Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan collected the Void Lightning Pool Invitation and demanded the four Emperor Grade Pills and Emperor Grade Pill Formula Mo Zhai had promised. Mo Zhai handed over the pills and, after Mu Han intervened, reluctantly gave Xiao Yan the formula.

• Xiao Yan accepted the Void Lightning Pool Invitation and taunted Mo Zhai about paying four Emperor Grade Pills and a pill formula for it.
• Mu Han's icy stare made Xiao Yan's Dou Qi falter, while Mo Zhai watched Mu Han with apprehension.
• Mo Zhai took the invitation and hurled a jade bottle at Xiao Yan, who caught it safely and confirmed that it contained four Emperor Grade Pills, including the pill he wanted.
• Mo Zhai refused to hand over the Emperor Grade Pill Formula, claiming the invitation was not worth that price.
• Mu Han ordered Mo Zhai to comply, and Mo Zhai reluctantly tossed Xiao Yan an Emperor Grade Pill Formula.

Xiao Yan revealed himself as the black-robed man to Old Monster Hu, who explained why Yan Bing and Mu Han wanted revenge and why Mo Zhai’s allies were turning against him. The two faced each other in the dead-end alley, with Old Monster Hu warning that Mu Han would likely kill Mo Zhai and the others.

• Old Monster Hu pursued the black-robed man into a dead-end alley and identified him as Yan Xiao.
• Xiao Yan removed his hood and confirmed Old Monster Hu’s suspicion that he was Yan Xiao’s clone.
• Old Monster Hu explained that Yan Bing sought revenge for Fang Xun and Wang Qi, whom Xiao Yan had killed.
• Old Monster Hu revealed that Mu Han wanted revenge for his disciple Wu Mohui, whom Xiao Yan had killed.
• Old Monster Hu said Mo Zhai had enlisted Mu Han to kill Xiao Yan and take his Heavenly Flames, but Mu Han would likely kill Mo Zhai and the others as well.

Xiao Yan negotiated with Old Monster Hu, who offered information about Mu Zhai’s forces in exchange for Emperor Grade Pills. They struck a deal for Old Monster Hu to fight on Xiao Yan’s side once during the coming battle in the Lightning Pool, though Old Monster Hu remained wary of Xiao Yan’s chances against a Nine-Star Half-Emperor.

• Xiao Yan demanded proof that Old Monster Hu could be trusted, and Old Monster Hu revealed that Mu Manor had another Seven-Star Half-Emperor close to breaking through to eight stars.
• Old Monster Hu asked for four Emperor Grade Pills in exchange for staying out of the fight, but Xiao Yan countered that the price was too high.
• Old Monster Hu lowered his demand to three Emperor Grade Pills, and Xiao Yan insisted he also fight for Xiao Yan once if needed.
• Old Monster Hu agreed to the terms, and Xiao Yan warned him not to switch sides or he would kill him.
• Old Monster Hu privately doubted Xiao Yan could defeat a Nine-Star Half-Emperor and felt a chill at Xiao Yan’s threat.

Xiao Yan returned to the Alchemist Guild after the auction and told Gu Li and Chi Lin what Old Monster Hu had revealed about Mo Zhai’s schemes. With the Void Lightning Pool approaching, they agreed to attack Mo Zhai’s group before its members could break through, while Old Monster Hu turned against Yan Bing and Gu Li and Chi Lin stalled Mu Han.

• Xiao Yan entered the Alchemist Guild and was mobbed by alchemists seeking his advice before he escaped with Heavenly Severing Steps.
• Xiao Yan met Gu Li and Chi Lin, who asked about Mu Han’s appearance at the auction on Mo Zhai’s behalf.
• Xiao Yan recounted Old Monster Hu’s information about Fang Xun, Wang Qi, Wu Mohui, Yan Bing, and Mu Han acting at Mo Zhai’s urging.
• Gu Li warned that Mo Zhai’s side could become much stronger if Yan Bing and the Seven-Star Half-Emperor broke through in the Void Lightning Pool.
• Xiao Yan proposed attacking Mo Zhai’s group as soon as they entered the pool, with Old Monster Hu facing Yan Bing and Gu Li and Chi Lin holding Mu Han back.

