Chapter Summaries

Bai Ze fused and deduced his sword arts into the Heaven-Defying Three Forms, a Void Realm skill capable of rivaling Saint Realm attacks, and began cultivating it. At the Spirit Vein Contention Battle, the Ji Family drew the Zhang Family as its first opponent, and Ji Nanfeng stepped onto the arena to begin the gauntlet.

• Bai Ze spent Talent Points fusing his sword arts and deduced them into the Heaven-Defying Three Forms.
• Bai Ze practiced the three styles and, after seven days, cultivated the skill to the introductory level.
• Ji Xinlan brought Bai Ze to the Contention Battle and identified Wang She, a powerful True Disciple of the Strange Demon Gate, as a dangerous competitor.
• The families drew their matchups, with the Ji Family facing the Zhang Family and the Liu Family facing the Ouyang Family.
• Ji Nanfeng volunteered to lead the Ji Family and leaped onto the arena.

The Ji Family defeated the Zhang Family in the first round of the Spirit Vein Contention Battle, while the Liu Family advanced after the Ouyang Family conceded. Ji Changbo and Liu Lao Liu prepared for their decisive contest the next day, with Bai Ze held back to face Wang She.

• Ji Nanfeng defeated Zhang Zhe and another Zhang Family martial artist before leaving the arena to conserve his strength.
• Ji Xinlan told Bai Ze to act as their trump card and deal with Wang She from the Strange Demon Gate.
• A Southern Martial Gate disciple defeated the last Zhang Family fighter, securing the first-round victory for the Ji Family.
• Ouyang Na defeated two Liu Family opponents, but her father ordered her to concede when she was injured and the Liu Family still had fighters left.
• Liu Lao Liu taunted Ji Changbo, who refused to back down, and the two patriarchs agreed to meet in the arena the next day.

Bai Ze learned that Wang She might have reached the Void Refining Realm Middle Stage, but prepared to fight him for the Contention Battle’s top place. The Ouyang Family secured third place, and the Ji Family and Liu Family began their final contest with victory still undecided.

• Ji Xinlan warned Bai Ze about Wang She’s likely breakthrough and urged him to put his safety first, but Bai Ze said he would give the fight his all.
• Ji Xinlan gave Bai Ze two hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones and a bottle of Profound Void Pills as payment for his participation.
• Ouyang Na defeated the Zhang Family’s final martial artist with her Lightning Sword Technique, earning the Ouyang Family third place.
• Ji Nanfeng and a Liu Family martial artist fought fiercely, both suffering serious injuries as they tried to give their teammates an advantage.
• Liu Lao Liu predicted the contest would come down to the final fighter because Wang She was stronger, while Ji Changbo insisted the outcome was not yet decided.

Bai Ze entered the arena to face Wang She, who had been hired by Liu Lao Liu to kill him. Bai Ze gained the upper hand with his King Ming Domain, but Wang She revealed his serpent-like transformation and broke free, leaving their battle unresolved.

• Wang She defeated Ji Feng with a single sword strike, forcing Ji Feng to leave the arena injured.
• Bai Ze stepped onto the arena after Ji Xinlan warned him to beware Wang She's sword.
• Wang She attacked Bai Ze with killing intent, and the two exchanged several sword strikes.
• Bai Ze deployed his King Ming Domain and pressed Wang She with the Flowing Wind Thirty-Six Steps, drawing shock from the spectators.
• Wang She transformed and unleashed the Serpent Illusion Sword, but Bai Ze cut through the venomous snakes and wounded him.
• Wang She retreated, shed his skin, and healed the wound as the fight continued.

Bai Ze fought Wang She, a True Disciple of the Strange Demon Gate whose spirit-beast abilities let him recover from wounds by shedding his skin. After Wang She healed a deep sword wound and claimed Bai Ze could not kill him, Bai Ze attacked again.

• Wang She recovered from his injuries by shedding his skin and recognized that Bai Ze could use an ability similar to a domain.
• Bai Ze and Wang She clashed with sword Qi and venomous snakes, while Bai Ze kept his King Ming Domain deployed to guard against Wang She's poison.
• Bai Ze provoked Wang She by calling him neither human nor ghost and asking whether he was a beast or a human, driving Wang She into a furious transformation.
• Liu Lao Liu defended Wang She's presence in the arena as the surrounding family heads watched the battle and discussed the Strange Demon Gate's spirit-beast fusions.
• Bai Ze battered Wang She with a massive sword slash that split the arena, but Wang She shed his skin to heal and claimed Bai Ze could not kill him.
• Bai Ze rejected Wang She's claim and launched another attack.

