Recaps

Su Xinghan challenged Wu Qihua and lost after Wu displayed the formidable Night Demon True Scripture. With Lu Ming still waiting, the recovered Lu Shaotong challenged him, and Lu Ming appeared on the arena, saying he would only use his saber if forced.

• Li Mingfeng defeated Rong Qi, and challenges by Guzhou fighters failed as Mo Xiruo beat Gu Suhan.
• Su Xinghan challenged Wu Qihua, who used the Night Demon True Scripture and demonic techniques to overwhelm him.
• Su Xinghan revealed seventy percent sword intent and used Star God Sword, but Wu Qihua’s Black Water Soul Seize sent him out of the arena.
• Wu Qihua won and glanced at Lu Ming before returning to his position.
• After recovering, Lu Shaotong challenged Lu Ming, who entered the arena and said Lu Shaotong would have to force him to use his saber.

Lu Ming defeated Lu Shaotong with his speed and eighty-percent Wind Artistic Conception, while the prodigies’ challenges reshuffled the rankings. Young Master Wu Wang then challenged Kou Yu, whose powerful Intent of Shattering broke Wu Wang’s ultimate sword technique.

• Lu Ming dodged Lu Shaotong’s attacks and defeated him, revealing that his Wind Artistic Conception had reached eighty percent.
• Lu Shaotong returned to the arena and defeated the person ranked twelfth, while Gu Sha defeated Xia Yue and later won a hard-fought match against Lu Shaotong.
• Su Xinghan defeated Fairy Ziyun and advanced past several rivals, while Wu Qihua defeated Shi Huaqing to take fifth place.
• Young Master Wu Wang challenged Kou Yu, displaying Sword Intent close to ninety percent as they exchanged attacks.
• Young Master Wu Wang unleashed Source of Calamity, but Kou Yu used his celestial roc technique and Intent of Shattering to break the sword Qi.
• Young Master Wu Wang launched another attack with True Sword.

Kou Yu defeated Young Master Wu Wang and displayed the power of his Intent of Shattering as the ranking matches continued. Lu Ming finally stepped onto the arena and challenged Kou Yu, leaving the spectators eager to see his true strength.

• Kou Yu shattered Young Master Wu Wang's Selfless and Unrestrained sword with Heavenly Dance Mad Shatter, defeating him and shocking the gathered prodigies.
• Lu Ming told Xia Yue he would challenge Kou Yu after one or two more matches, while Su Xinghan watched him closely.
• Guan Zhen defeated Wu Qihua with Skyfall Palm, and Linglong Yue turned back Su Xinghan's challenge with her Moon Shadow Divine Skill.
• Yi Qianling challenged Mo Xiruo, but Mo Xiruo endured the struggle and won as her anger intent grew stronger.
• Lu Ming challenged Kou Yu directly, and Kou Yu entered the arena to test Fengzhou's number one.

Lu Ming revealed that he was the Iron Mask Swordsman, drawing the wrath of Eight Gates Iron Fan and an offer of protection from Myriad Sword Palace. After Lu Ming refused to join, he blocked one of Iron Fan’s punches with a combined saber-and-sword strike, then activated a jade slip as Iron Fan prepared another attack.

• Lu Ming displayed the Jade Crystal Saber and admitted that he was the Iron Mask Swordsman.
• Eight Gates Iron Fan vowed to kill Lu Ming, while Myriad Sword Palace’s Grand Elder offered to protect him if he joined their faction.
• Lu Ming refused the offer, declaring that he was the Grand Elder of Wuji Sect.
• Eight Gates Iron Fan attacked, and Lu Ming split into two forms before combining saber and sword techniques to block the punch.
• As Eight Gates Iron Fan launched another attack, Lu Ming infused Gang Yuan into the jade slip, releasing a terrifying aura across Stone Mill Cliff.

Old Man Zhao protected Lu Ming, killed Eight Gates Iron Fan, and warned the gathered fighters against bullying others. Lu Ming’s challenge ended when Kou Yu admitted defeat, and the remaining matches fixed the final rankings.

