Recaps

Lin Bai and Li Baixian watched the Nine Great Palaces’ monthly martial competitions, then went to the Fourth Divine Hall as Li Baixian explained the palaces’ origins and hierarchy. The chapter left them at the Fourth Divine Hall, where its towering gate had just opened.

• Projection arrays across Nine Underworlds City displayed Dao Realm martial artists sparring in the monthly competition between the Nine Great Palaces.
• Li Baixian explained the different levels of martial competition and said the Divine Sons of the other halls were arrogant prodigies like Mo Yu.
• Lin Bai asked about the four great divine halls and the One Emperor and Nine Saints, and Li Baixian recounted how the nine prodigies became Divine Sons after the Holy Son system was abolished.
• Li Baixian led Lin Bai to the Fourth Divine Hall and explained that the four halls shared no fixed rank or exclusive Dao Tradition.
• Li Baixian used her Identity Token to open the enormous gate, and she and Lin Bai entered the Fourth Divine Hall.

Lin Bai entered the Ninth Divine Hall with Li Guxian and learned about Liu Muyang, its founder and one of the One Emperor, Nine Saints. Li Guxian brought him into the Star Abode Hall, revealing that it connected to the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s Supreme Divine Weapon, the Star Abode Pagoda, whose vast interior held countless rooms.

• Lin Bai entered the Ninth Divine Hall and saw the statue of Liu Muyang, whom Li Guxian identified as the hall’s founder and one of the One Emperor, Nine Saints.
• Li Guxian explained that the Nine Great Palaces had similar facilities and that the Star Abode Hall was used for martial contests and discussions of the Dao.
• Li Guxian used her Identity Token to open the Star Abode Hall’s light gate, and she and Lin Bai crossed into an elegant room inside it.
• Li Guxian told Lin Bai that the Star Abode Pagoda was a Supreme Divine Weapon containing an independent space connected to the Star Abode Halls.
• Lin Bai looked from the terrace and saw the pagoda’s enormous circular interior lined with countless rooms.

Li Guxian explained how the Star Abode Pagoda worked as Lin Bai watched its martial contests from her private room. She revealed her impressive record in the contests, leaving Lin Bai to recognize that her reputation rested on genuine martial skill as well as schemes.

• Li Guxian explained that Nine Underworlds Demon Palace disciples could enter the Star Abode Pagoda with their Identity Tokens and were assigned private rooms according to rank.
• Lin Bai watched Luo Wei of the Fifth Divine Hall defeat a black-robed warrior in a contest, after which the loser was carried to a room below and Luo Wei returned to his own room.
• Li Guxian told Lin Bai that the contests had only just begun and that stronger gongzi- and lingzi-level warriors would make them more interesting.
• Li Guxian recalled that she had competed in 1,875 Star Abode Pagoda contests, winning 1,699, drawing 32, and losing 144.
• Lin Bai recognized that Li Guxian had been a formidable warrior before becoming the Goddess of the Ninth Divine Hall.

Lin Bai watched the martial contests as Li Guxian explained the origins and structure of the Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture. After learning that he could consult its complete version as the Demon Palace’s Divine Son, Lin Bai agreed to take a look.

• Lin Bai recognized the Thousand Lifetimes Palm performed by a young woman and asked Li Guxian about the Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture.
• Li Guxian explained that the scripture had once been the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s sole inheritance, but the palace later acquired other Dao Traditions through annexation.
• Li Guxian said the scripture likely originated in the ancient era and was extraordinarily difficult to cultivate, despite containing techniques powerful enough to dominate the world.
• Li Guxian described the Mortal, Transcendent, and Questioning Dao Chapters, which granted cultivation methods in stages after examinations.
• Li Guxian offered Lin Bai access to the complete Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture because he was the Demon Palace’s Divine Son, and Lin Bai agreed to read it.

Lin Bai read the Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture with Li Guxian’s permission and discovered that it was a legacy of Lihun Heaven, an ancient Spirit Realm devil sect. He realized the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace had been founded on the Dao Tradition of Zhao Beiliu, the Nine Underworlds Devil Lord.

