Chapter Summaries

Hong Yi learned that Xiao Xian considered him destined to replace Hong Xuanji and Emperor Yang Pan, and wanted him to help impose laws on the Cultivation World. Meanwhile, Hong Xuejiao decided to report Xiao Xian’s offer to Madam Zhao while Hong Xuanji was away.

• Xiao Xian told Hong Yi that he had chosen him to help destroy the Cultivation World’s existing forces and establish an empire governed by laws.
• Hong Yi was shocked by Xiao Xian’s ambition and regretted accepting him as a master, feeling he could no longer back out.
• Hong Xuejiao went to the main hall of Hong Residence to tell Hong Xuanji what had happened on West Mountain, but learned he had been summoned to the palace.
• Madam Zhao offered to hear Hong Xuejiao’s report and relay it to Hong Xuanji when he returned.
• Fearing Hong Xuanji’s anger, Hong Xuejiao told Madam Zhao about Xiao Xian’s offer and stressed that Hong Yi had made his own choice.

Madam Zhao learned that Hong Yi had become Xiao Xian’s disciple and decided to leave the matter to Hong Xuanji, while privately plotting against Hong Yi. Emperor Yang Pan and Hong Xuanji began investigating the mysterious Peak Martial Saint, as Xiao Xian trained Hong Yi at West Mountain Desolate Temple and planned to make him a future ally.

• Hong Xuejiao told Madam Zhao that Hong Yi had taken a stranger as his master, and Madam Zhao said she would wait for Hong Xuanji to return before deciding what to do.
• After Hong Xuejiao left, Madam Zhao tore fur from her cat and admitted to Granny Zeng that she had poisoned Meng Bingyun and regretted sparing Hong Yi.
• Madam Zhao refused to attack Hong Yi in secret, expecting Hong Xuanji to deal with him after hearing that a Peak Martial Saint had appeared near the capital.
• Emperor Yang Pan and Hong Xuanji discussed the unknown Peak Martial Saint Xiao Xian, and Hong Xuanji agreed to investigate him.
• At West Mountain Desolate Temple, Xiao Xian guided Hong Yi’s martial training and considered how to cultivate him into a powerful ally.

Hong Yi feared returning to the Hong Residence after taking Xiao Xian as his master, so Xiao Xian gave him a protective pearl and told him to come for lessons in three days. Xiao Xian then bought Three Stars Temple near Jade Capital City and renamed it Yunlan Sect.

• Hong Yi mastered the Raging Bull Strength Fist, and Xiao Xian told him to keep practicing and attend lessons at his new temple in three days.
• Hong Yi realized his family might punish him for taking a master without permission, but he also needed to retrieve his mother's memorial tablet from the Hong Residence.
• Xiao Xian placed a powerful protective pearl in Hong Yi's brow, and Hong Yi gratefully kowtowed before leaving.
• Xiao Xian searched the area around Jade Capital City, obtained legal permits to establish a dojo, and decided to leave Yang Pan and Hong Xuanji alive for now.
• Xiao Xian bought Three Stars Temple and changed its signboard to Yunlan Sect.

Hong Yi returned to the Hong Residence and confronted Granny Zeng, who tried to intimidate him over his recent actions at West Mountain. He prepared for Hong Xuanji’s questioning by burning his Martial Scriptures, hoping to preserve a chance at reconciliation without revealing Xiao Xian as his teacher.

• Granny Zeng summoned Hong Yi and questioned him about what he had done at West Mountain.
• Hong Yi invoked household rules and overwhelmed Granny Zeng with his powerful blood energy, forcing her to abandon her attempt to discipline him.
• Granny Zeng ordered Hong Yi to remain in his courtyard until Hong Xuanji returned, then left after withdrawing from the confrontation.
• Hong Yi considered how to answer Hong Xuanji and resolved to leave the residence and follow Xiao Xian if his father refused to compromise.
• Hong Yi burned his Martial Scriptures and decided that denying he had taken a master might leave room for reconciliation with Hong Xuanji.

Hong Yi discovered the Past Amitabha Sutra hidden among the scriptures he burned and concealed it against his chest before obeying Hong Xuanji’s summons. At Hong Xuanji’s study, the chapter introduced the strict hierarchy and heavenly principles behind his Neo-Confucianism.

• Hong Yi found a golden sheet bearing the Past Amitabha Sutra among the ashes and decided to keep it.
• A servant informed Hong Yi that Hong Xuanji had returned and summoned him to the study.
• Xiao Xian watched through the divine sense in the Power Bead and dismissed Hong Xuanji as no threat to his disciple.
• Hong Yi hid the sutra against his chest, opened the door, and followed the servant to Hong Xuanji’s study.
• Hong Xuanji ordered Hong Yi to stand at his right and was described as teaching that heavenly principles established unchanging ranks between ruler and subject, father and son, and husband and wife.

