Chapter Summaries

Su Changqing comprehended the Supreme Treasure Art of the Thunder Emperor after facing Lu Xueqi’s heavenly lightning, then appeared above the clouds and used lightning that boosted the Qingyun Sect disciples’ Cultivation Levels. As the disciples cultivated beneath the Auspicious Lightning, Su Changqing descended beside Lu Xueqi and asked what she thought of his technique.

• Su Changqing fused the Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique with the Ten Thousand Heavenly Thunder Array and, after reciting the new technique’s incantation, guided Lu Xueqi’s lightning onto himself.
• After the lightning vanished and everyone feared he had died, Su Changqing appeared atop the thunderclouds, unharmed, and explained that he had used the strike to comprehend and practice a new technique.
• Su Changqing summoned heavenly lightning over the Qingyun Sect disciples in the stands, causing panic as Cang Song urged Dao Xuan Zhenren to stop him.
• A disciple struck by the lightning remained unharmed and advanced from the third realm of Qi Refining to the Qi Refining Fourth Realm, revealing that the lightning could replenish spiritual energy and aid breakthroughs.
• Thousands of disciples stopped fleeing and cultivated under the Auspicious Lightning as Su Changqing rode the thunderclouds down beside Lu Xueqi and asked how she found his Lightning Technique.

Su Changqing used the Thunder Emperor’s Treasure Technique to help cultivators recover and break through, then rapidly advanced to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Eighth Realm and won his match against Lu Xueqi. At a gathering that night, Dao Xuan revealed that the Refining Blood Hall, a once-powerful Demonic Cult faction based at Wanfu Ancient Cave, was showing signs of rising again.

• Su Changqing explained that his Lightning Technique could draw in spiritual energy to help people cultivate, and he used it to restore Lu Xueqi.
• Spiritual energy gathered around Su Changqing as he advanced from the Foundation Establishment Sixth Realm to the peak of the Eighth Realm, astonishing the Qingyun Sect disciples and Peak Lords.
• Lu Xueqi conceded that Su Changqing had already won their match, and the tournament results set Su Changqing against Qi Hao in the final three days later.
• Dao Xuan summoned the Qingyun Sect Peak Lords and revealed that the Demonic Cult had expanded its activities at Nine Yin Mountain.
• Dao Xuan reported that the Refining Blood Hall, once one of the Demonic Cult’s five great factions, was showing signs of rising again.

Dao Xuan Zhenren revealed that Demonic Cult followers were searching the Wanfu Ancient Cave for the Blood Devouring Pearl and decided to send Qingyun Sect’s top tournament disciples to Kong Sang Mountain. Shuiyue asked Su Changqing to join the mission, and he eagerly agreed, leaving his plans to travel beyond the sect within reach.

• Dao Xuan Zhenren warned the Peak Lords that the Demonic Cult might be seeking the Blood Devouring Pearl in the Wanfu Ancient Cave.
• Dao Xuan Zhenren announced that Qingyun Sect would send its top eight Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament disciples to Kong Sang Mountain alongside disciples from Fenxiang Valley and Tianyin Temple.
• Dao Xuan Zhenren urged Shuiyue to let Su Changqing go, praising his talent and assuring her he could protect himself.
• After the Peak Lords left, Dao Xuan Zhenren privately celebrated Su Changqing’s chance to outshine the other righteous sects’ geniuses.
• Su Changqing meditated on the Thunder Emperor's Treasure Technique and considered leaving Qingyun Sect to seek opportunities.
• Shuiyue told Su Changqing about the Kong Sang Mountain mission, and he agreed to go without hesitation.

Su Changqing discovered that two Demonic Cult spies were watching him and learned they wanted to question him about the mysterious swordsman at Nine Yin Mountain. After Qiu Buping and Song Dong discussed how to capture him, Su Changqing revealed himself from above them.

• Su Changqing reassured Shuiyue that he would pursue his own path and left her to continue cultivating.
• Su Changqing sensed two spies watching him on Sword Peak and left to draw them away from his practice.
• Qiu Buping and Song Dong decided to keep watching Su Changqing because they believed he could identify the mysterious swordsman from Nine Yin Mountain.
• Su Changqing used the Heaven Concealing Art to hide above Qiu Buping and Song Dong and overheard their plans.
• Qiu Buping mistook Su Changqing's voice for someone else's, then realized only he and Song Dong were present.

Su Changqing confronted Qiu Buping and Song Dong, who had come to capture him, and overwhelmed their attacks with his Thunder Dragon technique. When they tried to escape, he trapped them in a formation and unleashed Little Ink, leaving both men badly injured.

