Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan learned that the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect and Heavenly Puppet Sect had mobilized against the Burning Flame Valley while he was in seclusion. After discovering that Ghost Hall experts might also be involved, he hurried north with Li Bingrui to reach the valley before the battle began.

• Xiao Yan and Li Bingrui overheard people discussing the two sects' war against the Burning Flame Valley in a border city.
• Xiao Yan seized and interrogated the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect's stationed Origin King, while Li Bingrui briefly entered and left the room.
• Xiao Yan learned that he had been in seclusion for more than three years and that the two sects had gathered dozens of Origin King experts for an advance on the Burning Flame Valley.
• Xiao Yan suspected Ghost Hall experts were among the attackers and sped north with Li Bingrui to reach the Burning Flame Valley before the battle.

Xiao Yan and Li Bingrui raced back toward Burning Flame Valley as the conflict with the Heavenly Puppet Sect and Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect intensified. Xiao Yan detected the Fang Clan under attack and intervened, killing the Heavenly Puppet Sect elder who was about to kill Fang Chi.

• Xiao Yan and Li Bingrui entered Burning Flame Valley's territory while Xiao Yan considered the threat posed by the two allied sects and Ghost Hall.
• Xiao Yan sensed the Fang Clan and a Heavenly Puppet Sect expert nearby, then used his Spiritual Strength to inspect the battle.
• The Heavenly Puppet Sect elder and his puppet overwhelmed the Fang Clan, leaving Fang Chi near death and gravely injuring Fang Zhicong.
• The elder prepared to kill Fang Chi, but Xiao Yan arrived and killed him with a single blow.

Xiao Yan learned that Burning Flame Valley’s battle with the two sects was taking place at Southern Barbarian City, then rushed there with Li Bingrui. He arrived as the two sides prepared to fight again, while Burning Flame Valley faced overwhelming odds and Xiao Yi Xian and Bai Hua waited for him.

• Xiao Yan killed the Heavenly Puppet Sect elder, took his Storage Ring and puppet, and learned from Fang Zhicong that the battle was at Southern Barbarian City.
• Fang Zhicong explained that the Fang Clan’s scouts had reported the two sects were probing Burning Flame Valley, and that their information had drawn the Heavenly Puppet Sect’s attack.
• Xiao Yan and Li Bingrui flew southeast toward Southern Barbarian City.
• At the city, Ancestor Fen Tian and Burning Flame Valley’s elders discussed their losses and the two sects’ strategy of wearing them down with puppets and repeated attacks.
• Ancestor Fen Tian promised to send Xiao Yi Xian and Bai Hua somewhere safe, but the enemy forces rose to attack, so he ordered Burning Flame Valley to prepare for battle.

Burning Flame Valley struggled against the Heavenly Puppet Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect as their puppets and numbers shifted the battle against them. Xiao Yan arrived just in time to save Xiao Yi Xian and Bai Hua, while Ancestor Fen Tian remained blocked by Ren Kui.

• The Heavenly Puppet Sect and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect’s experts used their puppets to wear down Burning Flame Valley in a growing melee.
• Ren Kui confronted Ancestor Fen Tian with his Vajra Puppet, while Xie Shan held back from joining the fight.
• Burning Flame Valley’s fighters began to falter, and Xiao Yi Xian nearly ran out of Origin Qi while fighting alongside Bai Hua.
• A Heavenly Puppet Sect Origin King attacked Xiao Yi Xian, and Bai Hua was wounded while trying to catch her as she fell.
• Xiao Yan appeared, caught Xiao Yi Xian, killed the Origin King attacking Bai Hua, and blasted away the puppet descending toward Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Yan returned to the battlefield and overwhelmed the opposing sects’ Origin King experts, then faced an Origin Emperor’s attack. As Burning Flame Valley’s forces regrouped, Ren Kui rebuked his own side for letting Xiao Yan make them lose face.

• Xiao Yan returned, gave medicinal pills to Bai Hua and Xiao Yi Xian, and promised to handle the fighting.
• Xiao Yan gravely injured several opposing Origin King experts with his Heavy Xuan Ruler, including a Seven-Star Origin King.
• Shang Qing, a Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect Origin Emperor, attacked Xiao Yan but was forced back after grabbing the Heavy Xuan Ruler.
• Li Chengxu joined Xiao Yan and confronted Shang Qing as a Heavenly Puppet Sect Origin Emperor arrived with a Vajra Puppet.
• Ren Kui rebuked the opposing experts for making the Heavenly Puppet Sect lose face.

