Recaps

Xiao Yan unleashed Buddha's Fury Reincarnation against Mu Han, but Mu Han survived and badly injured him. Zhong Li held Mu Han back as Xiao Yan tried to escape, but Mo Zhai attacked him and an unknown assailant suddenly pierced Mo Zhai's chest.

• Xiao Yan's Buddha's Fury Reincarnation engulfed Mu Han, breaking down his Dou Qi shield, but Mu Han resisted and shattered the black pillar of light.
• Mu Han struck Xiao Yan repeatedly, breaking his bones and knocking out several teeth, until Zhong Li intervened and challenged him.
• Zhong Li urged Xiao Yan to flee while he held Mu Han off, and Xiao Yan swallowed an Emperor Grade Pill before escaping.
• Mo Zhai saw Xiao Yan's weakened state, ignored Yan Bing, and pursued him with a whip of Black Vine Serpent Flame.
• As Mo Zhai's flame whip struck toward Xiao Yan, a pitch-black hand pierced through Mo Zhai's chest.

While fleeing through the Lightning Pool, Xiao Yan discovered that the Great Dao Gauze Robe was absorbing the lightning and growing stronger. Gu You hinted that the Lightning Pool itself explained why Xiao Yan could now draw upon the Power of the Great Dao, leaving him to consider the reason as Mu Han pursued him.

• The Northern King abandoned his fight with Yan Bing and rushed to help Xiao Yan, while Mu Han defeated Zhong Li and ordered Yan Bing to leave the others alive.
• The Northern King cleared lightning from Xiao Yan's path, but Mu Han caught sight of them and began closing in.
• Xiao Yan put the Northern King in his Storage Ring, swallowed an Eighth-Tier Qi Recovery Pill, and used the Great Dao Gauze Robe to endure the lightning as he fled.
• Xiao Yan noticed that the Great Dao Gauze Robe was absorbing the lightning and gradually becoming tougher and more powerful.
• Gu You asked Xiao Yan why he had condensed the Power of the Great Dao in the Lightning Pool despite failing to do so earlier in the void.

Xiao Yan endured Mu Han’s attacks while using the Void Lightning Pool to strengthen the Great Dao Gauze Robe and recover his Dou Qi. The chapter ended as Xiao Yan formed the embryonic Great Dao of the Void, leaving him weakened but armed with a new power.

• Xiao Yan used the Great Dao Gauze Robe to evade Mu Han while the Northern King fought and healed in the Void Lightning Pool.
• Xiao Yan swallowed Eighth-Tier Qi Recovery Pills and refined them as lightning strengthened his robe.
• Mu Han blasted the Northern King away, trapped him with a formation, and pursued Xiao Yan.
• Mu Han attacked Xiao Yan as he cultivated, but Xiao Yan used the robe to vanish from the claw’s reach.
• Xiao Yan gathered strands of void into a fist-sized wheel, forming the embryonic Great Dao of the Void.

Xiao Yan used the Power of the Great Dao to swallow Mu Han’s Heaven Class Dou Technique, while the Northern King interrupted Mu Han’s attack. Mu Han revealed his history with Zhou Tai and began forming a seal as Xiao Yan gathered the Power of the Great Dao to respond.

• Xiao Yan sent his pitch-black disc to swallow Mu Han’s golden Heaven Class Dou Technique, and Mu Han recognized it as the Power of the Great Dao.
• The Northern King struck Mu Han from behind, then moved in front of Xiao Yan to protect him.
• Mu Han admitted that Xiao Yan’s talent and treasures had impressed him and said Zhou Tai had once forced him to fight with similar effort.
• Xiao Yan identified Zhou Tai as the person Mu Han had fought a hundred years earlier, and Mu Han confirmed it.
• Mu Han formed a series of seals while Xiao Yan gathered the Power of the Great Dao, and Mu Han warned that it was too late for Xiao Yan to dodge.

Xiao Yan fought Mu Han inside the Golden Formation Domain, which suppressed his strength and eventually trapped him in a powerful array of offensive formations. With his Dou Qi nearly spent and escape blocked, Xiao Yan prepared to break the formation by force.

• Mu Han activated the Golden Formation Domain, suppressing Xiao Yan’s strength and sending beams of golden light at him.
• Xiao Yan used the Heavy Xuan Ruler to block the beams, but Mu Han halted the ruler and kicked Xiao Yan, sending him flying.
• Xiao Yan struck Mu Han’s left shoulder with the ruler, then escaped through a spatial rift as Mu Han clutched his injury.
• Mu Han formed a barrier of powerful offensive formations around Xiao Yan and declared that the array had once slain a Nine-Star Half-Emperor.
• Xiao Yan judged that the formations left him no way to escape, gathered the remaining Dou Qi and the Power of the Great Dao, and prepared to attack them directly.

