Chapter Summaries

Lu Ming returned to the Wuji Sect and revealed that he had reached the Sea Transformation Realm. He exposed a family falsely claiming kinship with him and left them facing punishment for their fraud.

• Lu Ming returned with several Wuji Sect disciples, and Ren Canqing learned that they had used Lu Ming’s name while robbing and attempting to kill someone.
• Ren Canqing explained that a family claiming to be Lu Ming’s eldest uncle’s relatives had been staying in the sect, so Lu Ming ordered the sect assembled and the family brought before him.
• Lu Ming announced that he had reached the Sea Transformation Realm, stunning the assembled sect members.
• Lu Ming offered to acknowledge the family if their blood merged with his, then demonstrated his strength by cleaving the sky for more than a thousand miles.
• The family confessed that they had impersonated Lu Ming’s relatives, and the sect members demanded that they be punished.

Lu Ming punished the Lu family after learning they had killed an orphan connected to his past, then accepted promotion to Grand Elder of the Wuji Sect. The sect planned a rank-promotion assembly three months later, while news of Lu Ming’s return and breakthrough spread across the region.

• Ren Canqing declared that the young man who abused the Wuji Sect’s name deserved execution, and Li Yishan killed him.
• The Lu family members blamed Lu Xinzheng for the murder, and Lu Xinzheng confessed before killing himself.
• Lu Ming killed the remaining members of the Lu family, and Ren Canqing warned the sect that rule-breakers would face the same fate.
• Ren Canqing and the elders recognized Lu Ming as Grand Elder because he had reached the Sea Transformation Realm.
• Lu Ming agreed to help elevate the Wuji Sect’s rank, and they scheduled an assembly for three months later.
• News of Lu Ming’s return and breakthrough spread throughout the Zhao Kingdom, Abundant Province, and beyond.

News of Lu Ming’s breakthrough to the Sea Transformation Realm spread across several kingdoms and provinces, alarming rival forces and spurring young prodigies to action. As the Wuji Sect prepared a Promotion Ceremony, Jiang Ruoshui and others in Yizhou learned that Lu Ming had reappeared, and some began planning to challenge him.

• Gu Sha and Su Xinghan learned that Lu Ming had reached the Sea Transformation Realm, and Su Xinghan resolved to break through before the Wuji Sect’s ceremony.
• Xia Yue agreed to lead a delegation from Xianing Kingdom to congratulate the Wuji Sect, while the Eight Gates Family ordered its members not to provoke Lu Ming or the sect.
• Kou Yu set out to challenge Lu Ming, and Young Master Wuwang planned to challenge Kou Yu first and then Lu Ming.
• Yizhou’s young prodigies debated Lu Ming’s reputation, and Jiang Ruoshui confirmed to Senior Brother Sun that Lu Ming had once saved her.
• Senior Brother Sun secretly resolved to seek Lu Ming out, while another young man plotted to defeat him at the Promotion Ceremony for a promised reward.

Lu Ming investigated the Ice Dragon Pool in search of dragon blood for the sixth level of the Dragon God Heavenly Merit and discovered an ancient bronze gate beneath it. He forced the gate open and darted aside as its doors swung wide.

• Lu Ming deduced the sixth-level cultivation method but learned it required blood from a late fifth-level demon beast with Dragon God bloodline.
• Lu Ming left the Wuji Sect, which was preparing for its Promotion Ceremony under Sect Master Ren Canqing.
• Lu Ming traveled to the Ice Dragon Pool in the Zhu Zi Kingdom and used his spiritual sense to probe its depths.
• Lu Ming broke through the pool's spiritual resistance and found a Bronze Giant Gate leaking cold aura and mysterious will.
• Lu Ming put on his Lightning Armor, pushed the gate open, and leaped aside as it rumbled wide.

Lu Ming entered the crystal palace and obtained the Ice Dragon Pearl by letting his dragon vein power absorb it. After hearing a warning about the karma attached to it from the fading Star River Supreme, he left the palace and returned to the Wuji Sect.

• Lu Ming crossed the Bronze Giant Gate and found a white-jade skeleton seated on a crystal throne, holding a pearl that emitted the palace’s cold.
• The Ice Dragon Pearl flew toward Lu Ming, but his golden dragon vein power swallowed it and began drawing its purer energy into him.
• The skeleton manifested as Star River Supreme, who said the pearl had drained others without dragon qi and warned Lu Ming that possessing it carried karma.
• Star River Supreme vanished along with the skeleton, and Lu Ming stored the pearl in his dantian with the golden dragon.
• Lu Ming found nothing else in the palace, realized its cold source was gone, and returned to the Wuji Sect.

