Chapter Summaries

Li Tianming fought hundreds of Qilin Ancient Clan disciples after they insulted his mother, using Lanhuang’s Mountainsea Realm to withstand their attacks and drive many away. The crowd called on their strongest young genius, Ning Wushuang, who entered the battle with three sixth-order sacred qilins.

• Li Tianming left the Heavenly Pattern barrier to confront the Qilin Ancient Clan disciples who had humiliated his mother.
• Li Tianming and his lifebound beasts fought around Lanhuang, whose Primordial Soundwave and Mountainsea Realm split the crowd and provided them with cover.
• Li Tianming and his beasts battered the attackers, while many disciples fled and others called for Ning Wushuang to face him.
• Ning Wushuang stepped forward to fight Li Tianming after the crowd urged her to defend the Qilin Ancient Clan’s reputation.
• Ning Wushuang summoned her three sixth-order sacred beasts, the Windmoon Sacred Qilin, Flowermoon Sacred Qilin, and Snowmoon Sacred Qilin.

Yun Feiyao and Yun Yuanfeng discovered Yun Zhenzhen dead, and their clansmen blamed Li Tianming based on alleged traces linking him to the scene. As Yun Feiyao sought permission to take revenge, Li Tianming faced Ning Wushuang and her three Saint Qilin in a chaotic duel that had just begun.

• Yun Feiyao and Yun Yuanfeng learned that Yun Zhenzhen had been found dead and rushed to the scene.
• Yun Feiyao uncovered Yun Zhenzhen's corpse and collapsed in grief, while Yun Yuanfeng demanded to know who had killed her.
• The youths pointed to lightning, fire, and a dragon scale as evidence implicating Li Tianming, then urged the patriarchs to avenge Yun Zhenzhen.
• Yun Feiyao carried Yun Zhenzhen's body and begged Yun Yuanfeng to hold Bai Zijin back so he could seek justice.
• Ning Wushuang attacked Li Tianming with her Wind-Snow Edgeblade as her three Saint Qilin joined the fight.

Li Tianming defeated Ning Wushuang in a group battle, then warned the Qilin Ancient Clan’s young people to stop insulting him and Wei Jing. He left Purgatory Volcano expecting the next four months to be quieter, but Ning Wushuang called out to him as he prepared to go hunting.

• Yinghuo and Miaomiao fought the Windmoon Sacred Qilin and Flowermoon Sacred Qilin, while Li Tianming confronted Ning Wushuang.
• Miaomiao’s Hell Soul-Chasing Lightning disrupted the Flowermoon Sacred Qilin and broke its Flowermoon Phantom illusion.
• Li Tianming countered Ning Wushuang’s saber techniques with his Divine Firmament Sword Technique and knocked her down with the flat of his sword.
• Li Tianming spared Ning Wushuang and ended the fight, silencing the Qilin Ancient Clan’s young onlookers.
• Li Tianming warned the young people not to insult him or Wei Jing, then prepared to leave Purgatory Volcano and go hunting.
• Ning Wushuang called out to Li Tianming as he was about to leave.

After Ning Wushuang's defeat, Yun Feiyao and Yun Yuanfeng accused Li Tianming of killing Yun Zhenzhen and attacked him before Bai Zijin could prove his innocence. Li Tianming escaped by tearing through the Burning Soul Barrier and fell into Burning Soul Volcano, while Bai Zijin sought help and the Ancient Qilin Clan began to suspect a frame-up.

• Li Tianming returned to Bai Zijin after Ning Wushuang withdrew, and they prepared to leave Burning Soul Volcano.
• Yun Feiyao carried Yun Zhenzhen's body to Li Tianming and accused him of killing and defiling her, while Yun Yuanfeng attacked Bai Zijin.
• Yun Feiyao seized Li Tianming with the Lightning Demon Nine-Jointed Chain, but Li Tianming tore through the upper Burning Soul Barrier and escaped into the middle layer.
• Yun Feiyao pursued Li Tianming, who tore through the middle and lower barriers before falling into Burning Soul Volcano.
• Bai Zijin summoned reinforcements and argued that Yun Feiyao and Yun Yuanfeng had been framed; an Ancient Qilin Clan elder urged an investigation and pointed to Baili Zhuixing as a possible suspect.
• Bai Zijin asked the Ancient Qilin Clan elder to let her descend and bring Li Tianming back.

