Chapter Summaries

Chen Xiao brought Qing Lin to awaken her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, which allowed her to enslave a wounded Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. He sent Hai Bo Dong into the magma with the snake to search for the Green Lotus Core Flame, and Hai Bo Dong returned with a green lotus platform.

• A wounded Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake attacked the group, and Hai Bo Dong subdued it with a powerful ice technique.
• Chen Xiao guided Qing Lin to focus on the snake, awakening her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and letting her enslave it.
• Qing Lin tested her new bond by commanding the snake, while Hai Bo Dong and Teng Shan marveled at her ability.
• Chen Xiao sent the snake to guide Hai Bo Dong through the magma to the place where the Green Lotus Core Flame was born.
• After about two and a half hours, Hai Bo Dong returned from the magma with an exquisitely shaped green lotus platform.

Chen Xiao, Hai Bo Dong, Teng Shan, and Qing Lin divided the Earth Fire Lotus Seeds, and Chen Xiao received the lotus platform. Teng Shan explained several Ice Attribute spiritual objects before Hai Bo Dong and Teng Shan departed, leaving Chen Xiao and Qing Lin to return to the Map Store.

• Teng Shan divided the eleven Earth Fire Lotus Seeds, giving Chen Xiao five, Qing Lin one, and keeping five for himself and Hai Bo Dong.
• Hai Bo Dong gave Chen Xiao the Earth Core Lotus Platform as thanks for providing the information that led them to the treasure.
• Teng Shan described the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, Purple Spirit Cold Qi, Heavenly Cold Qi, Frost Bloom Spirit Crystal, and Ice Spirit Jade to Chen Xiao.
• Hai Bo Dong advised Chen Xiao not to obsess over finding Ice Attribute treasures, while Chen Xiao resolved to seek them out because they could help counter Heavenly Flames.
• Hai Bo Dong and Teng Shan parted ways with Chen Xiao and Qing Lin, telling them to return to the Map Store and inviting Chen Xiao to visit the Mittel Family in the Imperial Capital.

Chen Xiao declined Yun Yun’s invitation to join the Misty Cloud Sect and told her about the Yan City Mo Family’s alleged crimes, prompting her to investigate. He then used his Pre-pay opportunity to pursue the Ice Spirit Cold Spring as a path toward the Dou Ling realm.

• Chen Xiao returned to Mo City with Qing Lin and met Yun Yun, who had waited to invite him to join the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Chen Xiao refused Yun Yun’s offer and said he had no intention of joining any force in the Jia Ma Empire.
• Chen Xiao told Yun Yun rumors that the Yan City Mo Family was abusing its Misty Cloud Sect connection and mutilating people for experiments.
• Yun Yun left for Yan City to investigate the Mo Family, and Chen Xiao returned to his room.
• Chen Xiao selected the Ice Spirit Cold Spring through his Pre-pay opportunity and decided to travel to Black Rock City to fulfill its requirements.

Chen Xiao used Ice Spirit Cold Spring to accelerate his cultivation and traded an Earth Fire Lotus Seed to Gu Te for another bottle, a Fifth-Order Magic Core, and herbs. After discovering that the traded spring had become ordinary water, he confirmed his suspicion about Pre-pay and set out with Qing Lin for Green Mountain Town.

• Chen Xiao drank some of his Pre-paid Ice Spirit Cold Spring and cultivated, shortening his expected advance to Dou Ling from a month to ten days.
• Chen Xiao took Qing Lin to Hai Bo Dong's Map Store and bought detailed maps of the Jia Ma Empire.
• In Black Rock City, Chen Xiao traded an Earth Fire Lotus Seed with Gu Te for Ice Spirit Cold Spring, a Fifth-Order Magic Core, and two medicinal herbs.
• Chen Xiao found that the traded Ice Spirit Cold Spring had turned into useless water, reinforcing his belief that Pre-pay followed a principle of material conservation.
• Chen Xiao told Qing Lin that they would go to Green Mountain Town.

Chen Xiao returned to Green Mountain Town with Qing Lin and reunited with Xiao Yi Xian at Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion. He showed Xiao Yi Xian a poison manual that revealed her Woeful Poison Body, leaving her to confront the truth about her unusual constitution.

• Chen Xiao and Qing Lin waited outside Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion while Xiao Yi Xian treated the many wounded mercenaries from a battle between the Mad Lion Mercenary Group and the Wolf Head Mercenary Group.
• Chen Xiao caught the bottles Xiao Yi Xian nearly dropped, and she told him to wait until she finished treating the injured.
• After the pavilion quieted, Chen Xiao introduced Qing Lin to Xiao Yi Xian and gave her the Seven-Colored Poison Manual.
• Xiao Yi Xian read that the seven-colored mark on her lower abdomen identified her as the possessor of the Woeful Poison Body, which would bring suffering as its poison power grew.
• Qing Lin tried to comfort Xiao Yi Xian by mentioning her own Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, then insisted she felt like the luckiest person in the world.

