Recaps

Chen Qing privately received Three Hundred Year Earth Core Milk from Li Baichuan in exchange for intervening if Nie Shanshan lost to Xiao Bieli, then publicly declined to compete for the sect’s announced reward. He consumed the hidden drop in his courtyard and began refining its power to transform his body.

• Chen Qing reviewed Luo Xinya’s work before Li Baichuan summoned him and explained the sect’s plan to offer Three Hundred Year Earth Core Milk to a fighter willing to face Xiao Bieli.
• Li Baichuan privately gave Chen Qing a drop of Three Hundred Year Earth Core Milk, requiring him to face Xiao Bieli if Nie Shanshan lost, and Chen Qing agreed to keep the arrangement secret.
• At the Internal Affairs Hall, Nie Shanshan and Chen Qing split the twelve drops of Century Earth Core Milk with Li Wang and Li Lei, taking five each while the others took one apiece.
• Sang Yanping announced the challenge against Xiao Bieli and offered Three Hundred Year Earth Core Milk; Nie Shanshan volunteered, while Chen Qing publicly declined to compete and endorsed her.
• Chen Qing returned to his courtyard, swallowed his privately received drop, and circulated his arts to guide its gradual transformation of his bones, sinews, flesh, and Qi and Blood.

After absorbing the Earth Core Milk, Chen Qing raised his root bones to seven forms and tested his strength against Shen Xiuyong, then welcomed Xuanjia Gate’s young disciples as Wutai Sect prepared for Xiao Bieli’s challenge. Meanwhile, He Yuzhou and Shi Kaishan discussed forming the Four Sect Alliance and whether Wutai Sect could withstand Leng Qianqiu’s pressure.

• Chen Qing finished absorbing the Earth Core Milk, stabilized his cultivation, and confirmed that his root bones had reached seven forms.
• Shen Xiuyong told Chen Qing that aged Earth Core Milk was scarce, described his auction purchase of Purple Flame Iron, and sparred with him in the courtyard.
• Chen Qing assessed that Xiao Bieli was unlikely to surpass Shen Xiuyong as Wutai Sect grew tense ahead of Hanyu Valley’s arrival.
• Shi Ziyi, Fang Rui, and Chang Xing arrived with Xuanjia Gate’s delegation, and Chen Qing met them before joining their nighttime tour of Dingbo Lake.
• He Yuzhou and Shi Kaishan discussed the returning demonic sect leader Heart Eater, the Four Sect Alliance, and Shi Kaishan’s support for He Yuzhou as alliance leader.

At Wutai Sect’s gathering to discuss an alliance against the Demonic Sect, Leng Qianqiu arrived and demanded that Xiao Bieli fight another Wutai Sect disciple before negotiations began. Nie Shanshan challenged him but was badly beaten, and Chu Jinyun intervened to stop the fight as Wutai Sect suspected Xiao Bieli had learned her techniques’ weaknesses.

• Chen Qing spoke with Yan Yaoyang, who warned him about Hanyu Valley and Xiao Bieli’s vicious sword strike.
• The Jingwu Guard, Yidao Nunnery representatives, and other factions gathered at Wutai Sect as the four sects’ alliance meeting drew near.
• Leng Qianqiu arrived with Xiao Bieli and Ye Qingyi, exchanged pointed remarks with He Yuzhou and Shi Kaishan, and had Xiao Bieli challenge Wutai Sect’s younger generation.
• He Yuzhou sent Nie Shanshan to face Xiao Bieli, and the two fought with their sword arts before a watching crowd.
• Xiao Bieli broke Nie Shanshan’s strongest techniques and drove her to the brink of defeat, prompting Chu Jinyun to pull her away and end the match.

Chen Qing entered the arena after Xiao Bieli defeated Yan Yaoyang and Nie Shanshan, then fought him with his perfected spear art and formidable physical strength. Chen Qing overcame Xiao Bieli’s newly revealed Ice True Qi and won, leaving the crowd stunned.