• Li Guxian gave Lin Bai a copy of the Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture and confirmed that the Council of Elders allowed him to read it.
• Lin Bai used his Demon Eyes to read and memorize the scripture’s dense classical text quickly.
• Lin Bai discovered the scripture was written by Zhao Beiliu, the Nine Underworlds Devil Lord of Lihun Heaven.
• Lin Bai concluded that the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace had inherited its Dao Tradition from Lihun Heaven rather than creating it itself.
• Lin Bai recalled that Holy Lord Qin Su had raised the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace to its peak a hundred thousand years earlier.

Lin Bai finished reading the Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture and discovered that its cultivation method required extremely rare Natural Treasures, while its Mystic Arts and Dao Arts were its greatest draw. He began examining the many techniques recorded in the book, looking beyond the Thousand Lifetimes Palm and Myriad Souls Fist.

• Lin Bai used his Demon Eyes to rapidly read the Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture while Li Guxian watched in astonishment.
• Over five days, the martial competition advanced to battles among Great Purity Dao Fruit Realm fighters, and high-level martial artists arrived at the Star Abode Pagoda.
• Lin Bai finished the scripture and found that its cultivation method could lead from the Martial Dao Ninth Level to immortality but demanded rare Natural Treasures.
• Lin Bai concluded that he did not need to abandon his current cultivation and focus instead on the scripture's Mystic Arts and Dao Arts.
• Lin Bai counted more than a hundred Mystic Arts and Dao Arts and turned his attention from the Thousand Lifetimes Palm and Myriad Souls Fist to the other techniques.

Lin Bai read the powerful but dangerous Mystic Arts and Dao Arts in the Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture, finding most too difficult or costly to cultivate. He became interested in the Defend Kill Technique and began gathering the Killing Intent in his body.

• Lin Bai read about the Nine Origins Unification Art and learned that planting its mark required a martial artist’s wholehearted cooperation or risked a deadly backlash.
• Lin Bai examined the Blood Avatar Art and Soul Devouring Technique, weighing their power against the severe injuries and dangers they caused.
• Lin Bai finished reading the Mystic Arts and Dao Arts in the Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture but found none suitable until he reached the Defend Kill Technique.
• Lin Bai decided the Defend Kill Technique’s requirements and drawbacks suited him because he already possessed considerable Killing Intent.
• Lin Bai used a minor spell to draw his Killing Intent into his palm, where it formed a black vortex and began condensing into a sphere.

Lin Bai tested his Killing Intent and found it dense enough to begin cultivating the Defend Kill Technique, then studied the Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture for arts he could use. He began practicing the technique and selected a Mystic Art and Dao Art to test, while leaving the rest of the scripture’s difficult, resource-intensive secrets for later.

• Lin Bai condensed the Killing Intent in his palm into a sphere as large as a water vat, horrifying Li Guxian.
• Lin Bai learned that his Killing Intent was so dense because many prodigies and opponents he had killed across major realms had contributed to it.
• Lin Bai began cultivating the Defend Kill Technique to remove Killing Intent and prevent it from interfering with his future breakthroughs.
• Lin Bai examined the Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture and found that many of its powerful talisman arts required materials unavailable in the modern martial world.
• Lin Bai chose a Mystic Art and Dao Art he could cultivate immediately, while memorizing the scripture’s other arts and knowledge for possible future use.

Li Guxian watched the martial arts assessment and confronted Li Siyuan, the Eighth Divine Hall’s Divine Child, about his return and his hostility toward Lin Bai. Their exchange left Li Siyuan questioning the Demon Palace’s intentions for Lin Bai while Li Guxian defended him and challenged the disdain directed at her.