Xiao Yan settled into the Alchemist Guild, won the alchemists’ admiration by demonstrating his pill refining, and prepared thousands of Fire Lotus Bottles for Mo Zhai. On the day the Void Lightning Pool was set to open, he traveled with Gu Li and Chi Lin to Ge Thunder Mountain.

• Xiao Yan endured three days of alchemists seeking his advice, then refined Ninth-grade Pills at the guild so they could watch and learn.
• Gu Li and Chi Lin teased Xiao Yan about stealing the spotlight, and Xiao Yan replied that he would rather they handled the alchemists’ questions.
• Xiao Yan created more than five thousand Fire Lotus Bottles, planning to use them as a surprise for Mo Zhai.
• Xiao Yan, Gu Li, and Chi Lin left Ancient Wilderness City and flew toward Ge Thunder Mountain, where the Void Lightning Pool would open.
• Chi Lin explained the history of the Ge Thunder Mountain Range as the three approached the thundercloud-covered mountain.

Xiao Yan and his companions arrived at Ge Thunder Mountain before the Void Lightning Pool opened, where he learned about the lingering Dou Di pressure carved into the mountain. Elder Xuan came to support Xiao Yan on the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion master's behalf, and the chapter ended as Mo Zhai and his party approached.

• Xiao Yan arrived at Ge Thunder Mountain with Gu Li and Chi Lin and was shaken by the pressure in the mountain's carved characters.
• Gu Li warned Xiao Yan about the Dou Di pressure, while Chi Lin recounted how Mu Han had once stared at the characters for half a day.
• Elder Xuan arrived and said the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion's master had sent him to help Xiao Yan and prevent trouble from Mu Han's group.
• Mo Zhai and his party flew toward the mountain, and their leader's overwhelming presence drew everyone's attention.

Mu Han arrived at Ge Thunder Mountain with his group and faced the oppressive might left by a Dou Di, while Xiao Yan realized Mu Han might be seeking his Emperor Tribulation Pill as well as revenge. Elsewhere, several Half-Emperors threatened Qin Zhong for his Lightning Invitation, but an unseen attacker killed their leader as he insulted Xiao Yan.

• Mu Han and his companions arrived at Ge Thunder Mountain, where Half-Emperors speculated about his motives and Xiao Yan suspected he wanted the Emperor Tribulation Pill.
• Mu Han’s Spiritual Strength clashed with the Dou Di’s oppressive might embodied by the characters on Ge Thunder Mountain, and Xiao Yan’s group recognized his formidable resolve.
• Blood Snake and four other Half-Emperors surrounded Qin Zhong and demanded his Lightning Invitation, mocking his wish to help Xiao Yan.
• Qin Zhong defended Xiao Yan and refused to back down as the Half-Emperors taunted him.
• An unseen attacker spoke beside Blood Snake, and Blood Snake died instantly.

Xiao Yan and his allies rescued Qin Zhong from a group of Half-Emperors who had ambushed him, then returned to Ge Thunder Mountain as the Void Lightning Pool opened. Mu Han remained unharmed and waited for the opening alongside Xiao Yan and the gathered experts.

• Xiao Yan and his companions confronted the attackers threatening Qin Zhong, and Xiao Yan killed two of them with Heavenly Flames while Gu Li and the others defeated the rest.
• Qin Zhong worried that Xiao Yan would face Mu Han, a Nine-Star Half-Emperor, but Xiao Yan assured him he could escape and encouraged him to seek a breakthrough in the Lightning Pool.
• Xiao Yan, Gu Li, Elder Xuan, and the others brought Qin Zhong back to Ge Thunder Mountain, where Half-Emperor experts were battling for Lightning Invitations.
• Xiao Yan saw Mu Han waiting unharmed near the mountain and watched the dark thunderclouds gather above the summit.
• The thunderclouds split open and silver light spilled through as the Void Lightning Pool opened.

