Recaps

Lu Ming accepted Xi Chan’s challenge at the Wuji Sect’s ceremony and defeated him with one strike from the Ling Tian Sword Canon. After Xi Chan warned that higher-ranked prodigies would come after him, Lu Ming welcomed the guests to continue their martial arts exchange.

• Lu Ming accepted Xi Chan’s challenge, declaring that one sword strike would be enough to defeat him.
• Xi Chan unleashed his Heavenly Silkworm Divine Skill, Silk Locks the Universe, and filled the sky with threads of light.
• Lu Ming used Boundless Annihilation to cut through Xi Chan’s attack and leave him shaken but unharmed.
• Xi Chan admitted defeat and warned Lu Ming that higher-ranked prodigies from the Yizhou Wind and Cloud Ranking would challenge him.
• The guests praised Lu Ming, and he invited everyone to continue sparring and discussing martial arts as the Wuji Sect brought more wine and food.

At Wuji Sect’s Rank Advancement Ceremony, Lu Ming guided the gathered cultivators before sending off several guests and traveling to the Central Continent with Zhu Changting. News of the ceremony spread, and Young Master Feihuang asked about Xi Chan’s defeat.

• Lu Ming gave detailed martial guidance to cultivators at the ceremony, earning their gratitude and strengthening their goodwill toward Wuji Sect.
• After the ceremony, Lu Ming gave Xia Yue a jade slip containing insights on Fire Artistic Conception and saw her off, then bid farewell to Kou Yu and Young Master Wu Wang.
• Lu Ming handled matters at Wuji Sect and, several days later, set out for the Central Continent with Zhu Changting.
• News spread that Kou Yu had narrowly defeated Young Master Wu Wang, whose True Profound Meaning had made his sword energy difficult to break.
• In Yizhou, Young Master Feihuang asked a Cloud Sea Chamber of Commerce elder for details about the ceremony and Xi Chan’s performance.

Young Master Feihuang heard that Lu Ming had defeated Xi Chan with a single sword strike, while Su Xinghan and Gu Sha began breaking through to the Sea Transformation Realm. Lu Ming and Zhu Changting approached Central Continent, and Zhu Ningyun prepared to meet Lu Ming as her family affirmed it would respect her choice.

• The Cloud Sea Chamber of Commerce's old man told Young Master Feihuang that Lu Ming had defeated Xi Chan in one sword strike, leaving Feihuang uncertain about challenging him.
• Su Xinghan began breaking through to the Sea Transformation Realm at Seven Stars Palace, while Gu Sha began his breakthrough at Xuanwei Palace.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Changting traveled toward Central Continent, and Zhu Changting described its provinces and the legend that an ancient war had shattered the original continent.
• Zhu Ningyun learned Lu Ming had reached the Sea Transformation Realm and set out to meet him, rejecting the Ancient Sword Manual from Young Master Cangchen.
• Zhu Xiaojian told Zhu Ningyun that the Zhu Family would respect her decision, while Zhu Jianchen concealed his reaction.

Lu Ming arrived at Vermillion Bird City and reunited with Zhu Ningyun, who had been waiting for him. He met her parents and gave them Hundred Spirits Pills, then went inside with the family as Zhu Youyuan left after remarking that Young Master Cangchen would be furious.

• Zhu Changting introduced Vermillion Bird City to Lu Ming, then spotted Zhu Ningyun waiting for him atop the Cloud-Reaching Platform.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun reunited, and she led him toward her residence after Zhu Changting left them alone.
• A young-looking man watched Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun depart and predicted that Young Master Cangchen would be furious; onlookers identified him as Zhu Youyuan and discussed his declining standing in the family.
• Zhu Ningyun brought Lu Ming to meet her parents, Zhu Yiqing and Ji Jianping, who welcomed him warmly.
• Lu Ming presented Zhu Yiqing and Ji Jianping with a bottle of Hundred Spirits Pills, and Zhu Ningyun invited everyone inside.

Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun reunited at the Zhu residence, shared a meal, and affirmed their relationship. As they spent the night together, Zhu Xiaojian saw a sign that the Zhu Family's luck was rising through its bond with Lu Ming.

• Zhu Ningyun personally fed Lu Ming dishes and wine she had learned to prepare for him, and they caught up on their experiences.
• Lu Ming asked Zhu Ningyun about her time in the Central Continent and Shazhou, then embraced her after hearing her story.
• Lu Ming carried Zhu Ningyun to the Hibiscus Warm Tent, and they spent the night together.
• Zhu Yiqing and Ji Jianping discussed their daughter's new relationship and Lu Ming's extraordinary luck.
• Zhu Xiaojian saw incense smoke rise into the sky as a Soaring Cloud sign and sensed the Zhu Family's luck increasing through its bond with Lu Ming.

Daoist Xuan Ce detected an extraordinary rise in the Zhu Family’s fortune and speculated that two southern prodigies were responsible. At the Vermillion Bird Great Hall, Zhu Xiaojian named Zhu Ningyun the Zhu Family’s sole official Young Master and gave her command of the Sword Mausoleum Guard, stunning the assembled clan experts.

• Daoist Xuan Ce saw auspicious fortune gathering over Vermillion Bird Mountain and judged that it came from two emerging prodigies.
• Daoist Xuan Ce’s disciple considered the threat posed by the new figures, while Daoist Xuan Ce warned him not to underestimate anyone and recalled Bai Lesheng’s exceptional talent.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun met a Sword Mausoleum Guard member, who summoned them to the Vermillion Bird Great Hall at Zhu Xiaojian’s request.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun arrived before Zhu Xiaojian and the clan elders, and Lu Ming promised he would never fail Zhu Ningyun.
• Zhu Xiaojian announced that Zhu Ningyun would become the Zhu Family’s sole official Young Master, participate in family decisions, and command the Sword Mausoleum Guard.

Zhu Jianchen challenged Lu Ming to test his strength after Zhu Xiaojian announced that Zhu Ningyun would be appointed the Zhu Family’s Young Master. Lu Ming accepted, and the family headed to the training ground to watch their match.

• Zhu Jianchen asked whether Zhu Ningyun’s appointment would include a formal investiture ceremony, and Zhu Xiaojian confirmed that it would.
• Zhu Jianchen proposed testing Lu Ming’s strength, arguing that the Zhu Family’s reputation required its son-in-law to prove himself.
• Zhu Ningyun defended Lu Ming, but Lu Ming asked what level of strength Zhu Jianchen considered sufficient and accepted his challenge.
• Zhu Xiaojian approved the match and warned Zhu Jianchen to stop once the outcome was decided.
• The clan elders and Lu Ming moved to the Zhu Family’s training ground, drawing the attention of other family members.

Lu Ming sparred with Zhu Jianchen at the Zhu Family Training Ground and defeated him with a single punch after shattering his strongest sword attack. The spectators were left stunned by Lu Ming’s powerful External Skill, while Zhu Xiaojian marveled at how much strength Lu Ming had gained in only eight years of cultivation.

• Zhu Shiyuan told the gathered youths about Lu Ming’s Destruction Sword Dao, and Zhu Houchuan challenged his boasts before learning that Lu Ming was about to fight Zhu Jianchen.
• Zhu Jianchen drew the Fish Scale Sword and unleashed his Water Eruption Sword at Lu Ming after Lu Ming offered to let him attack first.
• Lu Ming punched apart Zhu Jianchen’s giant Water Element Sword Qi and sent Zhu Jianchen flying off the platform and through a wall.
• Zhu Jianchen was pulled from the rubble with minor injuries as the spectators exclaimed over Lu Ming’s power and the elders recognized his formidable External Skill.
• Zhu Xiaojian reflected that Lu Ming had become immensely strong despite beginning cultivation at nearly fourteen and reaching only twenty-two years of age.

