Yan insisted she could not succeed.

Little Medical Fairy refined two fourth-rank pills, winning the wager and leaving Xiao Yan with no way to match her. Xu Ran demanded that Xiao Yan kneel, kowtow, and call him Grandfather in front of the crowd, then provoked him with claims about Xun'er.

• Little Medical Fairy completed two fourth-rank pills, and Xu Ran comforted and praised her as the crowd admired them.
• Xue Mei and Feilin realized that Xu Ran had helped Little Medical Fairy become a Fourth Grade Alchemist in less than a month.
• Xu Ran challenged Xiao Yan to answer for the wager, but Xiao Yan admitted he had no remaining options and could not ask Yao Lao for more help.
• Xu Ran told Xiao Yan to kneel, kowtow, and call him Grandfather before the assembled crowd.
• Xiao Yan protested that he could not kneel in front of everyone, so Xu Ran taunted him by claiming Xun'er belonged to him and boasting about their intimacy.

After Xiao Yan lost the wager, Xu Ran mocked him with a pill and demanded that Yao Lao hand over the Flame Mantra. Yao Lao was overwhelmed by Xu Ran’s power and knowledge as the chapter ended with him wary of the demand.

• Xiao Yan knelt before Xu Ran, cursed him, and begged for mercy after losing to Little Medical Fairy.
• Xu Ran tossed Xiao Yan a pill that could help him break through to Dou Shi, and Xiao Yan picked it up despite his humiliation.
• Xu Ran tempted Xiao Yan with the prospect of becoming a Dou Huang if he called Xu Ran his father, but Xiao Yan refused and left.
• Xu Ran confronted Yao Lao with overwhelming soul power and recounted details of his past, astonishing him.
• Xu Ran demanded that Yao Lao hand over the Flame Mantra, and Yao Lao eyed him warily.

Xu Ran obtained the Flame Mantra from Yao Lao and helped the Little Medical Fairy earn acclaim as a Fourth-Rank Alchemist before leaving for Mo City in the Tagor Great Desert. He planned to find Hai Bodong and pursue the Heavenly Flames, while telling the Little Medical Fairy that the desert would help her cultivation.

• Yao Lao gave Xu Ran the Flame Mantra in exchange for his life, and Xu Ran found inspiration in its cultivation method.
• The Little Medical Fairy was congratulated for refining a Fourth-Rank Pill, and the Alchemist Guild learned Xu Ran was a famed Seventh-Rank Alchemist.
• Xu Ran took the Little Medical Fairy away from the excited crowd and headed with her, Xue Mei, and Feilin to the Tagor Great Desert.
• Xu Ran arrived in Mo City to seek Hai Bodong and walked toward the Ancient Maps shop as the Little Medical Fairy complained about the heat.

Xu Ran discovered that Hai Bodong’s map fragment showed the location of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame and revealed that he knew Hai Bodong’s identity. After effortlessly defeating Hai Bodong’s ice armor, Xu Ran offered to restore his strength in exchange for the fragment.

• Xu Ran found a map fragment in Hai Bodong’s shop and recognized it as a fragment pointing to the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.
• Hai Bodong shut the shop door and confronted Xu Ran after learning he knew about heavenly flames.
• Xu Ran dispelled Hai Bodong’s presence and shattered his Ice Spirit Armor with a flick of Dou Qi.
• Xu Ran told Hai Bodong he would not harm him because of his ties to the Mitre Family and explained the map fragment’s significance.
• Xu Ran offered to restore Hai Bodong’s strength, and Hai Bodong eagerly accepted the offer.

Xu Ran met Hai Bodong, who learned that Xu Ran was a Seventh-Rank Alchemist and Ya Fei’s partner. Hai Bodong discovered that Ya Fei had become a Dou Huang Peak expert with Xu Ran’s help and became confident Xu Ran could resolve his sealed strength.

