Chapter Summaries

Li Yuanba absorbed the Giant Corpse’s Yin-Cold Energy and escaped the Southern Yuan Mountain Range before the Wolf-Head Humanoid Fourth Grade Spirit Beast returned. Back in the Cultivation Room, he discovered that his corpse-refined body had gained Space-Rending Rule Patterns and found himself with a Fourth Grade Corpse Lotus.

• Li Yuanba’s cultivation of the "Evil Corpse Spirit Record" rapidly advanced his Corpse Pill to the Silver Corpse Late Stage as the Giant Corpse dissolved into pond silt.
• Li Yuanba left the mountain’s belly and fled the Southern Yuan Mountain Range, while the Wolf-Head Humanoid Fourth Grade Spirit Beast returned and found the Giant Corpse missing.
• Li Yuanba reached the Cultivation Room and realized his strength had grown so far beyond Jiang Chen’s that Jiang Chen could offer little help.
• Li Yuanba sensed Space-Rending Rule Patterns throughout his corpse-refined body and used them to tear open a small fissure in space.
• Li Yuanba and Li Shiming determined that his corpse-refined body’s defense, strength, and speed approached those of a Nascent Soul Old Ancestor, and Li Yuanba assessed the nine seeds and remaining lotus as valuable treasures.

Li Yuanba converted the energy of his Corpse Refinement State into human-state power, advancing his cultivation and body refinement before traveling to Boundary Mountain Pass. There, Yang Bao attacked him at the Righteous Path Pass, and Li Yuanba disarmed and subdued him with his sword.

• Li Yuanba used the Taiji Dao Body to convert his Corpse Refinement State energy, advancing to the Golden Core Middle Stage and condensing Supreme Yang Markings.
• After twenty-five days of seclusion, Li Yuanba assessed his combat strength and left Jiang Chen to guard Boundary Mountain City before heading to Boundary Mountain Pass.
• Jiang Pu and other Golden Core Elders noticed Li Yuanba's breakthrough, while the visiting elders grew interested in the benefits of the garrison mission.
• At the Righteous Path Pass, Yang Bao refused to let Li Yuanba through and attacked him despite his explanation that he had come to visit Ying Hou.
• Li Yuanba's Form Intention Sword destroyed the Spirit Mark in Yang Bao's flying sword, and Li Yuanba seized it as his sword came to rest at Yang Bao's neck.

Li Yuanba defeated Yang Bao, exchanged the Fourth Grade Corpse Lotus and cultivation supplies with Li Shiming, and went into seclusion while Jiang Pu planned to deal with Yang Bao. Meanwhile, Old Ancestor Lu and Lang Xiong traveled toward the righteous forces, where Lang Xiong mistook Yang Bao’s escape for guilt and killed him.

• Li Yuanba took Yang Bao’s Flying Sword Magical Treasure and left him injured after warning him not to interfere again.
• Li Yuanba met Li Shiming a thousand li from the pass, traded him the Fourth Grade Corpse Lotus for pills and other resources, then returned to the Vast Array Sect’s Boundary Mountain Pass.
• Jiang Pu proposed trapping and killing Yang Bao, while Li Yuanba returned to Boundary Mountain City to cultivate in seclusion.
• Old Ancestor Lu agreed to take Lang Xiong to the righteous forces to investigate the stolen Fourth Grade Corpse Lotus, and Yang Bao later learned of Li Yuanba’s powerful reputation and regretted making an enemy of him.
• When Old Ancestor Lu and Lang Xiong passed the Boundary Mountain Pass, Yang Bao mistook their arrival for a threat and fled using a Life-Saving Talisman.
• Lang Xiong assumed Yang Bao had helped steal his treasure and killed him with a single attack as Ying Hou watched from the checkpoint.

Lang Xiong and Old Ancestor Lu destroyed Linghe Sect and Wuya Sect after finding no trace of the treasures they sought, while Li Yuanba and Li Shiming spent five years in cultivation. Old Ancestor Lu summoned Li Yuanba to witness Sword Elder’s imminent breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage.

• Lang Xiong used a Dharma Aspect palm to destroy Linghe Sect, then went with Old Ancestor Lu to destroy Wuya Sect.
• Li Yuanba and Li Shiming cultivated for five years, while Li Yuanba strengthened his sword intent and bond with Ten Thousand Swords Peak.
• Old Ancestor Lu summoned Li Yuanba back to the sect, where he found the grand formation activated and Golden Core cultivators gathered outside Three Saints Peak.
• Old Ancestor Lu told Li Yuanba that Sword Elder was about to attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage and invited him to observe.
• Old Ancestor Lu praised Li Yuanba’s stable cultivation and rare talent as he prepared to witness Sword Elder’s breakthrough.