Xiao Yan shattered Mu Han’s Four Spirits Formation and knocked its four magical beasts away, but exhaustion left him with little chance of defeating Mu Han. He used the Great Dao Gauze Robe to send his final ruler-light toward the formation’s barrier, and the Northern King’s strike broke the formation.

• Xiao Yan used the Sevenfold Heaven-Breaking Ruler to destroy the Four Spirits Formation’s fused golden attack.
• The four magical beasts emerged from the formation and lunged at Xiao Yan, who struck them all down with the Heavy Xuan Ruler.
• Xiao Yan, nearly fainting, launched a final ruler-light while following close behind it.
• Xiao Yan sent the ruler-light through a spatial passage formed by his Great Dao Gauze Robe as the Northern King struck the barrier.
• The formation shook under the attacks and cracked apart.

Wounded and cornered at the barrier to the Lightning Pool’s depths, Xiao Yan confronted Mu Han over the Emperor Tribulation Pill. He plunged into the black lightning, while the Northern King held Mu Han back outside.

• Xiao Yan reached the barrier with the Northern King protecting him, and Mu Han threatened him from the silver lightning sea.
• Xiao Yan realized Mu Han feared the black lightning and challenged him about why he wanted the Emperor Tribulation Pill.
• Mu Han admitted he had entered the Lightning Pool to obtain the pill and explained it could help him overcome the Emperor Tribulation.
• Xiao Yan revealed the pill and refused Mu Han’s offer, pointing out that Mu Han could kill him after taking it.
• Xiao Yan turned and plunged through the barrier, and the Northern King blocked Mu Han from following.

After recovering from his battle with Mu Han, Xiao Yan discovered that Xiao Jin had subdued the pitch-black lightning in the Void Lightning Pool. Seeing an opportunity to grow stronger, Xiao Yan began absorbing the lightning and decided to break through there.

• Xiao Jin protected the unconscious Xiao Yan from the pitch-black lightning and healed his wounds by licking them.
• Xiao Yan awoke fully healed and realized he was in the core of the Void Lightning Pool, surrounded by calm black lightning and the Northern King.
• Gu You told Xiao Yan that Xiao Jin had subdued the lightning, and Xiao Yan reflected on how much Xiao Jin had changed while remaining his companion.
• Xiao Jin eagerly ate a Ninth-grade Pill that Xiao Yan gave it.
• Xiao Yan absorbed a bolt of black lightning, turning it into pure Dou Qi, and decided to make his breakthrough in the lightning pool.

After recovering in the Lightning Pool, Xiao Yan reached the peak of Three-Star Half-Emperor and began testing whether its pitch-black lightning could strengthen the Northern King and Xiao Jin. The two began devouring the lightning while Xiao Yan prepared to break through and vowed to repay Mu Han for sending him there.

• Xiao Yan absorbed natural energy in the Lightning Pool until he fully recovered and reached the peak of Three-Star Half-Emperor.
• Xiao Yan inspected the Northern King's wounds from his battle with Mu Han and considered how the Lightning Pool could raise the puppet's strength.
• Xiao Yan ordered the Northern King to devour the pitch-black lightning, but the Northern King absorbed only a few bolts before reaching his limit.
• Xiao Jin showed its desire to consume the lightning, and Xiao Yan gave it permission to try without overexerting itself.
• Xiao Jin rushed into the lightning as Xiao Yan watched and vowed to repay Mu Han for forcing him into the pool.

Xiao Yan cultivated inside the Void Lightning Pool, absorbing its black lightning as he attempted to break through to Four-Star Half-Emperor, while Xiao Jin and the Northern King also grew stronger by devouring the lightning. Outside the pool, Gu Li and Chi Lin feared Xiao Yan had died after searching for him unsuccessfully for more than two months.

• The Northern King absorbed black lightning, healing his injuries and strengthening his body.
• Xiao Jin transformed into a golden dragon and devoured the lightning, rapidly increasing his strength.
• Xiao Yan gathered black lightning into a vortex and endured its painful tempering while the Heavenly Flames refined it inside him.
• As Xiao Yan cultivated in seclusion, his presence gradually grew stronger.
• Gu Li and Chi Lin recalled that Mu Han had failed to catch Xiao Yan and worried after two months of finding no trace of him.
• Gu Li and Chi Lin concluded that Xiao Yan had likely died, since they believed he could not escape the Void Lightning Pool through its deadly lightning pillars.

