Chapter Summaries

Lu Chen learned that the Sword Sect successor Xiao Xuanye had challenged him to a duel in two days, but he remained confident despite her formidable reputation. Cui Hu arrived to protect Lu Chen and urged him to impress Breeze Swordmaster of the Sky Sword Sect, whose favor could shield him from future enemies.

• Han Wu-bing told Lu Chen that Xiao Xuanye had sent a challenge letter through Wind Listening Pavilion, and Lu Chen tore it up.
• Han Wu-bing explained Xiao Xuanye’s past victories and warned that she had likely forged her Sword Heart and opened the Human Body's Secret Treasures.
• Lu Chen said he feared Xiao Xuanye’s protector more than Xiao Xuanye herself, and Cui Hu arrived after Lu Chen sensed him in the courtyard.
• Cui Hu said Cui Zhengxuan had sent him to watch over Lu Chen and promised to handle Xiao Xuanye’s protector.
• Cui Hu revealed that Breeze Swordmaster was nearby and encouraged Lu Chen to show his Sword Dao talent so he might become Breeze Swordmaster’s disciple.
• Lu Chen agreed that defeating Xiao Xuanye would be easy and looked forward to the duel.

Lu Chen and the righteous fighters drove the Blood Offering Sect into the mountains, while the Breeze Swordmaster used Sever Karma to break the Holy Maiden’s divine manifestation. The injured Holy Maiden fled deeper into the mountains and attacked a group of righteous fighters as Lu Chen raced toward the screams.

• Lu Chen gained a large number of Merit Points after the Blood Offering Sect elders self-destructed and scattered the fighters.
• The Blood Offering Sect Holy Maiden summoned a towering Rakshasa manifestation that overwhelmed the Breeze Swordmaster’s companions.
• The Breeze Swordmaster used Sever Karma to break the Holy Maiden’s connection to the Blood God, but the technique badly injured him.
• The Holy Maiden fled with Sword Qi still inside her, seeking human blood to heal herself.
• The Holy Maiden encountered righteous fighters, pounced on them, and left them screaming as Lu Chen hurried toward the disturbance.

Lu Chen learned that Master Yun Kong had blocked his Master, forcing the Imperial Family to abandon its raid on the Xu Family. He killed two wounded Lin Family Grandmasters, then headed for the Heavenly Prison to claim its prisoners and pursue more Merit Points.

• Zhao Xuantian sensed Lu Chen's Level Three Blade Intent and ordered the Imperial Family and Xu Family forces to withdraw after learning that Master Yun Kong had stopped Lu Chen's Master.
• Lu Chen learned that the aristocratic families were backing Master Yun Kong, then revealed he had reached the second level of the Spirit Hidden Realm in one day.
• Lu Chen asked Zhao Xuantian to arrange a trip to the Azure Void Ancient Land, locate Blood Offering Sect strongholds, preserve the Heavenly Prison prisoners, and restore Cui Zhengxuan to office.
• Zhao Xuantian took Lu Chen to the mountain forest, where Lu Chen killed the two surviving Lin Family Grandmasters after learning the Otherworlders were connected to the Ye Family.
• Lu Chen returned with Zhao Xuantian and the Breeze Swordmaster, then immediately went to the Heavenly Prison to claim its prisoners.

Lu Chen killed two Profound Heaven Sect elders and the Pure Maiden Sect’s Saintess in the Heavenly Prison after learning of their crimes. He left with the Pure Maiden Sect as a new target and remained focused on obtaining the final four styles of the Seven Styles of Divine Extinction.

• Lu Chen ignored Li Cangjian’s warning and beheaded the two elders, earning 500 Merit Points.
• Li Cangjian told Lu Chen that the eighth level held the former Pure Maiden Sect Saintess, who had preyed on young boys.
• Lu Chen attacked the Saintess, severed her limbs, and killed her, earning 900 Merit Points.
• Li Cangjian explained that the ninth level contained a bronze coffin that only the imperial ancestor could enter.
• Lu Chen left the prison and set his sights on the Pure Maiden Sect while pursuing the final four styles of the Seven Styles of Divine Extinction.

