Chapter Summaries

Chen Ping'an woke after two days of sleep and reunited with Pei Qian, Zhu Lian, and the others on Luopo Mountain. As he discussed the mountain’s new holdings and offered the green-robed young boy advice about his Water God brother, Wei Bo arrived with news of a young woman at the mountain gate.

• The Barefoot Elder knocked Chen Ping'an unconscious and told Shi Rou to let him sleep, then scattered the sea of clouds with a flick of his sleeve.
• Chen Ping'an woke after two days and spoke with Zhu Lian about his ordeal at Book Scroll Lake, Luopo Mountain’s new holdings, and a talented girl Zhu Lian hoped to bring as a Registered Disciple.
• Pei Qian woke, reunited with Chen Ping'an in tears, and told him about her years on Luopo Mountain; Chen Ping'an teased her and explained that several nearby peaks and part of Niujiao Mountain’s Immortal Ferry Crossing would soon belong to him.
• Chen Ping'an gave Pei Qian, the green-robed young boy, and the pink-skirted girl gifts, then advised the green-robed young boy to handle his friendship with the Water God brother according to his conscience.
• Wei Bo appeared at the cliff’s edge and told Chen Ping'an that a young woman had arrived at Luopo Mountain’s gate.

Chen Ping'an clarified his feelings with Ruan Xiu, then endured Ruan Qiong’s furious beating after he mistook their conversation for romantic rejection. On Piyun Mountain, Wei Bo warned Chen Ping'an that he and Ruan Xiu might be destined for a Water Fire Conflict, but Chen Ping'an declared that he would yield to her if their Great Daos clashed.

• Chen Ping'an welcomed Ruan Xiu to Luopo Mountain and told her he cared for her as a friend, not as a romantic partner.
• Ruan Xiu reassured Chen Ping'an that they could remain friends, then returned to her father, Ruan Qiong, and described their conversation.
• Ruan Qiong praised Chen Ping'an’s honesty but then attacked him, believing he was still pursuing Ruan Xiu; Chen Ping'an fled and escaped to Piyun Mountain.
• Wei Bo told Chen Ping'an that his strong ties to water and Ruan Xiu’s fire dragon suggested they might face a Water Fire Conflict.
• Chen Ping'an said he would step aside for Ruan Xiu if their Great Daos came into conflict and vowed to stand with reason.

Chen Ping'an discussed Luopo Mountain’s formations and his future plans with Wei Bo, then reunited with Zheng Dafeng and returned to the Bamboo Building, where Elder Cui tested his martial arts. The chapter ended with Chen Ping'an unconscious after Elder Cui struck him with a punch far beyond the Fifth Realm.

• Wei Bo explained why Chen Ping'an should postpone building his Mountain Protecting Formations and offered to help him contact Xu Ruo and negotiate with Great Li.
• Chen Ping'an lent Wei Bo the enshrined Sage’s jade token and left him the Wutong Leaf’s larger Glazed Golden Body fragment in exchange for support and a stalk of Courageous Bamboo.
• Wei Bo sent Chen Ping'an to Luopo Mountain, where he met Zheng Dafeng, who asked to return as the mountain’s gatekeeper.
• Elder Cui gave Chen Ping'an a letter from his student, then challenged him to fight and threw him across the Bamboo Building.
• Chen Ping'an attacked Elder Cui with his Fifth Realm techniques, but Elder Cui struck him with a punch he had restrained only to the Seventh Realm and knocked him unconscious.

Pei Qian tried to defend Chen Ping'an from the Barefoot Elder, who urged him to train her more harshly, while the elder also revealed that Ruan Xiu had killed a martial prodigy who might have rivaled Chen Ping'an. Chen Ping'an traveled to Longquan County City, brought Cen Yuanyi toward Luopo Mountain, and left her in Wei Bo's care after she mistook his absent-minded kindness for wicked intent; the chapter ended with Chen Ping'an visiting Old Man Yang and walking into the rain.

