Chapter Summaries

Chen Xiao met Cao Xi and Cao Ying, who had traveled from the Central Plains Cao Clan to negotiate for the Green Lotus Core Flame on Qing Lin and Xun Er’s recommendation. After bringing them to the Holy City, he heard Cao Xi offer four valuable medicinal pills as the clan’s initial payment, leaving further terms open for negotiation.

• Cao Xi and Cao Ying approached Chen Xiao, Zi Yan, and Queen Medusa in the sky and asked for Chen Xiao, saying they had come at Miss Qing Lin’s request.
• Chen Xiao confirmed his identity after Cao Xi showed him a letter written by Xun Er, and Cao Xi introduced himself and Cao Ying.
• Chen Xiao asked Queen Medusa for permission to bring the Cao Clan representatives into the Holy City to discuss the Green Lotus Core Flame, and she agreed before retreating into his sleeve as a small seven-colored snake.
• Chen Xiao brought Cao Xi and Cao Ying to his lodging, where Cao Xi sealed the room and presented four medicinal pills as the Cao Clan’s initial offer for the Heavenly Flame.
• Cao Xi invited Chen Xiao to state additional conditions, and Chen Xiao felt tempted by the four pills laid out before him.

Chen Xiao negotiated with Cao Xi and Cao Ying, trading the Green Lotus Core Flame for the Cao Family’s help and several promises. After Cao Ying prepared pills for Zi Yan, Chen Xiao led them to see the Heavenly Flame so they could begin refining it.

• Chen Xiao secured Cao Xi and Cao Ying’s agreement to refine pills for him for ten years, help Cao Ying treat his friend when needed, and accompany him to kill Han Feng.
• Chen Xiao asked about a Transformation Pill for Zi Yan, but Cao Xi explained that the Cao Family and other major powers lacked Transformation Grass, so they could only search for it.
• Cao Xi offered the Cao Family’s support if Chen Xiao encountered an enemy he could not handle in the Central Plains, and Chen Xiao accepted the four pills he had been offered.
• Cao Ying revealed that she was a fourth-tier alchemist and quickly refined Zi Yan’s medicinal ingredients into a month’s supply of pills.
• Chen Xiao invited Cao Xi and Cao Ying to see the Green Lotus Core Flame, and Cao Xi said they had already prepared to refine it.

Cao Xi weakened the Green Lotus Core Flame so Cao Ying could refine it, while Chen Xiao arranged for Queen Medusa to help him deal with Han Feng in exchange for aid with her soul problem. The group prepared to leave after Cao Ying’s refinement, with the Little Heaven Swallowing Python set to travel with Chen Xiao and Zi Yan.

• Cao Xi released the Green Lotus Core Flame and repeatedly struck it to weaken its energy as Cao Ying rested for several days.
• Cao Ying realized Zi Yan was a young Magical Beast and agreed with Chen Xiao to use less formal forms of address.
• Zi Yan asked Chen Xiao to bring the Little Heaven Swallowing Python with them, and Chen Xiao explained that the Fallen Heart Flame could help Queen Medusa resolve her soul problem.
• Chen Xiao offered to help Queen Medusa reach the Fallen Heart Flame in exchange for her help killing Han Feng and protecting him if needed, and Queen Medusa agreed to stay undisturbed for half a month.
• Cao Xi arrived with Cao Ying and told Chen Xiao that Cao Ying would refine the Green Lotus Core Flame that day before they left.

Cao Ying successfully refined the Green Lotus Core Flame despite the danger of its body-tempering process, and Chen Xiao confirmed that ordinary Heavenly Flames were suppressed by his Dou Qi. Chen Xiao gave Cao Ying ingredients for Azure Origin Pills before leaving with Zi Yan to visit a friend, planning to depart the next morning.

• Cao Ying swallowed the weakened Green Lotus Core Flame as Chen Xiao, Cao Xi, and Zi Yan waited outside the barrier.
• Zi Yan reported that Cao Ying's body was cracking under the strain, but Chen Xiao sent her back to check on Cao Ying's condition.
• After three hours, Zi Yan confirmed that Cao Ying had successfully refined the Green Lotus Core Flame, and Cao Xi hurried to see her.
• Chen Xiao approached Cao Ying's flame and found that his Dou Qi made it shrink, then congratulated her on her success.
• Cao Ying offered to practice refining Fifth-Grade Elixirs, and Chen Xiao gave her ingredients for Azure Origin Pills.
• Chen Xiao left with Zi Yan to visit a friend, while Cao Xi asked Cao Ying what she thought of him.

