Recaps

After leaving the Cangming Sect, Jiang Fan accepted the Nine-Sided Dao-Comprehension Stone as thanks for defeating the Crimson-Refining Ancestor. He traveled with Jiang Ming for several months before retreating to a mountain cave to meditate, where the stone began to resonate.

• Wei Hongyi invited Jiang Fan to register his achievement and collect a reward, but Jiang Fan declined and prepared to leave.
• Yuheng True Person escorted Jiang Fan and Jiang Ming from the Cangming Sect and gave Jiang Fan the Nine-Sided Dao-Comprehension Stone.
• Jiang Fan sensed that the stone resonated with the five Great Daos within him and accepted Yuheng True Person's gift.
• Jiang Fan and Jiang Ming traveled slowly for several months, allowing Jiang Ming to recover while Jiang Fan studied the stone's Dao resonance.
• Jiang Fan found a secluded cave in the emerald mountains, set up a concealed protective formation, and began meditating with the stone.
• The Nine-Sided Dao-Comprehension Stone emitted an extraordinary fluctuation as Jiang Fan immersed himself in it.

Jiang Fan absorbed the Nine-Sided Dao-Comprehension Stone’s Dao rhythm, formed a sixth Great Dao, and reached the True Realm Middle-Stage Peak. After learning that Jiang Ming had awakened a bloodline ability to devour demon beasts, he returned with her to Heavenly Divination Palace ahead of the Sect Promotion Grand Competition, where nine bells rang as they arrived.

• Jiang Fan comprehended a new Great Dao from the Nine-Sided Dao-Comprehension Stone and advanced to the True Realm Middle-Stage Peak, gaining strength enough to challenge True-Realm Apex experts.
• Jiang Ming told Jiang Fan that her recovered bloodline had given her scattered memories and the ability to devour demon beasts to grow stronger.
• Jiang Fan reassured Jiang Ming that her ability was a sign of her bloodline awakening and promised she could help him as she grew stronger.
• After resting until his cultivation stabilized, Jiang Fan removed the formation and hurried with Jiang Ming toward Heavenly Divination Palace.
• Jiang Fan reflected on his recovery and progress since leaving the palace three years earlier, then heard nine bells ring from its mountain peaks.

Jiang Fan returned to Heavenly Divination Palace and learned that the Sect Promotion Grand Competition had begun early, while his master Daoist Xuanji could not be reached. At Bamboo Listening Pavilion, he met Lin Yan, his newly accepted junior sister, and learned that Daoist Xuanji had left on an important matter three months earlier.

• Jiang Fan saw hundreds of Heavenly Divination Palace disciples flying out and learned the Sect Promotion Grand Competition had begun early because more sects than usual were participating.
• Jiang Fan tried to contact Daoist Xuanji but received no response, so he headed to Bamboo Listening Pavilion with Jiang Ming.
• Jiang Fan found Lin Yan cleaning his courtyard and learned she was Daoist Xuanji's registered disciple, assigned to wait there for his return.
• Lin Yan told Jiang Fan that Daoist Xuanji had left on an important matter three months earlier and had not said where he was going.

Jiang Fan learned why Lin Yan had joined Heavenly Divination Palace and prepared to attend the Sect Promotion Grand Competition after its opening ceremony. He spent the next three days resting and helping Lin Yan and Jiang Ming cultivate, while Lin Yan worried that his damaged Great Dao had left him discouraged.

• Lin Yan told Jiang Fan that her family in Cuiyan City had been slaughtered after her father gave Daoist Xuanji clues about an old case, and that Daoist Xuanji had saved and taken her in.
• Jiang Fan introduced Lin Yan to Jiang Ming, and the two girls quickly became friendly.
• Jiang Fan contacted Lin Yuan and learned that the competition matches would begin three days after the ceremony in Grand Capital Prefecture; he decided to wait for the draw results before traveling.
• Jiang Fan spent three leisurely days at Bamboo Listening Pavilion, teaching Jiang Ming methods to awaken her bloodline and teaching Lin Yan foundational cultivation arts.
• Lin Yan watched Jiang Fan relax instead of cultivating and worried that his damaged Great Dao had made him lose heart.

