Recaps

Lin Bai and Tang Shu sparred under Dong Dian’s supervision, but Lin Bai’s overwhelming sword technique nearly killed Tang Shu. Dong Dian intercepted the fatal strike by taking Lin Bai’s sword through his shoulder, then praised Lin Bai’s unmatched sword.

• Dong Dian permitted Lin Bai and Tang Shu to spar and promised to prevent either from dying.
• Tang Shu attacked with A Glimpse of a Thousand Years and a succession of sword techniques, but Lin Bai evaded them all.
• Lin Bai unleashed Purgatory Seventy-Two Kills and pierced through Tang Shu’s defenses toward his throat.
• Dong Dian intercepted Lin Bai’s strike and was pierced through the left shoulder instead of Tang Shu.
• Lin Bai withdrew his sword in alarm, and Dong Dian praised his sword technique while asking whether the two were satisfied.

Lin Bai accidentally wounded Dong Dian while stopping Tang Shu from attacking, then discussed a flaw he sensed in Purgatory Seventy-Two Kills with his mentor. Dong Dian explained the Dao Tower’s connection to the Celestial God Tomb, and Lin Bai returned to secluded cultivation ahead of the upcoming martial competition.

• Lin Bai’s sword pierced Dong Dian’s shoulder while Tang Shu hid behind him, and Dong Dian declared the grudge between Lin Bai and Tang Shu settled.
• Lin Bai questioned Dong Dian about an unevenness in Purgatory Seventy-Two Kills, but Dong Dian attributed it to Lin Bai rushing his progress.
• Lin Bai insisted he would enter this year’s martial competition and said he could defeat Gongyang Hao despite being at the seventh level of the Apex Realm.
• Dong Dian told Lin Bai that the Dao Tower offered a chance to obtain qualification to enter the Celestial God Tomb, which could let martial artists leave the Barren Ancient Continent.
• Lin Bai left Swordless Mountain and resumed secluded cultivation at Little Yuan Mountain to prepare for the competition.

As the Dragon Court and Phoenix Pavilion martial competition approached, Prince Rong arrived in the Divine Capital with Mo Wenshen and Wen Jia, who had grown into a fifth-stage Apex Realm expert. At a restaurant, Young Master Qian tried to secure Ji Wu’s support for the Crown Prince by promising him the Ji Family leadership if the Crown Prince took the throne.

• Disciples and prominent lineages returned to the Divine Capital ahead of the martial competition.
• Prince Rong entered the city in a grand procession accompanied by Mo Wenshen and Wen Jia.
• Mo Wenshen praised the Divine Capital and told Wen Jia he would meet its powerful figures and prodigies.
• Ji Wu and Young Master Qian discussed the princes and families withholding support from the Crown Prince.
• Young Master Qian promised Ji Wu the Ji Family leadership if the Crown Prince ascended the throne.

Ji Wu demanded that the Crown Prince secure him a qualification for the Celestial God Tomb before he would pledge his support, leaving Young Master Qian to report the terms. As the Divine Capital filled with visitors ahead of the martial competition, Grand Princess Shui Yunmeng visited Lin Bai to complain about being paraded before potential suitors.

• Ji Wu told Young Master Qian that he would support the Crown Prince if he obtained a Celestial God Tomb qualification, explaining that he needed a way to survive if the Crown Prince lost the succession struggle.
• Young Master Qian agreed to report Ji Wu's demand to the Crown Prince, while Ji Wu warned that the Seventeenth Prince had received the same offer.
• As martial artists arrived in the Divine Capital for the competition, lineages crowded the prestigious residences, and the Sword Alliance prospered in the Badlands Prefecture under Si Ce's relaxed restrictions.
• Grand Princess Shui Yunmeng barged into Lin Bai's palace with wine and complained that her father had been making her meet potential husbands.
• Lin Bai laughed at Shui Yunmeng's frustration until she glared at him with murderous intent.

Lin Bai learned about the favored contestants and political stakes of the Dragon Court and Phoenix Pavilion competition, then went to Dragon Phoenix Pavilion to take part in the preliminary round. He arrived at the arena, where Celestial Fiend Puppets had been set up for the contestants.