Chen Xiao invited Hai Bo Dong to join the group’s journey to the Black-Corner Region, then led the others through the Chu Yun Empire toward Evil Wind City. Along the way, he reunited with Xiao Yi Xian after more than three years apart.

• Chen Xiao persuaded Hai Bo Dong to travel with the group and help establish the Mittel Family’s presence in the Black-Corner Region.
• Chen Xiao, Hai Bo Dong, Cao Xi, Cao Ying, and Zi Yan departed from the Snake-People Race Holy City and crossed into the Chu Yun Empire.
• Chen Xiao said the group would stop in Evil Wind City so he could meet Xiao Yi Xian, his friend from Green Mountain Town.
• Xiao Yi Xian pursued a Nine Star Dou King, but Chen Xiao ambushed and heavily wounded the fleeing old man.
• Chen Xiao gave the old man’s Storage Ring to Xiao Yi Xian, and the two greeted each other after their long separation.

Chen Xiao reunited with Xiao Yi Xian and gave her the Poison Pill method and updates on the materials needed to control her Woeful Poison Body. She joined his group for the journey to the Black-Corner Region, where Chen Xiao broke through to Nine Star Dou King.

• Chen Xiao reassured Xiao Yi Xian that he still recognized her and gave her a scroll containing the method to condense a Poison Pill.
• Chen Xiao told Xiao Yi Xian that he had located Heavenly Flames, a Bodhi Transformation Saliva clue, and a seventh-rank Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast; she agreed to join him in the Black-Corner Region.
• Chen Xiao introduced Xiao Yi Xian to Zi Yan, Cao Ying, Cao Xi, Hai Bo Dong, and the others in Evil Wind City.
• The group traveled for half a month and stopped outside the Black-Corner Region when Chen Xiao prepared to break through.
• Chen Xiao advanced from Seven Star Dou King to Eight Star Dou King, swallowed a Dou Ling Pill from the Cao Family, and reached Nine Star Dou King.

Chen Xiao’s group prepared to lure Han Feng out of Maple City and kill him, using Cao Ying’s Green Lotus Core Flame as bait. Han Feng sensed the flame and set out to investigate after summoning Old Ban, while Queen Medusa revealed she had advanced to Dou Zong.

• Chen Xiao assigned Cao Xi and Cao Ying to draw Han Feng away, while Hai Bo Dong and Xiao Yi Xian prepared to attack Maple City and Zi Yan searched for its treasury.
• Chen Xiao, Cao Xi, and Cao Ying waited in a mountain valley, where Cao Ying brought out the Green Lotus Core Flame to attract Han Feng.
• Queen Medusa emerged from the Little Heaven Swallowing Python with human legs and revealed that she had become a Dou Zong.
• Han Feng sensed the Green Lotus Core Flame near Maple City and ordered Han Beng to summon Old Ban within an hour.
• Han Feng prepared two ice-blue jade bottles and decided to investigate the unknown Heavenly Flame, intending to seize it if he could.

Chen Xiao’s group ambushed Han Feng in Small Mountain Valley and destroyed his body, leaving his Soul Body trapped by Cao Xi and Queen Medusa. As Chen Xiao ordered them to capture Han Feng, Old Ban tried to plead his way out, but Chen Xiao launched Mystic Ice Dragon Flight.

• Chen Xiao learned Han Feng had gone east to recruit Old Ban and let the plan continue.
• Han Feng and Old Ban reached Small Mountain Valley and prepared to kill Chen Xiao and seize the Heavenly Flame.
• Cao Xi and Queen Medusa ambushed Han Feng, destroyed his body, and trapped his Soul Body.
• Han Feng threatened his attackers by invoking Yao Chen and Starfall Pavilion, but Cao Xi and Queen Medusa continued to attack him.
• Old Ban tried to escape and then pleaded with Chen Xiao, who ordered the others to capture Han Feng before launching Mystic Ice Dragon Flight.

