Chapter Summaries

Lu Qing crushed the Black-robed Figure in a brutal fight, then revealed that he had killed Mo Xuan. The Old Doctor emerged victorious over the Hook-nosed Old Man, whose final question went unanswered before the Old Doctor beheaded him.

• Lu Qing put on his gauntlets and challenged the Black-robed Figure to test his fists, prompting the latter to unleash his full strength and burn his Innate True Qi.
• Lu Qing used a devastating punch to shatter the staff attack, disarm the Black-robed Figure, and batter his body into a ruined but living state.
• Lu Qing showed the Black-robed Figure Mo Xuan's jade pendant and confessed to killing him, provoking the crippled man into a furious outburst.
• The Old Doctor broke the Blood Light Domain with Water-Fire Dual Sword Qi, revealing that he had defeated the Hook-nosed Old Man and destroyed the Blood Soul Banner.
• The Hook-nosed Old Man asked who the Old Doctor was and how he had learned of the Blood Soul Banner, but the Old Doctor refused to answer and beheaded him.

Lu Qing and his master killed Flowing Cloud Sect's two Innate Realm Grand Elders and concluded that the upheaval in heaven and earth had made Holy Mountain's rules ineffective. After the Old Doctor treated the gravely injured survivors in the tavern, Lu Qing learned that Flowing Cloud Sect's Sect Master Mo Zhen had escaped, and the sword-wielding man asked if Lu Qing had killed Mo Hu.

• The Old Doctor killed the Hook-nosed Old Man, and Lu Qing killed the Black-robed Figure, ending Flowing Cloud Sect's two Grand Elders.
• The Old Doctor warned Lu Qing that revived Spiritual Qi and Baleful Qi were changing human hearts and that martial artists would ignore Holy Mountain's rules to pursue breakthroughs.
• The sword-wielding man reported that many Cloud Province fighters had been drained by the Mo Hu martial brothers, and he led Lu Qing and the Old Doctor to the tavern.
• The Old Doctor used life-saving Medicinal Liquid and acupuncture to stabilize the Hundred Flowers Palace disciples, then offered to treat the other survivors.
• Lu Qing learned that Mo Zhen had fled before the battle, and the sword-wielding man asked whether Lu Qing had killed Mo Hu.

Lu Qing, the Old Doctor, and Senior Yan decided to destroy the Flowing Cloud Sect after learning of its atrocities, then broke through the sect’s formation. They found hundreds of dead disciples on the practice field and a blood cocoon drawing blood from underground.

• Lu Qing confirmed that he had killed Mo Hu, shocking the sword-wielding man, while Ma Gu and the others arrived in Flowing Cloud Town.
• The Old Doctor examined the surviving martial artists, reassured them, and wrote prescriptions to help restore their depleted qi and blood.
• Lu Qing urged the Old Doctor to eliminate the Flowing Cloud Sect, and the Old Doctor agreed to join Lu Qing and Senior Yan in attacking it before Mo Zhen could escape.
• Lu Qing used arrows to break the weakened formation surrounding the Flowing Cloud Sect’s mountain gate.
• Lu Qing, the Old Doctor, and Senior Yan found hundreds of dead sect disciples on the practice field and saw a blood cocoon absorbing blood from underground.

Lu Qing and the Old Doctor discovered that Mo Zhen had used his disciples’ blood to form a Blood Demon Cocoon, and Lu Qing challenged him after he emerged with a Blood Demon Body. Lu Qing tested his new move on Mo Zhen and landed a powerful punch, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Lu Qing identified the Blood Demon Cocoon and warned that it had to be destroyed, but the attacks from him, the Old Doctor, and Senior Yan failed to stop it.
• Mo Zhen emerged from the cocoon with a Blood Demon Body and admitted that he had slaughtered his disciples to gain power.
• Lu Qing asked the Old Doctor for permission to fight Mo Zhen, then jumped down to face him alone.
• Lu Qing and Mo Zhen exchanged punches, and Mo Zhen realized Lu Qing was far stronger than he had expected.
• Lu Qing used a new move to weigh Mo Zhen down, vanished from his grasp, and struck him in the chest, sending him flying.

