Chapter Summaries

Gu Shao'an learned from Gu Santong that depleted kidney essence was preventing him from condensing a qi seed, so he began recuperating with medicine. After spending his Achievement Points, he obtained the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art and wondered at the unexpected draw.

• Gu Shao'an secretly watched Gu Santong practice swordsmanship, then asked him why his blood and qi would not condense into a qi seed.
• Gu Santong explained that Gu Shao'an’s kidney essence was depleted and advised him to abstain from desire and replenish his health before trying again.
• Gu Shao'an gathered herbs, prepared medicine, and told Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan that he might need one to three months to recover.
• Gu Shao'an brewed medicinal pills, spent his Achievement Points, and received Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom, Azure Flow Jade Ore, and the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art.

Gu Shao'an learned that the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art could draw upon Heaven and Earth Power, but postponed cultivating it to focus on condensing his Qi Seed. On New Year's Day, an invitation from Gongzi Yu set a date for their journey to Wudang, and Gu Shao'an went to meet the visitors who had brought it.

• Gu Shao'an practiced the first technique of the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art and briefly formed a powerful azure phantom, then stopped after the trial consumed nearly a tenth of his Gang Yuan.
• Gu Shao'an decided to prioritize condensing his Qi Seed and opening his Upper Dantian over studying the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art.
• On New Year's Day, Gu Shao'an shared tea with Abbess Miejue, Juechen, and Gu Santong, who explained why he and Suxin had left Cheng Shifei to be raised elsewhere.
• Shitai Jueyuan delivered an invitation from Gongzi Yu, which named the first day of the fifth month as the date to set out for Wudang.
• Gu Shao'an suspected Gongzi Yu had come to visit and left the pavilion alone to meet the people waiting at the Golden Summit Hall.

Gongzi Yu and Gu Shao'an arranged a scheme involving Wudang, Zhang Sanfeng, and Pang Ban while Gu Shao'an uncovered the Azure Dragon Society’s plan to target Meng Chixing. Four months later, Gu Shao'an opened his upper dantian and completed the condensation of his Essence, Qi, and Spirit seeds, leaving him ready to travel to Wudang.

• Gongzi Yu asked Gu Shao'an to help deal with Pang Ban, and Gu Shao'an agreed in exchange for a staged plot in which Cihang Jingzhai would manipulate Zhang Wuji and Song Qingshu into appearing to poison and assassinate Zhang Zhenren.
• Gongzi Yu planned to keep Zhu Wushi unaware of the scheme so he could frighten him, while Gu Shao'an explained that Wudang was a trap and the Azure Dragon Society’s real target was Meng Chixing.
• Gu Santong, Abbess Miejue, and Abbot Juechen discussed the plan to use Meng Chixing to help Zhu Wushi enter the Heavenly Human Realm, and Gu Shao'an said they could not safely disrupt the long-prepared scheme yet.
• After four months of cultivation, Gu Shao'an pierced the final barrier in his upper dantian, where his Divine Seed took root and completed his three seeds of Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
• Gu Shao'an recognized that he had reached the gateway to the Heavenly Human Realm and looked toward Wudang, preparing to set out.

Gu Shao'an brought Gu Santong openly to Shuoyang Prefecture, prepared him to conceal his cultivation, and met Gongzi Yu at a guarded estate. When Gongzi Yu used spiritual pressure to probe Gu Santong, Gu Santong broke free of an illusion of his old battle with Zhu Wushi.

• Gu Shao'an explained that palace Heavenly Human Realm martial artists might threaten him and brought Gu Santong into the open as a precaution.
• Gu Shao'an asked whether Gu Santong could reach the Heavenly Human Realm by absorbing a powerful martial artist's cultivation, and Gu Santong said he might need to absorb more than one.
• Gu Shao'an gave Gu Santong a pill that made his Gang Yuan fluctuations resemble True Yuan for twenty-four hours.
• A discreet messenger led Gu Shao'an and Gu Santong through Shuoyang Prefecture to Gongzi Yu's heavily guarded residence.
• Gu Shao'an introduced Gu Santong as Emei senior Liu Baichuan when Gongzi Yu questioned his companion.
• Gongzi Yu unleashed spiritual pressure that trapped Gu Santong in an illusion of his fight with Zhu Wushi, but Gu Santong's Golden Essence and Gang Yuan shattered it.