Lu Chen used Merit Points to advance through the Grandmaster Realm and condense a Golden Body, then discovered that his new vision revealed the black mist surrounding the world and the hidden condition of those around him. After learning that Dugu Wudi carried severe Dao injuries and guarded a Demon King, Lu Chen considered using his karma-cutting technique against it.

• Lu Chen spent Merit Points to reach the Ninth Level Grandmaster Realm and then condensed a Golden Body.
• Lu Chen examined the world through his Golden Body, saw the black mist, and recognized the Breeze Swordmaster, Qing Lian, and Dugu Wudi within it.
• Dugu Wudi recognized Lu Chen's breakthrough and explained that his body was covered in Dao injuries left by hidden sects and hidden Lineages.
• Dugu Wudi told Lu Chen that Life Source Elixir could heal his injuries and described the black mist and the strange behavior some Golden Body experts showed before death.
• Lu Chen saw the Demon King as a blood-red presence in the mist and traced karmic threads connecting it to himself, Dugu Wudi, and others.
• Lu Chen considered using the sixth style of his Seven Styles of Divine Extinction to sever the Demon King's karma, but decided to prepare further first.

Lu Chen completed the Profound Ice Hell Sutra and prepared to face Xiao Xuanye as Qingyuan City gathered for their duel. Xiao Xuanye arrived at the arena, confident she would defeat him within ten moves.

• News spread that Xiao Xuanye had challenged Lu Chen to a duel in Qingyuan City, drawing Jianghu people eager to see them fight.
• Two days later, Qingyuan City filled with spectators and gambling pools opened as Shangguan Xue'er urged Han Wu-bing to place a bet.
• Lu Chen spent Merit Points to complete the Profound Ice Hell Sutra and convert his inner force into Mystic Ice Inner Force, then left to meet Xiao Xuanye.
• Cui Hu told Lu Chen that Xiao Xuanye had recently reached the first level of the Physical Body Hidden Realm, but Lu Chen said he was ready.
• Xiao Xuanye left Wind Listening Pavilion with Zhou Tai and her junior sister, declaring that she would defeat Lu Chen within ten moves.
• Xiao Xuanye reached the packed arena, where spectators admired her sword intent and invincible sword heart.

After comprehending the Sword Heart Source Diagram, Lu Chen reached Level Three Sword Intent and asked to descend the mountain to test his swordsmanship. Dugu Wudi arranged for him to join the Breeze Swordmaster in an operation against a Blood Offering Sect stronghold, then sent him to prepare for the Heaven Gate Baptism ten days later.

• Lu Chen broke through to Level Three Sword Intent after studying the Sword Heart Source Diagram, while Dugu Wudi was astonished by his talent.
• Lu Chen told Dugu Wudi he wanted to descend the mountain and test his swordsmanship, and Dugu Wudi agreed to send him out the following day with the Breeze Swordmaster.
• Dugu Wudi explained that the Blood Offering Sect had joined forces with the Northern Barbarians and that Great Yu's major sects had surrounded its stronghold; Lu Chen eagerly agreed to go.
• Dugu Wudi told Lu Chen he could take part in the Heaven Gate Baptism after returning from the stronghold, which might raise his cultivation by two levels.
• The Breeze Swordmaster reported that Lu Chen had badly injured their junior sister, but Dugu Wudi declined to intervene and ordered him to prepare to lead Lu Chen to the stronghold.

Lu Chen exposed Lin Wanhua’s attempt to use spiritual seduction on him and attacked her, leaving her crippled after cutting off her right thigh. He warned Zhou Song that he would defend himself against anyone who provoked him, while Zhou Song acknowledged the Qingzhou Lin Family’s influence and Lu Chen’s backing from the Sky Sword Sect.

• Lu Chen sensed Lin Wanhua’s spiritual power trying to influence his soul, returned, and confronted her about attempting to seduce him.
• Lin Wanhua attacked Lu Chen with the Seven Kill Coiling Dragon Whip, but he shattered her whip and wounded her with his blade.
• Lu Chen ignored Zhou Song’s pleas to call the attack a misunderstanding and cut off Lin Wanhua’s right thigh.
• The woman in white stopped Lin Wanhua’s bleeding and carried her away as Huangfu Yun applauded Lu Chen.
• Lu Chen told Zhou Song he would not start trouble but could not guarantee what he would do if others provoked him; Zhou Song noted that Lu Chen had the Sky Sword Sect behind him.