Bai Zijin and the elders waited helplessly for Li Tianming to emerge from the lower Soulburning Barrier while investigators exposed Ning Wushuang as the one who plotted Yun Zhenzhen’s death. The chapter ended with Yun Feiyao demanding a life for a life as the elders restrained him and took Ning Wushuang away.

• Bai Zijin learned that only the Ancient Emperor could open the lower Soulburning Barrier, leaving everyone to wait for Li Tianming to climb out on his own.
• The three Hall Kings arrived, and Bai Zijin explained that Li Tianming had torn through the barrier with his Ancient Demon Arm.
• Investigators identified Ning Wushuang as the culprit after finding an Electro Demon Nine-Segment Chain in her Sumeru Ring, while Baili Zhuixing blamed her for the scheme.
• Ning Wushuang accused the Ancient Qilin Clan of cowardice and was knocked unconscious by Grand Elder Jingyue, who prepared to take her away.
• Yun Feiyao charged at Ning Wushuang, but Grand Elder Lei Xun stopped him and ordered Zhao Kongyuan to escort Yun Feiyao and Yun Yuanfeng away.

After escaping the Soulburning Barrier, Li Tianming was attacked inside the volcano by a blood-eyed youth whose soul assaults were repelled by the Supreme Unity Tower. The attacker turned out to be Xiaofeng, the Soulburning Clan’s sole survivor, who did not know who he was beyond his name; Li Tianming discovered the name Ye Lingfeng carved into the altar.

• Elder Jingyue took Ning Wushuang away, while Elder Lingxing had Baili Zhuixing removed, and Bai Zijin condemned the Qilin Ancient Clan for letting Yun Zhenzhen’s killer go unpunished.
• Li Tianming escaped the final Soulburning Barrier, and Yinghuo caught him before he fell into the lava.
• Li Tianming began climbing back toward Bai Zijin, but a blood-eyed youth attacked him with lethal strikes and soul illusions.
• The youth and Li Tianming fell onto an island altar surrounded by eighty thousand gravestones, where the Supreme Unity Tower blocked the youth’s soul attack.
• Li Tianming recognized the youth as Xiaofeng, the Soulburning Clan’s sole survivor, who asked who he was beyond his name.
• Li Tianming saw the name Ye Lingfeng carved repeatedly into the altar.

Li Tianming learned that Ye Lingfeng was the last hope of the Soul-Burning Clan, but his memories were shattered and he longed to see the world outside. After discovering that Ye Lingfeng could separate his soul from his body and that Li Tianming's One-Life Curse had faded, Li Tianming prepared to help him escape.

• Li Tianming told Ye Lingfeng about the Soul-Burning Clan's suffering and the eighty thousand souls fused into his mind, but Ye Lingfeng could barely remember or feel hatred for them.
• Ye Lingfeng described how he cultivated with the Soul-Burning Art and the Myriad Demons Soul-Devouring Canon, then revealed that he could separate his soul from his body for up to half an hour.
• Li Tianming realized that his One-Life Curse had disappeared after Yinghuo pointed it out, and he checked the fading mark in a mirror.
• Yinghuo reported that the three Hall Kings were leaving, so Li Tianming decided to take Ye Lingfeng out by carrying his lifeless body in a Sumeru Ring.

Li Tianming accepted the Burning Soul Divine Pattern Codex from Ye Lingfeng and helped him transfer his soul into his sea of consciousness. He climbed out of the Burning Soul Volcano and reunited with Bai Zijing and the three Hall Kings, leaving the Burning Soul Clan’s inheritance in his possession.

• Ye Lingfeng gave Li Tianming the Burning Soul Divine Pattern Codex, a vast collection of Heavenly Pattern books, formations, and ancestral annotations, and insisted Li Tianming keep it.
• Ye Lingfeng left his body and entered Li Tianming’s sea of consciousness, explaining that he could possess another body by devouring its soul but could not overcome Li Tianming’s defenses.
• Li Tianming stored Ye Lingfeng’s body and climbed the Burning Soul Volcano toward the lower Burning Soul Formation.
• The three Hall Kings and the Qilin Ancient Clan’s Supreme Elders waited below, fearing Li Tianming had died, while Bai Zijing asked what would be done about Ning Wushuang.
• Li Tianming emerged through the lower Burning Soul Formation using his Dark Arm, and Bai Zijing embraced him in relief.
• Li Tianming greeted the three Hall Kings and recognized them as his backers.