Chen Xiao revealed that Xiao Yi Xian’s Woeful Poison Body could be controlled with a Poison Pill and offered to help her gather the rare materials. They agreed to keep in contact as Chen Xiao planned to return to the Xiao Family before attending Jia Nan Academy, while Xiao Yi Xian considered leaving Green Mountain Town.

• Chen Xiao told Xiao Yi Xian that the Poison Pill method could break the fate of her Woeful Poison Body and that he was nearly certain he could help.
• Chen Xiao named the required materials: a seventh-rank Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast Magic Core, three kinds of Heavenly Flame, and Bodhi Transformation Saliva.
• Xiao Yi Xian asked how she could repay Chen Xiao, and he said her potential made her a valuable ally and that he wanted her by his side.
• Chen Xiao explained that Xiao Yi Xian would need to leave Green Mountain Town once she began cultivating and asked her to stay in contact with him.
• Chen Xiao said he planned to return to the Xiao Family in Wu Tan City and then attend Jia Nan Academy, while Xiao Yi Xian agreed to decide whether to leave before the academy’s recruitment team arrived.

Chen Xiao returned to Wu Tan City with Qing Lin, learned that Xiao Yan had been absent for days, and was welcomed back by the Xiao Family. As Xun Er looked forward to seeing him again, Chen Xiao’s imminent breakthrough interrupted his plans to visit her and check on Xiao Yan.

• Chen Xiao brought Qing Lin back to Wu Tan City and wondered whether Xiao Yan’s decline had begun.
• The Xiao Family guards told Chen Xiao that Xiao Yan had not been seen for over ten days and that the Xiao Family had grown powerful.
• Chen Xiao took Qing Lin to find guest rooms rather than share his old house’s single bed.
• Ling Ying told Xun Er that Chen Xiao had returned with Qing Lin and was close to reaching Dou Ling, and Xun Er planned to meet them.
• Chen Xiao felt his Dou Qi surge, shut himself in, and drank the remaining Ice Spirit Cold Spring to begin his breakthrough.

Chen Xiao broke through to the Dou Ling realm and reunited with Xun Er and Qing Lin at the Xiao Family. He planned to stay and cultivate until Jia Nan Academy’s recruitment team arrived, while Xun Er welcomed Qing Lin as her younger sister.

• Chen Xiao absorbed Heaven and Earth Energy until his Dou Crystal transformed into a nine-spiked sea-urchin shape, and he synchronized its beating with his heartbeat to complete his breakthrough.
• Chen Xiao reached the Dou Ling realm, demonstrated his ability to form weapons from Dou Qi, and accidentally wrecked his room with his aura.
• Xiao Zhan, the three Grand Elders, Xun Er, and Qing Lin congratulated Chen Xiao, who left with Xun Er and Qing Lin to avoid the crowd.
• Chen Xiao told Xun Er that he would stay in the Xiao Family and cultivate while waiting for Jia Nan Academy’s recruitment team to arrive in the Jia Ma Empire.
• Chen Xiao explained his bond with Qing Lin and praised her talent, and Xun Er asked Qing Lin to call her Sister Xun Er.

Chen Xiao and Xun Er discovered Xiao Yan’s worsening cultivation problem at Back Mountain, then Chen Xiao practiced Mystic Ice Dragon Flight through the night. On the way back, he asked about Jia Nan Academy and decided to use Earth Core Body Tempering Milk before advancing there.

• Chen Xiao and Xun Er found Xiao Yan cultivating at Back Mountain and observed that his Dou Qi was falling despite his efforts.
• Xun Er told Chen Xiao that Xiao Yan had hidden his condition for days, while Xiao Yan vented his frustration by striking a tree and injuring his hands.
• After Xiao Yan left, Chen Xiao continued practicing Mystic Ice Dragon Flight and managed to form only its rudimentary shape by dawn.
• Chen Xiao asked Xun Er about Jia Nan Academy’s Inner Academy Selection and decided to use Earth Core Body Tempering Milk as his next step.

Chen Xiao spent five months cultivating and growing closer to Xun Er and Qing Lin while waiting for Jia Nan Academy’s recruitment team. The team finally arrived and chose Wu Tan City as its assessment site, as rumors about Xiao Yan’s unusual behavior continued to spread.