• Qiu Buping and Song Dong recognized Su Changqing as the person they had been seeking, and Su Changqing challenged them to capture him.
• Song Dong attacked with flying daggers while Qiu Buping launched black-mist fist phantoms, but Su Changqing's Thunder Dragon destroyed their attacks and forced them to dodge.
• Qiu Buping and Song Dong decided to retreat, but Su Changqing activated a formation that trapped them.
• Qiu Buping and Song Dong struck the barrier until it cracked, and Su Changqing summoned Little Ink.
• Little Ink swept Qiu Buping and Song Dong with its tail, hurling them into a boulder and badly injuring them.

Su Changqing questioned Song Dong after Qiu Buping escaped with a secret technique, learning how the Demonic Cult had identified him and that Qingyun Sect had an undercover agent. As Song Dong revealed the secret, a deadly restriction triggered and a phantom of light raced toward them.

• Little Ink attacked Qiu Buping, who used the Blood Burning Escape Technique to vanish without leaving a trace.
• Su Changqing questioned Song Dong, who revealed that Qiu Buping's escape art burned heart's blood to carry its user hundreds or thousands of miles.
• Su Changqing's Unrivaled Insight improved the Blood Burning Escape Technique into the Fanwu Escape Technique, which required only spiritual energy but left the dantian unable to absorb spiritual energy for three days.
• Song Dong explained that the Demonic Cult had sent Qiu Buping to investigate Su Changqing after his deeds at the Qingyun Sect's Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament and Nine Yin Mountain.
• Song Dong revealed that a Demonic Cult undercover agent was already in Qingyun Sect, triggering a restriction that sent an enormous phantom of light hurtling toward them.

Dao Xuan rescued Su Changqing and Song Dong from a Demonic Cult attack, then dealt with the captured steward while warning Su Changqing to keep the incident secret. The next day, Su Changqing arrived at the training grounds for his championship battle against Qi Hao, aware that his growing fame had drawn dangerous attention.

• Dao Xuan swallowed the black shadow of light with his sleeve and rescued Su Changqing from the Demonic Cult attack.
• Su Changqing told Dao Xuan how Qiu Buping had fled and Song Dong had revealed a Qingyun Sect spy; Dao Xuan secretly investigated Song Dong and learned he did not know the spy's identity.
• Dao Xuan told Su Changqing to keep the incident quiet, took Song Dong into his care, and urged Su Changqing to rest for the tournament.
• Su Changqing recalled that Xiao Yicai and Cang Song would betray the Qingyun Sect, but decided he needed to grow stronger before he could change their fates.
• Su Changqing arrived at the crowded training grounds for the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament championship against Qi Hao and considered finding a way to fade from the public eye.

Su Changqing and Qi Hao battled for the Qingyun Sect’s foremost disciple position, with Qi Hao’s ice techniques pushing Su Changqing to unleash a powerful lightning technique. Su Changqing’s strike overwhelmed Qi Hao and blasted a cave into Tongtian Peak, leaving the disciples stunned.

• Qi Hao and Su Changqing exchanged courtesies before beginning their championship duel.
• Qi Hao used frost and ice swords to attack Su Changqing, who countered with Azure Edge and wind techniques.
• Qi Hao formed ice armor and pressed Su Changqing with close sword strikes, but neither gained an advantage.
• Qi Hao unleashed Jitian Chenbing, and Su Changqing answered with Lei Fan from the Thunder Emperor’s Treasure Technique.
• Su Changqing’s lightning shattered Qi Hao’s giant ice sword, scorched his sword, and blasted a cave into a mountain ridge of Tongtian Peak.
• The disciples were astonished by Su Changqing’s lightning technique, while Qi Hao recovered from the attack in alarm.

Su Changqing defeated Qi Hao in the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, then collapsed from exhaustion and slept for three days while recovering at Little Bamboo Peak. After waking, he found a golden orb in his dantian that refined his spiritual energy.

• Su Changqing and Qi Hao fought in the sky for half a day until Qi Hao fell and admitted defeat to Cang Song Zhenren.
• Su Changqing was declared the tournament champion, but he collapsed after landing, and Shuiyue put him to sleep so he could rest.
• Su Changqing woke three days later to find his senior sisters caring for him and brewing medicine for his injuries.
• Su Changqing examined his recovered body and discovered a golden orb in his dantian that purified and concentrated his spiritual energy.

After awakening from a three-day coma, Su Changqing discovered he had advanced to the First Realm of Core Formation. Dao Xuan sent him and the other three tournament victors to investigate Wanfu Ancient Cave on Kong Sang Mountain, urging them to stay cautious and return safely.

