Chapter Summaries

Wu Qinglong stopped Liu Ri Ming from harming Xiao Chen and revealed that Xiao Chen was the Zhenbei King's son, leaving Liu Ri Ming shocked by his mistake. Xiao Chen then began absorbing a General Realm Demon Core in seclusion, with Niu Feng standing guard as the breakthrough started.

• Wu Qinglong intervened when Liu Ri Ming tried to deal with Xiao Chen and rebuked him for overstepping his authority.
• Wu Qinglong told Liu Ri Ming that Xiao Chen was the Zhenbei King's eldest son, and Liu Ri Ming realized he had nearly killed Sword Demon Xiao Chen.
• Gu Lanlan brought Qing Yumei to Wang Meiyue, who accepted her as an attendant and quickly became close to her.
• Xiao Chen asked Niu Feng to guard him during seclusion and offered him a General Realm Demon Core, but Niu Feng refused it out of friendship.
• Xiao Chen began absorbing the demon essence from a three-headed wolf Demon Core, and Niu Feng was startled by the powerful aura filling the room.

Xiao Chen absorbed several General Realm Demon Cores and spirit stones, advancing to the eighth-level Sword Master and then the half-step Sword General. As he prepared to condense his Martial Core, an aggressive senior brother forced his way toward his room and knocked Niu Feng down.

• Xiao Chen endured the violent Demon Power from a General Realm Demon Core, while the system concealed the escaping demon aura behind a barrier.
• Xiao Chen drained the three-headed demon wolf's Demon Core, then absorbed the six-eyed mantis demon's core and two more, advancing to the eighth-level Sword Master.
• Xiao Chen used the Demon Cores Yin An had given him and inferior spirit stones from Gu Lanlan to reach the half-step Sword General, exhausting his resources.
• Xiao Chen decided to begin condensing his Martial Core as a senior brother demanded that Niu Feng call him out and forced his way past him.
• The senior brother defeated Niu Feng, who fell to the ground outside Xiao Chen's room.

Xiao Chen was summoned to the Law Enforcement Hall after Xia Shan injured Niu Feng and accused him of murdering Lin Hu and Lin Yu. After the investigation found no evidence against him, Xiao Chen returned to study condensing a Martial Core and learned from Qiongqi that his Martial God Physique might let him form two cores.

• Xia Shan forced his way into Xiao Chen’s courtyard, injured Niu Feng, and ordered Xiao Chen to accompany him to the Law Enforcement Hall.
• Xiao Chen learned Xia Shan was targeting him out of jealousy over Ye Qingxuan, then stopped Niu Feng from challenging the Law Enforcement Hall disciple.
• The Law Enforcement Hall questioned Xiao Chen about Lin Hu and Lin Yu’s deaths and released him when they found no flaws in his account.
• Xiao Chen decided to wait before killing Xia Shan and began studying how to condense a Martial Core.
• Qiongqi told Xiao Chen his Martial God Physique might allow him to condense two Martial Cores and directed him to the Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art.

Xiao Chen sought a way to condense two Martial Cores and decided to earn merits by taking missions so he could study the Tai Xu Sect’s ancient texts. After arriving at the Mission Hall, he was recognized by a familiar woman who questioned why he was risking missions while afflicted by the Evil Curse.

• Xiao Chen decided to search the Ancient Texts Hall for insights on condensing two Martial Cores and told Gu Lanlan he planned to take missions.
• Xiao Chen crossed the Mud-Dust Zone, where attendants greeted him with awe after he killed Zhang Qinlong, while Zhang Qinlong avoided his gaze.
• Lin Bao watched Xiao Chen pass and feared he would discover Lin Bao’s past involvement in Lin Hu’s plan against him.
• Xiao Chen arrived at the Mission Hall and joined the line for a Yellow Rank mission.
• A familiar woman called to Xiao Chen and asked why he had come to accept missions despite being afflicted by the Evil Curse.

Xiao Chen tried to accept a Tai Xu Sect mission and chose the dangerous Aquatic Bear Demon mission threatening Linbei City. Cao Niuwang, worried for his hometown, angrily ordered Xiao Chen to leave.

• Xiao Chen avoided Ye Qingxuan and Xia Shan, who noticed him but did not stop him in front of the crowd.
• At the mission registration window, Xiao Chen learned that attendants struggled to take on missions because demons were growing stronger and the assignments were difficult.
• After reading the mission list, Xiao Chen asked to accept two missions, but Cao Niuwang explained that sect rules allowed only one at a time.
• Xiao Chen chose the Aquatic Bear Demon mission in Linbei City for its reward of thirty merit points.
• Cao Niuwang, whose hometown was Linbei City, furiously warned Xiao Chen not to take the mission because he feared Xiao Chen would waste one of the limited acceptance slots.