Jiang Fan learned that the first round of the Sect Promotion Grand Competition would be held at the Black-and-White Academy, where he had once been welcomed before his damaged Great Dao Foundation led the academy to turn cold toward him. He brought Jiang Ming and Lin Yan along, arrived at the crowded Bagua Plaza, and met Lin Yuan.

• Lin Yuan told Jiang Fan that the first round would take place the next day at the Black-and-White Academy’s Yin-Yang Martial Arena.
• Jiang Fan recalled how the Black-and-White Academy had changed its attitude toward him after his Great Dao Foundation was damaged and his cultivation regressed.
• Jiang Fan agreed to bring Jiang Ming and Lin Yan to the competition after they both asked to go.
• Jiang Fan took Jiang Ming and Lin Yan from Bamboo Listening Pavilion and flew to the Black-and-White Academy, slowing down and shielding Lin Yan from the astral winds.
• At Bagua Plaza, Jiang Fan contacted Lin Yuan, who welcomed the group and offered to look after Lin Yan before leading them toward the Heavenly Divination Palace’s gathering area.

Jiang Fan arrived with the Heavenly Divination Palace delegation for the Sect Promotion Grand Competition and faced taunts about his ruined Great Dao Foundation. After he calmly dismissed his critics, Palace Master Yunyan True Person ordered everyone to stop and told Jiang Fan to watch quietly; Lin Yuan then began explaining the competition rules.

• Lin Yuan noticed that Jiang Fan seemed confident again as the Heavenly Divination Palace delegation gathered for the competition.
• Zhao Kun mocked Jiang Fan, and Lin Yuan explained that Zhao Kun resented Jiang Fan's place as Xuanji's Personal Disciple.
• Lin Yuan defended Jiang Fan against Zhao Kun and other disciples, but Jiang Fan stopped her and called them incompetent.
• Palace Master Yunyan True Person halted the quarrel and instructed Jiang Fan to watch the competition without causing trouble.
• Lin Yuan took Jiang Fan aside and began explaining the Sect Promotion Grand Competition rules.

After the fifth-grade sect relegation battles ended, Wei Lang noticed Jiang Fan and returned his salute, drawing widespread attention and speculation about their connection. Jiang Fan stayed composed, parted from Lin Yuan, and prepared to meet her at the Aurora Society the next day.

• After seven days of battles, Wei Lang announced the twenty sects relegated from the fifth-grade group and directed everyone to the Aurora Society for the fourth-grade matches.
• Wei Lang recognized Jiang Fan, recalled helping him in Linjiang County, and wondered whether Jiang Fan had killed Xiao Yun before returning his salute.
• The sects present noticed Wei Lang's friendly gesture toward Jiang Fan, and Heavenly Divination Palace disciples reconsidered mocking him.
• An elder from the Black-and-White Academy and Cheng Miaoyi wondered why Wei Lang valued Jiang Fan, while Zhu Jiuyang and Ling Wuchen recalled that Jiang Fan had spared their lives on the Jietian Battlefield.
• Jiang Fan acknowledged Zhu Jiuyang and Ling Wuchen, then left with Jiang Ming and Lin Yan after telling Lin Yuan they would meet at the Aurora Society.
• Lin Yuan comforted Jiang Fan about the gossip and said she believed he would restore his Dao Foundation, and Jiang Fan thanked her.

Jiang Fan brought Jiang Ming and Lin Yan to Aurora Society for the Sect Promotion Grand Competition, where Heavenly Divination Palace prepared its disciples for the rank-retention battles. The official opened the competition, and the first matches were about to begin.

• Jiang Fan kept his recovery and improved strength to himself, then took Jiang Ming and Lin Yan to the market and warned them to stay close during the coming battles.
• Jiang Ming and Lin Yan spent the evening with Jiang Fan at a teahouse beside the Jade Sash River.
• Before dawn, Jiang Fan brought Jiang Ming and Lin Yan directly to Aurora Society through space instead of traveling with Heavenly Divination Palace.
• Jiang Fan observed Heavenly Divination Palace's twenty-five assigned fighters and noted that Lin Yuan had been placed in the third group.
• An official from Grand Capital Prefecture announced that the rank-retention battles had begun and called for the divisions to send out their disciples.