Xiao Yan’s fighting strength forced the Heavenly Puppet Sect and Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect to abandon their attack on Southern Barbarian City. The two sects retreated separately, leaving Xiao Yan’s name famous throughout the Far Southern Land.

• Xie Shan moved to attack Xiao Yan, but Li Chengxu stepped in to protect him and warned that Xie Shan was a peak Origin Emperor with extraordinary speed.
• Ancestor Fen Tian appeared to shield Xiao Yan, while Ren Kui arrived beside Xie Shan with the Vajra Puppet, preventing either side from attacking freely.
• Ren Kui ordered the Heavenly Puppet Sect to return to its sect, abandoning Xie Shan and ending the standoff.
• Xie Shan cursed Ren Kui, then led the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect in a resentful retreat as well.
• The battle at Southern Barbarian City ended on its second day, and Xiao Yan’s reputation spread across the Far Southern Land.

After helping Burning Flame Valley repel the two sects, Xiao Yan revealed his Eight-Star Origin King cultivation and explained Xiao Xuan’s disappearance to Ancestor Fen Tian. He reunited with Lian'er and found Bai Hua recovering in a courtyard with Li Bingrui.

• Ancestor Fen Tian revealed that Xiao Yan had reached Eight-Star Origin King, shocking the elders in the hall.
• Xiao Yan learned that the two sects had expanded the war east into Cloud-Hidden Pavilion’s territory.
• Ancestor Fen Tian thanked Xiao Yan for turning the battle at Southern Barbarian City in Burning Flame Valley’s favor.
• Xiao Yan told Ancestor Fen Tian that Xiao Mingyuan had taken Xiao Xuan away, and Ancestor Fen Tian explained how Xiao Mingyuan had found them.
• Lian'er embraced Xiao Yan and led him to a courtyard, where Bai Hua was recovering with Li Bingrui.

After returning to Burning Flame Valley, Xiao Yan became the focus of the brewing conflict with the two sects, while Ancestor Fen Tian and Li Chengxu worried that the Ghost Hall might join the coming war. Xiao Yan then recalled another possible way to gain help, leaving his plan unexplained.

• Xiao Yan helped Bai Hua inside, reassured him about Li Bingrui, and checked that Xiao Yi Xian was recovering safely.
• Xiao Yan's group and the Burning Flame Valley forces returned to the valley, while both sides prepared for another clash after the two sects were driven back at Southern Barbarian City.
• Ancestor Fen Tian warned the hall that the two sects were gathering experts, and the elders discussed preparations for a possible decisive battle.
• Ancestor Fen Tian told Xiao Yan and Li Chengxu that the Ghost Hall's possible alliance with the two sects posed the greatest danger to Burning Flame Valley.
• Xiao Yan said the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion could not join the regional conflict, but suggested he might have another way to secure help.

Xiao Yan traveled to Ancient Wilderness City, reunited with Gu Li and Chi Lin, and visited Elder Xuan before entering the Ginseng Spirit Realm. He surprised Qing Mu and the Thirty-Two Spirit Guards, who had mistaken his arrival for an enemy attack.

• Xiao Yan left Burning Flame Valley alone, and Liu Ya decided that the Liu Clan needed to choose a side.
• Xiao Yan arrived in Ancient Wilderness City and surprised Alchemist Guild leaders Gu Li and Chi Lin with a reunion.
• Xiao Yan briefly visited Elder Xuan at the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion before heading to Luo Ao's former courtyard.
• Xiao Yan used his jade token to enter the Ginseng Spirit Realm, prompting Qing Mu to summon the Thirty-Two Spirit Guards.
• Xiao Yan appeared before the tense Ginseng Spirit Clan and awkwardly greeted them.

Xiao Yan met Qing Mu and accepted Qing Feng’s challenge in the Ginseng Spirit Realm, revealing how much stronger he had become. He destroyed Qing Feng’s Heaven-Towering Staff with a giant flame ruler, leaving the duel unresolved.

• Qing Mu recognized Xiao Yan’s jade token and welcomed him, while Qing Feng challenged him to a fight.
• Xiao Yan dodged Qing Feng’s attacks and escaped the vines that had bound him using the Strength Elephant Art.
• Xiao Yan shattered Qing Feng’s vine shield and punched him more than a hundred zhang away.
• Qing Feng summoned his Heaven-Towering Staff and brought it down on Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan formed a giant flame ruler and split the Heaven-Towering Staff, burning it into fragments.

Xiao Yan visited the Ginseng Spirit Realm and asked Qing Mu to lend people for Burning Flame Valley’s coming battle against two sects. Qing Mu agreed to send the Thirty-Two Spirit Guards, leaving Xiao Yan ready to return to the Far Southern Land with their support.

