Recaps

Wu Chun and the Deathsworn Legion of the Flying Cloud Dynasty cornered Lin Bai in Chaoyang City, while Gu Lingfei also sought the demon sword. After refining Yang God Realm demon blood and breaking through to the peak of the seventh level of the Sky Realm, Lin Bai fought back against both forces and unleashed the Nether Domain as Wu Chun attacked.

• Wu Chun identified himself as the Myriad-Man Commander of the Flying Cloud Dynasty's Deathsworn Legion and demanded that Gu Lingfei stay out of their mission to kill Lin Bai.
• Gu Lingfei revealed that he wanted the demon sword, then charged at Lin Bai as Wu Chun ordered the deathsworn to attack.
• Lin Bai revealed that he had refined the demon blood, raising his cultivation from the fifth level to the peak of the seventh level of the Sky Realm.
• Gu Lingfei attacked Lin Bai but was struck down and badly injured by the demon sword.
• The Deathsworn Legion attacked Lin Bai, who killed more than a dozen of them before Wu Chun slashed his abdomen.
• As Wu Chun launched another attack, Lin Bai activated the Nether Domain from the Nameless Sword Art.

Lin Bai slaughtered the Flying Cloud Dynasty’s deathsworn, but Wu Chun’s final attack badly wounded him and Gu Lingfei escaped using a secret technique. Lin Bai then confronted a group of martial artists emerging from the forest, who praised his swordsmanship.

• Lin Bai unleashed Netherworld and killed nearly all the deathsworn, while Wu Chun escaped the sword domain wounded.
• Lin Bai caught up to Wu Chun and killed him, but Wu Chun detonated his short saber and filled Lin Bai’s chest with shrapnel.
• Gu Lingfei attacked Lin Bai, then explained the Heavenly Ladder and his ambition to claim a place among its four first-tier geniuses.
• Lin Bai countered Gu Lingfei with Yellow Springs Ghost Rain and Lingering Night, but Gu Lingfei escaped using Golden Cicada Shelling.
• Lin Bai called out to the hidden onlookers, and a group of martial artists emerged to praise the demonic sword’s heir.

Wounded after battle, Lin Bai faced Yun Tianyi and Liang Chunrong, who demanded that he serve the Cloud Heaven Dynasty or die. Lin Bai refused and fled as the Sky Dome Army attacked, but Liang Chunrong struck him into a deep pit and closed in.

• Yun Tianyi offered Lin Bai a title, a fief, and a marriage alliance if he followed Yun Tianyi’s orders, then threatened him with the Sky Dome Army and Liang Chunrong.
• Lin Bai learned that Liang Chunrong had reached the second step of the Heavenly Ladder, the same step as Gu Lingfei.
• Lin Bai refused to become Yun Tianyi’s subordinate, so Yun Tianyi ordered the Sky Dome Army to kill him and told Liang Chunrong to bring back the Demon Sword.
• Lin Bai fled while slashing through the soldiers, but Liang Chunrong pursued him and punched him into a deep pit.
• Lin Bai crawled from the pit and realized his wounds left him unable to fight a second-step Heavenly Ladder warrior for long.

Lin Bai fought Liang Chunrong and the Sky Dome Army, then killed Yun Tianyi to break the army’s command and escape into the forest. As bloody fighting continued, a Yin Saint powerhouse from Sword Scar City arrived in the barren mountains with Yan Sen and Lu Heng.

• Yun Tianyi and Liang Chunrong demanded that Lin Bai submit, but Lin Bai charged toward the Third Prince instead.
• Liang Chunrong used Earth Intent to batter Lin Bai and shatter his Nether Domain sword shadows.
• Lin Bai used the sword shadows as a diversion, reached Yun Tianyi, and pierced the Third Prince’s throat with his sword.
• Lin Bai carved through the Sky Dome Army and escaped into the forest, while Liang Chunrong failed to catch him.
• A Yin Saint powerhouse from Sword Scar City flew from Chaoyang City toward the barren mountains with Yan Sen and Lu Heng.

After killing Third Prince Yun Tianyi, Lin Bai escaped the Sky Dome Army and hid in a cave to heal, but Second Master Hu tracked him down and nearly killed him. Hu Xian'er intervened and carried Lin Bai away, leaving Second Master Hu to watch her go.

• Lin Bai killed Third Prince Yun Tianyi, escaped the Sky Dome Army’s encirclement, and hid in a cave to treat his wounds.
• Liang Chunrong ordered the Sky Dome Army to search the mountains rather than return to the imperial capital, then told them to find Lin Bai before the Yin Saint experts could claim the demon sword.
• Second Master Hu arrived with Yan Sen and Lu Heng, learned that Lin Bai had escaped, and tracked him to the cave.
• Second Master Hu shattered the cave and struck at Lin Bai, who fled from the ruins while gravely injured.
• Hu Xian'er deflected Second Master Hu’s sword and carried Lin Bai away, while Second Master Hu recognized her and let them escape.

