Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan and the other alchemists began the next Pill Gathering trial, refining their pills inside Soul-Suppressing Cauldrons so the Black-Maned Clams could produce Fragrance-Nurturing Pills. By the eighth day, many contestants had been eliminated, while Xiao Yan continued the delicate process under mounting pressure.

• Wu Changfu opened a spatial rift and announced that contestants had half a month to refine their pills in Soul-Suppressing Cauldrons and retrieve Fragrance-Nurturing Pills from Black-Maned Clams.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Siyu marveled at the Pill Tower's rare cauldrons and clams, then began channeling Heavenly Flames into their cauldrons.
• Xiao Yan overcame the cauldron's pressure with his Spiritual Strength and carefully positioned his tier-seven Return Fire Pill above the Black-Maned Clam.
• Several contestants burned their pills or withdrew, and the pressure on the remaining alchemists increased as others left.
• By the eighth day, nearly a fifth of the alchemists had left, while Xiao Yan continued melting his pill's coating and guiding its medicinal mist into the clam.

After ten days of refining, Xiao Yan and several other alchemists produced Fragrance-Nurturing Pills and advanced past the second round of the Pill Gathering. Ji Yao opened the Pill Sea Illusion Realm as the entrance to the third round.

• Xu Qinghe became the first alchemist to produce a Fragrance-Nurturing Pill, and several others followed.
• Xiao Yan produced his pill and rose into the air, where Xu Qinghe congratulated him and remarked on his speed.
• Huoxun Mingcheng also completed his pill, while more alchemists joined the group above the platform.
• Ji Yao announced that the successful alchemists had passed the second round, but Elder Zhong interrupted her to urge her to open the next round.
• Ji Yao used golden needles to break open the platform and draw up water, shaping its pill-fragrant vapor into the entrance to the Pill Sea Illusion Realm.

Xiao Yan entered the Pill Sea Illusion Realm and faced a gray double that could copy his cultivation and techniques. As the double struck at his back, a strange vibration came from deep within Xiao Yan’s Soul Origin.

• Zhong sent a Fragrance-Nurturing Pill into a mist passage and entered the illusion realm, followed by Xiao Yan and the other alchemists.
• Xiao Yan entered a boundless white space and discovered a gray figure that looked exactly like him.
• Xiao Yan and the gray double clashed, and the double replicated his fire dragon and Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus.
• Xiao Yan used his vajra body to withstand the Fire Lotus, then the double appeared behind him and attacked with the Heaven Flipping Seal.
• A strange vibration came from Xiao Yan’s Soul Origin, and Chen Xuanling noticed it from outside the illusion realm.

Chen Xuanling discovered that he could not enter Xiao Yan’s illusion realm, while Master Qing Li appeared from the Soul-Guiding Incense and drove off the realm’s illusory figure. Master Qing Li then revealed that he had devised a way to deliberately enter the Pill Soul Realm, which he called the Pill Profound Realm.

• Chen Xuanling told Ji Yao, Yuwen Zong, and Wu Changfu that a restriction had blocked him from entering Xiao Yan’s illusion realm.
• Yuwen Zong suggested that Xiao Yan’s Heavenly Flame might have protected him, and the group could not determine the cause.
• The Soul-Guiding Incense emerged from Xiao Yan and summoned the lingering soul of Master Qing Li.
• Master Qing Li used the incense to disperse the white mist and drive the illusory figure away.
• Master Qing Li explained that the incense contained his insights and that he had learned to enter the Pill Soul Realm at will, naming the state the Pill Profound Realm.

Xiao Yan received Master Qing Li’s Pill Profound Realm technique and learned that the Pill Sea Illusion Realm was filled with Pill Qi he could absorb. He gathered the realm’s Pill Qi into pill-shaped forms and began drawing it into himself, hoping it would help him advance as an alchemist.

• Master Qing Li explained how he had created the Pill Profound Realm and said he had stored the technique in the Pill Sea Illusion Realm.
• Master Qing Li used the Soul-Guiding Incense to pass his teachings and the Pill Profound Realm to Xiao Yan, then vanished.
• Xiao Yan realized the illusion realm’s hostile illusory body had been formed from the Fragrance-Nurturing Pill he had thrown into it.
• Using his new understanding, Xiao Yan dispelled the illusion and condensed its Pill Qi into countless grayish-white pills.
• Xiao Yan summoned the Soul-Guiding Incense and began drawing the Pill Qi into his body.

Xiao Yan absorbed the Pill Qi and attempted to break through to a Tier Eight Soul, but the attempt failed without injuring him. After leaving the Pill Sea Illusion Realm, he appeared in Fallen Immortal City just before the others feared he would be eliminated.

