Chapter Summaries

Su Yi confronted the Cloud Heaven Divine Palace successors who had hired the Boatman to assassinate him, and killed Sun Feng, Qian Tianlong, and Huo Yunsheng. Zhang Yuntao warned that the sect would certainly make Su Yi its enemy unless it feared his power.

• Wen Xinzhao agreed to stand aside while Su Yi confronted the suspected assassin’s employers.
• Su Yi entered Huo Yunsheng, Qian Tianlong, and Sun Feng’s hall and accused them of hiring the Boatman; Wen Xinzhao refused to intervene.
• Su Yi killed Sun Feng when he would not answer, and Qian Tianlong revealed that Huo Yunsheng had arranged the assassination.
• Huo Yunsheng killed Qian Tianlong, then pleaded for his own life and threatened Su Yi with the Ba Bridge Huo Family; Su Yi killed him as well.
• Zhang Yuntao warned Su Yi that Cloud Heaven Divine Palace would treat him as an enemy, while Wen Xinzhao said she would report the truth to her master.

Wen Xinzhao told Su Yi that Zhang Yuntao feared Cloud Heaven Divine Palace might oppose him, and Su Yi said he would visit the sect and settle the matter by strength. As the group traveled toward Nine Cauldrons City, they stopped near Dragon Severing Cliff, where Su Yi analyzed the legend of a flood dragon and sensed something in the distance.

• Wen Xinzhao asked Zhang Yuntao if she could tell Su Yi his warning, and Zhang Yuntao cautioned her to consider what she would do if Cloud Heaven Divine Palace moved against Su Yi.
• Wen Xinzhao told Su Yi about Zhang Yuntao's warning, and Su Yi said he would visit Cloud Heaven Divine Palace and settle the matter by strength.
• Su Yi exchanged a Jade Seed Spirit Cocoon with the Zuo Clan for cultivation resources, while Ren Youyou withdrew from the group and Zhang Yuntao avoided him.
• After traveling for seven days, Su Yi and the others stopped near Dragon Severing Cliff in Elephant Province and listened as Wen Xinzhao recounted the legend of a flood dragon's failed transformation.
• Su Yi deduced the flood dragon's cultivation and explained how a swordsman could have defeated it, leaving the others amazed by his knowledge.
• As the group chatted around a bonfire, Su Yi sensed something and turned his gaze toward the distance.

A Spirit Transformation Realm demon named Ying Que confronted Su Yi after hearing him speak of killing flood dragons, but Su Yi’s calm confidence and powerful talisman made Ying Que wary. After revealing that the black flood dragon was his father, Ying Que apologized and asked Su Yi for guidance on a matter.

• Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing sensed danger as dark clouds brought thunder and torrential rain, but Su Yi protected the group with a golden secret talisman.
• Ying Que emerged from the storm, and Su Yi’s talisman halted his advance and forced him to restrain his aura.
• Su Yi threatened to kill Ying Que if provoked, while Ying Que chose not to fight and apologized.
• Ying Que explained that Su Yi’s remarks about slaying flood dragons had drawn him there and revealed that the black flood dragon was his father.
• Ying Que admitted he had come to vent his anger and judge Su Yi, then asked to consult him about something.

Ying Que asked Su Yi to help free his father, a black flood dragon tormented by the Dark Antiquity Forbidden Curse, before Ying Que faced a breakthrough tribulation that threatened to expose his heart demon. Su Yi agreed in exchange for Ying Que’s promise to help him with three future tasks, then followed him and the others to his father’s hidden palace beneath the Raging Dragon River.

• Ying Que revealed that his father had survived the Dragon Transformation Tribulation thirteen thousand years earlier but had been left trapped in endless torment by the Dark Antiquity Forbidden Curse.
• Ying Que explained that his father’s suffering had become a heart demon that could cause him to die during his coming breakthrough tribulation, and asked Su Yi how to resolve it.
• Su Yi agreed to help free Ying Que’s father if Ying Que would do three things for him in the future, and Ying Que accepted.
• Su Yi stopped Ying Que from swearing an oath and told him to lead the group to his father.
• Ying Que guided Su Yi and the others through the Raging Dragon River to a concealed underground palace, whose formation Su Yi immediately understood.