• Chen Xiao used Earth Core Body Tempering Milk to strengthen his body and practiced Mystic Ice Dragon Flight and Hai Bo Dong’s Dou Techniques.
• Chen Xiao noticed Xun Er had become more affectionate toward him, while she and Qing Lin grew close as well.
• Chen Xiao received a letter from Xiao Yi Xian in the outer region of the Magical Beast Mountain Range and resolved to reach four-star Dou Ling before entering Jia Nan Academy.
• Young members of the Xiao Family speculated about who could pass the recruitment assessment and spread rumors about Xiao Yan’s behavior and the gloomy expressions of Xiao Yan’s family.
• Four days later, Jia Nan Academy’s recruitment team arrived and chose Wu Tan City as its assessment site.

Chen Xiao went to Jia Nan Academy’s recruitment assessment with Xun Er and Qing Lin, who had arrived early to save their place in line. His crystal-ball test produced an astonishing glow, and the admissions team took him aside to report the result to its instructor.

• Xun Er told Chen Xiao that Qing Lin had gone to the recruitment square before dawn to line up for him.
• Chen Xiao and Xun Er found Qing Lin near the front of the crowd, where she had saved their place while holding up a model of a two-headed snake.
• Chen Xiao and the two girls joined the line and reached the assessment table in less than half an hour.
• Chen Xiao lit the Dou Qi crystal ball so brightly that the admissions worker suspected it was malfunctioning.
• The admissions worker told Chen Xiao to come with him and invited Xun Er and Qing Lin to follow.

Chen Xiao and Qing Lin reached Jia Nan Academy’s gathering point after passing the assessment, where Instructor Xi Wen discovered Chen Xiao’s exceptional strength and sought to secure him special treatment. Chen Xiao learned he could seek early selection for the inner academy, but Qing Lin said she no longer wanted to attend Jia Nan Academy.

• Instructor Xi Wen heard how the assessment crystal ball had reacted to Chen Xiao and recognized that his strength surpassed her own.
• Xi Wen registered the new students’ names, ages, and strengths, then Chen Xiao revealed he was a twelve-year-old Three Star Dou Ling.
• Xi Wen challenged Chen Xiao to a palm strike, and he forced her back despite holding back most of his strength.
• Xi Wen promised to seek permission for Chen Xiao to take part in the year’s inner academy selection.
• When Chen Xiao asked about bringing Qing Lin, Qing Lin interrupted him and said she no longer wanted to go to Jia Nan Academy.

Chen Xiao learned that Xun Er planned to take Qing Lin to the Ancient Clan so she could receive better training, and agreed to entrust Qing Lin to her care when they reunited at Jia Nan Academy. As the academy's recruitment team prepared to leave Wu Tan City, Chen Xiao broke through in cultivation and found Xun Er and Qing Lin waiting outside his room.

• Qing Lin told Chen Xiao that Xun Er had suggested sending her somewhere she could grow stronger without becoming a burden to him.
• Xun Er said she would leave Wu Tan City in a few months and bring Qing Lin to Jia Nan Academy to say goodbye to Chen Xiao.
• Chen Xiao gave Xun Er an Earth Core Lotus Platform and one Earth Fire Lotus Seed as a parting gift, keeping the other seed for himself.
• Wu Tan City heard rumors that Chen Xiao was a twelve-year-old Three Star Dou Ling, while people also wondered why Xiao Yan had been absent.
• Chen Xiao spent the next few days with Xun Er and Qing Lin, then broke through during cultivation on the morning the recruitment team was set to depart.

Chen Xiao left Wu Tan City with Instructor Xi Wen and the other new students, traveling by Gryphon toward Jia Nan Academy. After a month of flight and cultivation, the group reached the academy safely.

• Chen Xiao said goodbye to Xun Er and Qing Lin, then boarded a Gryphon with Instructor Xi Wen and four older female students.
• Instructor Xi Wen led the nine Gryphons into the sky, and Chen Xiao watched Wu Tan City recede as he set out for a broader stage.
• Chen Xiao practiced cultivation during the flight and gradually learned to focus despite the wind and movement.
• The Gryphon team crossed the Black Domain Great Plains without encountering a Black Storm, then paused at a border town while Instructor Xi Wen checked reports about dangerous experts.
• Instructor Xi Wen led the team onward, and after Chen Xiao opened his eyes from cultivation, he saw Jia Nan Academy's gateway in the setting sun.

Chen Xiao entered Jia Nan Academy’s Profound Rank Class Nine and spent a month cultivating before the Inner Courtyard Selection Tournament began. He received a bye in the first elimination round, leaving him set to compete in the second round.

• Instructor Xi Wen assigned Chen Xiao and the other new students to Profound Rank Class Nine and showed them around Jia Nan Academy.
• Vice Dean Hu Gan approved Chen Xiao’s request to enter the Inner Courtyard Selection Tournament.
• Chen Xiao spent the next month attending classes and cultivating, reaching the peak of four-star Dou Ling.
• Vice Dean Hu Gan opened the tournament, and the referee explained its elimination rounds, byes, and challenge rule.
• The first round concluded after two hundred matches, and the referee announced that Chen Xiao had received the final bye.

