Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ping'an found the Hidden Sword Tomb in Vengeful Sword Valley and opened it with Profound Firmament Sword Qi, releasing the valley’s hidden Sword Envoy Spirits and Sword Wraiths. He confronted their leaders, Chen Cangwu and Xiao Jinfeng, and demanded that they enter his spirit banner or face destruction.

• Jiang Ping'an used Zhang Kaifeng to locate the Hidden Sword Tomb and learned that a wisp of Profound Firmament Sword Qi could open it.
• Jiang Ping'an opened the tomb with his sword fingers, and black mist poured out as the valley’s hidden Sword Envoy Spirits and Sword Wraiths emerged.
• Zhang Kaifeng identified Chen Cangwu, the former sect leader, and Xiao Jinfeng, the former grand elder, among the tomb’s leaders.
• Jiang Ping'an told Chen Cangwu that he had inherited the Profound Firmament Sword Art and invited the spirits to enter his spirit banner.
• Xiao Jinfeng accused Jiang Ping'an of trying to enslave them, but Jiang Ping'an promised them a chance to become Ghost Kings or Yin Gods and threatened to destroy them if they refused.
• Jiang Ping'an gave the gathered spirits the time it took to drink a cup of tea to decide whether to submit or fight.

Jiang Ping'an subdued the Sword Wraiths of the Hidden Sword Tomb and collected its Nightmare Demon Cores and swords. After helping the spirits recover, he returned to the Azure Origin Sect with Yu Lianhua and Ziling.

• Xiao Jinfeng led the native Sword Envoy Spirits and Sword Wraiths in an attack, but Jiang Ping'an turned the battle with the Mystic Nether Spirit Controlling Banner and persuaded Zhang Cangwu to stop fighting.
• Zhang Cangwu and Xiao Jinfeng agreed to let the Sword Wraiths and five Sword Envoy Spirits enter the banner, then dissipated along with their swords.
• Jiang Ping'an entered the Hidden Sword Tomb, collected ten Nightmare Demon Cores, and took several spirit swords and magic swords.
• Jiang Ping'an restored his spirits with the Mystic Nether Returning Array and Mystic Yin Qi, then left Vengeful Sword Valley after dawn.
• Jiang Ping'an, Yu Lianhua, and Ziling rode a spirit boat back to the Azure Origin Sect.

Jiang Ping'an helped Su Xiaodie advance from Charm Mistress to Charm Empress in Vengeful Sword Valley, but her breakthrough triggered a Heavenly Tribulation. After she endured three bolts of lightning, the tribulation ended, and Jiang Ping'an placed her in the Soul Jade Bottle to help her recover.

• Jiang Ping'an finished refining the Sword Envoy Spirits and Sword Wraiths in the Mystic Nether Spirit Controlling Banner and, a year later, brought Su Xiaodie to Vengeful Sword Valley to advance.
• Jiang Ping'an prepared the Mystic Nether Returning Array and gave Su Xiaodie the Seven Emotions Fiend Crystal, Yin Jade Spirit Wall, and Taiyin Flowing Slurry before guarding the area with spirits and Sword Wraiths.
• Su Xiaodie absorbed the treasures and completed her advancement, while Jiang Ping'an resisted her powerful charm; a Heavenly Tribulation formed overhead.
• Su Xiaodie could not prepare a defensive array or Magic Tool in time, so she faced the lightning with her magical power and protective astral barrier as Jiang Ping'an gathered Mystic Yin Qi to help her recover between strikes.
• Su Xiaodie endured three bolts of heavenly lightning, and after the tribulation ended, Jiang Ping'an drew her into the Soul Jade Bottle and poured Nether True Qi into it.

Su Xiaodie’s past life awakened as Su Wanying, the former sect master of the Green Lotus Immortal Sect, and she told Jiang Ping'an about the wider cultivation world. After returning to the Azure Origin Sect, Jiang Ping'an met with Wang Zhongyou, who asked about his cultivation progress.

