Chapter Summaries

Lu Nan and Xu Bai entered the second trial, where they learned that only the top ten thousand hunters would advance. After separating to hunt alone, Lu Nan rapidly accumulated points and climbed to ninth place, determined to take first.

• Lu Nan and Xu Bai touched the stone pillar and learned they had three days to hunt demonic beasts for points and qualify for the next trial.
• Lu Nan gave Xu Bai two talismans for emergencies, and they split up to hunt alone.
• Lu Nan killed a horde of demonic beasts and discovered that each Foundation Establishment Realm beast earned ten points, regardless of its cultivation level.
• Lu Nan checked the leaderboard and saw that he ranked ninth, with eight hunters ahead of him.
• Lu Nan set off to keep hunting, aiming to claim first place.

Lu Nan watched the Beast Taming Sect attack An Miaoyu and the Luanxian Pavilion cultivators, but hesitated to intervene until Xu Bai arrived. Xu Bai unleashed a deadly Wave Blade and joined An Miaoyu’s group, leaving their fight against the Beast Taming Sect unresolved.

• Lu Nan discovered that cultivators could steal one another’s points as he watched Qin Hu demand An Miaoyu’s points and submission.
• Qin Hu ordered the Beast Taming Sect disciples and their beasts to attack the Luanxian Pavilion cultivators, who gradually fell into a disadvantage.
• A tamed beast killed Junior Sister Yu, and Beast Taming Sect disciples captured and abused several other Luanxian Pavilion cultivators.
• An Miaoyu threatened Qin Hu while Lu Nan watched from hiding, then sensed Xu Bai approaching and turned to leave.
• Xu Bai arrived, saw An Miaoyu and her fellow cultivators in danger, and used Wave Blade to kill the Beast Taming Sect disciples blocking his way.

Xu Bai summoned Lu Nan with a Talisman when Qin Hu threatened him and the Luanxian Pavilion cultivators. Lu Nan killed the Beast Taming Sect disciples and their beasts, then left the terrified Qin Hu barely alive for Xu Bai to deal with.

• Qin Hu demanded that Xu Bai and the Luanxian Pavilion abandon four captive women, and Xu Bai agreed before An Miaoyu refused to leave them behind.
• Qin Hu surrounded the group and threatened Xu Bai unless he swore to keep the incident secret.
• Xu Bai activated his Talisman and called for Brother Zhao, bringing Lu Nan to the scene.
• Lu Nan asked about earning points by killing enemies, and Xu Bai explained that the killer received the victim's points.
• Lu Nan killed the Beast Taming Sect disciples and their tamed beasts, then struck Qin Hu and left him barely alive for Xu Bai.

Lu Nan killed Qin Hu after rescuing Luanxian Pavilion’s cultivators, then agreed to protect An Miaoyu and her disciples until the third trial opened in exchange for Profound Ice Immortal Dew. He left with Xu Bai, giving An Miaoyu three Talismans to call for help.

• Lu Nan’s display of strength stunned the crowd, and Luanxian Pavilion’s women found their four unconscious companions alive.
• An Miaoyu and the other women surrounded and punished Qin Hu, then brought him before Lu Nan and Xu Bai.
• An Miaoyu began to remove her veil, but Lu Nan apologized, killed Qin Hu, and prepared to leave with Xu Bai.
• An Miaoyu asked Lu Nan to protect her disciples until they could safely leave the Secret Realm, and offered payment for his help.
• Lu Nan agreed to protect them in exchange for a drop of Profound Ice Immortal Dew and gave An Miaoyu three Talismans before departing with Xu Bai.
• An Miaoyu told her disciples to recover quickly and prepare to secure places in the next trial.

Lu Nan learned from Xu Bai about innate Foundation Establishment, Dao Foundation ranks, and why some cultivators could enter the secret realm. Xu Bai agreed to obtain three spirit items after they left, while Lu Nan promised him a spot for Earth Vein Foundation Establishment; they then hunted demon beasts to improve Xu Bai’s rank.

• Xu Bai explained that innately Foundation Establishment cultivators could enter the secret realm and described Heaven-grade and Divine-grade Dao Foundations.
• Lu Nan asked why cultivators who used pills or ordinary cultivation could not enter, and Xu Bai said their Dao Foundations were tainted by mortal air.
• Xu Bai inspected Lu Nan’s list and offered to obtain Thunderclap Bamboo, Five Elements Crimson Fruit, and Boundless Liquid, which would cost at least two hundred thousand High-grade Spirit Stones.
• Lu Nan and Xu Bai agreed that Xu Bai would get the spirit items after they left, and Lu Nan promised him a place for Earth Vein Foundation Establishment.
• Lu Nan took Xu Bai to a mountain hollow and restrained a herd of demon beasts for him to kill.
• Xu Bai slaughtered the beasts and reported that his rank had risen by a hundred places.