Su Yi used the Nine Hells Sword’s aura to remove the Dark Antiquity Forbidden Curse afflicting Ying Que’s father, who regained some clarity. After leaving Ying Que to speak with him, Su Yi reflected on the severe strain that borrowing the sword’s aura placed on his soul.

• Ying Que hosted Su Yi and his companions at a feast, and Su Yi told him that the path for a flood dragon to become a True Dragon was nearly impossible.
• Ying Que brought Su Yi to his father, a black flood dragon trapped in a hall by the Dark Antiquity Forbidden Curse and a sword wound from Liu Qianxing.
• Su Yi warned Ying Que that his father would soon die once the curse was removed, and Ying Que asked him to end his father’s suffering.
• Su Yi’s sword strike erased the curse, and Ying Que’s father regained some awareness as Ying Que rushed to speak with him.
• Su Yi left the hall and considered how wielding the Nine Hells Sword’s aura could seriously damage his soul if he sustained it for too long.

Su Yi secretly freed Ying Que’s father from the Dark Antiquity Forbidden Curse and received Ying Que’s gratitude, but declined his offer of service. He left Ying Que with the prospect of meeting again after reaching the Spirit Appearance Realm, while Ying Que warned Zhang Yuntao to keep the events secret.

• Qing Ya asked whether Su Yi had found a way to deal with the Dark Antiquity Forbidden Curse, and Su Yi concealed his ability to remove it from the others.
• Ying Que returned, kowtowed to Su Yi three times, and swore that the Ying Clan Lineage would repay his kindness.
• Su Yi asked Ying Que to keep his father’s release secret, and Ying Que promised to do so before offering to serve him.
• Su Yi refused to take Ying Que in but told him to return after reaching the Spirit Appearance Realm, leaving Ying Que hopeful that he might serve Su Yi then.
• As Su Yi and his companions departed, Ying Que told Zhang Yuntao that what happened must not reach anyone else’s ears.

Ying Que warned Zhang Yuntao to keep the night's events secret, while revealing his past identity as Duan Changsheng. At Dragon Severing Cliff, Li Miaohong learned that Su Yi had returned and challenged him, intent on avenging Wonderful Bloom Lady.

• Ying Que warned Zhang Yuntao not to reveal what had happened and mentioned his participation in the Sword Trial Assembly under the alias Duan Changsheng.
• Ying Que told Su Yi that he had cautioned Zhang Yuntao to protect him from trouble with Cloud Heaven Divine Palace.
• Li Miaohong questioned Ren Youyou aboard the treasure ship, and she told him Su Yi had killed three inner disciples of Cloud Heaven Divine Palace.
• Li Miaohong sensed Su Yi's return and left to confront him, while Ren Youyou hurried out to watch.
• Su Yi and his group emerged from the water at Dragon Severing Cliff, where Li Miaohong announced that he had come to kill Su Yi and avenge Wonderful Bloom Lady.

Miao Hong True Person arrived to avenge Wonderful Bloom Lady and declared that he would kill Su Yi, but Ying Que asked to fight in Su Yi’s place. Ying Que crushed Miao Hong with one palm, then taunted him to reveal his full strength, disappointed that his opponent was so weak.

• Miao Hong True Person confronted Su Yi and prepared to attack, but halted when he noticed Ying Que’s Spirit Transformation Realm aura.
• Ying Que dismissed Miao Hong as a jumping clown and asked Su Yi for permission to handle him; Su Yi agreed.
• Ying Que and Miao Hong exchanged blows, and Ying Que defeated Miao Hong with a single palm strike.
• Miao Hong was left battered and terrified, while Ying Que complained that he was too weak and urged him to fight again with his strongest techniques.

Ying Que killed Li Miaohong after he tried to flee, then gave Su Yi a True Dragon’s Life Bone and vowed to repay his kindness. As Su Yi continued aboard the treasure ship, he considered his approaching breakthrough into the Essence Palace Realm and wondered what kind of Essence Palace his Supreme Dao Seed would create.