• Pei Qian rushed to the Bamboo Building to challenge the Barefoot Elder, but Chen Ping'an sent her back to bed before the elder could force her to train.
• The Barefoot Elder told Chen Ping'an that Ruan Xiu had killed a Great Li martial prodigy who might have competed with him for martial fortune, then advised him to understand what Ruan Xiu had done before rejecting her.
• Chen Ping'an and Zhu Lian traveled toward Longquan County City, where Chen Ping'an reunited with Dong Shuijing over wontons and agreed to introduce him to Guan Yiran and consider letting him manage the Immortal Ferry Crossing.
• Chen Ping'an collected Cen Yuanyi from her family and reassured Gu Can's mother about her son, but Cen Yuanyi mistook his distracted behavior for a scheme to prey on her.
• Cen Yuanyi fled from Chen Ping'an in the mountains and accused him of being a lecher, so Chen Ping'an called on Wei Bo to take her to Luopo Mountain while he went to Zhenzhu Mountain.
• Chen Ping'an visited Old Man Yang at the apothecary and asked what would happen to Zheng Dafeng; Old Man Yang said they would wait and see, and Chen Ping'an later stepped into the rain.

Chen Ping'an revisited the places and memories of his hometown, returned to Luopo Mountain, and considered his damaged cultivation and the Destiny Item he needed to forge. He ended by confronting how little time remained in his ten-year pact as Sword Immortal rang behind him.

• Chen Ping'an toured familiar sites in Longquan County, recalled his past and the people connected to them, and visited the Iron Talisman River temple before returning to Luopo Mountain.
• Chen Ping'an wrote letters to Cliff Academy, Qingxia Island, the Shuishui Kingdom, and Zhong Kui, then sent Pei Qian and Zhu Lian to deliver them.
• Chen Ping'an told the green-robed young boy and pink-skirted girl they should choose assumed names for the Patriarch Hall register, but they rejected his offer to name them.
• Chen Ping'an reviewed the Li family's finances, summoned the Lotus Sprite, and examined his Personal Seal alongside his Water Seal Destiny Item.
• Chen Ping'an worried that his fists and swordsmanship remained weak with half of his ten-year pact gone, and Sword Immortal rang against the wall behind him.

Chen Ping'an discussed his debts and plans for Luopo Mountain before Cui Cheng introduced himself and resumed beating him during martial training. Pei Qian and Shi Rou went to watch the shop in Qilong Alley, where Pei Qian worried about her master and teased Shi Rou.

• Chen Ping'an sorted his belongings, considered his debts, and reflected on the costly ceremonies Gu Can would organize to make amends.
• Chen Ping'an asked Shi Rou to accompany Pei Qian to watch the shop and encouraged Shi Rou to become more familiar with Longquan County.
• Cui Cheng revealed that he was the former head of the Cui Clan, then questioned Chen Ping'an about Pei Qian's training and his fears of death.
• Chen Ping'an told Cui Cheng about his strange dream, and Cui Cheng beat him while criticizing his hesitation and offering advice about speaking and acting cautiously.
• After returning from Niujiao Mountain, Pei Qian left the quhuang horse and went with Shi Rou to the Grass Head Shop in Qilong Alley.
• Pei Qian told Shi Rou she was pretending not to worry about Chen Ping'an and teased her about living in the Immortal Remains.

Chen Ping'an trained under Cui Cheng, who pushed him and Zhu Lian through brutal sparring while preparing Cen Yuanyi to practice the Six-Step Stance. After Chen Ping'an completed the formal purchase of six mountains for Luopo Mountain, he visited Pei Qian and Shi Rou in town.

• Cui Cheng ordered Zhu Lian to spar with Chen Ping'an under lethal pressure and later trained both men, while Chen Ping'an endured the beatings and Zhu Lian came to relish them.
• Cui Cheng assigned Cen Yuanyi two hundred thousand repetitions of the Six-Step Stance, and Zhu Lian began testing her diligence and grasp of its spirit.
• Chen Ping'an and Zhu Lian discussed Cen Yuanyi's training, Luopo Mountain's affairs, and Chen Ping'an's devotion to one person; Zhu Lian urged him to return whenever his travels took him far away.
• Chen Ping'an attended the contract signing at Linlu Academy, where the Great Li court formally registered six mountains under his name.
• Wei Bo invited Chen Ping'an to the coming Night Roaming Feast, but Chen Ping'an declined and asked to be sent to Zhenzhu Mountain so he could visit Pei Qian.
• Chen Ping'an found Pei Qian dozing at the counter, teased her, and shared pastries with her and Shi Rou.

