Recaps

Chen Ning confronted Hua Xusheng, who revealed that the Hall of Heroic Souls planned to kill the gathered soul cultivators and use their souls to decipher the ancient diagram. Chen Ning weakened Hua Xusheng’s soul, while four Heaven Martial Realm experts received orders to destroy Chen Ning’s physical body.

• Chen Ning stopped repairing Zhao Jinxiu’s soul and warned that the Hall of Heroic Souls intended to kill everyone in the secret realm.
• Hua Xusheng arrived, admitted the soul cultivators would die, and named Chen Ning and Zhao Jinxiu as the souls he truly wanted for the ancient diagram.
• Hua Xusheng outlined a false account blaming Zhao Jinxiu for the deaths, but Chen Ning questioned how he could conceal Zhuge Bai’s death from the Star God Palace’s master.
• Hua Xusheng attacked Chen Ning, but Chen Ning’s words unsettled him and caused his soul realm to rapidly weaken.
• Four Heaven Martial Realm experts of the Hall of Heroic Souls received Hua Xusheng’s message ordering them to destroy Chen Ning’s physical body.

Hua Luo trapped the four chief elders in terrifying mental illusions while Chen Ning faced Hua Xusheng inside the ancestral hall's secret realm. Just as Hua Xusheng's chains seemed to leave Chen Ning with no escape, Chen Ning used the eternal fire to burn them and Hua Xusheng's divine soul.

• Hua Luo resisted the four chief elders' mental attacks and trapped each of them in an illusion shaped by his greatest fears.
• Hua Xusheng, whose divine soul had weakened, bound the soul cultivators in the secret realm with pitch-black chains and prepared to crush their divine souls.
• Zhuge Bai broke several chains but was then restrained, leaving Chen Ning surrounded by Hua Xusheng's chains.
• Chen Ning unsettled Hua Xusheng by asking why he had entered the secret realm despite knowing its dangers, then revealed his eternal fire could attack souls.
• The eternal fire burned through the chains and spread across Hua Xusheng's divine soul, leaving him screaming in agony.

Chen Ning destroyed Hua Xusheng and deciphered the ancient diagram with Hua Luo’s spiritual power, obtaining the complete Prajna Ancient Scripture. He returned to the Dragon-Seeking Sect with Hua Luo and Zhuge Bai to prepare for the Nine Provinces Grand Gathering.

• Chen Ning burned away Hua Xusheng’s three fleeing remnant-soul fragments with the Eternal Fire, then opened an exit so the surviving soul cultivators could leave.
• Chen Ning stayed behind to decipher the ancient diagram and asked Zhuge Bai to take Zhao Jinxiu out and tell Hua Luo not to resist his intrusion.
• Chen Ning borrowed Hua Luo’s spiritual power through the Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand, but the strain nearly shattered his divine soul before the Heaven-Slaying Sword’s red light illuminated the final pattern.
• Chen Ning saw the Crimson Firmament Sword Saint depicted in the diagram and realized that the sword’s remnant soul had left the Heaven-Slaying Sword to help him.
• A golden divine pattern from the diagram merged into Chen Ning’s soul and gave him the complete Prajna Ancient Scripture.
• Chen Ning returned to the Dragon-Seeking Sect with Hua Luo and Zhuge Bai, intending to prepare for the Nine Provinces Grand Gathering.

As the Hall of Heroic Souls faced public condemnation and internal power struggles, Hua Xusheng survived in secret and met with the Asura Divine Lord. Hua agreed to place the Hall under the Asura Divine Sect’s command, while suspecting the alliance had arranged some of the denunciations.

• The Hall of Heroic Souls faced demands for an explanation across the Nine Provinces while its elders fought over power after the hall master’s death.
• Hua Xusheng awakened in a secret chamber, alive only because he had left a strand of his soul behind, and blamed Chen Ning for ruining his plans.
• The Asura Divine Lord told Hua that Chen Ning had obtained the Prajna Ancient Scripture with help from the mysterious person from the Heaven-Burying Ancient Land.
• The Asura Divine Lord offered to protect the Hall and help Hua take revenge in exchange for the Hall joining his alliance against Heavenly Lake.
• After hearing that the Asura Divine Sect had more than one Saint, Hua agreed to follow its orders and promised to restore order in the Hall within one day.
• Hua questioned whether the Asura Divine Lord had arranged the voices calling for the Hall’s punishment, but the Divine Lord evaded the question and left.

