Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan and Zi Yan found the seal trapping the Fallen Heart Flame and Xiao Huohuo, but opening it risked another disaster for the Inner Academy. Zi Yan tore open the seal briefly, letting Xiao Yan plunge into the magma to rescue Xiao Huohuo, and she collapsed from the effort as he promised to return safely.

• Zi Yan burned her hand when she tried to touch the seal, and Xiao Yan prepared to break through it to save Xiao Huohuo.
• Zi Yan warned that breaking the seal could unleash the Fallen Heart Flame and endanger the recently rebuilt Inner Academy.
• Zi Yan decided to tear open the seal for an instant and urged Xiao Yan to enter while it was open.
• Zi Yan used spatial power to rip open a crack, and Xiao Yan passed through the seal into the magma.
• Zi Yan spat blood and weakened as the crack closed, while Xiao Yan promised to bring Xiao Huohuo back safely before sinking into the magma.

Xiao Yan descended into the Magma World and found Xiao Huohuo trapped inside the Fallen Heart Flame, protected by Yao Lao. After learning that the flame and Xiao Huohuo were locked in a stalemate, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao decided to revive Xiao Huohuo and turn the danger into a chance for him to devour the Fallen Heart Flame.

• Zi Yan collapsed after the figure vanished, but vowed to bring him back before losing consciousness.
• Xiao Yan followed Xiao Huohuo's presence through the magma, using recovery pills as the heat and pressure drained his strength.
• Xiao Yan approached the Fallen Heart Flame and found that his Martial Soul let him enter its body without being harmed.
• Xiao Yan found Xiao Huohuo unconscious and charred, with Yao Lao's flames protecting him.
• Yao Lao explained that the Fallen Heart Flame was trying to devour Xiao Huohuo, while he kept it at bay.
• Yao Lao proposed that Xiao Yan's Martial Soul could hide them from the Fallen Heart Flame long enough for Xiao Huohuo to recover and attempt to devour it, and Xiao Yan gave him pills.

Xiao Yan healed Xiao Huohuo inside the Fallen Heart Flame and helped him identify its Heart Flame as the key to refining it. Yao Lao and Xiao Huohuo prepared to subdue and refine it, and Xiao Yan trapped it with his Netherworld Lock as the Magma World began to boil.

• Xiao Yan used a pill and his Soul Power to heal Xiao Huohuo's shattered meridians while Yao Lao watched with relief.
• Xiao Huohuo woke and learned from Yao Lao that Xiao Yan had saved them, then asked what they should do next.
• Yao Lao explained that they had to locate the Fallen Heart Flame's Heart Flame and said Xiao Yan's Martial Soul could help him find it.
• Xiao Yan used his Soul Power to spot the Heart Flame, while Yao Lao told Xiao Huohuo to swallow and refine it as he held it back.
• Xiao Yan rushed toward the Heart Flame and bound it with his Netherworld Lock, provoking it to struggle and make the Magma World churn.

Xiao Yan helped Yao Lao extract the Fallen Heart Flame’s heart flame so Xiao Huohuo could devour it, then left him to endure the refining process. Xiao Yan escaped the Magma World through the seal and left the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, while Zi Yan approached it with Lin Yan.

• Xiao Yan used his Netherworld Lock to suppress the Fallen Heart Flame’s heart flame, allowing Yao Lao to cut out a wisp for Xiao Huohuo.
• Yao Lao gave Xiao Yan a Storage Ring containing his medicine-refinement insights, Dou Techniques, and cultivation methods, then returned to the ring and fell asleep.
• Xiao Huohuo swallowed the heart flame, and Xiao Yan left him to refine it while his soul presence remained strong.
• Xiao Yan discovered that his Clone Martial Soul could pass through the seal around the Magma World, then concealed himself and left the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower without being seen.
• Zi Yan headed toward the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower despite Lin Yan urging her to rest after she had woken up weak and exhausted.

Xiao Yan entered Black Seal City in disguise to learn about the Black-Corner Region and its factions. After hearing that Han Feng had invited them to Maple City to plan against Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan decided to attend while keeping his identity hidden.

• Xiao Yan left Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy and reached Black Seal City under a mask and black robe.
• A gang tried to extort Xiao Yan at the city gate, and he severed the arrogant young man's arm before continuing into the city.
• Xiao Yan bought a map and learned that Han Feng had invited the Black-Corner Region's factions to meet in Maple City.
• Xiao Yan decided to go to Maple City to gather information while Little Huohuo devoured the Fallen Heart Flame.

Xiao Yan entered Maple City under the assumed name Tang San and used his Soul Emperor-level presence to gain access to the inner city. Fan Lao of the Blood Sect welcomed him and brought him along, leaving Xiao Yan among the gathered factions preparing to oppose Jia Nan Academy.