Li Yuanba observed Sword Elder’s breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage and witnessed his Nascent Soul emerge from his body. As Sword Elder prepared to face the Heavenly Tribulation, Old Ancestor Lu and Lang Xiong guarded him while the other sects noticed the disturbance.

• Old Ancestor Lu brought Li Yuanba to observe Sword Elder’s breakthrough, and Sword Elder felt reassured by his disciple’s strength.
• Li Yuanba used the Divine Eye Art to watch Sword Elder’s Golden Core nurture a Nascent Soul over six days, then saw the Nascent Soul break out of the core and briefly emerge with Sword Elder’s Natal Magical Treasure.
• Old Ancestor Lu explained the Nascent Soul’s temporary memory discontinuity, and Sword Elder returned to his body and applied Ten Thousand Year Lightning Strike Wood Sap.
• A massive Tribulation Cloud formed above Vast Array Sect, destroying Li Shiming’s monitoring Drone and alerting the other major sects.
• Old Ancestor Lu released his aura to deter interference, and Lang Xiong’s Nascent Soul aura rose from the Ten Thousand Mountains in support.

Sword Elder endured the Nascent Soul Tribulation and became a Nascent Soul cultivator, then agreed to remain with the Vast Array Sect for a few more years to guide Li Yuanba. He took Li Yuanba to pay respects to the founder of the Sword Intent Soaring Pavilion.

• Old Ancestor Lu held Li Yuanba back as Sword Elder faced repeated bolts of Heavenly Thunder during his tribulation.
• Sword Elder risked his Nascent Soul by charging the Thunder Cloud with Sword Intent Soaring, and the Tribulation Cloud vanished after its final strike.
• Li Yuanba caught the badly injured Sword Elder, who rapidly recovered after surviving the tribulation and received heaven and earth's reward.
• Sword Elder thanked Old Ancestor Lu, praised Li Yuanba's talent, and agreed to stay in the sect to guide him before returning to the Sword Intent Soaring Pavilion.
• Sword Elder hung the Sword Intent Soaring Scroll in his Cave Dwelling and led Li Yuanba in paying respects to the founder.

Li Yuanba explored the Sword Intent Soaring Pavilion Scroll and later met with Sword Old Ancestor, who had advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage and began teaching him the Sword Intent Soaring Art. Sword Old Ancestor explained how sword cultivators upgraded their natal flying swords, leaving Li Yuanba with more to learn about his master’s path.

• Sword Old Ancestor entrusted Li Yuanba with the Sword Intent Soaring Pavilion Scroll before entering seclusion for two months.
• Li Yuanba explored the scroll, learned about generations of Sword Intent Soaring Pavilion ancestors, and found that many Nascent Soul cultivators had come from his lineage.
• News of Jian Wuwei’s advancement spread, and the Northern Shu Continent’s major sects prepared gifts and an Ascension Ceremony for him.
• After two months, Li Yuanba returned to Soaring Peak, where Jian Wuwei arranged to teach him regularly for three years and answered his questions about the Sword Intent Soaring Art.
• Li Yuanba gave Jian Wuwei two jin of Grandmaster Li’s third grade spirit tea and asked about his natal flying sword.
• Jian Wuwei explained that Nascent Soul sword cultivators could preserve a strengthened third grade natal flying sword by gradually replacing its materials with compatible fourth grade materials.

Li Shiming tested Silver Corpse Nanming’s improved control of Southern Bright Leaving Fire and explored using it to refine pills, while pursuing his goal of making Fourth Grade Spiritual Pills. He received an invitation to Sword Old Ancestor’s Ascension celebration and learned that he would attend with Old Ancestor Zuo.

• Li Shiming had Silver Corpse Nanming release Southern Bright Leaving Fire externally, then tried refining second-grade Spiritual Pills with it, but the medicine repeatedly burned to ash.
• Li Shiming tasked IBMz15 with designing a new pill furnace and continued caring for Honored One Huijing, whose injuries remained stable but unimproved after five years.
• Li Shiming reviewed the recovered Silver Light Sword and Ink Feather Spiritual Umbrella, fed a Third Grade Spirit Pill to the Phantom Spirit Flood Dragon, and received an invitation from Vast Array Sect.
• Li Shiming asked Elder Su about the invitation and learned that Sword Old Ancestor’s Ascension celebration was a gathering of Nascent Soul Old Ancestors that he could not refuse.
• Elder Su told Li Shiming that Old Ancestor Zuo would accompany him and encouraged him to make connections with the elite disciples attending the celebration.