• Wutai Sect’s disciples and elders reacted with dismay as Xiao Bieli defeated Nie Shanshan and challenged them to send another fighter.
• Li Baichuan offered to help He Yuzhou restore Wutai Sect’s standing, wagering three Astral-Nurturing Pills and the return of Earth Core Milk if Chen Qing lost.
• At Li Baichuan’s urging, Chen Qing entered the arena and surprised Xiao Bieli with his powerful spear strikes and accomplished techniques.
• Chen Qing forced Xiao Bieli back with a spear strike, then matched his Flowing Cloud Sword Art using the Mountain Suppressing Prison Spear.
• Xiao Bieli revealed that he had cultivated Ice True Qi alongside Langyue True Qi, slowing Chen Qing and strengthening his sword attacks.
• Chen Qing used Tiger-Elephant Voice to disrupt Xiao Bieli, then struck with Nine Abyss Prison Suppression and defeated him, though his hand was injured.

Chen Qing defeated Xiao Bieli in a decisive spear strike, restoring Wutai Sect’s standing as the four sects discussed forming an alliance against the Wuji Demonic Sect. When the alliance leader vote ended in a tie, Leng Qianqiu challenged He Yuzhou to decide leadership through combat, and He accepted.

• Chen Qing defeated Xiao Bieli with one spear strike, stunning the gathering and bringing a surge of celebration from Wutai Sect.
• Leng Qianqiu and He Yuzhou resumed discussions of the Four Sect Alliance, and Leng proposed shared resources, mutual military support, and exchanges between disciples.
• The sect leaders agreed to vote for an alliance leader; Shi Kaishan supported He Yuzhou, while He Yueting unexpectedly voted for Leng Qianqiu, producing a tie.
• Leng Qianqiu proposed that she and He Yuzhou settle the leadership question through a fight, and He accepted her challenge.

Leng Qianqiu and He Yuzhou fought fiercely over leadership of the four-sect alliance, but neither could defeat the other, so the sects agreed to unite against the Demonic Sect without appointing a leader for now. After the alliance ceremony, He Yuzhou summoned Chen Qing to the Back Mountain Quiet Room.

• Leng Qianqiu and He Yuzhou exchanged powerful Gang Jin techniques, with Leng Qianqiu’s fused Langyue and Cold Ice True Gang briefly gaining the upper hand.
• He Yuzhou and Leng Qianqiu fought to a stalemate until Shi Kaishan urged them to stop before the duel became fatal.
• He Yueting proposed that the four sects form an alliance against the Demonic Sect and postpone choosing an alliance leader, and the sect masters accepted.
• The four sects swore a blood oath, then Leng Qianqiu, He Yueting, and Shi Kaishan departed with their respective groups.
• Chang Xing invited Chen Qing to visit Xuanjia Gate, and he agreed to come if he had the opportunity.
• He Yuzhou told Sang Yanping to bring Chen Qing to the Back Mountain Quiet Room, recognizing his importance to the Wutai Sect.

Chen Qing received rewards from He Yuzhou for defeating Xiao Bieli and learned about the risks and requirements of fusing multiple streams of True Qi. He left with new guidance for balancing his five streams, while He Yuzhou tightened the sect’s Earth Core Milk allocations and Li Baichuan kept the secrets of the Earth Core Milk Cave to himself.

• He Yuzhou rewarded Chen Qing with thirty drops of Century Earth Core Milk and one selection from the Tingchao Martial Library Fourth Floor, then explained that the Wutai Sect paid tribute to the Tianbao Supreme Sect.
• He Yuzhou warned Chen Qing against cultivating multiple methods to fuse True Qi and explained that Leng Qianqiu had relied on the Ice Soul Pearl to fuse her two true gangs.
• He Yuzhou asked Chen Qing to tell Li Baichuan that he would personally accompany him to the Earth Core Milk Cave, then privately told Sang Yanping that Chen Qing had likely acted because Li Baichuan promised him Three Hundred Year Earth Core Milk.
• He Yuzhou ordered three drops of Century Earth Core Milk for each of four sect members hoping to reach Gang Jin and suspended the Chief Disciples’ monthly allotments starting the next month.
• Chen Qing relayed He Yuzhou’s message and reward to Li Baichuan, then asked how to fuse several streams of True Qi; Li Baichuan advised him to strengthen and balance them before attempting fusion.
• Chen Qing asked what else lay in the Earth Core Milk Cave, but Li Baichuan evaded the question and privately remarked that Chen Qing was becoming difficult to fool.

After the Four Sects formed an alliance against the Demonic Sect, Chen Qing capitalized on his victory over Xiao Bieli to choose the Startling Swan Shadow Escape Art from the martial library. The chapter ended with Chen Qing beginning to cultivate the movement art through Heaven Rewards Diligence.

