Recaps

After the Emperor ordered the imperial city sealed, Lin Bai tried to escape with Consort Yun but was stopped by Quake Arrows and Meng Xiao’s troops. Lin Bai fought back with more Quake Arrows and charged at Meng Xiao, determined to take Consort Yun with him.

• The Emperor ordered the Moon God Defense Array activated and the city searched for Lin Bai.
• Meng Xiao activated the array as Lin Bai flew toward the city wall with Consort Yun, who urged him to surrender.
• A Quake Arrow struck Lin Bai, and Consort Yun hit him from behind, sending him crashing into a building before she escaped.
• Meng Xiao arrived with more than a thousand soldiers, and Consort Yun asked him to capture Lin Bai.
• Lin Bai fired nine Quake Arrows at Meng Xiao and his troops, then detonated the arrow Meng Xiao had caught.
• Lin Bai charged at Meng Xiao with the Azure Song Sword and declared that he would take Consort Yun with him.

Lin Bai was overwhelmed by Meng Xiao and the Imperial Guard’s Quake Arrows, but he unleashed the Devouring Sword Soul to destroy the soldiers surrounding him. After absorbing their vital blood, Lin Bai recovered from his wounds and advanced to the seventh level of the Heaven Martial Realm, while Meng Xiao and the other generals looked on in terror.

• Lin Bai cleaved Meng Xiao’s Grade Five Spirit Tool saber in two, but Meng Xiao retreated with Consort Yun as Imperial Guard reinforcements arrived.
• Meng Xiao ordered the troops to fire Quake Arrows and form a shield of light, knocking Lin Bai back and leaving him vulnerable to the arrows’ explosions.
• The Moon God Legion soldiers charged Lin Bai and wounded him as the Quake Arrows’ force made it difficult for him to defend himself.
• Lin Bai unleashed the Devouring Sword Soul, which drained the blood of tens of thousands of soldiers and drew spiritual power from nearby buildings.
• Lin Bai absorbed the soldiers’ vital blood, healed his wounds, replenished his true qi, and broke through to the seventh level of the Heaven Martial Realm.

Lin Bai defeated Meng Xiao and the Moon God Legion, seized Consort Yun, and broke through the Moon God Formation to escape the Great Moon Kingdom's imperial capital. He warned the emperor to halt the attack on the Divine Martial Nation, and the emperor ordered the Second Prince to stop and marched toward Jiayue Pass.

• Lin Bai shattered the Moon God Shield, killed nine Moon God Legion generals, slew Meng Xiao, and took Consort Yun captive.
• Lin Bai broke open the Moon God Formation and flew toward the city gate with Consort Yun.
• The Great Moon Kingdom's emperor arrived with tens of thousands of soldiers, and Lin Bai's Wind Severing sword technique carved a massive scar toward the Forbidden City.
• Lin Bai warned the emperor that he would return to destroy the capital if the Divine Martial Nation fell, then escaped with Consort Yun.
• The emperor ordered the Second Prince to stop attacking the Divine Martial Nation and gathered a million Moon God Legion soldiers to march to Jiayue Pass.

As Jiayue Pass faced another assault by the Great Moon Kingdom, the Grand Princess struggled to choose between surrender and resistance while Lin Bai was absent. The enemy brought out two City-Shattering Cannons, and the four million defenders were left weighing their choices.

• News spread across the Great Moon Kingdom that Lin Bai had abducted Consort Yun from the imperial palace.
• The Grand Princess heard from Chu Jiangliu that Lin Bai had gone to find a way to make the Great Moon Kingdom withdraw, while Wu Jian and Huo Ling accused him of fleeing.
• Tuoba Feng ordered two City-Shattering Cannons pushed onto the battlefield, alarming the Grand Princess and the defenders at Jiayue Pass.
• The Grand Princess told the soldiers they could surrender or fight to the death, and Wu Jian and Huo Ling urged them to seek peace.
• The four million soldiers listened with conflicted expressions as the Grand Princess fell silent.

As the Great Moon Kingdom prepared to breach Jiayue Pass, the Grand Princess’s army rejected peace and rallied to fight to the death. The City-Shattering Cannons then blasted a hole in the wall, and Tuoba Feng ordered his forces to storm the pass.

