Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan fought Bai Zijing and three other Bai family experts who surrounded him in the cavern. Just as Bai Rong seized him by the throat, Xiao Xuan appeared and cut off Bai Rong’s hand.

• Xiao Yan blocked Bai Zijing’s arrows with lava, but Bai Zijing broke through and attacked him at close range.
• Bai Rong warned Bai Zijing not to underestimate Xiao Yan, but Bai Zijing ordered the four of them to surround and kill Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan used a secret art and his movement technique to evade the attackers, while Bai Rong cast the Senluo Cold Domain to slow him down.
• Xiao Yan fought off Bai Sheng and the Six-Star Yuan Zong, but Bai Rong caught him by the throat.
• Xiao Xuan appeared and severed Bai Rong’s hand and part of his arm, freeing Xiao Yan.

Xiao Xuan arrived in Stone Rock Valley and turned the battle against Bai Rong and the Bai Clan. Bai Rong sacrificed one of his own men to clear a path, then tried to self-destruct and take Xiao Yan with him, but Xiao Xuan cut him in half as he charged.

• Xiao Xuan appeared beside Xiao Yan, who had gained new strength, and Bai Rong returned to protect Bai Zijing.
• Bai Rong urged Bai Zijing and the others to retreat, but Xiao Xuan attacked and blocked their escape with a giant sword.
• Bai Rong distracted Xiao Xuan by attacking Xiao Yan, then used a seal while Bai Zijing and the others fled toward the cavern exit.
• Bai Rong killed the six-star Yuan Zong and hurled his body at Xiao Xuan's giant sword, blasting open a path.
• Bai Rong swelled up to self-destruct and charged Xiao Yan, but Xiao Xuan cut him in half with the Orchid Sword.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Xuan killed Bai Sheng after Bai Zijing escaped, then helped Huo Xing and Huo Xin leave the Fire Banyan Ruins. The group escaped the Ouyang Clan and emerged from the magma, where Xiao Xuan revealed how he had entered the ruins.

• Xiao Xuan killed Bai Sheng, and Xiao Yan took the Storage Ring from his body.
• Huo Xing and Huo Xin completed their breakthrough to Yuan Zong, learned of Huo Qing's death, and agreed to leave with Xiao Yan and Xiao Xuan.
• Xiao Yan's group avoided the Ouyang Clan as it headed toward Stone Rock Valley, and Xiao Xuan concealed Huo Xin's presence from Elder Ming.
• Xiao Yan used Volcanic Stone Flame to calm Huo Xin, and the group left the Fire Banyan Ruins a week later without incident.
• Xiao Yan asked how Xiao Xuan had entered without a Fire Banyan Token, and Xiao Xuan said he had blown the barrier open.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Xuan returned to Xiao City with Huo Rong and Huo Xin, while news of the Zhao Clan’s influence stirred Xiao Xuan to act. In the city, Xiao Yan encountered Xiao Chuhang and an unknown companion, leaving their meeting tense.

• Xiao Xuan told Xiao Yan that neither the Second Elder nor the Orchid Sword Saint possessed a Heaven Inquiry Pill, leaving Bai Hua’s fate uncertain.
• After nearly two months of travel, Xiao Yan’s group reached Tianyang City, where An Nan congratulated Xiao Xuan on becoming head of the inner council.
• An Nan reported that the Zhao Clan controlled markets, more than a dozen cities, and nearly a hundred clan factions under Xiao Clan authority.
• Xiao Xuan said it was time to set things in order, and the group continued on to Xiao City.
• Xiao Yan recognized Xiao Chuhang in the city, then addressed the person who stepped in front of him.

Xiao Yan returned to Xiao City and reunited with Xiao Yang and Xiao Chuhang, who challenged him after years of cultivating. Xiao Yan overwhelmed their combined attack with his Heavenly Flames, leaving the onlookers stunned.

