Chapter Summaries

Gu Lihua used the Fossilization Divine Skill to shatter Xue Yang’s white-hair attack and gain the upper hand. Xue Yang recognized the long-lost art, whose origins and fearsome requirements were revealed as the battle continued.

• Zhang Qingshan’s sudden attack prompted the Ruyi Tower and Northern Demonic Cult experts to begin fighting.
• Xue Yang targeted Gu Lihua with a white dragon formed from his hair, hoping to teach her a lesson because she reminded him of Ding Ling.
• Gu Lihua activated the Fossilization Divine Skill and unleashed a torrent of punches that shattered Xue Yang’s attack and drove him backward.
• Duàn Yì judged Gu Lihua to be the strongest of her group, while Xue Yang recognized her technique as the Fossilization Divine Skill.
• The technique’s history revealed that its creator had perfected it after decades of effort, but its cultivation required profound yin and ultimately made its practitioners emotionless.

Duàn Yì watched the fierce battle between the Demon Cult and Ruyi Tower, assessing the skills and condition of the combatants. Ruyi Tower suffered heavy losses while the major duels remained unresolved.

• Gu Lihua's Fossilization Divine Skill drew Xue Yang's alarm, and Duàn Yì recognized its formidable power and dangers.
• Ding Ran fought Liu Jinghong in a fierce saber-and-sword duel, while their weapons and martial intents clashed without either gaining a clear advantage.
• Lin Zhongxiong, despite severe injuries and Duàn Yì's Severing Pulse Sword Qi, used Bixie Swordplay to hold off two top Demon Cult experts.
• Ruyi Tower's other fighters suffered grievous casualties as they battled the Demon Cult's forces.
• Qin Xin held back from playing the Heavenly Demonic Qin because of her internal injuries and the two bloodied bell-wielding experts facing her.

Duàn Yì and Zhang Qingshan began their deadly duel at Yixin Temple, and Zhang launched a devastating palm strike from the sky. Duàn Yì suppressed his fear and countered with Frost-Stepping Ice-Breaking Palm, leaving the battlefield engulfed by the force of their clash.

• Duàn Yì and Zhang Qingshan stood motionless as their Yin Yang Power and Ice Profound Energy ground against each other, forcing nearby fighters to retreat.
• Zhang Qingshan spotted a flaw in Duàn Yì's Qi Aura and leaped into the sky before diving down with a blazing palm strike.
• Duàn Yì overcame his fear, gathered his Severing Pulse Sword Qi and Buddhist essence into Ice Profound Energy, and prepared to counterattack.
• Duàn Yì unleashed Frost-Stepping Ice-Breaking Palm against Zhang Qingshan's descending strike, and their opposing powers shattered rocks and devastated the buildings of Yixin Temple.

Duàn Yì lost a head-on palm clash with Zhang Qingshan and survived the devastating strike through his defensive martial arts. As Duàn Yì weakened, Qin Xin rushed to support him, prompting surprise and jealousy among the onlookers.

• The aftershock of Duàn Yì and Zhang Qingshan's clash blasted martial artists away before the two fighters crashed into a crater.
• Zhang Qingshan stood composed while Duàn Yì appeared badly injured, making Zhang Qingshan's victory clear.
• Duàn Yì recognized how Zhang Qingshan's Yin Yang Great Millstone had overcome his palm force and reflected on the limits of his own strength.
• Duàn Yì survived the burning energy by using the Great Dipper Seven Forms and his Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, though he remained weak.
• Qin Xin rushed to support Duàn Yì and anxiously asked if he was all right.
• Ding Ran eyed the pair suspiciously, while Xue Yang was shocked by Qin Xin's concern and envied Duàn Yì's appeal to women.

Duàn Yì recovered from Zhang Qingshan’s palm strike, revealing his formidable physical cultivation and recovery. Zhang Qingshan urged him to surrender the Heavenly Demonic Qin while concealing the Heaven and Earth Qian Kun Skill’s limits, leaving the next clash uncertain.

• Qin Xin supported Duàn Yì as he circulated his qi, expelled black mist, and recovered from his injuries.
• Duàn Yì stood on his own, and the onlookers marveled at his profound foundations and recovery.
• Zhang Qingshan praised Duàn Yì, then warned that repeated strikes would exhaust him and offered to let him leave if he surrendered the Heavenly Demonic Qin.
• Liu Jinghong, Gu Lihua, and the others recognized Zhang Qingshan’s unusual leniency and grew wary of Duàn Yì’s importance to him.
• Zhang Qingshan reflected that the Heaven and Earth Qian Kun Skill’s first three strikes grew stronger but consumed immense energy, and he feared Duàn Yì might withstand his remaining attacks.

