Recaps

The Wuji Sect Inner Sect Competition began as disciples, guests, and powerful figures gathered at the Martial Arts Plaza. Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun discussed their confidence before Gongsun He explained the rules and called the first contestants onto the arenas.

• Disciples and distinguished guests arrived, including Senior Brother Zheng, who revealed that he had reached the Gang Qi Realm, and Li Yishan, the Peak Gang Qi Realm Hegemon Saber.
• The Nanhua Merchant Alliance head praised Zongzheng Yunlou, ranked third among the Wuji Sect Inner Sect Disciples, while his father watched proudly.
• Lu Ming took his place at Arena Eleven and spoke with Zhu Ningyun, who was competing at nearby Arena Fifteen; both expressed confidence.
• Wuji Sect Master Li Ansheng arrived, and Gongsun He explained that the competition used fifteen arenas, two batches, and a points system.
• Gongsun He declared the competition open, and referees called the first contestants onto all fifteen arenas.

Chi Xuan, Zhu Ningyun, and Lu Ming won their early arena matches with ease, while Chu Yunxiao lost to a higher-ranked seeded contestant. The tournament continued into the third round, where Zhu Ningyun faced Gong Ying.

• Chi Xuan defeated Kuang Su with a few taps of his Jade Finger Technique, and the other top seeds quickly won their opening matches.
• Zhu Ningyun disarmed Liu Huaiyou in their Arena Fifteen match, while Chu Yunxiao won a difficult bout against a late-stage Zhen Qi Realm opponent.
• Lu Ming defeated his mid-stage Zhen Qi Realm opponent with a single kick and ignored Li Biehe's provocation after Li won his own match.
• In the second round, Chu Yunxiao lost to the seeded contestant Li Quan, while Lu Ming won again without difficulty.
• Zhu Ningyun faced the seeded contestant Gong Ying, ranked fifteenth, in the third round.

Zhu Ningyun defeated seeded contender Gong Ying with precise swordsmanship, while Lu Ming continued winning his group matches and drew attention. After the midday break, he faced seeded contender Feng Chao in the seventh round, and Feng Chao opened with his Chasing Wind Eighteen Kicks.

• Zhu Ningyun shattered Gong Ying’s Five Dragon Palm and Five Dragons as One, then held her sword to his throat until he conceded.
• The crowd and sect leaders reacted to Zhu Ningyun’s victory, while Gongsun He suggested that Li Ansheng had underestimated her strength.
• Lu Ming praised Zhu Ningyun, then won his matches through the sixth round and remained undefeated alongside Feng Chao in Group Eleven.
• Feng Chao watched Lu Ming’s earlier fights and concluded that his own superior leg techniques and preparation would secure his victory.
• After the midday break, Lu Ming and Feng Chao met in Arena Eleven, exchanged remarks about Lu Ming’s techniques, and Feng Chao began the match with Chasing Wind Eighteen Kicks.

Lu Ming overcame Feng Chao’s great momentum with his grandmastery-level Iron Elephant Art and gained the upper hand in their duel. Feng Chao then revealed his spear and prepared to test Lu Ming’s defense with the penetrating power of the Duer Spear Art.

• Feng Chao opened with a powerful kick that carried great momentum, but Lu Ming shattered it with his surging aura and blocked the weakened strike.
• Lu Ming and Feng Chao exchanged leg techniques, and after six clashes Feng Chao was forced to retreat, leaving the audience stunned by Lu Ming’s strength.
• Huan Shaoyue recognized Lu Ming’s grandmastery-level Iron Elephant Art, while the top-ten contenders grew wary of Lu Ming’s power.
• Lu Ming urged Feng Chao to use all his strength, and Feng Chao revealed that he had been saving a spear technique for stronger opponents.
• Feng Chao drew his spear and explained that the Duer Spear Art could pierce Lu Ming’s defense, but Lu Ming remained unafraid and told him to try.

Lu Ming defeated Feng Chao by using the Great Momentum of Wind, drawing praise from the spectators and establishing himself as a top-ten contender. Later, Li Biehe faced seeded contestant Shan Shouqing in the ninth round and was pushed back after their opening exchanges.

