Chapter Summaries

After the massacre at Caomiao Village, Qingyun Sect’s leaders questioned the lone conscious child, Su Changqing, and offered to make amends. Su Changqing learned that joining the sect would activate his Myriad Dao Heaven-Defying Comprehension System and prepared to accept.

• Song Daren reported that a massacre at Caomiao Village had left only three children and one mad villager alive.
• Dao Xuan Zhenren asked for the awake child to be brought before the Qingyun Sect leaders.
• Su Changqing explained that he was an orphan who had survived the disaster while gathering herbs in the mountains.
• Dao Xuan Zhenren offered Su Changqing wealth and a life in the mortal world or a place as a Qingyun Sect disciple.
• Su Changqing heard that joining Qingyun Sect would activate the Myriad Dao Heaven-Defying Comprehension System and decided to join.

Su Changqing and the other two Caomiao Village survivors agreed to join Qingyun Sect, but aptitude testing revealed Su Changqing had the weakest Bone Root Aptitude and Lin Jingyu had exceptional talent. The Peak Lords then argued over who would take Lin Jingyu as a disciple.

• Su Changqing told Dao Xuan Zhenren he wished to join Qingyun Sect and seek the Dao.
• Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu arrived, reunited with Su Changqing, and agreed to stay and cultivate.
• Dao Xuan Zhenren tested the three children’s Bone Root Aptitude, revealing Lin Jingyu’s dazzling talent, Zhang Xiaofan’s strong aptitude, and Su Changqing’s faint light.
• Su Changqing accepted his poor aptitude without despair, trusting that his system would help him after he entered Qingyun Sect.
• Cang Song, Tian Buyi, Shang Zhengliang, Tian Yun Zhenren, and Zeng Shuchang argued over who would accept Lin Jingyu as a disciple.

Dao Xuan Zhenren assigned Lin Jingyu to Cang Song and Zhang Xiaofan to Tian Buyi, while Su Changqing was left without a sect because of his poor aptitude. Master Shui Yue offered to take Su Changqing as her disciple, giving him a place at Little Bamboo Peak.

• Dao Xuan Zhenren decided Lin Jingyu would become Cang Song’s disciple and invited the remaining Peak Lords to choose between Zhang Xiaofan and Su Changqing.
• Tian Buyi reluctantly accepted Zhang Xiaofan as his disciple after Dao Xuan Zhenren pointed out Great Bamboo Peak’s connection to the boys.
• Dao Xuan Zhenren struggled to find a place for Su Changqing, whose poor aptitude had discouraged the other Peak Lords.
• Master Shui Yue offered to take Su Changqing into her sect rather than let him return to a lonely life or become an outer sect servant.
• Dao Xuan Zhenren approved Su Changqing’s entry into Little Bamboo Peak, and Master Shui Yue told him to call her Master.

After becoming Shuiyue’s disciple, Su Changqing arrived at Little Bamboo Peak and was introduced to its many female cultivators as their new junior brother. As Shuiyue taught him the first level of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao, his Unrivaled Insight transformed the technique, drawing spiritual energy into his body and reforging his dantian.

• Su Changqing received the Unrivaled Insight reward after officially joining the Qingyun Sect.
• Shuiyue took Su Changqing by Flying Sword to Little Bamboo Peak, where its female cultivators were surprised to see him.
• Shuiyue introduced Su Changqing as her disciple and instructed the senior sisters to look after him rather than exclude him.
• Shuiyue taught Su Changqing the sect’s rules, meditation, basic Daoist Magic, and the first level of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao.
• Su Changqing circulated the cultivation method once, and his dantian was reforged as spiritual energy gathered and entered his body.

Su Changqing began cultivating Wuji Xuanqing Dao, quickly drawing in exceptionally pure spiritual energy but exhausting his weak body. After he asked for a separate place to practice, Shuiyue gave him access to her Jingxin Cave Mansion, where he could cultivate in seclusion.

• Su Changqing discovered that Wuji Xuanqing Dao filtered spiritual energy and let him draw qi into his body after only half an incense stick, though cultivation soon left him exhausted.
• Su Changqing told Shuiyue that his poor aptitude made it difficult to cultivate for long, and she arranged a nearby house and male disciples' clothes for him through Wen Min.
• Wen Min led Su Changqing to his house, explained the sect's rules, and left to fetch clothes; when she returned, she found him asleep and covered him with a blanket.
• Su Changqing decided to develop quietly, seek a way to improve his spiritual roots and aptitude, and learn more about the world before choosing his path.
• Su Changqing asked Shuiyue for a separate cultivation ground, and she took him to her Jingxin Cave Mansion and allowed him to cultivate there.