Chen Ning prepared for the Nine Provinces faction ranking gathering, accepting Cang Yue’s report before spending the night with her and giving Hua Luo two promised divine fruits. He then arrived at Heavenly Lake as powerful factions from across the Nine Provinces gathered for the event’s opening day.

• Chen Ning cultivated the Prajna Ancient Scripture and strengthened his spiritual power before the ranking gathering began.
• Cang Yue visited Chen Ning to explain the gathering’s procedures, and the two spent the night together.
• Hua Luo revealed she had been watching from the room and received the Longevity Divine Fruit and World-Destroying Divine Fruit from Chen Ning.
• Chen Ning set out for Heavenly Lake, where factions and recluses from across the cultivation world had gathered.
• Attendants announced the arrivals of prominent first-rate factions and then the super factions, drawing the crowd’s attention.

Super factions gathered in Central Province for the Nine Provinces Faction Ranking, with the Dragon-Seeking Sect drawing attention despite arriving without fanfare. Chen Ning greeted old friends and faction leaders, while the gathering’s atmosphere shifted when a powerful wave of battle intent descended.

• The Heavenly Demon Wonder Manor and several other super factions arrived in spectacular fashion, prompting excited discussion about their reputations and Heaven Ranking positions.
• The Yin-Yang Holy Land arrived, and the presence of holy lords Qingfeng and Qinghe stirred the crowd and helped some low-ranked faction members stabilize their realms.
• The Dragon-Seeking Sect arrived quietly aboard a void warship, disappointing onlookers who had expected a grand spectacle.
• Chen Ning exchanged greetings with faction leaders, then reunited with Li Changtian and greeted the Palace Master of Immortal Music Palace, Lan Yuqing, and Shang Qingya.
• A surge of battle intent swept over the gathering, leaving members of weaker factions unsteady and restless.

The Asura Divine Sect directed its killing intent at the Dragon-Seeking Sect, but Chen Ning answered with a terrifying illusion that stunned the assembled forces. The illusion vanished, yet the Asura Divine Sect’s carriage and statues shattered, leaving its experts scattered on the ground.

• The Asura Divine Sect arrived in a blood-red carriage pulled by a statue and overwhelmed weaker forces with its killing intent.
• The Asura Divine Sect focused its killing intent on the Dragon-Seeking Sect, prompting the Yin-Yang Holy Land, Star God Palace, and Li Changtian to prepare to help.
• Chen Ning thanked the would-be helpers and unleashed a vast illusion of calamity, Gods and Devils, and the Dragon-Seeking Sect’s disciples battling them.
• The illusion disappeared, leaving the assembled forces stunned by Chen Ning’s display.
• An Asura Divine Sect expert dismissed the spectacle as an illusion, but the carriage and statues suddenly shattered, scattering the sect’s experts.

Chen Ning humiliated the Asura Divine Sect and gained the respect of other forces before the Nine Provinces Forces Heaven Ranking gathering began. As the gathering opened, a warning revealed that Three Quarters Past Noon planned to appear in full force.

• Chen Ning destroyed the Asura Divine Sect’s treasure, and the Asura Divine Lord restrained his anger when the conical-hatted figure stopped him from acting.
• Cultivators thanked Chen Ning after his illusion reforged their resolve, while the Heavenly Lake Holy Lord and the middle-aged butcher discussed the threat posed by the Asura Divine Sect and the time they needed.
• Chen Ning received Zhao Jinxiu’s warning that Three Quarters Past Noon would turn out in full force at the gathering.
• Mu Tianji opened the grand gathering and announced that the Nine Provinces Forces Heaven Ranking would be remade, then Luo Changhe took charge of the proceedings.

Luo Changhe announced the disciples’ battle across four secret realms, and Chen Ning sent the Dragon-Seeking Sect’s disciples in with an unusual order to spare spirit beasts and attack people instead. In the Starry Sky Realm, Ling Xiaoxiao ignored a Wind and Thunder Divine Cult disciple who tried to block her path, and several of them surrounded her.