Bai Ze battled Wang She in the arena and discovered that Wang She's skin-shedding left him temporarily vulnerable. After Wang She unleashed the Spirit of the Snake God and shattered the sword formation, Bai Ze attacked him during an incomplete recovery.

• Wang She summoned a giant venomous snake and clashed with Bai Ze, who trapped it inside a golden formation of ten thousand swords.
• Wang She used Swarm of Snakes Dancing and skin-shedding to withstand Bai Ze's attacks, while Bai Ze realized that shedding slowed Wang She's attacks and left him vulnerable.
• Bai Ze wounded Wang She with King Ming Body-Breaking Sword, Second Style—Soul Severing, then pressed him with a series of sword attacks.
• Wang She merged countless snakes into his body, shattered the golden swords, and unleashed enough power to injure spectators; Ji Changbo and several clan heads contained the energy around the arena.
• Bai Ze struck Wang She with King Ming Body-Breaking Sword, Third Style—Destroy This Life, then rushed at him while his skin-shedding recovery remained incomplete and used Heaven Defying First Style—Question the Heart.

White Marsh killed Wang She in the Contention Battle, securing first place for the Ji Family, then prepared to return to the Sword Sect. After learning White Marsh was traveling alone, Liu Lao Liu discussed sending a powerful killer after him.

• White Marsh pierced Wang She with his sword, then stabbed him in the throat and killed him.
• Ji Changbo taunted Liu Lao Liu after the Liu Family lost first place, and Liu Lao Liu left in anger.
• White Marsh returned to the Ji Family, where he received thanks and resources before setting out for the Sword Sect.
• Liu Lao Liu learned that White Marsh had left alone and considered how to avenge the Liu Family.
• Liu Lao Liu concluded that killing White Marsh would require an expert at Void Refining Realm Perfection or the Void Return Realm, likely the Ancestor, the First Elder, or himself.

Bai Ze passed through Ha Dong City and watched the opening of Lü Ruoxue’s martial contest for marriage, while Lü Ruoxue secretly revealed that she was a powerful reincarnated Emperor using the contest to buy time. She vowed to take revenge on the Arrogant World Divine Emperor after returning to the Upper Realm.

• Grand Elder Liu Liang volunteered to pursue Bai Ze and set out with guidance from a family disciple.
• Bai Ze heard that Lü Ruoxue was holding a martial contest for marriage and suspected her Special Physique was attracting the major families.
• Steward Lü announced the contest rules, including a three-day arena fight followed by a duel with Lü Ruoxue and three further trials.
• Warriors began fighting on the arena as Lü Ruoxue watched from the pavilion, concealing her Void Refining Realm Perfection strength.
• Lü Ruoxue revealed that she was an Emperor using the contest to gain cultivation time and planned to return to the Upper Realm and punish the Arrogant World Divine Emperor.

Lü Ruoxue recalled her past life as a Divine Emperor and vowed to kill Arrogant World Divine Emperor, then watched the martial contest for marriage and noticed Bai Ze’s King Ming Sword Body. She offered him an opportunity, but he refused before she could explain it.

• Lü Ruoxue remembered escaping an ambush in the Upper Realm and vowed to return to Divine Emperor level and kill Arrogant World Divine Emperor.
• A young man and his attendant discussed the powerful competitors expected to appear on the third day of Lü Ruoxue’s martial contest for marriage.
• Bai Ze sensed a force approaching and destroyed it with his sword intent, alerting Lü Ruoxue that he had noticed her watching him.
• Lü Ruoxue recognized Bai Ze’s King Ming Sword Body and secretly asked whether he had come to compete for her hand.
• Bai Ze denied that he was participating, asked who she was, and refused her offer of an opportunity.

Lü Ruoxue offered to help Bai Ze improve his King Ming Sword Body if he won the marriage tournament and pretended to be her Dao companion. Bai Ze accepted the deal and received the Yin Yang Spirit Gathering Technique, while Lü Ruoxue hinted that she had a larger purpose for him.

• Lü Ruoxue contacted Bai Ze and offered to help him advance his King Ming Sword Body if he won the marriage tournament and acted as her Dao companion.
• Bai Ze went to Dongfu Tower, where Lü Ruoxue explained that their arrangement would be fake and asked him to take first place.
• Lü Ruoxue revealed that the Yin Yang Spirit Gathering Technique could use the sun and moon to improve his physique, and Bai Ze agreed to the deal.
• Lü Ruoxue gave Bai Ze the technique and said she would go all out on the tournament's third day.
• After Bai Ze left, Lü Ruoxue reflected that his Acquired King Ming Sword Body and talent might make him useful.