Lu Nan helped Xu Bai earn points, then sent him to join An Miaoyu while he hunted down people who robbed others to boost his own score. With half a day remaining and first place seemingly secure, Lu Nan returned to find An Miaoyu activating a Talisman as her group was surrounded.

• Lu Nan led Xu Bai from herd to herd until Xu Bai reached the top five thousand in points.
• Lu Nan sent Xu Bai to follow An Miaoyu and learned from him about the Desert Region’s major forces and Grand View Dao Academy.
• Lu Nan began killing people involved in robbery and plunder, causing his points to surge and rumors to spread about a mysterious killer targeting such groups.
• Lu Nan checked his score and found himself in first place with 100,008 points, more than 20,000 ahead of second place.
• Lu Nan returned to An Miaoyu’s group and saw her activating a Talisman while people surrounded them.

Lu Nan arrived to rescue Xu Bai, An Miaoyu, and the Luanxian Pavilion group from a crowd demanding their points. He slaughtered the attackers, left the brocade-clad youth to An Miaoyu, and led everyone toward the stone pillar as the time limit approached.

• Lu Nan arrived as Xu Bai and An Miaoyu faced threats from a brocade-clad youth and his men.
• The brocade-clad youth claimed points could be transferred voluntarily, and Xu Bai tested the claim with Lu Nan.
• When the attackers tried to seize the group’s points and women, Lu Nan froze and killed them all with a sweep of wind.
• Lu Nan left the brocade-clad youth to Xu Bai and An Miaoyu, and An Miaoyu killed him to gain his points.
• Lu Nan led Xu Bai and the Luanxian Pavilion women toward the stone pillar, while the women saw countless heads flying into the sky behind them.

Lu Nan entered the third trial and chose the central Heavenly Platform, where he learned that contestants had to fight for control of the arenas. He discovered that surrendering did not end a match and killed his opponent to survive, leaving the trial underway.

• Lu Nan entered the vortex first after confirming An Miaoyu would honor their transaction and telling her he was staying in Sword Valley.
• Lu Nan chose the largest central arena, the Heavenly Platform, among the seventy-three battle platforms.
• The trial announced that contestants could challenge arena defenders, and those holding platforms after nine days would receive Heavenly Vein Qi and Earth Vein Qi.
• Lu Nan defeated the woman who entered his arena, but she remained there after he told her to admit defeat.
• Lu Nan tried to remove the woman from the arena, then sensed a deadly presence when he considered exploiting a loophole and killed her instead.

Lu Nan defended the Heavenly Platform by killing a succession of challengers, including Fahui, and discovered that anyone who stepped onto it could not leave without winning. The remaining challengers hesitated as they weighed the Heavenly Vein Qi against the risk of death.

• After the battle platform devoured his first opponent, Lu Nan killed a refined young man who had just arrived.
• Lu Nan swiftly defeated a Red Blade Pavilion disciple, driving most of the waiting challengers away and leaving fewer than a hundred stronger fighters.
• While the crowd hesitated, Lu Nan saw An Miaoyu and Xu Bai holding their own platforms with ease.
• Fahui attacked Lu Nan with his Golden Body and Great Compassion Hand, but Lu Nan severed his arm and revealed that Fahui could not leave the platform.
• Fahui tried to defend himself with his Indestructible Golden Buddha Body, but Lu Nan killed him, prompting the remaining challengers to fear the platform’s deadly rules.

Lu Nan defended the Heavenly Platform for nine days, defeating challengers and deterring the crowd with his claim that he had fought a Golden Core True Person without being disadvantaged. On the final day, he trapped a burly man in his Five Elements Sword Formation and waited until time ran out before thanking him and striking.

• A youth in purple asked the crowd about Lu Nan's strength, and several people withdrew after a challenger named Miao Shi was killed by Lu Nan's sword.
• Lu Nan watched Xu Bai and An Miaoyu lose their platforms, then repeatedly return to challenge at other arenas.
• On the ninth day, Lu Nan warned the remaining challengers to leave and claimed he had fought a Golden Core True Person without falling behind.
• A burly man challenged Lu Nan, unleashed his Ghostly Barbarian Colossus Body, and was trapped by Lu Nan's Five Elements Sword Formation.
• Lu Nan and the burly man waited as the remaining crowd rushed to other arenas, and Lu Nan thanked the man before slashing down.

Lu Nan absorbed Heavenly Vein Qi and survived the destruction of his nine Dao Foundations, which rebuilt into a purple-gold Dao Palace and advanced his cultivation to Foundation Establishment Perfection. He suspected Wu Bai might be behind Bai Fu’s warning and discovered a way to disguise his Dao Palace as nine Dao Foundations.