Chen Ping'an comforted Pei Qian after she learned that townspeople had spread malicious rumors about him, then taught her about anger and restraint while they cleaned Liu Xianyang’s ancestral home. After Chen Ping'an broke through the fifth martial realm and gathered the Longquan County martial fortune into a pearl for Pei Qian to eat, Cui Cheng summoned him to witness the tenth realm and recover before traveling.

• Chen Ping'an visited Grass Head Shop and listened as Aunt Chen reminisced about his parents, while Pei Qian watched and softened her anger over the gossip she had heard about him.
• Chen Ping'an took Pei Qian to Liu Xianyang’s ancestral home, where they cleaned together and he explained why he did not let insults make him angry.
• Chen Ping'an told Pei Qian to understand the world before acting, then demonstrated her swordplay with a branch and walked her back to Yashui Shop.
• After recalling Mr. Qi’s words about remaining good despite understanding the world’s complexity, Chen Ping'an declared that he would accept the martial fortune and gathered it into a radiant pearl.
• Chen Ping'an gave the pearl to Pei Qian, who swallowed it, before Cui Cheng brought him to the Bamboo Building to witness the tenth realm and heal before setting out.

After recovering from his breakthrough, Chen Ping'an settled Luopo Mountain's affairs and prepared to leave before the Night Roaming Feast, while welcoming old acquaintances and arranging for those under his care. He departed as the feast approached, and Li Baoping, reunited with Jiu'er in Red Candle Town, watched a bird pass overhead as Chen Ping'an traveled south.

• Chen Lingjun and Chen Ruchu chose their names, and Chen Ping'an promised to arrange for Chen Lingjun to attend Wei Bo's Night Roaming Feast.
• Chen Ping'an answered letters from Liu Zhimao, Liu Chongrun, Gu Can, and Guan Yiran, then spoke with Dong Shuijing about meeting Guan Yiran.
• Chen Ping'an reunited with Xuan Gu Zi, the little cripple, and Jiu'er, invited them to visit Luopo Mountain, and later discussed Pei Qian's schooling with her.
• Liu Qingshan and Liu Boqi arrived at Luopo Mountain, and Chen Ping'an arranged places for them at Linlu Academy to watch the Night Roaming Feast.
• Chen Ping'an left Luopo Mountain for the Immortal Ferry Crossing as Pei Qian pretended not to notice; Li Baoping reunited with Jiu'er in Red Candle Town while Mao Xiaodong's academy party visited Great Li.
• A young man in green robes wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a sword traveled south through Caiyi Kingdom.

Chen Ping'an reunited with Yang Huang's household and visited Wu Shuowen, Zhao Shu Xia, and Zhao Luan in Yanzhi County. After learning that Misty Mountain's young master was pursuing Zhao Luan and its sect leader sought to take her, Chen Ping'an flew alone to Misty Mountain's Patriarch Hall to confront them.

• Chen Ping'an visited Yang Huang, Yingying, and the old nanny, shared wine and stories, and promised to return with Miss Ning.
• Chen Ping'an warned the local Mountain God to leave Yang Huang's household undisturbed, then traveled to Yanzhi County and reunited with Wu Shuowen, Zhao Shu Xia, and Zhao Luan.
• Wu Shuowen explained that Misty Mountain's Great Immortal Master wanted Zhao Luan as a disciple partly because his dissolute son desired her.
• Chen Ping'an said he would go to Misty Mountain's Patriarch Hall to reason with its leaders, then set off alone on his flying sword despite Zhao Luan's pleas.
• Chen Ping'an's golden sword-light tore through the rain toward Misty Mountain, announcing his arrival to the sect.