Xiang'er reported to Ni Xiang'en how Lin Bai fought his way through several forces in the barren mountains before Hu Xian'er rescued him from Second Master Hu. The next morning, martial artists discovered the dead across the mountains as Ni Xiang'en prepared to leave for Purple Gold City.

• Xiang'er told Ni Xiang'en that Lin Bai had killed the Chaoyang City forces, the Gu Lineage martial artists, and the Flying Cloud Dynasty's Deathsworn Legion, while Gu Lingfei escaped.
• Xiang'er recounted that Lin Bai killed Third Prince Yun Tianyi to break out of the Sky Dome Army's encirclement, then Hu Xian'er rescued him from Second Master Hu.
• Ni Xiang'en declined Xiang'er's offer to pursue Lin Bai and recover the demon sword, saying Lin Bai would not die, and told Xiang'er to prepare for their departure to Purple Gold City.
• Martial artists entering the barren mountains found the corpses of Chaoyang City's forces, the Gu Lineage, the Deathsworn Legion, the Sky Dome Army, and Third Prince Yun Tianyi, and suspected Lin Bai had killed them.

After a woman rescued Lin Bai from Second Master Hu, he woke in a small town and learned that she was Hu Xian'er, who had cared for him while he was unconscious. Hu Xian'er revealed that she wanted the Demon Sword, and Lin Bai prepared to leave rather than hand it over.

• A mysterious woman carried Lin Bai away from Second Master Hu as he was about to fight back, and Lin Bai fainted from his injuries.
• Lin Bai woke three days later in a small town with his wounds bandaged and his clothes changed.
• Hu Xian'er entered with food, teased Lin Bai about caring for him, and revealed that she knew he was Dongfang Bai.
• Hu Xian'er admitted that she wanted to play with the Demon Sword, and Lin Bai said she could try to take it by force before preparing to leave.
• Hu Xian'er realized Lin Bai had seen through her intentions and seethed at being outmaneuvered.

After Hu Xian'er rescued Lin Bai from a Yin Saint expert, Lin Bai recovered and agreed to travel with her toward the Night Crow Mountains, secretly intending to use her to counter his pursuer. They left for the Azure Dragon Empire and Purple Gold City, while Hu Xian'er still believed she could obtain the demon sword.

• Lin Bai treated his injuries after Hu Xian'er refused to let him leave, and privately planned to keep her close as protection from the Yin Saint expert.
• Hu Xian'er told Lin Bai she had carried him to a town a hundred thousand li from Chaoyang City, where he spent three days recovering.
• Lin Bai prepared to leave, but Hu Xian'er insisted on following him, so he asked where he could find the most demon beasts.
• Hu Xian'er explained that the Night Crow Mountains in the Azure Dragon Empire were a training ground near Purple Gold City, which was about to accept disciples.
• Lin Bai traveled by teleportation formation toward the Night Crow Mountains, and Hu Xian'er followed, unaware that he planned to use her against the Yin Saint expert pursuing him.

Lin Bai and Hu Xian'er traveled to the Night Crow Mountains, where Lin Bai killed the Demon Tiger King and rapidly hunted demonic beasts. Hu Xian'er secretly met Second Master Hu and planned one last attempt to obtain Lin Bai’s Demon Sword, leaving her next move unclear.

• Lin Bai and Hu Xian'er entered Night Crow Town and learned that the Demon Tiger King was terrorizing Mount Huajiang.
• Hu Xian'er explained that demonic beasts came to the Night Crow Mountains to test themselves and attract the attention of sects and dynasties, and Lin Bai decided to confront the Tiger King.
• Lin Bai killed the Demon Tiger King with one strike, refined its demonic blood, and broke through to the eighth level of the Sky Realm.
• Lin Bai spent half a month slaughtering demonic beasts across the mountains, and news of the powerful sword cultivator spread.
• Hu Xian'er secretly met Second Master Hu and said she wanted the Demon Sword for herself, not for Sword Scar City.
• Hu Xian'er told Second Master Hu she would give Dongfang Bai one final chance and bring him to Mount Mingyang the next day if he refused to hand over the sword.

Lin Bai realized Hu Xian'er had led him into a trap on Mount Mingyang to seize the Demon Sword. Surrounded by Hu Xian'er, Second Master Hu, Lu Heng, and Yan Sen, he refused to surrender the Demon Sword inheritance.