Hong Xuanji confronted Hong Yi over his poetry and his connection to a potential master at West Mountain, using family rules to pressure him. Hong Yi concealed his commitment to Xiao Xian, while Hong Xuanji demanded to meet the prospective teacher before allowing him to become a disciple.

• Hong Xuanji first criticized Hong Yi for writing a poem in Cursive Script, and Hong Yi apologized under his father's pressure.
• Hong Xuanji asked whether Hong Yi had acknowledged a master at West Mountain, and Hong Yi truthfully claimed he had not formally taken one.
• Hong Xuanji praised Hong Yi for not taking a master without parental consent and said he would approve the match only after examining the prospective teacher.
• Hong Xuanji recorded Hong Yi's poetry violation instead of immediately punishing him, warning that he would face both offenses if he failed the Spring Examination.
• Hong Xuanji predicted the prospective master would return and said he would meet him then.

Xiao Xian confronted Hong Xuanji at the Marquis Wuwen Residence and used Hong Xuanji’s contempt for Daoist cultivation to expose a contradiction in his Neo-Confucian principles. Hong Xuanji’s family and Hong Yi witnessed the exchange, which left Hong Xuanji publicly on the defensive.

• Xiao Xian called out Hong Xuanji and struck Hong Ming with an invisible wave of energy after Hong Ming insulted him.
• Hong Xuanji caught Hong Ming and challenged Xiao Xian to reveal himself, while Madam Zhao ordered the residence searched.
• Xiao Xian arrived through the shattered main gate as a power avatar, and Hong Xuanji dismissed the technique as a deceptive trick.
• Xiao Xian mocked Hong Xuanji for calling Daoist cultivation wicked, pointing out that the Ancient Saint Emperors had attained the Yang God through that path.
• Xiao Xian accused Hong Xuanji of slandering the Saint Emperors and betraying his own teachings, leaving the household stunned and Hong Yi exhilarated.

Xiao Xian verbally rebuked Hong Xuanji and then defeated him with a single strike, devastating the Hong Residence and alarming Jade Capital City. Hong Xuanji survived but accused Xiao Xian of relying on treasures, while Xiao Xian mocked his hypocrisy.

• Xiao Xian condemned Hong Xuanji for disparaging the Ancient Saint Emperor, leaving Hong Xuanji unable to refute him.
• Hong Xuanji unleashed the All Heavens Life and Death Wheel and attacked Xiao Xian with his full strength.
• Xiao Xian calmly erased Hong Xuanji's attack and struck him across the Hong Residence, severely injuring him and reducing buildings and gardens to rubble.
• Yang Pan and the experts of Jade Capital City sensed the battle and were shocked by the power that suppressed Hong Xuanji.
• Madam Zhao and Hong Xuanji's children dug him out of the ruins, and Hong Xuanji accused Xiao Xian of relying on treasures.

Xiao Xian defeated Hong Xuanji again and declared that Hong Yi would remain his disciple, threatening to destroy the Hong family if anyone harmed him. Hong Xuanji hid his hatred and blamed Hong Yi, while Hong Yi felt grateful for his master's protection.

• Xiao Xian announced to the Hong Residence that Hong Yi was his disciple and warned Hong Xuanji not to interfere.
• Hong Xuanji unleashed the Yu Character Secret and his full power, but Xiao Xian crushed him and slammed him into the ground.
• Xiao Xian declared that Hong Yi would stay with Hong Xuanji for a few days and threatened to kill his sons or slaughter the family if Hong Yi was harmed.
• Hong Yi felt moved by Xiao Xian's protection and believed becoming his disciple was the right decision.
• Hong Xuanji suppressed his urge to attack Xiao Xian, then turned his hatred toward Hong Yi and recalled his role in Meng Bingyun's death.

Xiao Xian defeated Hong Xuanji and protected Hong Yi, leaving the Hong Residence fearful and resentful. After Xiao Xian departed, Hong Xuanji recovered enough to confront Hong Yi, who demanded to know how his mother had died.

• Hong Xuanji blamed his defeat on Xiao Xian and vowed to seek revenge after reaching the Human Immortal realm.
• Xiao Xian told Hong Yi that his bestowed Source of Power would protect him, then invited him to Qingyang Mountain Taoist Temple in three days before departing.
• Madam Zhao and Hong Xuanji’s other children resented Hong Yi’s powerful backing, while Hong Xuejiao feared he would discover she had informed Hong Xuanji.
• Hong Xuanji took a pill that began repairing his injuries, then accused Hong Yi of betraying his family and failing to learn righteousness.
• Hong Yi confronted Hong Xuanji and demanded to know how Meng Bingyun had died.

Hong Yi confronted Hong Xuanji over his mother’s death, beat him, and severed their family ties. Hong Xuanji backed down because he feared Xiao Xian, while Hong Yi returned to the Hong Residence, no longer afraid of his father.