• Xiao Xuan explained that Xiao Feng had arranged for Xiao Yang to receive clan resources by entrusting Xiao Chuhang to him, and that Xiao Chuhang had grown through following Xiao Yang.
• Xiao Yang challenged Xiao Yan to erase his past humiliation, but Xiao Yan revealed that he had reached Seven-Star Yuan Zong while Xiao Yang had advanced to Late Five-Star Yuan Zong.
• Xiao Yang attacked Xiao Yan with a punch, and Xiao Yan stopped it with one hand and praised his improved explosive power.
• Xiao Yang and Xiao Chuhang combined their techniques to summon a Rock Whale and attack Xiao Yan with Whale Devours a Hundred Rivers.
• Xiao Yan drove his Heavenly Flames into the Rock Whale and melted it into magma, shocking the onlookers.

Xiao Yan returned to the Xiao Clan after defeating Xiao Yang and Xiao Chuhang, reunited with Bai Hua and Lian'er, and brought the Huo Rong siblings into his residence. Xiao Ling'er learned he was back and rushed to find him, while Xiao Yan ended the night alone on the roof, gazing at the stars.

• Xiao Yan praised Xiao Yang and Xiao Chuhang’s combined Dou Technique before they welcomed him to stay in the clan.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Xuan’s group returned to the residence, where Bai Hua and Lian'er greeted them and the Huo Rong siblings were introduced.
• Xiao Zhen learned that Xiao Yan had reached Seven-Star Yuan Zong and blocked the two men’s combined attack.
• Xiao Ling'er heard that Xiao Yan had returned and hurried down the mountain to see him despite Xiao Zhen telling her to wait.
• Huo Xing and Bai Hua, and Huo Xin and Lian'er, grew closer at the residence as Xiao Yan watched them thoughtfully.
• At night, the exhausted travelers went to their rooms while Xiao Yan lay on the roof, gazing at the stars.

Xiao Yan remembered Xiao Yi Xian and reaffirmed that he would personally avenge her against the Tribulation Crossing Sect. The next day, he discovered a lost Fire Banyan Clan pill formula in Bai Sheng’s Storage Ring and was reunited with familiar members of the Xiao Clan’s younger generation.

• Xiao Yan recalled Xiao Yi Xian’s tragic death and resolved to take revenge on Xu Zhen, Wu Du, and the Tribulation Crossing Sect himself.
• Xiao Yan searched Bai Sheng’s Storage Ring and found a scroll containing the Earth Spirit Tempering Fire Pill formula in a Fire Banyan Wood cylinder.
• Huo Xing recognized the formula as a lost relic of the Fire Banyan Clan, but told Xiao Yan to keep it and give him pills if he refined any.
• Huo Xin warned Xiao Yan, Huo Xing, and Bai Hua that a crowd had arrived, and Xiao Yan wondered whether Xiao Dingtian was among them.
• Xiao Shaojun arrived with Xiao Lei, Xiao Zhuobin, Xiao Tian, and other members of the Xiao Clan’s younger generation, and Xiao Yan greeted them warmly.

Xiao Yan returned to the Xiao Clan and reunited with his relatives, learning how much they had grown and hearing troubling news about the Central Region. After spending half a month in the clan, he discovered that the black power inside Bai Hua was still slowly consuming her Soul Origin despite the efforts to suppress it.

• Xiao Ling'er challenged Xiao Yan to a fight, while Xiao Lei and the others described how she had been beating them since her cultivation advanced.
• Xiao Shaojun noticed that Xiao Yan had reached mid-stage Seven-Star Yuan Zong, shocking everyone, and stopped Xiao Ling'er from attacking him.
• Xiao Yan learned that Xiao Mingyuan had left the clan and that Ouyang Yu had returned from his battle with Xiao Yitian without either arm, while Xiao Yitian remained missing.
• After Xiao Yan's return drew many clan elders to his residence, Xiao Xuan turned away the visitors and Xiao Yan spent his days taking Huo Rong and her sister out.
• Xiao Yan examined Bai Hua and realized that the black power inside her continued to devour her Soul Origin, despite Xiao Xuan's formation and the Pill Transformation Ring.