• Su Xiaodie emerged from the Soul Jade Bottle with stronger charm and noble bearing, and Jiang Ping'an asked about her abilities and assigned her to study the Nine Nether Ghost King Soul Devouring Array.
• Su Xiaodie revealed that her past life had awakened and that she was Su Wanying, former sect master of the Green Lotus Immortal Sect on Tianmu Continent.
• Su Wanying explained that Tianmu Continent had far greater cultivation resources than the Western Mirror Continent, but admitted she could not yet defeat a Golden Core True Lord.
• Jiang Ping'an let Su Wanying move about unseen until dawn, and she returned to the Soul Jade Bottle before he left Vengeful Sword Valley.
• Jiang Ping'an returned to the Azure Origin Sect with Yu Lianhua and Ziling, and more than ten days later Wang Zhongyou invited him to Biguang Cave Mansion to ask about his cultivation progress.

Jiang Ping'an sent Dongfang Jintang away to search for the last materials needed for the Nine Nether Ghost King Soul Devouring Array, then learned that Wang Zhongyou had captured a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator for him to use in dual cultivation. Wang Zhongyou gave Jiang Ping'an the captive, Jiang Jinyue, along with Softening Pills to keep her powerless.

• Jiang Ping'an asked Wang Zhongyou to find another Foundation Establishment Realm female cultivator to help him cultivate, then told Yu Lianhua that Wang Zhongyou expected him to dual cultivate with someone else.
• Jiang Ping'an gave Dongfang Jintang thirty-four bottles of Youth Preserving Pills and urged her to leave in search of the missing Void Stone and Nine-Star Nether Silkworm Silk.
• More than a month later, Qingyuan summoned Jiang Ping'an to Biguang Cave Mansion, where Wang Zhongyou presented a bound Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator named Jiang Jinyue.
• Wang Zhongyou explained that Jiang Jinyue was the Solar Sword Sect Grand Elder's granddaughter and gave Jiang Ping'an Softening Pills to suppress her spiritual power.
• Jiang Ping'an accepted Jiang Jinyue and promised to cultivate diligently until he achieved Foundation Establishment.

Jiang Ping'an arranged for Jiang Jinyue to kill herself rather than become his furnace cauldron, then concealed his role from Wang Zhongyou. A month later, Wang Zhongyou introduced him to Wen Qingqing for dual cultivation, leaving Jiang Ping'an set to meet her the next day.

• Jiang Ping'an took Jiang Jinyue to Feiquan Cave Mansion, untied her, and gave her a dagger, but she first tried and failed to kill him before ending her own life.
• Jiang Ping'an told Yu Lianhua that Jiang Jinyue had killed herself and delayed bringing her corpse to Wang Zhongyou until the next morning.
• Wang Zhongyou suspected Jiang Ping'an had arranged Jiang Jinyue's death, but suppressed his anger and ordered Qingyuan to sell her corpse at Primordial Fiend Peak.
• Wang Zhongyou asked Yu Lianhua to watch Jiang Ping'an for signs of suspicion, and she said she had noticed nothing amiss.
• A month later, Wang Zhongyou told Jiang Ping'an that Wen Qingqing would meet him for dual cultivation, and Jiang Ping'an agreed to see her the next day.

Jiang Ping'an failed to persuade Wen Qingqing to help him cultivate, then tried to recruit Dongfang Jintang after she returned with the rare materials he had requested. She refused his proposal and his request to deceive Wang Zhongyou, while warning him about the overwhelming power of Golden Core True Lords.