Gu Li and Chi Lin failed to find Xiao Yan in the Void Lightning Pool, and after its passage opened, rumors spread that Mu Han had killed him. The news enraged Elder Luo, while Qing Mu hinted that Xiao Yan might still be alive.

• Gu Li and Chi Lin discussed Xiao Yan’s disappearance and resolved to wait for everyone to leave the Void Lightning Pool before deciding his fate.
• Half a year later, Mu Han, Yan Bing, Gu Li, and Chi Lin emerged from the pool, but Xiao Yan, Mo Zhai, and Old Monster Hu were absent.
• Rumors that Mu Han had killed Xiao Yan spread through Ancient Wilderness City, and Luo Jin reported the news to Elder Luo.
• Elder Luo grew furious and blamed Mu Han, while Qing Mu questioned whether Xiao Yan was truly dead.
• Qing Mu told Luo Jin that Mu Han could not be judged by ordinary standards when facing Yan Xiao, leaving Luo Jin suspecting that Xiao Yan had survived.

A year after Xiao Yan supposedly died in the Void Lightning Pool, Ancient Wilderness City still remembered his battle with Mu Han, while Luo Jin and Elder Xuan secretly suspected he might still be alive. Their investigation into a failed Ghost Fiend Gate operation uncovered a black-robed young half-emperor wielding brilliant flames, leaving them stunned by the description.

• Many half-emperors returned from the Void Lightning Pool with increased strength, and some advanced to eight-star half-emperor.
• The Alchemist Guild and Ancient Wilderness City mourned Xiao Yan and condemned Mu Han, while stories spread of Xiao Yan’s fierce resistance against him.
• Elder Xuan considered avenging Xiao Yan, but Luo Jin stopped him after sharing Qing Mu’s assessment and his own doubts about Xiao Yan’s death.
• A year after Xiao Yan entered the pool, Luo Jin discussed his prolonged absence with Elder Xuan, who reported that the Ghost Fiend Gate’s operation had failed and its Dark Hall members had not returned.
• Elder Xuan described a black-robed young half-emperor wielding brilliant flames who had been sought by a Dark Hall third hall master, and Luo Jin froze at the description.

After half a year cultivating in the Void Lightning Pool, Xiao Yan broke through from Three-Star to Four-Star Half-Emperor and strengthened his body by refining black lightning. He saw that the Northern King was also growing stronger, while Xiao Jin devoured lightning effortlessly and began developing a golden layer that signaled an approaching deep sleep.

• Xiao Yan absorbed and refined black lightning for half a year, then broke through to Four-Star Half-Emperor.
• Xiao Yan tested his new strength and found that his lightning-tempered body could likely fight a Three-Star Half-Emperor on its own.
• Xiao Yan watched the Northern King smash nearby lightning and absorb its power as he cultivated.
• Xiao Yan saw Xiao Jin effortlessly devour the black lightning and develop a golden keratinous layer, suggesting he would soon fall asleep.
• Xiao Yan rested briefly, then created an avatar that sat cross-legged opposite him.

After a year in the lightning pool, Xiao Yan’s incarnation reached a bottleneck because his soul power had not entered the Realm of Unity. Determined to condense a Soul Bead and grow stronger, he prepared to cultivate toward the Five-Star Half-Emperor level with Gu You’s approval.

• Xiao Yan found that his incarnation could not advance beyond the peak of the late Three-Star Half-Emperor stage until his soul power broke through to the Realm of Unity.
• Xiao Yan resolved to condense a Soul Bead by relying on the lightning and pure Dou Qi in the pool.
• Xiao Yan recalled his incarnation and saw that the Northern King had reached the peak Eight-Star Half-Emperor level while Xiao Jin continued refining power inside a shell.
• Xiao Yan adjusted his condition and prepared to cultivate toward the Five-Star Half-Emperor level.
• Gu You warned Xiao Yan against advancing too quickly, then accepted his resolve and encouraged him to pursue the breakthrough in the lightning pool.

Xiao Yan attempted to break through to the Five-Star Half-Emperor Stage by swallowing nearly a hundred bolts of pitch-black lightning, but the violent energy resisted his Heavenly Flames’ efforts to refine it. After half a year, the energy had grown into a bomb-like threat inside him, while Xiao Jin awoke from a year of sleep.