• Lu Nan watched the battle platforms rise and saw golden and blue beams connect them to the Heavenly Platform.
• He guided the Heavenly Vein Qi into his Dao Foundations, but all nine exploded and left him severely injured.
• Nine streams of pale blue energy began rebuilding the foundations into a Dao Palace, and Lu Nan fed it the golden energy to complete the process.
• Lu Nan recognized his purple-gold palace as a Divine grade Foundation Establishment and discovered his cultivation had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection.
• Lu Nan considered whether Wu Bai was connected to the danger Bai Fu had warned him about, then decided to conceal his Dao Palace.
• Lu Nan used a newly surfaced technique to transform the Dao Palace into nine purple-gold Dao Foundations.

Lu Nan emerged from the Sword Moon Secret Realm and was taken to Sword Valley by Miao Feng, who offered to make him his disciple. After Miao Feng revealed Wu Bai’s motives for recruiting him, Lu Nan accepted Miao Feng as his master.

• Lu Nan discovered that changing his nine violet-gold Dao Foundations into a Dao Palace did not significantly alter his power, then left the secret realm.
• Wu Bai and Bai Fu waited outside the secret realm, where Sword Valley’s Celestial Elder Miao Feng claimed Lu Nan and took him away.
• Miao Feng examined Lu Nan’s unusual Dao Foundations and offered to take him as his disciple, promising to help him form his core within a year.
• Miao Feng told Lu Nan that Wu Bai had taken him as a disciple for a Wu Family contest in which Lu Nan could die if he lost.
• Lu Nan accepted Miao Feng as his master, and Miao Feng said they would complete the proper rites.

Lu Nan became Miao Feng’s disciple, received gifts and the Hundred Illusions Art, and joined Sword Valley while Miao Feng settled the question of Wu Bai’s ties to him. After Miao Feng left, Lu Nan and Wu Bai faced the complicated history between them, with Wu Bai beginning to explain his past choices.

• Lu Nan formally became Miao Feng’s disciple, received a ring of Spirit Stones and a Longsword, and was told he could keep using Wu Bai’s Curse Sword Scripture until he formed his core.
• Miao Feng gave Lu Nan the Hundred Illusions Art and advised him to focus on the Sword Dao, then summoned Wu Bai and Bai Fu.
• Miao Feng offered Wu Bai a choice between ending his claim as Lu Nan’s master in exchange for help with the Wu Family’s affairs or continuing their relationship without Miao Feng’s interference; Wu Bai chose the latter.
• Miao Feng assigned Bai Fu to handle Lu Nan’s entry into Sword Valley, reassured Lu Nan that his freedom would not be restricted, and departed after giving him a communication token.
• Bai Fu congratulated Lu Nan, and Wu Bai admitted that although he had acted for the Wu Family, he had also resolved to protect Lu Nan and had once considered abandoning him.

Lu Nan accepted the challenge to forge a Heaven-grade foundation and requested three highly toxic medicinal ingredients before setting out. Bai Fu helped him secure a secluded courtyard in Sword Valley, while Miao Feng revealed that he would protect Lu Nan with a Celestial avatar.

• Bai Fu told Lu Nan that Wu Bai would protect him if he forged a Heaven-grade foundation, and Lu Nan agreed while insisting that their debts would be settled afterward.
• Lu Nan asked Bai Fu to obtain fifty-year-old Crimson Flame Sky Orchid, Heart Refining Egg, and Tai Chi Gu Fruit, then declined a tour so he could rest.
• Bai Fu offered Lu Nan a secluded independent courtyard, and Lu Nan revealed that he was a second-grade Alchemist attempting to reach the third grade.
• Miao Feng appeared, praised Lu Nan's talent, and placed a Celestial avatar in his forehead to protect his life.
• Bai Fu showed Lu Nan Cloud Bamboo Courtyard, and Lu Nan bound its Jade Token and returned inside after Bai Fu departed.

Lu Nan agreed to help Wu Bai settle a dispute involving the Wu Family in exchange for Spirit Stones and rare medicinal herbs, then traveled with Wu Bai and Bai Fu to Cangnan City. After arriving, he asked Elder Han Chang to explain the Wu Family’s standing, and learned that they were the city’s most powerful family.

• Lu Nan agreed to fight for Wu Bai in a best-of-three death match, asking for one hundred thousand High-grade Spirit Stones and at least three kinds of medicinal herbs as his reward.
• Bai Fu accompanied Lu Nan and Wu Bai through Sword Valley’s cross-region Teleportation Array, with Wu Bai paying thirty thousand High-grade Spirit Stones for their passage.
• The three arrived in Cangnan City, where Bai Fu introduced Wu Bai and Lu Nan to the duty Elder, Han Chang.
• At a restaurant, Lu Nan asked Han Chang about the Wu Family, and Han Chang explained that they were Cangnan City’s only Void Return family and held more power than the city lord’s manor.

