Chapter Summaries

Ye Luotian, sect master of the Withered Leaf Sect, arrived during the battle and handed out fourth-tier pills that healed and strengthened the fighters. After Xiao Yan exposed no immediate danger in the pills and his group took them, Ye Luotian revealed his real purpose by causing Withered Leaf Grass to sprout inside the cyclones of everyone except Xiao Yan's group.

• Ye Luotian descended into the arena and claimed he wanted to stop the fighting and prevent further deaths.
• Ye Luotian offered everyone fourth-tier pills, and the members of the Four Great Clans swallowed them, healing their injuries and increasing their strength.
• Xiao Yan examined the pills before Tian Ying and the others took them, then led his group in swallowing theirs.
• Xiao Yan and his companions grew stronger, while Ye Luotian watched with an increasingly twisted smile.
• Xiao Yan asked Ye Luotian about his true purpose, and Ye Luotian summoned Withered Leaf Grass inside the cyclones of everyone present except Xiao Yan's group.

Ye Luotian used Withered Leaf Gu to control the people of the Four Great Clans and ordered them to capture Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan revealed that his Heavenly Flames had destroyed the Gu, then prepared to face the six attackers.

• Withered Leaf Gu spread through the Four Great Clans, and Ye Luotian explained that he could kill anyone who disobeyed him.
• A Four-Star Dou Di of the Huo Clan threatened Ye Luotian with the Heavenly Sword Sect, but Ye Luotian killed him instantly.
• Xiao Yan defied Ye Luotian, who discovered that the Gu had vanished from Xiao Yan and the others.
• Xiao Yan showed his Heavenly Flames and explained that they had destroyed the Gu.
• Ye Luotian ordered six strengthened Dou Di to attack Xiao Yan's group, and Xiao Yan began gathering Dou Qi for a High Spirit Class Dou Technique.

Leng Bingshuang awakened after five years of seclusion, drove Ye Luotian away, and rescued Xiao Yan. She told Xiao Yan he owed her again, but said she had not yet decided how he would repay her.

• Leng Bingshuang appeared in front of Xiao Yan and struck Ye Luotian, revealing that she had fully purged her cold poison and grown stronger.
• Xiao Yan thanked Leng Bingshuang, who turned her icy gaze on Ye Luotian and ordered him to leave.
• Ye Luotian realized Leng Bingshuang had reached the Origin Transformation Realm and fled the Xilin Mountain Range.
• Leng Bingshuang told Xiao Yan that he owed her for saving him again, and Xiao Yan agreed to repay her when she decided what she wanted.

After Leng Bingshuang left, Xiao Yan checked on Tian Ying’s injured companions and parted ways with Bai Ying, who had helped him reach Five-Star Dou Di. Xiao Yan then asked Tian Ying about the Origin Return Art in the Heavenly Severing Ancient Tomb.

• Xiao Yan examined Xiong Gang and Yan Shi and learned their injuries were improving.
• Tian Ying, A Bao, Xiong Gang, and Yan Shi became fully united after A Bao had stood by them in the crisis.
• Bai Ying thanked Xiao Yan for helping him advance to Five-Star Dou Di, but Xiao Yan declared their partnership settled and warned that their future positions might differ.
• Bai Ying left the Xilin Mountain Range, while Xiao Yan resolved to remain wary of him.
• Xiao Yan asked Tian Ying about the cultivation art in the Heavenly Severing Ancient Tomb that was more valuable than Venerable Heavenly Severing’s inheritance, and Tian Ying identified it as the Origin Return Art.

Xiao Yan returned to Yan City after five years and reunited with Jin Yao at her private residence. He revealed that he had reached Five-Star Dou Di and had defeated the Four Great Clans’ force sent to capture him.

• Xiao Yan visited the Thousand Medicine Pavilion, where the manager told him Jin Yao was likely at her private residence.
• Xiao Yan used his Spiritual Strength to locate Jin Yao cultivating in her courtyard, but she sensed his probe.
• Xiao Yan appeared before Jin Yao and greeted her after five years apart, bringing her to tears with relief.
• Jin Yao told Xiao Yan she had feared the Four Great Clans’ expedition into the Xilin Mountain Range was targeting him.
• Xiao Yan confirmed that the Four Great Clans had come to capture him and said he had left them there forever.
• Xiao Yan released his pressure, and Jin Yao realized he had reached Five-Star Dou Di.