As the Wuji Sect prepared for its grand ceremony, powerful visitors arrived to honor Lu Ming, while Zhu Ningyun’s breakthrough drew attention from both a rival suitor and her family. The chapter ended with increasingly prominent forces gathering at the sect, including the Huayu Palace and Myriad Sword Palace of Guzhou.

• A young man offered Xi Chan a Five Thunder Stone if he defeated Lu Ming publicly, then sent the Zhu family an Ancient Sword Manual and urged its elders to change Zhu Ningyun’s mind.
• Zhu Xiaojian learned that Zhu Ningyun had broken through to the Sea Transformation Realm and explained that he would let her decide her own future; he sent a representative to congratulate the Wuji Sect.
• The Wuji Sect received a growing stream of guests while Ren Canqing and the others turned away visitors seeking Lu Ming, saying he would appear at the grand assembly.
• Princess Xia Yue arrived with the Xianing Kingdom imperial family and presented lavish gifts, including ten thousand high-grade Origin Stones and a Mid-grade Divine Weapon.
• Guests discussed Lu Ming’s fame and the rise of other Abundant Province prodigies as more forces arrived, including the Huayu Palace and Myriad Sword Palace of Guzhou.

Wuji Sect’s promotion ceremony began with Lu Ming welcoming thousands of guests, including powerful forces drawn by his connections and reputation. As the sect prepared to worship its ancestors, the eighteen Gangyuan Realm elders carrying the bronze cauldron revealed how far Wuji Sect had advanced under Lu Ming’s influence.

• Kou Yu and Young Master Wuwang arrived at Wuji Sect, presented congratulatory gifts, and prepared to challenge Lu Ming and each other.
• Zhu Changting arrived from the Central Continent, greeted Ren Canqing warmly, and asked after his family’s son-in-law, Lu Ming.
• Guests gathered for Wuji Sect’s official ceremony, and Lu Ming appeared on the high platform to welcome them.
• Lu Ming announced that the ceremony would begin with Ancestor Worship, and Ren Canqing ordered the bronze cauldron brought forward.
• Eighteen Gangyuan Realm core elders carried the cauldron through the air, astonishing the guests and impressing Zhu Changting with Wuji Sect’s growth.

The Wuji Sect completed the ancestor worship and began its Promotion Ceremony, using the event to demonstrate its strength as a sixth-rank faction. A spar between Wu Xingbai and the Water Dragon Swordsman ended with the Water Dragon Swordsman victorious, and Lu Ming intervened to stop the final attack from harming Wu Xingbai.

• Ren Canqing read and burned a sacrificial prayer, and Lu Ming led the gathering in offering incense to complete the ancestor worship.
• Lu Ming opened the arena to anyone wishing to spar, and Wu Xingbai challenged the Water Dragon Swordsman to a duel.
• The Water Dragon Swordsman fought at Wu Xingbai’s cultivation level, and the two exchanged sword techniques in the arena and sky.
• The Water Dragon Swordsman’s final attack broke through Wu Xingbai’s defenses and sent him flying, but Lu Ming redirected the water dragon and dispelled it.
• Lu Ming declared the Water Dragon Swordsman the victor and asked whether either fighter objected.

Young Master Wuwang challenged Kou Yu and displayed a sword technique infused with an aura Zhu Changting identified as True Meaning. Kou Yu won after a fierce clash, but Young Master Wuwang had greatly narrowed the gap; as the crowd expected Lu Ming to be challenged next, a voice from the sky called him out.

• Wu Xingbai admitted defeat to the Water Dragon Swordsman and thanked Lu Ming for saving him.
• Young Master Wuwang challenged Kou Yu, and Lu Ming arranged for them to fight in the sky.
• Kou Yu easily broke Young Master Wuwang's Source of Calamity, while Lu Ming remained unconcerned by Kou Yu's strength.
• Young Master Wuwang revealed a powerful sword aura that Zhu Changting identified as True Meaning, then clashed with Kou Yu using his strongest sword.
• Kou Yu won the battle, though both fighters were injured and the crowd recognized that Young Master Wuwang had narrowed the gap.
• A voice from the sky praised their duel and announced that it would test Lu Ming's strength next.

Xi Chan of Silkworm Palace arrived at the Wuji Sect and challenged Lu Ming, but Kou Yu stepped in to face him first. Xi Chan defeated Kou Yu within three moves and then challenged Lu Ming, leaving the crowd wondering whether Lu Ming’s Destruction Sword Intent could overcome Xi Chan’s art.