The Void Lightning Pool opened, and Xiao Yan learned that Lightning Invitations could carry their owners safely through its deadly lightning barrier. After Mo Zhai's group entered, Xiao Yan and his companions followed, with Xiao Jin absorbing some of Xiao Yan's blood.

• The Void Lightning Pool Invitation reacted to the widening passage, and Gu Li explained that the passage would take two hours to open fully.
• The passage opened, revealing lightning too powerful for even a Half-Emperor to force through; Gu Li explained that entrants had to attach their presence to their Lightning Invitations.
• Chi Lin warned that a Seven-Star Half-Emperor had died trying to enter without an invitation, causing several hesitant Half-Emperors to withdraw.
• Mu Han sent Mo Zhai's group's invitations into the passage, then led the five of them inside.
• Xiao Yan cut his palm and sent his bloodied Lightning Invitation into the passage before flying after it with Gu Li, Chi Lin, Qin Zhong, and Elder Xuan.
• Xiao Jin licked Xiao Yan's wound and absorbed traces of purple-gold blood.

Xiao Yan and his companions entered the Void Lightning Pool and set out to confront Mo Zhai’s group before anyone could cultivate or break through. As they prepared for battle, four mysterious experts elsewhere were summoned and reminded of something called the Heavenly Severing Steps.

• Xiao Yan, Gu Li, Chi Lin, and Qin Zhong crossed the lightning passage and emerged into the vast Void Lightning Pool.
• Gu Li urged Xiao Yan to find Mo Zhai’s group before they could break through, and Xiao Yan sent Qin Zhong away to cultivate somewhere safe.
• Xiao Yan, Gu Li, and Chi Lin tracked down Mo Zhai, Mu Han, and their companions, and the two groups faced off before fighting began.
• Four mysterious experts gathered in a secluded hall, where an unseen speaker hinted at a matter they had waited centuries for and named the Heavenly Severing Steps.

The Ghost Hall master told four Western Region Sovereigns that Xiao Yan possessed the Heavenly Severing Steps and was traveling toward Ancient Wilderness City. He urged them to capture Xiao Yan and take the technique, leaving him alive, and the four agreed to wait for him.

• The Ghost Hall master revealed that the Heavenly Severing Steps were one key to Venerable Heavenly Severing’s inheritance, but said he did not know where the family connected to it was.
• Sect Master Wu attacked the hall master’s hidden presence, but the hall master drew the four Sovereigns’ attention by hinting that he knew where the technique was.
• The hall master identified Xiao Yan, also known as Yan Xiao, as the technique’s holder and said Xiao Yan was headed toward Ancient Wilderness City.
• Sword Sovereign questioned Xiao Yan’s strength, and the hall master said he had reached Three-Star Half-Emperor nearly half a year earlier.
• The hall master explained that Ghost Hall could not openly kill Xiao Yan in a city and instructed the four Sovereigns to leave him alive while taking the Heavenly Severing Steps.
• Sect Master Wu welcomed the chance to attack Xiao Yan, and the four Sovereigns laughed in agreement.

Xiao Yan faced Mu Han’s group in the Void Lightning Pool and quickly defeated Zhang Hao, who challenged him to prove his strength. After sending a black figure to deal with Zhang Hao, Xiao Yan turned his attention to Mu Han as the larger confrontation continued.