Chen Xiao used his Three Thousand Lightning Movement to evade Old Ban and keep him at bay until Cao Xi struck him down. After Chen Xiao killed Old Ban and received Han Feng’s sealed Soul Body, the group prepared to return to Maple City, where Cao Xi planned to pursue a breakthrough.

• Chen Xiao’s Mystic Ice Dragon Flight cracked Old Ban’s wind shield, but Old Ban refused to surrender and attacked with Wind Shadow Whirlwind Kill.
• Chen Xiao evaded Old Ban’s wind blades with Three Thousand Lightning Movement and created two silver figures, then traded attacks with Old Ban’s defensive wind-blade twister without breaking through.
• Chen Xiao called on Cao Xi, who destroyed Old Ban’s twister and left him gravely wounded; Chen Xiao finished Old Ban and took his Storage Ring.
• Cao Xi gave Chen Xiao the sealed Jade Bottle holding Han Feng’s Soul Body, and Queen Medusa said she had done nothing to help.
• Cao Xi headed toward Maple City to seek a breakthrough, Queen Medusa returned to Chen Xiao’s sleeve, and Chen Xiao noticed Cao Ying approaching.

Chen Xiao seized Maple City after Han Feng’s forces were defeated and began establishing control with Hai Bo Dong’s help. He forced Han Feng to remove the Soul Mark on his storage ring, then discovered a trove of pills, including a seventh-grade Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill.

• Chen Xiao returned to Maple City, learned the Cao Family’s Fourth Elder had left to explore the Northwest Continent, and assigned Zi Yan to guard the treasury.
• Xiao Yi Xian reported that Han Beng and other defenders had been killed or captured, and Chen Xiao declared himself lord of Maple City.
• Chen Xiao asked Hai Bo Dong to manage the city and bring in people from the Mittel Family, then settled with his companions in the Bamboo Building.
• Chen Xiao used Cao Ying’s Green Lotus Core Flame to torture Han Feng until he removed the Soul Mark from his storage ring.
• Chen Xiao searched Han Feng’s ring and found many valuable pills, including a seventh-grade Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill.

Chen Xiao sorted through Han Feng’s storage ring and gained the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, pill formulas, the Ten Thousand Beasts Cauldron, Dou Skills, and half of the Flame Mantra. His increased strength expanded his pre-pay limits, and he left his room after sensing that Cao Ying was still awake.

• Chen Xiao recognized the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, accepted it from Han Feng’s spoils, and noted its potential to transform its taker after a near-fatal injury.
• Chen Xiao examined Han Feng’s storage ring and found pill formulas, the Ten Thousand Beasts Cauldron, Earth-Rank techniques, and half of the Flame Mantra.
• Chen Xiao’s pre-pay follow-up completed, restoring one available pre-pay, and he confirmed that he could now pre-pay the Netherworld Poison Flame and other powerful items.
• Chen Xiao tested his new pre-pay limits and learned they extended to Earth-Rank Intermediate techniques, seventh-tier pills, and a Human-Rank Heavenly Demon Puppet.
• Chen Xiao sensed Cao Ying reading an alchemy notebook downstairs, then left his room while thinking about Han Feng’s spoils and Sea Heart Flame.

Chen Xiao asked Cao Ying to identify pills from Han Feng’s Storage Ring and offered her the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill’s formula to draw her interest. Cao Ying exposed his fabricated marriage agreement and Three-Year Agreement before turning the conversation to the terms of their cooperation.

• Cao Ying identified three Sixth Grade Pills from Han Feng’s Storage Ring as a Demon Transformation Pill, an Azure Underworld Longevity Pill, and a Starfall Soul-Suppressing Pill.
• Cao Ying examined the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill and found no apparent problems, so Chen Xiao swallowed it and explained its life-saving effect.
• Chen Xiao offered Cao Ying the pill’s formula, but she recognized his attempt to tempt her with it.
• Cao Ying revealed that Queen Medusa had asked her about the supposed young alchemist with a marriage agreement to Chen Xiao, exposing his fabricated engagement story.
• Cao Ying teased Chen Xiao about being her fiancé, then asked what conditions he wanted for giving her the formula.

