Chapter Summaries

Xiao Chen arrived in time to save Xu Potian, then killed the two Bloodfeather Skyhawks and entered the Shadow Veil Gate. He found himself alone in the Second Zone, where a group nearby noticed his low cultivation level.

• The Bloodfeather Skyhawks attacked Xu Potian, but Xiao Chen appeared and shattered their demon qi before it could hit him.
• Xuan Yuan Sheng Yi explained that the Skyhawks had injured Xu Potian and Qingfeng, while Xu Potian confirmed that Xuan Yuan Sheng Yi had tried to help.
• Xiao Chen destroyed the Skyhawks' feather attack and killed both of them with two punches, then collected their Demon Cores.
• Xiao Chen entered the Shadow Veil Gate, and the others rushed after him; Zi Lingling followed Ye Lanxi and the rest when she missed her chance to collect benefits.
• Xiao Chen arrived alone in the Second Zone, observed its purple sun and richer spiritual energy, and heard someone nearby remark that he was only at the seventh level of the Martial Disciple Realm.

Xiao Chen entered the Second Zone and joined Ji Xiaoba and Dong Fenghou’s tiny Heavenly Thunder Gang, then watched them hunt a Violetgold Deer. After the group from the Martial Hall claimed the deer as theirs, Ba Ge pleaded to keep a leg, but they refused.

• Xiao Chen told Ji Xiaoba and Dong Fenghou that Xu Potian had slain the Bloodfeather Skyhawks, then accepted Ji Xiaoba’s offer to join the Heavenly Thunder Gang.
• Ji Xiaoba and Dong Fenghou explained that their gang had only two members before Xiao Chen joined as its third leader.
• Ji Xiaoba and Dong Fenghou fought the Violetgold Deer and killed it, then offered to share its meat with Xiao Chen.
• Several Martial Hall youths appeared and claimed the Violetgold Deer, and Ba Ge asked them to leave the gang one leg.
• A narrow-eyed Martial Hall youth scorned Ba Ge and refused to let them keep any of the deer.

Xiao Chen defended Ba Ge and Houzi after Martial Hall members attacked them and tried to take their Violetgold Deer, killing two of the attackers. As he moved to finish off the survivors, Long Ting arrived, revealing himself as a powerful sword cultivator.

• Houzi and Ba Ge stood up to the Martial Hall members, but the white-clad youth knocked them unconscious while Xiao Chen watched.
• The white-clad youth demanded to know how Xiao Chen had reached the Second Zone, then tried to take the Violetgold Deer.
• Xiao Chen warned the white-clad youth not to touch the deer and killed him with a single punch when he refused.
• Xiao Chen killed the tall youth who challenged him and advanced on the remaining Martial Hall members.
• Long Ting arrived in black armor, and the Martial Hall members recognized him as their rescuer; Xiao Chen saw that Long Ting was a sword cultivator at the fifth level of the Sword Master Realm.

Xiao Chen confronted Guo Longting, a former Sword Immortal Academy disciple whose betrayal had helped ruin the academy and whose uncle he had killed. Guo Longting challenged Xiao Chen with the Soul Extinguisher Sword, and the chapter ended as Xiao Chen faced the souls of its many victims.

• A Martial Hall member introduced Guo Longting and demanded that Xiao Chen kneel, but Xiao Chen recognized him as the traitor who had betrayed Sword Immortal Academy.
• Guo Longting learned that Xiao Chen had killed his uncle Guo Huai and swore they could not live beneath the same sky.
• Guo Longting accused Xiao Chen of joining a worthless academy and challenged him, while Xiao Chen declared that Guo Longting would get no chance to strike back.
• Guo Longting drew the Soul Extinguisher Sword and revealed that it held 967 souls, including those of ordinary people, elders, and children.

Xiao Chen confronted Guo Longting and recruited the cautious Xu Congming into the Heavenly Thunder Gang. After Xiao Chen warned that Guo Longting could not withstand one sword strike, Xu Congming chose to leave the Martial Hall and become the gang’s Fourth Leader.