Bai Ze learned that the Yin Yang Spirit Gathering Technique could steadily improve his King Ming Sword Body, then decided to enter Lü Ruoxue’s martial competition for marriage while refusing to risk his life. On the competition’s final day, Cao Lei and Guo Zifei fought fiercely on the arena as Lü Ruoxue watched, but Bai Ze was nowhere to be seen.

• Lü Ruoxue left, and Bai Ze returned to his inn room and studied the Yin Yang Spirit Gathering Technique.
• Bai Ze cultivated under the moonlight and found that the technique continuously improved his King Ming Sword Body.
• Bai Ze decided to compete for Lü Ruoxue but resolved to withdraw rather than risk his life against a stronger opponent.
• On the competition’s final day, Cao Lei and Guo Zifei battled on the arena and traded insults while recovering their strength.
• Cao Lei and Guo Zifei resumed their fierce fight, damaging the arena, while Lü Ruoxue watched from her pavilion and did not see Bai Ze.

Bai Ze entered the Lü Family marriage contest and defeated Cao Lei, proving his formidable swordsmanship while the other contenders waited for someone else to challenge him. Steward Lü suddenly declared Bai Ze the contest’s victor and announced that he would compete with the Eldest Young Lady, shocking the crowd.

• Bai Ze entered the arena and challenged Cao Lei after watching him defeat several martial artists.
• Bai Ze overwhelmed Cao Lei with his eighth-layer Sword Intent and knocked him from the arena.
• Bai Ze defeated another challenger with one sword strike, while rival young masters held back and Great Elder Liu Liang hoped he would be injured.
• Steward Lü appeared and declared Bai Ze the contest’s victor, announcing that he would next compete with the Eldest Young Lady.

After Steward Lü ended the marriage contest, Qian Sanbao and other challengers objected, so Lü Ruoxue arranged a final competition against Bai Ze. As the matches began, she revealed that Bai Ze had received only part of the Yin Yang Spirit Gathering Technique, leaving him to prepare to defend his place.

• Steward Lü announced the contest was over, but Qian Sanbao and other Void Refining Realm disciples rushed onto the stage and demanded it continue.
• Lü Ruoxue criticized the challengers for failing to act sooner, then allowed them to compete for the chance to face Bai Ze; the winner could replace him by defeating him.
• Lü Ruoxue reminded Bai Ze that he had agreed to her conditions and revealed that the Yin Yang Spirit Gathering Technique she gave him was incomplete.
• Steward Lü divided the challengers into groups, and they began fighting while Bai Ze watched calmly, confident in his strength.

Qian Sanbao and Li Sheng fought for the right to face Bai Ze, and their duel remained even until Qian Sanbao revealed his three treasures. Qian Sanbao gained the advantage, while Bai Ze and Lü Ruoxue discussed how his life-sharing beast contract might limit him later.

• Qian Sanbao and Li Sheng became the final two contestants after the earlier matches concluded.
• Qian Sanbao and Li Sheng traded saber and sword attacks, neither gaining the upper hand.
• Qian Sanbao revealed his three treasures: an illusory suit of armor, a contracted Blazing Lion, and the Heaven-Overturning Horse-Chopping Blade.
• Qian Sanbao mounted the Blazing Lion and attacked with his seventh-form Tyrant Saber, forcing Li Sheng into a disadvantage.
• Bai Ze compared Qian Sanbao's technique to beast taming, and Lü Ruoxue said the contracted Fierce Beast could become a later constraint.

After defeating Li Sheng, Qian Sanbao faced Bai Ze in the martial matchmaking contest’s ultimate showdown. As their battle intensified, Great Elder Liu Liang decided to abandon the Liu Family’s plan to kill Bai Ze and left.

• Qian Sanbao defeated Li Sheng by transferring his injuries to the Blazing Lion, and Li Sheng conceded.
• Steward Lü announced that Qian Sanbao had earned the final contest and scheduled the showdown for one hour later.
• Bai Ze and Qian Sanbao began fighting, with Bai Ze summoning thousands of golden swords and Qian Sanbao unleashing his strongest state.
• Great Elder Liu Liang judged that killing Bai Ze would be too risky and left after deciding the Liu Family should stop pursuing him.
• Bai Ze formed a vast golden sword formation around Qian Sanbao, who remained determined to fight while protected by the Blazing Lion’s flames.