Lu Qing defeated and killed Mo Zhen, ending the Flowing Cloud Sect after its disciples and servants were sacrificed in an evil formation. With the sect destroyed, Lu Qing entered its grounds to search the Treasure Pavilion for useful treasures.

• Mo Zhen broke free of Lu Qing’s binding force, but Lu Qing overwhelmed him with a rapid barrage of punches and destroyed his remaining consciousness.
• Lu Qing told the Old Doctor and Senior Yan that Mo Zhen’s borrowed power could not match his poor control, then explained how evil cultivation invited calamity.
• The Old Doctor and Lu Qing concluded that Mo Zhen’s Evil Formation had slaughtered the Flowing Cloud Sect, while Senior Yan agreed that its destruction was deserved.
• Senior Yan granted Lu Qing and the Old Doctor permission to take the sect’s spoils, and Lu Qing set off to search its buildings.
• Lu Qing found bloodstains left by the servants and attendants Mo Zhen had sacrificed, then stopped at the Treasure Pavilion.

Lu Qing searched the Flowing Cloud Sect’s Treasure Pavilion and collected its most valuable treasures, including rare materials and a pair of Divine Weapon-grade hammers. He left the top floor with Nine Nether Ice Spirit Liquid that could help shape Xiao Yan’s cultivation path.

• Lu Qing broke into the Treasure Pavilion and collected valuable items from its first three floors, including several Golden Light treasures.
• On the fourth floor, Lu Qing found Nine Nether Cold Iron containing Nine Nether Ice Spirit Liquid and realized it could help Xiao Yan cultivate along the paths of ice and water.
• Lu Qing picked up the Nine Nether Cold Iron, felt its intense chill, and stored it in his Universe Qi Bag.
• Lu Qing identified a pair of Dark-Gold Heavy Hammers as Divine Weapons forged from Black Gold and took them as well.

Lu Qing left the ruined Flowing Cloud Sect with the Old Doctor’s group after claiming treasures from its Treasure Pavilion. As the carriage continued toward Central Province, the Cloud Province martial artists began to suspect Lu Qing’s identity, while Lu Qing gave Wei Zi'an a Divine Weapon staff.

• Lu Qing found no other hidden treasures, packed some items from the Treasure Pavilion, and joined the Old Doctor and Layman Yan at the practice field.
• The Old Doctor said the group would leave Cloud Province for Central Province, and they departed Flowing Cloud Town despite pleas from the local martial artists to stay.
• After the carriage left, the Silver Moon Sect Master connected Lu Qing to the youth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and the sword-bearing Grand Elder realized Lu Qing might have killed an Innate Minor Realm opponent while still in the Postnatal Realm.
• Lu Qing told Ma Gu and the others about the Flowing Cloud Sect’s evil deeds and gave Wei Zi'an Mo Hu’s Divine Weapon-grade long staff.

Lu Qing gave Wei Zi'an a Divine Weapon staff and revealed his Yuan Magnetic Power while preparing to teach Xiao Yan cultivation. As Lu Qing resolved to seek his opportunity in Central Province or break through to the Innate Realm, a hidden lineage learned that the first great opportunity of the changed world would appear within half a month.

• Lu Qing gave Wei Zi'an a Divine Weapon staff and warned him to nurture it with Blood Qi rather than use it against enemies before reaching the Inner Organs Realm.
• Lu Qing demonstrated Yuan Magnetic Power to Old Doctor and the others, then promised to teach Xiao Yan the art of flight and begin her cultivation.
• Lu Qing reflected on the Earth Spirit Pearl's effects, decided to break through to the Innate Realm if he found no opportunity in Central Province, and experienced a minor Sudden Enlightenment.
• Lu Qing and his companions rented a room at a village farmhouse as night fell.
• In a mysterious land, a white-robed elder told his black-bearded junior that their lineage should not enter the world yet, but that young cultivators would soon face the first great opportunity of the changed heaven and earth.

Lu Qing began teaching Xiao Yan a Breathing Method as the first step toward cultivating as an ancient Qi Refiner, while Xiao Li fell asleep after eating a Beast Spirit Fruit. As their party entered E Zhou, the treacherous mountain road trapped their carriage and left them weighing whether to turn back or continue on foot.