• Su Changqing woke to find that he had reached the First Realm of Core Formation, and Shui Yue told him he had won the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament and was to travel to Wanfu Ancient Cave.
• Su Changqing agreed to go, dressed and took his medicine, then headed to the Sect Main Hall with Lu Xueqi.
• Lin Jingyu apologized to Su Changqing for blaming him, and his followers also apologized for having belittled him.
• Dao Xuan welcomed Su Changqing and Lu Xueqi at the Sect Main Hall, where Zhang Xiaofan and Qi Hao had already arrived.
• Dao Xuan warned the four tournament victors that the Demonic Cult was dangerous and urged them to investigate carefully and return safely.

After winning the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, Su Changqing received the Six Harmonies Mirror and the Sky Covering Method before setting out for Kong Sang Mountain with his companions. The group stopped in Heyang City for the night after a slow journey.

• Dao Xuan Zhenren gave Su Changqing the Six Harmonies Mirror and taught him its incantation, while the system awarded him the Sky Covering Method.
• Su Changqing, Zhang Xiaofan, Qi Hao, and Lu Xueqi departed Qingyun Sect for Kong Sang Mountain, and Su Changqing learned that Qi Hao had entered the Core Formation Realm.
• Zeng Shushu caught up with the group and joined their journey, making five travelers.
• The five flew toward Kong Sang Mountain for more than half a day, slowed by Zhang Xiaofan's difficulty controlling his Firewood Stick.
• The group agreed to spend the night in Heyang City and continue toward Kong Sang Mountain the next day.

Su Changqing led the Qingyun Sect group through Heyang City, used the Heaven Concealing Art to shield himself and Lu Xueqi from attention, and settled into an inn. That night, he began cultivating the Sky Covering Method and sensed the sealed Sea of Suffering beneath his Core Formation.

• Su Changqing suggested that the group change out of their Qingyun Sect robes to avoid Demonic Cult informants in Heyang City.
• After passersby stared at Lu Xueqi, Su Changqing used the Heaven Concealing Art to conceal himself and her, and offered to teach her the technique.
• The group checked into the Mountain Sea Garden Inn, where Su Changqing noticed a young woman at another table watching him before her veiled companion called him a lecher.
• Su Changqing returned to his room and reviewed the Sky Covering Method’s five realms and the steps of the Wheel Sea Maze Realm.
• Su Changqing began cultivating, sensed his Core Formation in his dantian, and identified the empty, sealed expanse beneath it as his Sea of Suffering.

Su Changqing made a small breakthrough in opening his Bitter Sea and received a system formula for Hundred Herb Liquid, though several ingredients were unfamiliar. When a young woman sneaked onto his roof at night, he confronted her and gave her a false name.

• Su Changqing chipped a tiny gap in the seal on his Bitter Sea but found progress slow.
• The system gave Su Changqing a formula for spiritual pills and liquid with the effects of Hundred Herb Liquid, but its final ingredients were unknown to him.
• Su Changqing wrote down the ingredient names and prepared to sleep before sensing someone probing his room with spiritual awareness.
• Su Changqing found the beautiful young woman from the banquet searching for him on the inn roof, and she claimed she had climbed up to admire the moon.
• When the young woman asked for his name as compensation, Su Changqing introduced himself as Zhang Xiaofan.

Su Changqing encountered Bi Yao on a roof, while Aunt You warned her about him and explained that the Qingyun Sect’s mysterious rising talent was a threat to the Holy Cult. The five Qingyun Sect disciples then traveled toward Kong Sang Mountain, with Su Changqing cultivating along the way.

• Su Changqing told Bi Yao to leave the cottage roof, and she returned to Aunt You after giving him the name Zhang Xiaofan.
• Aunt You warned Bi Yao not to approach Zhang Xiaofan and identified the Qingyun Sect disciples, including Qi Hao, Lu Xueqi, Zeng Shushu, and Su Changqing.
• Aunt You told Bi Yao that Su Changqing had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm in one year, won the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, and might threaten the Holy Cult.
• Bi Yao wondered why she had been unable to discern Zhang Xiaofan’s cultivation realm and resolved to interrogate him if she got another chance.
• The next day, Qi Hao led the five Qingyun Sect disciples toward Wanfu Ancient Cave on Kong Sang Mountain, and Su Changqing cultivated the Sky Covering Method during their ten-day journey.

Su Changqing and the others entered Kong Sang Mountain in search of Wanfu Ancient Cave, where a massive swarm of demonic bats attacked them. The Six Harmonies Mirror held the bats back for now, but the five remained surrounded by millions of them.