Bai Ze battled Qian Sanbao, who broke free of the Ten Thousand Sword Formation by unleashing a technique that raised his cultivation to the Void Refining Realm Middle Stage. Bai Ze revealed his King Ming Domain and superior Sword Intent, and Qian Sanbao grew desperate as his temporary power began to run out.

• Bai Ze used the Ten Thousand Sword Formation and his sword techniques to suppress Qian Sanbao, but Qian Sanbao forced through the attacks with Blazing Heaven-Burning.
• Qian Sanbao invoked the Heart of the Holy Spirit, shattered Bai Ze’s golden swords, and transformed into a flame-covered fighter with Void Refining Realm Middle Stage cultivation.
• Bai Ze activated his King Ming Domain and revealed Sword Intent at the eighth-layer Perfection Realm.
• Bai Ze and Qian Sanbao clashed repeatedly, with Bai Ze’s domain and Sword Intent giving him the advantage.
• Qian Sanbao grew frantic as his forcibly elevated power began to near its time limit, while Lü Ruoxue remarked that the match’s outcome would soon be decided.

Bai Ze defeated Qian Sanbao and won the Lü Family’s martial contest for marriage. Lü Ruoxue arranged a nominal relationship with Bai Ze to avoid trouble, and they left for the Sword Sect together after the Lü Family agreed to his proposal.

• Bai Ze overwhelmed Qian Sanbao with his second form of Defying Heaven, defeated him, and claimed first place in the contest.
• Lü Ruoxue gave Bai Ze the full Yin Yang Spirit Gathering Technique and told him to ask her father to let him take her to the Sword Sect.
• Lü Feng and the Lü Family elders approved of Bai Ze as a potential Dao companion because of his connection to the Sword Sect.
• Lü Ruoxue agreed to a nominal relationship with Bai Ze but said they would not hold a wedding, since she wanted to avoid disrupting her cultivation.
• Bai Ze and Lü Ruoxue gained the Lü Family’s permission to travel to the Sword Sect, then departed together after several more days.

Bai Ze negotiated with Lü Ruoxue over how long they would maintain their false Dao companion relationship, agreeing to fifty years in exchange for the True Dragon Body Refining Method of Sword Heart. After discovering it was incomplete, he tried to use Talent Points to deduce the rest, but even nearly seventy thousand points were not enough.

• Bai Ze told Lü Ruoxue that the cultivation technique she had already given him was not enough to maintain their relationship, and demanded further benefits.
• Lü Ruoxue offered the True Dragon Body Refining Method of Sword Heart in exchange for Bai Ze maintaining their false relationship for fifty years, and he agreed.
• Bai Ze read the method and discovered it was only an incomplete fragment, while Lü Ruoxue admitted she did not have the rest.
• Bai Ze attempted to deduce the method using Talent Points, but nearly seventy thousand points were insufficient.

Bai Ze and Lü Ruoxue encountered Qin Shou, the Anchang City Lord’s predatory second son, at an inn. When Qin Shou tried to stop them from leaving, Bai Ze killed him and his lackeys, leaving the guests fearing the City Lord’s retaliation.

• Bai Ze and Lü Ruoxue passed through Anchang City and stopped at an inn.
• Qin Shou approached Lü Ruoxue and pressured her to join him upstairs, while she rejected him and Bai Ze calmly ate.
• After Lü Ruoxue called on Bai Ze to act, Qin Shou blocked their exit and threatened him.
• Bai Ze drew his sword and killed Qin Shou and his lackeys with several swift strikes.
• The inn’s guests panicked and fled, fearing the City Lord would retaliate against everyone present.

After Bai Ze killed Qin Shou, Qin Shiyue hunted for the killers but stopped when they reached the Sword Sect. Bai Ze brought Lü Ruoxue to Misty Peak, where they waited for his absent master, Hong Yan.

• Qin Shiyue learned of Qin Shou's death, killed the messenger in a rage, and offered rewards for information about the murderer.
• Bai Ze and Lü Ruoxue hurried toward the Sword Sect, and Lü Ruoxue said Qin Shiyue would not dare attack them once they were inside.
• Qin Shiyue caught up near the Sword Sect but left without attacking, fearing the sect would retaliate against his family.
• Bai Ze and Lü Ruoxue returned to Misty Peak, where Bai Ze offered her a room and promised to arrange her status as a disciple.
• Bai Ze and Lü Ruoxue found Hong Yan absent from Misty Pavilion, so Bai Ze left her a letter and returned with Lü Ruoxue to his courtyard.