• Jiang Ping'an told Wang Zhongyou that Wen Qingqing had insulted him and claimed he could persuade Dongfang Jintang to help him cultivate for one thousand spirit stones a month.
• Wang Zhongyou agreed to wait for Dongfang Jintang’s return and instructed Jiang Ping'an not to exceed the monthly limit of one thousand spirit stones.
• More than four months later, Dongfang Jintang returned with Void Stone, Nine-Star Nether Silkworm Silk, Rakshasa Hair, and Netherworld Ghost Stone, and Jiang Ping'an paid her the spirit stones he owed.
• Jiang Ping'an offered Dongfang Jintang one thousand spirit stones a month to cultivate with him, but she rejected the proposal and warned him not to insult her again.
• Dongfang Jintang allowed Jiang Ping'an to use Ode to Yin-Yang Bliss, and he refined the resulting benefits, slightly improving his cultivation.
• Dongfang Jintang refused to pretend to Wang Zhongyou that she had agreed to help Jiang Ping'an cultivate, then described a Golden Core True Lord’s power and warned that even one hundred Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators could not defeat one.

Jiang Ping'an arranged to fund Dongfang Jintang's cultivation assistance and prepared with Su Wanying to refine the Nine Nether Ghost King Soul Devouring Array against True Lord Xuan Luo. After receiving the spirit stones, Dongfang Jintang went to rent Cold Emerald Peak while Jiang Ping'an returned to Biyou Peak to await news.

• Jiang Ping'an agreed to provide Dongfang Jintang with fifteen thousand spirit stones for a dojo and eight thousand spirit stones annually starting in two years.
• Jiang Ping'an told Wang Zhongyou that Dongfang Jintang had agreed to assist his cultivation under three conditions, and Wang Zhongyou agreed to help fund the advance payment.
• Jiang Ping'an asked Su Wanying about the Nine Nether Ghost King Soul Devouring Array, and Su Wanying said she had mostly comprehended it and needed two to three months at the soonest to finish.
• Wang Zhongyou gathered thirty-two thousand spirit stones and gave them to Jiang Ping'an after three days.
• Jiang Ping'an delivered fifteen thousand spirit stones to Dongfang Jintang, who left to rent Cold Emerald Peak while he returned to Biyou Peak.

Jiang Ping'an told Yu Lianhua that he would dual cultivate with Dongfang Jintang, then visited Dongfang's new home on Cold Emerald Peak. After cultivating together for three days and four nights, his cultivation increased and the Dreamland Heavenly Dao's suppression on his Divine Soul eased.

• Jiang Ping'an told Yu Lianhua that Senior Brother Wang had arranged for him to dual cultivate with Dongfang Jintang, and Yu Lianhua reluctantly accepted.
• Yu Lianhua told Jiang Ping'an the rumor that Yue Qingning had died after failing Foundation Establishment, though she thought it might be false.
• Dongfang Jintang told Jiang Ping'an she had rented Cold Emerald Peak, and he flew there that evening to visit her.
• Jiang Ping'an suggested that Dongfang Jintang recruit disciples to share the peak's rent and offered to introduce Xuan Shuang.
• Jiang Ping'an and Dongfang Jintang cultivated together for three days and four nights, after which his cultivation rose slightly and the Divine Soul suppression eased.

Jiang Ping'an survived Su Wanying’s attempt to trap and devour his Divine Soul, then compelled her to resume helping him refine the Nine Nether Ghost King Soul Devouring Array. After more than five months, the array was complete, and he planned to strengthen Xiao Duanyu and Zhang Kaifeng once his cultivation improved.

• Su Wanying tried to seal Jiang Ping'an’s Divine Soul in her Sea of Consciousness, but he revealed it was only a wisp and that his main body could destroy her.
• Su Wanying released Jiang Ping'an’s Divine Soul and apologized; he accepted her service but warned her not to betray him again.
• Jiang Ping'an tested whether intimacy with Su Wanying could reduce the Dreamland Heavenly Dao’s suppression of his Divine Soul, but found the effect limited.
• The next night, Su Wanying helped Jiang Ping'an refine the Nine Nether Ghost King Soul Devouring Array under his control.
• After more than five months, Jiang Ping'an completed the array and resolved to wait until his cultivation improved before advancing Xiao Duanyu and Zhang Kaifeng into True Sword Spirits.