• Hong Yi accused Hong Xuanji of allowing Madam Zhao to poison his mother, and Hong Xuanji defended the killing as lawful.
• Hong Yi beat the powerless Hong Xuanji and declared that he would change his name to Xiao Yi and avenge his mother.
• Hong Xuanji disowned Hong Yi and threatened to kill him and Xiao Xian once he obtained the Imperial Heaven Beginning Dragon Armor.
• Hong Yi mocked Hong Xuanji for fearing Xiao Xian, and Hong Xuanji ordered people to carry him away to recover.
• Hong Yi returned to his courtyard, resolved to remain in the Hong Residence and torment Hong Xuanji.

News of Xiao Xian’s defeat of Hong Xuanji spread throughout Jade Capital City and the cultivation world, damaging Hong Xuanji’s prestige and making Xiao Xian and Hong Yi famous. At Scattering Flowers House, Su Mu sent word of Xiao Xian to Supreme Path Sect master Meng Shenji, concerned that the unknown powerhouse might disrupt the sect’s plans.

• Cultivators and sect agents uncovered the Hong Residence incident, and news of Hong Xuanji’s defeat spread across the city and beyond.
• The major sects learned that Xiao Xian had beaten Hong Xuanji and threatened the Hong Residence, while Hong Yi became famous as the cause of the conflict.
• Su Mu received the verified report at Scattering Flowers House and struggled to believe that Xiao Xian had crushed Hong Xuanji so easily.
• Su Mu considered how Xiao Xian’s unknown origins might threaten the Supreme Path Sect’s plans and anticipated that Meng Shenji would investigate him.
• Su Mu wrote a letter about Xiao Xian and sent it to Meng Shenji through a secret channel.

After Xiao Xian defeated Hong Xuanji, Zhao Feier planned to avenge him with the Great Luo Sect, while Champion Marquis Yang An sent Huang YanYan to aid him and win his favor. Meng Shenji dismissed Xiao Xian as unworthy of his attention.

• Zhao Feier ordered Zhao Feirong to summon a Four Tribulation Elder and bring the Peach God Seven Treasures to Jade Capital City, despite Zhao Feirong warning that Xiao Xian had defeated Hong Xuanji.
• Zhao Feier concluded that the Great Luo Sect and the Qian Emperor could combine forces to kill Xiao Xian.
• Champion Marquis Yang An ordered Huang YanYan to take his Sky Brilliance Horned God Armor and help Hong Xuanji so he would owe Yang An a favor.
• Meng Shenji received news of Xiao Xian's victory over Hong Xuanji, crushed the message, and said Xiao Xian was not worth his attention.

Meng Shenji dismissed Hong Xuanji as unworthy of his attention, while Yang Pan healed Hong Xuanji, who broke through to the Human Immortal realm and received Imperial Heaven Beginning Dragon Armor. Xiao Xian then gained the Thousand Transformations realm, bringing his physical strength to a new level.

• Meng Shenji left the matter of Hong Xuanji to Su Mu because he considered Hong Xuanji and his conqueror beneath his notice.
• Yang Pan gave the injured Hong Xuanji a Creation Golden Pill, which healed him and helped him break through to the Human Immortal realm.
• Hong Xuanji asked Yang Pan for Imperial Heaven Beginning Dragon Armor and vowed to kill Xiao Xian and shatter Hong Yi's faith.
• Yang Pan gave Hong Xuanji the armor, and Hong Xuanji grew confident that he could defeat Xiao Xian.
• Xiao Xian checked in with the System and gained the complete cultivation and experience of the Thousand Transformations realm.
• Xiao Xian tested his new power and discovered that he could transform completely into different Magical Beasts.

Hong Xuanji prepared to confront Xiao Xian, confident that his new Human Immortal strength and Imperial Heaven Beginning Dragon Armor would guarantee victory. As Hong Yi reached Yunlan Sect, Hong Xuanji arrived at Dragon Slaying Mountain with blood and qi powerful enough to reveal his breakthrough to the watching experts.

• Xiao Xian watched Hong Xuanji meet with Zhao Feier and a Great Luo Sect elder, who celebrated his Human Immortal cultivation.
• Hong Xuanji rejected Yang An's offer of help and ordered Zhao Feier to ambush Xiao Xian and kill Yang An's assistant after using her.
• Three days later, Xiao Xian sent an incarnation to summon Hong Yi, who left Hong Residence and climbed into Yunlan Sect on Dragon Slaying Mountain.
• Hong Xuanji's overwhelming blood and qi swept toward the mountain, and hidden observers realized he had become a Human Immortal.

Hong Xuanji confronted Xiao Xian at the Yunlan Sect and attacked Hong Yi for taking a master without following proper rites. Xiao Xian refuted Hong Xuanji’s Neo-Confucian doctrine, leaving him furious and unable to answer.

