Recaps

Fang Chen discovered that Stone’s runes amplified the Spiritual Power from the Floating Immortal Sword, helping his dantian expand and revealing how to cultivate the Flowing Cloud Sword Art. After the runes faded, a crack released mysterious azure tadpoles, and the chapter ended as an illusory white-haired figure formed before him, holding an azure longsword.

• Fang Chen repeatedly struck Stone with the Floating Immortal Sword and refined the powerful Spiritual Power surging into him, enlarging his dantian and increasing his true qi.
• The Spirit Gathering Arrays on Azure Cloud Peak shut down, causing Stone’s runes and Sword Intent to fade and the current entering Fang Chen to weaken.
• Fang Chen struck Stone again, opened a fissure, and saw azure tadpoles made of mysterious runes crawl out and glow across the boulder.
• Fang Chen studied the glowing words with the tadpoles’ help and understood how to cultivate the Flowing Cloud Sword Art.
• Fang Chen continued striking Stone, and after half an hour an illusory white-haired figure formed from the converging Spiritual Qi and took hold of an azure longsword.

Fang Chen learned the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique from the vision within the Floating Immortal Sword, then accidentally split a boulder that rolled down the mountain. The boulder crashed into the pool and blocked the main road, leaving Elder Yun wondering why it looked familiar.

• Fang Chen watched an azure Silhouette demonstrate four moves of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, then absorbed the vision’s lights through the Floating Immortal Sword and practiced the moves.
• Fang Chen rose a hundred feet in a sword-qi storm, fell toward the ground, and used the Misty Turtle Step to land safely near a cliff.
• Fang Chen tested his sword and cut a three-foot mark into a boulder, which cracked and split in two.
• Li Yanshan, Elder Yun, and Xiao Liu fled as the boulder rolled down the mountain and crashed into the pool beneath the Great Elm Tree.
• The falling boulder sent water and fish flying, soaked Xiao Liu, and left another huge Stone blocking the main road; Elder Yun recognized it as familiar.

Fang Chen demonstrated the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique to Li Yanshan and Elder Yun after the summit Stone split and fell down the mountain. Five Enforcement Hall disciples arrived to investigate and flew to the summit, leaving the cause of the Stone’s destruction unresolved.

• Elder Yun and Li Yanshan found the summit Stone split in two after a boulder fell into the pool, and they wondered whether Fang Chen had caused it.
• Fang Chen demonstrated the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique with a branch, astonishing Li Yanshan and Elder Yun with his mastery.
• Fang Chen said mysterious green Runes and gathered Spiritual Qi had caused the Stone to split, but he concealed that he had struck it with the Floating Immortal Sword.
• Five Enforcement Hall disciples arrived to investigate the fallen Stone, checked both pieces, and flew to the summit.

Fang Chen avoided being arrested after the Enforcement Hall investigated the cracked Stone, then explained how he mastered the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique. As he and the others finished lunch, his Identity Token received a message from the sect about the Supervision Hall.

• The Enforcement Hall team found nothing suspicious at Dog Head Ridge, chose not to arrest Fang Chen and the others, and recorded that the Stone had cracked and fallen without causing damage.
• After the team left, Li Yanshan and Elder Yun asked Fang Chen how he had mastered the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, and Fang Chen described seeing little tadpoles rearrange the words on the Stone.
• Fang Chen wrote out the sword manual, but Li Yanshan and Elder Yun could not cultivate it and concluded the legacy was not meant for them.
• Li Yanshan cooked fish for lunch and explained that Xiao Liu had once ranked sixth on Dog Head Ridge, while Fang Chen was free to choose whether to be the eldest or youngest.
• Fang Chen's Identity Token glowed and vibrated, and he scanned a sect message concerning the Supervision Hall.

Fang Chen learned that the Merit Hall had assigned him three unusually difficult, distant tasks, likely at Zhang Tielin’s request to lure him away from Dog Head Ridge. After receiving a protective Spirit Jade from Elder Yun, Fang Chen chose to cut bamboo in Spirit Flame Valley and prepared to leave.