• Gu You warned Xiao Yan that his unstable strength and recent breakthrough made advancing to five stars extremely dangerous.
• Xiao Yan decided to use the lightning in the Lightning Pool to solidify his Dou Qi and fuel his breakthrough.
• Xiao Yan swallowed nearly a hundred bolts of pitch-black lightning and used his Heavenly Flames to contain their violent energy.
• Xiao Yan struggled to refine the lightning energy, and after half a year it had merged into a force close to escaping his control.
• Xiao Jin stirred inside its energy shell and opened its eyes, which shone with violet-gold radiance.

Xu Zhen traveled from the Southern Wilderness Ancient City toward the Central Region, swearing revenge on Xiao Yan for destroying his clan. As Xiao Yan neared death while trying to refine violent Dou Qi, a golden dragon emerged in the Void Lightning Pool, subdued the energy somewhat, and swallowed a terrifying bolt of golden lightning.

• Xu Zhen paid to enter a teleportation array in the Southern Wilderness Ancient City and vowed to make Xiao Yan pay for destroying the Xu Clan.
• Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flame cauldron shattered, and violent Dou Qi overwhelmed his defenses and tore through his body.
• Xiao Yan roused his bloodline power to resist, but the violent energy continued swelling and splitting his body as Gu You waited for a chance to intervene.
• After three days, Gu You appeared and prepared to suppress the energy inside Xiao Yan.
• A ninety-nine-zhang golden dragon stirred the Void Lightning Pool, causing Xiao Yan's violent energy to subside somewhat.
• The golden dragon swallowed a terrifying bolt of golden lightning, then turned its purple-gold gaze toward Xiao Yan.

After Xiao Jin contained the energy in Xiao Yan’s body, Xiao Yan recovered and refined it to strengthen himself. He failed to break through to the Five-Star Half-Emperor Stage, then recklessly tried to force his way past the barrier as Gu You watched helplessly.

• Xiao Jin suppressed the violent energy inside Xiao Yan and absorbed the blood covering his body, while Gu You gave Xiao Yan a healing pill.
• Xiao Yan recovered from his wounds and cultivated, refining the now-gentle energy with his Heavenly Flames.
• Xiao Yan rose from the Early Four-Star Half-Emperor Stage to the Late-Stage Four-Star Half-Emperor Stage over two months.
• Xiao Yan failed several times to break through to the Five-Star Half-Emperor Stage and became furious that his strength had fallen short.
• Xiao Yan recklessly mobilized his Dou Qi to attack the barrier again, while Gu You hesitated to intervene for fear of harming his cultivation.

Xiao Yan nearly damaged his cultivation by recklessly trying to break through to Five-Star Half-Emperor, but Xiao Jin supplied refined lightning energy that steadied him and let him resume cultivating. Far away, a golden-robed patriarch sensed Xiao Jin’s roar and decided to meet the person himself.

• Xiao Yan repeatedly failed to break through the Five-Star Half-Emperor barrier, weakening himself with the backlash.
• Gu You moved to stop Xiao Yan, but Xiao Jin shielded him and drove Gu You back with a dragon’s roar.
• Xiao Jin gathered and refined hundreds of lightning bolts, then sent their energy into Xiao Yan, calming him and restoring his strength.
• Gu You scolded Xiao Yan for reckless cultivation, and Xiao Yan thanked Xiao Jin before settling back into cultivation.
• A golden-robed patriarch sensed Xiao Jin’s roar, ordered Long Lin to return to the clan, and said he would meet that person himself.

After nearly two years in the Void Lightning Pool, Xiao Yan broke through to Five-Star Half-Emperor while his incarnation and the Northern King also gained strength. Unable to leave because the passage had closed, he relied on Xiao Jin to reopen it and departed with him.

• Xiao Yan broke through to Five-Star Half-Emperor and sent his incarnation into the lightning to absorb and refine it.
• Xiao Yan discovered that the Northern King was still slowly digesting the lightning power it had absorbed and had not reached its limit.
• Xiao Yan's incarnation broke through from three stars to Four-Star Half-Emperor, and Xiao Yan recalled the Northern King and the incarnation before heading for the passage with Xiao Jin.
• Xiao Yan found that the passage had closed after the six-month period and asked Gu You for help, but Gu You told him to rely on Xiao Jin.
• Xiao Jin opened the Lightning Pool passage, and Xiao Yan and Xiao Jin entered it and flew toward its exit.

After two years of cultivation in the Void Lightning Pool, Xiao Yan emerged with greatly increased strength and returned to Ge Thunder Mountain. He tested his Spiritual Strength against the Dou Di pressure on the mountain’s inscription, and the chapter ended as he launched another attack.