Gu Shao'an and Gu Santong concealed their strength from Gongzi Yu, then discussed the threat the Great Skill of Absorbing Power posed to the martial world. The next night, they traveled with Gongzi Yu to Wudang Mountain to watch the coming confrontation with Pang Ban.

• Gu Shao'an used a dragon roar to disperse Gongzi Yu's spiritual energy, and Gongzi Yu revealed that a pill could conceal a martial artist's cultivation before arranging to leave the next day at sunset.
• After Gongzi Yu sent Gu Shao'an and Gu Santong to a courtyard, Gu Shao'an praised Gu Santong's feigned weakness and learned that Gongzi Yu's spiritual energy seemed comparable to Zhu Wushi's.
• Gu Santong warned that the Great Skill of Absorbing Power could let the imperial court cultivate Heavenly Human Realm martial artists, while Gu Shao'an argued they would remain inferior to experts such as Zhang Zhenren.
• Gongzi Yu and his companions departed Shuo Yang Prefecture after sunset and reached a secluded path at the foot of Wudang Mountain late that night.
• Gongzi Yu led Gu Shao'an and the others up Wudang Mountain to find a place to watch the confrontation with Pang Ban.

Gu Shao'an beat Gongzi Yu in a race to the True Martial Grand Hall and won the promise of Tide Song of the Azure Sea. He then discovered that Gongzi Yu’s new cultivation method was affecting his mind, but an urgent bell rang across Wudang before they could continue.

• Gongzi Yu wagered the Tide Song of the Azure Sea against Gu Shao'an in a race to the True Martial Grand Hall.
• Gu Shao'an used Cloud Dragon Void Wander to reach the hall first, and Gongzi Yu promised to send the manual to the Emei Sect.
• Gongzi Yu and the others swallowed breath-concealing pills, and Gongzi Yu questioned Gu Shao'an about his knowledge of the medicine.
• Gu Shao'an confronted Gongzi Yu about his constant probing, then examined his pulse and discovered that a new cultivation method was affecting his mind.
• Gongzi Yu dispersed the yin-yang energy as Gu Shao'an advised and felt his thoughts clear before an urgent bell rang across Wudang's summit.

Song Yuanqiao returned to Wudang poisoned, and Zhang Sanfeng stabilized him while waiting for Zhang Wuji to identify the toxin. Zhang Wuji then attacked Song Yuanqiao after believing Qin Mengyao’s warning that he was an impostor, poisoning and injuring Zhang Sanfeng in the process; the chapter ended as an unknown observer applauded outside the hall.

• Song Qingshu brought the unconscious, poisoned Song Yuanqiao to the True Martial Grand Hall, where Zhang Songxi and Yu Daiyan tried to hold back the poison.
• Yu Lianzhou, Yin Liting, and Mo Shenggu joined their fellow brothers in channeling their strength into Song Yuanqiao until Zhang Sanfeng arrived and stabilized him.
• Zhang Songxi told Zhang Sanfeng that masked martial artists had ambushed them and that they had found Song Yuanqiao unconscious on the mountain steps.
• Zhang Wuji rushed into the hall and attacked Song Yuanqiao, believing Qin Mengyao’s warning that someone had impersonated his senior uncle.
• Zhang Sanfeng shielded Song Yuanqiao from Zhang Wuji’s palm strike and was poisoned and injured; Song Qingshu then attacked Zhang Wuji, but Zhang Sanfeng stopped him.
• Someone outside the True Martial Grand Hall applauded, drawing everyone’s attention.

Zhu Wushi and Pang Ban confronted the poisoned Zhang Sanfeng in Wudang’s True Martial Grand Hall, but hesitated to attack because they feared his remaining strength. When they finally set their plan in motion with a strange bell, Song Qingshu fell under its influence and stabbed Zhang Sanfeng.

• Gu Shao'an noticed Pang Ban had a replacement left arm and sensed that his aura had grown stronger since their last encounter.
• Gongzi Yu admitted he had allowed Great Yuan troops into Great Wei territory to create grounds for a future political reckoning.
• Pang Ban identified Zhang Sanfeng’s poison as Seven Star Rose, and Gu Shao'an explained how Seven Star Begonia in Song Yuanqiao’s body had served as its catalyst.
• Zhu Wushi and Pang Ban waited as Zhang Sanfeng appeared to suppress the poison, wary that even injured he could still defeat them.
• Zhu Wushi rang a strange bell, and Song Qingshu suddenly turned and stabbed Zhang Sanfeng beneath the right ribs.