• Wu Jian and Fire Spirit urged the soldiers to seek peace, but the Grand Princess and Chu Jiangliu remained silent.
• A soldier asked what peace would cost, prompting the four-million-man legion to reject ceding territory or becoming a vassal state and vow to fight to the death.
• Wu Jian and Fire Spirit denounced the soldiers, so the Grand Princess ordered Chu Jiangliu to arrest them; the troops overwhelmed and captured the pair.
• The Grand Princess raised her sword and led the army in renewed cries to fight to the death and never surrender.
• The City-Shattering Cannons blasted a hole in Jiayue Pass’s wall, and Tuoba Feng ordered the City-Shattering Cannon legion and Black Moon Legion to charge inside.

The Great Moon Kingdom breached Jiayue Pass, and its forces fought the Divine Martial Nation’s defenders in a devastating battle. After Tuoba Feng wounded the Grand Princess, Lin Bai arrived to find the battlefield covered in corpses and roared for the fighting to stop.

• The Grand Princess led Ji Bei and Ji Bai into battle while Chu Jiangliu organized the defense of Jiayue Pass.
• Tang Tianhao led the Sacred Moon Sect against the Spirit Sword Sect, as the Grand Princess fought the Great Moon Kingdom’s troops.
• Tuoba Feng ordered the City-Shattering Cannons to destroy the Heavy Shield Battalion, allowing his army to break through the breach.
• Chu Jiangliu led four million soldiers into close combat, while Tuoba Feng defeated the Grand Princess and mocked her hopes of Lin Bai’s return.
• Lin Bai arrived at Jiayue Pass, saw the carnage, and shouted for the battle to stop.

Lin Bai returned to Jiayue Pass on the tenth day and seized Consort Yun, threatening the Great Moon Kingdom into withdrawing its troops. The Great Moon Kingdom emperor arrived and ordered Tuoba Feng to retreat, and its soldiers withdrew from the pass.

• Lin Bai appeared atop Jiayue Pass holding Consort Yun, and the Divine Martial Nation soldiers and Spirit Sword Sect warriors rallied at his return.
• Lin Bai demanded that Tuoba Feng withdraw his troops and stabbed Consort Yun through the shoulder when Tuoba Feng refused to decide.
• Tang Tianhao urged Tuoba Feng to continue the assault, while Lin Bai threatened to cut off Consort Yun's arm unless the Great Moon Kingdom retreated.
• The Great Moon Kingdom emperor arrived with a million troops and agreed to withdraw to protect Consort Yun.
• The emperor ordered Tuoba Feng to retreat, and Tuoba Feng commanded the Great Moon Kingdom soldiers inside Jiayue Pass to withdraw.

Lin Bai negotiated the Great Moon Kingdom’s withdrawal and agreed to fight Tuoba Feng in a martial contest, with Diao Cheng of Divine Relic Ridge guaranteeing that the wager would be honored. The chapter ended with Lin Bai accepting the fight after Diao Cheng promised Divine Relic Ridge would destroy the kingdom if it broke the agreement.

• Diao Cheng explained to Wu Song that Lin Bai had captured Consort Yun instead of the emperor to keep Tuoba Feng from seizing the throne.
• Tuoba Feng’s forces withdrew from Jiayue Pass, but Lin Bai refused to release Consort Yun until the walls of Jiayue Pass and Nanning Pass were restored.
• The emperor offered Lin Bai the Great Moon Kingdom in exchange for Consort Yun, angering Tuoba Feng.
• Tuoba Feng challenged Lin Bai to a martial contest, wagering the Divine Martial Nation’s southern border and Consort Yun against the Great Moon Kingdom’s withdrawal and a ten-year peace.
• Diao Cheng arrived with Wu Song, identified himself as an elder of Divine Relic Ridge, and agreed to witness the wager.
• Diao Cheng promised Divine Relic Ridge would flatten the Great Moon Kingdom within a day if it broke the wager, and Lin Bai agreed to fight.

Lin Bai returned Consort Yun and faced Tuoba Feng in battle before the Great Moon Kingdom and Divine Martial Nation armies. Tuoba Feng unleashed his Heaven Dawn Spear Technique and appeared to have struck Lin Bai, but the dust had not cleared when he declared himself king.