After Lu Ming won the Zhu Family’s respect, he settled in with Zhu Ningyun, taught Zhu Shiyuan the first two stages of the Dragon God Heavenly Merit, and received a mysterious token from him. He and Zhu Ningyun continued practicing their sword techniques until a familiar figure appeared outside their courtyard.

• Lu Ming returned to his residence with Zhu Ningyun as the Zhu Family broadly accepted him after he defeated Zhu Jianchen with one punch.
• Zhu Shiyuan approached Lu Ming, praised his strength, and asked about his External Skill.
• Lu Ming taught Zhu Shiyuan the first two stages of the Dragon God Heavenly Merit and agreed to guide him; Zhu Shiyuan gave Lu Ming a heavy, pitch-black token as a gift.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun spent their days together, with Lu Ming occasionally advising Zhu Shiyuan.
• During a sparring session, Zhu Ningyun tested her Nine Heavens Cloud Shadow sword technique against Lu Ming’s defense, then stopped when she could not overcome his Speed Profundity.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun noticed a familiar figure flicker outside their courtyard and stopped their discussion.

After learning that Zhu Ningyun’s brother had gone missing while training in Shazhou’s Red Desert, Lu Ming accompanied her to search for him. They arrived at Crimson Sand City, where Ning Yun introduced Lu Ming as her husband to Huang Liji, leaving the Great Desolate Sect disciple heartbroken.

• Ji Jianping worried that Zhu Jianchen had been missing for over a year, so Zhu Ningyun decided to search for him in the Red Desert with Lu Ming accompanying her.
• Zhu Ningyun asked Zhu Xiaojian to postpone her enthronement ceremony, then left Vermillion Bird Mountain with Lu Ming.
• Young Master Cangchen learned that Lu Ming had defeated Zhu Jianchen with one punch and flew into a rage when his subordinate questioned his fixation on Zhu Ningyun.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun reached Crimson Sand City and began looking for Zhu Jianchen.
• Huang Liji met Zhu Ningyun, learned that Lu Ming was her husband, and struggled to hide his heartbreak.

Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun learned that Zhu Ningfeng had entered the Red Desert and heard Elder Huaiwen’s warning about a legendary Golden Ancient City. As they set out to search the desert’s outskirts, they encountered Huang Liji and three Sea Transformation Realm experts, and Lu Ming injured one of them with a glance.

• Huang Liji met Fire Lady, who told him she had summoned the Two Mountains brothers as well.
• Zhu Ningyun learned that Zhu Ningfeng had entered the Red Desert with a woman, while Elder Huaiwen explained that a major disturbance had drawn Old Man Huosha into the desert and kept him from returning.
• Elder Huaiwen told Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun the legend of the Golden Ancient City and advised them to search the desert’s outskirts for Zhu Ningfeng.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun left Crimson Sand City and encountered Huang Liji, Fire Lady, and the Two Mountains brothers near the Red Desert entrance.
• The silver-robed brother examined Lu Ming, suffered bleeding eyes, and was warned not to look at or covet what he should not.

Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun confronted Jin Mountain and Silver Mountain outside Crimson Sand City, but the fight was halted after Fire Lady revealed Zhu Ningyun’s identity. The brothers withdrew, then secretly agreed with Huang Liji to target Lu Ming in the Red Desert so Huang Liji could pursue Zhu Ningyun.

• Silver Mountain’s reckless gaze injured Lu Ming’s eyes, prompting Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun to draw their swords and prepare to fight the brothers.
• Fire Lady identified Zhu Ningyun as the Zhu Family’s leading genius, and Huang Liji helped defuse the confrontation before Jin Mountain and Silver Mountain left for the Red Desert.
• Fire Lady warned Lu Ming that the brothers could fight opponents at the Late Sea Transformation Realm, then left as Zhu Ningyun explained who she was.
• Jin Mountain told Silver Mountain they could attack Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun later in the Red Desert, where fewer people would witness it.
• Huang Liji offered the brothers benefits if they helped him kill Lu Ming, and Silver Mountain agreed before a streak of red light approached.