• Leng Qianqiu reassured Xiao Bieli after his defeat and explained that the Four Sects Alliance would protect Hanyu Valley from the Demonic Sect.
• Hu Mei and Zheng Hui learned from Family Head Sun that the Four Sects had formed an alliance, and Hu Mei told Zheng Hui to wait for the altar master’s return before acting.
• Chen Qing reflected on hiding his five-element cultivation and decided to use his growing reputation to gain resources while keeping his greatest secret concealed.
• News of Chen Qing’s victory spread, and he entered the Tingchao Martial Library’s fourth floor to choose the Startling Swan Shadow Escape Art.
• Nie Shanshan told Chen Qing that prominent families, including the Liu Family, had proposed marriage alliances, but Chen Qing declined to consider them and puzzled over her thanks.
• Chen Qing returned to his courtyard, copied the Startling Swan Shadow Escape Art, and saw Heaven Rewards Diligence register it at Beginner level.

Peng Zhen failed to persuade Li Baichuan to let Chen Qing transfer institutes, while Zhou Yu heard of Chen Qing’s rise but was convinced by her uncle that the famous expert could not be her former junior brother. After half a year of cultivation, Chen Qing reached the Extreme Realm in the Mountain Suppressing Prison Spear, as the Four Sect Alliance’s apparent success against the Demonic Sect concealed a deeper reality.

• Peng Zhen offered Li Baichuan six hundred thousand taels and rare herbs worth the rest of a million, but Li Baichuan refused, saying Chen Qing was now worth far more.
• Zhou Yu heard disciples discuss Chen Qing’s defeat of Xiao Bieli and his place among the Yunlin Five Heroes, and wondered whether he was her former junior brother.
• Li Yuan dismissed Zhou Yu’s suspicion, insisting that Chen Qing could not have become one of the Yunlin Five Heroes in only four years, and encouraged her to consider Wang He’s marriage proposal.
• Chen Qing spent half a year cultivating, opened the ninth of the Nine Shadows regular meridians, advanced his four cultivation arts to their third layers, and reached the Extreme Realm in the Mountain Suppressing Prison Spear.
• The Four Sect Alliance intensified its campaigns against Demonic Sect affiliates, though those at the highest levels knew the appearance of success was an illusion.

Chen Qing learned about Shen Xiuyong’s planned breakthrough, investigated Ji Yilan’s disappearance, and uncovered evidence that Bai Qingquan had helped murder Yue Shan and his wife. He ambushed Bai Qingquan and Zhang Gan, killed them, and erased the traces of the attack.

• Shen Xiuyong told Chen Qing he was entering seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to Gang Jin and explained the Inner Gang and Outer Gang realms.
• Shen Xiuyong warned Chen Qing that the Demonic Sect was becoming more active, and Chen Qing ordered Qingmu Institute disciples to avoid traveling alone.
• Chen Qing reviewed his notes on Bai Qingquan and learned that Ji Yilan had been missing for nearly two months, then ordered Luo Xinya to investigate.
• Bai Qingquan met Zhang Gan and discussed their role in murdering Yue Shan and his wife and stealing their valuables.
• Chen Qing attacked Bai Qingquan and Zhang Gan with Nine Luminaries Star-Glow Needles, then killed both men.
• Chen Qing took the stolen valuables, dissolved the bodies with Bone Dissolving Powder, and removed traces of his presence.

After the Four Great Sects exposed the Demonic Sect’s network in Yunlin Prefecture, fleeing Great Clans plunged the region into chaos. He Yuzhou dispatched Chen Qing to intercept the Zhu Clan, while other Wutai Sect teams targeted the fleeing families and Demonic Sect strongholds.

• Chen Qing examined his loot and suspected Bai Qingquan had secretly used his position as a Liu Family steward to aid the Demonic Sect, while remaining wary of the Liu Family.
• Du Lingchuan tortured a captured Demonic Sect expert, learned of strongholds and Great Clan collaborators, and killed him after extracting his information.
• Shi Kaishan ordered a coordinated raid with the Four Great Sects, but the Liu Family, Zhu Clan, and other major families escaped with wealth and martial arts manuals, triggering widespread pursuit and disorder.
• He Yuzhou ordered Chen Qing to pursue the Zhu Clan branch and recover its secret vault key and the rumored Thick Earth Treasure Cultivation Art; other disciples and elders received separate targets.
• Chen Qing selected several disciples, including Xu Qi, and quietly left the sect to pursue the Zhu Clan, while Luo Xinya stayed behind because she was too conspicuous.