Jiang Ping'an promoted several Sword Envoy Spirits into True Sword Spirits while concealing his activities from the Azure Origin Sect. After three years, Hu Yijian became his third Ghost King, and Jiang Ping'an decided that was enough.

• Jiang Ping'an helped Xiao Duanyu survive the Heavenly Tribulation and become a True Sword Spirit, then had Su Wanying enchant Yu Lianhua and Ziling into obeying him and concealing his suspicious activities.
• Jiang Ping'an promoted Zhuo Bufan into a True Sword Spirit, but Tang Zhanfei died during his Heavenly Tribulation.
• Jiang Ping'an bought Yin Qi Beads to strengthen Xiao Duanyu and Zhuo Bufan so they could eventually challenge True Lord Xuan Luo.
• Over three years later, Jiang Ping'an helped Hu Yijian survive his Heavenly Tribulation and become his third True Sword Spirit.
• Jiang Ping'an decided that three True Sword Spirits were enough and told Dongfang Jintang to stop buying Netherworld Ghost Stones and Rakshasa Hair.

Jiang Ping'an reached Qi Refining Realm perfection and received the treasures and instructions for cultivating the Mysterious Nether Reincarnation Dao Foundation. As the winter solstice approached, he prepared for Foundation Establishment while Yu Lianhua and Ziling left him to prepare in seclusion.

• Jiang Ping'an told Xuan Shuang and Xiu Yun to take a distant mission and fake their deaths so they would not become his weakness, and they left the Azure Origin Sect together.
• Jiang Ping'an reached Qi Refining Realm perfection, and Wang Zhongyou delivered the Yin Yang Reincarnation Stone, Three Lives Cicada Molt, and Merit Purple Bamboo on True Lord Xuan Luo's behalf.
• Wang Zhongyou explained that Jiang Ping'an was to establish the Mysterious Nether Reincarnation Dao Foundation on the winter solstice, and Jiang Ping'an borrowed ten thousand spirit stones to exchange for the Foundation Establishment Realm portion of the Azure Nether Illusory Array Canon.
• Jiang Ping'an comprehended the cultivation method and prepared for the winter-solstice ceremony, while Yu Lianhua and Ziling moved out of Feiquan Cave Mansion so he could prepare alone.

Jiang Ping'an saved a wounded white fox named Bai Li, who later transformed into a beautiful woman and married him. Years into their happy family life, rumors of a heart-stealing demon and signs of Bai Li’s fox nature led a Daoist and soldiers to confront her at home.

• Jiang Ping'an failed his provincial examinations, met Bai Li when she came to repay him for saving her as a fox, and agreed to marry her.
• Jiang Ping'an and Bai Li returned to Nanpo Town, married, and had two children, Jiang Zhang and Jiang Ying.
• After people in nearby towns were found dead with their hearts missing, Jiang Ping'an saw blood on Bai Li’s lips and noticed her golden eyes.
• At a Mid-Autumn banquet, Master Zhang’s young son spotted Bai Li’s fox tail, and Jiang Ping'an took her home.
• Three days later, the county constable and a blue-robed Daoist surrounded Jiang Ping'an’s home, and the Daoist ordered Bai Li to reveal her true form and surrender.

Jiang Ping'an relived a first life in which a Daoist killed his fox-demon wife and children, driving him mad, then a second life in which he became Emperor of Great Yan and ruled successfully. He broke through both illusions and entered a third life as an immortal cultivator, recognizing it as the true trial.

• The Daoist in blue exposed Bai Li as a fox demon, killed her after she fled with Jiang Zhang and Jiang Ying, and then killed the children as well.
• Jiang Ping'an grieved over his family, went mad in Nanpo Town, and eventually approached death before breaking free of the first-life illusion.
• In the second-life illusion, nine-year-old Jiang Ping'an learned he was the surviving Imperial Grandson and was enthroned as Emperor of Great Yan.
• Jiang Ping'an endured Xiao Che's control, then purged the Xiao Clan after Xiao Che died and introduced reforms that strengthened Great Yan.
• Jiang Ping'an expanded Great Yan's territory and reached old age as a successful emperor before breaking free of the second-life illusion.
• Jiang Ping'an entered the third-life illusion as an immortal cultivator and recognized that the true trial had begun.