Chen Xiao drew a bye for the third time and joined the fifty students who had won three elimination rounds to qualify for the Inner Academy. The final free-for-all determined the top five, and Chen Xiao easily repelled the four remaining Da Dou Shi who challenged him together.

• Chen Xiao drew a second consecutive bye, and students learned he was a twelve-year-old Three Star Dou Ling whose strength justified the academy's favorable draw.
• Chen Xiao drew another bye on the third day and joined the fifty students who had won their matches onstage as one of the fifty-one preliminary qualifiers.
• After Bian Lingfei conceded a challenge, other eliminated students challenged the qualifiers, and the stage lineup changed before the referee announced a free-for-all to determine the top five.
• Chen Xiao stayed apart from the other fighters and manifested an ice-blue Ice Spear while the fifty contestants fought without teaming up.
• The six Da Dou Shi eliminated the Dou Shi contestants, and an unassuming One-Star Da Dou Shi with a staff defeated two Two-Star Da Dou Shi to claim a place in the final five.
• The other four finalists attacked Chen Xiao together to test the gap between their ranks, but he swept them all backward with one strike.

After the tournament, Chen Xiao learned he would soon enter the Library Pavilion to choose a treasure and received Instructor Xi Wen’s offer of help in the Inner Courtyard. Hu Gan led Chen Xiao and the other top five students through a hidden passage to the Library Pavilion, where they stood before its ancient entrance.

• Instructor Xi Wen gave Chen Xiao an Inner Courtyard elder’s name and position, and Chen Xiao accepted the offer of an introduction.
• Fu Tong summoned Chen Xiao on the fifth day after the tournament, and he learned she came from the Heavenly Snake Empire but disliked Heavenly Snake Mansion.
• Chen Xiao and Fu Tong met Mu Boshan, Cao Hui, and Ji Ruiyang in Vice Dean Hu Gan’s study.
• Hu Gan opened a hidden passage in the study’s wall and led the five students through it.
• Chen Xiao and the others emerged into a valley and saw the enormous ancient Library Pavilion.

Chen Xiao and the other four tournament finalists entered the Scripture Collection Pavilion, where they searched for treasures released from its energy barriers. Chen Xiao caught a promising Earth Tier ice cultivation technique, but the chapter ended before he chose what to take out.

• Hu Gan brought the five finalists to the pavilion, where the Thousand-Hundred Elders opened the Space Lock and let them enter.
• Hu Gan explained that the finalists could take only one item each, provided they could pass through its energy layer.
• Chen Xiao caught a Profound High-Rank fire cultivation technique and offered it to Cao Hui, who declined it and suggested they search for one another’s preferred items.
• The five stated what they hoped to find, then worked together to catch and inspect the items released by the energy barriers.
• Chen Xiao caught a blue light ball and found a Middle-Level Earth Tier ice cultivation technique, the Frost Ripple Ice Hell Scripture.

Chen Xiao and the others left the Library Pavilion with their rewards, and Hu Gan warned them about the challenges awaiting them on the way to the Inner Academy. Back at his residence, Chen Xiao began switching to the Ice Hell Scripture.

• Chen Xiao chose the Frost Ripple Ice Hell Scripture and helped the others intercept light clusters before their time in the Library Pavilion ran out.
• Mu Boshan, Ji Ruiyang, Cao Hui, and Fu Tong each settled for a reward, though Fu Tong failed to find something to extend her friend's life.
• The gray-robed elder scanned the five as they exited the Library Pavilion and ordered them to keep everything about it secret.
• Hu Gan told the five to prepare for the Inner Academy and urged them to fight anyone who blocked their path for greater benefits.
• Chen Xiao returned home, locked his door, and began switching cultivation methods to the Ice Hell Scripture.

Chen Xiao adapted to the Ice Hell Scripture before joining the other selected students on their journey to the Inner Academy. After Hu Gan and three Elders escorted the Gryphons through attacks from flying Magical Beasts, the group reached a deep mountain gorge, where Hu Gan ordered them to land.

• Chen Xiao spent two days carefully adjusting his Dou Qi circulation to the Ice Hell Scripture.
• Chen Xiao arrived at the gathering and learned from Cao Hui that Fu Tong had also been adapting to something new.
• Vice Dean Hu Gan gathered all fifty-one students and announced they would be flown to the Inner Academy's reception point.
• The students boarded ten Gryphons, which Hu Gan and three Elders escorted through the Academy's Back Mountain.
• Hu Gan and the Elders killed attacking flying Magical Beasts as the Gryphons flew for over an hour toward a mountain gorge.
• Hu Gan ordered the Gryphons to land at the gorge.