Daoist Yinshi arrived in Crimson Sand City seeking a way to become a Han Ba and learned that a tremor had sparked rumors of the Golden Ancient City. Meanwhile, Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun found Zhu Ningfeng being pursued in the Red Desert and rescued him, where he introduced Qiu Yi as his companion and Zhu Ningyun’s sister-in-law.

• Daoist Yinshi questioned a local about the Red Desert tremor and the rumored Golden Ancient City, then hurried off to investigate.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun searched the Red Desert for Zhu Ningfeng but found no trace of him for several days.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun spotted Zhu Ningfeng and Qiu Yi fleeing a flaming bird, and Zhu Ningfeng turned back to protect Qiu Yi.
• The flaming bird knocked Zhu Ningfeng aside, but Qiu Yi returned to stay with him as Lu Ming killed the beast with a sword strike.
• Zhu Ningfeng reunited with Zhu Ningyun and Lu Ming, then introduced Qiu Yi as his companion and his sister’s sister-in-law.

Zhu Ningyun and Lu Ming rescued Zhu Ningfeng and Qiu Yi, then returned to the Red Desert to investigate the tremor and temper their swordsmanship. In the core region, they encountered a Lava Giant Lizard, and another powerful beast approached as Zhu Ningyun prepared to fight.

• Zhu Ningfeng explained that a tremor had driven demonic beasts from their territories and left him injured after several attacks.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun escorted Zhu Ningfeng and Qiu Yi safely to the edge of the Red Desert, where they parted ways.
• Zhu Ningfeng told Qiu Yi about Lu Ming's achievements and his protection by a Venerable Heavenly Being.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun fought through the agitated demonic beasts and entered the Red Desert's core region to investigate the tremor.
• A Lava Giant Lizard emerged from beneath the sand and attacked Zhu Ningyun, who blocked its tongue with her sword.
• Zhu Ningyun prepared to fight the Early Sea Transformation Realm lizard while Lu Ming offered to cover her, but another powerful beast approached from the left.

Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun fought Level 5 Demonic Beasts in the Red Desert, where Zhu Ningyun completed a new sword technique and Lu Ming named his developing slaughter-and-destruction move Heavenly Demise. After collecting their spoils, they continued deeper into the desert.

• Zhu Ningyun battled a Lava Giant Lizard while Lu Ming held back against another Level 5 Mid Stage Demonic Beast and watched over her fight.
• Zhu Ningyun used Azure Cloud Surge to trap and cut the Lava Giant Lizard, then destroyed it with her new technique, Azure Cloud Fission.
• Lu Ming praised Zhu Ningyun’s technique and explained how his suggestion, inspired by Yun Wusheng’s Jade Shattering Heavenly Thunder, had helped her develop it.
• Zhu Ningyun admired Lu Ming’s combined saber-and-sword strike, and Lu Ming named his developing ultimate move Heavenly Demise.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun gathered the two beasts’ spoils and headed deeper into the Red Desert.

Powerful cultivators entered the Red Desert to investigate its violent tremors and the rumored Golden Ancient City, but a Golden Flame Divine Eagle forced Fire Lady’s group to flee. Farther away, Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun also encountered trouble.

• Iron Arm Mountain, the skinny spear-wielder, and Fairy Zilan fought Demonic Beasts, then decided to continue deeper into the Red Desert despite Yellow Soil Old Monster’s arrival.
• Fire Lady led Yin Shan, Huang Liji, and the others toward the Red Desert’s central region while they faced attacks from powerful Demonic Beasts.
• A Golden Flame Divine Eagle appeared and targeted Fire Lady’s group, whose members fled rather than risk fighting it in the fire-filled desert.
• Fire Lady used Blazing Fire Escape, Yin Shan and Jin Shan joined their Gang Essence to form a speeding whirlwind, and Huang Liji raced past them as the eagle pursued.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun encountered trouble farther away.

Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun followed the Blazing River toward the central region of the Red Desert, evading a Molten Rock Beast along the way. They found a cave glowing with seven-colored light, and Lu Ming used his Spiritual Sense to investigate the rosy radiance inside.

• Zhu Ningyun explained that the Blazing River was named after Flame Venerable, who created the Blazing Golden Flow Technique there.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun traveled beside the river and escaped a fully grown Molten Rock Beast that attacked them with magma orbs.
• The pair reached a volcanic area and spotted seven-colored light coming from a cave entrance.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun approached the cave cautiously, protected themselves with their armor and Gang Essence barriers, and entered its vicinity.
• Lu Ming sent his Spiritual Sense into the cave and saw a platform above magma, where an unknown object emitted rosy radiance.

Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun found an Earth Core Fire Lotus in a volcanic cave, and Lu Ming collected its remaining seed. After they left, Fire Lady’s group arrived at the cave just as its volcano began to shake.

• Lu Ming used the Ice Dragon Pearl to protect Zhu Ningyun from the cave’s heat as they reached the Earth Core Fire Lotus.
• Zhu Ningyun found an inscription describing how Li Weifeng, Flame Venerable, had comprehended the Blazing Golden Flow Technique there.
• Lu Ming used the Star River Wuji Technique to draw the remaining Fire Lotus Seed from the lotus pod, then left with Zhu Ningyun.
• Fire Lady’s group emerged from the volcanic region and decided to investigate the rosy glow coming from the cave.
• The volcano began shaking violently as Fire Lady, Yin Shan, Huang Liji, and Jin Shan approached the cave.

Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun entered the Red Desert’s core region and spotted an unexplained black light, while other explorers gathered around a mysterious ancient city. The chapter left the city’s entrance unexplained as Yellow Soil Old Monster arrived.

• A volcano erupted behind Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun, forcing them to flee as a Flame Dragon Beast emerged and pursued Fire Lady, Yin Shan, and their companions.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun entered the Red Desert’s core region, where Lu Ming guessed that a tremor had driven many high-level Demonic Beasts away.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun spotted a streak of black light and decided to investigate it.
• Daoist Yinshi drained a Level 5 Mid Stage Demonic Beast of its essence and consumed it to advance his Great Corpse King Technique.
• Fairy Zilan’s group found a towering black city gate tower and wondered how to enter the apparently sealed Golden Ancient City.
• Yellow Soil Old Monster appeared before the city gate tower and stared at it.

Xu Zilan and the others tried to enter the ominous city tower but found its gate sealed and an invisible barrier blocking every other route. Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun arrived, learned the situation, and joined the group as they considered what to do next.

• Xu Zilan asked the Yellow Soil Old Monster to assess the city gate, but his astral essence could not move its heavy doors.
• A lanky young man tried to fly over the tower and discovered an invisible barrier that extended high into the sky and blocked both sides.
• Daoist Yinshi arrived and recognized the tower's coffin-like design, becoming excited at the prospect of finding the method to become a Han Ba.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun arrived, and Xu Zilan introduced herself and asked about their origins.
• Zhu Ningyun confirmed she belonged to the Central Continent's Zhu Family and had the Azure Cloud Sword Body, while Xu Zilan explained the situation at the gate.
• Lu Ming asked the group what they planned to do next.

Daoist Yinshi and several other groups entered the pitch-black city, which proved to be a silent, gloomy place unlike the Golden Ancient City. Fire Lady’s party arrived last, and the chapter ended as an unseen threat struck them before they could reach an open house.