• Experts from across the Black-Corner Region gathered in Maple City after Han Feng summoned them to plan against Jia Nan Academy.
• Xiao Yan learned that only those with Dou Wang-level strength or higher could enter the inner city, though he could not fly despite his power.
• Xiao Yan released his Soul Emperor-level pressure, convincing the guards to let him pass.
• Fan Lao sensed Xiao Yan's formidable presence, rebuked the guard, and introduced himself as the Blood Sect's leader.
• Xiao Yan called himself Tang San and accepted Fan Lao's invitation to enter the inner city with the Blood Sect members.

Xiao Yan, posing as Tang San, accompanied Fan Lao to meet Medicine Emperor Han Feng in Maple City. As Han Feng welcomed them into his bamboo grove, Elder Ban tested Xiao Yan with Dou Emperor pressure, but Xiao Yan resisted it with his Soul Power.

• Xiao Yan told Fan Lao he had entered seclusion to heal after arriving in the Black-Corner Region and had only recently emerged.
• Fan Lao brought Xiao Yan to Han Feng’s bamboo grove in Maple City, where Han Feng came out to greet them.
• Fan Lao introduced Xiao Yan as Tang San, and Han Feng invited him and Fan Lao into the grove.
• Xiao Yan sensed powerful experts near Han Feng’s bamboo building as they entered the courtyard.
• Elder Ban released Dou Emperor pressure toward the visitors, but Xiao Yan resisted it with his Soul Power.
• Han Feng explained that Elder Ban had mistaken Xiao Yan for an unfamiliar threat, and Elder Ban emerged behind him, staring at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan met Han Feng and Fan Lao in Maple City and agreed to join their planned alliance against Jia Nan Academy, intending to spy on the Black-Corner Region from within. He stayed at the Blood Sect’s quarters to prepare for the alliance gathering three days later.

• Elder Ban tested Xiao Yan with his presence, then Han Feng welcomed Xiao Yan and Fan Lao into his bamboo lodge.
• Han Feng questioned Xiao Yan about his past, and Xiao Yan claimed he had hidden in the Black-Corner Region while recovering from injuries.
• Fan Lao and Han Feng blamed Jia Nan Academy for the conflict, while Xiao Yan recognized that they were twisting the truth about the fight over the Heavenly Flames.
• Han Feng announced that the faction leaders would gather in Maple City in three days to form an alliance, and Xiao Yan agreed to join so he could gather intelligence for Jia Nan Academy.
• Fan Lao brought Xiao Yan to the Blood Sect’s quarters and arranged a room, where Xiao Yan began regulating his breathing to remain in peak condition.

Xiao Yan attended Han Feng’s gathering in Maple City, where Han Feng founded the Black Alliance and rallied the Black-Corner Region’s factions against Jia Nan Academy. The alliance’s leaders prepared to retaliate, but Xiao Yan judged that its reluctant members might not follow Han Feng into a full attack.

• Xiao Yan and Fan Lao went to Maple City’s plaza, where Xiao Yan recognized Elder Jin, Elder Yin, Yin Wuji, and Yan Mo among the assembled faction leaders.
• Han Feng accused Jia Nan Academy of massacring Black-Corner Region residents and proposed uniting the factions against it.
• Fan Lao, Yin Wuji, Yan Mo, and the smaller factions backed Han Feng as alliance leader, and Elder Jin and Elder Yin agreed to join.
• Han Feng invited Xiao Yan, who accepted, then officially established the Black Alliance as his sea-blue Heavenly Flame flared.
• Han Feng called for the factions to support one another and strike back at Jia Nan Academy, while Xiao Yan doubted that the alliance’s reluctant members would risk their lives for Han Feng’s campaign.

Xiao Yan settled into the newly formed Black Alliance and cultivated at the Blood Sect’s base until his Soul Power reached level fifty-five. A street clash between the Blood Sect and the Eight Gates then escalated when Fan Lao and Yuan Yi confronted each other, leaving the dispute unresolved.

• Xiao Yan spoke with Fan Lao, who warned him that Han Feng was ruthless and urged him not to grow too close to the Medicine Emperor.
• Xiao Yan decided to remain in the Black Alliance and cultivate, then reached Soul Power level fifty-five after three days.
• Xiao Yan saw Blood Sect and Eight Gates members fighting in the street, and Fan Lao stopped them with his Dou Emperor pressure.
• A Blood Sect steward accused the Eight Gates of interfering with an attempt to capture people from Jia Nan Academy, while an Eight Gates man blamed the Blood Sect.
• Fan Lao struck the Eight Gates man, and Yuan Yi arrived to demand an explanation; Fan Lao insisted that the Eight Gates owed him one instead.

