Chapter Summaries

Zhuge Xiang returned to the Azure Sword Sect with Liu Rufang and discovered that the sect was under the great elder’s control. The great elder had barred Liu Rufang from entering and declared that her position as sect master had been revoked.

• Zhuge Xiang said he wanted an official identity in Canghai Commandery so he could enter the Dragon Phoenix Ranking contention, then accompanied Liu Rufang and Hua Lingsha back to the Azure Sword Sect.
• Zhuge Xiang warned Su Huayu and the others that the great elder might have ulterior motives, though Liu Rufang dismissed the suspicion.
• Liu Rufang and her companions found the mountain-guarding array closed, and the disciples refused to let them enter on the great elder’s orders.
• A mountain-guarding disciple told Liu Rufang that Bai Buyi and Ling Wufu had been accused of betrayal, imprisoned, and replaced as stewards.
• The great elder opened the array, revealed that he had revoked Liu Rufang’s position three days earlier, and claimed he was protecting the Azure Sword Sect’s thousand-year foundation.

Zhuge Xiang accompanied Liu Rufang back to the Azure Sword Sect, where the Great Elder stripped her of leadership and accused them of colluding with the Beast Taming Sect. Zhuge Xiang accepted a quest to protect Liu Rufang’s position and overwhelmed the assembled disciples with his Sword Intent and King's Aura before preparing to strike the Great Elder.

• The Great Elder explained that he had removed Liu Rufang as leader to keep the Beast Taming Sect from taking over, then suspected Zhuge Xiang of being one of its disciples.
• Zhuge Xiang immobilized the Great Elder with the Ice Seal Ring and badly wounded him with Vast Sword Qi.
• The Great Elder called three warships and accused Liu Rufang, Hua Lingsha, and Zhuge Xiang of plotting against the Azure Sword Sect, prompting Zhuge Xiang to accept the Vindication quest.
• Zhuge Xiang unleashed his ten-part Sword Intent, causing the Azure Sword Sect disciples’ swords to turn toward him and revealing his overwhelming advantage over the Great Elder.
• Zhuge Xiang activated King's Aura, shattering the disciples’ wills and leaving Liu Rufang and the Great Elder badly shaken, then raised his hand to attack the Great Elder with sword qi.

Zhuge Xiang fought the Azure Sword Sect’s great elder while helping Liu Rufang uncover the elder’s betrayal. The battle continued as Zhuge Xiang freed himself from the elder’s Blood Eye Secret Technique and prepared to face him alone.

• Zhuge Xiang blasted the weakened great elder away with sharp sword qi as the elder ordered disciples to reactivate the three Asura Warships.
• Zhuge Xiang summoned Xiao Yue and sent him and the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger to attack the warships, while Liu Rufang hesitated to oppose the elder.
• Zhuge Xiang struck at the great elder with Palm Thunder, forcing him to reveal the Blood Eye Secret Technique and his concealed third-layer Spell Control Stage cultivation.
• Zhuge Xiang showed Liu Rufang that the elder had withheld his strength when she was abducted, and she joined the fight against the warships.
• Liu Rufang ordered the Azure Sword Sect disciples to stop, while Zhuge Xiang broke free of the elder’s blood-eye restraint and focused on their duel.

Zhuge Xiang defeated and killed the Azure Sword Sect’s Great Elder after surviving his desperate counterattack with Decoy Straw Man. He learned the Triple Rock Collapse Technique, then left the sect with Su Huayu while planning to return to Yanling Commandery after competing in the Dragon Phoenix Ranking.

• Zhuge Xiang linked the War Shackles with the Great Elder and used Three Consecutive Slashes, the Void Ring, and Blood Thunder Slash to wound and weaken him.
• Zhuge Xiang struck the Great Elder with Vast Sword Qi, but the Great Elder counterattacked and pierced what appeared to be Zhuge Xiang with his sword.
• Zhuge Xiang revealed that he had escaped using Decoy Straw Man and killed the Great Elder from behind.
• Zhuge Xiang gained experience and the Triple Rock Collapse Technique, learned the skill, and decided not to spend more skill points on it yet.
• Zhuge Xiang left the Azure Sword Sect with Su Huayu and studied a map while considering the Dragon Phoenix Ranking and his journey back to Yanling Commandery.