Su Changqing completed the first layer of the Wuji Xuanqing Dao in Quiet Heart Cave and went with Wen Min to the sect assembly. There he saw Lin Jingyu drawing attention for his rapid cultivation, while Lin Jingyu said he hoped to match Qi Hao rather than surpass him.

• After seven days of secluded cultivation, Su Changqing completed the first layer of the Wuji Xuanqing Dao, reaching a level equivalent to the third level of Qi Refinement.
• Wen Min summoned Su Changqing to the sect assembly and brought him to the mountain gate plaza on her Flying Sword.
• Wen Min asked whether Su Changqing had settled in at Little Bamboo Peak and advised him to cultivate steadily rather than compare himself with others.
• Wen Min told Su Changqing that Lin Jingyu had learned to draw spiritual energy into his body in seven days and was expected to complete the first layer soon.
• At the crowded plaza, Lin Jingyu spoke with gathered disciples and said he hoped to stand shoulder to shoulder with Qi Hao.

Su Changqing reunited with Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan at Qingyun Sect, keeping his own cultivation and abilities hidden while Lin Jingyu urged them to work harder. The gathering then began with Dao Xuan Zhenren warning the disciples about a nearby sect’s betrayal and killings.

• Lin Jingyu left the crowd to greet Su Changqing and asked how his cultivation was progressing.
• Lin Jingyu offered to teach Su Changqing at Dragon Head Peak, but Su Changqing declined.
• Zhang Xiaofan arrived with Song Daren, and Lin Jingyu urged him to join him for cultivation; Zhang Xiaofan politely refused.
• Su Changqing observed Zhang Xiaofan’s slow progress and reflected on his patient approach to cultivation.
• Dao Xuan Zhenren and Qingyun Sect’s leaders began the gathering with a lecture prompted by disciples from a nearby sect who had joined the Demonic Cult and killed fellow disciples.

After half a year of secluded cultivation, Su Changqing reached the peak of the tenth level of Qi Refining and mastered many powerful techniques, but still needed a way to break through to Foundation Establishment. He decided to seek the rare Desolate Immortal Orchid at Nine Yin Mountain and went to find Shuiyue for permission to descend the mountain, only to learn she was at the Sect Main Hall.

• Su Changqing spent half a year studying manuals, and Unrivaled Insight transformed them into powerful sword, concealment, formation, and alchemy techniques.
• Su Changqing reached the peak of the tenth level of Qi Refining and concealed his rapid progress from others.
• Su Changqing decided to seek the Desolate Immortal Orchid at Nine Yin Mountain to help him break through to Foundation Establishment.
• Su Changqing went to the small hall to ask Shuiyue for permission to descend the mountain, but Wen Min told him Shuiyue was at the Sect Main Hall.
• Su Changqing thanked Wen Min and flew toward the Sect Main Hall on his Flying Sword.

Su Changqing flew on his Flying Sword for the first time, then encountered Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan near the Sect Main Hall. After Lin Jingyu’s followers mocked Su Changqing’s cultivation, Zhang Xiaofan defended him, and Lin Jingyu ended the exchange by telling them to leave Su Changqing alone.

• Su Changqing enjoyed riding his Flying Sword, landed near the Sect Main Hall, and ran into Lin Jingyu, Zhang Xiaofan, and several disciples.
• Su Changqing observed that Lin Jingyu had reached Qi Refining Layer Six and had become a celebrated disciple, while Zhang Xiaofan remained warm and unassuming.
• Zhang Xiaofan greeted Su Changqing and invited him to try the food he had learned to cook on Great Bamboo Peak.
• Lin Jingyu asked whether Su Changqing had gained anything from seclusion, and Su Changqing replied that he had gained nothing much.
• Lin Jingyu’s followers mocked Su Changqing’s low Cultivation Level, so Zhang Xiaofan angrily challenged them.
• Lin Jingyu stopped his followers and said that those who walked different paths could not make common plans, then told them to leave Su Changqing alone.

Su Changqing requested permission from Shuiyue to travel to Nine Yin Mountain in search of a Desolate Immortal Orchid, and she reluctantly agreed after warning him about the dangers and giving him a protective talisman. After leaving Qingyun Mountain, he practiced swordplay while flying and used Unrivaled Insight to deduce Gale Sword Dao into Gale Swordplay.

• After Lin Jingyu left, Su Changqing reassured Zhang Xiaofan that he did not take Lin Jingyu's behavior to heart.
• Su Changqing met Shuiyue and asked permission to travel to Nine Yin Mountain to seek a Desolate Immortal Orchid.
• Shuiyue initially refused because Su Changqing was too weak to face the mountain's dangers, but agreed after he insisted on going alone.
• Shuiyue gave Su Changqing a talisman capable of withstanding one fatal attack from someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm and warned him to return if he found nothing after three days.
• Su Changqing informed Senior Sister Wen Min, gathered supplies, and left Qingyun Mountain for Nine Yin Mountain.
• While flying, Su Changqing practiced Gale Sword Dao, and Unrivaled Insight deduced it into Gale Swordplay.