• Luo Changhe explained that one hundred disciples aged twenty or younger from each force would hunt spirit beasts and earn points in a realm assigned by their force’s rank.
• Chen Ning encouraged Jun Wuya and told the Dragon-Seeking Sect’s disciples to leave spirit beasts alone and focus on killing people to plunder their beast souls.
• Yan Bao ordered the Asura Divine Sect’s disciples to target and torture Dragon-Seeking Sect disciples in the Starry Sky Realm.
• Ling Xiaoxiao flew through the Starry Sky Realm while ignoring spirit beasts and approached a group of Wind and Thunder Divine Cult disciples fighting a Tyrant Crimson Tiger.
• A Wind and Thunder Divine Cult disciple told Ling Xiaoxiao to go around, but she continued forward, prompting several disciples to surround her.

Ling Xiaoxiao forced her way past Wind and Thunder Divine Cult disciples while the factions in the Starry Sky Realm formed alliances. Yan Bao led an alliance of six factions to attack the gathered Dragon-Seeking Sect disciples, but their first challenger was defeated in one move by an unseen attacker.

• Ling Xiaoxiao tore a Wind and Thunder Divine Cult disciple in half, then made the others let her pass so she could find her fellow disciples.
• Two days passed as the factions formed alliances, and Yan Bao gathered disciples from five factions to target the Dragon-Seeking Sect.
• Yan Bao led more than five hundred allied disciples toward the canyon where the Dragon-Seeking Sect had gathered under Ling Xiaoxiao.
• Zhou Zhuo charged the Dragon-Seeking Sect, but an unseen attacker defeated him in one move.

The Dragon-Seeking Sect’s disciples annihilated the allied forces of six super forces, revealing that they had all reached the Earth Martial Realm and that Jun Wuya was a Half-Step Martial Venerable. Chen Ning’s cultivation-boosting buff explained their strength, while the defeated forces prepared for the remaining contests.

• Yan Bao ordered the allied disciples to attack the Dragon-Seeking Sect, but Lu Ping, Qi Feng, and the other disciples slaughtered them with Earth Martial cultivation and High-Grade Spirit Artifacts.
• Yan Bao tried to flee, but Jun Wuya blocked him and killed him with a single strike, revealing his Half-Step Martial Venerable strength.
• The gathered forces realized the Dragon-Seeking Sect had wiped out the six allied forces, while Chen Ning revealed that his [Valor Surpassing the Three Armies] buff had raised the disciples’ cultivation.
• The Asura Divine Lord, the White Dragon Envoy, and Hua Xusheng reacted angrily to their forces’ defeat and looked ahead to the remaining contests.
• Ling Xiaoxiao recalled that Chen Ning had gathered the disciples and kept their strength hidden so they could ambush their enemies at the stump.

The Dragon-Seeking Sect dominated the Starry Sky Realm by seizing beast souls from other factions, then learned its tally dwarfed every rival's. Its overwhelming first-round score left the crowd wondering whether it would rise as a new hegemon.

• The Dragon-Seeking Sect hunted down disciples across the Starry Sky Realm and took their beast souls, sparing Star God Palace disciples and eventually compelling the Heavenly Lake disciples to surrender after Ling Xiaoxiao revealed her Martial Venerable cultivation.
• The Dragon-Seeking Sect disciples spent the final two days cultivating while other factions fought for the remaining points, and spectators noticed an unranked faction called the Chaotic Saber Society making a strong showing in the Grass and Trees Realm.
• The first round ended, and Heavenly Lake elders began counting each faction's beast souls, with several factions—including the Asura Divine Sect—earning none.
• The elders announced that the Heavenly Lake had earned thirty-two points and the Yin-Yang Holy Land seventeen, while the Dragon-Seeking Sect had collected 3,980 beast souls for 398 points.
• The crowd marveled at the Dragon-Seeking Sect's unprecedented score and speculated that it might become a new hegemon.

The first round results established the Dragon-Seeking Sect, Flying Cloud Valley, and Chaotic Saber Society as the winners in their respective ranks. In the sect foundations contest, the Star God Palace revealed enormous reserves of artifacts and pills, leaving the crowd stunned and the Heavenly Lake Holy Lord declaring that Zhuge’s Divine Artifact had been no loss.