• Li Miaohong threatened Ying Que and fled, but Ying Que’s Dao Sound exposed him and shattered his Purple Qi Mountain Guarding Mirror.
• Ying Que tore Li Miaohong apart with his flood dragon claw, destroying his soul in the process.
• Ying Que told Su Yi that he would endure the Qing Yi Dao Sect’s offense against himself, but would not tolerate its offense against Su Yi; Su Yi counted Li Miaohong’s death as one of Ying Que’s three promised deeds.
• Su Yi gave Ying Que a Buddha statue made from a True Dragon’s Life Bone, then departed aboard the treasure ship as Ying Que knelt and vowed to repay him.
• Aboard the ship, Su Yi assessed his cultivation and expected to perfect the Grain Avoidance Realm within seven days, after which he could attempt the Essence Palace Realm.

After leaving Dragon Severing Cliff, Su Yi and his companions kept Li Miaohong’s death quiet while the Qing Yi Dao Sect launched an investigation. In Golden Willow City, Su Yi parted ways with Wen Xinzhao and Qing Ya, then secluded himself to prepare for his imminent breakthrough into the Essence Palace Realm.

• Zhang Yuntao warned Ren Youyou not to reveal what happened at Dragon Severing Cliff, and Wen Xinzhao likewise told Qing Ya to keep Su Yi’s involvement secret.
• The Qing Yi Dao Sect discovered that Li Miaohong’s Life Soul Lamp had gone out, and Mo Yang True Person ordered an investigation into Su Yi.
• Seven days after reaching Great Perfection of the Grain Avoidance Realm, Su Yi arrived in Golden Willow City with Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing.
• Su Yi gave Wen Xinzhao insights into Origin Dao sword intent and gave Qing Ya a technique to awaken her talent before they departed for their sect.
• Su Yi chose to remain in Golden Willow City and secluded himself to settle his experiences before his imminent breakthrough.
• After seven days of seclusion, Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing sensed something and turned toward Su Yi’s room.

Su Yi broke through to the Essence Palace Realm in Golden Willow City, forming an extraordinary Grand Dao Essence Palace and triggering the phenomenon “Immortal Palace Reflecting the Sky.” After leaving the city with Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing, he was briefly recognized by a gray-robed swordsman.

• Su Yi condensed a vast Grand Dao Essence Palace in his dantian, and the Nine Hells Sword infused it with mysterious power.
• A celestial palace appeared above Golden Willow City, stunning its inhabitants and prompting cultivation factions to investigate the breakthrough.
• Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing realized that Su Yi had caused the phenomenon and celebrated his successful advancement.
• Su Yi reflected on how his new Essence Palace surpassed the one he had possessed in his previous life, then prepared to leave the city.
• Su Yi departed at night with Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing as the city discussed the phenomenon, while a gray-robed swordsman glimpsed him from a tavern.

Qiu Hengkong served the Celestial Pivot Sword Sect’s privileged disciples and learned that Great Xia would soon publish three major lists, while hoping the coming Brilliant Era might change his fortunes. Later, Su Yi and his companions discovered a bustling ghost market hidden among mountain ruins and entered to investigate.

• Qiu Hengkong poured wine for Tao Yunchi and the other Inner Sect Disciples, while Jiang Li showed him consideration but did not challenge the sect’s hierarchy.
• Tao Yunchi explained that Great Xia was compiling the Ancient Prodigy List, the Contemporary Star List, and the Otherworld Body Snatcher List, and Jiang Li said they would be released in half a month.
• Qiu Hengkong anticipated that the approaching Brilliant Era could offer him a chance to improve his standing and change his fate.
• Su Yi sensed ghostly qi in the distant mountains and led Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing toward a small, seemingly lively city.
• Su Yi recognized the city as an illusion projected from ruins where Ghosts gathered to trade, and he entered with his companions while telling them to conceal their auras.

Su Yi and his companions entered the illusion of Qinghuai Kingdom, where he discovered a powerful killing formation hidden in the ruins. Lady Xihua lured them into her Taoist Temple and activated the trap, but Su Yi began breaking it with a spirit-tier talisman.