• The five arrived at desolate Kong Sang Mountain and decided to search for Wanfu Ancient Cave before night fell.
• Su Changqing sensed danger on the mountain path and used the Six Harmonies Mirror to shield the group.
• Qi Hao explained that Kong Sang Mountain had once been a gathering place for the Demonic Cult and warned that spirits or monsters might be present.
• A huge swarm of red-eyed bats descended on the five, and the Six Harmonies Mirror stopped them from reaching the group.
• The mirror's light killed bats that struck the barrier, but the swarm kept attacking while Su Changqing blocked the stench with a spell.

Su Changqing drew the demon bat swarm away from Lu Xueqi, Qi Hao, and the others, intending to use the attack to conceal his departure. Surrounded by the bats on a mountainside, he unleashed the Thunder Brahma Divine Ability, and the swarm faltered before the descending lightning.

• Su Changqing cut a passage through the bat swarm with his Gale Sword Technique and flew off to lure the bats away from the others.
• Qi Hao stopped Lu Xueqi from following Su Changqing, and the group stayed inside the Six Harmonies Realm to wait.
• Su Changqing led the bats away so he could protect the group and hide his tracks from the Demonic Cult.
• Su Changqing stopped on an open stretch of land, faced the pursuing swarm, and formed hand seals to cast Thunder Brahma.
• The bats halted and some tried to retreat when violet lightning filled the sky, but the tightly packed swarm blocked their escape.

Su Changqing wiped out a swarm of Bloodthirsty Bats after comprehending the Lesser Divine Ability Thunder Annihilation, then set out for Southern Heaven City to attend the Southern Heaven Grand Gathering. He arrived at the city with fifteen days remaining before the event and entered after the cultivators at the gate yielded to his Core Formation Realm aura.

• Su Changqing used lightning to kill thousands of Bloodthirsty Bats and gained insight into a more powerful area attack.
• Su Changqing comprehended the Lesser Divine Ability Thunder Annihilation and used a giant lightning net to kill the remaining bats.
• Su Changqing collected the bat corpses and decided to travel to the Southern Heaven Grand Gathering in Southern Heaven City.
• Su Changqing flew east for half a month, handling minor troubles along the way, and reached Southern Heaven City with fifteen days until the gathering.
• Su Changqing descended outside the city, where cultivators made way for him after sensing his Core Formation Realm aura, and he walked through the gate.

Su Changqing hired Little Tiger to guide him through Southern Heaven City and went to Myriad Things Tower to sell demon beast materials. There, he met Su Meier, whose attempt to charm him failed, and he asked her to appraise his goods.

• Su Changqing hired Little Tiger, a local Wind Chime, to guide him around Southern Heaven City.
• Little Tiger explained the city’s four districts and led Su Changqing to Myriad Things Tower.
• Myriad Things Tower’s attendant escorted Su Changqing to the fourth floor, where he sensed four Core Formation cultivators warning him not to cause trouble.
• Su Meier greeted Su Changqing in a private room and asked his name and what he wished to sell.
• Su Changqing resisted Su Meier’s charm technique and asked her to appraise his demon beast materials.

Su Changqing sold his Bloodthirsty Bat corpses at the Myriad Things Tower after rebuffing Su Meier’s repeated attempts to bewitch him. While exploring Southern Heaven City’s market stalls ahead of the auction, he felt an inexplicable urge to take a damaged black banner.

• Su Changqing resisted Su Meier’s seduction and warned her that he would end their business if she kept attacking him.
• Su Meier apologized, appraised Su Changqing’s more than 8,900 Bloodthirsty Bat corpses, and paid him 100,000 spirit stones; she then ordered Dark Shadow not to harm him.
• Su Changqing left the Myriad Things Tower, paid Little Tiger to find him lodging, and rented a courtyard at Skywater Tower for 3,000 spirit stones.
• With fifteen days remaining before the auction, Su Changqing went to Southern Heaven City’s market stalls to look for treasures.
• Su Changqing noticed a damaged black banner pole with blood-red patterns and felt compelled to take it.

Su Changqing acquired a tattered black flag from a stall in Southern Heaven City, then refused to sell it to Huo Yunzi, who planned to seize it after they left the city. Back in his courtyard, Su Changqing tested the flag by infusing it with spiritual power, but it showed no reaction.

• Su Changqing bought Blazing Tiger fangs for ten thousand spirit stones and obtained a black stone, a worn talisman brush, and a tattered black flag as extras.
• Huo Yunzi offered Su Changqing ten thousand, then twenty thousand spirit stones for the flag, but Su Changqing refused and left despite Huo Yunzi's threat.
• Huo Yunzi learned from his Treasure Seeking Rat that the flag was an exceptional treasure and planned to take it once Su Changqing left Southern Heaven City.
• Su Changqing returned to his courtyard, activated its formation, and tried infusing the flag with spiritual power, but it absorbed the power without reacting.