After reaching the Spell Control Stage, Zhuge Xiang joined the Azure Sword Sect as its Great Elder and entered the Sword Tomb to temper his sword intent. He broke through into the Sword Soul realm, transforming his divine sense into a peerless sword.

• The Vindication quest completed, and Zhuge Xiang advanced to Spell Control Stage Level 1, gaining Southern Departure Fire and raising it to perfection.
• Liu Rufang invited Zhuge Xiang to become the Azure Sword Sect's Great Elder, and he accepted.
• Liu Rufang granted Zhuge Xiang permission to enter the Sword Tomb, despite objections from Hua Lingsha and other sect officials.
• Zhuge Xiang meditated among the swords in the Sword Tomb as his sword intent grew more restrained and refined.
• Zhuge Xiang broke through to the Sword Soul realm, merging his sword intent with his divine sense.

After acquiring Sword Soul, Zhuge Xiang traveled to the Heavenly Sword Sect to register for Canghai Commandery’s Dragon Phoenix Ranking. There, he attracted attention as a nineteen-year-old Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator and met several of the commandery’s leading young talents, including his old acquaintance Dongfang Yan.

• Zhuge Xiang gained Sword Soul, which greatly strengthened his sword attacks and protected him from soul-targeting assaults, then left the Sword Tomb after thanking Liu Rufang.
• Zhuge Xiang flew to the Heavenly Sword Sect’s registration site and passed the ranking’s checks without difficulty because of his cultivation.
• The registration mirror showed that Zhuge Xiang was nineteen, and he identified himself as the Great Elder of the Azure Sword Sect, prompting disbelief from the gathered cultivators.
• Xiao Buming, a third-level Divine Ability Stage cultivator, invited Zhuge Xiang to meet the young talents gathered at a lakeside pavilion, and Zhuge Xiang accepted.
• At the pavilion, Zhuge Xiang recognized Dongfang Yan, whose cultivation had risen to the tenth level of the Divine Ability Stage; Dongfang Yan introduced him as a genius disciple of the Asura Sect in Yanling Commandery.

Zhuge Xiang joined Canghai Commandery’s Dragon Phoenix Ranking after Leng Ningxiang judged him a threat comparable to the commandery’s strongest geniuses. After revealing that he had reached the first level of the Spell Control Stage, he prepared for the competition, which began at dawn.

• Leng Ningxiang sensed Zhuge Xiang’s strength and said she could not be sure of defeating him, comparing his threat to Lei Qianjun and Ming Chihuo.
• Zhuge Xiang told Leng Ningxiang that he had left the Asura Sect and become the Great Elder of the Azure Sword Sect in Canghai Commandery.
• Dongfang Yan explained that Canghai Commandery’s three great geniuses were Leng Ningxiang, Ming Chihuo, and Lei Qianjun, and Zhuge Xiang revealed that he had reached the first level of the Spell Control Stage.
• Zhuge Xiang left the pavilion and meditated alone with the Sword of Judgment to prepare for the Dragon Phoenix Ranking.
• At dawn, the ranking began, and Zhuge Xiang flew toward the event on the Sword of Judgment.

Zhuge Xiang arrived at the Dragon Phoenix Ranking assembly and drew the attention of Canghai Commandery’s top geniuses before Elder Changfeng began the preliminary melee. The contest started with thousands of cultivators fighting inside a barrier, with only the last one hundred set to pass.

• Zhuge Xiang, Leng Ningxiang, Ming Chihuo, and Lei Qianjun arrived at the mountain summit, where the three leading geniuses sized one another up.
• Ming Chihuo asked Zhuge Xiang’s name, and Lei Qianjun sensed that Zhuge Xiang’s sword cultivation surpassed his own.
• Elder Changfeng announced the Dragon Phoenix Ranking preliminary selections and set the last one hundred standing as the qualifiers.
• More than two thousand registered cultivators entered the barrier, and Elder Changfeng declared the melee underway.
• The cultivators attacked one another at once, fighting to survive until only one hundred remained.