Heavenly Divination Palace’s team began the tournament with two victories, but a grueling loss to Thick Earth Sect left them struggling through the rest of the day. After ten matches, the exhausted and injured team ranked fifteenth with 10 points, just above the relegation zone.

• Zhou Yan led Heavenly Divination Palace’s first team to defeat Iron Sword Sect by breaking its sword formation and overwhelming its disciples.
• Zhou Yan’s team beat newly promoted Level Four sect Floating Cloud Pavilion without going all out.
• Against Thick Earth Sect, Li Yun was knocked out after a long battle, and Heavenly Divination Palace’s team eventually lost.
• Heavenly Divination Palace suffered more losses than victories in its remaining matches as the team’s strength and spiritual power waned.
• After ten matches, the scoreboard placed Heavenly Divination Palace fifteenth among the Level Four sects with three wins, one draw, six losses, and 10 points.
• Zhou Yan’s team finished the day injured and severely drained, while five closely ranked sects threatened their position above the relegation zone.

After Heavenly Divination Palace’s first-day losses, Yunyan True Person reshuffled the team for the next day’s relegation matches, and Jiang Fan encouraged Lin Yuan before she took the field. The chapter ended as Heavenly Divination Palace and Mystic Ice Valley began their first duel.

• Heavenly Divination Palace’s elders debated replacing the injured fighters before Yunyan True Person named Zhao Kun, Lin Yuan, Chen Mo, Wang Rock, and Shen Qingyu as the next day’s main force.
• Lin Yuan confided her doubts about the sect’s weakened position to Jiang Fan, who urged her to trust her group and fight without regret.
• The next morning, Yunyan True Person sent Zhao Kun, Lin Yuan, Chen Mo, Shen Qingyu, and Liu Feng to face Mystic Ice Valley.
• Both teams took the third arena, and the referee began the match as Mystic Ice Valley’s disciples formed hand seals.

Heavenly Divination Palace’s second group won against Mystic Ice Valley and Riftwind Fort, but later losses pushed the sect into sixteenth place and the relegation zone. With two matches remaining and the exhausted team in danger, Yunyan True Person considered sending Jiang Fan into the competition.

• Lin Yuan led Heavenly Divination Palace to defeat Mystic Ice Valley with coordinated attacks and lightning techniques.
• Lin Yuan read Riftwind Fort’s movements and directed her teammates to overcome their speed advantage, securing another victory.
• After five matches, Heavenly Divination Palace reached twelfth place with 20 points, but lost its next two matches as rivals climbed the standings.
• Yunyan True Person realized rival sects had hidden their strength and that Heavenly Divination Palace faced relegation if it lost another match.
• Yunyan True Person considered the weaker third group, then wondered whether Jiang Fan could compete instead.

With the Heavenly Divination Palace facing relegation, Yunyan True Person chose Jiang Fan to replace Chen Mo in the second group despite objections from Zhao Kun and the elders. Jiang Fan agreed out of regard for Daoist Xuanji, while concealing the full extent of his strength, and joined the team as a free-roaming combatant.

• Yunyan True Person ordered Jiang Fan to replace Chen Mo in the second group, prompting disciples and elders to question his damaged Dao Foundation and lack of team experience.
• Zhao Kun objected that Jiang Fan would burden the team, while Lin Yuan hesitated to defend him.
• Jiang Fan tried to refuse, but Yunyan True Person urged him to help the sect and promised compensation after the competition.
• Jiang Fan agreed, planning to show only Void Realm Mid-Stage Peak cultivation and avoid revealing his true strength.
• The elders assigned Jiang Fan to roam the field and cover gaps, and Zhao Kun mocked the role as useless.

Jiang Fan helped Heavenly Divination Palace overcome Southern Peak Gate by spotting and breaking a weakness in their defensive formation, despite Zhao Kun accusing him of doing nothing. The team won and climbed to fifteenth place, while Lin Yuan defended Jiang Fan when Zhao Kun confronted him afterward.