• Lu Ming fought Feng Chao with his claws and leg techniques, dodging the spear attacks and displaying the Great Momentum of Wind.
• Feng Chao exhausted himself with Thousand Armies and Ten Thousand Horses, and Lu Ming won their match.
• The spectators praised Lu Ming, while He Jianjun and Li Biehe reacted to his strength; Lu Ming returned to recover his true qi.
• In the ninth round, Li Biehe faced Shan Shouqing, the seeded contestant in his group, after winning eight matches in a row.
• Shan Shouqing attacked with his staff, but Li Biehe countered with the Six Yin Soul Transformation Palm before Shan Shouqing’s advanced staff technique knocked him back several steps.

Li Biehe defeated Shan Shouqing with the Heavenly Sun Divine Art, and the competition narrowed the field to thirty disciples for the semifinals. Lu Ming and Li Biehe were placed in the same group, and the chapter ended as the first semifinal matches began.

• Li Biehe caught and reflected Shan Shouqing’s Wave-Calming Stance, defeating him in one move.
• Lu Ming explained that Li Biehe’s technique could be countered by overwhelming it or attacking before he formed its vortex.
• The first batch’s results left fifteen contestants undefeated, including Lu Ming, Zhu Ningyun, and Li Biehe, while Shan Shouqing, Feng Chao, and Gong Ying each had one loss.
• The afternoon matches selected the top thirty contestants, who were assigned to three groups for the semifinals the following day.
• Lu Ming and Li Biehe drew platform three, where they anticipated facing each other; the semifinals began, and Chi Xuan prepared to fight Gong Ying.

Lu Ming defeated Huan Shaoyue in a clash of External Skills by using his superior speed and a calculated feint, while the first round of the tournament concluded. The second round then began, leaving Lu Ming still in the competition alongside the other leading fighters.

• Chi Xuan defeated Gong Ying after dodging his Lion's Roar Art and striking him with a finger.
• He Jianjun defeated Li Quan with a single strand of Zither Sound Sword Qi, while Zongzheng Yunlou also won his match.
• Wei Yu defeated Zhao Ying, and Luo Long won his bout with ease.
• Lu Ming defeated Huan Shaoyue by exploiting his Great Momentum of Wind and luring him into a mistimed counterattack.
• Zhu Ningyun and Li Biehe won their matches, the first round ended, and the second round began.

Chi Xuan, He Jianjun, and Zongzheng Yunlou won their opening matches in the second round, while Lu Ming’s next opponent conceded without fighting. The chapter left Lu Ming poised to face stronger contenders, with his saber intent close to taking shape.

• Chi Xuan defeated Song Qi by splitting his powerful Saber Qi and leaving a precise cut in Song Qi’s clothes, then sheathed his sword and left the arena.
• Lu Ming’s fighting spirit nearly revealed his saber intent, and he sensed it was close to taking shape; Zhu Ningyun also sensed the sharpness coming from his direction.
• He Jianjun defeated Luo Long by sweeping away his Sword Qi with her Zither Sound Sword Qi and forcing him outside the arena.
• Zongzheng Yunlou defeated Wei Yu by using the Profound Gravity Falling Geese Technique to slow his movement and overcome his speed.
• Liu Qinghai conceded to Lu Ming, who gained two points without fighting.

Lu Ming defeated Li Biehe with his speed, then surprised the tournament crowd by revealing his saber skills and defeating Zongzheng Yunlou with one strike. Hegemon Saber Li Yishan recognized the technique as Old Man Heavenly Saber's ultimate art and said its creator had likely died years ago.

• Lu Ming overwhelmed Li Biehe with repeated palm strikes until the gray qi of the Heavenly Sun Divine Art shattered, then won the match.
• The crowd and the other contestants recognized Lu Ming as a serious contender after his victory over Li Biehe.
• Lu Ming faced Zongzheng Yunlou and drew the Wraith Blade to counter his Heavy Qi Field.
• Lu Ming used the Soul Slaying Style to split Zongzheng Yunlou's Heavy Qi Field, and the referee rescued Zongzheng Yunlou before the saber struck him.
• Hegemon Saber Li Yishan identified Lu Ming's technique as Old Man Heavenly Saber's ultimate art and revealed that Old Man Heavenly Saber had likely died years earlier.