Xiao Yan failed to find a way to stop the black force inside Bai Hua and focused on cultivation while hoping the Heaven Inquiry Pill could help. Xiao Xuan told him the Xiao Clan would hold an early Clan Ritual for him and Xiao Yang, but Xiao Yuheng arrived with news that the Bai Clan demanded Xiao Yan be handed over.

• Bai Hua reassured Xiao Yan that he would not die yet, and Xiao Yan searched the Heaven-Nurturing Pavilion for a way to help him but found nothing useful.
• Xiao Yan spent nearly three months cultivating in the Xiao Clan’s back mountain and assessed the strength he could reach using his secret technique and Heavenly Flames.
• Xiao Zhen overruled Xiao Dingtian’s objections and approved an early Clan Ritual for Xiao Yan, with Xiao Yang also allowed to take part.
• Xiao Xuan told Xiao Yan about the Clan Ritual, and Xiao Yan asked when it would be held.
• Xiao Yuheng interrupted them and announced that the Bai Clan had demanded the Xiao Clan hand Xiao Yan over.

Xiao Yan went to confront the Bai Clan after Bai Haotang arrived at Xiao City demanding his life. Bai Haotang attacked the Xiao Clan elders and Xiao Yuehua, but Xiao Xuan intervened, prompting Bai Haotang to accuse him of killing Bai Rong.

• Xiao Yan decided to meet the Bai Clan, and Xiao Shaojun and other Xiao Clan youths joined him on the way to Xiao City.
• Bai Haotang demanded that Xiao Yuehua hand over Xiao Yan, but she refused and told the Bai Clan to leave.
• Bai Haotang attacked Xiao Yuehua and sent the Xiao Clan elders crashing into the city.
• Xiao Xuan appeared and blocked Bai Haotang's strike with his sword Qi.
• Bai Zijing identified Xiao Xuan to Bai Haotang, who asked whether Xiao Xuan had killed Bai Rong.

Xiao Yan and the Xiao Clan faced Bai Haotang’s demand to hand Xiao Yan over, and the clan stood united against the threat of war. Bai Zijing challenged Xiao Yan to a decisive battle, and Xiao Yan accepted.

• Xiao Xuan told Bai Haotang that Bai Rong had attacked him first and that he had killed Bai Rong in self-defense.
• Xiao Yuheng intervened when Bai Haotang attacked Xiao Xuan and rejected Bai Haotang’s demand to punish the Xiao Clan’s inner council head.
• Bai Haotang demanded that the Xiao Clan hand over Xiao Yan or face conflict between the clans.
• Xiao Yuheng, Xiao Xuan, Xiao Yuehua, Xiao Shaojun, and the Xiao Clan’s experts made clear they would defend Xiao Yan, leaving Bai Haotang unable to attack him.
• Bai Zijing challenged Xiao Yan to a decisive battle, and Xiao Yan accepted.

Bai Zijing challenged Xiao Yan, and Bai Haotang declared that neither side could intervene and the fight would settle their grudge. Xiao Yan revealed his strength against Bai Zijing’s Nine-Star Yuan Zong cultivation, and their battle began with Xiao Yan gaining the upper hand before the exchange ended on a clash of powerful attacks.

• Bai Haotang set the terms of the decisive battle, leaving Xiao Yan and Bai Zijing to fight without anyone interfering.
• Xiao Yan summoned his Heavy Xuan Ruler as Bai Zijing revealed himself to be a Nine-Star Yuan Zong and armed himself with a blue bow.
• Bai Zijing taunted Xiao Yan over the opportunity in Stone Rock Valley, and Xiao Yan rushed him, shattered his arrow, and numbed his arm with a blow from the ruler.
• Bai Zijing tracked Xiao Yan’s disappearance and fired his Severing Break Arrow at the space behind him.
• Three masses of flame appeared in the void, and a hand punched through them as an equally powerful presence erupted.

Xiao Yan and Bai Zijing fought after both used secret techniques to raise their strength, trading powerful attacks across the battlefield. Xiao Yan survived Bai Zijing’s pressure and arrow attacks, then summoned six Heavenly Flames as the battle continued.