Song Qingshu stabbed Zhang Sanfeng under Zhu Wushi’s scheme, but Zhang Sanfeng survived and exposed Zhu Wushi’s failed plan. Gu Shao'an attacked the encircling archers and entered the True Martial Grand Hall to confront Pang Ban and Zhu Wushi, leaving the battle about to begin.

• Song Qingshu stabbed Zhang Sanfeng, who knocked him back and collapsed, convincing Zhu Wushi that he had died.
• Zhu Wushi realized Zhang Sanfeng’s death had ruined his plan to absorb the master’s cultivation, but Zhang Sanfeng suddenly opened his eyes and rose unharmed.
• Gu Shao'an told Gongzi Yu that the plot had been meant to sever Zhang Wuji and Song Qingshu’s ties with Qin Mengyao, then went to face Pang Ban.
• Gu Shao'an struck the black-clad archers with the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, killing or injuring hundreds and breaking their encirclement.
• Gu Shao'an entered the True Martial Grand Hall, greeted Pang Ban, and told Zhu Wushi that he had been invited.

Gu Shao'an confronted Pang Ban in the True Martial Grand Hall and proved far stronger than he had been during their last battle. Pang Ban’s defenses failed under Gu Shao'an’s palm, leaving him injured and shaken as the fight continued.

• Pang Ban tried to rush out to save his archers, but Gu Shao'an’s presence stopped him, and Gongzi Yu entered the hall with Gu Santong and the others.
• Pang Ban challenged Gu Shao'an, who said he would intervene because of their grudge and his ties to the Emei Sect.
• Pang Ban attacked with the Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Law, but Gu Shao'an’s Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms overwhelmed his punch and drove him back.
• Gu Shao'an pressed down with a palm that drew on Heaven and Earth Momentum, and Pang Ban used Demonic Extreme Returning to Origin to form a barrier above his head.
• Gu Shao'an forced his palm through Pang Ban’s barrier and struck his crossed arms, breaking the floor beneath Pang Ban and leaving him shocked by Gu Shao'an’s increased strength.

Gu Shao'an unveiled his new Sword Ten: Dawn and decisively defeated Pang Ban in the True Martial Grand Hall. Pang Ban was left severely wounded, with his right arm severed and his dantian struck, while Zhu Wushi and Gongzi Yu witnessed Gu Shao'an’s overwhelming power.

• Pang Ban found himself suppressed by Gu Shao'an despite having mastered the Dao Heart Seed Demon Great Law, and he sensed a new sword realm when Gu Shao'an reached for the Heavenly Sword.
• Pang Ban asked Zhu Wushi to help, but Zhu Wushi withdrew after Gongzi Yu warned him to stay aside if he wanted to enter the Heavenly Human Realm.
• Gu Shao'an announced that Pang Ban would be the first enemy to witness his newly created sword move and unleashed Sword Ten: Dawn.
• Pang Ban used his Demon Seed and Dao Heart to create a battlefield illusion and strike Gu Shao'an with a devastating punch, but Gu Shao'an's sword conviction guided his blade through the attack.
• Gu Shao'an's sword severed Pang Ban's right arm, then struck his Qihai Acupoint and disrupted his Gang Yuan, leaving him barely able to stand.
• Pang Ban asked the name of the sword that defeated him, and Gu Shao'an identified it as Sword Ten: Dawn before sheathing the Heavenly Sword.

Meng Chixing arrived at Wudang to rescue Pang Ban and accepted Zhang Sanfeng’s challenge to fight outside the True Martial Grand Hall. After revealing that his poisoning had been feigned, Zhang Sanfeng slapped Zhu Wushi and went out to face Meng Chixing, while Gu Shao'an kept the Wudang disciples back from the coming battle.

• Meng Chixing appeared in the True Martial Grand Hall, rescued the wounded Pang Ban, and agreed to duel Zhang Sanfeng outside.
• Meng Chixing praised Gu Shao'an’s talent and offered him a chance to challenge him if he survived the day and reached the Heavenly Human Realm.
• Zhang Sanfeng revealed that his poisoning and injury had been a deception, then immobilized Zhu Wushi and slapped him four times for scheming against Wudang.
• Gu Shao'an warned Zhang Songxi, Yu Daiyan, and the other Wudang disciples to stay away from the Heavenly Human Realm battle.
• Gu Shao'an, Gu Santong, and the others went outside and saw Zhang Sanfeng and Meng Chixing standing five zhang apart in the plaza.