Chen Qing killed Zhu Xin after rescuing Xiang Jaren and Xiang Xiaoling, then claimed the Black Iron Box found among Zhu Xin’s belongings as Alliance spoils. Miao Zhiheng demanded the box and threatened Chen Qing, who refused to back down.

• Miao Zhiheng pursued the wounded Zhu Xin through Black Stone Ridge while other martial artists held back from intervening.
• Chen Qing, Xu Qi, and Zhao Shi stopped at a tea stall, where Chen Qing met Luo Wei and the physician Xiang Jaren with his granddaughter, Xiang Xiaoling.
• Zhu Xin burst into the tea stall and attacked Xiang Jaren and Xiang Xiaoling, but Chen Qing intercepted him and killed him in three moves.
• Chen Qing searched Zhu Xin’s belongings and found a Black Iron Box, which Xiang Jaren identified as a treasure.
• Miao Zhiheng arrived, offered up to fifty thousand taels for the box, and then threatened to take it by force when Chen Qing refused.
• Chen Qing invoked the Four Sect Alliance’s authority over Zhu Xin’s spoils and rejected Luo Wei’s advice to yield, declaring that he would not avoid Miao Zhiheng’s challenge.

Chen Qing defeated Miao Zhiheng in a fierce duel over the Black Iron Box, prompting Miao to concede and withdraw while secretly vowing revenge. Luo Wei then told Chen Qing that Zhu Yi planned to flee east by way of Blackwater Wharf and carried the Earth Core Marrow Pearl, leaving Chen Qing with a new lead in the hunt.

• Miao Zhiheng attacked Chen Qing over the Black Iron Box, but Chen Qing countered his saber techniques and wounded him with the Cloud-Coiling Spear.
• Chen Qing resisted Miao Zhiheng's Soul-Shocking Howl with the Eight Extremes Vajra Body and struck him hard enough to force his surrender.
• Miao Zhiheng publicly relinquished the Black Iron Box and left, then secretly vowed to kill Chen Qing after advancing to Gang Jin.
• Xiang Jaren and Xiang Xiaoling thanked Chen Qing and departed for Lin'an Prefecture.
• Luo Wei told Chen Qing that Zhu Yi had disguised himself and planned to travel east from Blackwater Wharf, carrying the Earth Core Marrow Pearl.

Chen Qing followed a secret report to Blackwater Wharf, where rival sects converged on the disguised Zhu Yi and the treasures he carried. A fake Earth Core Marrow Pearl drew the fighters into chaos, while two sinister newcomers revealed themselves as Netherworld Guards under Blood Rakshasa.

• Chen Qing sent Xu Qi and Zhao Shi to continue searching for the Zhu Clan, opened the Black Iron Box, and learned the Formless Art before heading for Blackwater Wharf.
• At Pingyang Inn, Chen Qing met Yan Yaoyang and Li Lei as Earth Origin Sect and Golden Sand Fort fighters gathered, and Zhu Yi was exposed as the young woman they had surrounded.
• Zhu Yi threw a manual fragment, a pearl, and a silk bundle in different directions, and Chen Qing recognized that the pearl was fake before passing it to Yu Jiayao to draw the factions outside.
• Zhu Yi revealed his powerful demonic cultivation and fought Yan Yaoyang while Chen Qing killed two Zhu Clan disciples, then Chen Qing blocked a hidden attack on Yan Yaoyang from a seemingly frightened man.
• The man and his companion drained the essence from the wounded Zhu Clan disciples, and the innkeeper identified them as Netherworld Guards under Blood Rakshasa.

Chen Qing killed the Nether Guard inside the inn, recovered the real Earth Core Marrow Pearl from Zhu Yi, and emerged to find the battlefield outside in chaos. After killing the second Nether Guard with a powerful spear strike, he hurried after the fleeing Miao Zhiheng.