• Xiao Yan shattered Bai Zijing’s arrow and revealed Nine-Star Yuan Zong strength, shocking the Bai Clan experts.
• Bai Zijing used a secret technique to absorb heaven-and-earth energy and raise his strength to Peak Yuan Zong.
• Xiao Yan blocked Bai Zijing’s attacks with his vajra body and Heavenly Flames, then met Raging Sea’s Wild Waves with Sevenfold Heaven-Breaking Ruler.
• Bai Zijing trapped Xiao Yan in Abyss of the Deep Sea and wounded his shoulder with an arrow, but Xiao Yan burned through the water and destroyed another arrow.
• Bai Zijing taunted Xiao Yan that he would have no chance to use his Fire Lotus, and Xiao Yan summoned six Heavenly Flames around himself.

Xiao Yan fought Bai Zijing in Xiao City, countering his water-based archery with Heavenly Flames and striking him at close range. As Bai Zijing unleashed his Blood Sea Seal, Xiao Yan used Buddha's Fury Reincarnation, and a beam of black light pierced Bai Zijing as his charge froze.

• Xiao Yan revealed that he controlled six Heavenly Flames, startling Bai Zijing and the watching clansmen.
• Bai Zijing used Three Thousand Illusory Waters and Sun Chaser, but Xiao Yan countered with a lava wall and Fire God's Wrath.
• Xiao Yan froze Bai Zijing's water defense with a pale flame and punched him in the face, then evaded and deflected Bai Zijing's follow-up arrows.
• Bai Zijing unleashed his Blood Sea Seal, while Xiao Yan formed a black dot from his six Heavenly Flames and gathered the Power of the Great Dao into it.
• Xiao Yan activated Buddha's Fury Reincarnation, sending a beam of black light through Bai Zijing and freezing his charge.

Xiao Yan crippled Bai Zijing during their battle, prompting Bai Haotang to attack and order the Bai Clan to fight the Xiao Clan. As Xiao Xuan engaged Bai Haotang, Xiao Yan reached Bai Zijing and detonated a Fire Lotus against him.

• Xiao Yan's black beam damaged Bai Zijing's Origin Pearl, and Bai Haotang attacked Xiao Yan in fury.
• Xiao Yuheng blocked Bai Haotang, but Bai Haotang ordered the Bai Clan to kill Xiao Yan, starting a fierce clash between the clans.
• Xiao Xuan intercepted Bai Haotang and fought him while Xiao Yan retreated and fused six Heavenly Flames.
• Xiao Yan struck down the guards protecting Bai Zijing and pressed a Fire Lotus against him despite Bai Haotang's threat.
• Xiao Yan detonated the Fire Lotus against Bai Zijing, causing a heaven-shaking explosion.

After Xiao Yan’s battle with Bai Zijing, the Bai Clan retreated from Xiao City under Xiao Yuheng’s threat, leaving Xiao Yan and the Bai Clan as enemies. Xiao Yan recovered and improved his strength, then entered the ancestral hall with Xiao Yang to take part in the clan rite.

• Bai Haotang prepared to attack Xiao Yan, but his elders warned that the Bai Clan could not afford to continue fighting, so he ordered a retreat.
• Xiao Yan thanked Xiao Yuheng and the elders for their help, while Xiao Yuehua ordered Xiao City’s defenses strengthened.
• Xiao Yan realized that his conflict with Bai Haotang made future encounters in the Central Region more dangerous, and Xiao Shaojun reassured him that the Bai Clan would think twice before striking again.
• After recovering and improving his strength through cultivation, Xiao Yan met Xiao Yang outside the ancestral hall, where Xiao Yang said Xiao Yan’s actions had earned him a chance to join the clan rite.
• Xiao Zhen opened the ancestral hall and invited Xiao Yan and Xiao Yang inside for the clan rite.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yang entered the Xiao Clan ancestral shrine and learned that five ancient Origin Di ancestors had defeated the Ghost Di before falling into madness and killing one another. They began the clan ritual in separate stone chambers, where Xiao Yan absorbed the immense energy released by the crystal ball and started rapidly increasing his power.