Zhang Sanfeng and Meng Chixing fought a devastating battle at Wudang, with Zhang Sanfeng ultimately defeating Meng Chixing through his mastery of Taiji. The fight revealed that Zhang Sanfeng had entered a higher level of martial arts, leaving Meng Chixing gravely injured and the onlookers pondering what they had learned.

• Meng Chixing unleashed his spiritual domain against Zhang Sanfeng, but Zhang Sanfeng's much larger, harmonious domain suppressed it.
• Meng Chixing attacked with a series of powerful strikes, while Zhang Sanfeng redirected and dispersed them with Taiji.
• Gu Shao'an protected Zhang Songxi, Yu Daiyan, and the others from the force of the battle as he watched the two masters fight.
• Meng Chixing increased his speed and launched a devastating hammer-like blow, but Zhang Sanfeng absorbed and transformed its force with a Taiji sphere.
• Zhang Sanfeng struck Meng Chixing in the brow, leaving him unable to fight and badly injuring his meridians.
• Meng Chixing realized Zhang Sanfeng had entered a higher level and acknowledged him as the foremost martial artist of the Great Wei Kingdom.

Zhu Wushi absorbed Meng Chixing’s cultivation and life force, while Gu Shao'an ended his old feud with Pang Ban by killing him. The Demon Master Palace’s two greatest figures died on Wudang Mountain, leaving Zhu Wushi to process his stolen power and Gu Shao'an to reflect on Meng Chixing’s death.

• Shangguan Jinhong, Li Qianzhong, and Dongfang Bai killed the Demon Master Palace disciples while Pang Ban and Meng Chixing remained still, and Zhang Sanfeng secretly told Gu Shao'an he would watch from hiding.
• Gongzi Yu revealed to Zhu Wushi that he had arranged for Meng Chixing, not Zhang Sanfeng, to help Zhu Wushi enter the Heavenly Human Realm, and Meng Chixing reassured Pang Ban that he would face their fate with him.
• Zhu Wushi used the Great Skill of Absorbing Power to drain Meng Chixing’s cultivation, Essence, Qi, and Spirit until Meng Chixing died.
• Gu Shao'an chose to settle his old grudge with Pang Ban himself, struck Pang Ban’s glabella with sword Qi, and killed him.

Gu Shao'an watched Zhu Wushi enter the Heavenly Human Realm, then saw him reject Gongzi Yu’s offer and get ambushed by a saber-wielding man. Zhu Wushi was poisoned and subdued, while Gongzi Yu revealed that the poison had been planted years earlier on a letter from Miss Haitang.

• Gu Shao'an secretly released medicinal powder toward the southeastern woods while Zhu Wushi absorbed Meng Chixing’s cultivation.
• Zhu Wushi completed Three Essences United and entered the Heavenly Human Realm in barely more than half an hour.
• Gongzi Yu offered Zhu Wushi a Ku Xin Dan in exchange for help taking the dragon throne, but Zhu Wushi refused and destroyed the bottle.
• A masked man in black attacked Zhu Wushi with a blood-red saber strike, then sealed his acupoints after Zhu Wushi collapsed in pain.
• Gongzi Yu told Zhu Wushi that he had been poisoned years earlier through Miss Haitang’s letter, and Gu Shao'an realized his own earlier actions had been involved.

Zhu Houzhao revealed that he had manipulated Zhu Wushi for years, using poison and the Great Skill of Absorbing Power to drain him and prepare to enter the Heavenly Human Realm. As Zhu Wushi accepted his defeat, Gu Shao'an noticed a blade-wielding Heavenly Human Realm martial artist looking at him like prey.

• Zhu Houzhao revealed that he had placed spies around Zhu Wushi, including the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits and Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends, and removed his mask to show his identity.
• Zhu Houzhao explained that the former emperor had learned of Zhu Wushi's ambitions and planned to use him as a source of refined Essence, Qi, and Spirit for Zhu Houzhao's cultivation.
• Zhu Wushi asked about Suxin, but Zhu Houzhao denied knowing where she was, and Zhu Wushi said he had lost to the former emperor before closing his eyes.
• Gu Shao'an and Gu Santong chose not to intervene, and Gu Santong reflected that his years in the Heavenly Prison had taught him what mattered.
• A blade-wielding Heavenly Human Realm martial artist fixed an amused, predatory smile on Gu Shao'an, who narrowed his eyes.