• Guo Longting drew his Soul Devouring Sword, while Xu Congming recognized Xiao Chen’s calm as a sign of overwhelming confidence and warned Guo Longting not to underestimate him.
• Guo Longting rebuked Xu Congming for doubting him, and Xiao Chen invited Xu Congming to join the Heavenly Thunder Gang as its Fourth Leader.
• Xu Congming hesitated to abandon the Martial Hall, but Xiao Chen warned that Guo Longting could not block one strike of his sword.
• Xu Congming recalled the rumors that Xiao Chen could instantly kill a Half-Step Martial General and declared that he would submit to the Heavenly Thunder Gang.

After Xu Congming joined Xiao Chen’s Heavenly Thunder Gang, Xiao Chen defeated and killed Guo Longting and the Martial Hall prodigies who fled with him. The Water-Fire Lotus then appeared again in the Ten Thousand Dragon Marsh, and Xiao Chen announced he would compete for it despite his companions’ doubts.

• Xu Congming chose to join the Heavenly Thunder Gang despite Guo Longting warning that the Martial Hall would punish him and his family.
• Guo Longting attacked Xiao Chen, but Xiao Chen drew the Dragon Slayer Sword and shattered his sword rain with overwhelming Sword Qi.
• Guo Longting and the Martial Hall members tried to flee, but Xiao Chen killed seven or eight of them with purple sword light.
• Xu Congming buried the bodies, concealed the bloodstains, and hid the spoils before Ba Ge and Houzi woke and attacked him, mistaking him for an enemy.
• Xiao Chen learned that the Water-Fire Lotus had appeared again in the Ten Thousand Dragon Marsh and said he would contend for it, startling his companions.

Xiao Chen explained that he sought the Water-Fire Lotus to save Liu Sanji, the elderly man who had cared for him, and learned that the lotus was in the dangerous Ten Thousand Dragon Marsh. Ba Ge and Houzi insisted that the Heavenly Thunder Gang would face the danger together, while Xu Congming suggested Xiao Chen might fare better alone.

• Xiao Chen said he needed the Water-Fire Lotus to save his nearly seventy-year-old friend Liu Sanji, who had supported him after his parents abandoned him.
• Ba Ge and Houzi condemned Xiao Chen’s parents and vowed to help him, unaware that they were threatening the Zhenbei King.
• Xu Congming noticed Ba Ge and Houzi’s reopened wounds, and they applied medicine before collapsing from blood loss.
• Ba Ge and Houzi learned that Xiao Chen had driven away the Martial Hall experts and left the Violetgold Deer behind, then praised the Sword Demon without realizing Xiao Chen was the swordsman.
• Xiao Chen asked how to reach Ten Thousand Dragon Marsh, and Ba Ge warned that its beasts, swamps, and poisonous mist made it perilous.
• Xiao Chen offered to go alone, but Houzi insisted the gang would live or die together, while Xu Congming suggested Xiao Chen might have a better chance by himself.

Xiao Chen roasted Violetgold Deer meat for Ba Ge, Houzi, and Xu Congming, showing off his skill and gaining energy from the demonic beast meat. He then received messages from Xiao Zhentian and Wen Wanrong, whose sudden concern and pleas reminded him of how they had treated him after his dantian was shattered.

• Ba Ge insisted that the gang’s rules required him to accompany Xiao Chen into danger, while Houzi urged everyone to eat instead.
• Xiao Chen cut up the Violetgold Deer and roasted its meat, impressing Ba Ge, Houzi, and Xu Congming with its taste.
• Xiao Chen ate the demonic beast meat and absorbed its energy as purple demonic radiance appeared around him.
• Xiao Chen read Xiao Zhentian’s message offering the Silver Armor Guard’s help and rejected his renewed fatherly concern as self-serving.
• Xiao Chen read Wen Wanrong’s plea not to compete with his younger brother for the Water-Fire Lotus so it could be used to rebuild the brother’s dantian.

Xiao Chen rejected his mother Wen Wanrong’s plea to help Xiao Lingtian and traveled with Ba Ge, Houzi, and Xu Congming toward Ten Thousand Dragon Marsh. Their camp was approached by a Martial General who attacked Xu Congming and confronted Xiao Chen, declaring that he had finally found him.