• Fang Chen discovered that he had to mine Cold Iron Ore, dig up Golden Cicadas, and cut Fire Origin Spirit Sword Bamboo within a month or lose his stipend.
• Li Yanshan and Elder Yun recognized that the early assignments were suspicious, and Li Yanshan suspected Zhang Tielin was behind them.
• Zhang Tielin had bribed someone in the Merit Hall to send Fang Chen to remote places near the Misty Sect so he could attack him away from Dog Head Ridge.
• Elder Yun gave Fang Chen a cracked Spirit Jade that could withstand one full-force strike from a Fourth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator.
• Fang Chen chose the bamboo-cutting task in Spirit Flame Valley, and Li Yanshan helped him confirm his choice and told him to pack Spirit Stones before they went to the Merit Hall.

Fang Chen traveled to Spirit Flame Valley to begin an assignment cutting Fire Spirit Sword Bamboo, while Zhang Tielin sent Zhang Qining to kill him. After studying the valley map, Fang Chen left his stone house to start work, wary of the person approaching him.

• Li Yanshan took Fang Chen to the Merit Hall, registered him for an assignment, and saw him board a Spirit Boat.
• Zhang Tielin ordered Zhang Qining to go to Spirit Flame Valley and kill Fang Chen without leaving evidence.
• Fang Chen arrived at Spirit Flame Valley, registered for an assignment to cut one thousand stalks of Fire Spirit Sword Bamboo, and received a map.
• Fang Chen examined his cool stone house and studied the map, noting the valley's dangerous areas and unusual plants.
• Fang Chen slung a waterskin over his shoulder and left to work, then became wary when someone carrying a bundle walked toward him.

Fang Chen reached the Fire Origin Spirit Sword Bamboo fields in Spirit Flame Valley and discovered that the Floating Immortal Sword could absorb the bamboo’s Spiritual Power. As he tested his sword against a stalk, its leaves flew at him, while Zhang Qining began tracking him with a Scent-Chasing Insect.

• A disguised man sold Zhang Qining a Scent-Chasing Insect and received ten Spirit Stones in return, then Zhang Qining headed into Spirit Flame Valley to pursue Fang Chen.
• Fang Chen traveled deep into the valley and reached the area where Fire Origin Spirit Sword Bamboo grew.
• Fang Chen struck a mature bamboo stalk with the Floating Immortal Sword, but its protective Spiritual Power repelled the blow.
• Fang Chen poured True Qi into the Floating Immortal Sword and cut through the stalk’s protective light, leaving a shallow mark and drawing red sap.
• The Floating Immortal Sword absorbed more Spiritual Power, and the bamboo’s leaves shot toward Fang Chen like cold blades.

Fang Chen cut down Fire Origin Spirit Sword Bamboo and broke through to the Second Layer of Qi Refining as its currents strengthened his True Qi. After felling another stalk, he was attacked by a Flying Sword while chopping bamboo.

• Fang Chen parried the Fire Origin Spirit Sword Bamboo's attacking leaves with the Floating Immortal Sword, then cut down the exposed stalk.
• The currents from the bamboo helped Fang Chen break through to the Second Layer of Qi Refining and purify his True Qi.
• Fang Chen used his Identity Token to imprint and register the felled bamboo, then trimmed its branches and began chopping another stalk.
• Fang Chen heard a whistle behind him and threw himself flat as a Flying Sword struck and shattered a nearby stalk of Fire Origin Spirit Bamboo.

Fang Chen killed Zhang Qining after surviving his Flying Sword ambush, then absorbed the sword’s energy and searched the corpse. He found a bottle labeled Corpse Dissolving Water, leaving him with an unexpected discovery among Zhang Qining’s belongings.