• Xiao Yan and his companions confronted Mu Han’s group while other Half-Emperor experts gathered to watch.
• Zhang Hao taunted Xiao Yan and attacked him with a strange, flexible sword.
• Xiao Yan caught Zhang Hao’s sword with the Heaven-Spanning Hand and smashed him in the face with the Heavy Xuan Ruler.
• Yan Bing charged at Xiao Yan, but Gu Li and Chi Lin intercepted him while Xiao Yan prepared to finish Zhang Hao.
• Xiao Yan called Zhang Hao a Seven-Star Half-Emperor who was nothing special and sent a black figure crashing into him.
• Xiao Yan turned his gaze toward Mu Han.

Xiao Yan prepared to face Mu Han while Old Monster Hu unexpectedly betrayed Mo Zhai’s side and struck Yan Bing from behind. The battle’s balance shifted, leaving the reason for Old Monster Hu’s turncoat move unclear.

• The watching Half-Emperors marveled as Xiao Yan’s Northern King pummeled Zhang Hao, but they refused to risk angering Mu Han by helping Xiao Yan.
• Mu Han ordered Old Monster Hu to join the fight against Yan Bing, and Old Monster Hu agreed.
• As Old Monster Hu passed Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan secretly told him to hold Yan Bing back, and Old Monster Hu acknowledged the instruction.
• Xiao Yan prepared to fight Mu Han as Old Monster Hu moved behind Yan Bing.
• Old Monster Hu struck Yan Bing in the back, disrupting his Dou Qi and sending him flying after Gu Li and Chi Lin’s attacks landed.
• Mo Zhai and the onlookers were shocked when Old Monster Hu betrayed their side, and they could not tell why he had done it.

Mu Han trapped Xiao Yan, Gu Li, and Chi Lin inside a powerful formation, and Xiao Yan struggled to break through it. Zhong Li arrived to help, but Mu Han reinforced the barrier and attacked Gu Li and Chi Lin, leaving Xiao Yan determined to find a way out.

• Mu Han used three hundred Formation Plates to seal Xiao Yan, Gu Li, and Chi Lin inside a barrier that resisted Xiao Yan's Eight Extremes Collapse.
• Zhong Li appeared outside the barrier and struck it with a golden finger, but the formation held.
• Mu Han altered the formation and attacked Gu Li and Chi Lin, overpowering their combined defense and forcing them to retreat.
• Gu Li urged Xiao Yan to break the barrier before Mu Han began fighting in earnest.
• Xiao Yan steeled himself and resolved to break through the reinforced barrier.

Xiao Yan sought a way to break the formation barrier trapping him and, with Gu You’s guidance and Zhong Li’s help, weakened it through coordinated attacks. Mu Han defeated Gu Li and Chi Lin, leaving Xiao Yan exposed as the barrier neared collapse.

• Xiao Yan’s attacks failed to break the barrier, and he feared Gu Li and Chi Lin would fall before he could escape.
• Gu You examined the formation and explained that it relied on three hundred formation plates, then helped Xiao Yan identify how to attack it.
• Xiao Yan used his Dragon-Phoenix Bloodline and Eight Extremes Collapse to strike a formation plate while Zhong Li added his power from outside.
• Their combined attacks weakened and dimmed the barrier, but Xiao Yan and Zhong Li continued carefully to keep it from recovering.
• Mu Han defeated Gu Li and Chi Lin, leaving them badly injured, then turned his attention toward Xiao Yan and taunted him.

Xiao Yan revealed that the fighter Mu Han had destroyed was only a soul clone, and the explosion had left Mu Han with a small but humiliating injury. As Mu Han resolved to kill Xiao Yan over his disciple’s death, he attacked, but Xiao Yan’s speed let him evade the blow.

• Zhong Li realized Xiao Yan had survived because the body that self-destructed was a soul clone, and the onlookers wondered about Xiao Yan’s background and technique.
• Mu Han appeared unhurt at first, but his ruined robes and a red mark on his chest showed the clone’s explosion had slightly injured him.
• Xiao Yan called Mu Han “noisy,” while the spectators and Mu Han reconsidered the danger posed by Xiao Yan’s mysterious origins and abilities.
• Mu Han decided that Xiao Yan’s killing of his disciple demanded blood repayment, regardless of where Xiao Yan came from.
• Mu Han pierced Xiao Yan’s weakened soul shield with his pressure and struck at him, but Xiao Yan’s speed let him evade the attack.