• Lin Bai returned Consort Yun to the Great Moon Kingdom, where the emperor caught and comforted her while she secretly glared at Lin Bai with hatred.
• Lin Bai descended from the city wall to fight Tuoba Feng, and the two armies watched as the rival geniuses faced off.
• Tuoba Feng charged Lin Bai and unleashed all three moves of the Heaven Dawn Spear Technique, engulfing him in a cloud of dust.
• Wu Song dismissed Lin Bai's chances, but Diao Cheng warned that Lin Bai's potential might surpass Wu Song's and cautioned him against arrogance.
• Tuoba Feng mocked Lin Bai, raised his spear, and roared, "Who is truly the king!"

Lin Bai survived Tuoba Feng’s attacks and defeated him on the battlefield, turning the Great Moon Kingdom’s apparent victory into a rout. The Divine Martial Nation’s soldiers celebrated as Tuoba Feng lay gravely wounded.

• Tuoba Feng declared himself king after his spear attack, but Lin Bai emerged from the smoke unharmed and mocked his technique.
• Lin Bai struck Tuoba Feng with three sword attacks, knocked him from his horse, and split the horse in two.
• Tuoba Feng used the Grade Six Spirit Tool Mount Tai Seal, but Lin Bai remained at ease while Tuoba Feng accumulated wounds and lost True Qi.
• Tuoba Feng unleashed the divine ability Setting Sun with mid-stage first-rank martial intent, and Lin Bai answered with Sword Intent and the divine ability Wind-Slaying.
• Lin Bai shattered Tuoba Feng’s spear radiance and wounded him severely, prompting the Divine Martial Nation’s army to celebrate his victory.

After Lin Bai killed Tuoba Feng, the Great Moon Kingdom withdrew its army from Jiayue Pass and ended the war. Diao Cheng then invited Lin Bai to join the Hatchling Dragon Academy at Divine Relic Ridge, leaving Lin Bai with a path to pursue after the Four Great Sects Tournament.

• Lin Bai took the Mount Tai Seal, then beheaded Tuoba Feng and noticed that Consort Yun had miscarried a child whose father was unclear.
• The Great Moon Kingdom's Emperor swore to withdraw his troops and avoid attacking the Divine Martial Nation for ten years, then left with Consort Yun as his army departed Jiayue Pass.
• Murong Qi freed Wu Jian, took him and the Azure Cloud Terrace Palace martial artists away, and told a disciple that the palace would not interfere further.
• Diao Cheng praised Lin Bai and asked him to cultivate at Divine Relic Ridge; Lin Bai said he planned to go after the Four Great Sects Tournament.
• Diao Cheng gave Lin Bai a silver invitation to join the Hatchling Dragon Academy, naming Lin Bai's swordsmanship, courage, and wisdom as reasons for the offer.

After the Great Moon Kingdom withdrew, Lin Bai accepted Diao Cheng’s invitation to Divine Relic Ridge but learned Wu Song intended to kill him there. As the Grand Princess reorganized the battered southern border, Lin Bai began using the earth spirit pearl from the Mount Tai Seal to condense his earth spirit vortex.

• Diao Cheng invited Lin Bai to Divine Relic Ridge, and Lin Bai accepted, while Wu Song warned that he would kill him if he came to Hatchling Dragon Academy.
• Lin Bai told the Grand Princess, Ji Bei, and Ji Bai about the invitation and Wu Song’s threat, then ordered the Grand Princess to reorganize the three armies and prepare to return to the imperial capital.
• The Grand Princess and Lin Bai suspected King Qi was behind the imperial capital’s failure to send reinforcements, while the chapter recounted the enormous losses Divine Martial Nation had suffered in the war.
• A soldier reported that Murong Qi had escaped with Wu Jian and the other Azure Cloud Terrace Palace disciples, and Lin Bai vowed to take Murong Qi’s head himself.
• The Grand Princess began deploying troops to restore order and defend the southern border, while Lin Bai recovered his true qi and shattered the Mount Tai Seal.
• Lin Bai took the earth spirit pearl and began condensing his earth spirit vortex with the Grand Five Elements Art and Devouring Sword Soul.