• A Young Lord-tier prodigy of the Ninth Divine Hall lost a bout, disappointing Li Guxian.
• Li Siyuan greeted Li Guxian and asked why she had come to oversee the assessment after returning from the Imperial Capital of Chu.
• Li Guxian mocked Li Siyuan for being badly wounded by Prince Qin of Chu and asked whether he had returned to recover or seek revenge.
• Li Siyuan noticed Lin Bai beside Li Guxian and asked what the Demon Palace intended by bringing him back and treating him like a Divine Child.
• Li Guxian said Lin Bai had no interest in Li Siyuan’s position and offered to give him the Ninth Divine Hall’s Divine Child position, then pointed out that Li Siyuan and others considered her unworthy of being Goddess.

Lin Bai cultivated the Defend Kill Technique from the Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture to dissolve the Killing Intent within him, then spoke with Lin Baixian and Li Siyuan at the Star Abode Pagoda. He learned that most of the Nine Underworlds Devil Palace's Divine Children and Dao Children were away carrying out its ten-thousand-year plan.

• Lin Bai cultivated the Defend Kill Technique for several days and sensed that it had begun to dissolve the Killing Intent within him, though he knew the process would take time.
• Lin Baixian greeted Lin Bai at the Star Abode Pagoda, and he noticed that her injuries had not fully healed.
• Lin Baixian told Lin Bai that the Divine Children and Dao Children of the eight Divine Halls were away handling matters or missions for the Devil Palace's ten-thousand-year plan.
• Li Siyuan greeted Lin Bai and apologized for how she had approached him in the territory of the One Night Divine Sect, while Lin Bai remarked that she had seemed intent on killing him.
• Lin Bai learned that only Lin Baixian and the injured Li Siyuan were currently in Four Gloom City among the Divine Children and Goddesses he knew.

Qi Hao’s opponent was changed to Xu Zheng, and Li Guxian fought the Eighth Divine Hall’s Daoist disciple while Lin Baixian explained the techniques and political tensions surrounding them. Xu Zheng gained the upper hand with a massive sword strike as the Sect Master suspected Li Siyuan had arranged the matchup.

• Li Guxian explained that the other Divine Halls challenged Ninth Divine Hall fighters to undermine her, while the Council of Elders forbade internal fighting during the Devil Palace’s grand plan.
• Lin Baixian told the Sect Master that Li Guxian used the Four Dragons Swallowing Heaven Art and the Heavenly Burning Art, while Xu Zheng wielded the Xu Zheng One Sword Art.
• The Sect Master suspected Li Siyuan had tampered with the roster after Qi Hao’s opponent changed to Xu Zheng.
• Li Guxian and Xu Zheng clashed with fire dragons and sword gleams, and Xu Zheng gradually felt he was suppressing her.
• Xu Zheng gathered his solid and illusory sword gleams into a giant blade and slashed at Li Guxian.

Lin Bai and Xu Zheng began their duel inside the Star Abode Pagoda, where Lin Bai spread his white flames across the platform and summoned four fire dragons to attack. Xu Zheng faced the attack without taking precautions, leaving Lin Bai’s flames poised to catch him off guard.

• Lin Bai inspected the Star Abode Pagoda’s sturdy space while Xu Zheng waited on the circular platform.
• Lin Bai and Xu Zheng exchanged greetings before Lin Bai spread his white flames across the platform.
• Xu Zheng stood still and studied the flames, believing Lin Bai’s Great Purity Dao Fruit Realm cultivation posed little threat.
• Lin Bai formed four fire dragons with the Four Dragons Swallowing Heaven Art and sent them toward Xu Zheng, blocking his escape routes.

Lin Bai faced Xu Zheng’s Nine Dragons Swallowing Heaven Art in the Star Abode Pagoda and found its flames powerful but survivable. After Lin Bai’s counterattack seemed to consume Xu Zheng, Xu Zheng reappeared unharmed and revealed the Killing Intent hidden in his black smoke, leaving Lin Bai on guard.

• Lin Bai realized the Star Abode Pagoda’s formations had concealed the full might of Xu Zheng’s Nine Dragons Swallowing Heaven Art from spectators.
• Xu Zheng challenged Lin Bai to receive his attack, and Lin Bai agreed despite sensing the danger.
• Xu Zheng’s nine black fire dragons engulfed Lin Bai, but Lin Bai endured the flames and replied that killing him would take effort.
• Lin Bai launched nine fire dragons that appeared to swallow Xu Zheng, prompting spectators to mock him as defeated.
• Xu Zheng silently reappeared where the flames had vanished, then released strange black smoke that Lin Bai recognized as Killing Intent.