Lu Chen stormed the Beggar Clan's den to punish its members and help a desperate mother search for her missing child. He reached the Beggar Chief's hall, where three abducted children were being held.

• Lu Chen returned to Boulderstone City and headed for the Beggar Clan's den, passing Lin Yun's grand carriage procession.
• At the den, Lu Chen broke into the Daoist Temple and found beggars beating a woman who was searching for her child.
• Lu Chen killed one beggar and crippled seven or eight others before demanding to know where the Beggar Chief was.
• The woman told Lu Chen that she had seen two beggars take her child into the den, and he brought her along to search for the child.
• Lu Chen found the Beggar Chief with three abducted children pinned down, while a beggar praised the little girl to him.

Lu Chen overwhelmed a group of Ancient Clan youths and forced most of them to join the Pacification Bureau, while news of the Xu Family’s destruction spread through the Jianghu. Yue Wuxia investigated the killings as the Blood Offering Sect Master arrived with clues about who was responsible.

• Lu Chen suppressed eight Ancient Clan youths with his sword intent, forced them to sign contracts, and severed one woman’s arm when she refused.
• Shen Lian escorted the seven surviving recruits away, while Lu Chen kept them for the Pacification Bureau.
• News spread that the hidden Xu Family and six Ancient Clan descendants had been killed, alarming two Xu Family members already serving the Bureau.
• The Ye Family head sought refuge with Yue Wuxia, who suspected Dugu Wudi might have used an external incarnation to destroy the Xu Family.
• The Blood Offering Sect Master arrived and offered Yue Wuxia clues about the destruction of the hidden Xu Family.

After the Ancient Clans emerged and revealed that the world’s Spirit Energy was reviving, Lu Chen and Dugu Wudi searched for the Blood Offering Sect and wiped out its hidden strongholds. Lu Chen gained enough Merit Points to be certain he would enter the Heaven Rankings, and he eagerly awaited anyone who challenged him.

• News spread that powerful Ancient Clan members had entered the Imperial City, where they negotiated with Zhao Xuantian and sought territory to settle in.
• Zhao Xuantian told Lu Chen, Dugu Wudi, and Breeze Swordmaster that the Ancient Clans had spoken of reviving Spirit Energy and a dangerous secret realm that would open soon.
• Lu Chen asked Dugu Wudi to help him find the Blood Offering Sect, and the two left to hunt its strongholds.
• Dugu Wudi and Lu Chen secretly destroyed the Blood Offering Sect’s strongholds, forcing its leader to flee while the Holy Son proposed exploiting the Ancient Clans’ hostility toward Lu Chen.
• After half a month of purging the Blood Offering Sect and other threats, Lu Chen saw his Merit Points and became certain he would enter the Heaven Rankings.

Lu Chen completed the Golden Softsword’s transformation into a divine weapon and mastered the sixth style of the Seven Styles of Divine Extinction before reuniting with Dugu Wudi, Breeze Swordmaster, and Zhao Xuantian. They were stunned by his Fifth Level Grandmaster cultivation, Level Four Sword Intent, and newly transformed weapon, then hurried back to the Sky Sword Sect.

• Ye Lingyun found the Ye Family slaughtered and burning, then fought the red-furred ancestor after the ancestor attacked him.
• Lu Chen discovered that the Golden Softsword had become a divine weapon, while the Black Blade was damaged by losing its golden essence.
• Lu Chen spent 5,000 Merit Points to perfect the sixth style of the Seven Styles of Divine Extinction, gaining the ability to perceive and sever karmic threads.
• Dugu Wudi, Breeze Swordmaster, and Zhao Xuantian arrived and learned that Lu Chen had reached the Fifth Level Grandmaster Realm and cultivated Level Four Sword Intent.
• Lu Chen revealed the Golden Softsword’s divine might, leaving his companions shocked, and Dugu Wudi led him back toward the Sky Sword Sect.

