Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan sought the mysterious artificer’s help to restore his damaged Heavy Xuan Ruler, while the old man’s overwhelming power drove Li Kang and the Eight-Star Dou Sheng from the courtyard. After discovering the ruler was made from rare Flame-Fallen Black Iron, the artificer promised to do everything he could to restore it.

• Xiao Yan agreed to the old man’s instructions and asked him for help repairing his nearly shattered weapon.
• The old man demanded Xiao Yan’s name and crushed Li Kang with his pressure before blasting him and the Eight-Star Dou Sheng out of the courtyard.
• Xiao Yan introduced himself as Yan Xiao and presented the damaged Heavy Xuan Ruler.
• The old man recognized the ruler as the legendary weapon and realized Xiao Yan might be from another continent.
• The old man identified the ruler’s material as a whole piece of Flame-Fallen Black Iron and promised to restore it to its peak.

Xiao Yan entrusted the damaged Heavy Xuan Ruler to Elder Luo for repairs and gave him Flame-Fallen Black Iron, leaving the courtyard relieved that he would get the weapon back in a month. As Xiao Yan departed, Li Kang blocked his way again and declared that he wanted Xiao Yan dead.

• Xiao Yan handed the Heavy Xuan Ruler to the old man, who agreed to repair it.
• Xiao Yan brought out Flame-Fallen Black Iron and offered any leftover material to the old man, who introduced himself as Luo Ao and accepted the gift.
• Elder Luo told Xiao Yan to return in a month to collect the repaired ruler.
• Elder Luo recognized the avatar technique as Yuan Qing's and wondered whether Yuan Qing had taken an interest in Xiao Yan.
• Li Kang and an Eight-Star Dou Sheng blocked Xiao Yan's way, and Li Kang said he wanted Xiao Yan dead.

Li Kang summoned his grandfather, Li Gan, after Xiao Yan mocked his threat, and Li Gan demanded an apology for his grandson’s injuries. Xiao Yan rejected him, and Li Gan attacked, setting off a battle.

• Li Kang shattered a jade pendant that summoned the Li Clan ancestor, while Xiao Yan remained unconcerned.
• Li Gan appeared above Ancient Wilderness City, then went to Elder Luo’s courtyard after sensing Li Kang’s location.
• Li Gan saw Li Kang’s injuries and accused Xiao Yan of bullying his grandson, though Xiao Yan realized Li Kang had likely framed him.
• Li Gan offered to let the matter go if Xiao Yan apologized, then pressured him with his Six-Star Half-Emperor presence.
• Xiao Yan shrugged off Li Gan’s pressure and refused to apologize, so Li Gan attacked him.

Li Gan challenged Xiao Yan to a fight in the sky above Ancient Wilderness City, but their first clash ended evenly and Xiao Yan’s Heavenly Flames proved powerful enough to match Li Gan’s attack. After the Half-Emperor experts protected the city from the resulting shockwave, Li Gan charged at Xiao Yan again, determined to cripple him.

• Li Gan rose above Ancient Wilderness City and challenged Xiao Yan, who appeared opposite him in the sky.
• Li Gan’s imposing presence clashed with Xiao Yan’s Heavenly Flame pressure, and Xiao Yan’s flames gave Li Gan a hidden setback.
• Li Gan unleashed his saber technique, and Xiao Yan countered with a giant flaming ruler; their attacks collided and created a destructive Dou Qi storm.
• Elder Xuan and more than ten Half-Emperor experts raised barriers around the city and surrounding area, stopping the storm and keeping the people safe.
• Li Gan raged that Xiao Yan had repeatedly embarrassed him and charged forward with his golden saber for another slash.

Xiao Yan used Heavenly Severing Steps to evade Li Gan’s attacks and countered with a powerful punch after Xiao Jin awakened and aided him. After exchanging over a hundred moves with Li Gan, Xiao Yan decided to end the fight with Buddha's Fury Reincarnation.

• Li Gan attacked Xiao Yan with his golden saber, but Xiao Yan evaded him with Heavenly Severing Steps and left an afterimage.
• Elder Xuan recognized Xiao Yan’s movement technique as the long-sought Heavenly Severing Steps.
• Xiao Jin awakened and absorbed Li Gan’s lightning attack, allowing Xiao Yan to land a blow that broke several of Li Gan’s bones.
• Li Gan charged again, and he and Xiao Yan exchanged over a hundred attacks, leaving Li Gan badly bruised and burned while Xiao Yan’s injuries were slight.
• Xiao Yan withdrew from the fight and formed the seals for Buddha's Fury Reincarnation.