• Xiao Yan refined the Pill Qi and tried to break through to a Tier Eight Soul, but his attempt failed.
• Xiao Yan sensed the barrier before a Tier Eight Soul more clearly and used the Fragrance-Nurturing Pill to leave the Pill Sea Illusion Realm.
• Two months later, Xiao Siyu worried because Xiao Yan had not emerged, while the other alchemists from his group had already left.
• Yuwen Zong suggested Xiao Yan might be eliminated if he remained trapped until the realm closed, and Chen Xuanling admitted he could not tell what had happened inside.
• Xiao Yan emerged from a misty passage, relieving Xiao Siyu and several people on the main dais.

Xiao Yan escaped the Pill Sea Illusion Realm just before it closed, after failing to break through to a Tier Eight Soul. When the Pill Tower discovered that one illusion realm had lost all its Pill Qi, Chen Xuanling suspected Xiao Yan, leaving the seniors to wonder what he had done.

• Xiao Siyu welcomed Xiao Yan and learned that he had attempted and failed to advance his Spiritual Strength to Tier Eight.
• Xiao Yan learned that Mu Leng remained trapped in the illusion realm and regretted his elimination.
• Yuwen Zong closed the Pill Sea Illusion Realm and retrieved the alchemists who had failed to escape.
• Yuwen Zong discovered that one illusion realm had lost all its Pill Qi, while the realm entered by the old man surnamed Zhong had lost nearly half of its supply.
• Chen Xuanling concluded that Xiao Yan was responsible for the completely emptied illusion realm, and Yuwen Zong and the others turned their attention to him.

After the first three stages of the Pill Gathering, Yuwen Zong opened the Cang Ridge Secret Realm for the fourth stage, warning that it was deadly and allowing contestants to withdraw. Xiao Yan and Xiao Siyu chose to enter and pursue the championship, while a white-robed young man watched Xiao Yan with a chilling gaze as he vanished into the realm.

• Xiao Yan and Xiao Siyu rested after helping Mu Leng, and Xiao Siyu told Xiao Yan that the secret realm might contain the Giant Rock Horned Rhino Beast he sought.
• Yuwen Zong announced that the fourth stage would take place in the Cang Ridge Secret Realm and warned that contestants could die there.
• Yuwen Zong opened a fiery passage and explained that contestants had one month to gather ingredients and produce twenty Fragrance-Nurturing Pills, or they could withdraw.
• The Yuan Zun experts entered the secret realm, followed by Xiao Yan, Xiao Siyu, Huoxun Mingcheng, and the other contestants.
• As Xiao Yan entered the fiery whirlpool, he noticed a white-robed young man watching him with an icy smile before the contestants disappeared.

Xiao Yan entered the Cang Ridge Secret Realm, learned about its territories and Fragrance-Nurturing Pills from a transformed magical beast, and avoided the nearby lair of a Yuan Zun beast. Two days later, he emerged from hiding as a snake woman and her companions attacked a beautiful woman who carried a Fragrance-Nurturing Pill.

• Xiao Yan suspected the white-robed young man was connected to the Bai Clan and explored the remote area where he had entered the secret realm.
• Xiao Yan subdued a transformed magical beast and made him draw a map and explain the Yuan Zun beasts' territories and the Fragrance-Nurturing Pills.
• Xiao Yan memorized the map, avoided the nearest Yuan Zun beast's territory, and flew away.
• Two days later, a snake woman and two companions overpowered a beautiful woman, stole her Storage Ring, and found a Fragrance-Nurturing Pill inside.
• The snake woman noticed someone hiding nearby, and Xiao Yan appeared from the thicket.

Xiao Yan confronted a group of transformed magical beasts who sought his Fragrance-Nurturing Pill and attacked him. After revealing his Heavenly Flames, he faced five beasts as they prepared to fight together.

• Xiao Yan appeared before the monstrous woman and her two companions, who surrounded him and demanded his valuables.
• The monstrous woman ordered her brothers to kill Xiao Yan, but he evaded their strike and smashed her into the mountainside with his ruler.
• Xiao Yan fought off the three beasts with his rulers and Giant Elephant Art, then revealed Heavenly Flames on both weapons.
• The monstrous woman summoned two more transformed beasts, including a five-star Yuan Zong, and the five prepared to attack Xiao Yan together.
• Xiao Yan surveyed the five opponents and wondered how many Fragrance-Nurturing Pills they had collected.

Xiao Yan discovered that magical beasts in the Cang Ridge Secret Realm had formed hunting squads to ambush alchemists and steal their Fragrance-Nurturing Pills. He fought a group led by Niu Kui and Zi Qi, and the chapter ended with him unharmed after burning away Zi Qi’s poisonous fang.