Chen Ping'an arrived at Misty Mountain as Zhao Luan’s Dao protector and forced Lü Yundai and Lü Tingjiao to answer for coveting her cultivation talent and beauty. After Chen Ping'an defeated Lü Yundai and returned to stop the sect from seeking help from General Ma, Lü Yundai swore to leave Zhao Luan alone, and Chen Ping'an flew south to continue cultivating.

• Misty Mountain’s cultivators activated their Mountain Protecting Formation as Chen Ping'an approached, but he cut through it with one sword strike.
• Chen Ping'an told Lü Yundai and Lü Tingjiao to stop coveting Zhao Luan, then split their Patriarch Hall and struck Lü Yundai with a hidden fist.
• Lü Tingjiao proposed seeking help from General Ma, so Chen Ping'an returned to Misty Mountain and confronted them before they could act.
• Chen Ping'an gave Lü Yundai a choice between his son’s life and the Patriarch Hall; Lü Yundai chose to swear an oath that Misty Mountain would leave Zhao Luan alone.
• Chen Ping'an left Misty Mountain on the Sword Immortal sword and practiced the Corpse Seat stance as he flew south.

Chen Ping'an returned to Yanzhi County, taught Zhao Shu Xia martial arts, and left gifts for Zhao Luan’s cultivation before departing for Shuishui Kingdom. On the way, he encountered Wei Wei and killed a newly enfeoffed Mountain God who threatened her, then returned to the ruined temple to practice through the night.

• Chen Ping'an visited the Land God Temple to offer incense to Shen Wen, then returned to Wu Shuowen’s residence and reassured Zhao Luan that the danger at Misty Mountain had passed.
• Chen Ping'an taught Zhao Shu Xia a qi-refining mnemonic, a Sword Furnace Stance, and a new fist stance, while Zhao Luan watched.
• Chen Ping'an offered Wu Shuowen Immortal Money, talismans, a Swordplay Manual, and the imitation sword Quhuang, and asked to take Zhao Shu Xia as a Registered Disciple; Wu Shuowen accepted the gifts but returned the Valley Rain Coins.
• Chen Ping'an gently answered Zhao Luan’s feelings before leaving Yanzhi County for Shuishui Kingdom.
• At a ruined temple, Chen Ping'an met Wei Wei and two female Ghosts, then killed the Mountain God who had come to seize them and left without harming Wei Wei.
• Chen Ping'an returned to the temple, practiced through the night, and walked out at dawn to train beside the cliff.

Li Baoping reunited with her grandfather and Pei Qian as the Cliff Academy procession reached Longquan County, while Chen Ping'an traveled to Jian Shui Mountain Villa to visit Song Yushao. The chapter left Chen Ping'an speaking with the villa's gatekeeper as the threatened villa faced pressure from Chu Hao, Wang Yiran, and Su Lang.

• Li Baoping greeted her grandfather, then reunited with Pei Qian, who urged her to visit the now-thin Chen Ping'an.
• Li Baoping visited her family home and the Yashui Shop with Pei Qian, while Li Huai brought tobacco and clothes to Old Man Yang.
• Gao Xuan tearfully welcomed the Sui scholars at Linlu Academy, and Liu Qingshan reassured Liu Boqi that he loved her.
• Chen Ping'an learned from a Lord Earth God that Jian Shui Mountain Villa faced relocation orders from Chu Hao and challenges from Wang Yiran and Su Lang.
• Chen Ping'an arrived at Jian Shui Mountain Villa and asked its gatekeeper to tell Song Yushao that he had come to treat him to hotpot.

Chen Ping'an reunited with Song Yushao at Jian Shui Mountain Villa, drove Su Lang away, and shared wine and hotpot with the old Sword Saint before leaving. He later learned that Song Yushao had surrendered a treasured bamboo sword sheath under threat, and he lingered near the old battlefield, troubled by what he had discovered.

