Chapter Summaries

Song Changsheng learned that the Golden Core True Persons had agreed to prevent the war from expanding, while the Heavenly Sword Sect and Heavenly Firmament Sect remained tense but restrained. In a secret meeting, Thunder King's followers debated Zhao Jiuming’s intentions and offered Jian Wushuang a Spirit Treasure on the condition that he break through under their protection.

• Feng Zhongyi and Hua Ruoxi visited Song Changsheng to ask about the Two Sects and One City’s position, and the three agreed to support one another if war or a demonic calamity arose.
• The Golden Core True Persons of the Golden Crow Sect, Sunset City, and Heavenly Meridian Sect agreed to keep the war from expanding, leaving the Heavenly Sword Sect without the Heavenly Meridian Sect’s support.
• The Heavenly Firmament Sect and Heavenly Sword Sect kept their forces at the border but refrained from fighting after Zhao Jiuming privately met True Lord Zhaoming.
• At a secret gathering, the Bearded Big Man ordered his followers to test Zhao Jiuming’s commitment, while Lei Kanze warned that the Heavenly Sword Sect’s sudden change in behavior might be a deception.
• Zhao Jiuming reported that he had used Jian Xu as a bargaining chip to buy time for Jian Wushuang’s breakthrough, and he requested a Spirit Treasure to help Jian Wushuang overcome his tribulation.
• The Bearded Big Man agreed to provide the Spirit Treasure on the condition that Jian Wushuang break through at their gathering place under his personal protection.

Zhao Jiuming sent Jian Xu to deliver letters to the Golden Crow Sect and Sunset City while Jian Wushuang prepared to attempt a Golden Core breakthrough without the Sword Enlightenment Stele. After receiving a message from True Lord Mingxia, Song Changsheng traveled to Sunset City and learned the conflict between Heavenly Sword Sect and Heavenly Firmament Sect was more complicated than it seemed.

• Zhao Jiuming ordered Jian Xu to secretly deliver letters to True Lord Jinyang and True Lord Mingxia, then entered a hidden chamber to meet Jian Wushuang.
• Jian Wushuang told Zhao Jiuming he still intended to break through to the Golden Core Stage despite lacking the Sword Enlightenment Stele.
• Heavenly Sword Sect and Heavenly Firmament Sect remained in a month-long stalemate as criticism of True Lord Zhaoming grew within Heavenly Firmament Sect.
• Song Changsheng received a Message Flying Sword from True Lord Mingxia instructing him to go to Sunset City and prepare his lineage.
• Song Changsheng traveled to Sunset City and met Feng Zhongyi and Hua Ruoxi, who shared his grave concern.

Mu Guibai revealed that the Thunder King Hall had orchestrated the conflict between the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Heavenly Firmament Sect to ignite a war across four cultivation worlds. Sunset City and its allies prepared to strike the Thunder King Hall’s strongholds, and Mu Guibai asked Song Changsheng to stay behind.

• Song Changsheng, Feng Zhongyi, and Hua Ruoxi met with Mu Guibai to learn why they had been summoned.
• Mu Guibai explained that the Thunder King Hall had captured Zhang Sheng and his Dao Protector, manipulated them into provoking Jian Xu, and used Zhang Sheng’s death to spark conflict between the sects.
• Mu Guibai said the Thunder King Hall aimed to draw Great Qi and Great Yu into war and had prepared further unrest in the Lu Kingdom and Gusu cultivation worlds.
• Zhao Mingjiu persuaded True Lord Zhaoming to grant him three months to find the Thunder King Hall agents, while True Lord Jinyang and other allies prepared to attack them.
• Mu Guibai assigned Song Changsheng and the others to locate and eliminate Thunder King Hall strongholds across Great Qi, then asked Song Changsheng to remain behind.

Song Changsheng accompanied Mu Guibai to the main battlefield to observe Golden Core Cultivators, while the Song Clan prepared to clear Thunder King Hall strongholds. At the same time, Zhao Jiuming ordered a surprise attack on Mount Tianniu to draw the Thunder King Hall away from Ten Thousand Swords City, knowing the assault would cost Heavenly Sword Sect lives.