• Jiang Fan pointed out that Zhao Kun was exhausted, and the team elder stopped them from arguing before their next match.
• Heavenly Divination Palace struggled against Southern Peak Gate’s tightly coordinated defensive formation as Zhao Kun’s attacks drained his Spiritual Power.
• Jiang Fan quietly protected Wang Panshi and Shen Qingyu, then identified a weak point in Southern Peak Gate’s formation.
• Jiang Fan struck the weak point, allowing Lin Yuan and the others to break the formation and defeat Southern Peak Gate.
• Heavenly Divination Palace rose to fifteenth place, and Zhao Kun accused Jiang Fan of loafing until Lin Yuan defended Jiang Fan’s contributions.

After Zhao Kun dismissed Jiang Fan’s contribution, Yunyan True Person ended the argument and sent Zhao Kun to recover while Jiang Fan prepared for the final match. As the Heavenly Divination Palace faced the Crimson Firmament Sect in the relegation battle, Wei Lang wondered whether Jiang Fan’s damaged foundation had recovered, but Jiang Fan’s true condition remained unclear.

• Zhao Kun accused Jiang Fan of doing little in the previous match, while Wang Panshi and Shen Qingyu hesitated to contradict him despite Jiang Fan having helped them.
• Jiang Fan challenged Zhao Kun to prove himself in the next match, but Yunyan True Person silenced the dispute, praised Jiang Fan, and ordered Zhao Kun to recover.
• Lin Yuan comforted Jiang Fan, who said he would not take Zhao Kun’s insults to heart.
• Wei Lang observed Jiang Fan’s precise formation-breaking strike and steady spiritual power, wondered whether his foundation had recovered, then decided to keep watching the final match.
• An hour later, Yunyan True Person warned the Heavenly Divination Palace’s fighters that the Crimson Firmament Sect would attack relentlessly and told Jiang Fan to focus on supporting the defense.

Jiang Fan let Zhao Kun struggle after Zhao mocked his support role, but took control of the fight once Zhao was knocked out. His intervention turned Heavenly Divination Palace’s disadvantage into an advantage, drawing Wei Lang’s attention.

• Zhao Kun mocked Jiang Fan’s defensive abilities, and Jiang decided not to help him attack the Crimson Firmament Sect.
• The Crimson Firmament Sect overwhelmed Heavenly Divination Palace with coordinated fire attacks, and Zhao was badly wounded while fighting their leader.
• Zhao demanded Jiang act, but Jiang reminded him that he had said the four others could handle the attack; Zhao then fell for an opening and was knocked out of the arena.
• Jiang moved swiftly to protect Wang Panshi and Shen Qingyu, then helped Lin Yuan strike the Crimson Firmament Sect’s right flank, reversing the battle’s momentum.
• The elders recognized Jiang’s skill, while Wei Lang resolved to speak with him after the match.

Jiang Fan helped the Heavenly Divination Palace team defeat all five Crimson Firmament Sect disciples in a swift comeback. Yunyan True Person said their survival in the rankings now depended on the results of other matches.

• Jiang Fan slipped through the Crimson Firmament Sect trio’s combined attack, disrupted the burly young man’s spiritual power, and knocked him down.
• Lin Yuan struck the giant-axe wielder with lightning while Wang Panshi and Shen Qingyu trapped and eliminated the fire-needle user.
• The Heavenly Divination Palace team defeated the remaining Crimson Firmament Sect disciples, and the referee declared them the winners.
• The Heavenly Divination Palace disciples celebrated Jiang Fan’s performance while Zhao Kun brooded over his earlier ridicule of him.
• Yunyan True Person said the team would avoid relegation if any team ranked twelfth through fifteenth lost its match.

Heavenly Divination Palace’s rivals all won their matches, leaving the sect in sixteenth place and relegated despite its own victories. Wei Lang considered recruiting Jiang Fan, while Yunyan True Person rallied the sect by pointing to the upcoming second stage.