• Xiao Yan learned that the beasts were working together to lure and kill alchemists carrying Fragrance-Nurturing Pills.
• Xiao Yan attacked Cao Xi as Niu Kui, Zi Qi, and the others joined the fight with coordinated strikes.
• Xiao Yan broke Cao Xi’s bone spikes, countered Niu Kui’s staff and the scythe attack, and evaded the giant beast claw.
• Zi Qi’s poisonous fang pierced Cao Xi and killed him, prompting Niu Kui to challenge her for the betrayal.
• Xiao Yan emerged from the bloody mist and burned Zi Qi’s poisonous fang to ash, leaving Zi Qi and Niu Kui stunned.

Xiao Yan fought Zi Qi, Niu Kui, and their companions after Zi Qi’s poison attack failed against his Heavenly Flames. With the Northern King’s help, he gained the advantage and prepared the Heaven Flipping Seal to finish off Zi Qi, while Niu Kui fled.

• Xiao Yan withstood Zi Qi’s Heart-Devouring Poison and destroyed the Blood Bone Fang, then attacked the group with his flame-wreathed rulers.
• Zi Qi persuaded Niu Kui to keep Xiao Yan occupied while she used a secret art, and Xiao Yan began overwhelming the two Four-Star Yuan Zong fighters.
• Niu Kui transformed and attacked Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan repelled him, tore apart the scythe-armed fighter, and blocked the other man’s attempted self-destruction with the Northern King’s help.
• Xiao Yan summoned the Yuan Zun-level Northern King, who took control of the situation as Niu Kui tried to blame Zi Qi and flee.
• Xiao Yan let the Northern King pursue Niu Kui, then formed the Heaven Flipping Seal to attack the weakened Zi Qi.

Xiao Yan tracked down a Spiny-Scaled Poison Toad to obtain its Purple Spirit Reed Flower, but the creature refused to trade. Xiao Yan trapped it with the Great Dao of the Void and the Volcanic Stone Flame, and the chapter ended with the toad offering Purple Spirit Reed Flower Liquid to save its life.

• Xiao Yan found seven Fragrance-Nurturing Pills in two Storage Rings and recovered the Origin Qi he had spent in battle.
• Xiao Yan sensed a hidden presence beneath a pool and discovered a Spiny-Scaled Poison Toad guarding Purple Spirit Reed Flower.
• The Spiny-Scaled Poison Toad refused Xiao Yan's offer to trade for the flower and retreated underwater.
• Xiao Yan trapped the toad with the Great Dao of the Void and seized it in a hand of magma formed with the Volcanic Stone Flame.
• The Spiny-Scaled Poison Toad offered Purple Spirit Reed Flower Liquid, and Xiao Yan paused in surprise.

Xiao Yan discovered that the Purple Spirit Reed Flower Liquid would be ready in a few days, so he trapped the Spiny-Scaled Poison Toad and waited. After collecting three Purple Spirit Reed Flowers in the toad’s poison sac, he left the promised items behind and vanished, leaving the toad trapped until the fire shield dissipated.

• Xiao Yan forced the Spiny-Scaled Poison Toad to reveal the Purple Spirit Reed Flowers hidden behind a stream and confirmed that their liquid would form within a few days.
• Xiao Yan sealed the Spiny-Scaled Poison Toad inside a fire shield and waited five days for the Purple Spirit Reed Flower Liquid to mature.
• Xiao Yan demanded one of the toad’s poison sacs and threatened to take it by force, prompting the toad to give one up after he was wounded by magma spikes.
• Xiao Yan stored three Purple Spirit Reed Flowers in the poison sac, left the items he had promised for the Spiny-Scaled Poison Toad, and disappeared through a black curtain.

Xiao Yan sensed Xiao Siyu’s Black Sparrow Flame near the territory of one of the three great magical beasts and rushed to find her being attacked by Daoist Xuankong. He rescued her and ordered Northern King to kill the elder.

• Xiao Yan searched for Xiao Siyu and finally detected her Black Sparrow Flame near the snowy mountains.
• Xiao Siyu fled toward the mountains while Daoist Xuankong pursued her, struck her down, and took her Storage Ring.
• Xiao Yan arrived with Northern King, knocked Daoist Xuankong back, and retrieved Xiao Siyu’s Storage Ring.
• Xiao Yan gave the badly injured Xiao Siyu several pills and ordered Northern King to kill Daoist Xuankong.

Xiao Yan joined the Northern King in fighting the weakened Daoist Xuankong after Xuankong gravely injured Xiao Siyu and tried to seize the stone. Xuankong fled when a mysterious white-robed young man appeared, leaving Xiao Yan facing the newcomer, whose killing intent suggested a fight was imminent.