Lin Bai unleashed the Defend Kill Technique, shocking the martial artists who sensed the immense Killing Intent surrounding him. As the technique manifested as black flames identified as Karmic Fire, Li Siyuan's divine sense was harmed, and she struggled to dispel its effects.

• Lin Bai's dense Killing Intent frightened the martial artists watching from the balconies and puzzled Li Guxian, who wondered why it had not corrupted his mind.
• Li Siyuan recognized Lin Bai's technique as the Defend Kill Technique and marveled that he appeared to have mastered it after reading the Nine Underworlds Devil Scripture for only one or two hours.
• Xu Zheng recognized the technique and guarded himself behind nine converging fire dragons as the black smoke around Lin Bai thickened.
• Lin Bai's black smoke descended and spread across the platform as clusters of black flames, which Li Siyuan identified as Karmic Fire.
• Li Siyuan's divine sense was struck by pain and hallucinatory wails when it touched the flames, so she withdrew it and tried to dispel the erosion.

Xu Zheng defeated Li Guyi in the Star Abode Pagoda after his white flames overwhelmed the nine Divine Fire Pillars. Li Guyi conceded before the flames could destroy his treasures, and Fan Jun returned to Lin Baixian’s platform with the first victory.

• Li Guyi brought out nine Divine Fire Pillars, which Xu Zheng recognized as powerful treasures refined with years of effort.
• Xu Zheng formed a White Fire Sword from his flames and sent it crashing into the Divine Fire Pillars, while Lin Bai’s sword formation shattered nearby.
• Xu Zheng’s white flames split into strands and began devouring the pillars, leaving Li Guyi unable to remove them.
• Li Guyi admitted defeat and asked Xu Zheng to withdraw his Mystic Arts before the flames destroyed the pillars.
• Xu Zheng recalled the white flames, Fan Jun congratulated Lin Baixian on the victory, and Fan Jun returned to Lin Bai’s platform.

After Lin Bai used the Defend Kill Technique, he and Li Guxian discussed how his Killing Intent had become a white flame containing Devouring Power. The elders then gathered in the Dark Hall to discuss Lin Bai, while Lin Bai searched the Fourth Divine Hall’s Scripture Repository for records about the technique.

• Li Guxian asked Lin Bai whether he had used the Defend Kill Technique, and he confirmed it.
• Lin Bai and Li Guxian noted that his Killing Intent had taken the unusual form of a white flame connected to Devouring Power.
• Saint Elder Yao Daogu summoned the Council of Elders to the Dark Hall to discuss Lin Bai.
• Lin Bai agreed to let Lin Baixian take him to the Scripture Repository to investigate the Defend Kill Technique.
• Lin Bai and Lin Baixian found historical records about the technique, but none explained flame-shaped Killing Intent.

The Council of Elders debated whether Lin Bai should become the Imperial Son of the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace, a position left vacant for a hundred thousand years. Zhao Fengxia opposed the proposal, and the debate intensified when the First Divine Hall’s lord finally opened his eyes.

• Yao Daogu and Zhao Fengxia proposed making Lin Bai the Imperial Son, astonishing the elders in the Dark Hall.
• Elder Gong and Luo Yuanjing supported Lin Bai’s appointment, and more than half of the Eternal Elders rose in approval.
• Zhao Fengxia accused Elder Gong and Luo Yuanjing of backing Lin Bai to advance their own interests and undermine the First Divine Hall’s plans for its God Child.
• Several Eternal Elders continued to support the proposal, while Saint Elder Yao Daogu watched without revealing his stance.
• The First Divine Hall’s lord, who had remained silent, opened his eyes and swept the assembly with a piercing gaze.

The Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s Council of Elders debated whether Lin Bai should become the Divine Son, with the elders split despite support from six divine halls. Ji Canghai called on Yu Linbai and Lin Bai Cheng to weigh in, and the meeting remained deadlocked as the ordinary elders held the deciding vote.