• Water Moon Helm and Azure Mist Sect won their matches, deepening Heavenly Divination Palace’s danger of relegation.
• Sacred Light Retreat and Cloud Firmament Cave also won, fixing Heavenly Divination Palace in sixteenth place.
• Heavenly Divination Palace’s disciples questioned whether their rivals had colluded, and Yunyan True Person suspected outside interference while blaming himself for failing to prepare.
• Wei Lang praised Jiang Fan’s performance and considered recruiting him into Grand Capital Prefecture.
• Yunyan True Person told the grieving sect members to stay calm and reminded them that the second stage still offered a chance.

After the Heavenly Divination Palace lost the regular competition, Yunyan True Person rallied the disciples by reminding them that the second stage could still prevent their demotion. Jiang Fan learned how the Qi Luck Orb competition worked, then watched the third-tier matches before Wei Lang announced the demoted sects and the three-day wait for the second stage.

• Yunyan True Person urged the Heavenly Divination Palace disciples to recover their strength and prepare for the special competition.
• Lin Yang explained to Jiang Fan that sects would compete for Qi Luck Orbs in the Simulation Secret Realm, and that a top-ten finish could exempt a demoted sect from demotion.
• Jiang Fan and Lin Yang acknowledged that the Heavenly Divination Palace had little chance against the stronger sects but resolved to keep trying.
• Jiang Fan watched the third-tier sect competition at the Myriad Manifestations Pavilion and found the matches unimpressive.
• Wei Lang announced that the Big Dipper Sect and the Divine Flame Sect would be demoted, then said the second stage would begin in three days at the prefectural capital.

After the grand competition, Jiang Fan reunited with old acquaintances and agreed to meet Zhu Jiuyang and Ling Wuchen in the second stage. Cheng Miaoyi and an elder from the Black-and-White Academy both offered him a place in their sects, leaving Jiang Fan's next move unresolved.

• Jiang Fan parted ways with Lin Yang and headed toward the Myriad Manifestations Pavilion's mountain gate with Jiang Ming and Lin Yan.
• Zhu Jiuyang and Ling Wuchen greeted Jiang Fan, congratulated him on his performance, and hoped to face him in the second stage; Jiang Fan agreed to meet them in three days.
• Cheng Miaoyi praised Jiang Fan and invited him to join the Aurora Society after the Heavenly Divination Palace's expected demotion.
• An elder from the Black-and-White Academy also offered Jiang Fan a place, and Cheng Miaoyi rebuked him for interrupting.

After Jiang Fan won two matches, Cheng Miaoyi and a Black-and-White Academy elder argued over recruiting him, but he refused both and left with Jiang Ming and Lin Yan. The elders wondered whether his damaged Dao Foundation had recovered, while Lin Yan overheard Jiang Ming confirm that it had.

• Cheng Miaoyi and the Black-and-White Academy elder argued over who had the right to recruit Jiang Fan, accusing each other of hypocrisy.
• Jiang Fan firmly refused to leave the Heavenly Divination Palace and departed with Jiang Ming and Lin Yan.
• After Jiang Fan left, the elder complained about his refusal, and Cheng Miaoyi blamed the elder for driving him away.
• The elder asked whether Jiang Fan's Dao Foundation had recovered, and Cheng Miaoyi said they would have to wait and see.
• Jiang Ming told Jiang Fan that his Dao Foundation really had recovered, and Lin Yan overheard their exchange and realized why he had been so powerful.

Jiang Fan joined the Heavenly Divination Palace at the Central Plaza as Wei Lang announced the rules for the second stage of the Sect Promotion Grand Competition. The disciples were about to enter the Simulation Secret Realm for a seven-day contest in which they could attack anyone and seize their Qi Luck Orbs.

• Jiang Fan arrived at the Central Plaza and joined the Heavenly Divination Palace's ranks beside Jiang Ming and Lin Yan.
• Wei Lang announced that each sect could send up to one hundred disciples into the same secret realm, where they would be randomly scattered rather than assigned to groups.
• Wei Lang said competitors had to collect Qi Luck Orbs from hidden locations and demonic beasts over seven days, with rewards for the top ten sects and a chance for demoted sects to avoid demotion.
• Wei Lang revealed that disciples could attack anyone, including members of their own sect, and claim the Qi Luck Orbs they carried.
• Jiang Fan recognized that the rules would turn the second stage into a brutal free-for-all, with stealing orbs from other competitors potentially easier than finding them.