Han Feng summoned the Black Alliance faction leaders to a training ground to announce alliance arrangements and test their strength. He had Xiao Yan demonstrate first, and Xiao Yan began sparring with Xiong Lie while evading his attacks.

• Han Feng stopped Fan Lao and Yuan Yi's Blood Sect and Eight Gates factions from fighting, then warned them to keep their people in line.
• Fan Lao told Xiao Yan that the Blood Sect and Eight Gates had a longstanding feud and accused Han Feng of wanting them to fight among themselves.
• The Blood Sect and Eight Gates continued to clash in Maple City, while Han Feng noticed the growing unrest and summoned the faction leaders to a training ground.
• Han Feng explained that alliance members would need to contribute to earn benefits, then asked Xiao Yan to demonstrate his strength.
• Xiong Lie, a Peak Dou Wang, challenged Xiao Yan and attacked with his battle-axe, but Xiao Yan dodged every strike.

Xiao Yan defeated Xiong Lie with one punch, then proved his strength against Elder Ban by enduring his attack and countering with the Netherworld Lock. Impressed by Xiao Yan’s power, Han Feng offered him the position of an elder of the Black Alliance.

• Xiao Yan waited for Xiong Lie to exhaust himself, then knocked him out with a single punch.
• Han Feng asked Elder Ban to spar with Xiao Yan, and Elder Ban attacked him with powerful Dou Qi.
• Xiao Yan dodged Elder Ban’s attacks, then used Soul Armor and Netherworld Lock to withstand and counter his Light of Burst.
• Xiao Yan froze Elder Ban with the Netherworld Lock and struck him off the training ground, prompting Elder Ban to admit defeat.
• Han Feng praised Xiao Yan and said his strength was enough to make him an elder of the Black Alliance.

Xiao Yan secured a place as an elder of the Black Alliance after demonstrating his strength, while Han Feng used the gathering to rally its factions and arrange their roles. As Xiao Yan traveled to Maple City with Fan Lao, he confronted him about the Blood Sect’s troubles and revealed that he had no ambition to be bound to the alliance.

• Han Feng named Xiao Yan an elder of the Black Alliance, and the gathered factions celebrated his strength.
• The factions held matches at the training ground while Han Feng assessed their strengths and discussed future tasks and territories.
• Han Feng announced a banquet in Maple City to celebrate the Black Alliance’s founding, and the crowd cheered its ambitions.
• Xiao Yan traveled with Fan Lao toward Maple City and asked him to speak openly about what was on his mind.
• Xiao Yan pointed out the Blood Sect’s weakening position and said Han Feng had made him an elder to bind him to the alliance, but that his own ambitions lay elsewhere.

Xiao Yan secured Fan Lao’s agreement to share the Black Alliance’s intelligence in exchange for helping protect the Blood Sect. At Han Feng’s banquet, Han Feng praised Xiao Yan’s strength after his draw with Elder Ban, while Xiao Yan continued concealing his identity and intentions.

• Xiao Yan told Fan Lao that Han Feng intended to unite the Black-Corner Region, and Fan Lao admitted that the Blood Sect had few options for survival.
• Xiao Yan offered to help protect the Blood Sect if Fan Lao shared all intelligence about the Black Alliance’s plans, and Fan Lao agreed.
• Xiao Yan hinted to Fan Lao that he had fled from the Central Plains and would eventually fight his way back there.
• At Han Feng’s banquet, Xiao Yan observed Han Feng charming the Black Alliance’s faction leaders and consolidating his influence.
• Han Feng toasted Xiao Yan and praised his draw with Elder Ban as proof that Xiao Yan ranked among the Black-Corner Region’s strongest fighters.

Xiao Yan observed Han Feng’s consolidation of power in the Black-Corner Region and advised Fan Lao to endure the Blood Sect’s territorial losses until conflict created an opportunity. The chapter ended as Han Feng presented a detailed map at a meeting of the Black Alliance’s leaders.

• Han Feng questioned Xiao Yan about his past and welcomed him as an honored guest of the Black Alliance, while Fan Lao warned him not to trust anyone easily.
• Han Feng reorganized the Black-Corner Region’s territories, giving stronger factions more land and resources and overruling objections from smaller factions.
• The Eight Gates took valuable mineral veins and two important cities from the Blood Sect, prompting Fan Lao to ask Xiao Yan for advice.
• Xiao Yan urged Fan Lao not to provoke the Eight Gates yet, arguing that Han Feng benefited from their conflict and that the Blood Sect should wait for an opportunity.
• Han Feng convened the Black Alliance’s upper ranks and displayed a detailed map marked with red and blue dots.

Han Feng rallied the Black Alliance to attack Jia Nan Academy’s southern outposts, assigning Xiao Yan to assist the Blood Sect. After scouting revealed the outposts’ strengths, Xiao Yan proposed splitting their forces, leaving the story poised for the assault.