Xiao Yan formed Buddha's Fury Reincarnation while Li Gan tried and failed to interrupt him. Li Gan then threatened to destroy Ancient Wilderness City by self-destructing, leaving Xiao Yan facing the threat to the city and its people.

• Xiao Yan gathered energy into a black point that formed a powerful disc of flame, while Li Gan charged to stop the technique.
• Xiao Yan used his speed to evade Li Gan's strike and continued forming Buddha's Fury Reincarnation.
• The Half-Emperor experts recognized the disc's terrifying power, and Elder Xuan judged it could threaten an Eight-Star Half-Emperor.
• Li Gan warned that the attack could endanger Ancient Wilderness City's tens of thousands of residents, then declared he would self-destruct to take Xiao Yan with him.
• Xiao Yan realized Li Gan's self-destruction could devastate the city and destroy the teleportation array he needed.

Xiao Yan confronted Li Gan, who threatened to destroy Ancient Wilderness City if Xiao Yan killed him. Xiao Yan called on Elder Luo to protect his place of seclusion, leaving Li Gan unable to escape.

• Li Gan threatened to self-destruct and destroy Ancient Wilderness City, forcing Xiao Yan to weigh the city's many residents and factions against killing him.
• Xiao Yan considered backing down but instead aimed his flame disc at Li Gan and said he would stop him from self-destructing.
• Xiao Yan reminded Li Gan that Elder Luo could kill him and said he would ask the elder only to protect his place of seclusion.
• Elder Luo appeared beside Xiao Yan, explaining that he had accepted Xiao Yan's gift and would not otherwise have intervened.

Elder Luo intervened against Li Gan, forcing him to abandon his threat and make Li Kang apologize to Xiao Yan. Elder Luo then demanded that Li Gan offer compensation, leaving Li Gan frozen when he named the Void Lightning Pool Invitation.

• Elder Luo confronted Li Gan about threatening to destroy his secluded residence, and Li Gan realized he had no choice but to seek Xiao Yan's forgiveness.
• Li Gan claimed the conflict had been a misunderstanding, but Elder Luo revealed that he had injured Li Kang himself.
• Li Gan broke the barrier, struck Li Kang twice, and ordered him to apologize to Xiao Yan.
• Li Kang bowed and apologized to Xiao Yan while hiding his resentment.
• Elder Luo demanded compensation from Li Gan and named the Void Lightning Pool Invitation, leaving Li Gan speechless.

Elder Luo demanded Li Gan’s Void Lightning Pool Invitation as compensation for Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yan learned that the rare token could let him enter the pool and improve his strength. Li Gan gave it up after Xiao Yan threatened him, leaving Xiao Yan with the invitation.

• Elder Luo revealed that he wanted Li Gan’s Void Lightning Pool Invitation for Xiao Yan, surprising Li Gan and the Half-Emperor experts.
• The narration explained that the invitation allowed its owner to join the other holders in entering the Void Lightning Pool, where they could refine heavenly lightning.
• Elder Xuan wondered what rare refining material Xiao Yan had given Elder Luo to earn such favor.
• After hearing about the invitation from Elder Luo, Xiao Yan decided he would take it from Li Gan.
• Xiao Yan threatened Li Gan with his flame disk, and Li Gan offered him the invitation to avoid being killed.
• Elder Luo watched Xiao Yan accept Li Gan’s offer and admired his decisiveness.

Xiao Yan took Li Gan’s Void Lightning Pool Invitation and demanded a separate apology gift, forcing Li Gan to hand over a crystal stone before leaving with Li Kang. After the experts in Ancient Wilderness City showed Xiao Yan respect, a figure slipped into the wilderness that night and caused a bloody disturbance.

• Li Gan gave Xiao Yan the Void Lightning Pool Invitation, then tried to leave with Li Kang.
• Xiao Yan reminded Li Gan that the invitation was separate from the promised apology gift, and Li Gan reluctantly handed over a crystal stone.
• Li Gan and Li Kang left, while the Half-Emperor experts gathered to pay their respects to Elder Luo and chat with Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan reflected that his power left him vulnerable after a single strike, then departed after talking with the experts.
• That night, a figure left Ancient Wilderness City and flew into the wilderness, where sonic booms killed countless low-level magical beasts.

As the Alchemist Conference approached, Xiao Yan visited the Alchemist Guild in Ancient Wilderness City to learn about alchemist ranks and obtain a badge. He asked for the highest qualification available and dismissed High-Level Ninth-Rank as too low, leaving Qin Zhong and the assessment elder astonished.