Lu Chen defeated Monk Duanxin, broke through to the second level of the True Qi Hidden Treasury, and gained the Soul Rebound talent and a True Essence Pill. The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion's mirror then ranked him sixty-eighth on the Human Rankings and called him a monster unseen in a thousand years.

• Monk Duanxin accepted his defeat by Lu Chen and left without resentment, while onlookers realized Lu Chen might be the first person in thousands of years to rank on both the Qilin and Human Rankings.
• Lu Chen spent merit points to advance his Primordial Unity Art, triggering a breakthrough and earning Soul Rebound and a True Essence Pill as his fame rose.
• Lu Chen inspected his new talent and pill, then left, planning to undergo the Heavenly Gate Baptism and advance further.
• Elders at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion expected Lu Chen's rise to slow, but their mirror revealed that he had defeated Duanxin and ranked sixty-eighth on the Human Rankings.
• The elders were stunned when the Heavenly Secrets Mirror called Lu Chen a monster unseen in a thousand years.

Ouyang Feiying prepared for his birthday celebration while dismissing Lu Chen’s threat, and the Blood Offering Sect also began tracking Lu Chen. Three days later, Lu Chen reached Evergreen Sect with Cui Hu and prepared to face Ouyang Feiying himself.

• Ouyang Feiying learned that Lu Chen planned to visit Evergreen Sect in three days and ordered that he be killed if he caused trouble.
• Ouyang Wanfeng suggested capturing Lu Chen and extracting his secret, and Ouyang Feiying praised his ambition.
• The Blood Offering Sect’s Holy Son learned that Lu Chen was heading to Boulderstone City and ordered his men to capture Lu Chen once Cui Hu left him.
• Huangfu Yun learned that Lu Chen had gone to Boulderstone City and set off to find him.
• Three days later, Lu Chen arrived at Evergreen Sect with Cui Hu and refused his offer of help.

Lu Chen confronted the two Ye Family elders who had attacked King Cui and demanded that they kneel and apologize. He killed both elders by enduring their lightning attacks and countering with his saber, while the Breeze Swordmaster faced Ye in the distance.

• The Breeze Swordmaster stopped Ye on the official road and challenged him to a three-move wager while keeping him from reaching Lu Chen.
• Lu Chen ordered the two Ye Family elders to kneel before King Cui and Cui Hu and apologize, but they attacked him instead.
• One Ye Family elder unleashed Raging Thunder Dragon as the other attacked from the side, and Lu Chen charged straight into the first elder's lightning strike.
• Lu Chen absorbed the lightning with his Thunderbolt King talent, endured the elder's true-qi assault, and stabbed him through the throat with his saber.
• The second Ye Family elder struck Lu Chen with a lightning fist, but Lu Chen endured the blow and pierced the elder's head with his saber.

Lu Chen slaughtered the demons at Boundless Mountain and destroyed their Blood Sacrificial Altar, but the blast fused the Ye Family ancestor’s remnant soul with a Demon King’s remnant soul into a chaotic Golden Body Realm being. He escaped, ordered the forces to withdraw and burn the Ye Family compound, and headed for the Sky Sword Sect as the Ye Family head arrived.

• Lu Chen killed the Third Eagle Elder and pursued the demons, cutting down nearly all of them with his divine sword.
• Two demons fled into a cave, so Lu Chen destroyed it with a combined saber-and-sword attack, killing them and earning Merit Points.
• The shattered cave released blood mist and triggered the fusion of the Ye Family ancestor’s remnant soul and a Demon King’s remnant soul.
• Lu Chen sensed that the fused being had reached the Golden Body Realm, fled, and warned the assembled forces that the Ye Family ancestor was still alive.
• Lu Chen ordered everyone to withdraw from Boundless Mountain and set the Ye Family compound on fire, then told Dugu Wudi that he was safe and headed for the Sky Sword Sect.
• About half an hour later, the Ye Family head arrived at the burning headquarters.

Lu Chen perfected his saber techniques, reached Level Four Blade Intent, and evolved his Black Blade into a divine artifact. After learning that the hidden Xu Family and the Ancient Clans planned to kill him, he went to their gathering and confronted them.