• Old Man Zhao appeared to stop Eight Gates Iron Fan’s attack, then killed him and spared the Grand Elder of Myriad Sword Palace after hearing his explanation.
• Old Man Zhao praised Lu Ming, told him to visit Great Wheel Bright Palace if needed, and returned to the jade slip.
• Lu Ming challenged Kou Yu, who admitted defeat after considering Lu Ming’s strength and revealed Supreme Wills.
• Lu Ming confirmed to Su Xinghan that he had not used his full strength during the previous Prodigy Competition, and Su Xinghan vowed to catch up.
• Guan Zhen challenged Cui Lang, Young Master Wu Wang later broke through Cui Lang’s Spirit Sealing Seal Method, and Linglong Yue defeated Wu Qihua after a long fight.
• The challenge competition ended after half a day, with no further challenges and the rankings fixed.

After the secret realm rankings were finalized, the Divine Martial Secret Realm opened and Lu Ming entered to seek deeper comprehension. Inside, the prodigies pursued different sources of power, and Lu Ming began challenging a formidable whirlwind to advance his Wind Artistic Conception.

• The rankings placed Lu Ming first, Kou Yu second, and Gu Sha and Yuan Xinzhu ahead of Rong Qi, while Fengzhou’s prodigies made a strong showing.
• The Xuanjian Gate Grand Elder announced that the Divine Martial Secret Realm would open at noon the next day and invited the crowd to spar and exchange items in the meantime.
• Xia Yue admired Lu Ming’s Purple Profound Fox, and Lu Ming explained how he had encountered and taken it in.
• Daoist Xingxuan explained how long each rank group could remain in the secret realm, and Lu Ming entered first, followed by the other prodigies.
• Lu Ming and Xia Yue sent their Spiritual Senses into the ancient stone stele, where Xia Yue headed toward a fiery mountain and Lu Ming chose to test the whirlwind.
• Gu Yuming was blown away by the whirlwind and tried again after taking a Spirit Nourishing Pill, while Kou Yu used his Intent of Shattering to pass through flames toward a collapsing mountain.

Lu Ming advanced his Wind, Lightning, and Destruction Intents while exploring the Divine Martial Secret Realm, where he sensed a summons from a strange radiance. As the other contestants emerged and shared their gains, Kou Yu continued probing the secret realm, and Lu Ming prepared to investigate the source of the summons.

• Lu Ming comprehended the peak Earth-grade Misty Wind Shadow technique, then bypassed a golden stone emitting potent Metal Artistic Conception to head toward a distant thunderstorm.
• After a day, Gu Suhan emerged ranked twenty-third with his Sorrowful Intent at sixty percent and three forms of the Blissful Sword Technique, while Yi Qianling reported reaching seventy percent Ice Intent and gaining a powerful fist technique.
• Contestants continued to leave the secret realm over the next days, and Su Xinghan emerged with a nameless sword technique that Daoist Xingxuan identified as a fragment of a Heavenly Human Realm sword art.
• Kou Yu raised his Intent of Shattering to ninety-seven percent inside the collapsing earthen mountain and moved toward a dense yellow ball of light beneath it.
• Lu Ming reached ninety-nine percent Lightning Intent and ninety-five percent Intent of Destruction, then approached a strange radiance that had been summoning him.

Lu Ming learned the Sacred Intent Mind Splitting Art in the Divine Martial Secret Realm, then emerged to face Kou Yu, who had reached perfection in his Intent of Shattering. Lu Ming defeated Kou Yu with only two sword strikes, leaving the crowd wondering how powerful he would be at full strength.

• Lu Ming discovered and memorized the Sacred Intent Mind Splitting Art, a secret technique that could split his mind into independent parts.
• Kou Yu emerged from the secret realm and defeated Young Master Wu Wang, revealing that his Intent of Shattering had reached perfection.
• Lu Ming emerged from the secret realm, and Kou Yu immediately challenged him to test his strength.
• Lu Ming met Kou Yu's Heavenly Roc attack with a sword strike that matched Kou Yu's perfected Intent of Shattering.
• Lu Ming's Wind Intent Severing overwhelmed Kou Yu's Heavenly Dance Mad Shatter and sent him flying from the arena.

After defeating Kou Yu, Lu Ming left Stone Mill Cliff and headed back toward the Wuji Sect. There, the sect prepared to defend the Zhao Kingdom against a growing Beast Tide near Wild Cloud Ridge, while the Nine Heavens Sect held back.