• After Xiao Yan defeated Qing Feng, he sat with Qing Mu and discussed his return to the Ginseng Spirit Realm.
• Qing Mu noticed Xiao Yan’s hesitation and asked why he had come; Xiao Yan requested help for the coming battle in the Southern Region.
• Xiao Yan explained the imminent conflict between Burning Flame Valley and two sects, and Qing Feng urged Qing Mu to help him.
• Qing Mu agreed to support Xiao Yan, saying the Ginseng Spirit Clan would answer his request and reveal itself to the world again.
• Qing Mu lent Xiao Yan the Thirty-Two Spirit Guards, all of whom had reached the Origin King realm, while he remained behind to guard the clan.

After recruiting the Ginseng Spirit Clan’s Thirty-Two Spirit Guards, Xiao Yan returned to Ge Thunder Mountain and entered the Void Lightning Pool to test how much its power could strengthen him. He left the Northern King to absorb the pool’s lightning while he cultivated, and his presence began to rise.

• Xiao Yan left Ancient Wilderness City with the Ginseng Spirit Clan’s Thirty-Two Spirit Guards, then recognized a familiar energy fluctuation and changed course for Ge Thunder Mountain.
• Xiao Yan recalled his past visits to the Void Lightning Pool and decided to enter it again, while the Ginseng Spirit Clan members chose to wait outside.
• Xiao Yan used the Great Dao of the Void to open a passage into the pool and swallowed a bolt of black lightning with his flames when it attacked him.
• Xiao Yan reached the core of the Void Lightning Pool, where he summoned the Northern King to absorb the incoming lightning.
• Xiao Yan sat down, circulated the Flame Mantra, and absorbed the pool’s lightning as his presence gradually rose.

Ren Kui prepared the Heavenly Puppet Sect for war against the Burning Flame Valley while the Ghost Hall refused his demand to have Xie Shan killed. Xiao Yan emerged from the depleted Void Lightning Pool at Peak Origin King, discovered the Northern King had grown powerful enough to reach Origin Emperor strength, and hurried toward the Far Southern Land after learning that more than half a month had passed.

• Ren Kui told the Ghost Hall figure that his sect was ready to attack the Burning Flame Valley and demanded that it kill Xie Shan.
• The Ghost Hall figure refused Ren Kui’s demand, reminded him that the bargain covered only Xiao Yan and the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva, and warned that Ren Kui was unworthy of bargaining.
• Xiao Yan finished refining the lightning power and broke through to Peak Origin King, then discovered that the Void Lightning Pool had been completely drained.
• Xiao Yan saw that the Northern King had gained lightning runes, five silver dragon scales, and strength comparable to Origin Emperor.
• Xiao Yan left an imprint of his will on Ge Thunder Mountain as compensation for draining the pool.
• Qing Feng told Xiao Yan that more than half a month had passed, so Xiao Yan led the group toward the Far Southern Land to reach the coming battle.

The two sects launched their final assault on Burning Flame Valley, and Ancestor Fen Tian activated the Star Disk Grand Formation to defend the valley. After the formation fell and both sides suffered losses, Fen Tian confronted Ren Kui and Xie Shan while Xiao Yan remained absent.

• The armies of the two sects gathered outside Burning Flame Valley, and the valley’s experts worried that Xiao Yan had not returned.
• Ancestor Fen Tian reassured them that Xiao Yan would come back, then activated the Star Disk Grand Formation.
• Ren Kui and Xie Shan’s forces battered the formation, suffering heavy casualties before the two sect masters broke through it together.
• Ren Kui summoned the Vajra Puppet and joined Xie Shan in facing Ancestor Fen Tian, who met them in the air and countered their combined pressure.

Xiao Yan hurried toward Burning Flame Valley as its experts fought the forces of Heavenly Puppet Sect and Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect. When Ghost Hall appeared to reinforce the attackers, Xiao Yan arrived on the battlefield.

• After learning he had spent half a month cultivating in the Void Lightning Pool, Xiao Yan rushed from Ancient Wilderness City toward Burning Flame Valley with Qing Feng and the others following.
• Burning Flame Valley’s experts fought the two sects across the mountainside and in the sky, while its three Origin Emperors faced three powerful opponents.
• Ancestor Fen Tian fought Ren Kui, Xie Shan, and the Vajra Puppet, injuring Ren Kui but struggling against their combined attacks.
• Ren Kui called for Hall Master Xiao, and several Ghost Hall members emerged from black mist, alarming Ancestor Fen Tian.
• Xiao Yan appeared above the battlefield and faced the Ghost Hall members.