• Shui Yunmeng warned Lin Bai that most competitors would be ninth-stage Apex Realm martial artists and showed him Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's list of likely top-ten contestants.
• Shui Yunmeng described the rivalry between Liu En and Gongyang Hao and named other powerful contestants from Dragon Court and Phoenix Pavilion.
• Shui Yunmeng said the competition could affect who would become the Holy Kingdom's future sovereign, and Lin Bai realized it could give the Crown Prince and Seventeenth Prince a chance to contend.
• After five days of cultivation, Lin Bai followed Mo Ling to Dragon Phoenix Pavilion for the preliminary round.
• Lin Bai saw the crowded arena plaza, where Celestial Fiend Puppets stood ready on both sides.

Lin Bai arrived at the Dragon Phoenix Pavilion arena to take the preliminary test against a Celestial Fiend Puppet, where he clashed with Phoenix Pavilion disciple Liu Yuqing. After Liu Yuqing mocked him and the Dragon Court, Lin Bai challenged him to defeat the puppet in fewer moves, and another Phoenix Pavilion disciple intervened as their wager was being set.

• Mo Ling explained that defeating a Celestial Fiend Puppet would qualify Lin Bai for the public competition the next morning.
• Liu Yuqing mocked a Dragon Court disciple who had failed and disparaged the Dragon Court, drawing resentment from its disciples.
• After a Dragon Court disciple failed the test, Lin Bai stepped forward to challenge the Celestial Fiend Puppet.
• Liu Yuqing mocked Lin Bai for being at the seventh level of the Apex Realm, and Lin Bai challenged him to defeat the puppet in fewer moves.
• Liu Yuqing agreed to compete, and another young man called out for Liu Yuqing to accept Lin Bai's wager as the crowd recognized Senior Brother Wen Su.

Lin Bai faced Liu Yuqing’s challenge to defeat the Celestial Fiend Puppet and answered the Phoenix Pavilion’s mockery with a single sword strike. The crowd was left stunned after he split the puppet in two, and he challenged Liu Yuqing’s claim that nine moves was impressive.

• Wen Su arrived and encouraged Liu Yuqing, while Dragon Court disciples berated Lin Bai for representing them.
• Liu Yuqing defeated the Celestial Fiend Puppet in nine moves and challenged Lin Bai to do better.
• A Dragon Court elder secretly told Lin Bai that the puppet’s weak point was three inches beneath its armpit.
• Lin Bai stood still as the puppet attacked, then drew his demon sword and cut it cleanly in half with one strike.
• Lin Bai asked Liu Yuqing whether defeating the puppet in nine moves was really impressive.

Lin Bai passed the preliminary round by destroying the Celestial Fiend Puppet with one sword and learned that his exceptional showing had placed him in the fiercely competitive Dragon Arena. At dawn, he prepared for the tournament and Shui Yunmeng visited him, recognizing that he had qualified.

• Lin Bai cleaved the Celestial Fiend Puppet in two with a single sword, stunning the onlookers and leaving Liu Yuqing speechless.
• Wen Su dismissed Lin Bai’s victory and predicted that he would lose the official tournament, while Lin Bai told him they would meet the next day.
• The elder gave Lin Bai a tournament token marked Dragon Platform Seventy-Seven, and Mo Ling explained that the Dragon Arena held the fiercest competition, including Liu En and Gongyang Hao.
• Lin Bai returned to the Dragon Court, thanked Mo Ling for her help, and rested through the night before the tournament.
• At dawn, Lin Bai dressed in his tournament robe, and Shui Yunmeng visited him and praised his rapid progress and success in qualifying.

Lin Bai and Shui Yunmeng went to Dragon Phoenix Pavilion for the competition, where Lin Bai learned more about the fierce Dragon Arena and met Iron Sword Marquis and other familiar faces. Iron Sword Marquis encouraged him to do his best, while Wude Marquis arrived still resentful over Shui Qiudie’s victory against his son.