• Lu Qing taught Xiao Yan a Breathing Method, and she entered meditation for half an hour on her first attempt.
• Lu Qing fed Xiao Li a Beast Spirit Fruit, and Xiao Li quickly fell asleep as it began refining the fruit.
• Lu Qing explained to the Old Doctor that he planned to guide Xiao Yan toward the Qi Eating Method and the cultivation path of ancient Qi Refiners.
• The party continued toward E Zhou, where the narrow, rugged mountain road left their carriage stuck in a stone pit beside a cliff.
• The Old Doctor said they could turn back or abandon the carriage, and Wei Zi'an joked that it would be easier if the carriage could fly.
• Lu Qing froze at Wei Zi'an's remark.

Lu Qing inscribed three arrays onto the carriage to make it lighter, faster, and sturdier after their mountain route proved impassable. With the arrays complete, he agreed to test them with Ma Gu and the others.

• The Old Doctor decided to turn back toward Cloud Province, but Lu Qing asked the group to camp nearby while he tried to find a way to improve their travel.
• Lu Qing chose the Light Spirit Array, Clear Wind Array, and Solidification Array, then calculated how to inscribe them onto the carriage.
• Lu Qing completed his calculations overnight, and the next morning he used Spirit Ink and a carving knife to inscribe all three arrays onto the carriage.
• Lu Qing explained that the arrays should help them reach Central Province sooner and reflected on how the Divine Soul Rune had aided his work.
• Ma Gu asked to test the arrays, and Lu Qing agreed as Ma Gu ran to fetch the horses.

Lu Qing tested the arrays he had inscribed on the carriage, making it travel at extraordinary speed while protecting its passengers. He explained the revival of spiritual qi to Ma Gu and Wei Zi'an, then led the group back toward their route to Central Province; by nightfall, they had entered another great province.

• Ma Gu drove the modified carriage and discovered that the Light Spirit Array and Clear Wind Array made it swift, light, and smooth, while the Solidification Array strengthened it.
• Lu Qing told Ma Gu and Wei Zi'an that spiritual qi was reviving and that the Immortal Dao and its methods could return to the world.
• Wei Zi'an asked to learn flight, and Lu Qing promised to teach him if he cultivated to the Innate Realm.
• Old Doctor chose to avoid E Zhou’s perilous terrain, so the group turned back and continued toward Central Province in the enchanted carriage.
• Lu Qing reflected that his Divine Soul Rune empowered his arrays beyond ordinary basic arrays, and the group crossed out of Cloud Province into another great province by nightfall.

Lu Qing and his companions traveled in a formation-enhanced carriage while Xiao Li slept through a transformation caused by the Beast Spirit Fruit. After Xiao Li awakened as an Innate-Level Spirit Beast with a space-distorting Divine Ability and a bloodline cultivation inheritance, Lu Qing tested its new powers and considered what its mysterious origins might mean.

• Ma Gu marveled that Lu Qing's enhanced carriage had traveled over a thousand li in a day, and Lu Qing compared it with legendary flying boats.
• Lu Qing reassured Xiao Yan that Xiao Li was still digesting the Beast Spirit Fruit and would likely wake within two or three days.
• On the third evening, Xiao Li suddenly appeared before Lu Qing, ate a basin of dried fish, and was revealed to have become an Innate-Level Spirit Beast with a Divine Ability that concealed it in darkness.
• The next morning, Xiao Li demonstrated its ability to vanish from Lu Qing's senses and explained through gestures and writing that a bloodline cultivation technique had appeared in its mind.
• Lu Qing encouraged Xiao Li to try cultivating the inherited technique and tested its increased strength, discovering that its claws could leave marks on Heavenly Meteorite Iron.

Lu Qing tested Xiao Li’s newly awakened strength and taught her that opponents with aura domains could restrain her, then continued with his companions toward Central Province. The group reached Azure Dragon City at Azure Dragon Pass, where Lu Qing sensed powerful experts and recognized the city gate’s inscription as the work of a supreme expert.