• Kou Yu accepted his defeat but vowed to challenge Lu Ming again, and Lu Ming welcomed him as a future opponent.
• Lu Ming parted ways with Xia Yue and continued toward the Zhao Kingdom with Little Fox.
• The Wuji Sect learned that a Beast Tide from Wild Cloud Ridge was worsening, and Grand Elder Ren Canqing ordered its forces to defend the region.
• The Jade Luo Sect sent its Grand Elder to assist, while the Nine Heavens Sect continued to delay its response.
• The Jade Luo Sect's Grand Elder saw demonic qi surging ahead and concluded that a Level 4 Demonic Beast had appeared.

As the Beast Tide raged, Li Yishan asked Guan Wuli to protect his disciple and the Earth-grade Cultivation Method he had kept hidden. When a powerful Great Earth Black Bear threatened the battlefield, Li Yishan fought it with a secret technique, but Lu Ming arrived in time to kill it.

• Li Yishan and Guan Wuli fought through the beast horde, and Guan Wuli said he was nearing the Gang Yuan Realm.
• Li Yishan revealed that he already had an Earth-grade, high stage Cultivation Method and asked Guan Wuli to safeguard it for his disciple, but Guan Wuli declined to accept the responsibility.
• A Peak Early Level 4 Great Earth Black Bear charged into the battlefield, and Guan Wuli attacked it but was blasted away.
• Li Yishan used a secret technique to reach the Early Gang Yuan Realm and struck the bear, but it overpowered him and charged again.
• Guan Wuli retreated at Li Yishan's urging, and Lu Ming appeared from the clouds and killed the Great Earth Black Bear with a streak of Sword Qi.

Lu Ming rescued Li Yishan after the elder exhausted his strength with the Blood Burning Art, then gave him a five-hundred-year Blood Ginseng in exchange for joining the Wuji Sect if he broke through. After learning that several powerful Demonic Beasts had overwhelmed the sect elders at Wild Cloud Ridge, Lu Ming hurried toward the battlefield.

• Lu Ming killed the Great Earth Black Bear with a single blow and greeted Guan Wuli and Li Yishan.
• Lu Ming diagnosed that Li Yishan had burned through his remaining foundation using the Blood Burning Art, and Li Yishan explained how the secret technique worked.
• Lu Ming gave Li Yishan a five-hundred-year Blood Ginseng and asked him to join the Wuji Sect if he successfully broke through to the Gang Yuan Realm.
• Guan Wuli told Lu Ming that the Grand Elders were fighting powerful Demonic Beasts, so Lu Ming left Little Fox to watch over Guan Wuli and Li Yishan and rushed ahead.
• Two Wuji Sect elders told Lu Ming that five Level 4 Demonic Beasts had appeared and that a late-stage beast had slipped past the defenders; Lu Ming told them he had already killed the Great Earth Black Bear.
• Lu Ming asked where the battle was and sped off toward it, while the two elders hurried after him.

Lu Ming returned from the Divine Martial Secret Realm and rescued Ren Canqing and the others from four Level 4 Demonic Beasts, killing them all with ease. The chapter ended with Ren Canqing asking how Lu Ming had performed against Guzhou’s prodigies.

• Ren Canqing, Venerable Ji Xuan, Li Huaibi, and four other experts struggled to hold off a Black Gold Ape and three other Level 4 Demonic Beasts.
• Venerable Ji Xuan and Ren Canqing argued over who was responsible for the group’s weakened position, while Li Huaibi urged them to use their trump cards.
• Lu Ming arrived as the Black Gold Ape attacked, and Ren Canqing prepared a secret technique to rescue him.
• Lu Ming cut off the Black Gold Ape’s palm and head with two sword strikes, then killed the other three demonic beasts within a dozen breaths.
• Ren Canqing introduced Lu Ming to Venerable Ji Xuan, Li Huaibi, and the others, then asked how he had ranked among Guzhou’s prodigies.

Lu Ming led the group to the source of the abnormal Beast Tide in Wild Cloud Ridge, where they discovered a Ghost Demon Tree draining a powerful Golden Armored Dragon Lizard. After people from Fenglin Kingdom arrived and showed respect for Lu Ming, he proposed they discuss how to deal with the tree.