• Lin Bai and Shui Yunmeng discussed his rapid progress and learned that he would compete in the notoriously fierce Dragon Arena.
• At Dragon Phoenix Pavilion, Iron Sword Marquis arrived with Shui Qiudie and guards, praised Lin Bai for defeating the Celestial Fiend Puppet, and invited him to sit with them.
• Lin Bai saw that the Dragon Arena was far larger than the other arenas and realized its matches would be especially brutal.
• Iron Sword Marquis reminded Lin Bai that his cultivation was still limited and encouraged him to treat the competition as a chance to gain experience.
• Wude Marquis arrived with his children, including Wu Sheng, and toasted Iron Sword Marquis, but his expression darkened afterward; Shui Yunmeng remarked that he still blamed them for his son’s defeat to Shui Qiudie.

Lin Bai watched the Sacred Kingdom’s powerful figures gather at the Dragon Court Phoenix Pavilion Tournament as Lu Yin warned that the succession struggle was about to intensify. The chapter ended with Lin Bai learning that all eighteen first-grade Army Marquis Estates had independently stationed one hundred thousand troops outside Dragon Phoenix Estate, without receiving orders.

• The Right Prime Minister arrived after the Army Marquises, greeted Iron Sword Marquis and the two princesses, and took his place at the gathering.
• Lu Yin told Lin Bai that the Crown Prince and Seventeenth Prince would use the tournament to recruit support, making the event the opening act of the throne struggle.
• Lu Yin explained that the Sacred Kingdom’s major powers were still neutral, and that their eventual choices could trigger fierce fighting.
• Lu Yin revealed that Iron Sword Marquis Estate and the other first-grade Army Marquis Estates had each sent one hundred thousand elite soldiers to wait outside Dragon Phoenix Estate without orders.

Lin Bai watched the Sacred Kingdom’s powerful figures gather at Dragon Phoenix Estate for the martial contest, including the Left Prime Minister, Dragon Lord, Phoenix Lord, and two bureau chiefs. The Imperial Advisor then arrived, leaving the assembled guests awaiting the remaining events.

• The eighteen First-Rank Army Marquises deployed a hundred thousand elite soldiers outside Dragon Phoenix Estate, puzzling Lin Bai and Lu Yin.
• The Left Prime Minister arrived and reunited warmly with Iron Sword Marquis before taking his seat beside the Right Prime Minister.
• Dragon Lord Ke Yan and Phoenix Lord entered together and took seats beside each other.
• Dragon Slaying Bureau Chief Zhang Wu descended from the sky and took his place on the third tier.
• Hanging Sword Bureau Chief Ming Yuan arrived with Dan Xiaonan, who smiled at Lin Bai before leaving with Ming Yuan.
• The Imperial Advisor entered the venue riding a white deer that walked through the air, and the martial artists rose to greet him.

Lin Bai attended the martial contest, where Imperial Advisor Chao Dao noticed his rapid cultivation and the Four Great Princes arrived. Prince Gui then fixed Lin Bai with a chilling smile that made Lin Bai feel the prince somehow knew him.

• Imperial Advisor Chao Dao greeted the officials and paused to ask about Lin Bai, learning that Lin Bai had reached the seventh stage of the Apex Realm.
• Chao Dao privately noted Lin Bai’s progress and sighed that events would happen soon, while the Left Prime Minister drank nearby.
• Prince Rong, Prince Hua, Prince Fu, and Prince Gui arrived with a large escort, and the officials rose to welcome them.
• Prince Hua and Prince Fu argued over their past rivalry for the Phoenix Lord, while Lu Yin described the Four Great Princes to Lin Bai.
• Prince Gui noticed Lin Bai watching him and gave him a frightening smile that left Lin Bai feeling the prince knew him.

The Crown Prince and the Seventeenth Prince arrived at the Dragon Court and Phoenix Pavilion martial contest, where Lin Bai recognized several familiar people among the assembled guests. The contest began with ten platforms calling up numbered competitors, and Lin Bai saw that his match on the Dragon Platform was number seventy-seven.