• The Dragon-Seeking Sect won the first round with an unprecedented 398 points, while Flying Cloud Valley and the Chaotic Saber Society led their faction ranks.
• Luo Changhe began the sect foundations contest, and the Mountain and River Sect and several other super factions presented their resources.
• The Four Symbols Immortal Sect and Heavenly Immortal Sect displayed foundations that could qualify them to rise into the top ten.
• The Star God Palace revealed 100 Mid-Grade Spirit Artifacts, 99 High-Grade Spirit Artifacts, 30 Top-Grade Spirit Artifacts, thousands of pills, and ten immortal pills.
• The Heavenly Lake Holy Lord said Old Master Zhuge’s Divine Artifact had been no loss because it had helped the Star God Palace make a brilliant friend.

The Dragon-Seeking Sect presented a staggering collection of Spirit Artifacts, three Divine Artifacts, and more than a hundred immortal pills at the Nine Provinces Grand Gathering. As lightning gathered over a Heaven-Envied Pill, the crowd realized the Sect’s display had reached an even more extraordinary level.

• The Yin-Yang Holy Land displayed its martial arts, Spirit Artifacts, Dragon-Locking Diagram, and one immortal pill, drawing admiration from the crowd.
• Luo Changhe called the Dragon-Seeking Sect to present its resources before the Asura Divine Sect could take the stage.
• Chen Ning sent more than a thousand Spirit Artifacts and the Heaven-Swallowing Bag, Heaven-Slaying Bow, and Moon-Slaying Sword into the sky.
• The Dragon-Seeking Sect revealed countless pills, including more than a hundred immortal pills, leaving the crowd struggling to contain its excitement.
• Lightning gathered above a pill, and the onlookers recognized it as a Heaven-Envied Pill.

The Dragon-Seeking Sect dominated the resource round and extended its lead, while the Asura Divine Sect and Heavenly Lake placed second and third. As the martial venerable contest began, Meng Yuyi volunteered to compete alone, and the Chaotic Saber Society’s appearance prompted Mu Tianji to order its fighters wiped out.

• The elder announced the Dragon-Seeking Sect’s vast reserves, including three Divine Artifacts and one Heaven-Envied Pill, before tallying the Asura Divine Sect’s results.
• The Dragon-Seeking Sect received 120 points, the Asura Divine Sect 90, and Heavenly Lake 70, bringing the Dragon-Seeking Sect’s total to 518.
• Luo Changhe announced the start of the one-on-one martial venerable contest, where fighters could be killed or injured.
• Chen Ning agreed to let Meng Yuyi represent the Dragon-Seeking Sect alone after she promised to win its points.
• Cang Yue pointed out that the Chaotic Saber Society had entered the contest, and Mu Tianji ordered his people to take the eighth fighting platform and kill its fighters.

The Martial Venerable contests began across ten fighting platforms, and the Chaotic Saber Society’s ruthless fighter defeated the Earth Dragon Venerable to secure a place in the eighth platform’s final. On the first platform, Meng Yuyi advanced to face two Nine-Star Martial Venerables, while Chu Xiong dismissed her as no match for him.

• The Asura Divine Lord said the Wind and Thunder Divine Cult’s Venerable Li Huo could eliminate Meng Yuyi, so the Asura Divine Sect did not assign anyone to intercept her.
• The contests began, and the Chaotic Saber Society’s fighter killed every opponent he faced on the eighth platform.
• The Chaotic Saber Society’s fighter defeated the Earth Dragon Venerable with the Yin Thirteen Immortal-Slaying Grand Formation, despite the Earth Dragon Venerable revealing Nine-Star strength.
• Meng Yuyi defeated three opponents on the first platform and advanced to face Chu Xiong and Venerable Li Huo.
• Chu Xiong told Meng Yuyi to admit defeat, insisting she was no match for him and that Venerable Li Huo was his true opponent.

Meng Yuyi used the Moon-Slaying Sword and Azure Lotus Swordsmanship to defeat Chu Xiong and his two Zheng Beasts, securing the Dragon-Seeking Sect’s victory on the first fighting platform. The Martial Venerable contest neared its end, with the Dragon-Seeking Sect’s next bout against the Wind and Thunder Divine Cult still undecided.