• Su Yi saw through Qinghuai Kingdom’s bustling illusion and detected a powerful killing formation in the ruins.
• Lady Xihua introduced herself and invited Su Yi, Yuan Heng, and Bai Wenqing to her residence.
• Su Yi recognized that Lady Xihua had lured them into the formation and warned her that it could not kill him.
• Lady Xihua vanished and extinguished the bronze lamp, causing the killing formation to unleash a river of blood and a barrage of attacks.
• Su Yi used a spirit-tier Barrier Breaking Talisman to counter the formation.

Su Yi broke Lady Xihua’s killing formation and learned that the Spirit Transformation Realm ghost cultivator Blood Owl had arranged the ambush under the banner of the Yin Sha Underworld Palace. After killing Lady Xihua and studying the portrait of the Mingluo Spirit Emperor, Su Yi saw a brilliant streak of Escaping Light approach from the night sky.

• Su Yi used the Barrier Breaking Talisman to destroy Lady Xihua’s killing formation and force her to explain who had arranged the attack.
• Lady Xihua revealed that Blood Owl had recruited her with a Yin Severing Divine Envoy Token and helped her prepare the formation to ambush Su Yi.
• Su Yi concluded that Blood Owl was likely pursuing revenge for Nie Feng, trying to recover the demonic fetus, or both, and realized Blood Owl had secretly tailed him.
• Su Yi killed Lady Xihua for agreeing to attack them and asked Yuan Heng to retrieve the portrait of the Mingluo Spirit Emperor.
• Su Yi explained that the portrait showed the Mingluo Spirit Emperor studying the Sin Blood River before reaching the Emperor Realm, then stored it in his Snow Scarab Jade Pendant.
• A dazzling streak of Escaping Light approached from the distant night sky as Su Yi prepared to leave.

Jiang Li destroyed a ghost-infested city with her Phoenix Whirlwind True Fire Dao Resonance, then led the Celestial Pivot Sword Sect group to investigate three survivors. Qiu Hengkong recognized Su Yi as an old friend and vouched for him, while Tao Yunchi and the others dismissed Su Yi as a cultivator from a remote kingdom; the chapter ended with Su Yi ignoring them and inviting Qiu Hengkong to sit and talk.

• Jiang Li unleashed her flaming phoenix Dao Resonance and burned Qinghuai Kingdom and its ghosts into a wasteland.
• Jiang Li's group spotted Su Yi, Yuan Heng, and Bai Wenqing among the ruins and flew over to question them.
• Qiu Hengkong recognized Su Yi and told Jiang Li's group that he was his old friend and the Great Zhou Imperial Tutor.
• Tao Yunchi and the others looked down on Su Yi after learning he came from a remote kingdom, while Jiang Li treated him as a stranger.
• Su Yi ignored the Celestial Pivot Sword Sect disciples, brought out a rattan chair and wine, and invited Qiu Hengkong to sit and talk.

Su Yi reunited with Qiu Hengkong and saw that life in Great Xia had dulled his old sword heart and pride. After Qiu Hengkong suggested he join the Celestial Pivot Sword Sect, a disciple mocked Su Yi, who rejected the sect and prepared to leave as the confrontation sharpened.

• Tao Yunchi and the other Celestial Pivot Sword Sect disciples expected Su Yi to bow when Qiu Hengkong introduced them, but Su Yi cut off the introduction and invited Qiu Hengkong to sit.
• Qiu Hengkong explained that arriving in Great Xia had made him realize how small his former world was, and Su Yi warned that his sword heart had gathered dust.
• Tao Yunchi praised Qiu Hengkong’s status as an Outer Sect Disciple, but Su Yi ignored the group, leaving them baffled and irritated.
• Qiu Hengkong suggested Su Yi take the Celestial Pivot Sword Sect’s recruitment assessment, but the Silver-Robed Youth mocked the recommendation.
• Su Yi refused to join the sect and said he would leave, prompting the Silver-Robed Youth to accuse him of boasting and looking down on the Celestial Pivot Sword Sect.