Xiao Chen tried to accept the mission to kill the Aquatic Bear Demon threatening Linbei City, but Cao Niuwang doubted he could survive it. Yan Hua, a prodigy from an ancient hidden lineage, arrived and drew Ye Qingxuan’s attention, then approached Xiao Chen as the crowd speculated about their past.

• Xiao Chen asked Cao Niuwang to trust him with the Linbei City mission, but Cao Niuwang described the Aquatic Bear Demon’s strength and the thousands of defenders it had killed.
• Yan Hua entered the hall and declared that he would cut off the Aquatic Bear Demon’s head.
• The disciples praised Yan Hua, a Born King Physique and descendant of an ancient hidden lineage, while Ye Qingxuan eagerly greeted him.
• The crowd discussed Ye Qingxuan and Xiao Chen’s former marriage contract, and Xiao Chen’s expression darkened as Yan Hua approached.
• Yan Hua smiled at Xiao Chen and asked whether he minded if Yan Hua cut in line.

Xiao Chen accepted the mission to kill the Aquatic Bear Demon in Linbei City despite Yan Hua and Ye Qingxuan dismissing him, then left the sect amid rumors that he was acting out of heartbreak. On the forest road, he sensed someone lurking and ordered them to come out.

• Yan Hua registered for the Linbei City bear demon mission, and Cao Niuwang later registered Xiao Chen for it as well.
• Ye Qingxuan warned Xiao Chen to abandon the mission, then accepted it herself and joined Yan Hua.
• Niu Feng visited Xiao Chen, misunderstood his motives, and helped spread a rumor that Xiao Chen planned to die fighting the bear demon over Ye Qingxuan.
• Gu Lanlan, Qing Yumei, and Ye Lanxi urged Xiao Chen to reconsider, but he left for Linbei City alone; Ye Qingxuan and Yan Hua departed soon afterward.
• On a secluded forest path, Xiao Chen sensed someone hiding in the woods and demanded that they reveal themselves.

Xiao Chen killed Xia Shan after revealing his half-step Sword General cultivation, then traveled toward Central Province by Flying Demon Ship. He thought of Xu Potian, whose boastful message had placed him at the Steel Saber Sect, where Xu Potian was now fighting bear demons near Linbei City.

• Xia Shan ambushed Xiao Chen in a forest, hoping to kill him and win Ye Qingxuan’s favor.
• Xiao Chen withstood Xia Shan’s punch, revealed his half-step Sword General cultivation, and beheaded him.
• Xiao Chen burned Xia Shan’s body with Solar Truefire and left no trace before traveling to Red Blossom City.
• The Flying Demon Ship Association honored Xiao Chen’s token with a discounted ticket and a room on the earliest ship, which he boarded for Central Province.
• Xiao Chen remembered Xu Potian’s message and his friends’ support, then wondered where Xu Potian had gone.
• At Linbei City, Xu Potian and the Steel Saber Sect disciples fought bear demons while suffering heavy losses.

Linbei City’s defenders and Huang Ming’s Steel Saber Sect disciples struggled against the Aquatic Bear Demons, while Xu Potian faced death after Huang Ming was pinned down. As Xu Potian gave up resisting, a piercing sword cry rang out from the heavens, drawing everyone’s attention.

• Huang Ming and the Steel Saber Sect disciples fought the Aquatic Bear Demons as the wounded Lord of Linbei City and his martial artists guarded the civilians.
• Huang Ming urged the group to call for reinforcements, and the disciples told him Xu Potian’s Chen-di was a powerful Tai Xu Sect sword cultivator who had been seriously injured.
• Several Aquatic Bear Demons charged Xu Potian, while two others intercepted Huang Ming and prevented him from helping.
• Xu Potian’s saber was knocked away, and a bear demon prepared to bite his arm as he closed his eyes and gave up resisting.
• A sharp sword cry boomed from the heavens, startling the bear demons and the Steel Saber Sect disciples.

Xiao Chen descended into Linbei City and killed an Aquatic Bear Demon with one sword strike, saving the defenders and reuniting with Xu Potian. He introduced himself to the city lord as an attendant of the Tai Xu Sect, leaving everyone stunned.

• The Lord of Linbei City mistook a flying ship for reinforcements, but it flew away before Xiao Chen plunged from the sky toward the battle.
• Xiao Chen cleaved an Aquatic Bear Demon in half with one sword strike, making the surviving demons retreat in fear.
• Xu Potian thanked the newcomer, recognized Xiao Chen, and excitedly embraced his younger brother.
• Xu Potian and the Steel Saber Sect disciples discussed Xiao Chen's strength and Xu Potian's claim that he had surpassed him in cultivation.
• Zhang Zhong asked whether Xiao Chen came from the Tai Xu Sect, and Xiao Chen identified himself as one of its attendants, shocking everyone.