Li Tianming left the Qilin Ancient Clan under the protection of the Decimus Dao Palace, while Supreme Elders Chongyang and Moyu went to report the Soulburning Barrier incident to the Ancient Emperor. Their audience was interrupted by the Imperial Beast’s mournful cries, and Lord Zhongxian announced that the Emperor had died.

• The three Hall Kings confirmed that Li Tianming’s One Life Curse had vanished and took him away from the Qilin Ancient Clan despite Supreme Elder Chongyang’s warning.
• Chongyang and Supreme Elder Moyu vowed to report Li Tianming’s ability to break the Soulburning Barrier and the Decimus Dao Palace’s actions to the Ancient Emperor.
• Li Tianming learned from Bai Zijin that Ning Wushuang had killed Yun Zhenzhen and framed him, then left the Qilin Ancient Clan with the Hall Kings.
• Chongyang and Moyu reached the Imperial Palace, where Eunuch Wei said the Ancient Emperor was in seclusion and would not be disturbed.
• The Imperial Beast cried out repeatedly, drawing the people of the Divine Capital toward Qiantian Palace.
• Lord Zhongxian emerged from Qiantian Palace in tears and announced that the Emperor had passed away.

Supreme Elder Chongyang and Supreme Elder Moyu feared the turmoil that would follow the emperor’s sudden death, while Li Tianming secured the Hall Kings’ support for Ye Lingfeng. After Ye Lingfeng experienced the world and remembered the Soul-Burning Clan’s call for revenge, the group planned to conceal his origins by claiming his lifebound beast had died.

• Supreme Elder Chongyang and Supreme Elder Moyu discussed the emperor’s death, the rivalry between Dongyang Ling and Dongyang Yu, and the dangers facing the Divine Kingdom and Qilin Ancient Clan.
• Li Tianming introduced Ye Lingfeng’s origins to the three Hall Kings and Bai Zijin, who promised to protect him and keep his background secret.
• Ye Lingfeng explored the hillside and stream while sharing the experience with the eighty thousand souls within him, then remembered his mother and heard the Soul-Burning Clan’s call for revenge.
• Li Tianming asked how Ye Lingfeng could live in the Decapolis Grand Hall without a lifebound beast, and the Future Hall King explained the Life Spirit Barrier and their plan to claim his beast had died.
• The Future Hall King said the Life Spirit Hall King would turn Ye Lingfeng’s supposed dead lifebound beast into a lifebound spirit, allowing him to keep cultivating without revealing his identity.

Li Tianming learned how the Deca Path Palace’s halls reflected the Divine Kingdom’s competing forces, then arrived as the Qian Emperor’s sudden death threw the royal succession into crisis. The chapter ended with Dongyang Yu preparing to ascend the throne while Dongyang Ling vanished and faced a treason charge.

• The Future Palace King explained that only four of the Ten Direction Halls belonged to the Deca Path Palace, while other halls were controlled by the ancient royal clan, ancient clans, Martial Saint Manor, and Exquisite Pavilion.
• The Future Palace King brought Li Tianming and Ye Lingfeng to the Deca Path Palace, where the Living Beings Palace King told them that the Qian Emperor had died suddenly.
• The Living Beings Palace King said the Qian Emperor had named the Thirteenth Prince, Dongyang Yu, as his successor, and Dongyang Yu would ascend the throne the next day under the era name Tianyu.
• Dongyang Ling and the core members of the Ninth Imperial Line disappeared after hearing the decree, and Dongyang Yu declared Dongyang Ling guilty of treason and ordered a nationwide manhunt.
• The Palace Kings discussed the danger of a succession struggle and followed the Palace Lord’s instruction to watch quietly and wait for changes.

After the Ancient Emperor’s death eased the danger to Li Tianming and his family, Bai Zijin brought Li Tianming and Ye Lingfeng into the Future Hall and told Li Tianming about the Ten Directions Heaven and Earth Ranking. Li Tianming settled into the Dao Palace and set off to visit his sister, Li Qingyu.