• Zhang Qining attacked Fang Chen with a Flying Sword, but Fang Chen struck it with the Floating Immortal Sword and damaged it, causing a backlash that injured Zhang Qining.
• Fang Chen recognized Zhang Qining, overpowered him in a brief fight, and killed him with a slash to the neck.
• Fang Chen absorbed the energy released by the Floating Immortal Sword and strengthened his True Qi Vortex.
• Fang Chen searched Zhang Qining’s corpse and found an Identity Token, thirty Spirit Stones, and several bottles of pills.
• Fang Chen read the label on a Black Porcelain Bottle and discovered it contained Corpse Dissolving Water.

Fang Chen disposed of Zhang Qining’s remains and belongings in the Heavenly Thunder Cave, then returned to cutting Fire Spirit Sword Bamboo. After a productive day, he summoned a Wind-Riding Crane to carry his bamboo toward the valley entrance.

• Fang Chen dissolved Zhang Qining’s body with Corpse Dissolving Water and used the rain to wash away the remains.
• Fang Chen threw Zhang Qining’s Identity Token, Flying Sword, and longsword into the Heavenly Thunder Cave, where lightning destroyed them.
• Fang Chen resumed cutting Fire Spirit Sword Bamboo and found that his strength and speed had increased after killing Zhang Tielin’s lackey.
• Fang Chen cut twenty-six stalks of bamboo before dark and tied them into a bundle.
• Fang Chen summoned a Wind-Riding Crane and rode with the bamboo toward the entrance to Spirit Flame Valley.

Fang Chen learned from Wang Zheng that someone had marked him with Purple Cloud Incense to track him, and he bought powder to neutralize it. The chapter ended with Fang Chen asking Wang Zheng to help him kill someone.

• Fang Chen finished cutting bamboo, ate at the Dining Hall, and met Wang Zheng, who offered him a Boat Ticket to Spirit River Market.
• Fang Chen declined the ticket and asked Wang Zheng how people tracked others.
• Wang Zheng recognized the scent of Purple Cloud Incense on Fang Chen and explained that a Scent-Chasing Insect could follow it.
• Wang Zheng sold Fang Chen a bottle of Invincible Odor Removal Powder for one Spirit Stone, claiming it would neutralize the scent.
• Fang Chen asked Wang Zheng if he could help him kill someone.

Fang Chen asked Wang Zheng to find him a safe place, but Wang Zheng instead gave him a survival handbook that made him more wary of danger. While Fang Chen meditated in his hut, a Bloodthirsty Evil Crow burst through the roof and attacked him.

• Fang Chen asked Wang Zheng whether he could help kill someone, then clarified that he wanted help finding a safe place to stay.
• Wang Zheng gave Fang Chen a copy of Cultivator's Basic Survival Handbook for free and left.
• Fang Chen read the handbook, worried about Zhang Tielin's revenge, and stayed awake meditating in his hut.
• A Bloodthirsty Evil Crow smashed through Fang Chen's roof and flew at him.
• Fang Chen struck the bird with the Floating Immortal Sword, knocking it into a wall, and the sword's scorching energy made his true qi spin faster.
• The angry Bloodthirsty Evil Crow charged at Fang Chen again.

Fang Chen fought the swarming Bloodthirsty Evil Crows with the Floating Immortal Sword, absorbing their Spiritual Power as he killed them. He broke through to the Third Layer of Qi Refining and unleashed a Sword Qi storm against the flock.

• Fang Chen killed the Bloodthirsty Evil Crow that entered his Stone House and absorbed a surge of Spiritual Power from the Floating Immortal Sword.
• Fang Chen slew two more Bloodthirsty Evil Crows, then escaped his collapsing Stone House and fought the flock outside.
• Fang Chen saw Outer Sect Disciples being attacked and powerful cultivators trying to rescue them, then began cutting down the crows in a frenzy.
• Fang Chen broke through to the Third Layer of Qi Refining as Golden Flames transformed his body and widened his Meridians.
• Fang Chen covered the Floating Immortal Sword in Golden Flames and swept nearby Bloodthirsty Evil Crows into a storm of Sword Qi.