Zhu Ningyun defeated Shan Shouqing with her Yi Jian Jue, then fought He Jianjun in a fierce match and lost after their sword techniques clashed. The tournament continued into its sixth round, where Chi Xuan won easily and He Jianjun faced Feng Chao.

• Zhu Ningyun defeated Shan Shouqing in fewer than a dozen strikes with her Yi Jian Jue.
• Chi Xuan defeated Zou Changmeng with a single strike, while Zongzheng Yunlou defeated Huan Shaoyue by trapping him in her gravity field.
• He Jianjun overwhelmed Zhu Ningyun with Zither Sound Sword Qi after Zhu Ningyun’s Layered Waves Stacking Clouds move broke apart, and Zhu Ningyun conceded.
• Lu Ming checked on Zhu Ningyun as she recovered with a Return True Pill, then Zhou You conceded to Lu Ming.
• Chi Xuan defeated Xu Tong easily in the sixth round, and He Jianjun began her match against Feng Chao.

The tournament continued as He Jianjun, Luo Long, Wei Yu, and other fighters advanced through their matches, while Lu Ming defeated Wei Yu by matching him in technique rather than drawing his saber. As the semifinals ended, Feng Chao defeated Shan Shouqing, setting the stage for the finals to decide the top fifteen rankings.

• He Jianjun defeated Feng Chao after adding the sixth string to her Zither Sound Sword Qi, and Luo Long defeated Shan Shouqing with his sword qi attacking from every direction.
• Wei Yu used his speed to wear down Li Biehe, but Li Biehe lost and secretly thought that mastering the tenth level of the Heavenly Sun Divine Art would let him absorb such attacks.
• Lu Ming agreed to fight Wei Yu with technique alone and defeated him after outmaneuvering his fan-based sword and saber techniques.
• Zou Changmeng defeated Xu Tong, while Feng Chao narrowly defeated Zhu Ningyun by exhausting her True Qi.
• He Jianjun defeated Shan Shouqing, Zhu Ningyun defeated Luo Long, and Zongzheng Yunlou defeated Li Biehe in the ninth round.
• Feng Chao defeated Shan Shouqing to close the semifinals, and the finals to determine the top fifteen rankings began.

The finals began after the tournament standings left Chi Xuan, He Jianjun, and Lu Ming as the leading contenders for first place. Lu Ming defeated a string of opponents, including Zhu Ningyun, and the chapter left the three frontrunners awaiting their peak confrontation.

• The semifinals' points established Chi Xuan, He Jianjun, and Lu Ming as the three candidates for first place, and the finals were postponed until the next day.
• Core Disciples gathered to watch, and Senior Brother Zheng warned them that this year's inner disciples included several powerful challengers, especially Chi Xuan, He Jianjun, and Lu Ming.
• The finals began across three platforms, where Chi Xuan defeated Feng Chao, He Jianjun defeated Li Biehe, and Lu Ming defeated Golden Saber Song Qi.
• Lu Ming went on to defeat Zou Changmeng, Luo Long, Shan Shouqing, and other opponents through his technique.
• Lu Ming defeated Zhu Ningyun with his Soul Chasing Style after they fought at high speed, and she warned him about the hidden strength of Chi Xuan and He Jianjun.

The lower rankings were finalized before He Jianjun and Chi Xuan began the top-three showdown. Chi Xuan defeated He Jianjun with a sword technique that showed his growing mastery of intent, then rested before his next match against Lu Ming.

• Feng Chao took fourth place, Zongzheng Yunlou fifth, and Zhu Ningyun sixth, while Zou Changmeng, Luo Long, and Song Qi placed seventh through ninth.
• The competitors drew lots, and He Jianjun and Chi Xuan were chosen for the first match while Lu Ming waited as number three.
• He Jianjun attacked with her zither, but Chi Xuan broke through her Seven Strings Without Sound with a highly condensed strand of Sword Qi.
• Chi Xuan used Profound Immutability to defeat He Jianjun, and the elders recognized his progress in comprehending an intent-based martial art.
• The referee gave Chi Xuan half an hour to rest before his next match against Lu Ming, while spectators expected Chi Xuan to take first place.