Li Shiming traveled with Old Ancestor Zuo, Ye Jingxian, and Wei Xi toward a gathering beyond the Boundary Mountain Pass. After Old Ancestor Zuo warned him about his state of mind, Li Shiming gained sudden insight, advanced his Golden Core cultivation, and strengthened his friendships with his companions.

• Old Ancestor Zuo asked Li Shiming about his cultivation and warned him that rapid progress could destabilize his state of mind and create a Heart Demon.
• Li Shiming reflected on the warning, gained sudden insight into the Five Golden Cores in Body, and advanced from one-third to halfway through the Golden Core Middle Stage.
• Old Ancestor Zuo helped gather Spiritual Qi around Li Shiming, and Li Shiming thanked him by brewing spirit tea and giving him a Jade Box of tea.
• Li Shiming gave tea to Ye Jingxian and Wei Xi, promised to help Ye Jingxian with her Spiritual Herbs, and learned the Great Elder's disciple was named Wei Xi.
• The companions grew closer as the Flying Boat Magical Treasure passed through the Boundary Mountain Pass.

The Vast Array Sect hosted a gathering of Nascent Soul cultivators, welcoming guests from across the Northern Shu Continent. Li Yuanba and Li Shiming met several powerful cultivators and their disciples as the guests assembled, with the Yin Yang Sect still yet to arrive.

• Old Ancestor Lu and Sword Old Ancestor welcomed Ling Xueling, who credited Li Shiming’s Youthful Countenance Pill for her youthful appearance and praised Li Yuanba’s talent.
• Old Ancestor Zhan arrived with his disciple Ling Qin, recognized Li Yuanba’s exploits at Boundary Mountain, and introduced the two young cultivators.
• Honored One Hui Ke arrived with Great Arhat Zhihuo, and Old Ancestor Lu greeted him despite the strained relationship between the Vast Array Sect and Thousand Leaves Temple.
• Old Ancestor Lou Song arrived from the Earth Fiend Sect with Great Elder Mo Bao.
• Li Shiming arrived with Old Ancestor Zuo and Great Elder Wei Xi; Old Ancestor Lu welcomed him, and Li Shiming exchanged greetings with Li Yuanba.
• Old Ancestor Zuo noted that the Yin Yang Sect was the final group to arrive and criticized them for keeping everyone waiting.

At Jian Wuwei’s advancement celebration, Sword Old Ancestor demonstrated his power and received a full share of Fourth Grade Resources. The juniors’ sparring began with Great Arhat Zhihuo challenging Li Yuanba, who revealed his mastery of Lotus Steps.

• Old Ancestor Lan Weiyan flirted with Li Yuanba and offered Li Shiming her daughter’s hand, but Li Shiming declined to leave the Shu Mountain Sect.
• Sword Old Ancestor displayed a sword strike that left a crack in the void for ten breaths, shocking the gathered Nascent Soul Old Ancestors.
• Old Ancestor Lu proposed giving Sword Old Ancestor a full share of Fourth Grade Resources, and the other eligible sects agreed.
• Great Arhat Zhihuo challenged Li Yuanba to a spar, then attacked him with a Fire Phoenix.
• Li Yuanba summoned a White Lotus beneath his feet and revealed Lotus Steps, shocking the gathering and upsetting Honored One Hui Ke.

Li Yuanba defeated Great Arhat Zhihuo by using his Form Intention Sword to trigger explosions in the Fire Phoenixes and break the Fire Dragon Cover, then returned the treasure when Sword Old Ancestor told him to. Li Shiming accepted Great Elder Lan Hongxi’s challenge and entered the Battlefield with twelve Silver Corpses, leaving the outcome of their spar unresolved.

• Li Yuanba evaded Great Arhat Zhihuo’s attacks with Lotus Steps while his Form Intention Sword repeatedly struck the Fire Dragon Cover.
• Li Yuanba used the Divine Eye Art to locate the Fire Phoenixes’ Spiritual Power nodes, then made four of them explode and destabilize the Fire Dragon Cover.
• Li Yuanba shattered the Fire Dragon Cover and forced Great Arhat Zhihuo to admit defeat, but returned the treasure at Sword Old Ancestor’s instruction.
• The Nascent Soul Old Ancestors praised Li Yuanba, while Honored One Hui Ke’s invitation to Li Yuanba angered Old Ancestor Lu.
• Great Elder Lan Hongxi challenged Li Shiming, who accepted after Old Ancestor Zuo warned him about the Yin Yang Sect.
• Li Shiming entered the Battlefield and summoned twelve Silver Corpses, including eleven modified corpses with Three Heads Six Arms.