• Hong Yi arrived at the Yunlan Sect and knelt to pay respects to Xiao Xian, who welcomed him and asked him to stand aside for a guest.
• Hong Xuanji appeared at the manor and lectured Hong Yi about rites, using his criticism to insult Xiao Xian.
• Hong Yi grew furious when Hong Xuanji called him a beast, but Xiao Xian held him back and defended the sincerity of his discipleship.
• Xiao Xian accused Hong Xuanji of disguising control and cruelty as morality and explained how Hong Xuanji had distorted the sages’ teachings.
• Hong Yi realized what was wrong with Hong Xuanji’s Neo-Confucianism, while Hong Xuanji flushed with rage and failed to refute Xiao Xian.

Xiao Xian challenged Hong Xuanji’s Neo-Confucian doctrine, teaching Hong Yi that morality had to come from the heart, and shattered Hong Xuanji’s confidence. Unable to answer Xiao Xian with reason, Hong Xuanji attacked him with the power of a Human Immortal, while Xiao Xian remained calm.

• Xiao Xian told Hong Yi that sincere morality came from the heart, and Hong Yi embraced his teaching.
• Xiao Xian mocked Hong Xuanji for calling him heretical after losing the argument, and Hong Xuanji recognized that his Neo-Confucian doctrine had distorted the sages’ ideals.
• Hong Xuanji’s state of mind cracked under Xiao Xian’s argument, and he decided to kill Xiao Xian to reclaim his confidence through force.
• Hong Xuanji merged with the Imperial Heaven Beginning Dragon Armor and unleashed the All Heavens Life and Death Wheel, whose Human Immortal power harmed nearby Immortal Dao experts.
• Hong Yi worried that Xiao Xian might not defeat Hong Xuanji, but Xiao Xian’s calm smile reassured him that his master was stronger than he had thought.

Hong Xuanji revealed Substantial Fist Intent and attacked Xiao Xian with power that rivaled a Fifth Thunder Tribulation expert. After immobilizing Xiao Xian with the Yu Character Secret, Hong Xuanji struck a seemingly decisive blow, leaving the onlookers convinced Xiao Xian would die.

• Hong Xuanji manifested the All Heavens Life and Death Wheel and demonstrated Substantial Fist Intent, shocking the hidden experts.
• Xiao Xian drew Hong Yi into his Small World and clashed with Hong Xuanji, while their attacks devastated the surrounding mountains and frightened Jade Capital City.
• Hong Xuanji used the Imperial Heaven Beginning Dragon Armor to fly after Xiao Xian and explained that his combined strength surpassed the Fourth Thunder Tribulation.
• Hong Xuanji used the Yu Character Secret to immobilize Xiao Xian, prompting Su Mu to accuse him of stealing the Supreme Path Sect's arts from Meng Bingyun.
• Hong Xuanji struck Xiao Xian with the All Heavens Divine Fist, and the hidden onlookers believed the blow would kill him.

Xiao Xian revealed his overwhelming Thousand Transformations strength after luring Hong Xuanji, Huang YanYan, Zhao Feier, and the Great Luo Sect elder into a siege. He captured them in a giant palm and killed Zhao Feier and the elder, leaving their treasures behind.

• Hong Xuanji summoned Huang YanYan, and the two attacked Xiao Xian together, forcing him to retreat.
• Zhao Feier and the Great Luo Sect elder emerged from hiding and joined the attack with their treasures.
• Xiao Xian stopped retreating and revealed that he had lured the four into a trap.
• Xiao Xian manifested a gigantic flesh-and-blood palm and seized all four, revealing that he had reached Thousand Transformations.
• Xiao Xian killed Zhao Feier and the Great Luo Sect elder, destroying their bodies and souls while preserving their treasures.

Xiao Xian defeated Hong Xuanji, took the Imperial Heaven Beginning Dragon Armor, and spared him so he could pursue revenge and be exploited later. The Yunlan Sect was hailed as the seventh sacred ground, though Su Mu doubted it had the cultivation manuals and foundation such a status required.

• Xiao Xian killed Hong Xuanji’s mistress and companions, stripped the Imperial Heaven Beginning Dragon Armor from Hong Xuanji, and refused to kill him.
• Xiao Xian told Hong Xuanji that Hong Yi would settle the Hong Residence’s affairs and gave him one year to meet his requirements or be killed.
• Xiao Xian kicked Hong Xuanji down the mountain, then released Hong Yi from the Small World and entered the Yunlan Sect with him.
• Observers declared that the Yunlan Sect had replaced the Supreme Path Sect as the realm’s leading sect and become the seventh sacred ground.
• Su Mu argued that the Yunlan Sect lacked the soul cultivation and foundational manuals needed to qualify as a sacred ground.