• Mu Guibai invited Song Changsheng to the main battlefield so he could observe Golden Core Cultivators and deepen his comprehension of Law Dao Rhyme.
• Song Changsheng briefed Song Luzhou and the clan elders, assigning them to clear Thunder King Hall strongholds in Ling Province and Yang Province while he accompanied Mu Guibai.
• Mu Guibai led Song Changsheng, Yin Shang, and other Sunset City cultivators through a hidden Space Teleportation Array to Xuzhou.
• The Bearded Big Man refused to help Jian Wushuang break through unless Zhao Jiuming traded Mount Tianniu, threatening to let Jian Wushuang die beneath the Heavenly Tribulation.
• Zhao Jiuming chose to redirect the main battlefield from Ten Thousand Swords City to Mount Tianniu and ordered Jian Ming to launch a surprise assault across the front.

True Lord Zhaoming confronted his guilt over the coming attack, but his Martial Grand-Uncle persuaded him to accept the plan and act for the Heavenly Firmament Sect. As the Heavenly Sword Sect attacked Mount Tianniu, Thunder King Hall joined the battle against the Heavenly Firmament Sect, and the old woman entered the fray as Batu faced True Lord Zhaoming.

• True Lord Zhaoming watched the Heavenly Firmament Sect camp and lamented that his choices had helped bring about the deaths of Zhang Sheng and Lu Zhao.
• The old woman rebuked True Lord Zhaoming for giving Feng Lan false hope, then convinced him to put aside regret and accept responsibility for ending the crisis.
• Zhao Jiuming led the Heavenly Sword Sect in a surprise assault on Mount Tianniu, and the two sects began a devastating battle.
• Batu delayed Thunder King Hall’s intervention until Zhao Jiuming sent for help, then led its forces onto the battlefield and attacked the Heavenly Firmament Sect.
• Batu struck at Qu Jinsong, but True Lord Zhaoming intervened; Batu summoned another Golden Core cultivator, and the old woman arrived to confront him.

The Heavenly Sword Sect and Heavenly Firmament Sect’s trap drew nearly all the Great Yu and Great Qi Golden Core cultivators into a battle against Thunder King Hall, while Jian Wushuang began his breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm at Ten Thousand Swords Mountain. The chapter ended as a second bolt of tribulation lightning threatened the sect and a dark curtain of light covered the mountain.

• Batu discovered the trap, but Zhao Mingjiu revealed his allegiance and self-destructed to wound him before Jian Xu rallied the Heavenly Sword Sect against Thunder King Hall.
• True Lord Zhaoming and True Lord Youxuan joined forces with the Heavenly Sword Sect, and reinforcements from Qingyang Hall, Sunset City, the Golden Crow Sect, the Heavenly Meridian Sect, and other powers arrived.
• Nine Golden Core cultivators attacked Thunder King Hall’s three Golden Core cultivators, and the battle escalated as they unleashed Spirit Treasures.
• Jian Wushuang opened his eyes in seclusion as his breakthrough opportunity arrived, and tribulation thunder gathered over Ten Thousand Swords Mountain.
• The first bolt of Purple Thunder shattered the Ten Thousand Swords Great Array, and a black curtain of light covered the mountain as a second bolt prepared to fall.

Jian Wushuang attempted to break through to the Golden Core Stage but died after the fifth tribulation lightning struck, leaving Jian Xu as the Heavenly Sword Sect’s new leader. As the Mount Tianniu battle continued, Yin Shang concluded that Jian Wushuang’s failure was the ending everyone had wanted.

• The Heavenly Sword Sect used the Black Gold Lightning-Attracting Array to shield Jian Wushuang, but it failed against the third bolt, forcing him to face the remaining lightning himself.
• Jian Wushuang fought the fourth bolt, was badly burned, and began burning his origin before passing the Sect Master position to Jian Xu.
• The fifth bolt destroyed Jian Wushuang, and a woman explained to Yu Dongyang that his lack of confidence had undermined his chance to survive the tribulation.
• Jian Xu received Jian Ming’s message that Jian Wushuang had fallen and broke down as the Heavenly Sword Sect mourned its heavy losses.
• At Mount Tianniu, Yin Shang told Niu Dazhuang and Song Changsheng that Jian Wushuang’s failure was the ending everyone hoped for.

Song Changsheng watched Batu and Lei Kanze fall in the battle at Mount Tianniu, while True Lord Youxuan sacrificed herself to save True Lord Zhaoming from Batu’s self-destruction. With the Thunder King Hall’s resistance ended, Song Changsheng planned to enter seclusion and digest what he had learned.