Li Shiming defeated Great Elder Lan Hongxi by using twelve Silver Corpses and a formation that turned her into a formation node. After the battle, the Nascent Soul Old Ancestors traded Fourth Grade resources, but Sword Old Ancestor found no compatible metal for his Natal Magical Treasure.

• Li Shiming used twelve Silver Corpses to surround Great Elder Lan Hongxi and dissolve her attacks with their formation.
• Li Shiming changed the formation to draw Lan Hongxi’s spiritual power into it, then had the Silver Corpses batter her until Old Ancestor Lan Weiyan conceded for her.
• Li Shiming dismissed the Silver Corpses, and the Nascent Soul Old Ancestors praised his distinctive fighting style.
• Old Ancestor Lu sought Fourth Grade metal-attribute artifact-refining materials in exchange for Fourth Grade Demon Cores, but Sword Old Ancestor rejected Old Ancestor Lou Song’s offered metal.
• The Nascent Soul Old Ancestors traded Fourth Grade resources, while Li Shiming kept his own Fourth Grade Spiritual Objects hidden.

The Nascent Soul Ancestors hurried to meet a powerful cultivator approaching Northern Shu Continent, while Sword Old Ancestor explained the continent’s cultivation limits and future choices to Li Yuanba. The newcomer, Jin Kai of the Heavenly Travel Merchant Guild, announced that he had come to rebuild the guild and find Feng Yi and Weng Zhao.

• Old Ancestor Lu and the other Nascent Soul Ancestors joined Honored One Hui Ke in traveling toward the sea after sensing a Nascent Soul Middle Stage aura approaching Northern Shu Continent.
• Sword Old Ancestor told Li Yuanba that Northern Shu Continent lacked the resources for most Nascent Soul cultivators to advance to the middle stage, and Li Yuanba decided to return to the Sword Intent Soaring Pavilion after reaching the Nascent Soul Stage.
• Sword Old Ancestor said the sects would seek materials to upgrade his Natal Flying Sword so he could help face the approaching enemy.
• The seven Nascent Soul Ancestors intercepted a Giant Airship belonging to the Heavenly Travel Merchant Guild and prepared to answer its visitor cautiously.
• Jin Kai identified himself as a Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator and said he had come to rebuild the Heavenly Travel Merchant Guild and search for Feng Yi and Weng Zhao.

Old Ancestor Jin Kai negotiated the Heavenly Travel Merchant Guild’s return to the Northern Shu Continent, securing Eternal Joy Island and permission for conflicts below the Nascent Soul level. A year later, as fighting intensified there, Sword Old Ancestor told Li Yuanba to join the battlefield after discussing his sword cultivation and future prospects.

• Old Ancestor Jin Kai reached an agreement with the seven Northern Shu Nascent Soul Old Ancestors to rebuild the Heavenly Travel Merchant Guild on Eternal Joy Island and search for Feng Yi and Weng Zhao.
• The Northern Shu factions evacuated Eternal Joy Island and established nearby strongholds, while the Heavenly Travel Merchant Guild and Northern Shu Golden Core cultivators began fighting there.
• Over the following year, the Heavenly Travel Merchant Guild brought in more Golden Core cultivators and recruited local cultivators with resources, increasing its advantage in the fighting.
• Li Yuanba discussed his Supreme Yang Sword Intent and Natal Flying Sword with Sword Old Ancestor, who advised him about suitable materials and other ways to strengthen himself.
• Sword Old Ancestor told Li Yuanba that the sect had lost Golden Core cultivators on the Eternal Joy Battlefield and that his master wanted him to go there.

Li Yuanba arrived at the Eternal Joy Battlefield, where Old Ancestor Lu briefed him on the Heavenly Travel Merchant Guild’s powerful Great Elders and offered a Nascent Soul advancement reward for defeating one. As he explored the nearby market, Li Yuanba overheard signs that the Guild was recruiting Golden Core cultivators with promises of resources, leaving him suspicious of its real intentions.

• Li Yuanba reached the Northern Shu stronghold and met Old Ancestor Lu, who explained that the battlefield had escalated to clashes involving Great Elder-level cultivators.
• Old Ancestor Lu told Li Yuanba that the Heavenly Travel Merchant Guild had three dangerous Great Elders and promised him a portion of Nascent Soul advancement resources if he killed one.
• Li Yuanba received intelligence on the enemy and visited the battlefield market, where Golden Core cultivators from both sides gathered.
• Li Yuanba overheard Hu Daoyou tell Zhao Daoyou that he had advanced by taking resources from the Heavenly Travel Merchant Guild and suggested that cultivators could profit from both sides.
• Li Yuanba suspected the Guild had a hidden plan and considered investigating its cultivators with Mind Penetration.