• Lu Ming told Ren Canqing and the others that he had won first place, then led them onward through Wild Cloud Ridge, killing the Level 4 Demonic Beasts in their path.
• The group reached the source of the Beast Tide and saw a peak Level 4 Golden Armored Dragon Lizard burst from a mountain, apparently struggling against an unseen restraint.
• Lu Ming noticed the dragon lizard was restrained, then sensed energy flowing from it toward a towering tree as the beast withered.
• Ren Canqing identified the tree as a Ghost Demon Tree, and Li Huaibi warned that it fed on flesh and blood and could affect minds with its strange light.
• Eight people from Fenglin Kingdom arrived, greeted Lu Ming respectfully, and joined the group as Lu Ming called for a discussion on how to deal with the Ghost Demon Tree.

Lu Ming and eight other experts attacked the Ghost Demon Tree, whose roots could quickly regenerate and threaten everyone nearby. Lu Ming reached the tree’s light barrier and resolved to destroy it before it could spread its influence further.

• The experts agreed to destroy the Ghost Demon Tree’s core before it could digest the Golden Armored Dragon Lizard, and weaker fighters withdrew to provide support.
• The Grand Elder of the Tianhuo Sect tested the tree with his Skyfire Meteor, but its roots shattered the attack; the nine strongest experts then divided into four directions and attacked together.
• Lu Ming cut through waves of roots and told Ren Canqing to stay on the perimeter while he advanced alone.
• Lu Ming unleashed his Destruction Sword Intent and several high-level intents, suppressing the roots and easing the pressure on the other attackers.
• Lu Ming reached the Ghost Demon Tree’s black light barrier, saw its furious ghostly face, and thrust out his sword, determined to destroy it before it could endanger the surrounding kingdoms.

Lu Ming destroyed the Ghost Demon Tree with the help of the assembled sect leaders, then found a hidden chamber and took a jade slip. After the danger was resolved, the group agreed to reunite for Chang Yan and Shu Buqi’s wedding and returned to their sects.

• Lu Ming pierced the Ghost Demon Tree’s barrier with the Sword of Annihilation, allowing everyone to shatter it and destroy the tree’s body and heart.
• Lu Ming searched the withering roots, found a hidden chamber, and took a jade slip before Bo Mingxiao arrived and searched the empty space.
• The Grand Elder of Tianfu Sword Sect announced that Chang Yan and Shadowless Blade Shu Buqi would marry, and invited everyone to attend.
• Lu Ming agreed to attend the wedding and left with the Wuji Sect group after the Ghost Demon Tree’s destruction ended the threat.

Lu Ming returned to Wuji Sect, where he guided its elders in martial arts and strengthened the sect while completing months of cultivation. After manifesting his perfected Sword of Annihilation, he decided to seek experience at a destination recorded in a jade slip.

• Little Fox refused Guan Wuli’s attempt to trade lessons on lightning for spirit fruits, then rushed into Lu Ming’s arms when he returned with the others.
• Ren Canqing told Lu Ming he could return to the sect after the demonic beasts were dealt with, and Lu Ming went back ahead of the others.
• Ren Canqing and the other elders urged Lu Ming to become Senior Disciple Brother, but he declined and offered to guide them in martial arts instead.
• Lu Ming taught the elders about artistic conceptions and demonstrated his Golden Dragon Claw Technique, helping Wuji Sect’s strength rise substantially.
• After several months of cultivation, Lu Ming manifested the perfected Sword of Annihilation and used it to reduce a tree to powder.
• Lu Ming decided to seek experience at a destination recorded in the jade slip he had obtained behind a stone wall.

Lu Ming prepared to leave Wuji Sect for more experience, accepted two puppets for safety, and returned to Wild Cloud Ridge to investigate a location recorded on a jade slip. He found an ancient dwelling behind a waterfall and focused on its lotus-shaped stone platform, the reason he had come there.