• Daoist Xuankong exchanged blows with the Northern King but failed to overcome the Yuan Zun-level puppet.
• Xiao Yan used three Heavenly Flames to boost his cultivation and attacked Daoist Xuankong to avenge Xiao Siyu and defend the Xiao Clan.
• Daoist Xuankong briefly sealed the Northern King with the Power of the Great Dao, then tried to ambush Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan escaped using the Great Dao of the Void.
• The Northern King broke free and returned to Xiao Yan, leaving Daoist Xuankong too depleted to continue fighting both opponents.
• A white-robed young man appeared, dismissed Daoist Xuankong, and forced him to flee before turning his killing intent toward Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan asked whether the young man was from the Bai Clan as he gathered energy for the unavoidable fight.

Xiao Yan and the Northern King fought a Three-Star Yuan Zun young man who wielded powerful sound-wave techniques. After the Soul-Guiding Incense protected Xiao Yan from a deadly attack, Xiao Yan began combining six flames to prepare a decisive counterattack.

• The young man attacked Xiao Yan, and the Northern King charged to intercept him, but the young man used a command to blast the Northern King backward.
• Xiao Yan struck with the Heaven Flipping Seal, which collided with the young man's sonic blade and left Xiao Yan reeling from the sound waves.
• The young man appeared behind Xiao Yan and launched a killing blow, but Xiao Yan's Giant Elephant Art blocked it, and the Soul-Guiding Incense dispelled the sound waves affecting him.
• The young man recognized the Soul-Guiding Incense, while the Northern King attacked him with his dragon tail and forced him to raise a Spirit Sound Barrier.
• Xiao Yan judged that he needed to end the fight quickly, dismissed the Giant Elephant Art, and began fusing six balls of flame.

Xiao Yan countered Bai Hansheng’s sound attacks and prepared to face him, but a Yao Clan elder seized Xiao Siyu and forced the fighters into a standoff. Just as Bai Hansheng moved to attack, an unknown voice condemned the two Yuan Zun for ganging up on Xiao Yan and dividing his possessions.

• Bai Hansheng trapped Xiao Yan in a sound barrier, but Xiao Yan broke the golden bell’s effect with a dragon’s roar and threatened him with a Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus.
• The Northern King shattered the bronze chimes and returned to Xiao Yan’s side as Xiao Yan demanded to know who the young man was.
• A Yao Clan elder seized Xiao Siyu and identified the young man as Bai Hansheng, accusing him of using the Brahma Sound Soul-Shattering Curse against the Bai Clan’s rivals.
• The elder demanded Xiao Yan’s possessions and Heavenly Flames, then held Xiao Siyu hostage while Bai Hansheng agreed to kill Xiao Yan and let the elder take the spoils.
• Xiao Yan warned the elder that the Xiao Clan would destroy the Yao Clan if Xiao Siyu were harmed, but Bai Hansheng rejected the threat and asked the elder to hold off the Northern King.
• Bai Hansheng prepared to attack Xiao Yan, but an unknown voice interrupted and accused the two Yuan Zun of shamelessly ganging up on him.

Xiang Wuhui arrived as a Four-Star Yuan Zun and drove Yao Suifeng away, then intervened to protect Xiao Yan from Bai Hansheng. Bai Hansheng escaped after striking back with Nether Sound and vowed to keep pursuing Xiao Yan.

• Xiang Wuhui appeared before Xiao Yan and the others, and Yao Suifeng tried to invoke the Pill Tower to keep him out of the dispute.
• Xiang Wuhui threatened to expose Yao Suifeng's illegal entry into the secret realm, forcing him to leave.
• Bai Hansheng offered to give up the Heavenly Flames if Xiang Wuhui let him kill Xiao Yan, but Xiang Wuhui refused and ordered him to leave.
• Xiao Yan stepped back, summoned the Northern King for support, and swallowed pills to recover some strength.
• Xiang Wuhui attacked Bai Hansheng and blasted him back, but Bai Hansheng's Nether Sound disrupted Xiang Wuhui and let him escape after threatening Xiao Yan.

Xiang Wuhui forced Xiao Yan to help him forge and refine his bones and blood with Heavenly Flames, holding Xiao Siyu captive to ensure his cooperation. As Xiang Wuhui absorbed medicinal power in a heavenly lake, Xiao Yan began recovering his Origin Qi and prepared to use a pink Heavenly Flame.

• Xiang Wuhui explained that he needed Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames for his cultivation breakthrough and threatened him into cooperating.
• Xiang Wuhui led Xiao Yan and the Northern King, who carried Xiao Siyu, to a heavenly lake filled with medicinal ingredients and Lightning-Attracting Formations.
• Xiang Wuhui trapped Xiao Siyu in a golden sphere, then transformed into a giant elephant-headed beast and began absorbing the lake's medicinal power.
• Xiao Yan realized Xiang Wuhui was using Xiao Siyu as leverage and might kill them after the forging was complete.
• Xiao Yan drew out a pink Heavenly Flame, took pills, and began recovering his Origin Qi while the Northern King guarded Xiao Siyu.