Li Yuanba entered the Eternal Joy Battlefield, allied with Great Elder Wei Xi, and discovered how dangerous and lawless the sea had become. After killing four Golden Core Middle Stage ambushers with ease, he examined their pills and waited for other cultivators to approach.

• Li Yuanba and Great Elder Wei Xi agreed to share information about their assassination targets and discussed the Heavenly Travel Merchant Guild's recruitment and Third Grade Spirit Pills.
• Li Yuanba left the Market and flew toward the battlefield, where he overheard cultivators preparing to ambush him.
• Four Golden Core Middle Stage cultivators attacked Li Yuanba, but he killed all four with his Form Intention Sword and White Lotus movement.
• Li Yuanba searched the corpses, found three intermediate-grade Third Grade Spirit Pills, and judged that the Heavenly Travel Merchant Guild's alchemy inheritance surpassed Shu Mountain Sect's.
• Li Yuanba noticed distant cultivators reporting the fight, contacted the Drone Satellite System, and waited for others to come to him.

Li Yuanba faced Great Elder Shi Ming in a fierce battle, learning firsthand how powerful the Sword Cultivator Great Elder’s Frost Sword Intent was. After being driven into the sea and transforming into his Corpse Refinement State, Li Yuanba used Space-Rending Divine Power to kill Shi Ming and take his possessions.

• Great Elder Shi Ming set out to challenge Li Yuanba after learning that the renowned cultivator had appeared on the battlefield.
• Shi Ming struck Li Yuanba with his accumulated Frost Sword Intent, freezing him and knocking him into the sea.
• Li Yuanba transformed into his Corpse Refinement State, absorbed the Frost Sword Intent, and used Lotus Steps to appear beside Shi Ming underwater.
• Li Yuanba wounded Shi Ming with Space-Rending Divine Power, caught Shi Ming’s returning Natal Flying Sword, and killed him.
• Li Yuanba took Shi Ming’s Space Ring and corpse, then reflected on the difference between their strength and sword techniques.

After killing Great Elder Shi Ming, Li Yuanba reported the victory to Old Ancestor Lu and assessed the enemy’s strength for the watching Nascent Soul Ancestors. He examined Shi Ming’s spoils, finding valuable pills, cultivation resources, and Fourth Grade materials, and set aside some items to repay the Vast Array Sect.

• Old Ancestor Jin Kai sensed Shi Ming’s death, recognized Li Yuanba’s aura at the battlefield, and resolved to consider revenge after his plan was complete.
• Li Yuanba fled into the stronghold after feeling Old Ancestor Jin Kai watching him, then told Old Ancestor Lu that he had killed Great Elder Shi Ming and showed him the corpse.
• At the Nascent Soul Ancestors’ request, Li Yuanba described Shi Ming as exceptionally powerful, and Old Ancestor Lu sent him to recover from his injuries.
• Li Yuanba searched Shi Ming’s possessions and found a Third Grade flying sword and Mustard Seed Ring containing spiritual medicines, pill formulas, a Supreme Induction Pill, and Fourth Grade ice-attribute spiritual iron.
• Li Yuanba set aside fifteen cultivation methods for the Vast Array Sect and took out cultivation pills to trade at the planned auction before claiming Shi Ming’s Mustard Seed Ring.

Li Yuanba absorbed Great Elder Shi Ming’s Frost Sword Intent, raising his own sword intent and easing his path toward Golden Core Late Stage. After learning that Great Arhat Zhihuo had been killed by Great Elder Sun Ao, he joined allied Great Elders to discuss the strength of Eternal Joy Island’s fighters.

• Li Yuanba used his Supreme Yang Sword Intent to erase the frost attribute from Shi Ming’s sword intent and fused the remaining power into his own, gaining deep insight into Golden Core Peak sword intent.
• After six days of seclusion, Li Yuanba emerged with sword intent that had reached the beginning of Golden Core Late Stage and sensed Honored One Hui Ke’s grief.
• Great Elder Wei Xi told Li Yuanba that Great Arhat Zhihuo had been killed by Great Elder Sun Ao after entering the battlefield to prove himself.
• Li Yuanba met with Great Elders Mo Bao, Ling Qin, Lan Hongxi, and Wei Xi to discuss how to confront Eternal Joy Island’s Great Elders.
• Li Yuanba warned the group that Shi Ming had been exceptionally powerful and that the three Eternal Joy Island Great Elders were likely comparable in strength.