• Xiao Yan went to the Alchemist Guild to learn about alchemist ranks before the conference.
• Xiao Yan reunited with Qin Zhong, who praised his talent and offered to guide him through the guild.
• Xiao Yan and Qin Zhong reached the crowded hall where alchemists tested their qualifications.
• Xiao Yan asked the assessment elder for the highest rank available, and the elder said it was High-Level Ninth-Rank.
• Xiao Yan murmured that High-Level Ninth-Rank was too low, surprising Qin Zhong and the elder.

Xiao Yan challenged the Alchemist Guild’s assessment elder after the man dismissed his ability to qualify above High-Level Ninth-Rank Alchemist. He unleashed his Soul Power at the Spirit Testing Stele, overwhelming the hall and shattering it before the assessment could register his rank.

• The assessment elder advised Xiao Yan to attempt only the High-Level Ninth-Rank Alchemist assessment, while Qin Zhong bristled at the elder’s contempt.
• Xiao Yan stopped Qin Zhong from confronting the elder and demanded to take the test for a higher-rank assessment.
• The assessment elder pointed Xiao Yan toward the Spirit Testing Stele, which could measure up to Heaven Realm Great Perfection and High-Level Ninth-Rank Alchemist.
• Qin Zhong warned Xiao Yan not to fall into the elder’s trap, but Xiao Yan reassured him and unleashed his Soul Power at the stele.
• Xiao Yan’s Soul Power forced everyone in the hall to their knees, drove the assessment elder back, and shattered the Spirit Testing Stele, drawing the attention of the Guild’s leaders.

After Xiao Yan destroyed the Spirit Testing Stele, the Alchemist Guild’s president and two senior members arrived to apologize and meet him. Xiao Yan learned that chief alchemist Wei Yi held the rank of Second-Tier Alchemist, while Wei Yi saw him as a threat to his position.

• Xiao Yan withdrew his Soul Power after shattering the Spirit Testing Stele, and the assessment elder realized his mistake could cost him his standing in Ancient Wilderness City.
• Qin Zhong watched the humbled alchemists as President Gu Li arrived and apologized to Xiao Yan on behalf of the Alchemist Guild.
• Gu Li asked whether Xiao Yan wanted an Alchemist Badge, and Xiao Yan acknowledged that he had broken the stele.
• Xiao Yan recognized Vice President Chi Lin as an Eight-Star Half-Emperor and examined the badge worn by chief alchemist Wei Yi.
• Qin Zhong told Xiao Yan that Wei Yi was a Second-Tier Alchemist, and Wei Yi began to regard Xiao Yan as a threat to his position.

Xiao Yan asked to try the Alchemist Guild’s High-Level Spirit Testing Stele, and the guild master agreed after dealing with Elder Yun’s misconduct. Wei Yi intervened to spare Elder Yun from dismissal, and the guild master prepared to take Xiao Yan and his companions to the stele.

• Xiao Yan asked whether the Alchemist Guild had another assessment site, and the guild master offered him a chance to try the High-Level Spirit Testing Stele.
• The guild master condemned Elder Yun for his unfair conduct and ordered him to leave the Alchemist Guild.
• Wei Yi asked the guild master to transfer Elder Yun to an outside branch guild instead of dismissing him.
• Xiao Yan also urged the guild master to let the matter go, while Wei Yi mistook his words for fear and retreat.
• The guild master had Elder Yun dragged away, cleared the hall, and invited Xiao Yan and his friend to see the High-Level Spirit Testing Stele.

Xiao Yan accompanied President Gu Li and the others to the Alchemist Guild’s high-level examination chamber to test his soul power. The Spirit Testing Stele drained his soul power before revealing that he had reached the Emperor Realm Second Stage.

• Xiao Yan introduced himself as Yan Xiao, and Gu Li and his companions recognized him as the fighter who had defeated Li Gan.
• Gu Li opened the protected entrance to the high-level examination chamber and invited Xiao Yan inside.
• Xiao Yan approached the High-Level Spirit Testing Stele and placed his palm against it.
• The stele drew out Xiao Yan’s soul power, then displayed the result: Emperor Realm Second Stage.

Xiao Yan tested as an Emperor Realm Second Stage alchemist, and Gu Li explained the continent’s alchemist ranks and soul realms. The explanation left Xiao Yan intrigued by the taboo surrounding the summit of the firmament.