• The Future Hall King told Li Tianming that the Ancient Emperor had died and that the Ancient Royal Clan’s division gave him a chance to rise; Li Tianming and Ye Lingfeng joined the Future Hall.
• Bai Zijin explained that the Ten Directions Heaven and Earth Ranking would determine disciples’ cultivation resources and that first place could earn ancient divine sources for all of a beastmaster’s lifebound beasts.
• Bai Zijin said she hoped Li Tianming could reach the Earth Ranking’s top ten, while warning him that most ranked disciples were much stronger and challenges were fierce.
• Li Tianming and Ye Lingfeng settled into Future One Tower, where Li Tianming chose to share a residence with Ye Lingfeng.
• Li Tianming asked Bai Zijin to take him to the Heaven Hall to see Li Qingyu, and she sent Zhou Yuanyuan to guide them instead.

Wei Wushang brought the painter Dongyang Yu to meet Li Qingyu and the stunning girl staying with her. Dongyang Yu became fanatically obsessed with the girl, while Wei Wushang, enraged by Li Qingyu’s rejection, vowed to take revenge.

• Wei Wushang and Dongyang Yu discussed the Emperor’s death and the growing political conflict between their clans.
• Wei Wushang asked Dongyang Yu for a painting to give Li Qingyu, the new Heaven Hall disciple he hoped to pursue.
• Wei Wushang revealed that Li Qingyu’s companion was beautiful enough to become the centerpiece of Dongyang Yu’s unfinished painting, and they went to see her.
• Li Qingyu rejected Wei Wushang and shut the courtyard gate after he offered her a painting.
• Dongyang Yu declared that he wanted to preserve Li Qingyu’s companion in her current appearance so he could paint her for centuries.
• Wei Wushang threatened to make Li Qingyu pay for humiliating him.

Li Tianming arrived at Courtyard Number Ninety-Nine, where he reunited with Li Qingyu and Jiang Feiling and introduced them to Ye Lingfeng and Zhou Yuanyuan. After settling Li Qingyu into Future One Tower, he went out at dusk to explore the Decimo Dao Palace.

• Li Tianming stopped Ye Lingfeng from attacking Dongyang Yu and Wei Wushang when they passed by, then confronted Wei Wushang after he ordered Li Tianming to leave Courtyard Number Ninety-Nine.
• Wei Wushang learned Li Tianming was Li Qingyu’s biological brother and invited him to a feast, while Dongyang Yu left in a jealous rage after seeing Li Tianming embrace Jiang Feiling and Li Qingyu.
• Li Tianming entered the courtyard, reunited with Jiang Feiling and Li Qingyu, and introduced them to Ye Lingfeng and Zhou Yuanyuan.
• Li Tianming and Li Qingyu brought Ye Lingfeng to Future One Tower, where they found him studying and eating an earthworm before spitting it out in disgust.
• Li Tianming decided to take a walk and explore the Decimo Dao Palace.

Li Tianming visited the Ten-Directional Demon-Suppressing Arena with Jiang Feiling, Li Qingyu, and Ye Lingfeng, where he learned about the Earth Ranking and the ancient imperial clan’s unequal bloodline rules. After Ning Wushuang confronted him and revealed she had reached the third level of the Earth Saint realm, Li Tianming challenged her, and Jiang Feiling joined him for the fight.

• Li Tianming and his companions explored Treasure Street before Li Qingyu showed them the Ten-Directional Demon-Suppressing Pillar and explained the Earth Ranking.
• Li Tianming learned that Dongyang and Jiang surnames marked different ranks within the ancient imperial clan, and Jiang Feiling became upset about the treatment of women and branch families.
• Li Tianming saw Ning Wushuang ranked one hundred and eighty on the Earth Ranking and learned the arena’s challenge rules.
• Ning Wushuang confronted Li Tianming, claimed she had reached the third level of the Earth Saint realm, and stepped onto a battle platform after he challenged her.
• Jiang Feiling transformed into specks of light and flowed into Li Tianming, causing his power to surge as the fight began.

Li Tianming defeated Ning Wushuang in seconds, crippled her, and revealed his backing from the Future Hall King when a Heavenly Master challenged him. His name appeared at rank 180 on the Ten Directions Heaven and Earth Ranking as he left with Li Qingyu and Ye Lingfeng, while Jun Nancang watched helplessly.

• Li Tianming challenged Ning Wushuang and defeated her in less than three breaths, crippling her saint palace life spring after explaining that she had framed him for Yun Zhenzhen’s death.
• A red-dressed Heavenly Master confronted Li Tianming, but an elder in the Dao Tower ordered Su Hongyin to return after Li Tianming cited the Future Hall King’s support.
• Li Tianming’s name replaced Ning Wushuang’s at rank 180 on the Ten Directions Demon-Suppressing Pillar, and Ning Wushuang was removed from the debates.
• Li Tianming left the arena with Li Qingyu and Ye Lingfeng as the crowd watched and Jun Nancang saw how far Li Tianming had surpassed him.