Jiang Fan entered the Simulation Secret Realm for the second stage of the Sect Promotion Grand Competition, where contestants competed for Qi Luck Orbs amid dangerous traps and demonic beasts. After landing alone in the mountains, he chose to explore for the orbs rather than immediately seek out his teammates.

• Jiang Fan reasoned that alliances among lower-ranked sects could challenge powerful lone disciples, while the rules could also trigger a vicious cycle of sects gaining or losing strength.
• Wei Lang warned the contestants about deadly traps and True Realm demonic beasts, then opened the special reward round and sent up to one hundred disciples from each sect into the Secret Realm.
• Yunyan True Person rallied the Heavenly Divination Palace disciples, instructed them to gather in groups of at least five using white deer signals, and warned Jiang Fan to prioritize survival.
• The Light Gate transported Jiang Fan to an unfamiliar mountain range, and the Secret Realm announced that he held zero Qi Luck Orbs.
• Jiang Fan decided to explore alone for Qi Luck Orbs instead of seeking his teammates immediately, then sped into the forest.

Lin Yang signaled for her teammates while Zhao Kun ignored a rendezvous signal to claim a Qi Luck Orb from trapped ruins and escaped an Azure Mist Sect disciple who tried to take it. As the Secret Realm grew increasingly violent, Jiang Fan explored alone and found a golden fruit before sensing danger behind him.

• Lin Yang landed on a grassland and sent a spiritual-energy deer signal while waiting for her teammates.
• Zhao Kun spotted a Qi Luck Orb in mountain ruins, avoided a poison-mist trap, and took the orb instead of answering a teammate's signal.
• An Azure Mist Sect disciple confronted Zhao Kun over the orb, but Zhao Kun escaped into the forest.
• Disciples across the Secret Realm found Qi Luck Orbs or fell prey to monsters as the struggle intensified.
• Jiang Fan ignored signals from Heavenly Divination Palace disciples, explored the forest, and found a golden fruit that resembled a Qi Luck Orb.
• A dangerous presence approached Jiang Fan from behind as he reached for the fruit.

Jiang Fan defeated a True Realm demon beast guarding a Qi Luck Orb and discovered that the orbs contained Great Dao Fragments. After refining three of them, he strengthened his Great Dao Foundation and resolved to collect more in the Secret Realm.

• Jiang Fan dodged the demon beast’s fire attack and recognized it as the True Realm guardian of the Qi Luck Orb.
• Jiang Fan evaded the charging beast and pierced a weak point beneath its foreleg with Sword Qi, killing it.
• Jiang Fan collected three Qi Luck Orbs and discovered that their runes resonated with his six Great Daos.
• Jiang Fan realized the Qi Luck Orbs contained Great Dao Fragments and believed his affinity let him comprehend them more clearly than other cultivators.
• Jiang Fan refined the three orbs, gained new insights, and found his Great Dao Foundation had grown more solid.

Jiang Fan collected Qi Luck Orbs throughout the secret realm, defeating disciples who tried to attack him and becoming the subject of widespread rumors. Zhu Jiuyang and Ling Wuchen suspected the mysterious Heavenly Divination Palace fighter was Jiang Fan, while Lin Yang’s group struggled to protect the few orbs they had gathered.

• Jiang Fan found Qi Luck Orbs at five locations, killed demonic beasts for more, and reached a total of twenty-seven before rumors spread about his strength.
• Zhu Jiuyang heard reports of a powerful blue-robed Heavenly Divination Palace disciple and wondered whether the fighter was Jiang Fan.
• Ling Wuchen learned the lone fighter came from Heavenly Divination Palace and hoped it was Jiang Fan so he could challenge him again.
• Lin Yang and her fellow disciples divided their fifteen Qi Luck Orbs among themselves, but worried that other sects’ attacks would leave them unable to protect their haul.