Jiang Ping'an broke through to Foundation Establishment and gained new reincarnation abilities, then left the Azure Origin Sect with Su Wanying and Wang Zhongyou. Five hundred li from the sect, True Lord Xuan Luo emerged from a gate opened by the Protective Jade Token, bringing Jiang Ping'an’s planned confrontation close.

• Jiang Ping'an shattered an illusion of his past lives and condensed the Mysterious Nether Reincarnation Dao Foundation, reaching Foundation Establishment.
• Jiang Ping'an mastered Reincarnation Guide, comprehended Reincarnation Imprint, and became able to use Nether Shadow Crossing.
• Jiang Ping'an summoned Su Wanying, who used her charm to make Wang Zhongyou accompany them as they left the Azure Origin Sect.
• Jiang Ping'an placed a Spiritual Sense imprint beneath a mountain's shadow as an escape route, then continued flying away from the sect.
• About five hundred li from the Azure Origin Sect, Jiang Ping'an sensed a powerful aura and threw away a Storage Bag containing True Lord Xuan Luo's Protective Jade Token.
• True Lord Xuan Luo emerged from the void gate formed when the Protective Jade Token shattered.

Jiang Ping'an lured True Lord Xuan Luo into a Five Elements Life and Death Array before trapping him inside the Nine Nether Ghost King Soul Devouring Array. True Lord Xuan Luo fought off Jiang Ping'an’s spirits with powerful treasures, but remained caught in the array as the battle continued.

• Wang Zhongyou trembled before True Lord Xuan Luo, who recognized Su Wanying as a Charm Empress and agreed to test Jiang Ping'an’s array.
• Jiang Ping'an set up the Five Elements Life and Death Array and drew True Lord Xuan Luo inside by inviting him to give guidance.
• Jiang Ping'an surrounded the first array with the Nine Nether Ghost King Soul Devouring Array, summoning three True Sword Spirits and nearly ten thousand Sword Wraiths to attack True Lord Xuan Luo.
• True Lord Xuan Luo used the Five-Colored Ancient Pagoda to repel the spirits, then drew many Sword Wraiths into the pagoda as the survivors regrouped and returned.
• True Lord Xuan Luo sent three Thunder Dragons after Xiao Duanyu, Zhuo Bufan, and Hu Yijian, but the dragons split into six and continued their attack.

Jiang Ping'an used the Nine Nether Ghost King Soul Devouring Array to outlast and kill True Lord Xuan Luo, then claimed the fallen Golden Core True Lord’s treasures. The chapter ended with Jiang Ping'an inspecting Xuan Luo’s Storage Ring.

• True Lord Xuan Luo escaped the array by tearing through space, while Jiang Ping'an lured Wang Zhongyou inside, where Xiao Duanyu, Zhuo Bufan, and Hu Yijian killed and devoured him.
• True Lord Xuan Luo waited for the array to dissipate, then fought Xiao Duanyu, Zhuo Bufan, Hu Yijian, and Su Wanying after Jiang Ping'an sent them out to attack.
• As the wounded spirits tried to return to the array, Jiang Ping'an struck True Lord Xuan Luo with a golden Divine Wheel, cutting him across the chest.
• Xiao Duanyu, Zhuo Bufan, and Hu Yijian killed and devoured the weakened True Lord Xuan Luo while Jiang Ping'an stayed inside the array.
• Jiang Ping'an collected the Five-Colored Ancient Pagoda, the spirit sword, and True Lord Xuan Luo’s Storage Ring, then inspected its contents.