Su Yi returned to protect Qiu Hengkong and revealed overwhelming strength when Gu Tengying attacked him. He then confronted Tao Yunchi, whose ultimate art shattered as Su Yi forced him to his knees with a single word.

• Qiu Hengkong defended Su Yi against Gu Tengying's insults, and Gu Tengying tried to strike him.
• Su Yi pulled Qiu Hengkong aside, shattered Gu Tengying's sword attacks, and sent him crashing to the ground with a sweep of his sleeve.
• Tao Yunchi accused Su Yi of interfering in the Celestial Pivot Sword Sect's affairs, while Qiu Hengkong urged Su Yi to leave.
• Su Yi approached Tao Yunchi and shattered his Divine Ape Mountain-Holding Seal with a step.
• Su Yi said, "Kneel," and Tao Yunchi dropped to his knees before him.

Su Yi defeated Tao Yunchi and Gu Tengying, accepted Jiang Li’s apology after she promised to protect Qiu Hengkong, and left with his companions. Later, Blood Owl appeared in the ruins, where an unseen attacker struck at him with Sword Qi.

• Su Yi defeated Tao Yunchi with one step, then questioned Jiang Li about why she had held back from intervening.
• Jiang Li apologized for her juniors’ actions and promised Su Yi that she would protect Qiu Hengkong from being bullied in the Celestial Pivot Sword Sect.
• Su Yi accepted the apology, said farewell to Qiu Hengkong, and departed with Yuan Heng, Bai Wenqing, and the others.
• Jiang Li stood by her promise when Tao Yunchi and Gu Tengying blamed Qiu Hengkong, and she told him to seek her help if anyone mistreated him.
• Blood Owl appeared in the ruins of Qinghuai Kingdom’s city and reflected on his failed plans against Su Yi.
• When someone called out to Blood Owl, he dodged a Sword Qi strike that split the ground where he had been standing.

Su Yi ambushed Blood Owl, but the Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator escaped after the Godslayer Little Sword wounded his divine soul. Su Yi continued toward Nine Cauldrons City with Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing, where he planned to explore the capital and investigate the Black Tortoise True Qi Scripture.

• Su Yi revealed himself to Blood Owl and challenged him, then struck with the Godslayer Little Sword when Blood Owl tried to leave.
• Blood Owl escaped the strike, though it injured his divine soul, and decided to report Su Yi to his master rather than continue hunting him.
• Yuan Heng carried Su Yi and Bai Wenqing onward, and Su Yi explained that killing Blood Owl was not worth the effort.
• Yuan Heng promised to help search for Ge Qian in Nine Cauldrons City, but Su Yi said the matter could be left to fate.
• Su Yi reflected on Nine Cauldrons City, including Yue Shichan, Hua Xinfeng, and the city's undamaged dragon vein, and looked forward to finding worthy opponents there.

Wen Xinzhao learned that Cloud Heaven Divine Palace planned to confront Su Yi, and Cold Smoke True Person decided to travel with her to Nine Cauldrons City in hopes of preventing a clash. Meanwhile, Qing Yi Dao Sect discovered that Su Yi was likely heading for the imperial capital.

• Cold Smoke True Person told Wen Xinzhao that Zhang Yuntao had been stripped of his elder position and confined, while Huo Tiandu and Tranquil Sea True Monarch backed a move against Su Yi.
• Wen Xinzhao warned Cold Smoke True Person that Su Yi was far beyond ordinary young geniuses and could make Cloud Heaven Divine Palace pay dearly if it became his enemy.
• Wen Xinzhao said Su Yi had promised to visit Cloud Heaven Divine Mountain and settle the matter by comparing their strength.
• Cold Smoke True Person learned that Huo Tiandu planned to reach Nine Cauldrons City within three days, then set out with Wen Xinzhao to meet Su Yi and try to prevent a tragedy.
• Cold Smoke True Person spoke with sect leader Yu Jiuzhen before leaving Cloud Heaven Divine Palace with Wen Xinzhao.
• A gray-robed elder reported to Mo Yang True Person that Su Yi and a Cloud Heaven Divine Palace successor had traveled toward Nine Cauldrons City.