• Song Changsheng reflected on Yin Shang’s warning about the dangers of pursuing a Golden Core breakthrough without enough strength or support.
• Batu burned his Golden Core Origin and charged at True Lord Zhaoming, but True Lord Youxuan pushed Zhaoming away and took the blast with Li Fusheng.
• Batu’s self-destruction killed him and grievously injured True Lord Youxuan and Li Fusheng, while True Lord Zhaoming carried Youxuan from the battlefield.
• Lei Kanze shattered his own Golden Core and fell, ending the Thunder King Hall’s resistance at Mount Tianniu.
• Song Changsheng observed the aftermath and decided to enter seclusion to absorb the insights he had gained from witnessing the battle.

After the Battle of Mount Tianniu, Song Changsheng returned to the Song Clan and entered seclusion to pursue the Late Purple Mansion Stage, while the clan chose to avoid provoking the weakened Heavenly Sword Sect. The story then shifted to Song Qingyun, who watched two wounded Demonic Beasts and saw someone else move in to claim them first.

• Song Changsheng paid respects to Jian Wushuang and learned from Niu Dazhuang about the Heavenly Firmament Sect's purge and rumors surrounding True Lord Zhaoming.
• Song Changsheng returned to Vast Peak, learned the Thunder King Hall strongholds had been cleared, and instructed Song Luzhou to keep the clan low-profile while he entered seclusion.
• Song Changsheng entrusted the Amethyst Jade Marrow to Song Luzhou for a future Purple Mansion breakthrough by him or Song Qingxing.
• Song Luzhou and Song Xianming rejected plans to annex Xiangzhou, and Jian Xu consequently abandoned plans targeting the Song Clan.
• In the Mist-Hidden Mountain Range, Song Qingyun watched a Striped-Eyed White-Forehead Tiger and a Four-Legged Earth Dragon wound each other, then angrily saw someone else move to take advantage.

Song Qingyun killed a cultivator who tried to steal his demon-beast prey, then returned to his hidden Immortal Cave and was knocked unconscious by a flash of green light. Three years later, Jinxuan summoned the beasts of a remote forest to guard his breakthrough to the Third-Tier and planned to lead them toward the Demon Domain.

• Song Qingyun defeated the yellow-robed cultivator with Enter Illusion and killed him despite his warning that the Demon Wind Group would retaliate.
• Song Qingyun found that the Striped-Eyed White-Forehead Tiger had fled, collected materials from the Four-Legged Earth Dragon, and erased his tracks before returning to his hidden Immortal Cave.
• A flash of green light appeared when Song Qingyun opened the Immortal Cave’s barrier, and he collapsed unconscious.
• Song Changsheng failed again to comprehend Universe in the Sleeve and resumed cultivating with the Power of Stars.
• Three years later, Jinxuan gathered tens of thousands of demon beasts beneath a spirit peak and announced that he would enter seclusion to break through to the Third-Tier.
• Jinxuan asked the demon beasts to guard him and vowed to lead them across the Cambalan River into the Demon Domain if he became a Great Demon.

Mie defended his decision not to help the Demon Race destroy the Great Qi Cultivation World, then offered rewards for killing the traitors Soul Returnless and Blood Consort. Meanwhile, Song Changsheng broke through to the Late Purple Mansion Stage, learned of the family’s recent progress, and heard that a Purple Mansion Great Perfection rogue cultivator had founded a lineage in Bingzhou.

• Jin challenged Mie for rejecting a plan to join the Demon Race’s invasion, but Mie argued that the Demon Race would exterminate humanity and destroy the Blood Demon Sect along with it.
• Jin stormed out after Mie contrasted the Demon Race of the Demon Domain with the weaker Demon Race of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, leaving the other leaders doubtful of Mie’s rule.
• Mie offered one Blood Demon Body Refining opportunity for killing Blood Consort and three for killing Soul Returnless, stirring the gathered Blood Demon Sect leaders.
• Song Changsheng broke through to the Late Purple Mansion Stage in the Wutong Small World and praised Song Qingxi for steadily cultivating after absorbing the Origin of Law.
• Song Qingxi reported several new Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including Jiang Ling, and told Song Changsheng that a Purple Mansion Great Perfection rogue cultivator had opened a new lineage in Bingzhou.

Song Changsheng heard about the Qingtian Sect's arrival in Bingzhou and reviewed the Song Clan's trade, intelligence, and growing Spirit Wine business. He left Qingyun's fate uncertain, with no word from him for three years but his Soul Lamp still burning.