• Xiao Chen refused Wen Wanrong’s request to give Xiao Lingtian a Water-Fire Lotus and ignored her repeated messages.
• Ba Ge and Houzi offered to help Xiao Chen seek justice from Zhenbei King Manor, but Xiao Chen declined.
• Xiao Chen and his companions ate together, then traveled toward Ten Thousand Dragon Marsh for three days.
• A burly stranger entered the forest, killed a ninth-level Master Realm Thunderbird with one punch, and approached the sleeping group.
• Xiao Chen and Xu Congming confronted the stranger, who revealed himself as a Martial General and blasted Xu Congming aside.
• The Martial General glared at Xiao Chen and called him a little thief he had finally found.

Xiao Chen faced Zhang Mohu, who had tracked him into the mystic realm to avenge his slain son, and accepted his challenge to fight. After revealing his Sword Master Fourth Level cultivation, Xiao Chen clashed with Zhang Mohu’s Demon Tiger Fist and ended the chapter swinging his sword at the charging tiger.

• Zhang Mohu confronted Xiao Chen and declared that he would kill him to avenge Zhang Youzhi.
• Xiao Chen led Zhang Mohu to a field of jagged rocks, while Xu Congming stayed behind to write his will.
• Xiao Chen drew the Dragon Slayer Sword and revealed his Sword Master Fourth Level cultivation, astonishing Zhang Mohu and nearby martial artists.
• Zhang Mohu attacked with his Demon Tiger Fist, sending a massive gray light tiger pouncing at Xiao Chen.
• Xiao Chen recited the Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art and swung his sword at the gray tiger.

Xiao Chen fought Zhang Mohu and, after nearly losing in their initial clash, killed him with Ascension-to-Immortality Swordplay. He claimed Zhang Mohu’s Martial Core and returned to find Xu Congming digging graves, leaving Xu stunned that Xiao Chen was alive.

• Xiao Chen’s strongest sword clashed with Zhang Mohu’s Demon Tiger Fist, and the collision left Xiao Chen badly wounded.
• Xiao Chen recalled his training, unleashed Ascension-to-Immortality Swordplay, and struck Zhang Mohu down with a descending sword attack.
• Xiao Chen retrieved Zhang Mohu’s Martial Core, swallowed a healing pill, and headed back toward his camp.
• Xu Congming dug graves for Xiao Chen, Ba Ge, Houzi, and himself, believing Zhang Mohu had killed them.
• Xiao Chen appeared behind Xu Congming, who asked why he was still alive and where Zhang Mohu was.

After killing Zhang Mohu, Xiao Chen traveled with the Heavenly Thunder Gang to Ten Thousand Dragon Marsh, where his group was stopped by a Demon God Hall guard demanding their valuables. Xuan Yuan Man Xiong threatened them with the arrival of his master, Xuan Yuan Sheng Yi.

• Xiao Chen told Xu Congming that he had killed Zhang Mohu, and Xu Congming buried the body and Zhang Mohu's weapon.
• The group woke the next morning, and Houzi learned from a message that Sword Demon Xiao Chen had fought Zhang Mohu nearby the previous night.
• Xiao Chen and the others traveled for several days before reaching Ten Thousand Dragon Marsh and cautiously crossing its dangerous outer region.
• Xuan Yuan Man Xiong blocked the group and demanded their spirit treasures, then knocked their offered snake meat and Demon Cores into the marsh.
• Xuan Yuan Man Xiong identified himself as a guard under Xuan Yuan Sheng Yi and threatened to kill the group unless they handed over valuables before his master returned.

Xiao Chen’s identity as the Sword Demon was revealed to Ba Ge and Houzi, who felt hurt that he had hidden it but still chose to go help him pursue the maturing Water-Fire Lotus. The chapter left Xiao Chen racing toward the lotus while the Heavenly Thunder Gang followed behind him.