Chen Xiao offered Cao Ying Han Feng’s pill-refining inheritance and cultivation method in exchange for her service, and Cao Xi proposed that they make their joking engagement real. Cao Ying and Chen Xiao agreed to a marriage arrangement, while Cao Xi warned that leaders from the Black-Corner Region might bring trouble to Maple City over Han Feng’s death.

• Chen Xiao offered Cao Ying Han Feng’s pill formulas, Ten Thousand Beasts Cauldron, Sea Heart Flame, and incomplete Flame Mantra in exchange for her serving him.
• Cao Ying weighed Chen Xiao’s offer against her family’s limits and the Dan Tower’s support before Cao Xi returned and proposed a marriage arrangement.
• Cao Ying agreed to the arrangement, and Chen Xiao accepted, asking Cao Xi to keep it secret from Queen Medusa.
• Chen Xiao gave Cao Ying half of the Flame Mantra to study and said they would discuss the pill formulas later.
• Cao Xi warned Chen Xiao that powerful leaders from the Black-Corner Region had gathered after Han Feng’s death and that Maple City might soon face trouble.
• Chen Xiao said he was ready to face whoever came.

Chen Xiao prepared to establish Maple City by selling information and faced a coalition seeking to claim Han Feng’s possessions. He assigned his allies to fight and attacked Kui Sha, beginning the battle.

• Chen Xiao approved auctions and an information business to fund Maple City, then sensed powerful arrivals approaching.
• Chen Xiao led Xiao Yi Xian, Zi Yan, and Hai Bo Dong out to meet the nine uninvited guests while Cao Ying prepared to change her cultivation method.
• Gold Silver Two Elders, the Beast Taming Sect Master, and Kui Sha demanded pills or an explanation for Han Feng’s death, though Chen Xiao recognized their claims as a pretext.
• Chen Xiao summoned Queen Medusa and assigned her to Gold Silver Two Elders, Hai Bo Dong to the Beast Taming Sect Master, and himself to Kui Sha while telling Xiao Yi Xian to conserve her strength.
• Chen Xiao charged Kui Sha with a punch, declaring that Han Feng had ordered him to kill anyone coveting his possessions.

Chen Xiao fought Kui Sha and used his speed, afterimages, and ice attacks to kill the Beast Taming Sect master, while Xiao Yi Xian and Zi Yan defeated five Dou Kings. The deaths shifted the battle in Maple City and discouraged the watching factions from intervening.

• Chen Xiao clashed with Kui Sha and used his icy Dou Qi to make the Dou Emperor take the fight seriously.
• The Gold Silver Two Elders saw that Kui Sha and their five Dou Kings were being overwhelmed by Chen Xiao, Xiao Yi Xian, and Zi Yan.
• Chen Xiao used his afterimages and ice techniques to pierce Kui Sha through the chest, freeze his body, and crush his heart.
• Five Dou Kings exploded into blood-colored fireworks after Xiao Yi Xian and Zi Yan overcame them.
• Observers in Maple City reconsidered intervening as the Gold Silver Two Elders weakened and the remaining battles continued.

The Gold Silver Two Elders fled and Queen Medusa killed the Beast Taming Sect Master, leaving Chen Xiao’s side victorious in Maple City. Cao Xi warned Chen Xiao that a powerful Soul Hall expert had secretly taken several souls, and the group prepared to secure their gains while staying alert.

• The Gold Silver Two Elders withdrew after Queen Medusa proved too difficult to overcome, and Queen Medusa killed the Beast Taming Sect Master before he could retaliate.
• Zi Yan accepted Chen Xiao’s order to raid the Kui Wolf Gang and Beast Taming Sect, while Chen Xiao returned to the Bamboo Building with Hai Bo Dong and Xiao Yi Xian.
• Cao Xi revealed that a concealed expert, likely a Four-Star Dou Zong, had secretly seized several souls and identified him as a Soul Hall operative.
• Cao Xi and Cao Ying warned Chen Xiao to be careful and to hide Han Feng’s soul, which was valuable to the Soul Hall.
• Chen Xiao said he had ways to face the Soul Hall expert if necessary, then turned the group’s attention to using their resources to increase their strength.

Chen Xiao distributed the spoils Zi Yan brought back, then used Pre-pay to locate the Nine Nether Soul Scripture. He found the scroll hidden inside a skeleton’s leg bone, but his Pre-pay uses ran out until he completed the follow-up.