The Grand Princess assigned forces to suppress unrest and guard the southern borderlands before preparing to return to the imperial capital with Lin Bai. She thanked him for saving the Divine Martial Nation, and he agreed to return with her.

• The Grand Princess divided her troops among Dan Fang, Zhang Shou, Long Fei, and the Ninth Imperial Uncle, keeping Chu Jiangliu and Long Fei to accompany her back to the imperial capital.
• Dan Fang and the others praised Lin Bai for abducting Consort Yun from the Great Moon Kingdom's imperial palace and helping turn the war around.
• The Grand Princess ordered Chu Jiangliu to prepare for their return to the imperial capital that night and entrusted the southern borderlands to her generals.
• Long Fei, Zhang Shou, and Chu Jiangliu discussed Lin Bai's destruction of the Great Moon Kingdom's imperial city and said the Divine Martial Nation was safe with him.
• The Grand Princess visited Lin Bai, thanked him for saving the nation, and told him to prepare to return to the imperial capital.

The Grand Princess and Lin Bai returned to the Imperial Capital, where they uncovered King Qi’s conspiracy to betray the Divine Martial Nation and the Xu Clan’s secret role in the crisis. Bai Huatian ordered Lin Bai to lead the Imperial Guards to the Qi King Manor and capture King Qi.

• The Grand Princess led five hundred thousand troops back to the Imperial Capital with Lin Bai and the others.
• Xu Jiangsheng met with the Xu Clan Patriarch, who blamed Lin Bai for thwarting their plan and sent Xu Jiangsheng to cultivate at Divine Relic Ridge.
• The Grand Princess confronted Bai Huatian about the missing reinforcements, and he learned that Cui Hai had falsified reports after taking bribes from King Qi.
• Bai Huatian ordered the Imperial Guards to surround the Qi King Manor, while Lin Bai and the Grand Princess explained how King Qi had planned to surrender the capital to the Great Moon Kingdom.
• Lin Bai accepted Bai Huatian’s order to capture King Qi and left the palace with the Imperial Guards.

Lin Bai entered Qi King Manor to negotiate with King Qi and prevent a bloody assault. King Qi surrendered and spared Qi Rui after crippling him, then offered to answer Lin Bai’s questions and identified the golden-masked martial artist’s power.

• The Grand Princess’s forces surrounded Qi King Manor, but Lin Bai entered alone to avoid unnecessary casualties.
• King Qi welcomed Lin Bai in the lakeside pavilion while Qi Rui prepared to resist the imperial forces.
• Lin Bai urged King Qi to surrender, and King Qi admitted responsibility for opening Nanning Pass and intercepting the Grand Princess’s requests for aid.
• King Qi crippled Qi Rui and asked Lin Bai to spare his life; Lin Bai agreed, and men in black took Qi Rui away.
• King Qi offered to answer Lin Bai’s questions, then identified the golden-masked martial artist’s power as Demonic Martial Soul and Essence of Scorching Fire.

Lin Bai learned that the golden-masked man was likely Xu Jiangsheng and that powerful forces from the South Ridge were searching for something Jian Xuan took from the Spirit Sword Sect. King Qi poisoned himself after warning Lin Bai, and the Qi King Manor’s troops surrendered, while Chu Jiangliu killed Qi Rui.

• King Qi explained that the Essence of Scorching Fire belonged to the Xu family of the former Scorching Fire Nation, leading Lin Bai to suspect that the golden-masked man was Xu Jiangsheng.
• King Qi revealed that Su Zhan came from the Su Dynasty and that the Holy Seal Sect, Azure Cloud Terrace Palace, and Ling Tianzi were connected to a search for something Jian Xuan had taken from the Spirit Sword Sect.
• King Qi warned Lin Bai not to underestimate Su Cang and Duan Canghai, then revealed that he had taken poison and died in the pavilion.
• Lin Bai announced King Qi’s death and called on the Qi King Manor’s soldiers to surrender, and the one hundred thousand troops laid down their weapons.
• Chu Jiangliu told Lin Bai that he had killed Qi Rui while stopping men in black from fleeing with him, and Lin Bai said Qi Rui’s death was karma.