• The male Nether Guard killed the innkeeper and attacked Chen Qing, but Chen Qing defeated him and demanded the real Earth Core Marrow Pearl from Zhu Yi.
• Zhu Yi revealed that he had swallowed and sealed the real pearl, then died after Chen Qing pierced his heart; Chen Qing recovered the pearl from his abdomen.
• Outside, Miao Zhiheng wounded Shi Long while fighting Lu Da and Li Lei, and Li Lei fled after Yan Yaoyang falsely reported that Chen Qing had died inside.
• The female Nether Guard drained Shi Long and Yu Jiayao of their true qi and essence blood, then pursued the wounded Miao Zhiheng as Lu Da helped him escape.
• Chen Qing emerged carrying the dead male Nether Guard's head, provoking the female Nether Guard to attack him; he killed her with a spear strike that split her storm apart.
• Chen Qing gathered nearby valuables and hurried after Miao Zhiheng.

Chen Qing escaped a Gang realm expert after finding Miao Zhiheng and Lu Da, then studied the Earth Core Marrow Pearl and considered fusing Five Elements True Qi. Meanwhile, Yan Yaoyang and Li Lei mistakenly believed Chen Qing had died at the inn and hurried back to report the incident to the Wutai Sect.

• Chen Qing found Miao Zhiheng and Lu Da being treated by Senior Yu, an Earth Origin Sect expert, and fled after Senior Yu struck him with a Gang Jin palm.
• Chen Qing escaped to a mountain stream, recognized Senior Yu as likely one of the Earth Origin Nine Elders, and resolved to repay the injury someday.
• Chen Qing examined the Earth Core Marrow Pearl and realized it could purify Kuntu True Qi, prompting him to consider seeking treasures for the other four elements.
• Chen Qing hid in a secluded cave, stored his spoils, and decided to recover before studying the pearl further.
• Yan Yaoyang told Li Lei that Chen Qing had likely died during the Nether Guard's attack, and the two set off to report the incident to the Wutai Sect.

Wutai Sect learned that Chen Qing had gone missing during the battle at Blackwater Wharf, and an investigation found no body, prompting the sect to presume he was dead. As rumors spread, Xu Qi considered pursuing the vacant Chief Disciple position, while Hanyu Valley received confirmation of Chen Qing’s death and Leng Qianqiu urged Xiao Bieli to move on.

• Nie Shanshan returned to Wutai Sect with the Liu Family’s Converging Flow Strength, reporting that Tingyu Tower had taken most of the family’s valuables and that the Demonic Sect had supported them.
• A steward reported that Yan Yaoyang and Li Lei had escaped a Demonic Sect attack near Blackwater Wharf, but Chen Qing might have died there; He Yuzhou sent Sang Yanping to investigate.
• Sang Yanping searched the ruined inn and nearby area but found no remains or belongings identifying Chen Qing, and Wutai Sect members began treating his death as likely.
• Xu Qi heard the rumors at Qingmu Institute, where Hong Liangcai urged him to seek the vacant Chief Disciple position; Xu Qi said he would consider it.
• Leng Qianqiu heard a report confirming Chen Qing’s death and told Xiao Bieli to put aside his rivalry and focus on the Demonic Sect.

Yu He abandoned the search at Blackwater Wharf after discovering that the Earth Core Marrow Pearl and cultivation text were fakes, while Wutai Sect leaders discussed Chen Qing’s presumed death and returned protection plan. Chen Qing came back alive and concealed what happened, letting the sect blame Yu He for the Netherworld Guards’ disappearance as Peng Zhen suspected Chen Qing had the real pearl.

• Yu He discovered that the pearl and text given to him were fakes, threatened Miao Zhiheng, and left Blackwater Wharf with Lu Da.
• Nie Shanshan questioned Sang Yanping’s report that Chen Qing had died, and Sang explained that declaring him dead would shield him from enemies searching for him.
• Sang Yanping revealed that he had secretly arranged people to search for Chen Qing, while He Yuzhou said the Netherworld Guards had not returned to a known Demonic Sect stronghold.
• A steward announced that Chen Qing had returned, and Chen Qing told the Wutai Sect leaders he had fled the inn and hidden in a cave to recover.
• The Wutai Sect leaders accepted Peng Zhen’s suggestion that Yu He had fought the Netherworld Guards, and Chen Qing let them believe he knew nothing about the battle.
• Peng Zhen asked whether Chen Qing had obtained the Earth Core Marrow Pearl, but Chen Qing denied seeing it after Yu Jiayao took it.

After returning to Wutai Sect, Chen Qing secured the Earth Core Marrow Pearl, began preparing to pursue Gang Jin and Five Elements fusion, and dealt with unrest among his fellow disciples. A month later, he attended the Prefectural Lord’s banquet, where he learned that the Tianbao Supreme Sect might gather geniuses from more than a hundred sects at Xuwang Mountain for training against the Wuji Demonic Sect.