Lu Ming defeated Chi Xuan in the saber-and-sword showdown, first winning their contest of technique and then overcoming Chi Xuan’s sword strike with his Saber Intent Prototype. The Wuji Sect celebrated Lu Ming’s breakthrough and decided to reward Chu Yunxiao again, while Chi Xuan vowed to return after comprehending sword intent.

• Chi Xuan and Lu Ming began their duel by comparing their sword and saber techniques, exchanging rapid attacks across the arena.
• Lu Ming gained the advantage in technique, and Chi Xuan admitted that Lu Ming’s saber was faster after revealing a fine cut over his heart.
• Lu Ming and Chi Xuan’s powerful attacks canceled each other out, then Chi Xuan used Profound Immutability to trap Lu Ming in an unpredictable sword strike.
• Lu Ming revealed his Saber Intent Prototype, saw through Chi Xuan’s attack, and placed his saber against Chi Xuan’s neck to win.
• Li Yishan and Li Ansheng confirmed that Lu Ming had reached the threshold of saber intent, and the Sect Master ordered another reward for Chu Yunxiao.
• Chi Xuan accepted his defeat and promised to challenge Lu Ming again after comprehending sword intent.

After winning the grand tournament and receiving generous rewards, Lu Ming was summoned by Sect Master Li Ansheng and met Li Yishan, a renowned saber expert who had known Old Man Heavenly Saber. Li Yishan gave Lu Ming his Hegemon Saber Art, and Li Ansheng opened the Martial Skill Pavilion’s martial arts to him as the chapter ended.

• He Jianjun forfeited her final match against Lu Ming after learning he had comprehended saber intent, making Lu Ming the tournament champion, Chi Xuan second, and He Jianjun third.
• The sect awarded Lu Ming ten thousand Low-grade Yuan Stones, a chance to select a Human-grade, peak-stage martial art, and three Quiet Zen Pills; the tournament’s results drew attention from spies representing other Great Powers.
• The next day, Sect Master Li Ansheng summoned Lu Ming to Wuji Hall, where he met Li Yishan, a saber expert from Flying Dragon Ridge who asked about his late friend Old Man Heavenly Saber.
• Li Yishan gave Lu Ming his Hegemon Saber Art, explaining that parts of the Heavenly Saber Art had come from his own martial art.
• Li Ansheng told Lu Ming that the Martial Skill Pavilion’s martial arts, including its Human-grade, peak-stage arts, were open to him, while cautioning him not to cultivate beyond his ability.

Lu Ming tempered his blade intent until it took shape, advanced his cultivation, and mastered three new martial arts. He accepted a dangerous mission to investigate disappearances near Mysterious River Bay and left the sect carrying a Sky Thunder Seed for protection.

• Lu Ming reached the peak of the mid-stage Zhen Qi Realm and formed blade intent, which soon improved to roughly the middle of the one-tenth level.
• Lu Ming chose the Wind Riding Art, Thousand Jin Fist, and Thousand Jin Leg, then mastered them over the following month and advanced to the late-stage Zhen Qi Realm.
• Lu Ming disguised himself and accepted a five-star, level-five mission to investigate missing Martial Artists near Milo Dragon Bay.
• The registration elder sought the Sect Master's approval, and the Grand Elder gave Lu Ming a Sky Thunder Seed as a life-saving item.
• Lu Ming rented a Wuzhui Horse and rode away from the sect toward the mission site.

Lu Ming investigated the disappearances at Milo Dragon Bay, learned that an evil Baleful Intent might be involved, and entered the poisonous region alone. There he encountered Tong Xiao, an arrogant Nine Heavens Sect Core Disciple, before continuing deeper into the bay.

• Lu Ming questioned people in Lotus Fort and heard an old man warn that an evil Baleful Intent might be behind the recent disappearances.
• Lu Ming secretly left the inn and traveled to Longze River, taking precautions in case Lotus Fort was involved in a conspiracy.
• Lu Ming entered Milo Dragon Bay with Detoxifying Pills and crossed its treacherous cliffs, killing a venomous snake and finding a skeleton with a shattered skull.
• Lu Ming saw Tong Xiao fighting a demonic fish and met the Nine Heavens Sect Core Disciple when Tong Xiao leapt up to confront him.
• Tong Xiao bragged about his standing and left, while Lu Ming dismissed his arrogance and continued into Milo Dragon Bay.