• Shi Renshan opposed Lin Bai becoming the Divine Son because Lin Bai lacked standing and had not defeated the nine Divine Sons, while Yao Daogu and Zhao Fengxia supported him for his identity and abilities.
• The elders divided into opposing and supporting factions, leaving both sides with roughly half the votes.
• Ji Canghai asked Yu Linbai and Lin Bai Cheng to share their views, hoping they would strengthen the case for Lin Bai.
• Yu Linbai praised Lin Bai’s courage, judgment, character, and talent but avoided mentioning his lack of attachment to the Devil Realm or desire to leave.
• Lin Bai Cheng agreed with Yu Linbai, and the council remained deadlocked as the ordinary elders prepared to decide the outcome.

The elders debated whether Lin Bai should become the Four Gloom Demon Palace’s Emperor’s Son, and Saint Elder Shi Renshan proposed making him prove himself on the Holy Lord’s Ancient Road. The elders agreed to the test, though the Holy Lord and Li Guxian remained wary of its difficulty and Lin Bai’s willingness to join.

• Manor Lord Mei said he was willing to support Lin Bai becoming the Emperor’s Son, and Saint Elder Luo Yuanjing said the Palace could nurture Lin Bai if he truly possessed the Holy Lord’s abilities and Supreme Avatar.
• Li Guxian asked whether Lin Bai wanted to become the Four Gloom Demon Palace’s Goddess, and the Holy Lord suggested forcing him out of the Chu Kingdom so he would have to submit.
• Saint Elder Shi Renshan proposed sending Lin Bai along the Holy Lord’s Ancient Road to reach the mausoleum and light the Eternal Night Ancient Lamp as proof he deserved the title.
• Zhao Fengxia objected that Lin Bai might refuse to submit, while Luo Yuanjing and Li Guxian hesitated because the ancient road was exceptionally dangerous.
• Shi Renshan asked the elders to accept his arrangement, and the gathered elders agreed to let Lin Bai attempt the ancient road.

Li Guxian proposed making Lin Bai the publicly declared imperial heir of the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace, turning him into a target of the Devil Palace’s martial artists and forcing the Chu Kingdom to give him up. Her plan left the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace elders impressed, though whether Lin Bai would willingly join remained uncertain.

• Li Guxian told Saint Elder Luo Yuanjing that she had a plan to make Lin Bai join the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace.
• Li Guxian explained that the Chu Kingdom would not willingly surrender Lin Bai, whom it had honored and given a fief.
• Li Guxian argued that Devil Palace martial artists already despised the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace and would reject Lin Bai if he were named its imperial heir.
• Li Guxian proposed announcing Lin Bai’s appointment publicly, making him a public enemy and leaving the Chu Kingdom unable to protect him without opposing the wider Devil Palace.
• Saint Elder Shi Renshan praised Li Guxian’s strategy, while Lin Baixian questioned whether it addressed the issue of Lin Bai’s willingness to join.

While staying in Nine Underworlds City, Lin Bai received front-line reports from Lin Baixian about the escalating war in the One Night Divine Sect's territory. The capital territories of the three great sects came under threat, and Shen Xinghe's ghost army left the One Night Divine Sect's capital in imminent danger.

• Lin Baixian gave Yang Zong a Jade Slip containing the latest reports from the Armory.
• Chu Tingxue issued an announcement demanding that Pure Northern Domain and Phoenix Valley stop their attacks, while threatening a Chu State invasion if they refused.
• Luan Tang joined Li Gu's forces in besieging the One Night Divine Sect's capital, while Pure Northern Domain and Phoenix Valley attacked the Overturning Heavens Sect and the Chu State army advanced through the territory.
• Elder He Gongji retreated from the Worship Heaven Sect's mountain gate after failing to break its formation and encountering an envoy delegation from the Qi Tian Sect.
• Shen Xinghe activated the Myriad Souls Banner, sending hundreds of millions of ghost soldiers across the battlefield and putting the One Night Divine Sect's capital in imminent peril.