• Xuan Yuan Man Xiong recognized Xiao Chen and bowed fearfully, then Xuan Yuan Sheng Yi arrived and greeted him as Brother Chen.
• A red-and-blue pillar of light signaled that the Water-Fire Lotus was about to mature, and Xiao Chen rushed toward it.
• Houzi realized Xiao Chen was the Sword Demon and told Ba Ge, who was shocked to learn their third brother’s identity.
• Xu Congming admitted that Xiao Chen had forced him to join the Heavenly Thunder Gang, but Ba Ge and Houzi welcomed him as a brother despite the danger from the Martial Hall.
• Ba Ge and Houzi decided to help Xiao Chen reach the Water-Fire Lotus, and Xu Congming followed them.

Xiao Chen encountered Lan Yudie and her guard, Uncle Pan, while stopping to fetch water in the marshlands, then killed them both with a single sword strike. Experts from the Hundred Battles General's Mansion arrived afterward and suspected that Sword Demon Xiao Chen was responsible.

• Xuan Yuan Sheng Yi warned Xuan Yuan Man Xiong not to provoke people connected to Xiao Chen and sent him to search for other targets.
• Xiao Chen spotted Lan Yudie collecting water beside Uncle Pan and overheard them discussing the Hundred Battles General's Mansion's plans to kill him.
• Uncle Pan attacked Xiao Chen, but Xiao Chen filled his waterskin first to keep blood from contaminating the stream.
• Xiao Chen killed Uncle Pan with one sword strike, then beheaded Lan Yudie when she begged him to spare her.
• Experts from the Hundred Battles General's Mansion found the bodies and suspected that Sword Demon Xiao Chen had killed them.

After killing Lan Yudie and Uncle Pan, Xiao Chen reached the lake where the Water-Fire Lotus was ripening and discovered the terrifying Five-Clawed Black Dragon guarding it. The dragon awakened and met his gaze, leaving Xiao Chen shaken and unsure how he could overcome it without risking his strongest trump cards.

• The Hundred Battles General's Mansion experts recovered Lan Yudie and Uncle Pan's bodies and learned that Commander Liu would wait at the mystic realm's exit to kill Xiao Chen.
• Xiao Chen arrived at the black lake and found many martial artists gathering to contend for the Water-Fire Lotus.
• Xiao Chen used his extraordinary vision to spot a colossal Five-Clawed Black Dragon sleeping beneath the lotus.
• The Five-Clawed Black Dragon opened its eyes and stared at Xiao Chen, causing him intense pain and revealing the vast gap between their strength.
• Xiao Chen considered using his trump cards but worried about the weakness they would bring, while wishing he could master the Starlight Fist.

Xuan Yuan Hongyi confronted Xuan Yuan Sheng Yi over the stolen Starlight Fist and seized Xiao Chen’s companions to force him to appear. As Demon God Hall fighters moved to kill Houzi and Xu Congming, an unknown figure appeared and deflected their blades.

• Xuan Yuan Sheng Yi told Xuan Yuan Hongyi that Xiao Chen had taken the Starlight Fist, but Xuan Yuan Hongyi accused him of lying and demanded to know where he had hidden it.
• Xuan Yuan Man Xiong identified Houzi and his companions as Xiao Chen’s allies, and Xuan Yuan Hongyi ordered his men to bring them over.
• Xuan Yuan Hongyi demanded that Ba Ge summon Xiao Chen and threatened to destroy the Heavenly Thunder Gang, but Ba Ge refused and was badly injured by a Demon God Hall fighter.
• Houzi refused to contact Xiao Chen, fearing Xuan Yuan Hongyi would kill him, while Xu Congming urged Houzi to trust Xiao Chen’s strength.
• Xuan Yuan Hongyi ordered his fighters to kill Houzi and the others, but a figure appeared and blasted their blades away with sword qi.

Xiao Chen arrived at the black lake and rescued the Heavenly Thunder Gang leaders from Xuan Yuan Hongyi, whose forces withdrew when Xiao Chen’s allies gathered to protect him. As the Water-Fire Lotus drew the crowd into a bloody battle, Xiao Chen warned his companions to stay back, insisting no one could seize it.