Zhang Qingshan weighed the risks of fighting Duàn Yì and tried to secure the Heavenly Demonic Qin without revealing the weakness of his martial arts. Believing Duàn Yì was in danger, Qin Xin decided she would surrender the qin to protect him.

• Zhang Qingshan resolved to use a second strike if Duàn Yì rejected his proposal, but to end the fight if Duàn Yì survived it.
• Xue Yang, Ding Ran, and the other Demon Sect members watched Duàn Yì and Qin Xin, fearing they could not affect the battle against Zhang Qingshan.
• Qin Xin realized Duàn Yì had become family to her and valued his safety above the Heavenly Demonic Qin.
• Qin Xin secretly told Duàn Yì that they were unlikely to defeat Zhang Qingshan and offered to give him the Heavenly Demonic Qin.

Duàn Yì considered whether to surrender the Heavenly Demonic Qin to Zhang Qingshan to secure his companions’ escape, but refused to retreat without a fight. Reflecting on how he had changed since arriving in this world, he resolved that yielding now would betray his strength and create a heart demon.

• Qin Xin urged Duàn Yì to compromise with Zhang Qingshan to protect him and their companions.
• Duàn Yì realized Qin Xin was making the offer out of concern for him and weighed surrendering the Heavenly Demonic Qin.
• Duàn Yì judged that he could not defeat Zhang Qingshan, though he might be able to delay him, and felt his battle intent rise.
• Duàn Yì examined his memories and understood that his former caution had suited his weaker self, while his present strength called for a different resolve.
• Duàn Yì concluded that retreating out of fear would torment him as a heart demon and that a martial artist needed an unyielding spirit.

Duàn Yì refused Zhang Qingshan’s offer to withdraw and challenged him, treating the fight as a rare chance to test himself. Zhang Qingshan responded with his second technique, Heaven Shaking Limitless, as the two prepared to clash.

• Duàn Yì drew the Qingshuang Sword and told Zhang Qingshan he would fight to protect Qin Xin’s Heavenly Demonic Qin.
• Xue Yang and the other Demon Sect experts feared Duàn Yì’s refusal would get them killed, while Ding Ran supported his decision to keep the Heavenly Demonic Qin from Ruyi Tower.
• Zhang Qingshan grew furious at Duàn Yì’s repeated refusals and decided to use a third move if his next two attacks failed to kill him.
• Zhang Qingshan unleashed Heaven Shaking Limitless, condensing Qian Kun Force into the images of a sun and moon in his palms.

Zhang Qingshan unleashed Heaven Shaking Limitless, filling the sky with the power of the sun and moon, while Duàn Yì calmly entered the Consciousness Realm and prepared to disrupt the attack before it reached its peak. Duàn Yì drew the Qingshuang Sword in a strike that left the outcome of their clash unresolved.

• Zhang Qingshan summoned the sun and moon with Heaven Shaking Limitless, terrifying the experts watching at Yixin Temple.
• Duàn Yì steadied his mind and gathered his Severing Pulse Sword Qi and blood qi as he faced Zhang Qingshan's attack.
• Duàn Yì entered the Consciousness Realm and recognized that he needed to strike before Zhang Qingshan built the move to full power.
• Duàn Yì entered the realm of Unity of Man and Sword and poured his Severing Pulse Sword Qi into the Qingshuang Sword.
• Duàn Yì drew the Qingshuang Sword, sending its light toward Zhang Qingshan.

Duàn Yì unleashed his strongest sword against Zhang Qingshan, reaching a higher realm of the Sword Dao and triggering a devastating collision. Both men survived the blast, but the chapter left the winner unclear as Duàn Yì's Qingshuang Sword shattered.

• Duàn Yì fused his sword technique, momentum, qi, and intent into a strike that let him reach a realm where there was no sword in his hand, yet a sword in his heart.
• Duàn Yì's sword collided with the sun and moon Zhang Qingshan held, creating a pale white opening that swallowed two Ruyi Tower experts, a demon cult expert, and the Brahma Bell.
• The white opening exploded, injuring everyone nearby and shattering the protective true qi of the fighters, while Qin Xin was shielded by the Heavenly Demonic Qin.
• Zhang Qingshan and Duàn Yì reappeared with Zhang Qingshan bloodied and shaken, while Duàn Yì remained unwounded and poised.
• Duàn Yì's Qingshuang Sword shattered into dozens of fragments, leaving the crowd unable to tell who had won.