Lin Bai read intelligence about Chu Tinghan and Princess Chenxian leaving the main army to enter the One Night Divine Sect’s territory, ostensibly to demand an explanation for his disappearance. Lin Baixian discussed the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s plans, while the two princesses’ true purpose remained unclear.

• Lin Bai read that Chu Tinghan and Princess Chenxian had taken tens of thousands of soldiers into the One Night Divine Sect’s territory after hearing he had vanished.
• Lin Baixian said the princesses had left the army to demand an explanation, but Elder He Gongji suspected they had another purpose.
• Lin Bai questioned whether the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace intended to seize the One Night Divine Sect’s territory and divide it among allied factions.
• Lin Baixian said the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace was ready to act as the war intensified and insisted its ten-thousand-year grand design could not fail.
• Lin Bai remained uncertain about what Chu Tinghan and Princess Chenxian were plotting.

Lin Bai agreed to join the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace for now, seeing it as his only chance to survive and leave Nine Underworlds City. Li Guxian arranged to publicize his defection and set up a trial on Holy Lord's Ancient Road, while the palace elders prepared to use him against the First Divine Hall's Divine Son.

• Lin Bai weighed the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace's offer and concluded that refusing it would leave him trapped in Nine Underworlds City with little chance of survival.
• Li Guxian asked Lin Bai whether he had decided, and he agreed to join the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace, while postponing any decision about becoming its Goddess.
• Li Guxian told Duan Ningqian to announce that the Emperor's Son had severed ties with the Chu Kingdom and Tianshui Sect and formally joined the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace.
• Li Guxian notified Zhao Fengxia, Holy Lord, Lin Brother, and other Eternal Elders, who welcomed the news and discussed whether Lin Bai would obey the palace's orders.
• Li Guxian arranged for the Council of Elders to prepare Lin Bai's Holy Lord's Ancient Road trial, which the elders hoped would help them confront the First Divine Hall's Divine Son.

False reports spread that Lin Bai had abandoned the Chu Kingdom and Tianshui Sect to join the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace, ruining his reputation across the Devil Realm. Unaware of the rumors, Lin Bai reached the Holy Lord’s Ancient Road with the palace elders, ready to face its trials and ignite the Eternal Night Ancient Lamp.

• The Nine Underworlds Demon Palace spread claims that Lin Bai had joined it and become a divine son, while the Chu Kingdom remained silent and Tianshui Sect denied the rumors.
• Martial artists across the Devil Realm condemned Lin Bai, and many factions began stirring against him.
• The people gathered in Nine Underworlds City watched projection screens and doubted Lin Bai could pass the Holy Lord’s Ancient Road or light the Eternal Night Ancient Lamp.
• Lin Bai traveled through the black fog with Li Guxian, Yao Daogu, Zhao Fengxia, Shi Renshan, Saint Elder Luo Yuanjing, and other elders until they reached the Holy Lord’s Ancient Road.

Lin Bai reached the Holy Lord’s Ancient Road in the Eternal Mausoleum and learned that crossing it would earn him the status and freedom of an emperor’s son of the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace. After his Demon Eyes revealed the bone-strewn mountains and awakened green flames in some skulls, he stood ready to begin the perilous trial.

• Saint Elder Luo Yuanjing explained that the Holy Lord’s Ancient Road led to the mausoleum and warned that it lay within the dangerous Burial Earth.
• Lin Bai asked whether crossing the road would restore his freedom, and Saint Elder Luo Yuanjing promised that the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace would no longer restrict him as an emperor’s son.
• Saint Elder Luo Yuanjing said the road had defeated generations of the palace’s prodigies, though it might be easy for Lin Bai if he truly possessed the Holy Lord’s abilities.
• Lin Bai opened his Demon Eyes and saw mountains piled with white bones, whose skulls stared at him from the darkness.
• Lin Bai’s gaze triggered green flames in some of the skulls, and he turned his solemn attention to the ancient road as Saint Elder Luo Yuanjing and the others watched.