Su Changqing explored Nine Yin Mountain and encountered a Black Tiger Beast that mistook him for an ordinary mortal. He revealed his swordsmanship with a powerful slash, leaving the beast shocked and narrowly alive.

• Su Changqing arrived at Nine Yin Mountain, explored its dangerous terrain, and gathered medicinal herbs.
• Su Changqing decided to test his combat strength against a demonic beast and encountered a Black Tiger Beast.
• The Black Tiger Beast transformed into a tiger-headed demon, called itself the Great Black King, and threatened to eat Su Changqing.
• Su Changqing attacked with his longsword, and his sword qi carved a deep hole and severed nearby trees.
• The Black Tiger Beast leaped aside to avoid the slash, but the sword qi nearly opened its belly and left it stunned.

Su Changqing trapped the Black Tiger Beast in an array and killed it with a barrage of Divine Abilities, discovering that his strength rivaled the upper three levels of the Foundation Establishment Realm. He then continued searching Nine Yin Mountain for the Desolate Orchid Water Lily.

• The Black Tiger Beast fled after Su Changqing wounded it, but Su Changqing trapped it with the Four Directions Earth Trapping Array.
• The Black Tiger Beast attacked Su Changqing, who evaded it with a Movement Technique and decided to stop playing with it.
• Su Changqing unleashed the Ten Thousand Heavenly Thunder Array, Gale Swordplay, Desolate Falling Violent Body Fist, and other Divine Abilities against the Black Tiger Beast.
• The Black Tiger Beast was blasted apart, and Su Changqing realized he could handle a Foundation Establishment Realm beast with ease.
• Su Changqing left the remains behind and resumed searching for the Desolate Orchid Water Lily.

Dao Xuan Zhenren sent Qingyun Sect disciples to Nine Yin Mountain after reports of Demonic Cult factions and a possible Heavenly Treasure, appointing Tian Buyi and Shuiyue to lead the expedition. Shuiyue worried about Su Changqing, who had already gone there alone, and set out with Lu Xueqi to find him.

• Dao Xuan Zhenren told the Peak Lords that Demonic Cult disciples had appeared at Nine Yin Mountain amid signs of a possible Heavenly Treasure, and ordered them to send disciples on an expedition.
• Dao Xuan Zhenren appointed Tian Buyi to lead the group, and Shuiyue volunteered to accompany him because she had business at Nine Yin Mountain.
• Cang Song chose Qi Hao and Lin Jingyu, while Great Bamboo Peak chose Song Daren and Wu Dayi; Lin Jingyu hoped the Heavenly Treasure would recognize him as its owner.
• Shuiyue told Lu Xueqi that Su Changqing had gone alone to Nine Yin Mountain to find a Desolate Orchid Water Lily, and Lu Xueqi agreed to go with her.
• The selected disciples gathered at the sect plaza and set out for Nine Yin Mountain.

Su Changqing discovered that several Demonic Cult sects had gathered on Nine Yin Mountain to search for the Kui Ox. After killing a disciple and taking his clothes, he infiltrated their ranks and was led toward a cave where their sect master was waiting.

• Su Changqing concealed himself in the forest and overheard two Demonic Cult disciples say they had been sent to find the Kui Ox.
• Su Changqing followed the disciples deeper into the mountains and saw that members of several Demonic Cult sects had joined the search.
• Su Changqing followed a disciple who left the group, killed him, and took his black robes and mask.
• Su Changqing passed himself off as the dead disciple, Old Chong, and went with the others toward the cave where the sect master was waiting.

Su Changqing infiltrated the Demonic Cult’s array-building operation on Nine Yin Mountain and learned that the cult was preparing to capture the Kui Ox at several possible emergence sites. After slipping away to change clothes, he was confronted by someone who had noticed his disguise.

• Su Changqing worked alongside Demonic Cult disciples while they built an array on Nine Yin Mountain and learned that Sect Leader Qiu Buping was supervising the work.
• Qiu Buping announced rewards for the first mountain range to finish its array and punishment for the last, then left after warning the disciples.
• Old Li told Su Changqing that the Ghost King Sect was building Spirit Trapping Arrays at several locations, including Nine Yin Mountain and Flowing Waves Mountain, because it did not know where the Kui Ox would emerge.
• Su Changqing realized the cult had also sent disciples to the Kui Ox’s true emergence site, Flowing Waves Mountain, and decided to escape.
• Su Changqing slipped out of the cave to change clothes, but an unseen person confronted him, saying they had noticed something was wrong with him.