• Feilin told Hai Bodong that Xu Ran was a Seventh-Rank Alchemist, and Xu Ran revealed that he and Ya Fei were a couple.
• Hai Bodong explained that Medusa had sealed his strength, leaving him at Dou Ling level, and that he had hidden to protect himself and the Mitre Family.
• Little Medical Fairy told Hai Bodong that the Mitre Family was thriving and that Ya Fei had reached Dou Huang Peak.
• Xue Mei and Feilin confirmed that Ya Fei was a Dou Huang, and Little Medical Fairy explained that Xu Ran had helped her rise from Dou Zhe with a pill.
• Hai Bodong was stunned by Xu Ran’s alchemy and eagerly hoped to have his strength restored or reach Dou Huang Peak.

Xu Ran restored Hai Bodong’s strength, then traveled to Shimo City to find Qing Lin. He found her being shunned by a crowd and lifted the frightened girl into his arms.

• Xu Ran broke Queen Medusa’s seal on Hai Bodong and restored his Dou Huang strength.
• Hai Bodong gave Xu Ran a detailed map of the Tagor Great Desert and offered to guide him, but Xu Ran declined and sent him back to the Jia Ma Empire.
• Xu Ran arrived in Shimo City with Little Medical Fairy and the others, then went to find Qing Lin.
• A crowd surrounded Qing Lin and treated her with disgust because of her human and snake-person heritage.
• Xu Ran pushed past two men, reached Qing Lin, and lifted her into his arms.

Xu Ran defended Qing Lin from people who mocked her mixed heritage and took her away from the Desert Metal Mercenary Group. He killed those who tried to stop them, leaving Qing Lin to see that she could claim dignity and strength with his help.

• Xu Ran comforted Qing Lin and rejected the insults directed at her Snake-People heritage.
• Xu Ran told Qing Lin he could help her become strong, and she agreed to go with him.
• Members of the Desert Metal Mercenary Group demanded that Xu Ran leave Qing Lin behind and called her worthless.
• Xu Ran unleashed his pressure on the crowd, then covered Qing Lin's eyes as he killed them all.
• Qing Lin hugged Xu Ran and called him a good person as he carried her away.

Xu Ran rescued Qing Lin from the Desert Metal Mercenary Group and comforted her about her snake-person bloodline, urging her to become strong enough to protect herself. At the inn, the Little Medical Fairy learned Qing Lin's story, took her in as a little sister, and warned Xu Ran not to get ideas about the girl.

• Xu Ran asked Qing Lin whether she was frightened, and she said she trusted him and felt grateful that he cared about her.
• Qing Lin asked whether her bloodline was lowly, and Xu Ran told her the prejudice was unjust and that her bloodline held great power.
• Xu Ran brought Qing Lin to the inn, where the Little Medical Fairy teased him about bringing home a pretty little girl.
• After Xu Ran explained what Qing Lin had suffered, the Little Medical Fairy sympathized with her and offered to protect her as an older sister.
• The Little Medical Fairy took Qing Lin inside and warned Xu Ran not to pursue her, then stamped on his foot when he teased her.

Xu Ran gave Feilin and Xue Mei powerful alchemy inheritances, then went to confront the mercenary groups gathered outside the inn over the people he had killed. The Sand Mercenary Group and Desert Metal Mercenary Group leaders prepared to demand revenge, while Xu Ran also considered settling accounts with the Desert Metal group over Qing Lin’s mistreatment.

• Xu Ran rewarded Feilin and Xue Mei with alchemy inheritances capable of helping them become sixth-tier Alchemists, and they swore loyalty to him.
• The Little Medical Fairy complained that Xu Ran had spent the previous day with Feilin and Xue Mei, then told him that mercenary groups were waiting outside the inn.
• Xu Ran decided to face the mercenaries himself and considered killing Xiao Ding and Xiao Li if they displeased him.
• Luo Bu, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li gathered outside the inn, and Luo Bu demanded that the killers of his men repay the blood debt.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li sided with Luo Bu and agreed that Qing Lin should be punished, while Xu Ran emerged and refused to surrender her. He offered to settle the dispute by killing everyone who wanted her handed over.

• Xiao Ding declared that the Desert Metal Mercenary Group would seek revenge for its dead, and Xiao Li questioned whether they should confront Xu Ran.
• Luo Bu blamed Qing Lin for the deaths and demanded that Xiao Ding and Xiao Li hand her over, threatening to absorb their mercenary group.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li agreed to let Luo Bu take Qing Lin rather than risk a fight with him or Xu Ran.
• Xu Ran appeared with Qing Lin, admitted killing the mercenaries, and refused Luo Bu's offer to spare him in exchange for her.
• Xiao Ding demanded Qing Lin's death as atonement, and Xu Ran said he would kill everyone who wanted her handed over.