• Song Qingxi told Song Changsheng that Qingtian Superior, a Violet Palace Great Perfection cultivator from the Great Chu Cultivation World, had seized Bingzhou's Third-Tier Water Spirit Vein and founded the Qingtian Sect.
• Song Changsheng approved the Song Clan's attendance at the Qingtian Sect's founding ceremony and its placement of spies among the new disciples, while warning Song Qingxi to stay vigilant.
• Song Qingxi reported that the Heavenly Firmament Sect had paid its old Cold Pond Brew balance and signed a new agreement at a higher price.
• Song Qingxi said the Four Directions City wine shop had earned 150,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones in net profit the previous year, and Song Changsheng credited Fairy Peng's help and the rent-free shop.
• Song Changsheng denied the rumors linking him romantically to Fairy Peng and ordered Song Qingxi to have Greenstone suppress further gossip.
• Song Qingxi told Song Changsheng that Song Qingyun had been out of contact for three years, though his Soul Lamp still burned brightly.

After Song Qingxi updated Song Changsheng on the clan’s growth, he decided that the Song Clan needed a stronger Mountain Protection Array to withstand Thunder King Hall and other threats. With the clan’s new income and resources from the Wutong Small World, he and Song Xianming could finally begin building it, and Song Changsheng headed for Vast Peak.

• Song Qingxi recounted the Song Clan’s recent changes, and Song Changsheng learned that its income had more than doubled.
• Song Changsheng recognized that the Song Clan’s Third-Tier High Grade Thousand Illusions Tracking Array could not protect it from the threats posed by Thunder King Hall and other powerful forces.
• Song Changsheng reviewed the clan’s four existing safeguards, including Zhangye County, the Vast Small World, and the teleportation route to Four Directions City.
• Song Changsheng and Song Xianming agreed to build a stronger Mountain Protection Array using the linked-array methods behind the Seven Star Mountain Locking Great Array.
• Song Changsheng decided the clan’s increased income and Wutong Small World materials could cover the project’s costs, then headed for Vast Peak.

Song Changsheng and Song Xianming began rebuilding the Song Clan’s Mountain Protection Array as a vast Five Elements Yin-Yang Great Array, an undertaking expected to take around ten years. Five years later, the clan was prospering, but the array remained unfinished, with years of work still ahead.

• Song Changsheng persuaded Song Xianming that the Song Clan had the resources and security to begin constructing a new Mountain Protection Array, and they planned a Five Elements Linked Formation centered on Vast Peak.
• Song Changsheng and Song Xianming estimated that weaving the thousands of formation flags, refining the formation bases, and inscribing the patterns would take about ten years and cost at least a million Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Song Changsheng and Song Xianming began modifying Vast Peak’s Thousand Illusions Tracking Array, while Song Luzhou contacted Third-Tier Earth Masters to relocate Spirit Veins.
• Five years later, the formation bases were complete and more than half the flags had been woven, but inscribing the formation patterns still required several more years.
• The Song Clan’s Spirit Wine sales continued to rise, and development of the Vast Small World uncovered several rare mineral veins that met the clan’s needs.

Song Youlin broke through to Foundation Establishment and comprehended Earth Element True Intent, prompting Song Changsheng to approve his long-awaited training journey. Song Youfu was also sent down the mountain, while Song Changsheng arranged secret protection for Song Youlin against the Song Clan’s enemies.

• Song Changsheng and Song Xianming watched Song Youlin’s breakthrough as Song Youfu joked about the spectacle and explained that he had served as cover for his younger cousin.
• Song Youlin rejected a Foundation Establishment Pill and used the Ancient Cultivator Foundation Establishment Method, then drew Earth Vein Qi into the vortex and comprehended Earth Element True Intent.
• Song Youlin emerged from Cloud Reaching Hall as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and Song Changsheng told him to stabilize his cultivation before descending the mountain for training.
• Song Changsheng also approved Song Youfu’s descent from the mountain so he could seek an opportunity to break through to Foundation Establishment.
• Song Changsheng and Song Xianming decided that Song Lutong, Qin Yu, and Qin Ze would secretly guard Song Youlin during his training journey, with instructions not to intervene unless his life was in danger.

Song Youlin secretly descended Vast Peak for a training journey, unaware that Song Lutong and two Hidden Guards were secretly assigned to protect him. After setting off toward Wangyue Market, he left Song Youfu behind, who discovered his absence at dawn and descended alone.