After the Grand Princess ordered Qi King Manor seized, Lin Bai unleashed a sword strike that cleared the rain clouds and advanced his sword intent. At court, the imperial family rewarded the Spirit Sword Sect for pacifying the Southern Domain, naming Lin Bai the hereditary Iron-Blooded Sword King with authority to punish even the Emperor.

• The Grand Princess ordered the imperial guards to confiscate the weapons at Qi King Manor, and Lin Bai walked away through the capital.
• Lin Bai struck the rain clouds apart with Withered Flower, advancing his sword intent to the initial stage of second-grade sword intent.
• Three days later, Bai Huatian awarded Spirit Sword Sect's participants ranks and rewards for pacifying the Southern Domain.
• The imperial family made Ji Bei the North Wind Marquis and Ji Bai the Marquis Ji, with both titles hereditary.
• Bai Huatian appointed Lin Bai the hereditary Iron-Blooded Sword King and granted him the right to wear weapons in the palace and punish the Emperor or officials who abused their power.

At a banquet celebrating Lin Bai’s victories and new title, Bai Huatian pledged the nation’s intelligence agencies to search for Lin Bai’s missing parents. Lin Bai learned more about the Half-Step Divine Core Realm and its connection to the coming tournament, then met the Prime Minister, Xu Jiangsheng’s father.

• Bai Huatian congratulated Lin Bai, postponed his wedding to the Grand Princess until his parents were found, and ordered the intelligence agencies to search for them.
• Lin Bai stopped the drunken Li Jianxing from revealing that Li Qingxuan had gone to find Jian Xuan, then discussed the dangers posed by Su Cang and Duan Canghai.
• Ji Bei explained the four stages of the Half-Step Divine Core Realm and urged Lin Bai and Li Jianxing to advance before the Four Great Sects Tournament.
• Lin Bai excused Ji Bei and Li Jianxing when the Prime Minister approached, then greeted him as the head of the Xu family and Xu Jiangsheng’s father.

At the banquet, Lin Bai warned the Xu Family Patriarch that he knew of his ties to the destroyed Scorching Fire Nation and would oppose any threat to the Divine Martial Nation. After the Grand Princess agreed to alert Bai Huatian, Chu Jiangliu took Lin Bai to Fengyue Brothel, where the group began arranging a private room.

• Lin Bai confronted the Xu Family Patriarch, revealed that he knew the Prime Minister was a remnant of the Scorching Fire Nation, and warned him not to target the Divine Martial Nation.
• The Grand Princess told Lin Bai about the Scorching Fire Nation’s destruction five hundred years earlier, then agreed to inform Bai Huatian and keep watch on the Xu Family Patriarch.
• Chu Jiangliu, Li Jianxing, Wang Hao, and Sun Qian took Lin Bai from the imperial banquet to Fengyue Brothel.
• At Fengyue Brothel, Lin Bai heard a storyteller recount an exaggerated tale of his sword strike against the Great Moon Kingdom.
• Chu Jiangliu paid a thousand spirit stones and requested the finest private room, wine, musicians, and women.

Lin Bai and Chu Jiangliu visited Fengyue Brothel, where the patrons heard about its celebrated pure singer, Hong Su. Hong Su appeared with her zither, captivating the room, and Chu Jiangliu offered to pay for her.

• Chu Jiangliu brought Lin Bai and their companions to a private room at Fengyue Brothel, where the men chose girls to drink with while Lin Bai refused.
• Chu Jiangliu boasted that he could buy Fengyue Brothel and asked the madam to present a woman worthy of Lin Bai.
• The madam and the girls described Hong Su as a gifted pure singer whose beauty and skills had drawn crowds and whose standards were exceptionally high.
• Hong Su arrived carrying an ancient zither, and the guests gathered at the window to look at her.
• Chu Jiangliu was captivated by Hong Su and asked the madam how much she cost, offering to pay.

Lin Bai recognized the extraordinary zither Hong Su played and clashed with her Martial Dao Will through their music. After Lin Bai won and destroyed the screen, Long Jianxiao demanded that Hong Su play another piece.