Ye Qingxuan and Yan Hua arrived in Linbei City and belittled Xiao Chen, unaware that he had already slain an Aquatic Bear Demon. When the demons charged, Yan Hua failed to seriously wound one with his saber, leaving his strength in stark contrast to Xiao Chen’s earlier strike.

• Ye Qingxuan and Yan Hua appeared, and Ye Qingxuan dismissed Xiao Chen as a cripple while Yan Hua accused him of disgracing Tai Xu Sect.
• Xiao Chen rebuked Ye Qingxuan and Yan Hua, and Xu Potian challenged Yan Hua before Huang Ming stopped him.
• The Aquatic Bear Demons charged at Ye Qingxuan and Yan Hua, frightening Ye Qingxuan.
• Yan Hua attacked the leading demon with his saber, but his strike only cut three inches into its flesh and stopped.

Yan Hua slaughtered the Aquatic Bear Demons attacking Linbei City, but Xiao Chen warned that the Half-Step Demon General Bear King had yet to appear. The Bear King emerged from the forest, and Yan Hua went to face it as Ye Qingxuan insisted he was invincible within his realm.

• Yan Hua used his full strength to kill the bear demon and then cut down the rest of its pack, earning Zhang Zhong and Linbei City's martial artists' gratitude.
• Ye Qingxuan praised Yan Hua and insulted Xiao Chen, while Xiao Chen said the Bear King had not appeared yet.
• A terrifying roar announced the Bear King's arrival, and the enormous blue demon emerged from the forest with an aura close to a Demon General.
• Yan Hua approached the Bear King, and Xiao Chen judged that the demon's strength and Dao Power gave it an advantage over Yan Hua.
• Ye Qingxuan argued that Yan Hua's Born King Physique and Outer Realm origins meant the Bear King could not defeat him.

Xiao Chen killed the Aquatic Bear Demon King with one sword after it fatally wounded Yan Hua, shocking everyone who had underestimated him. He collected the Demon Cores and left to focus on cultivation, while Ye Qingxuan was left regretting how she had treated him.

• The Aquatic Bear Demon King ambushed Yan Hua with a water arrow, fatally piercing his chest, and Ye Qingxuan confirmed that he had died.
• Xiao Chen rushed forward and beheaded the Aquatic Bear Demon King with a single sword strike, astonishing the witnesses with his strength.
• Xu Potian and the others struggled to believe Xiao Chen had advanced from the fourth level of the Sword Master Realm to half a step into the Sword General Realm in half a month.
• Xiao Chen collected sixteen Master Realm Demon Cores, declined Xu Potian's invitation to drink, and left to cultivate.
• Ye Qingxuan regretted mocking Xiao Chen, while Xu Potian criticized her for choosing Yan Hua over him.

Xiao Chen learned that the Bian Family would auction Bian Shantian’s cultivation journal, which could help him pursue a Dual Core, then returned to the Tai Xu Sect to submit his mission. He claimed to have killed the bear demon, but Cao Niuwang refused to believe him.

• Ye Qingxuan reflected on Xiao Chen’s trials and rapid growth, sensing she had lost something important.
• Xiao Chen reached Archaic City and heard that the Bian Family would auction Bian Shantian’s journal on condensing a Dual Core.
• Xiao Chen learned rumors that Huang Yelang possessed a Dual Core and resolved to defeat him so he could enter the Dao Heaven Sacred Pool and remove his curse.
• Xiao Chen bought a ticket, traveled by Flying Demon Ship, and hurried back to the Tai Xu Sect.
• Xiao Chen went to the Mission Hall and told Cao Niuwang that he had completed the bear demon mission, but Cao Niuwang dismissed his claim.

Xiao Chen completed the Linbei City bear demon mission and collected his reward, leaving Cao Niuwang stunned by the strength shown in his jade token. After Gu Lanlan warned him about the upcoming Attendant Tournament, Xiao Chen resolved to use it to rise directly to True Disciple and went to the Ancient Texts Hall to research condensing a Dual Core.

• Xiao Chen showed Cao Niuwang his mission jade token, and Cao Niuwang completed the handover and gave him eight Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Xiao Chen absorbed the energy from his Demon Cores and spirit stones, but it only slightly stabilized his realm before being drained away.
• Gu Lanlan visited Xiao Chen, congratulated him on his reward, warned him about the Attendant Tournament in thirteen days, and left him three Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Xiao Chen decided to reveal his strength at the tournament and aim to become a True Disciple rather than settle for joining the outer sect.
• Xiao Chen went to the Ancient Texts Hall to look for methods of condensing a Dual Core.