• Xiao Chen revealed he had mastered the Starlight Fist, then stood with Ba Ge, Houzi, and Xu Congming against Xuan Yuan Hongyi’s threat.
• Xu Potian, Liu Qingfeng, Zi Lingling, Ye Qingxuan, Lin Qingxian, Ye Lanxi, and their guards arrived to support Xiao Chen and welcomed the Heavenly Thunder Gang leaders as allies.
• Xu Potian insulted the Xuan Yuan Family, and Xuan Yuan Hongyi left with his clansmen after threatening Xiao Chen.
• A martial artist rushed for the Water-Fire Lotus and was blasted into a bloody mist, triggering a fierce battle among the gathered factions.
• Xiao Chen told Xu Potian and the others to wait because no one could seize the lotus, but several experts ignored him and joined the fight.
• Zi Lingling asked Xiao Chen why he had told them to stay back.

Xiao Chen watched the hidden guardian of the Water-Fire Lotus while Demon General Luo Feiyang, Ling Ming, and Hong Yu arrived at the lake. After rejecting the Zhenbei King Manor’s claim on him and declaring that Xiao Lingtian would never get the lotus, Xiao Chen warned that the beast was about to emerge, and a Five-Clawed Black Dragon erupted from the lake.

• Xiao Chen saw the Five-Clawed Black Dragon waiting at the bottom of the lake and explained that a hidden threat was watching the fighters compete for the Water-Fire Lotus.
• Demon General Luo Feiyang, Ling Ming, and Hong Yu arrived, scattering nearly a thousand martial artists, and Hong Yu confronted Xiao Chen for injuring a member of Saintly Wasteland Academy.
• Ling Ming addressed Xiao Chen as the Zhenbei King Manor’s Young Lord, prompting Hong Yu to question the manor’s decision and threaten to demand an explanation.
• Xiao Chen rejected Ling Ming’s offer of protection, disavowed his ties to Xiao Zhentian, and vowed that Xiao Lingtian would not get the Water-Fire Lotus.
• Xiao Chen warned that the lake’s guardian was emerging, and a Five-Clawed Black Dragon burst through the water, terrifying everyone present.

A powerful Five-Clawed Black Dragon attacked the martial artists gathered around the Water-Fire Lotus, forcing them to flee the mystic realm. As Xiao Chen reached the exit, Hong Yu ambushed him and escaped through the teleportation gate, leaving Xiao Chen trapped inside.

• The Five-Clawed Black Dragon emerged from the lake, swallowed martial artists indiscriminately, and blasted Luo Feiyang aside when he pleaded for it to spare the Demon God Hall.
• Hong Yu attacked the Black Dragon with the Fiery Sun Fist, but the Black Dragon revealed himself to be a Third Heaven Realm Demon General and defeated him with dragon breath.
• Ling Ming urged everyone to evacuate and led Xiao Chen toward the exit as the Black Dragon stayed near the Water-Fire Lotus.
• Xiao Chen hesitated at the fading teleportation gate, hoping to return to the lake, but Ling Ming pushed him toward the exit.
• Hong Yu struck Xiao Chen away from the gate and escaped; Ling Ming followed, and the gate vanished, leaving Xiao Chen alone in the mystic realm.

Xiao Chen was trapped in the Serpent Dragon Mystic Realm and considered how to obtain the Water-Fire Lotus so the system would let him leave. Outside, his companions grieved over his disappearance while Hong Yu escaped their challenge and revealed that he had targeted Xiao Chen to help destroy the Sword Immortal Academy at the upcoming tournament.

• Xiao Chen learned the system would only take him out of the mystic realm after he obtained the Water-Fire Lotus, and he considered using the Dragon Slayer Sword to subdue the black flood dragons.
• The martial artists emerged from the mystic realm without Xiao Chen, and Ba Ge, Houzi, Xu Potian, Ye Qingxuan, Zi Lingling, Lin Qingxian, and Ye Lanxi mourned his apparent imprisonment.
• Ling Ming confronted Hong Yu over Xiao Chen's fate, but he held back from attacking after Hong Yu warned him about the consequences of making an enemy of the Saintly Wasteland Academy.
• Hong Yu told Ling Ming that Xiao Lingtian need not report to the Saintly Wasteland Academy while his dantian was damaged, then challenged the others to face him at the upcoming tournament.
• Hong Yu left and reflected that he had trapped Xiao Chen to remove the Sword Immortal Academy's strongest remaining hope and secure its destruction at the tournament.