• Prince Gui gave Lin Bai a chilling look, and Lin Bai later recognized Mo Wenshen and Wen Jia standing together behind Prince Rong.
• The Crown Prince arrived and urged the Dragon Lord and Phoenix Lord to begin the contest before the Seventeenth Prince had arrived.
• The Seventeenth Prince arrived with Zhao Yue as his attendant, and Lin Bai recognized her as Ye Suxin.
• The Dragon Lord announced the contest after the Crown Prince and Seventeenth Prince took their seats, and the Phoenix Lord left him to manage the princes.
• Ten referee elders called out the first matches, and Lin Bai checked his token and found he was Dragon Platform number seventy-seven.

The Dragon Phoenix Pavilion’s martial competition began, and Lin Bai watched the early fights before his turn approached. He stepped onto the Dragon Arena as the crowd and several powerful observers focused on him.

• The elders announced the rules and began the competition across ten arenas, where the first round of battles unfolded.
• Sikong Jian defeated Lin Zhuo on the Dragon Arena, and Lin Bai noted that Sikong Jian had held back some of his strength.
• As the Dragon Arena’s match numbers neared his, Lin Bai told the Iron Sword Marquis he would prepare; the Marquis encouraged him, while Shui Qiudie disparaged him and Shui Yunmeng defended his strength.
• Prince Gui, the Imperial Advisor, the Left Prime Minister, and the Crown Prince noticed Lin Bai; the Crown Prince considered arranging a match between Lin Bai and Shui Yunmeng if he performed well.
• When the elder called the two competitors numbered seventy-seven, Lin Bai leaped onto the Dragon Arena as the spectators turned to watch.

Lin Bai faced Phoenix Pavilion swordsman Gu Tiancheng in his first arena battle and evaded his lightning-fast strike without drawing his own sword. He then revealed his mastery of Purgatory Seventy-Two Kills, astonishing the spectators and leaving the duel poised for his counterattack.

• Lin Bai entered the Dragon Platform and was matched against Gu Tiancheng of the Phoenix Pavilion, whose presence worried Shui Yunmeng and Dong Dian.
• Gu Tiancheng offered Lin Bai time to display his abilities, but Lin Bai declined and challenged him to a fair battle.
• Gu Tiancheng launched a swift sword thrust at Lin Bai, who dodged it with a slight tilt of his head.
• Gu Tiancheng acknowledged Lin Bai as a worthy opponent, and Lin Bai drew the Demon Sword and challenged him to catch one of his attacks.
• Lin Bai unleashed Purgatory Seventy-Two Kills, prompting Gongyang Hao to recognize the technique and Phoenix Lord and Dragon Lord to marvel at Lin Bai's sword talent.

Lin Bai defeated Gu Tiancheng on the Dragon Platform with the Fleeting Shadow technique, then learned his next opponent would be Phoenix Pavilion Thirty-Five. Gongyang Hao confronted Lin Bai over the Purgatory Seventy-Two Kills and declared war on him.

• Lin Bai overwhelmed Gu Tiancheng with his sword force and defeated him, advancing from Dragon Platform Seventy-Seven to Dragon Court Thirty-Five.
• Phoenix Lord and Dragon Lord discussed Lin Bai's mastery of the Purgatory Seventy-Two Kills, while Su Xianmei and Seventh Young Master praised his performance.
• Shui Qiudie dismissed Lin Bai's victory as luck, but Shui Yunmeng and Iron Sword Marquis defended his skill, and Iron Sword Marquis suggested arranging him an official post.
• Lin Bai waited beside the Dragon Platform for his next match, and Gongyang Hao of Phoenix Pavilion approached him.
• Gongyang Hao asked Lin Bai about the Purgatory Seventy-Two Kills and declared that he had come to declare war.

Lin Bai advanced through the Dragon Platform rounds and reached the top sixteen, where he learned that his next opponent would be Liu Yuqing of the Phoenix Pavilion. The Dragon Court fighters gathered to discuss their rivals and warned that Gongyang Hao was the tournament’s greatest threat.