• Xiao Yan’s Spirit Testing Stele test revealed an Emperor Realm Second Stage soul, surprising Gu Li and Chi Lin.
• Xiao Yan asked Gu Li what the Emperor Realm Second Stage meant, while Wei Yi silently looked down on his ignorance.
• Gu Li explained that alchemist ranks were divided between the Human Realm and Divine Realm, with five soul realms spanning nine tiers.
• Gu Li described the four Divine Realm soul realms and explained that an Emperor Realm Soul reached the limit of Second-Tier Alchemist.
• Xiao Yan became fascinated by Gu Li’s mention of the continent’s taboo and the summit of the firmament.

After Xiao Yan received a titular elder token from Gu Li, rumors about his strength and alchemy spread through Ancient Wilderness City. Back at the inn, Elder Xuan arrived and invited Xiao Yan to meet his master.

• Gu Li gave Xiao Yan a jade token making him a titular elder of the Alchemist Guild, while privately hoping Xiao Yan would help with an unnamed matter by entering the Alchemist Tournament.
• After Xiao Yan left, Chi Lin asked whether Gu Li thought Xiao Yan would help, and Gu Li said they should at least raise the matter with him.
• News of Xiao Yan's visit to the Alchemist Guild spread, and crowds in Ancient Wilderness City discussed his Half-Emperor strength and alchemy; Qin Zhong released his pressure to clear a path.
• Elder Xuan visited Xiao Yan at the inn and invited him to meet his master.

Xiao Yan accepted the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion master's invitation and followed Elder Xuan Ye to the pavilion, still uncertain why the powerful master wanted to meet him. On the way inside, they encountered Mo Zhai, whose remarks suggested tension over the pavilion master's decisions.

• After recalling how he had obtained a Flame Crystal and condensed a second avatar in the mountains, Xiao Yan agreed to go with Elder Xuan Ye to meet the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion master.
• Xiao Yan and Elder Xuan Ye reached the pavilion, where departing guests respectfully greeted Xiao Yan before leaving.
• Inside the hall, Xiao Yan saw Mo Zhai surrounded by Half-Emperor experts and learned his name through Mo Zhai's greeting to Xuan Ye.
• Mo Zhai questioned why the pavilion had driven customers away, and Xuan Ye replied that the pavilion master had returned and needed no one's permission.
• After Xiao Yan introduced himself, Mo Zhai praised his reputation, while Xuan Ye hinted that Mo Zhai would soon hear more about him.
• Mo Zhai questioned whether the pavilion master would approve of Xuan Ye bringing Xiao Yan inside, but Xuan Ye entered with Xiao Yan and left Mo Zhai behind.

Xiao Yan reunited with Luo Jin at the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion and learned that Luo Jin wanted to discuss the Heavenly Severing Ancient Tomb. The chapter ended with Xiao Yan reacting to the revelation that the tomb was connected to his Heavenly Severing Steps.

• Elder Xuan told Xiao Yan that Mo Zhai was an alchemist from Nanlin City whose skills were unlikely to improve, and Xiao Yan resolved to test himself against him at the Alchemist Grand Meeting.
• Elder Xuan left Xiao Yan at the sixth floor, where he met Luo Jin, who revealed that he had invited him.
• Xiao Yan and Luo Jin joked, ate, and drank together before Luo Jin brought up Xiao Yan’s movement Dou Technique.
• Luo Jin identified Xiao Yan’s technique as the vanished Heavenly Severing Steps and said he was interested in the connected Heavenly Severing Ancient Tomb.
• Xiao Yan repeated the tomb’s name in surprise.

Luo Jin told Xiao Yan that the Four Great Sects had discovered three sealed inheritance chambers in the Heavenly Severing Ancient Tomb, each opened by one of the Three Heavenly Severing Techniques. He proposed that Xiao Yan cooperate with him to claim an inheritance, leaving Xiao Yan to decide whether to trust Luo Jin's offer to deal with the Four Great Sects.

• Luo Jin revealed that the Four Great Sects had found three sealed chambers in the Heavenly Severing Ancient Tomb that likely held Venerable Heavenly Severing's inheritances.
• Luo Jin explained that each chamber could only be opened with one of the Three Heavenly Severing Techniques, giving Xiao Yan a chance to obtain an inheritance.
• Xiao Yan worried that the Four Great Sects would unite against him, but suggested he could open a chamber and return later to seize the inheritance.
• Luo Jin warned that the Four Great Sects would guard against that plan and asked Xiao Yan to cooperate with him.
• Luo Jin offered to deal with the Four Great Sects while Xiao Yan acted as the fisherman.