• Xi Chan revealed himself above the Wuji Sect and challenged Lu Ming, while Zhu Changting suspected a prodigy from Central Continent had sent him to test or humiliate Lu Ming over Ningyun.
• Kou Yu recovered with a Snow Dragon Pill and asked Lu Ming to let him fight Xi Chan, who promised to defeat him within three moves.
• Zhu Changting told Lu Ming that Ningyun still had him in her heart and was in seclusion opening her meridians; Lu Ming resolved to visit her after the ceremony.
• Xi Chan used the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill to restrain Kou Yu’s attacks, bind him with threads, and defeat him with a palm strike within three moves.
• Xi Chan turned to Lu Ming and challenged him as the crowd questioned whether Lu Ming could overcome his unusual qi force.

Lu Ming accepted Xi Chan’s challenge and defeated him with one strike from the Thunder Rain Sword, establishing Wuji Sect’s prestige. Xi Chan warned that higher-ranked talents on Yizhou’s Stormcloud Rankings would come after Lu Ming, while the ceremony continued in celebration.

• Lu Ming accepted Xi Chan’s challenge after Xi Chan defeated Kou Yu, and promised to win with a single sword strike.
• Xi Chan unleashed Silk Locks the Universe, filling the sky with a phantom sun and countless threads.
• Lu Ming used Endless Annihilation from the Ling Tian Sword Canon to cut through Xi Chan’s technique and leave his robe sliced.
• Xi Chan admitted defeat, warned Lu Ming that higher-ranked Stormcloud Rankings talents would challenge him, and departed.
• Those present praised Lu Ming, and he invited them to continue the ceremony while Ren Canqing arranged more food and wine.

After Lu Ming defeated Xi Chan at the Wuji Sect’s promotion ceremony, he guided the attendees and sent off several guests before traveling to the Central Continent with Zhu Changting. News of the ceremony spread, and Young Master Feihuang asked about Xi Chan’s performance.

• Lu Ming gave martial arts guidance to attendees after defeating Xi Chan, earning their gratitude and strengthening support for the Wuji Sect.
• Lu Ming gave Xia Yue a jade slip containing his insights into Fire Artistic Conception and saw her off; Kou Yu and Young Master Wuwang also departed.
• After handling the ceremony’s aftermath, Lu Ming traveled to the Central Continent with Zhu Changting several days later.
• News spread that Kou Yu had narrowly defeated Young Master Wuwang, whose True Meaning had made his Sword Qi difficult to shatter.
• Young Master Feihuang met people at a tavern in Yizhou and asked a Yunhai Chamber of Commerce elder about the assembly and Xi Chan’s performance.

Young Master Feihuang learned that Lu Ming had killed Xi Chan with one sword strike, while Lu Ming and Zhu Changting traveled toward Central Continent. At the Zhu family, Zhu Ningyun learned Lu Ming was returning and set out to meet him, as the patriarch affirmed that the Lineage would respect her choice.

• The Yunhai Chamber of Commerce elder told Young Master Feihuang that Lu Ming had killed Xi Chan with one sword strike, and Feihuang resolved to meet Lu Ming if he got the chance.
• Su Xinghan and Gu Sha began breaking through to the Sea Transformation Realm, prompting elders at the Seven Stars Palace and Xuanwei Palace to compare their progress with Lu Ming’s.
• Zhu Changting explained the Nine Provinces’ layout and ancient history to Lu Ming as they neared the Golden Lan River and Central Continent.
• Zhu Ningyun learned Lu Ming had reached the Sea Transformation Realm and was traveling back with Zhu Changting, then decided to go to Zhuque City to meet him.
• Zhu Ningyun rejected an Ancient Sword Manual from Zhu Cangchen, and Zhu Xiaojian told the hall that the Lineage would respect her decision.

Lu Ming reunited with Zhu Ningyun in Zhuque City and was warmly welcomed by her parents. As the couple began discussing their future, Zhu Youyuan left the city after reflecting on his diminished standing in the Zhu family.

• Zhu Changting brought Lu Ming to Zhuque City and pointed out Zhu Ningyun waiting atop the Cloud-Reaching Platform.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun reunited joyfully, and Zhu Changting left them to visit her residence.
• Zhu Youyuan watched Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun depart, then left after overhearing travelers discuss his declining status in the family.
• Zhu Ningyun brought Lu Ming to meet her parents, Zhu Yiqing and Ji Jianping.
• Lu Ming presented Zhu Yiqing and Ji Jianping with a bottle of Hundred Spirits Pills, and they welcomed him inside.

Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun reunited, shared their experiences, and committed to their relationship. As their night together began, Zhu Xiaojian witnessed an auspicious sign that the Zhu family’s fortune was rising.

• Zhu Ningyun fed Lu Ming dishes and Mysterious Ice Wine, then they shared their experiences since they had last met.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun confirmed they would not regret being together and went to bed together.
• Zhu Yiqing and Ji Jianping discussed their confidence in Lu Ming and their feelings about Zhu Ningyun starting her own family.
• Zhu Xiaojian sought guidance from the Zhu family ancestors, and green incense smoke rose into the sky as he sensed the family’s fortune increasing.
• Zhu Xiaojian recognized the omen as “Soaring Straight to the Blue Clouds” and called for an attendant.