Zhuge Xiang slaughtered his way through the Dragon Phoenix Ranking melee, earning over five million experience before the last hundred contestants advanced to the duels. He drew number eighteen and faced a terrified opponent, whom he stopped from conceding so he could claim the experience.

• Zhuge Xiang cut down nearly a thousand cultivators during the half-shichen melee, while Lei Qianjun and Ming Chihuo failed to gauge his full strength.
• Elder Changfeng ended the melee when only one hundred cultivators remained, and Zhuge Xiang gained over five million experience from his defeats.
• Heavenly Sword Sect disciples registered the survivors and assigned their duels by drawing numbered slips as Elder Changfeng created ten arenas.
• Zhuge Xiang drew number eighteen and watched the first batch of duels while memorizing the contestants' abilities and habits.
• Zhuge Xiang's opponent entered arena number eighteen confident in his strength, then panicked when he recognized Zhuge Xiang.
• As the opponent tried to surrender, Zhuge Xiang used Explosive Steps to grab his face and slam him to the ground.

Zhuge Xiang defeated a powerful opponent, then advanced by default when his next rival surrendered out of fear of his reputation as the God of Slaughter. The Dragon Phoenix Ranking’s top-twenty-five matches began with Leng Ningxiang facing Xiao Buming, whose clash opened with their first attacks.

• Zhuge Xiang dodged his opponent’s unexpected eye attack and defeated him with the Triple Rock Collapse Technique, earning experience and an Alchemy Potion Recipe.
• Zhuge Xiang’s next opponent surrendered before the match began, allowing him to advance by default while the crowd feared his bloodthirsty reputation.
• The remaining contests determined the final seven Dragon Phoenix Ranking spots, including a place for Zhuge Xiang’s opponent who had surrendered to him.
• The ranking battle for the top twenty-five began with Leng Ningxiang facing Xiao Buming of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
• Xiao Buming unleashed his Evil Slaying Sword with a Vajra Talisman, and Leng Ningxiang countered with her Azure Flame Claw.

Leng Ningxiang defeated Xiao Buming with her demonic techniques after his yang sword art initially countered her flames. Zhuge Xiang then faced Dongfang Yan in the final duel, and the chapter left their fight about to begin.

• Xiao Buming used the Vajra Talisman and Nine Yang Sword Art to counter Leng Ningxiang's Azure Flame, but she trapped him with Rock Wolf Life-Chase.
• Leng Ningxiang struck Xiao Buming with Wolf Run and won the duel.
• Ming Chihuo and Lei Qianjun won their later matches when their opponents conceded.
• Zhuge Xiang and Dongfang Yan took the arena for the final match and agreed to fight.
• The crowd discussed Dongfang Yan's eighth-layer Divine Ability Stage cultivation, while the three great talents sensed that Zhuge Xiang had reached the Spell Control Stage.

Zhuge Xiang tested his attacks against Dongfang Yan’s Seven Star Lamp, whose Samadhi True Fire burned away both his sword qi and his arrows. The lamp’s defenses remained unbroken, and Zhuge Xiang prepared to get serious.

• Dongfang Yan summoned the Seven Star Lamp and explained that its Samadhi True Fire could defend him without requiring cultivation.
• Zhuge Xiang attacked with Southern Departure Finger and sword qi, but the lamp absorbed the fire and burned away the sword qi.
• Dongfang Yan advanced behind the lamp’s protection, and Zhuge Xiang dodged his close-range attack with Explosive Steps.
• Zhuge Xiang fired the True Martial Bow’s arrows into the sky, but the lamp’s flame barrier burned the barrage away.
• Zhuge Xiang acknowledged the lamp’s power and said he would have to get serious.

Zhuge Xiang defeated Dongfang Yan in a rapid exchange of attacks and counterattacks, overcoming the Seven Star Lamp and Shadow Burst Clone with his own decoy. After the remaining duels, Dongfang Yan placed thirteenth, while the final top twelve rankings remained undecided.