• Daoist Yinshi sent a Level 5 Early Stage corpse zombie through the gates, then followed it inside after it vanished into the obscure aura.
• Yellow Soil Old Monster entered next, and Lu Ming, Zhu Ningyun, Fairy Zilan, Tie Bishan, and the thin, lanky young man followed together.
• Fire Lady’s party reached the gates, watched Huang Liji’s Level Four puppet melt, and entered the city themselves.
• Fire Lady’s party emerged onto a silent, gray street and approached an open house to search for clues.
• Fire Lady’s party sensed danger and raised their Gang-Origin shields, but a scream rang out before they could react in time.

After crimson shadows attacked both groups inside the city, Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun discovered that will could slow the creatures’ regeneration and continued searching for an exit. Jin Shan and Fire Lady pursued Huang Liji after the city gate vanished, while the separated companions’ fate remained uncertain.

• A crimson shadow tore off Yin Shan’s arm, and a black flame spread across him until he turned to ash.
• Fire Lady realized the city gate had vanished, while Huang Liji ran ahead and Jin Shan struck back at hidden shadows before following him with Fire Lady.
• Lu Ming used the Will of Slaughter to prevent a crimson shadow from fully healing and determined that the creatures could be worn down with will.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun resumed searching for an exit after another attack separated their group, then stopped outside a courtyard when Lu Ming noticed something.

Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun explored a strange courtyard, where they found a dead woman kneeling before a painting and uncovered a golden book written in Ancient Script. Zhu Ningyun recognized the script and began deciphering the book, her expression turning solemn.

• Lu Ming sensed something watching from an empty courtyard and led Zhu Ningyun inside to search for clues.
• The pair saw a white figure vanish into a covered corridor and followed it through the courtyard.
• They found a Dried Corpse kneeling before a painting of a giant man, with a golden book hidden beneath its prayer mat.
• Lu Ming lifted the corpse aside and retrieved the golden book without touching it.
• Zhu Ningyun recognized the writing as a lost form of Ancient Script and started reading, growing solemn as she deciphered it.

Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun read a diary revealing that Golden City’s failed pursuit of immortality transformed its people into monsters, then followed a map toward the person behind it. Elsewhere, Fire Lady, Jin Shan, and Huang Liji struggled against seemingly endless Crimson Shadows and their black flames.

• Zhu Ningyun read the diary, which described Golden City’s disappearance, the monstrous result of its pursuit of immortality, and the writer’s daughter and final prayer.
• Lu Ming guessed that immortality meant surviving in another form as the red shadows, and he and Zhu Ningyun decided to follow the map to find the person responsible.
• Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun bowed to the Dried Corpse, left the room, returned to check that nothing had changed, and then left again as a sinister laugh sounded inside.
• Fire Lady and Jin Shan caught up with Huang Liji, who fought off waves of Crimson Shadows while flight remained restricted.
• Fire Lady shielded herself with Extreme Fire Cube, but the shadows’ black flames melted through it, and Jin Shan asked where they could hide.

Fire Lady, Jin Shan, and Huang Liji took refuge from the crimson shadows in a courtyard, where a bald monster killed Fire Lady and Jin Shan before Huang Liji's life-saving sword pendant drove it off. Elsewhere, the Yellow Soil Old Monster and a Wandering Snake Sect prodigy headed for the city's highest area, while Daoist Yinshi followed the undead creatures toward their source.

• Fire Lady led Huang Liji and Jin Shan into a sturdy courtyard, but a bald monster appeared inside and seized Fire Lady and Jin Shan.
• The monster drained Fire Lady and Jin Shan into dried corpses, then attacked Huang Liji, whose Grand Elder's sword pendant blasted it into a wall.
• Huang Liji saw the pendant's Sword Qi weakening and fled the courtyard before the monster could break free.
• The Yellow Soil Old Monster crushed several crimson shadows and told the Wandering Snake Sect prodigy that they should seek the city's secrets at its highest area.
• Daoist Yinshi used his corpse-like aura to pass unharmed among the crimson shadows and hurried toward the place where the undead creatures gathered.