Xiao Yan reunited with Jin Yao and explained how devouring the Bone Spirit Cold Flame had raised him to Five-Star Dou Di. When Zhao Mian attacked Jin Yao over his son's death, Xiao Yan revealed that he had killed Zhao Xian.

• Jin Yao was shocked to learn Xiao Yan had advanced from Six-Star Half-Emperor to Five-Star Dou Di by devouring the Bone Spirit Cold Flame.
• Xiao Yan told Jin Yao he planned to visit the Western Wilderness Region to retrieve something important from an elder, not to find Murong Qianqian.
• Zhao Mian appeared over Yan City and threatened Jin Yao, but Dong Chuan intervened to protect her.
• Dong Chuan argued with Zhao Mian that Zhao Xian's death might have involved the person Zhao Xian had been pursuing.
• Xiao Yan arrived with Jin Yao and told Zhao Mian that he had killed Zhao Xian.

Xiao Yan reunited with Dong Chuan in Yan City and faced Zhao Mian, who blamed him for Zhao Xian’s death. As Zhao Mian attacked with his Late Three-Star Dou Di pressure, Xiao Yan calmly cut through it with an invisible force, leaving Zhao Mian terrified.

• Xiao Yan recognized Zhao Mian as the Zhao Clan elder he had encountered in Sulan City and greeted Dong Chuan, who was astonished to see him again.
• The people of Yan City recognized Xiao Yan and speculated about his disappearance and escape from the Four Great Clans.
• Jin Yao told Zhao Mian that Zhao Xian had brought about his own death by pursuing Xiao Yan for a bounty.
• Zhao Mian vowed to kill Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan stopped Dong Chuan from intervening and faced Zhao Mian himself.
• Xiao Yan sliced through Zhao Mian’s oppressive force with an invisible power, making Zhao Mian feel terrified and changing Dong Chuan’s expression.

Xiao Yan revealed that he had reached Mid Five-Star Dou Di, overwhelming Zhao Mian and forcing him to retreat. Zhao Mian left with a threat, while Xiao Yan turned back to Dong Chuan and the others.

• Xiao Yan broke Zhao Mian’s oppressive presence with a glance, stunning everyone in Yan City.
• Xiao Yan told Dong Chuan that he had recently reached Mid Five-Star Dou Di, and Dong Chuan praised his rapid cultivation.
• Zhao Mian realized he could not defeat Xiao Yan and considered retreating.
• Xiao Yan warned Zhao Mian to leave within ten breaths and fired a streak of Dou Qi past him.
• Zhao Mian fled after threatening that the matter was not over, and Xiao Yan turned back to the two people behind him.

Xiao Yan told Dong Chuan and Fang Qian that he planned to travel to the Western Wilderness Region and open the Heavenly Severing Ancient Tomb using his Heavenly Severing Steps. The Four Great Sects learned of his likely destination and plotted to intercept him, while Ye Luotian intended to benefit from their conflict.

• Fang Qian visited Xiao Yan in Jin Yao's courtyard and teased him about Jin Yao's affection, but Xiao Yan said he regarded her as an older sister.
• Xiao Yan insisted he would try to open the Heavenly Severing Ancient Tomb alone and told Dong Chuan and Fang Qian he would leave in three days.
• Jin Yao watched Xiao Yan from behind before turning away and walking to the pond.
• The Four Great Sects discussed Xiao Yan's strength and concluded he might be heading to the Western Wilderness Region to open the tomb.
• Jian Ming, Wu Jitian, and Chen Zhen planned to intercept Xiao Yan, kill him, and take the Heavenly Severing Steps, while Ye Luotian hoped to profit from their clash.

Xiao Yan left Yan City for the Western Wilderness Region after promising Jin Yao he would return. Five days into his journey, he reached Battle Martial Sect territory, where a yellow-robed elder blocked his way after receiving orders to intercept travelers from the east.

• Xiao Yan spent three quiet days with Jin Yao and the others before preparing to leave Yan City.
• Jin Yao urged Xiao Yan to come back, and he promised to return before flying west.
• Xiao Yan traveled without stopping, using the journey to temper himself and refine his Dou Qi as he headed toward Shahepu.
• Five days after leaving Yan City, Xiao Yan crossed into Battle Martial Sect territory and continued past its cities at high speed.
• A yellow-robed elder appeared in Xiao Yan's path, and Xiao Yan identified himself and said he had come to seek instruction.