• Zhuge Xiang used the Ghost Shadow Boots to vanish, then attacked Dongfang Yan with a Piercing Arrow that broke through the Samadhi True Fire but was deflected by Dongfang Yan’s folding fan.
• Zhuge Xiang used Explosive Steps to seize Dongfang Yan, only for the captive to burst apart as a Shadow Burst Clone and the real Dongfang Yan appeared behind him with a dagger at his neck.
• Zhuge Xiang revealed that Dongfang Yan had grabbed a Decoy Straw Man and held a sword to the real Dongfang Yan’s neck, prompting Dongfang Yan to concede defeat.
• Leng Ningxiang and Ming Chihuo recognized Zhuge Xiang’s strength, while Lei Qianjun declared that he would claim first place on the Dragon Phoenix Ranking.
• The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples announced Zhuge Xiang’s victory, and Dongfang Yan later defeated the remaining challengers to claim thirteenth place.

The Heavenly Sword Sect named Zhuge Xiang as a seed player for the top-twelve ranking, prompting Black Bear Xiong Ba Tian to challenge him after the crowd taunted him. Zhuge Xiang broke free of Xiong Ba Tian’s ultimate technique and counterattacked, leaving their duel in progress.

• The Heavenly Sword Sect’s presiding disciple chose Lei Qianjun, Ming Chihuo, Leng Ningxiang, and Zhuge Xiang as the four seed players.
• The presiding disciple announced that the other eight cultivators could challenge a seed player, and spectators pressured Xiong Ba Tian to challenge Zhuge Xiang.
• Xiong Ba Tian accepted the challenge and charged Zhuge Xiang with a fierce palm strike, which Zhuge Xiang effortlessly tore apart.
• Xiong Ba Tian trapped Zhuge Xiang with Violent Bear Grasp, but Zhuge Xiang used the Blood Drinking True King Chain to remove the imprisonment effect and cut through the attack.
• Zhuge Xiang used Explosive Steps to reach Xiong Ba Tian, slammed him into the ground, and began using Triple Rock Collapse Technique.

Zhuge Xiang defeated Xiong Ba Tian with a single technique and secured his place among the Dragon Phoenix Ranking’s top four. After the top eight were announced, the first ranking match began with Leng Ningxiang facing Chu Lingfeng, whose lightning-fast sword she blocked with her wolf claws.

• Zhuge Xiang broke free of Xiong Ba Tian’s grasp and crushed him with Triple Rock Collapse Technique, stunning the watching cultivators.
• Zhuge Xiang declined to pursue further challenges, and the remaining contenders competed to determine the rankings below the four seeds.
• The top eight were announced: Lei Qianjun, Leng Ningxiang, Ming Chihuo, Zhuge Xiang, Fu Qingming, Shui Wan'er, Zhao Gan Jin, and Chu Lingfeng.
• The first top-eight match began between Leng Ningxiang and Chu Lingfeng, who attacked with a sword strike so fast that Zhuge Xiang compared it to his Explosive Steps.
• Leng Ningxiang used her wolf instincts to intercept Chu Lingfeng’s sword with her claws.

Leng Ningxiang defeated Chu Lingfeng after transforming into her Wolf King form and breaking his Sword Qi Storm with Sky Wolf Howl. The next quarterfinal began as Zhuge Xiang faced Shui Wan'er, whose unknown attacks and near-equal cultivation put him on alert.

• Chu Lingfeng overwhelmed Leng Ningxiang with rapid sword attacks, but she announced she would use her true strength.
• Leng Ningxiang activated Wolf King Possession and transformed into a powerful white demon wolf.
• Chu Lingfeng unleashed Sword Qi Storm, but Leng Ningxiang shattered it with Sky Wolf Howl and pinned him down.
• Chu Lingfeng conceded, and Leng Ningxiang was declared the first contestant to enter the top four.
• The tournament announced Zhuge Xiang versus Shui Wan'er as the second quarterfinal, and Zhuge Xiang’s Data Eye revealed she was at the tenth-layer Spell Control Stage.
• Zhuge Xiang warned Shui Wan'er that he would not hold back and raised the Sword of Judgment as she remained still.