Fang Chen helped repel the Bloodthirsty Evil Crows and rescue survivors after Bai Yu arrived and captured the swarm with his Golden Gourd. The Stronghold was left in ruins, but Wang Zheng told Fang Chen that their efforts would earn them merit, and the surviving Outer Sect Disciples were ordered to return by Spirit Boat.

• Fang Chen killed nearly three hundred Bloodthirsty Evil Crows with his sword technique before Bai Yu arrived and sucked the entire swarm into his Golden Gourd.
• Bai Yu ordered the survivors to rescue the wounded, and Fang Chen joined them despite being unable to save one mortally wounded Outer Sect Disciple.
• Fang Chen and the others worked until dawn, when fewer than two hundred of the Stronghold's more than three thousand people had survived.
• Fang Chen discussed the attack with Wang Zheng, who explained that they would likely receive merit and rewards for fighting and helping with the rescue.
• A guard ordered the surviving Outer Sect Disciples to gather and board the Spirit Boats, and Fang Chen followed Wang Zheng toward them.

Fang Chen returned to Azure Cloud Peak after surviving the battle at Spirit Flame Valley and was summoned to collect his reward. Elder Li Shui examined him, confirmed he had no Spiritual Root, and gave him a Spirit Jade and permission to attend his lectures.

• The surviving Outer Sect Disciples praised Fang Chen aboard the Spirit Boat as they left Spirit Flame Valley.
• Wang Zheng and the other Crimson Rainbow Peak survivors disembarked at their peak, while Fang Chen continued alone to Azure Cloud Peak.
• Liu Yu escorted Fang Chen to the Merit Hall, where Elder Liu Hongyi, also known as True Person Li Shui, congratulated him for his contribution.
• True Person Li Shui asked about Fang Chen's lack of a Spiritual Root and examined his dantian, confirming that Fang Chen had none.
• Fang Chen explained that desperate battles had helped him break through, and True Person Li Shui gave him a Spirit Jade and invited him to attend his lectures.

Fang Chen received a Second-Class Merit for his actions at Spirit Flame Valley, clearing his debt and earning rewards before returning to Dog Head Ridge. His rapid cultivation led Elder Yun to suspect he had a legendary Battle Saint Body, and the group left to celebrate his success.

• True Person Li Shui awarded Fang Chen a Second-Class Merit, canceled his 1,010 Spirit Stone debt, granted him 500 Contribution Points, and exempted him from assignments for a year.
• After Fang Chen left, True Person Li Shui told his disciple he would observe Fang Chen before deciding whether to take him as a disciple, then agreed to let her challenge his Li Shui Sword Array again.
• Liu Yu flew Fang Chen back to Dog Head Ridge, where Li Yanshan and Elder Yun had feared he might not survive.
• Fang Chen told Li Yanshan and Elder Yun about the Spirit Flame Valley attack and demonstrated that he had reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining despite having no Spiritual Root.
• Elder Yun proposed that Fang Chen might possess the legendary Battle Saint Body, but Fang Chen denied it and credited his breakthroughs to fighting with the Floating Immortal Sword.
• Li Yanshan invited Fang Chen and Elder Yun to celebrate at the market, and they left Dog Head Ridge together.

Zhang Tielin learned that Fang Chen had reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining and earned merit at Spirit Flame Valley, so he put off revenge and chose to cultivate instead. Meanwhile, Fang Chen visited New Floating Market with Li Yanshan and Elder Yun and arranged to have his Black Iron Sword repaired so he could learn Sword Flight.