Duàn Yì broke Zhang Qingshan’s Heaven Shaking Limitless with a powerful sword strike, escaping harm while injuring his opponent. Zhang Qingshan healed quickly and praised Duàn Yì’s swordsmanship, while Duàn Yì mourned the shattered Qingshuang Sword.

• Duàn Yì’s sword strike broke Zhang Qingshan’s Heaven Shaking Limitless and left Zhang Qingshan injured, while Duàn Yì remained unharmed.
• Zhang Qingshan recognized that Duàn Yì had broken through under pressure and praised his skill.
• Zhang Qingshan used his qi and blood to heal the wounds on his arms almost instantly.
• Duàn Yì realized the Qingshuang Sword had protected him from the backlash of the clash.
• Duàn Yì felt sorrow over the destruction of the Qingshuang Sword.

Zhang Qingshan unleashed the Third Absolute of Qiankun, the Godfall Tribulation, as he faced Duàn Yì and promised to spare the others if Duàn Yì survived it. Duàn Yì sensed that the move could kill him but searched for its weaknesses while Zhang Qingshan gathered the power of heaven and earth.

• Zhang Qingshan praised Duàn Yì, then claimed he would spare Duàn Yì and the others if Duàn Yì could withstand the Godfall Tribulation.
• Zhang Qingshan circulated the Heaven and Earth Qian Kun Skill and drew in a breath that shook the surroundings and disrupted the nearby martial artists' qi.
• The nearby martial artists' injuries worsened, leaving them unable to intervene as Zhang Qingshan and Duàn Yì prepared to fight without restraint.
• Duàn Yì's instincts showed him an image of his own death, and he recognized that the Godfall Tribulation might be beyond his ability to withstand.
• Duàn Yì studied Zhang Qingshan's movements for flaws while Zhang Qingshan gathered Pure Spirit Qi of Qian Heaven and heavy qi of Kun Earth into his palms.

Duàn Yì recognized that Zhang Qingshan’s Godfall Tribulation could not safely be interrupted and chose to endure it until the immense power overwhelmed Zhang Qingshan. He summoned Bodhi Buddha Light as his ultimate defense, astonishing everyone watching, including Zhang Qingshan.

• Duàn Yì discerned that Godfall Tribulation transformed Heaven and Earth Vital Energy into Zhang Qingshan’s power, making a direct attack too dangerous.
• Duàn Yì decided to deflect and wear down the attack while waiting for Zhang Qingshan’s body to succumb to its burden.
• Duàn Yì converted his true qi into Buddhist essence and formed the Bodhi Buddha Light, a massive golden Buddha image surrounding him.
• The onlookers were astonished that Duàn Yì had mastered Daoist, sword, and Buddhist arts, while Zhang Qingshan and others wondered how his different kinds of true qi coexisted.

Zhang Qingshan’s Godfall Tribulation nearly killed Duàn Yì, while Qin Xin risked her life to shield him from part of the attack. Zhang Qingshan saw Duàn Yì’s true face and abruptly stopped, leaving both men gravely injured and Zhang Qingshan staring in disbelief.

• Zhang Qingshan unleashed Godfall Tribulation against Duàn Yì, shaking the land and terrifying every living creature nearby.
• Duàn Yì steadied his mind and met the attack with Bodhi Buddha Light, but the collision severely wounded him.
• Qin Xin used the Heavenly Demonic Qin and Eight Dragon Sounds to block Godfall Tribulation’s water power, suffering grave internal injuries.
• Godfall Tribulation’s remaining forces battered Duàn Yì, burned away his disguise, and revealed his true appearance.
• Zhang Qingshan recognized Duàn Yì’s face, withdrew his power, and suffered a violent backlash that left him gravely injured.

After the Godfall Tribulation exposed Duàn Yì’s true face, Zhang Qingshan reacted with shock and spared him despite having defeated the Northern Demonic Cult. Duàn Yì collapsed unconscious and gravely wounded, while Zhang Qingshan restored the Ruyi Tower experts and left the Heavenly Demonic Qin untouched.

• Zhang Qingshan withdrew the Godfall Tribulation’s power, revealing Duàn Yì’s younger true appearance and leaving the onlookers astonished.
• Ding Ran worried that Duàn Yì’s exposed identity would bring questions from the Zhuang family and the Southern Demonic Cult, and resolved to investigate Zhang Qingshan’s reaction.
• Duàn Yì collapsed unconscious from severe physical and spiritual injuries, while Qin Xin and the Demonic Cult experts were left unable to fight.
• Zhang Qingshan examined Duàn Yì, covered him with his outer robe, and left the Heavenly Demonic Qin alone.
• Zhang Qingshan restored Liu Jinghong and the other Ruyi Tower experts, who rose and eyed the Demonic Cult members with hostility.