• Lu Qing sparred with Xiao Li, who used her speed and sharp claws to cut through his Thousand-Refinements Treasure Sword and nearly strike his neck.
• Lu Qing trapped Xiao Li with his Magnetic Field and explained how formidable experts with aura domains could counter her abilities; Xiao Li asked to spar more often.
• Lu Qing and his companions resumed their journey through Hong Province, avoiding towns as the Wind-Riding Divine Carriage gathered a legend among travelers.
• The group reached the mountain range at the border of Central Province and identified the gateway as Azure Dragon Pass, with Azure Dragon City beneath it.
• Lu Qing sensed several powerful auras inside Azure Dragon City, then examined the imposing characters carved above its gate and judged their maker to have been a supreme expert.

Lu Qing and his companions entered Azure Dragon City, where he downloaded and simulated the inheritance concealed in the gate inscription despite a guard's warning about its sinister nature. After settling into an inn, Lu Qing joined the Old Doctor to investigate the city and learn about the realm, following a jade token's signal toward a possible Heaven's Secret Pavilion branch.

• Lu Qing discovered a cultivation method within the Azure Dragon City inscription and simulated it, while the Old Doctor said he had comprehended much of its martial essence.
• Ma Gu presented the group's travel permit and paid the entry fee; Young Master Ji warned Lu Qing not to practice anything he might comprehend from the inscription.
• Lu Qing entered the city with the Old Doctor and the others, and they marveled at its busy streets and imposing buildings.
• The Old Doctor chose an inn so the group could rest before entering the pass the next day.
• The Old Doctor told Lu Qing that Zhi Rui's jade token had reacted to a location in the city that might be a Heaven's Secret Pavilion branch, and Lu Qing urged them to go there.

Lu Qing and Old Doctor Chen Songqing met Xuanji Zi at Heaven's Secret Pavilion in Azure Dragon City and asked about turmoil across the provinces. Xuanji Zi explained that the revival of Spiritual Qi had sparked deadly conflict in Central Province, and he began describing Holy Mountain's response to the unequal access to ancient cultivation arts.

• Xuanji Zi sensed the jade token and welcomed Lu Qing and Old Doctor Chen Songqing to Heaven's Secret Pavilion.
• Xuanji Zi told them that his nephew Zhi Rui had entered the Innate Realm and returned to the main pavilion for secluded cultivation.
• Lu Qing described the Flowing Cloud Sect's evil sacrifice and asked why Holy Mountain had not intervened; Xuanji Zi said the wider upheaval had left Holy Mountain powerless.
• Xuanji Zi explained that Spiritual Qi's revival had led Central Province sects to fight over ancient cultivation arts, and two hereditary enemies had fought until Holy Mountain intervened.
• Lu Qing questioned whether Holy Mountain's ban on sect warfare could last, and Xuanji Zi began explaining that Holy Mountain had made a major decision to reassure sects without ancient arts.

Lu Qing and the Old Doctor learned that Holy Mountain had shared three ancient cultivation methods to prevent Central Province from falling into conflict, and confirmed that the Old Doctor could still seek enlightenment there. Xuanji Zi explained the dangerous carvings on Azure Dragon City's gate and revealed that he considered both visitors unfathomable amid the surge of newly emerging geniuses.

• Xuanji Zi told Lu Qing that the three Holy Lords had offered three ancient cultivation methods to cultivators across the world to help prevent war in Central Province.
• Lu Qing confirmed that the Old Doctor's opportunity to visit Holy Mountain remained valid, then asked Xuanji Zi about the carvings above Azure Dragon City's gate.
• Xuanji Zi explained that the carvings held a powerful martial will that had damaged the minds and cultivation of people who tried to comprehend it.
• Xuanji Zi revealed that the First Young Master Ji had been ruined by the carvings, expelled by his father, and lost, while the Third Young Master Ji had searched for him and later quarreled with their father.
• After Lu Qing and the Old Doctor left, Xuanji Zi told a colleague that they were unfathomable and wondered whether both might be favored by destiny amid the Spiritual Qi Revival.