Daoist Xuan Ce sensed an extraordinary rise in fortune around Zhuque Mountain and suspected two new prodigies had emerged. At the Zhu family hall, Zhu Xiaojian named Zhu Ningyun the family’s sole official Young Master and placed the Sword Mausoleum Guard under her control, shocking the gathered clan members.

• Daoist Xuan Ce saw auspicious signs over Zhuque Mountain and told his disciple they indicated two unfamiliar rising prodigies from the south.
• Daoist Xuan Ce’s disciple compared the phenomenon with Central Continent’s famed geniuses, including Bai Lesheng, while Xuan Ce warned him not to underestimate others.
• A Sword Mausoleum Guard messenger summoned Zhu Ningyun and Lu Ming to the Zhuque Great Hall on Zhu Xiaojian’s orders.
• Zhu Xiaojian warmly welcomed Lu Ming and heard him promise never to let Ningyun down.
• Zhu Xiaojian announced that Zhu Ningyun would become the Zhu family’s sole official Young Master, participate in lineage decisions, and oversee the Sword Mausoleum Guard.

Zhu Jianchen challenged Lu Ming to test his strength before Zhu Ningyun’s investiture, while Lu Ming accepted the spar to defend his standing as her husband. The elders and other Zhu Lineage members headed to the martial training grounds to watch.

• Zhu Jianchen raised concerns that challenges to Lu Ming could damage the Zhu Lineage’s reputation when Zhu Ningyun’s relationship with him became public.
• Zhu Jianchen said Lu Ming should demonstrate at least Mid Sea Transformation Realm combat strength and offered to spar with him.
• Lu Ming accepted Zhu Jianchen’s challenge, and Zhu Ningyun tried to defend him.
• Zhu Xiaojian approved the spar, warned both men to stop at the proper point, and led the group to the martial training grounds.

Lu Ming faced Zhu Jianchen in the martial arena and defeated him with a single unarmed punch, stunning the gathered Zhu family members. The chapter left the spectators questioning the extent of Lu Ming’s strength and his cultivation.

• Zhu Shiyuan and Zhu Houchuan heard that Lu Ming was about to spar with Zhu Jianchen and hurried to the martial arena with the other onlookers.
• Zhu Jianchen drew the Fish Scale Treasure Sword, while Lu Ming invited him to attack and promised to show mercy without taking out a weapon.
• Zhu Jianchen unleashed his Water Eruption Sword, sending a massive wave of azure Sword Qi toward Lu Ming.
• Lu Ming punched apart the Sword Qi and sent Zhu Jianchen crashing through the arena wall.
• The Zhu family elders recognized that Lu Ming had powerful external cultivation, and Zhu Xiaojian was alarmed by the depth of his strength.

Lu Ming earned the Zhu family’s respect, shared the first two layers of Dragon God Heavenly Merit with Zhu Shiyuan, and settled into a comfortable stay with Zhu Ningyun. While the couple practiced their swordsmanship, an unexpected visitor appeared outside their courtyard.

• After Lu Ming defeated Zhu Jianchen, Zhu Shiyuan called him brother-in-law and asked about his external art.
• Lu Ming taught Zhu Shiyuan the first two layers of Dragon God Heavenly Merit and agreed to guide him; Zhu Shiyuan gave him a mysterious black token.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun spent the following days cultivating, training, and enjoying their time together.
• During a sparring session, Zhu Ningyun practiced Nine Heavens Cloud Shadow, but Lu Ming’s speed allowed him to block every strike.
• A figure appeared outside the courtyard, and Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun recognized the visitor and stopped their discussion.

Zhu Ningyun and Lu Ming traveled to Chisha City before entering the Red Land of Shazhou to search for her missing brother. Meanwhile, Young Master Cangchen learned of Lu Ming’s strength and remained furious over Zhu Ningyun’s choice.

• Ji Jianping told Zhu Ningyun that her brother had been missing for more than a year, so Zhu Ningyun decided to search for him in the Red Land of Shazhou with Lu Ming.
• Zhu Ningyun obtained Zhu Xiaojian’s approval to postpone her investiture ceremony, and she and Lu Ming left Zhuque Mountain for the desert.
• A subordinate confirmed that Lu Ming had defeated Zhu Jianchen with one punch, and Young Master Cangchen angrily ordered a servant girl to wait for him.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun reached Chisha City, where Zhu Ningyun said they would ask whether her eldest brother had returned.
• Huang Liji met Zhu Ningyun, learned that Lu Ming was her husband, and watched them leave as an onlooker teased him about his broken heart.