• Chen Ping'an arrived at Jian Shui Mountain Villa, told Song Yushao he had stopped Su Lang, and learned that Song Fengshan and Liu Qian planned to relocate the villa through a deal with Han Yuanshan.
• Song Yushao explained that Su Lang had challenged him to test his sword after advancing in realm, while fighting or dying would have endangered the villa's agreement with Han Yuanshan.
• Chen Ping'an and Song Yushao drank together, and Chen Ping'an noticed that the old man's state of mind had changed, though he did not ask him about it.
• The next morning, Chen Ping'an drove Su Lang away with his sword, then shared hotpot with Song Yushao before leaving Jian Shui Mountain Villa.
• Wei Wei arrived after Chen Ping'an had left and discussed Su Lang's defeat and her plans to seek the Mountain God position with Liu Qian.
• After leaving town, Chen Ping'an learned from the local Mountain God that a powerful outsider had forced Song Yushao to surrender the bamboo sword sheath by threatening Song Fengshan and Liu Qian, and he remained near the old battlefield, troubled by the revelation.

Chen Ping'an stopped an attack on Madam Chu’s convoy, preventing the jianghu fighters from being used to frame Jian Shui Mountain Villa. He defeated a mountain sword cultivator, took the man’s Natal Flying Sword, and rode away after asking Wei Wei to deliver a message to Senior Song.

• Chen Ping'an recognized members of the convoy, including Ma Lu, Madam Chu, Han Yuanxue, and Wang Shanhu, and stepped aside as they passed.
• More than thirty jianghu fighters rushed from the woods to attack the convoy, claiming they had come to execute the Chu faction as traitors.
• Chen Ping'an knocked down one fighter, deflected arrows, and stood between the cavalry and the jianghu fighters, warning them not to involve Jian Shui Mountain Villa.
• A Sea Gazing Realm sword cultivator confronted Chen Ping'an, who stopped the man’s flying sword and overcame his twelve-sword technique with a punch.
• Chen Ping'an took the sword cultivator’s Natal Flying Sword into his Sword Nurturing Gourd, let the jianghu fighters flee, and borrowed a horse to leave.
• Chen Ping'an asked Wei Wei to tell Senior Song he would return the scabbard taken to Central Divine Continent and come back to drink with him before traveling there.

Wei Wei relayed Chen Ping'an’s message to Jian Shui Mountain Villa, where Song Yushao renewed his confidence in his principles and agreed to help Wei Wei seek a Mountain God position. As Han Yuanshan revealed himself among the visitors and Wang Shanhu learned that Chen Ping'an was now a Sword Immortal, Chen Ping'an reached Qingfu Workshop and happily reunited with the familiar shopkeeper and his little Green-clothed people.

• Wei Wei reported Chen Ping'an’s account of the battle, and Song Fengshan and Liu Qian recognized the significance of his warning about the powerful Far Travel Realm martial artist.
• Song Yushao told Song Fengshan that Chen Ping'an could carry forward the principles he had once doubted, urged him to appreciate Liu Qian, and agreed to help Wei Wei become a Mountain God in exchange for her watching over the villa’s foundations.
• Han Yuanshan discarded his disguise as an elderly coachman and revealed himself to the visitors, while Liu Qian spoke with Madam Chu, Wang Shanhu, and Han Yuanxue.
• Liu Qian told Wang Shanhu that the green-robed Sword Immortal who had defeated Su Lang was Chen Ping'an, leaving Wang Shanhu fearful that her past insult might endanger her family’s mountain villa.
• Chen Ping'an arrived at Qingfu Workshop, recognized the familiar shopkeeper’s room and its little Green-clothed people, and laughed with delight.

Chen Ping'an visited Qingfu Workshop, bought a set of Ghost-Slaying Back Charms, and received a veiled clay figurine as a gift after the proprietor recognized him as a possible Sword Immortal. On the ferry south, he confronted a jealous cultivator and reflected that he needed to stop suppressing his thoughts and travel to Northern Juluzhou soon.