Xiao Yan confronted the Battle Martial Sect’s defenders and challenged their strength. He began fighting a Late Five-Star Dou Di body cultivator, using the Strength Elephant Art to knock him backward.

• Xiao Yan struck the yellow-robed elder, shattered his Dou Qi barrier, and wounded his arms.
• The yellow-robed elder recognized Xiao Yan and summoned eight more Dou Di experts after crushing a jade slip.
• Xiao Yan faced the nine experts and challenged them to fight him one at a time or all at once.
• A burly Late Five-Star Dou Di elder stepped forward, enlarged his body with a body-refining art, and attacked Xiao Yan with a giant fist.
• Xiao Yan caught the fist with the Strength Elephant Art and struck the elder with a palm, making him stagger backward.

Xiao Yan fought the nine Battle Martial Sect experts, who used the Hexagram Formation to combine defense and attack against him. Though their formation trapped him and forced him to shelter beneath the Six Directions Wandering Body Ruler, he began to calm down as their assault continued.

• The yellow-robed Six-Star Dou Di stopped the old man and announced that the nine would attack Xiao Yan together.
• The nine formed the Hexagram Formation, with three experts surrounding Xiao Yan while the other six supported them from behind.
• Xiao Yan used his soul power and enormous ruler to fight the three attackers, but their formation shielded them from most of his blows.
• The three fighters hemmed Xiao Yan into a narrow space, forcing him to unleash the Six Directions Wandering Body Ruler to protect himself.
• The formation's three attackers grew more confident and intensified their assault as Xiao Yan sheltered beneath his ruler shadows and gradually calmed down.

Xiao Yan held off three Dou Di experts while studying the Hexagram Formation and found a way to exploit its reliance on six supporters. He used the Great Dao of the Void to strike the formation’s vulnerable members and killed one of them, leaving the formation unable to be assembled again.

• Xiao Yan defended himself against three Dou Di experts with the Six Directions Wandering Body Ruler while the six Five-Star Dou Di experts reinforced their attackers.
• Xiao Yan realized the Hexagram Formation depended on the six men and that they could not protect themselves while supporting the three attackers.
• Xiao Yan used the Great Dao of the Void to vanish behind a black curtain and attack the six supporters as the flame barrier broke.
• The three Dou Di experts caught several of their injured allies, but Xiao Yan struck the last Five-Star Dou Di with Heart-Shattering Palm.
• Xiao Yan clenched his fist and caused the wounded Five-Star Dou Di to explode, destroying his body and soul.

Xiao Yan broke the Battle Martial Sect elders’ Hexagram Formation and forced them to admit defeat. After Fang Zerui tried to ambush him, Xiao Yan struck back and left, while the Great Elder faced the humiliation of the failed attack.

• Xiao Yan defeated the six Five-Star Dou Di and broke the Hexagram Formation with his Great Dao of Space.
• The Great Elder rejected a proposal to summon the whole sect and ordered the elders to let Xiao Yan go to avoid further casualties.
• The Great Elder apologized to Xiao Yan and stepped aside, and the other two elders reluctantly followed.
• Fang Zerui ignored the Great Elder and attacked Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan struck his abdomen and sent him flying back.
• The Great Elder ordered Fang Zerui to stand down and again allowed Xiao Yan to leave, and Xiao Yan vanished with the Tian Jue Step.
• The Great Elder left in resignation, furious at Fang Zerui’s failed ambush and the sect’s loss of face.

Xiao Yan arrived at Shahepu, a busy city on the border of the Western Lin Region and the Western Wilderness Region, intending to rest and buy a map. Just as he gave up on finding a fortuitous encounter, four mysterious figures approached from the east, stirring his alarm and the black-robed old man's concern.

• Xiao Yan surveyed Shahepu from the sky and sensed more than ten Dou Di experts, including a Seven-Star Dou Di.
• A black-robed old man noticed Xiao Yan's arrival and was surprised by his youth, Third-Tier Alchemist status, and Five-Star Dou Di cultivation.
• Xiao Yan entered the city, shrugged off the desert heat with the aid of his Heavenly Flame, and set out to find a place to rest and buy a map of the Western Wilderness Region.
• After finding no fortuitous encounter, Xiao Yan spotted four figures flying in from the east and gathered Dou Qi as pressure welled up within him.
• The black-robed old man also saw the four figures and wondered why they had come to Shahepu.