• Chen Qing told Li Baichuan about the Earth Core Marrow Pearl and asked about fusing True Qi with five different treasures; Li Baichuan hinted that he could help for a sufficient benefit.
• Chen Qing returned to Qingmu Institute, reassured Yu Bao'er, and received visits from Lin Xue and Nie Shanshan; afterward he inventoried his gains and wrote Miao Zhiheng and Yu He in his notebook as targets for future revenge.
• Chen Qing obtained rubbings of five cultivation arts from Elder Ma, while Xu Qi confessed that Hong Liangcai had tried to enlist his support for the Chief Disciple position.
• Hu Mei concluded that Yu He was the likeliest cause of the Netherworld Guards’ disappearance and set out with Zuo Feng for Lin'an Prefecture to retaliate against the Earth Origin Sect’s disciples.
• During the month Chen Qing cultivated, Shen Xiuyong broke through to Gang Jin and hosted a banquet; Chen Qing later accepted an invitation to the Prefectural Lord’s gathering for the Five Heroes and Seven Beauties.
• At the Prefectural Lord’s banquet, Chen Qing reunited with other young talents and heard that the Tianbao Supreme Sect might select disciples from over a hundred sects for training at Xuwang Mountain.

At Bian Zhengze’s banquet, Zhao Lin announced that the Jingwu Guard would offer voluntary missions and military merit exchanges, prompting Chen Qing and the others to weigh the benefits against the Imperial Court’s influence. Chen Qing later sold his accumulated spoils at Hundred Treasures Pavilion, learned that Five Elements treasures were usually found through barter or high-level auctions, and chose to focus on cultivation rather than venture into the Ten Thousand Poisons Swamp.

• Bian Zhengze welcomed the young sect talents to his banquet, where Zhao Lin announced voluntary Jingwu Guard missions and military merit that could be exchanged for rare resources, including Gang Condensing Pills.
• Zhao Lin distributed Military Merit Tokens, and after the banquet he named Chen Qing, Nie Shanshan, Xiao Bieli, Han Dang, Feng Shuhao, and Jiang Bai as the six talents he favored most.
• Chen Qing, Nie Shanshan, Yan Yaoyang, Shi Ziyi, and Fang Rui discussed the offer; Fang Rui and Yan Yaoyang leaned toward accepting it, while Chen Qing and Nie Shanshan urged caution.
• Chen Qing disguised himself and sold his collected materials, weapons, and pills to Steward Qian at Hundred Treasures Pavilion for 287,000 taels of silver.
• Chen Qing asked Steward Qian about Earth Core Marrow Pearls and learned that Five Elements treasures rarely entered ordinary markets, though they might appear at high-level auctions or be traded by barter.
• Chen Qing considered exploring the Ten Thousand Poisons Swamp but decided to leave, settle down, and improve his cultivation first.

Chen Qing discovered that the Earth Core Marrow Pearl could not be safely harmonized with his Qingmu True Qi without other elemental treasures, then broke through to the eleventh regular meridian. He traveled with Shen Xiuyong to Lin'an Prefecture to bid on a Wood Sun Jade and visit the Haisha Sect, arriving at its mountain gate.

• He Yuzhou learned from the white-robed man that a high-ranking mole had warned Heart Eater about the Xiyang Mountain operation, then urged the man to kill Heart Eater and take over the Yunlin Branch.
• Chen Qing found that the Earth Core Marrow Pearl overwhelmed his Qingmu True Qi, so he concluded that he needed more elemental treasures before attempting a fusion.
• After three months of cultivation, Chen Qing opened his eleventh regular meridian and learned from Yu Bao'er that Shen Xiuyong wanted to see him.
• Shen Xiuyong showed Chen Qing an auction list featuring Wood Sun Jade, and Chen Qing agreed to travel with him to Lin'an Prefecture to try to obtain it.
• Shen Xiuyong and Chen Qing rode to Lin'an Prefecture, where Shen described its major powers and the Haisha Sect; they arrived at the sect's mountain gate the following afternoon.

Chen Qing reunited with Haisha Sect elders and Li Yuan, whose regret resurfaced when he learned how far Chen Qing had risen. Qiao Hongyun arranged a spar between Chen Qing and Chen Lin, and Zhou Yu recognized Chen Qing as the match began.