Lu Ming discovered a Seven Kill Hall assassin training base in Milo Dragon Bay and killed its leader and four ambushers. After finding Tong Xiao’s body and an abandoned Training Ground, he left, and a Gang Qi Realm man arrived afterward and suspected the Jade Luo Sect’s Shadowless Blade had attacked.

• Lu Ming followed the river to a settlement of wooden houses and waited for a singing woman and four assassins to reveal themselves.
• The woman identified herself and her group as the Seven Kill Hall of the Holy Cult, and Lu Ming killed her and the four assassins with swift blade strikes.
• Lu Ming collapsed the ambush tunnel, destroyed the houses’ mechanisms from outside, and found Tong Xiao dead inside one of them.
• Lu Ming buried Tong Xiao beneath the wrecked house and inspected the Seven Kill Hall Training Ground, finding it empty before departing.
• A hooked-nosed middle-aged man at the early stage of the Gang Qi Realm found the corpses and suspected that the Jade Luo Sect’s Shadowless Blade had killed them.

After returning to Wuji Sect, Lu Ming heard that Chi Xuan and He Jianjun had advanced to the Core Disciples and decided to challenge for first among the Zhen Qi Realm Core Disciples. Meanwhile, Thunderclap Sword Guan Wuli returned from two years of training and went to watch Lu Ming’s challenge.

• Lu Ming inspected the Storage Rings he had taken, found a Mystic Immortal Sword Art manual, and counted his wealth at more than thirty-one thousand Low-grade Yuan Stones.
• Lu Ming returned to Wuji Sect and heard that Chi Xuan and He Jianjun had won their challenges to become Core Disciples.
• Lu Ming decided to challenge for first among the Zhen Qi Realm Core Disciples after submitting his mission.
• Guan Wuli told Senior Brother Zheng that his travels and battles had helped him glimpse the intent within martial arts.
• A Core Disciple told Guan Wuli and Senior Brother Zheng that Lu Ming was challenging for first, and Guan Wuli set out to watch.

Lu Ming defeated Chi Yunqing to become the number-one Zhen Qi Realm Core Disciple, then received an invitation to the Nanhua Merchant Alliance auction. After moving to Cui Bai Peak, he met with Guan Wuli and planned to travel to the auction with Wuji Sect.

• Lu Ming shattered Chi Yunqing's snowstorm attack with a single slash and claimed the number-one Zhen Qi Realm Core Disciple position.
• Cui Bai delivered Lu Ming an invitation to the Nanhua Merchant Alliance auction, where Lu Ming became interested in a Low-grade Divine Weapon defensive inner armor.
• Lu Ming moved to Cui Bai Peak and welcomed Guan Wuli, who shared advice about the intent within moves.
• Guan Wuli told Lu Ming that Wuji Sect would attend the auction to pursue the Divine Weapon inner armor, and Lu Ming planned to travel with the sect.

Lu Ming comprehended the Intent of Unfixedness by combining the Mystic Immortal Sword Art with his observations of Chi Xuan’s Unfixed Sword, then prepared to attend the auction with Gongsun He, Guan Wuli, and Zhu Ningyun. They arrived in Nanhua City and were welcomed by Alliance Leader Qi, who led them to their lodgings.

• Lu Ming practiced the Mystic Immortal Sword Art and combined its techniques with Chi Xuan’s Unfixed Sword, comprehending the Intent of Unfixedness through the momentum of fast and slow.
• Lu Ming tried to incorporate the intent into his saber techniques but decided he needed more martial arts experience before creating a suitable technique.
• Gongsun He, Guan Wuli, and Zhu Ningyun met Lu Ming at the mountaintop terrace, and the four departed for the auction on a Wind-Riding Eagle.
• During the flight, Guan Wuli and Gongsun He shared stories about traveling and powerful beasts they had encountered.
• The Wind-Riding Eagle brought them to Nanhua City, where Alliance Leader Qi welcomed them and escorted them to a luxurious courtyard.
• Guan Wuli wondered whether another power stood behind the wealthy Nanhua Merchant Alliance.