• Zhang Xu told Zhang Tielin that Fang Chen had distinguished himself against the Bloodthirsty Evil Crows, advanced to the Third Layer of Qi Refining, and might become Elder Li Shui's disciple.
• Zhang Tielin learned that Zhang Qining had disappeared and decided to leave Fang Chen alone while he tried to break through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining.
• Zhang Tielin asked Zhang Xu to seek news of Zhang Qining, then returned to seclusion.
• Fang Chen spotted a weaponsmith's shop in New Floating Market and decided to repair the Aerial Formation Pattern on his Black Iron Sword.
• Li Yanshan explained that Fang Chen could now practice the Sword Control Technique, and Elder Yun offered to arrange a cheaper repair after they returned.

Fang Chen learned that the Glazed Sword Sect’s Trial Path would open in three days and heard how disciples searched the Glazed Pagoda for Glazed Mushrooms despite the dangers. He decided to enter for the chance to earn money, then headed to the hillside to study with the Floating Immortal Sword’s help.

• Fang Chen bought Spirit Wheat Flatbreads and more than two hundred cultivation books before returning to Dog Head Ridge with Li Yanshan.
• Fang Chen and Li Yanshan received word that the Trial Path would open in three days, and Li Yanshan explained its rewards, dangers, and purpose of collecting Glazed Mushrooms.
• Fang Chen agreed to join Li Yanshan and Elder Yun on the Trial Path and planned to study so he could recognize spirit medicines and Demonic Beasts.
• Fang Chen read the Myriad Beast Compendium until his eyes grew tired, then realized the Floating Immortal Sword could sharpen his mind as he absorbed Spiritual Power.
• Fang Chen packed his books and left his courtyard for the hillside to read.

Fang Chen used the Floating Immortal Sword to enter sudden enlightenment repeatedly as he chopped trees and read, memorizing every book he had bought. After learning about the Barbaric Realm, he returned to find Li Yanshan preparing supplies for the Trial Path and received his repaired sword and the Sword Control Art.

• Fang Chen chopped a tree with the Floating Immortal Sword while reading, entering sudden enlightenment and memorizing the Myriad Beast Compendium and Herbal Flora Atlas.
• Fang Chen spent several days reading and memorized all his books, learning about legendary beasts and plants of the Barbaric Realm.
• Fang Chen went down the mountain and found Li Yanshan sorting spirit medicines for the Trial Path.
• Li Yanshan gave Fang Chen his repaired Black Iron Sword and the Sword Control Art, warning him that mastering the technique was difficult.
• Fang Chen admired the repaired sword, read the Sword Control Art, and easily memorized its contents.

Fang Chen learned the Sword Control Art almost instantly, entered Enlightenment while flying, and impressed Li Yanshan and Elder Yun with his skill. After receiving medicine and a message directing Azure Cloud Peak disciples to Glazed Peak, he set off with Elder Yun, Little Six, and Li Yanshan.

• Fang Chen mastered the Sword Control Art in minutes and flew the Black Iron Sword with increasing skill.
• Fang Chen entered Enlightenment and instinctively copied the flight paths of a vision’s Flying Sword, astounding Li Yanshan.
• Li Yanshan gave Fang Chen more than a dozen medicine bottles and explained their uses and dosages.
• Fang Chen received a Merit Hall message directing Azure Cloud Peak disciples to travel to Glazed Peak by the designated route.
• Elder Yun, Little Six, Li Yanshan, and Fang Chen set off for Glazed Peak on their flying implements.

Fang Chen traveled with Elder Yun and Li Yanshan to Heavenly Lake, where the disciples gathered for the Trial Path. After Zhang Tielin broke through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining and learned the trial had opened, he set out and vowed to deal with Fang Chen; the chapter ended as a massive cracked Great Bell appeared above the lake.

• Fang Chen followed Elder Yun and Li Yanshan alongside Azure Cloud Peak disciples toward the Sky Lake Barrier.
• Zhang Tielin emerged from seclusion after breaking through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, learned the Trial Path had opened, and headed for Glazed Peak with Zhang Xu.
• Zhang Tielin suspected Fang Chen had killed Zhang Qining and decided to deal with Fang Chen after the trial.
• Fang Chen entered the Sky Lake Barrier with Elder Yun and Li Yanshan, then encountered Green Support Peak disciples who mocked Elder Yun and Xiao Liu.
• Li Yanshan told Fang Chen to kill hostile disciples in the Trial Space if he could, and a huge cracked Great Bell appeared above Heavenly Lake.