• Chen Ping'an reunited with Hong Yangbo at Qingfu Workshop and examined three prized treasures, especially the Xi Zai Tie calligraphy copybook.
• Chen Ping'an bought Hong Yangbo's four Ghost-Slaying Back Charms for five Valley Rain Coins, intending to give them to Zhong Kui, and Hong Yangbo later sent Qingcai to give him the veiled clay figurine.
• Qingcai's proprietor told Hong Yangbo that Chen Ping'an was likely the young Sword Immortal from Jian Shui Mountain Villa and arranged for Qingfu Workshop to waive its commission on the charms.
• Chen Ping'an bought three small objects from two children near the ferry, drank Dragon Sinew Wine, and boarded the ferry south.
• Chen Ping'an watched a Songxi Kingdom couple get scolded by their sect elder, then rebuked the jealous young cultivator who had reported them until the man fled.
• Chen Ping'an considered Cui Cheng's warning about his Inner Demon and concluded that he needed to let his thoughts flow and go to Northern Juluzhou soon.

Chen Ping'an returned to Great Li, visited the Embroidered Flower River Water God, and traveled through Red Candle Town as he made his way toward Luopo Mountain. The chapter left him beside the Iron Talisman River, where a River God challenged him to spar and he warned that he might kill her.

• Chen Ping'an left the ferry over Great Li and entered the Embroidered Flower River Water God's domain to visit Gu Tao, who could not leave his work repairing the mountain's roots.
• The Embroidered Flower River Water God told Chen Ping'an about Madam Chu's tragic past and asked him to help settle her grievances, but Chen Ping'an refused.
• Chen Ping'an visited the bookshop in Red Candle Town, bought several books, and left after the newly appointed Chongdan River Water God noticed his visit.
• The Chongdan River Water God visited the Land God of Steamed Bun Mountain and agreed to pass along his request for a City God appointment, while the Vermilion Robe Boy recounted meeting two girls from Luopo Mountain.
• Chen Ping'an reached the Iron Talisman River, where the River God appeared with the Golden Ear Long Sword and asked to spar with him; he warned her that he might kill her.

Chen Ping'an returned to Qilong Alley, where he spoke with Wei Bo about his struggle to reconcile careful judgment with decisive action, then reunited with Pei Qian and Li Baoping before they parted ways. As Chen Ping'an took Pei Qian back to Luopo Mountain, other travelers and cultivators continued their journeys across the continents.

• Yang Hua confronted Chen Ping'an by the Iron Talisman River, but Wei Bo sent him to Qilong Alley and later warned her to stop provoking him.
• Chen Ping'an listened to Shi Rou describe local affairs, gave her a red-glass bowl, and advised her to adapt to her life among the people around her.
• Chen Ping'an explained his doubts to Wei Bo, who urged him to keep reasoning with people while making his actions faster and surer; Wei Bo also told him about political disputes over Gu Can's father's promotion.
• Pei Qian and Li Baoping reunited with Chen Ping'an, who gave them gifts and learned that Pei Qian had decided to attend school; Li Baoping then left with her grandfather.
• Chen Ping'an took Pei Qian to Luopo Mountain as several other travelers and cultivators continued their journeys in different parts of the world.

Chen Ping'an and Pei Qian met Song Yuan, Liu Runyun, and Zhou Qionglin on the road, and Pei Qian revealed that she had sensed Zhou Qionglin’s hidden sadness. Back on Luopo Mountain, Chen Ping'an learned that Zhu Lian’s partridge reference hinted at Ruan Xi; he went upstairs to see her before his imminent departure.

• Chen Ping'an and Pei Qian let Song Yuan’s convoy pass, but Zhou Qionglin asked to visit Luopo Mountain and Chen Ping'an deferred the invitation until he returned.
• Pei Qian told Chen Ping'an she had seen starving, ragged people in Zhou Qionglin’s heart, and he asked Pei Qian to invite Zhou to Luopo Mountain after he left.
• Chen Ping'an returned to Luopo Mountain, where Zhu Lian showed him paintings of Northern Yue Deities and remarked that the mountain partridges’ calls stirred feelings of parting.
• Chen Chujian recited lines about partridges, and Pei Qian realized Zhu Lian’s remark referred to Ruan Xi.
• Chen Ping'an left the melon seeds and went upstairs to see Ruan Xi, accepting that she might beat him.