• Gongyang Hao declared that he would fight Lin Bai without holding back if they met on the Dragon Platform, and Lin Bai accepted the challenge.
• Liu Yushan easily defeated his opponent, while Lin Bai and other competitors won their successive battles.
• After six rounds, Lin Bai and fifteen other fighters remained; six Dragon Court fighters and ten Phoenix Pavilion fighters had advanced.
• Liu En, Luo Liang, Huang Jinyu, Yang Xingyu, and Fu Tu joined Lin Bai to discuss the upcoming matches, and Fu Tu identified Liu Yuqing as Lin Bai’s opponent.
• Liu En and Yang Xingyu warned that Gongyang Hao was likely the strongest competitor and could claim first place for the Phoenix Pavilion.

Liu Yushan defeated Luo Liang in the first Dragon Arena round-of-sixteen match and secured a place in the round of eight. Afterward, Crown Prince tried to recruit both fighters, prompting Seventeenth Prince to object.

• Liu Yushan and Luo Liang began a fierce battle, exchanging thousands of blows while the spectators watched.
• Liu Yushan broke through Luo Liang's defenses and sent him to the edge of the arena, but Luo Liang launched his ultimate saber strike in a desperate attack.
• Liu Yushan countered with the Subduing Heaven Palm, left unharmed, and forced Luo Liang to concede.
• Crown Prince praised both fighters and offered to arrange positions for them in the Divine Capital.
• Seventeenth Prince objected to Crown Prince recruiting the fighters, wary of the strength they would add to his faction.

Lin Bai fought Liu Yuqing in the final match for the last top-eight spot, revealing greater strength after Liu Yuqing initially wounded him. Lin Bai gained the advantage, but Liu Yushan secretly guided Liu Yuqing’s attacks, and Liu Yuqing began exploiting openings in Lin Bai’s defenses.

• Lin Bai and Liu Yuqing began their top-sixteen match, with Liu Yuqing vowing to break Lin Bai’s bones over their earlier clash.
• Liu Yuqing struck Lin Bai hard enough to send him flying and make him spit blood.
• Lin Bai revealed that he had been using only thirty percent of his strength, then overwhelmed Liu Yuqing with a powerful sword strike and a barrage of attacks.
• As Lin Bai pressed his advantage, Liu Yushan used his martial soul to secretly instruct Liu Yuqing to target Lin Bai’s abdomen, face, and legs.
• Liu Yuqing followed the instructions and struck Lin Bai’s abdomen, then shifted an attack toward his thigh, which Lin Bai blocked with Five-Colored Divine Lightning.

Lin Bai used the Hundred Ghosts Parade sword technique to trap Liu Yuqing, but Liu Yuqing revealed that he had not been defeated and prepared to use his martial soul. The chapter ended as a colossal force shattered Lin Bai’s sword lights and exposed Liu Yuqing within them.

• Lin Bai noticed Liu Yuqing’s improved tactics and realized someone was warning him about Lin Bai’s deliberately exposed opening.
• Lin Bai renewed his attack, unleashing the Hundred Ghosts Parade and sealing off Liu Yuqing’s escape routes.
• Liu Yushan told Liu Yuqing to use his martial soul, and Liu Yuqing’s fear turned to confidence.
• Liu Yuqing’s laughter revealed that he had survived the sword attack, and a colossal force blasted apart the surrounding sword lights.

Liu Yuqing revealed his God-Rank Soul, Eight-Armed Yama, and overwhelmed Lin Bai with its power. Lin Bai remained on the arena and questioned who had permitted Liu Yuqing to unleash his soul, but Liu Yuqing prepared to knock him off.

• Liu Yuqing unleashed his Eight-Armed Yama soul, shocking Dragon Lord and the spectators with his eight weapons and Netherworld power.
• Liu Yuqing charged Lin Bai, who used his flying swords, Five-Colored Divine Lightning, and Demon Sword to defend himself but was driven toward the arena's edge.
• Liu Yuqing struck Lin Bai with the Emperor's Seal, sending him rolling to the edge of the arena, just one step from falling off.
• Lin Bai got back to his feet and taunted Liu Yuqing for failing to knock him off the arena.
• Lin Bai asked who had given Liu Yuqing permission to unleash his soul, and Liu Yuqing refused to answer before preparing to send him off the arena.

Lin Bai defeated Liu Yuqing with a sword strike that revealed his mastery of Great Dao to Simplicity and raised his Dao Resonance to two feet. After advancing to the top eight, he accused Liu Yushan of secretly guiding his brother and accepted his challenge with a taunt.