Zhuge Xiang defeated Shui Wan'er after she trapped him in a mental illusion, which he shattered with his Sword Soul. He kept the details of their clash secret, and the quarter-finals moved on to Ming Chihuo versus Fu Qingming.

• Shui Wan'er used her alluring voice and gaze to trap Zhuge Xiang in an illusion of beautiful women.
• Zhuge Xiang recognized the illusion and warned Shui Wan'er to withdraw it, but she refused.
• Zhuge Xiang unleashed his Sword Soul, destroying the illusion and causing Shui Wan'er to vomit blood and lose consciousness.
• A Heavenly Sword Sect disciple announced Zhuge Xiang as the winner, while the spectators questioned how he had defeated Shui Wan'er.
• Zhuge Xiang declined to reveal their methods and left the arena.
• The Heavenly Sword Sect disciple announced the next quarter-final match between Ming Chihuo and Fu Qingming.

Lei Qianjun defeated Fu Qingming after a hard-fought duel, and Ming Chihuo swiftly beat Zhao Gan Jin in the next top-eight match. The tournament ended with Lei Qianjun, Ming Chihuo, Leng Ningxiang, and Zhuge Xiang advancing to the top four.

• Lei Qianjun overcame Fu Qingming’s talisman-enhanced sword techniques, wounded him, and won after Fu Qingming conceded.
• The tournament announcer named Ming Chihuo and Zhao Gan Jin as the combatants in the fourth match.
• Zhao Gan Jin attacked Ming Chihuo with his massive axe, but Ming Chihuo evaded him and trapped him in flames.
• Ming Chihuo struck Zhao Gan Jin’s chest and planted flames inside him, causing Zhao Gan Jin to collapse unconscious.
• The announcer declared Lei Qianjun, Ming Chihuo, Leng Ningxiang, and Zhuge Xiang the four top-four finalists.

Zhuge Xiang faced Leng Ningxiang in the Dragon Phoenix Ranking semifinals and struggled against her wolf form, demonic fire, and two summoned wolves. With his defenses weakening and his health falling, Zhuge Xiang recognized that Leng Ningxiang could also challenge opponents above her cultivation level.

• Shui Wan'er, Fu Qingming, Zhao Gan Jin, and Chu Lingfeng finished their cross-matches, placing fifth through eighth in that order.
• The semifinal began with Zhuge Xiang facing Leng Ningxiang, and both acknowledged the other's strength before the duel started.
• Leng Ningxiang transformed into a demonic wolf and lunged at Zhuge Xiang, who countered with the Demon Subduing Sword Art and froze her with the Ice Seal Ring.
• Leng Ningxiang broke free, blocked Zhuge Xiang's sacred sword qi with Sky Wolf Howl, and summoned two One-Star High-Grade demonic wolves to fight beside her.
• Zhuge Xiang activated the Formless Ring's Buddha power and used Qi Energy Bodyguard, but Leng Ningxiang and the two wolves drove him back and reduced his HP by about a third.

Zhuge Xiang wounded Leng Ningxiang with a rapid combination of skills, but she used Wolf God's Blessing to erase the damage and become invincible for ten seconds. As Leng Ningxiang and her demon wolves overwhelmed him, Zhuge Xiang activated Green Blood Evergreen and committed to killing one wolf despite their attacks.

• Zhuge Xiang used Three Consecutive Slashes to wound Leng Ningxiang and both demon wolves, inflicting Bleeding on Leng Ningxiang.
• Zhuge Xiang passed through Leng Ningxiang with the Void Ring and struck her from behind with Blood Thunder Slash, inflicting Grievous Wound and reducing her attributes.
• Leng Ningxiang activated Wolf God's Blessing, clearing her status effects, restoring her health, and becoming immune to damage for ten seconds.
• Leng Ningxiang and the two demon wolves attacked Zhuge Xiang, breaking his protective barrier and reducing his health to around half.
• Zhuge Xiang used Green Blood Evergreen while targeting one demon wolf, then grabbed for it as Leng Ningxiang and the other wolf attacked his back.