• Zi Yan returned with spoils from the Beast Taming Sect and the Kui Wolf Gang, and Chen Xiao distributed useful items among Xiao Yi Xian, Hai Bo Dong, and the others.
• Chen Xiao gave Hai Bo Dong and Xiao Yi Xian Royal Extreme Pills and told Cao Ying to wait until he returned from Jia Nan Academy before preparing to refine Heavenly Flames.
• Chen Xiao organized valuable information to trade for resources, then considered ways to strengthen himself, including obtaining a Heavenly Demon Puppet and cultivating his soul.
• Chen Xiao discovered that the Nine Nether Soul Scripture and the Life Devouring Pill could both be found in the Heavenly Yin Mountain Range, and he chose to Pre-pay for the scripture.
• A skeleton appeared on Chen Xiao’s desk, and he found the Nine Nether Soul Scripture concealed in its hollowed right leg bone; his available Pre-pay uses then fell to zero.

Chen Xiao entered a two-and-a-half-day state of enlightenment while cultivating the Nine Nether Soul Scripture, then took Queen Medusa to Jia Nan Academy so she could use the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower to address the two souls in her body. He left her cultivating on the eighth floor and prepared to take Zi Yan treasure hunting.

• Chen Xiao cultivated the Nine Nether Soul Scripture and gained insights into his Dou Techniques and Ice and Fire Hypothesis while remaining at the Nine Star Dou King level.
• Queen Medusa waited for Chen Xiao to emerge from his two-and-a-half-day enlightenment, then set off with him for Jia Nan Academy.
• Zi Yan explained Queen Medusa's soul problem to Su Qian, who allowed her to use Chen Xiao's Fire Crystal Card to enter the eighth floor of the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower.
• Su Qian warned that the Fallen Heart Flame might break through its seal in three to five years and said Queen Medusa could help the Inner Courtyard when that happened.
• Chen Xiao left Queen Medusa cultivating in a room on the eighth floor and told Zi Yan to get ready for treasure hunting.

Chen Xiao and Zi Yan searched the Heavenly Yin Mountain Range for the inheritance that had once helped Xiao Li rise to Dou Wang. They found the cave of a dying high-tier alchemist and recovered two Life Devouring Pills and their formula before the completed follow-up triggered a notification.

• Su Qian offered to direct Jia Nan Academy graduates who needed a place to settle to Chen Xiao’s forces in Maple City, and Chen Xiao agreed.
• Chen Xiao took Zi Yan to the Heavenly Yin Mountain Range to search for the inheritance Xiao Li had found.
• Chen Xiao and Zi Yan found a concealed cave after less than three days of searching and discovered a skeleton, a Storage Ring, and two red-glowing jade bottles.
• Chen Xiao read the alchemist’s note, which explained that the wounded alchemist had sold most of his possessions for healing supplies before dying in the cave.
• Chen Xiao identified the bottles’ contents as seventh-tier Life Devouring Pills, recovered the two pills and their formula, and watched the skeleton vanish when he stored it.
• A notification informed Chen Xiao that the follow-up had been completed.

Chen Xiao arranged for Cao Ying to refine the Sea Heart Flame after she switched to the Flame Mantra. Han Feng surrendered the flame in exchange for avoiding Starfall Pavilion, and Cao Xi took it away to weaken it before the refinement.

• Maple City remained stable after Chen Xiao, Zi Yan, and Queen Medusa left, while construction began on a large Auction House.
• Chen Xiao returned to the Bamboo Building with Zi Yan and noticed Hai Bo Dong had advanced to Six-Star Dou Emperor while Xiao Yi Xian neared a breakthrough.
• Chen Xiao brought Cao Ying and Cao Xi to prepare for Cao Ying to refine the Sea Heart Flame.
• Chen Xiao presented Han Feng's sealed soul, and Han Feng handed over the Sea Heart Flame after Chen Xiao warned him about Wind Honored One and Starfall Pavilion.
• Cao Xi trapped the Sea Heart Flame and took it away to drain its energy before Cao Ying began refining it.
• Chen Xiao warned Cao Ying not to be careless, and she said she would abandon the attempt if it became too dangerous.