Xu Ran killed Luo Bu, destroyed the Sand Mercenary Group and the Desert Metal Mercenary Group, and blamed Xiao Ding and Xiao Li for their own downfall as they turned their hatred on Qing Lin. After revealing he was Xu Ran of the Xiao Clan and tormenting the brothers, he waited for Xiao Yan, who approached the blood-soaked city with a growing sense of dread.

• Xu Ran killed Luo Bu, severely injured Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, and slaughtered the Sand Mercenary Group before destroying the Desert Metal Mercenary Group.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li blamed Qing Lin for the disaster, but Xu Ran told them they had brought it upon themselves by refusing to protect her.
• Xu Ran comforted Qing Lin and used Sword Qi Unbound to torture Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, saying he wanted to wait for Xiao Yan.
• Xu Ran revealed that he was the Xiao Clan's Xu Ran, and Xiao Ding and Xiao Li accused him of driving Xiao Yan from the clan and stealing his fiancée.
• Xiao Yan neared the city, uneasy about his brothers, while Yao Lao sensed the heavy smell of blood and feared Xu Ran was there.

Xiao Yan rushed to Shimo City after sensing that his brothers and the Desert Metal Mercenary Group were in danger, despite Yao Lao warning him that Xu Ran was likely behind it. He found Xiao Ding and Xiao Li bound, grievously wounded, and barely alive, and blamed himself for arriving too late.

• Yao Lao urged Xiao Yan to avoid confronting Xu Ran, but Xiao Yan insisted on rescuing his brothers and hurried to Shimo City.
• Xiao Yan found the city deserted and learned from Yao Lao that Xu Ran and his group were there, likely waiting for him.
• Xiao Yan vowed to fight Xu Ran if he had harmed his family and entered the Desert Metal Mercenary Group's compound, where he smelled blood.
• Xiao Yan found Xiao Ding and Xiao Li suspended and bound, their bodies badly wounded and their meridians shattered.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li recognized Xiao Yan, and he wept and blamed himself for not arriving sooner.

Xiao Yan found Xiao Ding and Xiao Li tortured and near death, and they told him Xu Ran was responsible and urged him to avenge them. After both brothers died, Xiao Yan blamed himself for bringing disaster upon them and attacked Xu Ran in a rage.

• Xiao Yan tried to free Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, but Yao Lao warned that moving them would kill them.
• Xiao Ding said Xu Ran had tortured them and asked Xiao Yan to expose him and protect the Xiao Clan; Xiao Li also urged him to kill Qing Lin.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li told Xiao Yan to escape and survive, then both died from their injuries.
• Xiao Yan wept over his brothers' deaths and blamed himself for provoking Xu Ran and bringing disaster upon them.
• Xu Ran arrived with Qing Lin, and Xiao Yan charged at him with the Heavy Xuan Ruler.

Xu Ran explained the Xiao Clan’s glorious past to Xiao Yan after killing Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, while Xiao Yan refused to believe his brothers had betrayed their consciences. The revelation left Xiao Yan and Yao Lao convinced that the fallen clan’s legacy might help Xiao Yan defeat Xu Ran someday.

• Xiao Yan mourned Xiao Ding and Xiao Li and swore to repay Xu Ran for killing them.
• Xu Ran said Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had chosen to bully Qing Lin and were responsible for the consequences of their actions.
• Xiao Yan accused Xu Ran of seeking the Xiao Clan’s supreme treasure and plotting to destroy the clan once he found it.
• Xu Ran recounted how the Xiao Clan had once led the Ancient Eight Clans before Xiao Xuan exhausted its Dou Di Bloodlines in a failed attempt to become a Dou Di.
• Xiao Yan felt proud of his clan’s history and vowed to protect its future, while Yao Lao believed the clan’s secrets could help him rise against Xu Ran.
• Xiao Yan wept with joy and began to see himself as a Child of Destiny.