Xiao Chen entered the Ancient Texts Hall to seek cultivation insights, but first clashed with Liu Si, a Black Kill Hall disciple extorting merit points at the entrance. After Liu Gang intervened, Xiao Chen entered the first-floor collection and began searching for the Martial Core Section.

• Liu Si demanded twenty merit points from Xiao Chen as an illegal entrance fee, and Xiao Chen refused to pay.
• Liu Si tried to slap Xiao Chen but backed down when Ancient Texts Hall guard Liu Gang intervened, then threatened Xiao Chen over the upcoming Attendant Tournament.
• Liu Gang warned Xiao Chen to avoid Liu Si, while Xiao Chen secretly resolved to kill him.
• Xiao Chen spent thirty merit points to obtain a formation token and entered the first-floor collection of cultivation insights.
• Xiao Chen searched the vast book collection for the Martial Core Section but could not find it.

Xiao Chen searched the Ancient Texts Hall for guidance on condensing a Dual Core, found Zhao Feng’s account of a disastrous failed attempt, and dismissed Fire Phoenix’s warning that he could never succeed. He returned to cultivating as the follower competition approached, then the competition day arrived.

• Xiao Chen searched the Martial Core Section and found Zhao Feng’s manuscript, which described his failed Dual Core attempt and the destruction of his dantian.
• Fire Phoenix appeared, warned Xiao Chen that his mundane-world body could not withstand condensing a Dual Core, and told him to focus on becoming an outer disciple.
• Xiao Chen left the Ancient Texts Hall, returned to his courtyard, and meditated on forming a Martial Core while followers prepared for the competition.
• Three days later, Niu Feng visited Xiao Chen, worried that he would not make the top ten in the follower competition, and Xiao Chen reassured him.
• Xiao Chen continued cultivating until the day of the follower competition arrived.

Xiao Chen went with Gu Lanlan to the attendants’ tournament at the Dragon Transformation Arena, where he learned about the Tai Xu Sect’s bloody history of losing challenges to the Demon Race. After Liu Si threatened him over refusing to surrender merit points, Gu Lanlan warned that Liu Si’s attendant Zhang Qinlong would attack him during the tournament.

• Gu Lanlan escorted Xiao Chen to the Dragon Transformation Arena and worried that he would rank last in the attendants’ tournament.
• Gu Lanlan explained that the Demon Race had challenged the Tai Xu Sect at the arena for centuries, with defeat costing the sect a city’s people, a hundred core disciples, and one-third of its spirit stones.
• Xiao Chen vowed to kill the Demon Race’s heavenly prodigies when they next challenged the sect.
• Liu Si threatened Xiao Chen for refusing to give up his merit points, and Gu Lanlan recognized him as a core disciple of Black Kill Hall.
• Gu Lanlan urged Xiao Chen to apologize to Liu Si and offered to compensate him, warning that Zhang Qinlong would likely try to kill Xiao Chen during the tournament.

Xiao Chen entered the attendants' grand competition despite Gu Lanlan's warning that Liu Si wanted him dead, and Wu Qinglong came to watch him. As the contest began, Xiao Chen ordered Niu Feng to claim a place in the arena's center and vowed to stop anyone who challenged him.

• Gu Lanlan failed to persuade Liu Si to spare Xiao Chen, while Xiao Chen refused to apologize and entered the Dragon Transformation Arena.
• Wu Qinglong arrived at the competition and fixed his attention on Xiao Chen, despite another hall master dismissing him as a cripple.
• Liu Si ordered Zhang Qinlong to kill Xiao Chen, but Zhang Qinlong recognized him and pretended his illness had returned.
• The attendants rushed onto the arena as the competition began, and the crowd noticed Zhang Qinlong hesitating to enter the center.
• Xiao Chen told Niu Feng to stand in the center and promised to beat anyone who tried to stop him.

Xiao Chen challenged the attendants’ tournament and drew the fury of the crowd by trying to secure Niu Feng a place in the top ten. He revealed that he could still fight despite the Evil Curse, but the attendants prepared to attack him together.

• Xiao Chen refused to back down as the attendants encircled him and accused him of blocking their path to promotion.
• Xiao Chen drew the Dragon Slayer Sword and declared that he would fight to his heart’s content.
• More than a hundred attendants charged Xiao Chen, but he sent them flying with a single sword strike.
• Wu Qinglong praised Xiao Chen’s strength and hoped he could enter the Dao Heaven Sacred Pool, while another hall master argued that Huang Yelang was far stronger.
• One of the Ten Evil Tigers urged the remaining attendants to attack Xiao Chen together, insisting that their numbers would overwhelm him.