• Qiao Hongyun welcomed Shen Xiuyong and Chen Qing to the Haisha Sect, where Chen Lin recognized Chen Qing as the disciple who had defeated Miao Zhiheng.
• Li Yuan recognized Chen Qing and realized that the promising young man he had once rejected had become the Wutai Sect's Chief Disciple.
• Qiao Hongyun proposed a contest between Chen Qing and Chen Lin, and Chen Qing agreed after Shen Xiuyong promised to help him obtain the Wood Sun Jade.
• Haisha Sect disciples gathered at the training ground to watch Chen Qing face Chen Lin, while Zhou Yu recognized Chen Qing and reacted in shock.
• Zhou Yu heard spectators predict that Chen Lin would win as the two men faced each other.

Chen Qing battled Chen Lin at the Haisha Sect training ground, matching his perfected Qingyun Sword Art with powerful spear techniques and the Eight Extremes Vajra Body. Chen Qing defeated Chen Lin’s ultimate sword strike, leaving him injured on the ground as the crowd watched in stunned silence.

• Chen Lin and Chen Qing exchanged more than thirty moves, with Chen Qing’s spear force and physique countering Chen Lin’s sword techniques.
• Chen Lin unleashed the perfected Vast Sea Raging Waves, but Chen Qing broke through it with Collapsing Mountain Piercing Rainbow and drove Chen Lin back.
• News of the fight drew Haisha Sect disciples and core elites, including Mao Cheng, Shao Wenxuan, and Mo Xia, to the training ground.
• Chen Lin changed tactics with the Qingyun Nine Transformations, but Chen Qing countered his subtle swordplay and forced him to retreat.
• Chen Lin warned Chen Qing before unleashing Boundless Vast Sea, his trump-card technique.
• Chen Qing answered with One Mountain Suppresses the Sea, shattered Chen Lin’s sword attack, and sent him flying, injured, while his Sea Overturning Sword fell from his grasp.

Chen Qing defeated Haisha Sect’s Chen Lin in a decisive spar, then attended a banquet with the sect’s elites. He reunited with Li Yuan and Zhou Yu, eased Li Yuan’s guilt over their past, and left Zhou Yu with the sense that their lives had grown far apart.

• Chen Qing defeated Chen Lin with a spear strike, and Chen Lin accepted the loss respectfully.
• Shen Xiuyong celebrated Chen Qing’s victory as Qiao Hongyun arranged a feast for him and Haisha Sect’s leading disciples.
• Chen Qing learned that Zheng Fu had left to seek a breakthrough to Gang Jin and invited the Haisha Sect disciples to visit Yunlin Prefecture.
• Chen Qing visited Li Yuan and Zhou Yu, and he told Li Yuan he held no resentment over their past.
• Chen Qing and Zhou Yu reminisced about Zhou Academy and their years apart before he offered to help her if she faced difficulties.
• Zhou Yu watched Chen Qing leave beneath the moonlight and felt that an insurmountable distance now separated them.

Shen Xiuyong and Qiao Hongyun discussed the powerful contenders gathering for the Lin'an auction, while Chen Qing traveled there with Shen and learned about the Cangming Twin Suns and how Shen would help him bid on Wood Sun Jade. Meanwhile, Miao Zhiheng persuaded Yu He to suspect that Chen Qing possessed the Earth Core Marrow Pearl and was responsible for the Netherworld Guards’ disappearance.

• Shen Xiuyong learned from Qiao Hongyun that the auction’s Cangming Twin Suns were half-spirit Treasures and that powerful experts, including Granny Frost, had arrived in Lin'an.
• Qiao Hongyun and Shen Xiuyong recalled Ruan Lingxiu, whom they had not seen since their expedition to the Ten Thousand Poisons Swamp six years earlier.
• Miao Zhiheng, alarmed by Chen Qing’s victory over Chen Lin, resolved to hinder Chen Qing before he could advance to Gang Jin.
• Qiao Hongyun led Shen Xiuyong, Chen Qing, and Haisha Sect disciples to Lin'an, where Shen explained the auction’s attractions and offered to bid for Chen Qing’s Wood Sun Jade.
• Miao Zhiheng told Yu He that Chen Qing likely held the Earth Core Marrow Pearl and may have killed the Netherworld Guards, planting suspicion despite having no proof.