• Lu Chen spent Merit Points perfecting the Seven Styles of Divine Extinction and several supreme saber techniques, raising his saber intent to Level Four.
• Lu Chen evolved the Black Blade into a divine artifact, named it the Black Moon Blade, and decided to target hidden lineages allied with the Ancient Clans.
• Lu Chen learned from Zhao Xuantian that the hidden Xu Family, the Xuantian Sect, and the Blood Offering Sect were contacting the Ancient Clans, and that a secret realm would open in eight days.
• At the Xu Family residence, Xu Yuantian and the Ancient Clan members planned to use secret treasures to kill Lu Chen in the secret realm.
• Lu Chen arrived at the gathering in a terrifying aura, smashed through the doors, and asked whether they wanted to deal with him.

After Lu Chen killed the two Ye Family elders and revealed his rapid healing, Cui Zhengxuan mistook him for a member of the Ancient Race and explained the hidden lineages’ connection to it. Cui Zhengxuan then revealed that he knew where to find the final four styles of the Seven Styles of Divine Extinction, leaving Lu Chen eager to learn their location.

• Lu Chen recovered from his wounds, forced the dying Ye Family elders to kneel before King Cui and Cui Hu, then killed them.
• Master Duanjie took Golden Light Monk’s body away for burial, while Monk Duan Xin left with him after eyeing Lu Chen.
• Cui Zhengxuan questioned Lu Chen about his healing and lightning abilities, and Lu Chen denied knowing about the Ancient Race while inventing an explanation for his recovery.
• Cui Zhengxuan explained that hidden lineages were connected to the Ancient Race and that true members of the race might have disappeared long ago.
• Cui Zhengxuan asked whether Lu Chen had perfected the Seven Styles of Divine Extinction, then revealed that he knew where the final four styles were.

Lu Chen fought Monk Duan Xin, using his blade to withstand the monk’s powerful Buddhist arts while keeping his swordsmanship hidden. He ultimately trapped Duan Xin with his sword and exploited a flaw in the monk’s defenses with Heart Shatter, forcing him to concede defeat.

• Lu Chen and Monk Duan Xin exchanged attacks, but the monk’s Golden Light Imperishable Body resisted Lu Chen’s Soul Burial strike and No Life technique.
• Lu Chen unleashed Tenfold Combat Power and broke through Duan Xin’s golden web with brute-force blade strikes, leaving the two evenly matched as onlookers, including Zhang Hai and Fu Qing, watched.
• Duan Xin used Thousand Hand Tathagata Palm and Golden Light Lion’s Roar to stun Lu Chen and the surrounding spectators, then attacked Lu Chen’s chest.
• Lu Chen drew the Crimson Softsword and used Sky Imprisonment to trap Duan Xin, then struck his exposed mental flaw with Heart Shatter.
• Duan Xin recovered from the soul attack and conceded defeat while Lu Chen’s blade and sword waited before him.

Lu Chen arrived at the Blood Offering Sect’s stronghold with Breeze Swordmaster and learned that the sect’s fighters had received help from hidden experts. While Breeze Swordmaster went into the mountains, Lu Chen stayed in the canyon, where he confronted Yan Guilong after the latter attacked him with a soundwave technique.

• Breeze Swordmaster arrived with Lu Chen at Azure Wolf Mountain, and Taoist Xuanzhen reported that Blood Offering Sect remnants had launched repeated assaults with help from unfamiliar experts.
• Breeze Swordmaster entered the mountains with Taoist Xuanzhen, while Lu Chen stayed behind and reunited with Huangfu Yun, who warned him that Yan Guixue’s and Luo Jinghong’s families had sent people.
• A blue-dressed woman discussed testing Lu Chen, and Huangfu Yun identified Yan Guilong as Yan Guixue’s cousin and a powerful fighter.
• Yan Guilong attacked Lu Chen with a soundwave technique, but Lu Chen’s Undying Overlord Body repelled it.
• Yan Guilong challenged Lu Chen to a duel, and Lu Chen used Sword Intent to force him to his knees before grabbing him and smashing him into the ground.