Lu Qing learned that the city-gate inscription contained the Grand Carefree Sword, a demanding Martial Saint inheritance, and adapted its sword principles into a new Carefree Sword Intent instead of rebuilding his cultivation. After deepening his understanding of the Intent Realm, he rested and began the next morning practicing the Body Nourishing Fist, where a sense of perfection stirred within him.

• On the journey back, Lu Qing and the Old Doctor discussed Central Province’s turmoil and agreed that they needed to guard the Qi Eating Method carefully.
• After dinner at the inn, Lu Qing used his Supernatural Ability to learn the martial inheritance hidden in the city-gate inscription.
• Lu Qing discovered that the Grand Carefree Sword required practitioners to abolish their cultivation and rebuild, so he rejected its foundation method and focused on its sword principles.
• Lu Qing merged insights from the Grand Carefree Sword into his own intent, forming the Carefree Sword Intent and advancing his understanding of the Intent Realm.
• The next morning, Lu Qing practiced the Body Nourishing Fist in the inn’s courtyard, and an aura of perfection suddenly spread from him.

Lu Qing’s body and Divine Soul Power reached the Postnatal Limit, and he began preparing to break through to the Innate Realm. He and his companions left Azure Dragon City through Azure Dragon Pass and crossed its immense bridge toward Central Province, where Lu Qing overheard Hu Lao San arranging for his daughter Xiao Lian to travel to the Profound Heart Sect.

• Lu Qing discovered that his body and Divine Soul Power had reached perfection again, bringing him to the Postnatal Limit and closer to refining the Earth Spirit Pearl.
• Lu Qing told the Old Doctor that he had learned something from the city-gate inscriptions, and the group set out for Azure Dragon Pass before it opened.
• Lu Qing and his companions waited for the powerful gate workers to open Azure Dragon Pass, paid the passage fee, and left Azure Dragon City.
• Lu Qing and his companions were awed by the great river and the enormous bridge leading toward Central Province, then began crossing it on foot.
• Lu Qing recognized Hu Lao San near the bridge as he urged his daughter Xiao Lian to enter the Profound Heart Sect and arranged for others to escort her.

Lu Qing and his companions crossed Azure Dragon Pass into Central Province, where he discovered an ancient rift and found that the region’s stronger spiritual energy suppressed divine-soul perception. Their journey toward Holy Mountain was interrupted when Hu Lao San’s daughter was attacked, and Lu Qing swiftly defeated one of her pursuers.

• Lu Qing used his Supernatural Ability to learn that the Azure Dragon Sky Line was cleaved through the cliff more than a hundred thousand years ago by a wielder of Greater Divine Power.
• After passing through the valley, Lu Qing and the Old Doctor sensed that Central Province had denser spiritual energy but suppressed their divine-soul perception, and they decided to travel toward Holy Mountain.
• Ma Gu’s carriage stopped abruptly after nearly striking Hu Lao San’s injured daughter, who was fleeing from three people posing as her escorts.
• Lu Qing recognized the girl and learned that the attackers wanted an item, while she confirmed that Hu Lao San was her father.
• The burly man in gray attacked Lu Qing with a Ghost-Head Broadsaber, but Lu Qing remained unharmed and left him sprawled on the ground with twisted limbs.

Lu Qing rescued Hu Ze Zhi from three attackers who wanted her Profound Heart Sect Token, then treated her injuries and invited her to travel with his group. As the carriage set off, Hu Ze Zhi met the others, and a voice asked Lu Qing why he was treating her so specially.

• Lu Qing crippled the woman in red and her two companions after they attacked Hu Ze Zhi, then killed them when they begged for mercy.
• Hu Ze Zhi explained that the attackers had tried to steal her token for the Profound Heart Sect Recruitment Ceremony, and Lu Qing set her broken leg and promised to prepare medicine to prevent scarring.
• Unable to return to Azure Dragon City before its gate reopened, Hu Ze Zhi accepted Lu Qing's offer to travel with his group.
• Lu Qing's group departed by carriage under the protection of the Azure Qi Stream, and Lu Qing introduced himself and his companions to Hu Ze Zhi.
• Hu Ze Zhi and Xiao Yan warmly praised each other, while a voice in Lu Qing's mind asked why he was treating Hu Ze Zhi so specially.