Zhang Qingshan stopped Ruyi Tower’s experts from attacking the demonic sect and left after Duàn Yì survived his third move. Once the danger passed, Ding Ran and Qin Xin tended to the wounded, while Qin Xin struggled with the revelation of Duàn Yì’s true face and feared he would die.

• As Ruyi Tower’s experts prepared to strike, Ding Ran secretly gathered strength with the Blood Saber, considering a desperate escape with Duàn Yì.
• Zhang Qingshan reminded the others that he had promised to spare the demonic sect after Duàn Yì endured three moves, then departed and refused to take the Heavenly Demonic Qin.
• Liu Jinghong wondered why Zhang Qingshan had withdrawn his attack, while Lin Zhongxiong accepted the decision and Gu Lihua left with the other Ruyi Tower experts.
• Ding Ran checked Duàn Yì’s grave injuries and treated Xue Yang and the other demonic sect members after dropping his pretense of being unable to move.
• Qin Xin recovered enough to retrieve the Heavenly Demonic Qin and went to examine Duàn Yì, then grieved over his concealed identity and feared for his life.

Zhang Qingshan told Liu Rumei that he spared Duàn Yì because the young Demonic Cult expert looked almost exactly like the master of Ruyi Tower in his youth. He decided to leave Wei Prefecture and tell the master, hoping the revelation would earn him greater trust.

• Liu Rumei used the Lotus Finger Technique to help Zhang Qingshan recover from the injuries and mental exhaustion caused by the Godfall Tribulation.
• Liu Rumei asked why Zhang Qingshan had spared Duàn Yì's group and failed to take the Heavenly Demonic Qin, despite acting without the master's approval.
• Zhang Qingshan explained that Duàn Yì's true appearance had shocked him and said Liu Jinghong had told Liu Rumei about the encounter.
• Liu Rumei realized Zhang Qingshan believed Duàn Yì resembled the master of Ruyi Tower, and warned him that the resemblance might be coincidence.
• Zhang Qingshan insisted Duàn Yì must be connected to the master and announced that he would leave Wei Prefecture to meet him.

Ding Ran prepared medicine for the gravely injured Duàn Yì while Xue Yang tried to uncover the identity behind his Wuming alias. Xue Yang found Duàn Yì still in a coma, though Qin Xin expected him to awaken within a day or two.

• Several days after Duàn Yì's battle with Zhang Qingshan, Ding Ran stayed behind with Xue Yang and Qin Xin to guard him and personally prepared medicine for his recovery.
• Xue Yang asked Ding Ran why Wuming wore a Human Skin Mask, but Ding Ran claimed he knew little and suggested asking Ding Ling.
• Xue Yang doubted Ding Ran's explanation and went to Duàn Yì's room to investigate further.
• Xue Yang found Duàn Yì unconscious while Qin Xin cared for him and explained that he was expected to awaken within the next day or two.

Duàn Yì awakened after days unconscious and reflected on surviving Zhang Qingshan’s Godfall Tribulation, which had pushed his cultivation forward and brought him close to the Spiritual Realm. He reassured Qin Xin that he had recovered, while Xue Yang’s suspicions about Duàn Yì remained unresolved.

• Qin Xin told Xue Yang that Duàn Yì’s injuries had been severe and questioned why he had come.
• Xue Yang pretended he had come to help Duàn Yì, then left a strand of white hair behind before departing.
• Duàn Yì awoke, releasing a brief wave of terrifying fighting spirit that shook Xue Yang and Ding Ran.
• Duàn Yì recalled Zhang Qingshan’s Godfall Tribulation and realized his near-death experience had advanced his cultivation and brought him close to manas consciousness.
• Duàn Yì returned to awareness, smiled at Qin Xin, and told her that his body was no longer seriously injured.

After waking, Duàn Yì recognized that Qin Xin had begun to move beyond her obsession with revenge. When she asked about his missing Human Skin Mask, he found and destroyed a strand of Xue Yang’s hair that had been spying on them, then told Qin Xin about his origins and the turmoil he had caused in Ji County.

• Qin Xin joked with Duàn Yì and showed relief that he had awakened, and he praised her for letting go of her fixation on revenge.
• Qin Xin asked Duàn Yì what he would tell her now that his Human Skin Mask had burned away.
• Duàn Yì sensed Xue Yang’s white hair hidden in the room and realized it contained a strand of consciousness that could relay their conversation.
• Duàn Yì ground the hair to dust and scattered the consciousness within it, while Qin Xin understood that Xue Yang had been spying on them.
• Duàn Yì told Qin Xin about his background and the trouble he had stirred up in Ji County.