Lu Nan and his companions learned that the Wu Family had grown powerful and discussed how to handle their upcoming contest. After Miao Feng promised to back them, Lu Nan explored Cangnan City while Wu Bai and Bai Fu secretly guarded him.

• Han Chang told Lu Nan, Wu Bai, and Bai Fu that the Wu Family had gained a second Void Returning cultivator and described the talented Wu Po, Wu Jiang, and Wu Yingying.
• Bai Fu urged Lu Nan and Wu Bai to consult Miao Feng, who assured them that he could handle the Wu Family’s two early-stage Void Returning cultivators.
• Lu Nan said they would attend the Wu Family’s promotion banquet in seven days, and Wu Bai promised to owe him a favor if he won.
• Bai Fu told Wu Bai he believed Lu Nan could win because of his exceptional comprehension, and Wu Bai began to share his hope.
• Lu Nan spent his days exploring Cang Region, while Bai Fu and Wu Bai followed him secretly to protect him.
• Bai Fu and Wu Bai tracked Lu Nan into an establishment of pleasure, found him drinking with beauties, and took seats nearby to keep watch.

Wu Bai returned to the Wu Family estate to fulfill the agreement he made thirty years earlier, with Lu Nan and Bai Fu accompanying him. After Wu Ze allowed the contest to proceed, Wu Bai took the arena and faced a powerful young Wu Family disciple.

• Wu Bai, Bai Fu, and Lu Nan went to the Wu Family estate, where Wu Bai announced that he had come to honor their agreement.
• Wu Sha tried to postpone the challenge, but Peng She mocked him and Bai Fu explained the history of Wu Bai’s expulsion and his agreement with Wu Ze.
• Wu Ze ordered the three to enter the estate and asked whether Lu Nan and Bai Fu were Wu Bai’s helpers.
• Wu Bai asked when the contest could begin, and Wu Ze raised an arena in the plaza.
• Wu Bai took the stage, where a late-stage Spirit Transformation disciple challenged him to admit defeat.

Wu Bai fought the Spirit Transformation young man but was badly injured and lost an arm before surrendering. Lu Nan then stepped forward to take the two remaining matches against the Wu clan.

• Wu Bai used his gray Sword Curse to withstand the young man's attacks and wound his arm, but the young man struck back with Spear Fall and left Wu Bai gravely injured.
• Wu Bai shouted that he surrendered, but the young man still hit him and embedded him in the platform before Bai Fu revealed that Wu Bai belonged to Sword Valley.
• Wu Ze ordered the young man to stop, and Bai Fu rescued Wu Bai with a life-preserving pill.
• Wu Bai refused to abandon the contest and asked Lu Nan to take the remaining matches.
• Lu Nan stepped onto the platform, and Wu Ze warned him that he could surrender and leave without consequence.

Lu Nan defeated Wu He in the second match, crippling his cultivation and securing a loss for the Wu Family. He faced Wu Po in the final match, where Wu Po demanded that he join the family or remain on the platform.

• Wu Ze sent Wu He to fight Lu Nan, who effortlessly dodged his attacks and talismans while concealing his strength.
• Wu He launched his Spirit Fiend Saber, but Lu Nan appeared behind him and struck his dantian, crippling his cultivation.
• Lu Nan demanded the match result, and Wu Ze declared the Wu Family had lost before threatening Lu Nan to withdraw.
• Lu Nan insisted on the final match, so Wu Ze sent Wu Po, whose combat power seemed to reach the Nascent Soul realm.
• Wu Po asked whether Lu Nan had forged a Heaven grade Dao Foundation and told him to join the Wu Family or remain on the platform.

Lu Nan defeated Wu Po’s opening attacks and then countered his full-force strike with Five Elements Sword Intent, shocking the crowd. Wu Ze declared that Wu Po would lose his position as young patriarch if he lost, and the chapter ended with Lu Nan and Wu Po’s attacks colliding evenly.

• Wu Po launched a sneak attack on Lu Nan, who dodged it and sent Wu Po flying with a single punch.
• Wu Po rushed Lu Nan with a rapid barrage, but Lu Nan blocked or evaded every attack before beating him severely.
• Lu Nan spared Wu Po, explaining that he did not want to expose himself or endanger Bai Fu and the other man.
• Wu Ze told Wu Po that losing the battle would cost him his position as the Wu Family’s young patriarch.
• Wu Po unleashed Mysterious Snake Break, and Lu Nan met the blood-colored serpent with a giant sword formed from Five Elements Sword Intent.