• Wuji Sect gained two more Gang Yuan Realm experts, Guan Wuli and Li Yishan, and attracted many new disciples with its growing strength and martial arts collection.
• Ren Canqing gave Lu Ming three Late Level Four Puppets, and Lu Ming took two before warning Ren Canqing not to expand the sect recklessly.
• Lu Ming departed Wuji Sect after Ren Canqing saw him off and promised to uphold the sect's principles when recruiting disciples.
• Lu Ming returned to Wild Cloud Ridge and found that someone had opened the spring beneath the cave where he had destroyed the Ghost Demon Tree.
• Lu Ming followed the jade slip's directions to a waterfall, cautiously sent in a puppet, and entered an ancient dwelling where he found a lotus-shaped stone platform.

Lu Ming activated an ancient teleportation array to travel from the Nine Provinces Continent toward Luanfeng Continent, learning that the array had once brought the Sea Transformation Realm expert Yao Guang Shang Ren across the sea. The teleportation malfunctioned and dropped Lu Ming and the Little Fox into the Endless Sea Region, where he set off in search of land or people.

• Lu Ming confirmed that Yao Guang Shang Ren had died from the Primordial Spirit-targeting Fire Kill Curse and that the lotus stone platform was a long-distance teleportation array.
• Lu Ming filled the array with High-grade Yuan Stones, sealed the entrance behind him, and entered the platform with the Little Fox.
• During the journey, Lu Ming observed the strange space around him and used the opportunity to deepen his understanding of Spatial Profundity.
• The teleportation faltered, and Lu Ming fell into the sea before activating the Primordial Spirit Jade Slip.
• The Little Fox killed a Level 4 Blue-skinned Shark with a bolt of purple lightning, and Lu Ming took its useful materials.
• Unable to find any islands or signs of people, Lu Ming guessed he was in the Endless Sea Region and flew in a chosen direction.

Lu Ming searched the Endless Sea for land and found Gu Ming Island, where he met the reclusive Sea Transformation Realm expert Gu Mingzi. Gu Mingzi told him how to reach a teleportation array near Falling Star Island to return to Luanfeng Continent.

• A spatial disturbance caused by Golden Fist and Firebird King’s battle sent streaks of light plunging into the sea.
• Lu Ming followed fierce birds to an island, then spotted another island and cautiously approached its hidden courtyard.
• Lu Ming met Gu Mingzi, who revealed his Sea Transformation Realm cultivation, and explained that he lived in seclusion to avoid conflicts on Luanfeng Continent.
• Lu Ming told Gu Mingzi he came from the Floating Clouds Sect, and Gu Mingzi directed him toward the teleportation array near Falling Star Island.

Lu Ming left Gu Mingzi after receiving sea charts, only to learn that Gu Mingzi was being hunted for the Thunder Spirit Pearl. Days later, Grand Yin Master confronted Lu Ming and tried to capture him, and Lu Ming answered with a saber strike.

• Gu Mingzi warned Lu Ming to keep his secluded location secret, then two Sea Transformation Realm elders arrived and demanded the Thunder Spirit Pearl.
• Immortal Ape Old Monster revealed that the Four Symbols Pearls could sense one another, and Gu Mingzi fought the two elders before they pursued him through the Sky Curtain.
• Lu Ming watched the fight from a distance, then traveled toward the Falling Star Sea Region and trained his Slaughter Saber Technique against sea beasts and a massive wave.
• Grand Yin Master intercepted Lu Ming and questioned him about Gu Mingzi, then threatened to capture him when Lu Ming said they had only met for directions.
• Lu Ming drew his saber and launched an attack at Grand Yin Master.

Lu Ming battled Grand Yin Master, an Early Sea Transformation Realm expert, and revealed an extraordinary range of intents and techniques that let him contend with the stronger opponent. Grand Yin Master claimed he could outlast Lu Ming, who prepared to answer with his strongest strike.

• Lu Ming dodged Grand Yin Master's attacks and tested his saber-and-sword fighting style against him.
• Grand Yin Master used Grand Yin Phantom Hand, and Lu Ming countered with his Slaughter Saber Intent and Destruction Sword Intent.
• Lu Ming combined his saber and sword techniques in Dual Sun Slash, forcing Grand Yin Master to retreat and fight through repeated attacks.
• Grand Yin Master said his Sea Transformation Realm Gang Yuan could let him exhaust Lu Ming, and Lu Ming began gathering the power for his strongest strike.