Jiang Ping'an distributed treasures to his allies after killing True Lord Xuan Luo, then returned to the Azure Origin Sect and learned that Yu Lianhua and Ziling were dead. He warned Dongfang Jintang that the other Golden Core True Lords might target her, but she suggested he take True Lord Xuan Luo's place as Mystic Array Peak's master.

• Jiang Ping'an found more than two hundred and seventy thousand spirit stones and many treasures in the Storage Ring, then gave Su Wanying the Nether Yin Jade.
• Xiao Duanyu, Zhuo Bufan, and Hu Yijian declined Yellow Springs Well Water and asked Jiang Ping'an for swords and sword qi to help them become Sword Souls; he agreed to provide sword qi.
• Jiang Ping'an used Yellow Springs Well Water to heal and benefit the Sword Envoy Spirits and Sword Wraiths, then restored his mana before returning to the Azure Origin Sect with Su Wanying.
• Jiang Ping'an learned from Li Yunhai that Yu Lianhua and Ziling had died, and he struck Li Yunhai when he suspected him of lying about Ziling's death.
• Jiang Ping'an warned Dongfang Jintang that he had killed True Lord Xuan Luo and urged her to flee, but she suggested he claim True Lord Xuan Luo's position and resources as Mystic Array Peak's master.

Jiang Ping'an left the Azure Origin Sect with Dongfang Jintang, Bai Ruoxue, and Su Wanying, then used True Lord Xuan Luo’s treasure ship to set out for Xiu Yun and Xuan Shuang. On the way, he removed Bai Ruoxue’s Worry-Free Pill poison and discussed crossing the Shattered Star Ocean to reach the Tianmu Continent, though the voyage’s cost remained a concern.

• Jiang Ping'an refused Dongfang Jintang’s offer to become Mystic Array Peak’s master, and Dongfang Jintang decided to leave the Azure Origin Sect with him.
• Jiang Ping'an told Bai Ruoxue that he had likely killed True Lord Xuan Luo and persuaded her to leave the sect with him.
• Jiang Ping'an collected Dongfang Jintang and departed the Azure Origin Sect with her, Bai Ruoxue, and Su Wanying, then transferred them to True Lord Xuan Luo’s flying treasure ship.
• Jiang Ping'an used his mana and Spiritual Sense to expel the Worry-Free Pill poison from Bai Ruoxue’s body.
• Su Wanying explained that they could reach the Tianmu Continent by crossing either the Forbidden Divine Desert or the Shattered Star Ocean, and recommended the ocean route despite its two-to-three-year journey.
• Jiang Ping'an questioned whether they could afford the Shattered Star Ocean voyage, and Su Wanying estimated that one hundred thousand spirit stones would suffice.

Jiang Ping'an agreed to take Su Wanying and Dongfang Jintang to Tianmu Continent, then visited his original body's family and learned that Zhou Qinghong had been killed by the Refining True Demonic Sect's Seventh Elder. Before setting out for revenge, he accepted Bai Ruoxue's decision to stay behind and spent a day with her, leaving the group poised to part ways.

• Su Wanying explained the journey to Tianmu Continent, and Dongfang Jintang agreed to go while Bai Ruoxue remained undecided.
• Jiang Ping'an reunited with Xiu Yun and Xuan Shuang, learned Zhou Qinghong had been killed by the Refining True Demonic Sect's Seventh Elder, and promised to help avenge her.
• Jiang Ping'an secretly visited his original body's parents, confirmed they lived peacefully with his younger brother's family, left them gold and silver, and returned to Rongkang Commandery City.
• Bai Ruoxue decided not to travel to Tianmu Continent or join the revenge, and Jiang Ping'an gave her spirit stones and protective arrays before agreeing to spend several days with her.
• Jiang Ping'an accompanied Bai Ruoxue to a Melodious Sound Pavilion, where she offered the courtesan Shen Siyue gold to spend the night with him; Shen Siyue accepted, but Bai Ruoxue then left with Jiang Ping'an.