Guan Wuli took Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun to Nanhua City’s Antique Street, where Lu Ming used his ability to listen to the wind to win valuable items from sealed jars. As the three prepared to return, someone unexpectedly stopped them.

• Guan Wuli led Lu Ming and Zhu Ningyun to Antique Street and warned them not to spend recklessly.
• Zhu Ningyun paid twenty Low-grade Yuan Stones and, following Lu Ming’s guidance, smashed a jar containing a White Bone Jade Token.
• Lu Ming used his Secret to Listening to the Wind to pick a jar containing a Stone Slab, prompting the Pure Heart Pavilion’s attendant to close up and flee.
• Lu Ming explained his method to Guan Wuli and Zhu Ningyun, and Guan Wuli remarked that Lu Ming might soon comprehend wind intent.
• As the three finished exploring and prepared to return, someone stopped them.

In Nanhua City, Guan Wuli clashed with Nie Jianjun of the Nine Heavens Sect, who challenged the Wuji Sect disciples and threatened Lu Ming. Lu Ming effortlessly disarmed Zhou Lie with one saber strike, and Nie Jianjun left intending to deal with him and his companions in the secret realm.

• Nie Jianjun provoked Guan Wuli, and the two exchanged palm strikes before agreeing to settle their rivalry in the secret realm.
• Nie Jianjun sent Zhou Lie to challenge the Wuji Sect disciples, and Lu Ming stepped forward to fight him.
• Lu Ming drew and sheathed the Wraith Blade so quickly that it split Zhou Lie's clothes without injuring him.
• Nie Jianjun tried to strike Lu Ming, but Guan Wuli intercepted him, and Nie Jianjun warned Lu Ming not to enter the secret realm.
• Guan Wuli told Lu Ming to avoid Nie Jianjun in the secret realm, while Lu Ming remained confident he could contend with him.
• A Nine Heavens Sect disciple suggested killing Lu Ming, Guan Wuli, and Zhu Ningyun, but Nie Jianjun rejected acting in the city and hoped they would meet inside the secret realm.

Shu Buqi assessed Lu Ming’s swordsmanship and discussed the coming Ten Nations Prodigy Competition with a Fenglin Kingdom prodigy. The next morning, Lu Ming and the others attended a major auction, which began as masked bidders arrived and Yuan Zhen revealed the opening item.

• Shu Buqi told a Fenglin Kingdom woman that Lu Ming’s slash was fast and that he had grasped the momentum of speed, though Shu Buqi’s own blade was faster.
• The woman and Shu Buqi agreed to use the secret realm to grow stronger before the Ten Nations Prodigy Competition in two and a half years.
• Gongsun He praised Lu Ming for standing up to a Nine Heavens Sect disciple and warned him that Nie Jianjun was ruthless and dangerous.
• Lu Ming and his companions entered the auction with groups from Jade Luo Sect and Nine Heavens Sect, while other powers and martial artists arrived.
• Two concealed bidders discussed obtaining a Low-grade Inner Armor and said they might seize it by force if its buyer seemed weak.
• Yuan Zhen opened the auction, and a beautiful woman brought out the first item on a covered tray.

Lu Ming recognized an ancient Stone Slab at the auction as resembling the one he had obtained the day before and bid on it. When Zhou Lie and Nie Jianjun drove up the price for Nine Heavens Sect, Lu Ming stopped at his limit, leaving the bidding unresolved at 4,100 Low-grade Yuan Stones.

• Yuan Zhen auctioned Purple Spirit Liquid, which Room D-16 won for 3,200 Low-grade Yuan Stones.
• Room C-20 won the Human-grade, peak-stage Immortal Crane Technique for 8,000 Low-grade Yuan Stones, prompting Gongsun He to remind Lu Ming, Zhu Ningyun, and Guan Wuli of the sect's value.
• Lu Ming compared the auction's ancient Stone Slab with the one he had obtained yesterday and decided to bid on it.
• Lu Ming and Zhou Lie raised the Stone Slab's price as their sects' rivalry became apparent, and Lu Ming stopped bidding at 4,000 Low-grade Yuan Stones.
• Nie Jianjun ordered Zhou Lie to continue bidding, and Zhou Lie raised the price to 4,100 Low-grade Yuan Stones while Lu Ming remained silent.