Zhu Houzhao entered the Heavenly Human Realm by absorbing Zhu Wushi’s power, then asked Gu Shao'an to treat his premature aging. Gu Shao'an prescribed a year of recovery and left for Wudang, where he revealed that he had poisoned the imperial party’s hiding place and spoke with Zhang Sanfeng about Tu Baichuan.

• Zhu Houzhao absorbed Zhu Wushi’s power and entered the Heavenly Human Realm, while Gu Shao'an judged that Zhu Houzhao’s illness could only be treated after a year of recovery.
• Gu Shao'an gave Zhu Houzhao a prescription of forty-nine medicinal ingredients and declined to accompany him to Shaolin or travel to the capital.
• Zhu Houzhao considered Gu Shao'an’s talent but decided not to act against him yet, then asked Tu Baichuan about realms beyond the Heavenly Human Realm.
• Gu Shao'an met Zhang Sanfeng and Gu Santong on the mountain and gave them antidote pills for poison he had planted near the imperial party.
• Zhang Sanfeng identified Tu Baichuan as a former Imperial Guards commander who had reached the Heavenly Human Realm, and warned Gu Shao'an to be careful of him.

Gu Shao'an learned that Zhu Houzhao had secured Wudang's neutrality as he prepared to move against Shaolin and expand the Azure Dragon Society's influence. Zhang Sanfeng named the realm beyond the Heavenly Human Realm the Sitting Reflection Realm, while Gu Shao'an suspected a hidden mastermind would disrupt the imperial court's plans.

• Zhang Sanfeng explained that Tu Baichuan avoided the Abhidharma Three Blades' killing intent by creating a custom mental method, and he warned Gu Shao'an not to fight Tu Baichuan recklessly.
• Zhang Sanfeng revealed that Zhu Houzhao had promised protection for Wudang in return for help against Meng Chixing and had also secured Wudang's noninterference in the martial world for twenty years.
• Gu Shao'an explained that Zhu Houzhao intended to use the Azure Dragon Society to control the martial world, beginning with efforts to keep Wudang and Shaolin out of the way.
• Zhang Sanfeng called the realm beyond the Heavenly Human Realm the Sitting Reflection Realm and described it as imprinting the heart with the Dao and Heaven and Earth with the heart before entering divine creation.
• At Wudang, Gu Shao'an privately reflected that Bai Xiaosheng intended to throw the Great Wei and Great Yuan kingdoms into chaos, then watched dark clouds gather.
• The next morning, Zhang Sanfeng told Gu Shao'an that Zhang Wuji and Song Qingshu had knelt overnight in the True Martial Grand Hall, and he complained about Wudang disciples' troubles with love.

Zhang Sanfeng taught Gu Shao'an how to refine Heaven and Earth Power to strengthen his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and Gu Shao'an confirmed the method worked. After Gu Shao'an and Gu Santong left Wudang, Gu Shao'an sensed Tu Baichuan hiding near their riverside stop.

• Gu Shao'an explained that he had condensed his divine seed before opening his upper dantian, and Zhang Sanfeng offered him a method to accelerate the Three Flowers of Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
• Zhang Sanfeng explained that Gu Shao'an could use opposing yin and yang forces to refine Heaven and Earth Power and nourish his Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
• Gu Shao'an tested the method and found that the refined Heaven and Earth Power noticeably strengthened the blood and vitality in his qi seed.
• Gu Shao'an considered whether the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Art could help him refine Heaven and Earth Power faster, then thanked Zhang Sanfeng and left Wudang with Gu Santong.
• While Gu Shao'an and Gu Santong grilled fish beside a river, Gu Shao'an detected Tu Baichuan hiding nearby and warned Gu Santong to be careful.

Gu Shao'an and Gu Santong confronted the disguised Tu Baichuan, who attacked them near Wudang. After Gu Santong held his own against the Heavenly Human Realm expert, Gu Shao'an stepped in as Tu Baichuan prepared to unleash his full strength.

• Gu Shao'an and Gu Santong confronted Tu Baichuan after Gu Shao'an detected him hiding in the northern woods.
• Tu Baichuan attacked, and Gu Santong charged him with the Diamond Body Divine Skill.
• Gu Santong and Tu Baichuan traded blows, surprising Tu Baichuan with Gu Santong's strength and resilience.
• Tu Baichuan struck Gu Santong with the first form of the Abhidharma Three Blades, wounding him but failing to cut through his arms.
• Tu Baichuan gathered Heaven and Earth Power to fight at full strength, and Gu Shao'an moved in front of Gu Santong and pressed a palm down toward him.