Mu Han overpowered Zhong Li and Xiao Yan, then launched the Soul Suppressing Seal at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan gathered soul power and Dou Qi as the seal closed in, leaving the clash unresolved.

• Mu Han struck Zhong Li with a palm and a kick, injuring him and sending him flying.
• Mu Han tried to tear out Zhong Li’s spine, but Xiao Yan intervened and seized Mu Han’s attacking hand.
• Xiao Yan kicked Mu Han and used Eight Extremes Collapse, but Mu Han caught his ankle and counterattacked, making Xiao Yan spit blood.
• Mu Han formed a massive golden Soul Suppressing Seal and sent it toward Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan halted before the approaching seal and gathered soul power and Dou Qi as a wheel of flame spun beneath his sleeve.

Mu Han unleashed the Soul Suppressing Seal against Xiao Yan while Gu Li and Chi Lin remained trapped in the God-Trapping Formation. Xiao Yan used his Great Dao Gauze Robe to gather the Power of the Great Dao of the Void, preparing to risk his life to improve his strength.

• Mu Han sent his powerful Soul Suppressing Seal hurtling toward Xiao Yan as the Half-Emperor spectators expected Xiao Yan to fall.
• Chi Lin struck the God-Trapping Formation’s barrier and was thrown back, while Gu Li regretted that they had underestimated Mu Han.
• Gu You warned Xiao Yan that his attempt to use Mu Han’s attack to improve his strength could leave him reduced to ashes.
• Xiao Yan formed a thin black gauze robe from the Power of the Great Dao of the Void and gathered power around himself as the Soul Suppressing Seal descended.

Xiao Yan used the Great Dao Gauze Robe to vanish and evade Mu Han’s Soul Suppressing Seal, but Mu Han forced him to reveal himself by threatening Zhong Li. Xiao Yan attacked Mu Han’s Vajra Formation with the Ancient Emperor Seal, and the clash left the seal stopped just short of Mu Han.

• Xiao Yan poured his soul power into the Great Dao Gauze Robe and vanished as the Soul Suppressing Seal passed through the void where he had been.
• Mu Han failed to locate Xiao Yan and threatened to kill Zhong Li to draw him out.
• Xiao Yan appeared behind Mu Han and attacked, but Mu Han activated his Vajra Formation.
• Xiao Yan swallowed an Emperor Grade Qi Recovery Pill and unleashed the Ancient Emperor Seal against Mu Han’s Vajra Body Protection.
• The Ancient Emperor Seal struck the Vajra Formation and was intercepted two inches from Mu Han’s body.

Xiao Yan repeatedly attacked Mu Han's Vajra Formation, using Eight Extremes Collapse to weaken it before breaking through with Buddha's Fury Reincarnation. The chapter ended as a vast pillar of black energy erupted from the flaming wheel and struck Mu Han.

• Mu Han's Vajra Formation repelled Xiao Yan's Ancient Emperor Seal and sent him staggering back.
• Xiao Yan used Heavenly Severing Steps to evade Mu Han, then repeatedly struck the formation with Eight Extremes Collapse despite suffering injuries from its recoil.
• Xiao Yan's hidden force detonated inside the Vajra Formation and weakened it, shocking Mu Han and the watching experts.
• Xiao Yan hurled transparent jade bottles at the formation to obscure Mu Han's view, then struck it with his Heavenly Flame-wreathed dragon arm.
• Xiao Yan drove Buddha's Fury Reincarnation into the weakened formation, shattered its Vajra Shield, and sent a huge pillar of black energy toward Mu Han.