Xiao Yan faced the four sect masters of the Western Region, who had come to kill him and seize the Heavenly Severing Steps after his breakthrough to five-star Dou Di. Chen Zhen trapped Shahepu within a formation, leaving Xiao Yan surrounded with no apparent escape.

• Xiao Yan saw Chen Zhen, Wu Jitian, Jian Ming, and Ye Luotian approaching Shahepu and realized the Four Great Sects had come after him.
• Xiao Yan summoned the Heavy Xuan Ruler, rose into the sky, and confronted the four sect masters with white flames blazing on his weapon.
• Xiao Yan used the Heavenly Severing Steps to demonstrate his speed, while the four sect masters recognized the threat it posed.
• Chen Zhen declared that Xiao Yan had to hand over the Heavenly Severing Steps and struck his golden staff to form a vast formation over Shahepu.

Xiao Yan was surrounded by the four sect masters, who prepared to capture him, until Alchemist Alliance vice president Han Dong appeared and offered him protection. Han Dong promised to handle the four sect masters, leaving Xiao Yan’s escape and the confrontation in Han Dong’s hands.

• Xiao Yan rejected Chen Zhen’s demand to surrender and resolved to settle his scores with the Four Great Sects.
• Jian Ming ordered the four sect masters to attack Xiao Yan, who covered himself in Heavenly Flames armor.
• Han Dong appeared between Xiao Yan and the four sect masters, and they recognized him as the Alchemist Alliance’s vice president and its only Fifth-Tier Alchemist.
• Han Dong greeted Xiao Yan and invited him to visit the Alchemist Alliance.
• Han Dong assured Xiao Yan that he would deal with the four sect masters.

Han Dong intervened when the Four Great Sects tried to capture Xiao Yan for the Heavenly Severing Steps, then formally invited him to join the Alchemist Alliance. Xiao Yan accepted, gaining the alliance’s protection as the four sect masters watched angrily.

• Chen Zhen questioned Han Dong’s right to interfere, and Han Dong asked why the Four Great Sects were trying to kill Xiao Yan over the Heavenly Severing Steps.
• Jian Ming accused Xiao Yan of killing hundreds of people in his sect, and Xiao Yan replied that they had attacked him first under the Four Great Sects’ bounty order.
• Chen Zhen asked Han Dong to keep the Alchemist Alliance out of the dispute, but Han Dong said he wanted Xiao Yan to join because of his exceptional alchemy talent.
• Han Dong offered Xiao Yan a special badge that represented the Alchemist Alliance’s protection and formally invited him to join.
• Xiao Yan accepted Han Dong’s invitation despite the four sect masters’ resentful and furious gazes.

Xiao Yan officially joined the Alchemist Alliance after Han Dong engraved the character "Yan" on his badge. As Han Dong prepared to leave with him, Chen Zhen demanded that Xiao Yan hand over the Heavenly Severing Steps and threatened to oppose the Alliance if he refused.

• Han Dong unleashed his fifth-tier alchemist soul force and engraved the character "Yan" on Xiao Yan’s Alchemist Badge.
• Xiao Yan accepted the badge and officially joined the Alchemist Alliance, making the four sect masters unable to take him by force.
• Han Dong and Xiao Yan turned to leave, but Chen Zhen stopped them.
• Chen Zhen said the Four Great Sects would let Xiao Yan go if he handed over the Heavenly Severing Steps.
• Chen Zhen threatened to oppose Han Dong and the Alchemist Alliance if Xiao Yan refused, then released his pressure.

Xiao Yan and Han Dong repelled the Four Great Sects’ combined pressure as the sect masters demanded Heavenly Severing Steps. Xiao Yan refused to surrender it and agreed to meet them at the Heavenly Severing Ancient Tomb in one year, leaving both sides preparing to swear a lightning punishment oath.

• The four sect masters joined forces to suppress Han Dong and demanded that Xiao Yan hand over Heavenly Severing Steps.
• Xiao Yan unleashed his power alongside Han Dong and shattered the pressure created by the four High-Level Dou Di.
• Xiao Yan displayed Heavenly Severing Steps and threatened to destroy it if the sect masters approached.
• Xiao Yan refused to hand over the scroll and offered to help open the tomb if the four sect masters met him there in one year.
• Chen Zhen demanded a lightning punishment oath, and Xiao Yan proposed that both sides swear one together; the four sect masters agreed.