• Liu Yuqing charged Lin Bai with his eight divine weapons, but Lin Bai fused his nine artistic conceptions and Dao Resonance before striking with Slay the Immortals.
• Lin Bai’s strike shattered six of Liu Yuqing’s arms and sent him flying to the edge of the arena, while the Dragon Lord, Phoenix Lord, and Divine Capital Sword Saint recognized Great Dao to Simplicity.
• Dong Dian observed Lin Bai’s Dao Resonance rise to two feet, a level no martial artist had reached before entering the Dao Tower.
• Lin Bai questioned Liu Yuqing about who had guided him, then recognized Liu Yushan’s involvement when Liu Yushan confronted him.
• Lin Bai kicked Liu Yuqing off the Dragon Platform and told Liu Yushan to stop his underhanded interference.
• Liu Yushan challenged Lin Bai, who mocked his strength and walked off the arena after advancing to the top eight.

After Lin Bai defeated Liu Yuqing, the Crown Prince used his victory as an opportunity to bestow a marriage between Lin Bai and Shui Yunmeng. Shui Yunmeng blushed and looked toward Lin Bai as the Crown Prince asked whether she accepted.

• The eight quarterfinalists were announced, and spectators began to regard Lin Bai with awe after his victory over Liu Yuqing.
• The Seventeenth Prince recognized Lin Bai and grew more hostile as he recalled their past grudge.
• At Young Master Qian’s suggestion, the Crown Prince publicly proposed matching Lin Bai with Shui Yunmeng.
• Lin Bai explained to Liu En, Fu Tu, and Huang Jinyu how the marriage could win the Crown Prince favor with both him and the Iron Sword Marquis Estate.
• The Iron Sword Marquis said the decision depended on Shui Yunmeng’s wishes, and the Crown Prince asked her what she thought of the match.

The Crown Prince proposed that Shui Yunmeng marry Lin Bai and offered Lin Bai the rank of Great General, while the Seventeenth Prince tried to derail the arrangement. Shui Yunmeng made her agreement conditional on Lin Bai winning first place in the Dragon Platform martial competition, a condition the princes believed he could not meet, though Zhao Yue knew his true strength.

• The Crown Prince offered Lin Bai the position of Great General if Shui Yunmeng accepted his marriage proposal, putting pressure on her to decide.
• Zhao Yue urged the Seventeenth Prince to oppose the arrangement, warning that it would strengthen the Crown Prince and protect Lin Bai from revenge for the Poison God Family.
• The Seventeenth Prince and Crown Prince argued over whether Shui Yunmeng should decide immediately or wait, making their rivalry apparent to the silent assembly.
• Shui Yunmeng said she would accept the arrangement only if Lin Bai won first place in the Dragon Platform martial competition.
• The Crown Prince accepted her condition with displeasure, while the Seventeenth Prince confidently predicted Lin Bai would fail and Zhao Yue privately recalled that Lin Bai could defeat any of his upcoming opponents.

After Shui Yunmeng agreed to the Crown Prince’s bestowed marriage on the condition that Lin Bai won first place on Dragon Platform, Lin Bai resolved to claim the title despite fearing Bai Xiaoxiao’s reaction. The quarterfinal matchups were announced, leaving Lin Bai set to face Liu Yushan.

• Shui Yunmeng agreed to the bestowed marriage if Lin Bai won first place on Dragon Platform, and Lin Bai resolved to pursue the title.
• Xun Zhizang and Su Yanhua discussed whether Shui Yunmeng would become Lin Bai’s concubine, while the Seventh Young Master warned that the marriage could fuel the Crown Prince and Seventeenth Prince’s rivalry.
• Su Xianmei recalled that Li Subai had forced several of Lin Duo’s brothers to write marriage contracts for their children, including one betrothing her to Lin Bai.
• The Dragon Platform Elder announced the quarterfinal matchups, including Gongyang Hao versus Fu Tu and Lin Bai versus Liu Yushan.
• Liu Yushan glared viciously at Lin Bai, who remained calm and determined to win first place.