Su Changqing killed Old Li after Old Li discovered he was not Old Chong, then continued toward Nine Yin Mountain in search of the Desolate Orchid Water Lily. Qiu Buping investigated Old Li’s death and ordered a search for Old Chong, only to learn that Old Chong was dead too.

• Old Li confronted Su Changqing about his identity, refused his offer to spare him, and attacked him with Ghost Demon Three Claws.
• Su Changqing blocked Old Li’s attack and killed him with the Gale Sword Technique.
• Unrivaled Insight improved Old Li’s Ghost Demon Three Claws into Ghost Demon Nine Claws, and Su Changqing continued toward Nine Yin Mountain.
• Demons discovered Old Li’s body, and Qiu Buping interrogated the disciples before ordering them to find Old Chong.
• A disciple reported that Old Chong was dead as well.

Qiu Buping discovered that a righteous-path sword cultivator had impersonated Old Chong and killed him and Old Li, but he found no clues to the killer. Meanwhile, Qingyun Sect disciples arrived at Nine Yin Mountain, where Qi Hao and Lin Jingyu found the Heavenly Treasure’s landing site empty and took Tian Buyi to inspect it.

• Qiu Buping examined Old Chong and Old Li’s identical wounds, concluded a skilled righteous-path sword cultivator had killed them, and ordered an investigation that uncovered no clues.
• Tian Buyi and Shuiyue led Qingyun Sect disciples to Nine Yin Mountain for training, and Shuiyue searched for Su Changqing with Lu Xueqi.
• Qi Hao and Lin Jingyu searched for lightning-struck ground to locate the Heavenly Treasure and found a scorched crater in the forest.
• Qi Hao and Lin Jingyu found the crater empty and reported their discovery to Tian Buyi.
• Tian Buyi hurried with Qi Hao and Lin Jingyu to examine the crater after suspecting the Demonic Cult had taken the Heavenly Treasure.

Tian Buyi determined that the Heavenly Treasure was a lightning-attribute Sword Dao Treasure seized by the Demonic Cult, prompting Qingyun Sect to abandon its training expedition and search Nine Yin Mountain for it. As Qiu Buping learned that Qingyun Sect was approaching, he feared their strength but did not back down.

• Tian Buyi inspected the pit and concluded that a lightning-attribute Sword Dao Treasure had descended there, though the Demonic Cult had taken it first.
• Tian Buyi ordered the Qingyun Sect disciples to regroup and search for the Demonic Cult, and Shuiyue brought Lu Xueqi back despite worrying about Su Changqing.
• Shuiyue examined the pit and confirmed Tian Buyi's findings, while Lin Jingyu rallied the disciples to reclaim the treasure.
• Tian Buyi led the gathered Qingyun Sect group deeper into Nine Yin Mountain to search for the Demonic Cult.
• A disciple warned Qiu Buping that Qingyun Sect was heading toward them, and Qiu Buping worried about their strength while maintaining the Demonic Cult's defiant resolve.

Su Changqing searched the swamp in Nine Yin Mountain for the Desolate Orchid Water Lily but was ambushed by an unknown demonic beast. After trapping the beast in the Four Directions Earth Trapping Array, he fought it with his strongest techniques, but it countered every attack.

• Qiu Buping learned that Qingyun Sect experts might be at Nine Yin Mountain, reported the incident to the sect master, and went to meet them.
• Su Changqing searched the swamp for the Desolate Orchid Water Lily but found no trace of it.
• A horned, winged serpent attacked Su Changqing, who wounded it with the Gale Sword Technique after evading its second strike.
• Su Changqing set up the Four Directions Earth Trapping Array and cornered the serpent when it crashed into the barrier.
• Su Changqing unleashed his Ten Thousand Heavenly Thunder Array, Gale Swordplay, and Desolate Falling Violent Body Fist, but the serpent neutralized every attack.

Su Changqing fought a flood serpent until it molted and broke through by absorbing lightning from his array. After the serpent explained their fight had helped it overcome its bottleneck, Su Changqing asked it to lead him to the Desolate Orchid Water Lily, and it set off with him following.

• Su Changqing watched as the weakened flood serpent molted instead of attacking it.
• The flood serpent emerged larger and stronger, with lightning around its horn that resembled the array’s heavenly lightning.
• The flood serpent approached Su Changqing peacefully and thanked him, explaining that their fight and his array’s lightning had helped it break through its cultivation bottleneck.
• Su Changqing asked the flood serpent to lead him to the Desolate Orchid Water Lily, and it moved off for him to follow.