• Xiao Yan entered the ancestral shrine and felt a warm force pass over him before he saw five stone steles, four of them cut apart and one marked with the character "Di."
• The Grand Elder warned Xiao Yan and Xiao Yang not to look at the character and explained that five Xiao Clan Origin Di had slain the Ghost Di but later fell into madness and died fighting one another.
• The Grand Elder led Xiao Yan and Xiao Yang to the stone chambers, warned them that the ritual would last only half a year, and opened two chamber doors.
• Xiao Yan entered a chamber, placed a drop of his essence blood on a crystal ball, and watched it merge with a golden-tinged drop of blood as energy flooded the room.
• Xiao Yan circulated the Flame Mantra and drew the chamber's energy into his body, causing his power to rise rapidly.

After six months in the ancestral shrine, Xiao Yan emerged with stronger bloodline power and a breakthrough to late-stage nine-star Yuan Zong. He fought Xiao Shaojun and defeated him, while Xiao Xuan had already left to travel to the Northern Territory Sword Tomb as tensions with the Bai Clan worsened.

• As the Xiao Clan and Bai Clan grew closer to open conflict, Xiao Xuan prepared to leave for the Northern Territory Sword Tomb and entrusted Xiao Yan’s progress to Xiao Yuheng’s care.
• Three months later, Xiao Yan emerged from the ancestral shrine, and his presence drew Xiao Shaojun and other Xiao Clan members to the sky above it.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Shaojun began a contest, trading attacks as the watching Xiao Zhen and Xiao Yuheng discussed their chances.
• Xiao Shaojun’s Gilded Gold Armor withstood Xiao Yan’s punch, but Xiao Yan used his Heavenly Flames to melt the armor and overwhelm him.
• Xiao Shaojun admitted defeat after Xiao Yan stopped short of crippling his arm.

Xiao Yan defeated Xiao Shaojun and learned that the Pill Tower would hold the Pill Refining Grand Meeting in less than a year. Hoping to obtain the Heaven Inquiry Pill for Bai Hua, he began training to improve his alchemy before the event.

• Xiao Yan forced Xiao Shaojun to admit defeat, then praised his opponent’s strength and defense.
• The First Elder told Xiao Yan that Xiao Xuan would be away for some time and that the Pill Tower’s Pill Refining Grand Meeting was approaching.
• Xiao Yan realized the meeting might let him meet the Pill Tower Ancestor and obtain the Heaven Inquiry Pill to help Bai Hua.
• Xiao Shaojun estimated that the event was less than a year away, leaving Xiao Yan roughly half a year to prepare.
• Xiao Yan returned to his cultivation chamber and began practicing with the Seven Lives Suspended Bone Pill formula.

Xiao Yan spent three months improving his alchemy, but repeated failures refining tier seven high-level pills left him short of his goal before the Pill Gathering. Huo Xing and Huo Xin gave him the Fire Banyan Clan’s Flame Lingzhi, hoping it would help him face the threat to Bai Hua, and Xiao Yan accepted it after they made refusal impossible.

• Xiao Yan refined pills for three months and established his skills as a Tier Seven Mid-Level Alchemist, though his attempts at tier seven high-level pills mostly failed.
• Xiao Yan’s sixteenth attempt at refining a tier seven high-level pill failed when the medicinal power fell out of alignment and the liquid burned to ashes.
• Huo Xing and Huo Xin visited Xiao Yan and presented him with the Fire Banyan Clan’s Flame Lingzhi, a treasure that could grant the Origin Body and protect Soul Origin.
• Xiao Yan refused the Flame Lingzhi, but Huo Xing destroyed its Fire Banyan Wood box and explained that its power would dissipate within three days.
• Xiao Yan covered the Flame Lingzhi with his Heavenly Flames, thanked Huo Xing and Huo Xin, and stored it in his Storage Ring.