The azure-eyed Hall King and Su Hongyin discussed the threat posed by Li Tianming and planned to have Wei Wushang suppress him while Su Hongyin targeted Jiang Feiling. Li Tianming reached the ninth level of the Heavenly Will realm as political turmoil continued, and the chapter ended with Wei Wushang arriving to invite him to a birthday banquet.

• The azure-eyed Hall King revealed that Li Tianming was Li Muyang's son and Li Wudi's adopted son, and ordered Wei Wushang summoned to wear down the young cultivators' confidence.
• The Hall King agreed to let Su Hongyin attempt to kill Jiang Feiling, whom he believed was important to Li Tianming.
• Bai Zijin warned Li Tianming to watch for dirty tricks, and Li Qingyu's lifebound beast evolved into the Guanghan Bright Moon Kunpeng.
• After more than half a month of cultivation, Li Tianming reached the ninth level of the Heavenly Will realm, while Ye Lingfeng advanced to the third level of the Earth Saint realm.
• Zhou Yuanyuan told Li Tianming that Wei Wushang was asking for him, and Wei Wushang arrived at his door to invite him to a birthday banquet.

Li Tianming rejected Wei Wushang’s birthday invitation and exposed his hostility, defending Li Qingyu from his advances. Wei Wushang left after threatening Zhou Yuanyuan with challenges on the Earth Ranking, and Li Tianming promised to stand by Zhou Yuanyuan.

• Wei Wushang invited Li Tianming and Li Qingyu to his birthday banquet, but Li Qingyu refused to attend.
• Li Tianming mocked Wei Wushang’s invitation as a weasel’s false-hearted visit and told him to leave.
• Wei Wushang and his companions grew furious, but Li Tianming challenged them to act and accused Wei Wushang of plotting against him and Li Qingyu.
• Wei Wushang threatened Zhou Yuanyuan with challenges because he was friends with Li Tianming, then left with his group.
• Li Tianming reassured Zhou Yuanyuan that he would protect him and promised to accompany him if someone challenged him.

Li Tianming and Jiang Feiling studied the Soulburning Heavenly Pattern Codex and learned the ranks and requirements of Heavenly Pattern Scripts and Formations. Determined to learn script-writing, Li Tianming visited Bai Zijin at the Heavenly Pattern Pavilion and bought basic materials at a steep discount.

• Li Tianming opened the Soulburning Heavenly Pattern Codex with Jiang Feiling, and its glowing pages covered the cultivation room in moving star patterns and annotations.
• Jiang Feiling explained the nine-star ranks of Heavenly Pattern Masters, Scripts, and Formations, while Li Tianming used the codex to check several formations and learned the Soulburning Formation was seven-star.
• Li Tianming decided to learn Heavenly Pattern Scripts despite their difficulty and expense, and he and Jiang Feiling joked together as they studied.
• Li Tianming found the Heavenly Pattern Pavilion and discovered Bai Zijin was running it; she questioned his lack of a talent test and advised him to start with formations.
• Bai Zijin agreed to sell Li Tianming basic script-writing materials at half price, and she laid out the three required items for him.

Li Tianming bought supplies to make Heavenly Pattern books, and Jiang Feiling awakened her Heavenly Unity ability, which let her guide his hand to write a Jade Wall Book. Two days later, Li Tianming rushed to help someone being forced into the Ten Directions Demon-Suppressing Arena.

• Li Tianming spent all his war fortune on Divine Pattern Ink, a Divine Pattern Brush, and ten Void Spirit Books, while Bai Zijin explained that Saint Crystals were the Divine Capital’s common currency.
• Li Tianming began practicing the Jade Wall Book, hoping to make money and protect Jiang Feiling, but she awakened Heavenly Unity through her glowing middle finger.
• Jiang Feiling used Heavenly Unity to steady Li Tianming’s hand and guide him through writing a Jade Wall Book, though his joke ruined their first attempt.
• Li Tianming and Jiang Feiling completed a Jade Wall Book together, and he held her as she grew tired.
• Two days later, someone called for Li Tianming to come save them from being forced into the Ten Directions Demon-Suppressing Arena, and he kicked the door open.