• Lin Bai identified Hong Su’s zither as being made from Sacred Blood Wood and Ninefold Silkworm Silk, then listened as her music stirred his sword intent.
• Hong Su sensed Lin Bai’s sword intent and recognized him as Sword King Lin Bai.
• Lin Bai countered Hong Su’s blade radiance with his sword intent, and their Martial Dao Will contest shattered the screen before he stopped his attack just short of striking her.
• Long Jianxiao threw Hong Su a Storage Bag with a hundred thousand spirit stones and demanded that she play Immortal Sword Asks Affection, enraging the crowd.

Long Jianxiao, Qian Yun, and Wanyan Xuan tried to buy another zither performance from Hong Su, but Lin Bai paid a million spirit stones to make them leave. Hong Su then offered to play all night for whoever could answer her question about the zither, and she began to ask it.

• Chu Jiangliu told Lin Bai that Long Jianxiao, Qian Yun, and Wanyan Xuan were the capital's three great wastrels.
• Long Jianxiao, Qian Yun, and Wanyan Xuan offered Hong Su a total of three hundred thousand spirit stones for another performance, but she refused to play on command.
• Lin Bai threw Hong Su a Storage Bag containing a million spirit stones and told the madam to get the three wastrels out.
• Long Jianxiao, Qian Yun, and Wanyan Xuan drew their swords and demanded to know who had challenged them.
• Hong Su offered to play the zither throughout the night for anyone who could answer her question, and Long Jianxiao claimed he was sure to win.
• Hong Su began to pose her question about the zither.

Hong Su tested the guests at Fengyue Brothel by asking what materials made her zither, and several confident answers proved wrong. Long Jianxiao also failed, leaving the guests without a winner.

• Hong Su asked the guests to identify the materials used for her zither’s body and strings.
• Xun Yang of Fengyin Music Hall guessed coral wood, red cedar, and Ice Crystal Jade Silk, but Hong Su said he was wrong.
• Long Jianxiao claimed the body was Heavenly Lightning Black Fiend Wood and the strings were Heavenly Silk, then arrogantly assumed he had won.
• Hong Su said Long Jianxiao’s answer was close but incorrect, and he challenged her by asking whether she had remembered wrongly.

Lin Bai correctly identified the ancient zither’s materials as Sacred Blood Wood and Ninefold Silkworm Silk, winning Hong Su’s invitation after Long Jianxiao tried to force his incorrect answer. He explained the materials’ origins and value, but Long Jianxiao grew enraged and charged toward Lin Bai’s private room.

• Long Jianxiao and his companions accused Hong Su of changing the answer and demanded that she spend the night with him.
• Lin Bai answered from his private room that the zither was made from Sacred Blood Wood and Ninefold Silkworm Silk, and Hong Su declared him the winner.
• At Long Jianxiao’s challenge, Lin Bai explained the materials’ origins and estimated the zither’s value at nearly three billion spirit stones.
• Hong Su praised Lin Bai’s knowledge, accepted his agreement to meet her, and invited him to her room.
• Long Jianxiao tracked Lin Bai’s location by his voice and stormed toward his private room.

Li Jianxing and Sun Qian defeated Long Jianxiao, Qian Yun, and Wanyan Xuan after the three attacked them at Fengyue Brothel, prompting Long Fei to arrive with a thousand soldiers. Chu Jiangliu confronted Long Fei and hinted that a powerful guest was with him, leaving Long Fei frightened and asking whether that person was there too.

• Long Jianxiao, Qian Yun, and Wanyan Xuan charged at Li Jianxing and Sun Qian, who defeated them with their swordsmanship and threw them from the second floor.
• Long Jianxiao threatened to summon his elder brother, Long Fei, and Li Jianxing and Sun Qian revealed that they were also Commandants of the Imperial Guards.
• Long Fei arrived at Fengyue Brothel with roughly a thousand soldiers and demanded to know who had attacked Long Jianxiao.
• Chu Jiangliu came out of the private room, and Long Fei recognized him as King Chu.
• Long Fei threatened to tell Chu Jiangliu's father that he had visited Fengyue Brothel, but Chu Jiangliu warned that he had not come alone.
• Long Fei realized who might be accompanying Chu Jiangliu and asked whether that person was there too.