• Meng Yuyi summoned the Moon-Slaying Sword as Chu Xiong sent two peak eighth-tier Zheng Beasts to attack her.
• Meng Yuyi used Azure Lotus Swordsmanship to freeze and destroy both Zheng Beasts with one strike.
• Chu Xiong used Beast Blood Boiling to strengthen himself, but Meng Yuyi killed him with a single sword strike.
• The contest’s other platforms produced victors, including the Immortal Music Palace palace master and two Asura Divine Sect Martial Venerables.
• The eighth-platform bout between Heavenly Lake and the Chaotic Saber Society, and the first-platform bout between the Dragon-Seeking Sect and the Wind and Thunder Divine Cult, remained to be decided.

The Wind Venerable won the eighth fighting platform after the Chaotic Saber Society’s Martial Venerable conceded, while Mu Tianji declined to explain his plans concerning Meng Yuyi. Meng Yuyi defeated Venerable Li Huo on the first fighting platform, and the referees mortally struck down the White Dragon Envoy for interfering.

• The Chaotic Saber Society’s Martial Venerable jumped off the eighth platform and conceded to the Wind Venerable, who regretted failing to kill him as ordered.
• An elder asked Mu Tianji whether he had arranged for Meng Yuyi to use Heavenly Lake’s sword technique, but Mu Tianji gave no direct answer.
• Meng Yuyi extinguished Venerable Li Huo’s flames with her Frost and Snow Sword Intent, then froze him with her sword technique as he burned his soul.
• The White Dragon Envoy attacked the first fighting platform after Venerable Li Huo died, and the ten referees struck him down for interfering.

The top ten competitors began fighting for their final rankings, and Xiao Qian defeated Warhammer Venerable with one controlled strike. Blood Venerable then killed Elder Feiquan with a brutal blood art, leaving the remaining matches underway.

• Luo Changhe announced the top ten competitors and their matchups for the ranking battles.
• Xiao Qian defeated Warhammer Venerable in a single exchange, and Warhammer conceded after Xiao Qian showed mercy.
• Chen Ning told the Dragon-Seeking Sect disciples to use strategy and their strengths when fighting.
• Elder Feiquan fought Blood Venerable, who used Blood Collapse and Blood Explosion to overwhelm his attacks.
• Blood Venerable killed Elder Feiquan by flooding his body with blood through his eyes, then collected the blood from the stage.

Blood Venerable’s brutality against Elder Feiquan provoked Heavenly Lake, but Luo Changhe stopped both sides from escalating. Wind Venerable conceded his match against Meng Yuyi on the Holy Lord’s orders, and the next bout began with Giant Spirit Venerable facing Meat Mountain.

• Blood Venerable gathered Elder Feiquan’s remains and trampled them, provoking the Heavenly Lake referee and an Asura Divine Sect expert until Luo Changhe dispelled both of their pressures.
• Wind Venerable told Xiao Qian he wanted to face Blood Venerable, but he knew his next opponent, Meng Yuyi, would leave him no chance to avenge Elder Feiquan.
• Wind Venerable conceded to Meng Yuyi without fighting, and Xiao Qian revealed that the Holy Lord had given him the same instruction to concede to anyone from the Dragon-Seeking Sect.
• Giant Spirit Venerable attacked Meat Mountain, whose spirit-beast-enhanced defense withstood the blows and left him ready to counter.

Giant Spirit Venerable killed Venerable Meat Mountain after breaking through his defense, and the contest narrowed toward its final three. Chen Ning also received another warning from Zhao Jinxiu that Three Quarters Past Noon was gathered and awaiting Chu Xuanyuan’s orders.

• Giant Spirit Venerable used a strange technique to break Meat Mountain’s defense, then killed him despite his surrender.
• Venerable Wu defeated the Palace Master of Immortal Music Palace, and Meng Yuyi drew a bye into the next round.
• The announced matchups paired Heavenly Lake Divine Son Xiao Qian against Venerable Wu and Blood Venerable against Giant Spirit Venerable.
• Zhao Jinxiu approached Chen Ning and warned him that almost all of Three Quarters Past Noon had gathered to await Chu Xuanyuan’s order.
• Giant Spirit Venerable surrendered to Blood Venerable, while Xiao Qian easily defeated Venerable Wu, leaving Xiao Qian, Blood Venerable, and Meng Yuyi as the final three.