• Han Feng proposed uprooting Jia Nan Academy’s outposts and assigned factions to attack them simultaneously, pairing Xiao Yan with Fan Lao’s Blood Sect.
• Fan Lao warned Xiao Yan that the two southern outposts were strongholds with uncertain defenses and likely stationed teachers.
• Fan Lao sent scouts, who reported that the valley outpost held over twenty students and three teachers, while a nearby training camp had around forty students and five teachers but had mostly withdrawn its personnel.
• Xiao Yan proposed taking twenty people to hold the valley outpost while Fan Lao led the main force against the reduced training camp.
• Fan Lao accepted Xiao Yan’s plan, and they prepared to attack the southern outposts.

Xiao Yan traveled with Fan Lao and the Blood Sect to attack Jia Nan Academy’s strongholds, but he secretly hoped to avoid killing its people. While scouting the training camp, he recognized Wu Hao among a group heading into the forest and realized they were walking toward the Blood Sect’s encirclement.

• Xiao Yan and Fan Lao led twenty Blood Sect disciples south toward Jia Nan Academy’s strongholds, discussing Han Feng’s reasons for the attack and the possibility of an ambush.
• Fan Lao learned that Jia Nan Academy had sent more newcomers to the training camp, and Xiao Yan agreed to assess the situation before they chose a target.
• After scouts reported more than sixty students and six teachers at the training camp, Fan Lao prepared to attack, but Xiao Yan went ahead to inspect it from a distance.
• Xiao Yan observed the students training and noticed a Dou Wang instructor leading a group of students out into the forest.
• Xiao Yan recognized the burly, hostile-looking student as Wu Hao and realized that he and the others were heading toward the Blood Sect’s waiting forces.

Xiao Yan used his Soul Division Martial Soul to warn Wu Hao that the Blood Sect was preparing an ambush, while his main body misled Fan Lao about the patrol group’s route. Wu Hao reached camp in time for Elder Mu to evacuate the students, though Elder Mu set out to find Instructor Lei’s group.

• Xiao Yan sent his Soul Division Martial Soul after Wu Hao’s patrol and had it warn him that the Blood Sect was waiting three li away.
• Wu Hao alerted the lead instructor and hurried back toward camp with two students, while the instructor slowed and diverted the remaining group.
• Xiao Yan told Fan Lao that a small group was approaching and steered him into waiting to attack in a distant valley.
• Wu Hao reported the warning to the camp instructors, and Elder Mu ordered the students to pack and relocate.
• Elder Mu sent the camp back toward Jia Nan Academy and went to meet Instructor Lei’s group.

Xiao Yan used his Soul Division Martial Soul to warn Jia Nan Academy’s students and Instructor Lei’s group, allowing them to withdraw before the Blood Sect’s ambush. After Fan Lao discovered both camps empty, he reported the failure to Han Feng, who asked Brother Tang for his opinion.

• Xiao Yan’s Soul Division Martial Soul warned the students and Instructor Lei’s group to withdraw, and Xiao Yan waited with Fan Lao while the Blood Sect’s ambush went unanswered.
• Xiao Yan suggested that Fan Lao investigate, and they found Instructor Lei’s former camp deserted with warm ashes and footprints leading toward the academy.
• Fan Lao ordered a search, but the Blood Sect disciples found no one within ten li, and Xiao Yan concluded that the academy group had received advance warning and withdrawn in an organized manner.
• Fan Lao led the group to the training camp, where they found the people and supplies gone, then ordered the remaining Blood Sect disciples to search for the academy group.
• Fan Lao reported the failed ambush to Han Feng in Maple City, and Han Feng asked Xiao Yan, whom he called Brother Tang, what he thought.

After Jia Nan Academy’s retreat exposed the possibility of spies, Han Feng urged the Black Alliance’s leaders to control their followers and later promised the alliance would not attack the academy unless it attacked first. As the Black Alliance expanded across the Black-Corner Region, Xiao Yan suspected Han Feng’s promise was only meant to buy time before a future war.

• Xiao Yan warned Han Feng and the Black Alliance leaders that spies within their factions might have leaked the operation to Jia Nan Academy, and Han Feng called on them to root out traitors.
• Fan Lao regretted letting Jia Nan Academy’s forces escape, but Xiao Yan reminded him that the Black Alliance had taken over their abandoned strongholds, and Fan Lao ordered the Blood Sect to claim the territories.
• Over half a month, the Black Alliance absorbed smaller factions and expanded while Jia Nan Academy withdrew behind its walls.
• At a gathering in Maple City, Han Feng celebrated the alliance’s growth and promised not to target Jia Nan Academy unless it attacked a member first.
• Xiao Yan suspected Han Feng intended to use the promise to calm the alliance while he consolidated control and prepared for an eventual battle with Jia Nan Academy.