• The Void Lightning Pool passage reopened, and Xiao Yan flew out as onlookers speculated about his strength.
• Xiao Yan descended from the passage and recalled his desire to face Mu Han again.
• Xiao Yan remembered that Mu Han had once endured the pressure on Ge Thunder Mountain’s inscription for half a day.
• Xiao Yan challenged the inscription’s Dou Di pressure with a giant soul hammer, which collided with a phantom’s palm.
• Xiao Yan laughed and sent his Spiritual Strength to attack the phantom again.

Xiao Yan challenged the Dou Di pressure on Ge Thunder Mountain, repeatedly clashing with its apparition and using the fight to temper himself despite being badly outmatched. After several hundred exchanges, his strength gave out, and he collapsed to rest.

• Xiao Yan formed a soul apparition and attacked the Dou Di apparition, but its lightning arm shattered his soul hand and injured him.
• Xiao Yan unleashed Yellow Springs Heavenly Wrath, but the Dou Di apparition broke through the technique with a ball of lightning.
• Xiao Yan repeatedly rose to challenge the apparition through hundreds of clashes, enduring its attacks as his presence weakened.
• Xiao Yan used the Heaven-Spanning Hand against a lightning dragon summoned by the apparition, but both his soul apparition and his strength were overwhelmed.
• Xiao Yan cupped his hands toward the Dou Di apparition, lay down, and succumbed to deep drowsiness.

Xiao Yan returned to Ancient Wilderness City after two years and reunited with Elder Xuan at the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion. The pavilion prepared to welcome him upstairs, while the city gathered to witness Master Mu execute a Nine-Star Half-Emperor.

• Xiao Yan woke on a mountaintop, checked himself, and flew toward Ancient Wilderness City.
• Elder Luo and Qing Mu sensed Xiao Yan entering the city and were relieved that he had returned alive.
• Xiao Yan found the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion closed, pushed his way inside, and told Elder Xuan he had come to find someone.
• Elder Xuan recognized Xiao Yan, rejoiced at his return, and said Luo Jin had waited two years for this day.
• Elder Xuan led Xiao Yan toward the pavilion's sixth floor, and the doors shut in the faces of curious onlookers.

Xiao Yan learned that Mu Han planned to kill Zhong Li and rushed to Mu Manor despite Luo Jin’s warnings. Mu Han dragged Zhong Li, bloodied and pierced by chains, into the square before the gathered crowd.

• Xiao Yan learned that Mu Han intended to kill Zhong Li and insisted on going to find him.
• Luo Jin offered to accompany Xiao Yan and reveal his identity if Mu Han threatened them, but Xiao Yan refused to rely on that.
• Xiao Yan and Luo Jin headed to Mu Manor in northern Ancient Wilderness City.
• Mu Han emerged from his manor before the watching crowd and dragged a golden cage into the square.
• The crowd saw Zhong Li inside the cage, covered in blood and pierced by rune-engraved chains.

Mu Han attacked Zhong Li, but Gu Li and Chi Lin intervened and tried to rescue him. Mu Han defeated them and threatened to kill all three, until an unfamiliar voice made him react with horror.

• Mu Han attacked Zhong Li with a golden saber, but two beams of light cut it apart.
• Gu Li and Chi Lin confronted Mu Han and fought to take Zhong Li away.
• Mu Han overpowered Gu Li and Chi Lin, striking them down and leaving them gravely injured.
• Mu Han stood atop Zhong Li's cage and challenged anyone to come save the three of them.
• An icy voice mocked Mu Han, and he reacted with horror and disbelief.

Yan Xiao revealed that he had survived the Void Lightning Pool and returned to confront Mu Han, who had attacked him to seize the Emperor Tribulation Pill and everything he possessed. Yan Xiao evaded Mu Han’s strike, and Mu Han was stunned to discover that he had reached the Five-Star Half-Emperor level.

• Mu Han recognized Yan Xiao’s voice, and the crowd erupted as they realized Yan Xiao had survived the Void Lightning Pool.
• Gu Li and Chi Lin heard Yan Xiao and rejoiced that he was still alive.
• Yan Xiao appeared above Mu Han and taunted him about coveting the Emperor Tribulation Pill.
• Mu Han declared that he would take Yan Xiao’s life, the pill, and everything he owned, then launched a claw strike.
• Yan Xiao evaded Mu Han’s attack without using the Great Dao of the Void and noted that Mu Han had reached Peak Late Nine-Star Half-Emperor.
• Mu Han sensed Yan Xiao’s strength and was shocked to learn that he had become a Five-Star Half-Emperor.