Meng Yuyi faced Xiao Qian in the Martial Venerable contest, where he defied the Heavenly Lake Holy Lord’s instruction to concede so he could prove himself and avenge Elder Feiquan. Their fight intensified when Xiao Qian used Azure Lotus Swordsmanship, and he was stunned by a mark on Meng Yuyi’s wrist.

• Meng Yuyi drew Xiao Qian as her opponent, and he told her that the Heavenly Lake Holy Lord had instructed him to concede to Dragon-Seeking Sect members.
• Xiao Qian chose to fight, explaining that he wanted to avenge Elder Feiquan, then knelt before the Heavenly Lake Holy Lord, who praised his resolve.
• Xiao Qian activated The Heart Is Heaven and Earth and shattered Meng Yuyi’s opening sword attacks, while observers predicted she would lose.
• Meng Yuyi questioned whether Xiao Qian truly sought revenge or simply resented the Holy Lord’s arrangement, and Xiao Qian admitted he wanted to prove himself.
• Xiao Qian launched Azure Lotus Swordsmanship at the Mahayana Realm, and Meng Yuyi put away Moon-Slaying Sword and raised her wrist.
• Xiao Qian saw the faint mark on Meng Yuyi’s wrist and reacted with shock.

Meng Yuyi defeated Xiao Qian and then killed the Blood Venerable, securing another first-place victory for the Dragon-Seeking Sect. Xiao Qian learned that Mu Tianji had chosen him to become Heavenly Lake's future lord, while Meng Yuyi's next steps remained unknown.

• Meng Yuyi defeated Xiao Qian after revealing the Heavenly Lake inheritance, but withdrew her final attack and won the match.
• Xiao Qian asked Meng Yuyi to kill the Blood Venerable, then learned from Mu Tianji that he was still intended to become Heavenly Lake's future lord.
• Meng Yuyi opened the final match against the Blood Venerable with the ice dragon formed from her inherited power.
• The Blood Venerable used clones to attack Meng Yuyi, but she replaced the blood in his body with water and left him unable to use his abilities.
• The Blood Venerable surrendered, but Meng Yuyi killed him with a sword strike, earning the Dragon-Seeking Sect another first-place victory.

After the Dragon-Seeking Sect took first place in the first three contests, Chen Ning persuaded Meng Yuyi to stay with the sect by asking her to fulfill her final promise. When the Celestial Person contest began, Chen Ning sent Hua Luo to defend the arena in his place, offering her two divine fruits.

• The Dragon-Seeking Sect claimed first place in the Martial Venerable contest, while the Asura Divine Lord complained that it had overshadowed his sect.
• Meng Yuyi told Chen Ning she intended to leave after completing her three promised favors, and Chen Ning asked her to stay in the Dragon-Seeking Sect.
• Luo Changhe announced the Celestial Person contest, and the superpowers and Flying Cloud Valley sent their Heaven Martial Realm experts to compete.
• Chen Ning gave Hua Luo two divine fruits and told her to go onto the arena and stay there, and she leaped onto it as the crowd watched in surprise.

Hua Luo defended the arena for the Dragon-Seeking Sect and faced the Black Dragon Envoy of the Wind and Thunder Divine Cult. She endured his heavenly lightning unharmed and turned it back on him, leaving him swallowed by the blast.

• Hua Luo entered the contest as the first arena defender after Chen Niu told her to stay there.
• The Asura Divine Lord recognized Hua Luo and considered destroying her, while the Black Dragon Envoy stepped forward to avenge the Wind and Thunder Divine Cult.
• The Black Dragon Envoy attacked Hua Luo with lightning, but she dodged his first strike and survived his next one without her clothes being damaged.
• The Black Dragon Envoy summoned heavenly lightning that tore through the fighting platform, but Hua Luo walked through it without a scratch.
• Hua Luo redirected the heavenly lightning toward the Black Dragon Envoy, and the blast swallowed him.