• Song Luyun persuaded Song Lutong to guard Song Youlin, and Song Changsheng gave him protective treasures and ordered him not to intervene unless Song Youlin faced mortal danger.
• Song Youlin secretly left Vast Peak at night with a detailed route planned across fifteen provinces, intending to visit Wangyue Market first.
• Qin Yu and Qin Ze followed Song Youlin as Hidden Guards, while Song Lutong secretly watched over all three of them.
• Song Youfu found Song Youlin's room empty at dawn, realized he had descended without him, and set off alone in annoyance.

Song Youlin reached Lin Province and killed three river bandits near Qionghua Market, while Song Youfu traveled slowly through Ling Province and stumbled upon a duel between two Foundation Establishment cultivators. After Xuan Chenzi and Old Devil Wang killed each other over the Dragon String Bow, Song Youfu decided to investigate the fallen treasure.

• Song Youlin traveled to Lin Province, where rival factions were searching for him after learning of his exceptional potential.
• Song Youlin arrived near Qionghua Market, killed three bandits who ambushed him from the river, and took their valuables.
• The Qin brothers followed Song Youlin and watched him head toward the market.
• Song Youfu, traveling alone toward Yang Province, took shelter from a storm in his magic tent and heard two cultivators fighting nearby.
• Xuan Chenzi and Old Devil Wang fought over the Dragon String Bow, unleashed their strongest attacks, and perished together.
• Song Youfu overcame his hesitation and hurried toward Old Devil Wang's fallen body.

Song Youfu reached Old Devil Wang’s corpse and cautiously claimed the White Bone Treasure Bow after discovering it could understand his commands. He later found Xuan Chenzi and another cultivator dead, collected their treasures, and was interrupted by movement in the bushes.

• Song Youfu found Old Devil Wang’s drained corpse and watched the White Bone Treasure Bow kill a small beast that approached it.
• Song Youfu negotiated with the bow, lifted it safely, and took it along with Old Devil Wang’s other valuables.
• Song Youfu found Xuan Chenzi’s trail but chose to wait after hearing him fight off another would-be scavenger.
• After waiting two days and one night, Song Youfu returned and found Xuan Chenzi and the other cultivator dead, then collected their belongings and the arrow in Xuan Chenzi’s chest.
• Song Youfu gathered the corpses together and celebrated his haul, then stood when he heard rustling in the bushes.

Song Youfu returned to the Song Clan with a Little Mouse Demon and a collection of spoils, including a mysterious bone bow and seven arrows. Song Changsheng identified them as the Dragon String Bow and Seven Star Arrows, legendary artifacts once wielded by Evil Butcher.

• Song Youfu chased a Little Mouse Demon into its tree hollow, recovered stolen treasures, and captured it as a potential demon pet.
• Song Youfu failed to refine the bone bow but bonded with the Spirit Sword Jinghong and searched the Storage Bags of three dead Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
• Song Youfu found seven arrows and brought them and the bone bow back to the Song Clan for Song Changsheng to examine.
• Song Youxing told Song Changsheng that Song Youfu had returned, and Song Changsheng used Shrinking the Ground into Inches to reach Cloud Reaching Hall.
• Song Changsheng recognized the bow as the Dragon String Bow and its seven arrows as the Seven Star Arrows, once owned by Evil Butcher.

Song Changsheng explained the Dragon String Bow’s history and helped Song Youfu claim it, then used its power to force him into a harsh cultivation regimen. Song Youfu left for the Cold Pond, resigned to enduring the torment so he could refine the Baleful Qi Essence within him.

• Song Changsheng told Song Youfu that Evil Butcher had used the Dragon String Bow to kill a Violet Palace Great Perfection Cultivator before dying of exhaustion.
• Song Changsheng explained that Song Youfu could not wield the bow until he improved his cultivation and physical strength, then offered to help him refine it.
• Song Changsheng extracted Song Youfu’s Heart’s Blood, used it to purge the bow’s Ferocious Baleful Qi, and helped Song Youfu leave his Divine Sense Imprint on it.
• Song Changsheng made Song Youfu consume Baleful Qi Essence and a wisp of life essence from the Evil Flood Dragon, explaining that the Killing Intent would torment him until he expelled it.
• Song Changsheng told Song Youfu to cultivate in the Cold Pond for three to five years to suppress and expel the Baleful Qi Essence, and Song Youfu reluctantly agreed.
• Song Youfu picked up the Dragon String Bow to leave, but Song Changsheng called him back.