Lu Ming wounded the Grand Yin Master with his combined Ghost-God Killing Blade and pursued him beyond the Sky Curtain, where the Grand Yin Master escaped through the dangerous starry expanse. Lu Ming abandoned the chase and headed for the Falling Star Sea Region, while the injured Grand Yin Master returned below and set out for Gu Ming Island.

• Lu Ming struck the Grand Yin Master with the Ghost-God Killing Blade, piercing his icy defense and injuring him with annihilating Sword Qi.
• Lu Ming pressed the attack, forcing the Grand Yin Master to flee and evade pursuit by throwing thunderfire origin beads.
• The Grand Yin Master tore through the Sky Curtain and escaped into the starry expanse, and Lu Ming followed after dodging his explosive attacks.
• Lu Ming found the realm beyond the Sky Curtain filled with violent, mixed energies and abundant elemental forces, then chose to return below rather than remain there.
• After recovering some true essence and releasing Little Fox, Lu Ming set off toward the Falling Star Sea Region to avoid letting the Grand Yin Master summon allies.
• The wounded Grand Yin Master returned beneath the Sky Curtain, swore revenge on Lu Ming, and headed toward Gu Ming Island to search Gu Mingzi's residence.

Lu Ming and Little Fox followed a faint fragrance into an underwater gorge, where Little Fox tested its new sword technique against a hidden viper. They found the Seven-Colored Spirit Ginseng, and Lu Ming prepared to collect it.

• Little Fox led Lu Ming from the reef island to an underwater gorge after smelling a strange fragrance during the rising tide.
• Lu Ming discovered a camouflaged mid-fourth-level viper and let Little Fox fight it using the Startling God Fox Tail Sword.
• Little Fox wrote a line of poetry with its tail and lightning, then destroyed the viper with its sword strikes.
• Lu Ming praised Little Fox’s technique and explained how poetic feeling and Sword Intent could strengthen it.
• Lu Ming and Little Fox continued through the gorge and found a Seven-Colored Spirit Ginseng, which Lu Ming identified from a book.

Lu Ming arrived at Red Coral Island to seek rare body-tempering treasures and learned that Stormy Pavilion would hold an auction in seven days. After reaching the Late Gang Yuan Realm, he obtained an auction token, but a young man from the Situ Family tried to force him to sell Little Fox.

• Lu Ming declined Sister Cui’s invitation at a brothel, and she told her companions to focus on customers before Stormy Pavilion’s upcoming auction.
• Lu Ming bought pastries from an old man, who directed him to Sea Spirit Tower and Stormy Pavilion and mentioned the auction.
• Lu Ming found no suitable treasures at Sea Spirit Tower and learned that Stormy Pavilion would auction the items he wanted in seven days.
• Lu Ming recalled that he had broken through to the Late Gang Yuan Realm after obtaining the Seven-Colored Spirit Ginseng, then secured a token for the auction.
• A dissolute young man accompanied by Yunchu demanded that Lu Ming sell Little Fox and threatened him with the Situ Family’s influence, but Lu Ming refused and challenged him.

Lu Ming defeated Situ Qing after refusing to be intimidated by the Situ Family, then reassured Little Fox and continued browsing the stalls. At Red Coral Island, Venerable Yuan He declined to intervene for Situ Qing and prepared for Stormy Pavilion’s upcoming auction, which he planned to attend because of Yu Anzi’s promise.

• A woman warned Lu Ming that Situ Qing belonged to the Sixth-Rank Situ Family, but Lu Ming attacked and defeated him with a single strike.
• Lu Ming told Situ Qing that he had been given a lesson, then left without thanking the woman; onlookers discussed his strength and speculated that he came from the Luanfeng Continent.
• Lu Ming comforted the angry Little Fox, assuring her that he would never give her away, and continued strolling through the stalls with her.
• Situ Qing asked Elder Wang for help from Venerable Yuan He, but Elder Wang refused to involve Red Coral Island in his dispute.
• Venerable Yuan He learned that Lu Ming was a young Late Gang Yuan Realm expert from the outer seas and decided not to provoke him over a trifling matter.
• Venerable Yuan He ordered Elder Wang to maintain order ahead of Stormy Pavilion’s auction and resolved to attend because Yu Anzi said it would feature something of interest to him.