Xiao Yan returned to Burning Flame Valley as a Peak Origin King and revealed the Ghost Hall’s powerful allies, then used his Red Lotus Karmic Fire to destroy the puppets. Ren Kui prepared to attack, but Xiao Yan sent Northern King to face him.

• Xiao Yan returned to Burning Flame Valley, startling the two sects and reassuring Ancestor Fen Tian.
• Xiao Yan revealed that he had advanced from Eight-Star Origin King to Peak Origin King in a month.
• The Ghost Hall hall master revealed himself as a Yuan Zong, while two other Ghost Hall experts displayed Origin Emperor strength.
• Ren Kui sent the Vajra Puppet toward Xiao Yan, who unleashed his Red Lotus Karmic Fire and melted the puppets, badly damaging the Vajra Puppet.
• Ren Kui vowed to kill Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan sent Northern King to intercept him.

Xiao Yan’s allies arrived with more than thirty Origin Kings, turning the tide against the two Ghost Hall Origin Emperors. Xiao Yan then fought Xie Shan and gained the upper hand in their opening exchanges, leaving the battle ongoing.

• The two Ghost Hall Origin Emperors moved to attack Xiao Yan as the fighting between the sects resumed.
• Qing Feng and more than thirty experts arrived, and Xiao Yan’s allies split into two groups to engage the Origin Emperors.
• Xiao Yan ordered the Thirty-Two Spirit Guards to attack the Origin Emperors while he faced Xie Shan.
• Xie Shan explained that his clan pursued those who killed its members, then fought Xiao Yan with a scythe, chain, and shortsword.
• Xiao Yan struck Xie Shan hard enough to injure his hand and arm, then blocked his counterattack and pressed forward.

Xiao Yan fought Xie Shan, using his speed, techniques, and Heavy Xuan Ruler to counter the Peak Origin Emperor’s chained weapons. After knocking Xie Shan’s short sword away, Xiao Yan sensed a deadly attack forming around him.

• Xiao Yan dodged Xie Shan’s flying sickle and charged in with the Heavy Xuan Ruler.
• Xie Shan punched Xiao Yan’s ruler aside and attacked his throat with the flying sickle, but struck an afterimage.
• Xiao Yan appeared behind Xie Shan and hit him with the Wasteland-Spanning Finger, which Xie Shan blocked with an Origin Qi shield.
• Xie Shan unleashed a barrage of sword images, while Xiao Yan dodged them with Heavenly Severing Steps and the Golden Elephant Art.
• Xiao Yan identified Xie Shan’s real short sword among the illusions and knocked it away with the Heavy Xuan Ruler.
• Xiao Yan sensed killing intent surrounding him as Xie Shan invoked the Great Dao of the Undead.

Xiao Yan fought Xie Shan, who revealed that he had been concealing Yuan Zong-level strength. After escaping into the void while badly wounded, Xiao Yan learned that Xie Shan planned to seize control of the Far Southern Land by letting the other fighters kill one another.

• Xie Shan unleashed his Great Dao of the Undead, surrounding Xiao Yan with deadly black scythes, while Xiao Yan used Heavenly Flames to weaken their chill.
• Xiao Yan broke through most of the scythes with the Sevenfold Heaven-Breaking Ruler, but the attack left a deep wound across his back.
• Xie Shan appeared before Xiao Yan at unexpected speed and pierced his chest through his defenses with a scythe.
• Xiao Yan escaped into the void after Xie Shan prepared to strike again, then reappeared badly injured and recognized Xie Shan as a Yuan Zong.
• Xie Shan admitted he had hidden his strength and revealed that he intended to let the others exhaust or kill one another before claiming the Far Southern Land.

Xiao Yan used his nine avatars to form a powerful fighter and joined forces with it against Xie Shan, but the Yuan Zong overwhelmed them and severely wounded Xiao Yan. As Xie Shan impaled the battered avatar, it began to self-destruct, leaving him caught in the coming explosion.

• Xiao Yan fused his nine Two-Star Origin King avatars into one with Seven-Star Origin King strength and attacked Xie Shan from both sides.
• Xie Shan blocked Xiao Yan and the avatar’s ruler strikes with twin Life-Reaping Scythes, then battered the avatar and severely wounded Xiao Yan with a palm strike.
• Xie Shan pursued and repeatedly struck the avatar until he punched through its chest.
• The avatar’s power surged as it began to self-destruct, and it warned Xie Shan that he was too late to escape.
• A thunderous explosion rang out across the sky.