Fang Chen cultivated under the Glazed Bell’s Dao Resonance and discovered that its inscriptions formed the Glazed Body Refining Art. As the bell drained Heavenly Lake and revealed the lakebed, the disciples received marked Glazed Paper Cranes, and an elderly man descended beneath the bell.

• Li Yanshan explained that the damaged Glazed Bell was a Saint Weapon whose power would open the Trial Path, and Fang Chen cultivated beneath its Dao Resonance.
• Fang Chen saw the bell’s inscriptions form the Glazed Body Refining Art, a technique focused on refining the body.
• The Glazed Bell lifted all the water from Heavenly Lake, exposing remains on the lakebed beneath a veil of white mist.
• Glazed Paper Cranes flew from the bell, and Li Yanshan explained that disciples could use them to store Glazed Mushrooms and other items.
• Fang Chen marked his Glazed Paper Crane with his Identity Token and sensed a connection to it.
• An elderly man in a yellow robe descended from the sky and appeared beneath the Glazed Bell.

The Yellow Springs Peak Master opened the Trial Path, and Fang Chen entered alone after the group was scattered. In a grove of ancient Black Scale Red Leaf Pines, striking a tree with the Floating Immortal Sword flooded him with Spiritual Power, so he began cultivating the Glazed Body Refining Art to absorb it safely.

• The Yellow Springs Peak Master formed sand bridges across Heavenly Lake and announced that the Trial Path was open.
• Elder Yun explained that entrants would be scattered at random, then jumped into the mist with Xiao Liu and his Glazed Paper Crane; Fang Chen and Li Yanshan followed.
• Fang Chen emerged alone in a grove of ancient Black Scale Red Leaf Pines and landed safely with help from his Glazed Paper Crane.
• Fang Chen struck a pine with the Floating Immortal Sword, but the tree’s runes repelled the blade and a powerful current of Spiritual Power surged into him.
• Fang Chen began cultivating the Glazed Body Refining Art to absorb the Spiritual Power before it could burst his dantian.

Fang Chen absorbed Spiritual Power by striking Black Scale Red Leaf Pines and broke through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. During a state of Enlightenment, he discovered and collected a Top Grade Glazed Mushroom before Zhang Tielin appeared behind him.

• Fang Chen repeatedly struck Black Scale Red Leaf Pines with the Floating Immortal Sword, absorbing their Spiritual Power and refining it to strengthen himself.
• Fang Chen broke through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining after about an hour of training.
• Fang Chen continued striking the trees and entered a state of Enlightenment, which revealed a hidden Glazed Mushroom.
• Fang Chen carefully dug up the Top Grade Glazed Mushroom and fed it to the Glazed Paper Crane.
• Zhang Tielin arrived, recognized Fang Chen, and fixed him with a sharp gaze.

Fang Chen encountered Zhang Tielin on the Trial Path, and the two fought over Zhang Qining’s death. Zhang Tielin used a Berserk Pill to raise his strength to the peak of the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, leaving Fang Chen facing a much stronger attack.

• Fang Chen and Zhang Tielin recognized each other, and Fang Chen admitted that he had killed Zhang Qining and dissolved the corpse.
• Zhang Tielin attacked Fang Chen, but Fang Chen deflected his sword and struck his shoulder with his left hand.
• Fang Chen and Zhang Tielin exchanged another sword-and-palm clash, and Fang Chen realized Zhang Tielin had reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining.
• Zhang Tielin swallowed a Berserk Pill, boosting his strength to the peak of the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining.
• Zhang Tielin’s sword sent Fang Chen crashing into a pine tree, but the Floating Immortal Sword’s warm airflow restored Fang Chen’s body and steadied his Qi.