• Lin Bai remained at the peak of the eighth layer of the Sky Realm and reflected on the Demon Sword and his incomplete Grand Five Elements Art.
• Hu Xian'er told Lin Bai that a powerful demonic beast had appeared on Mount Mingyang, and he agreed to go with her.
• Lin Bai suspected Hu Xian'er’s invitation was a setup but followed her to Mount Mingyang after she refused to change their destination.
• At the summit, Hu Xian'er revealed that she was Hu Hu’s elder sister and that Second Master Hu was her uncle and Sword Scar City’s vice city lord.
• Second Master Hu, Lu Heng, and Yan Sen arrived, and Hu Xian'er demanded that Lin Bai hand over the Demon Sword inheritance.
• Lin Bai refused Hu Xian'er’s demand.

Lin Bai fought Second Master Hu on Mount Mingyang to test his strength against a Yin Saint powerhouse. After Second Master Hu overwhelmed him, Lin Bai unleashed his Ghost Domain and Yellow Springs Ghost Rain, catching his opponent in a deadly attack.

• Lin Bai refused Hu Xian'er’s demand for his treasured sword and challenged Second Master Hu to a fight.
• Lin Bai’s Lingering Night struck Second Master Hu’s Earth Intent barriers, but Second Master Hu counterattacked and sent Lin Bai flying with his overwhelming sword force.
• Lin Bai used Demons and Specters to break through Second Master Hu’s sword shadows, forcing both fighters back and drawing a crowd of onlookers.
• Lin Bai launched Ghost Domain, then used Yellow Springs Ghost Rain as Second Master Hu unleashed the full power of the Yin Saint Realm.
• The rain pierced Second Master Hu’s clothes and flesh, and Lin Bai’s Ghost Domain and Yellow Springs Ghost Rain struck him in succession.

Lin Bai battled Second Master Hu, but Gui Jing of the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect intervened and drove Hu away. Gui Jing offered Lin Bai his protection in Purple Gold City and urged him to attend the sect’s upcoming disciple recruitment.

• Lin Bai used Rainstorm Intent and Aurora Intent against Second Master Hu, but Hu shattered the rain and wounded him with Shatter Heaven.
• Lin Bai countered with Blood Sky Slash, and their clash severely injured Yan Sen and Lu Heng before both swordsmen were blasted apart.
• Gui Jing appeared between Lin Bai and Second Master Hu, and Hu recognized him as the Seventh Peak Master of the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect.
• Gui Jing scolded Second Master Hu for bullying Lin Bai, and Hu left with Yan Sen, Lu Heng, and Hu Xian'er.
• After Lin Bai thanked him, Gui Jing told him to invoke his name if Yin Saint experts bullied him in Purple Gold City and urged him to attend the disciple recruitment.

After recovering from his fight with Second Master Hu, Lin Bai headed to Purple Gold City ahead of the recruitment. There, he encountered Li Zifeng, a shady bookseller hawking scandalous stories about the Demon Sword's successor, and unexpectedly bought one for a thousand spirit stones.

• Lin Bai accepted Gui Jing's advice to go to Purple Gold City and traveled deeper into the Night Crow Mountains.
• Lin Bai spent three days tending to his injuries before entering Purple Gold City, where martial artists, merchants, and major forces had gathered.
• A shifty-eyed bookseller tried to sell Lin Bai scandalous books, including stories about the Demon Sword's successor and Dongfang Bai and Hu Xian'er.
• The bookseller introduced himself as Li Zifeng and claimed he knew the Demon Sword's successor's private secrets.
• Lin Bai offered his only thousand spirit stones, and Li Zifeng eagerly accepted them as payment for a book.

Lin Bai encountered Li Zifeng peddling scandalous books in Purple Gold City, then found an inn offering security, discounts, and information about the city’s prodigies. He decided to stay at the Heavenly Treasure Inn as he prepared for the disciple selection.

• Li Zifeng sold Lin Bai two books about the Demon Sword's heir and gave him a Sound Transmission Talisman.
• Li Zifeng tried to sell Hu Xian'er a book about her and Dongfang Bai, then fled when she recognized him and threatened him.
• Lin Bai discarded the books and searched for an inn, finding the city’s lodging offers suspicious.
• A waiter explained that the Heavenly Treasure Inn guaranteed guests’ safety and offered discounts and information about Purple Gold City’s forces and prodigies.
• Lin Bai chose to rent a superior room at the Heavenly Treasure Inn.

Lin Bai examined the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion’s Three Steps of the Heavenly Ladder and learned about several ranked geniuses, including Hu Xian'er and Gu Jianyun. After paying for a room at the Heavenly Treasure Inn, he heard that the Pavilion was discussing the recently appeared successor of the Demon Sword.

• Lin Bai studied the Ladder’s top tier and was surprised that Young Master Qian Shui had reached mid-stage Water Drop Intent.
• The shop assistant told Lin Bai that Hu Xian'er had helped Sword Scar City rise by seducing and killing martial artists, and Lin Bai spotted her among the second-tier geniuses.
• Lin Bai found Gu Jianyun, Yan Sen, and Lu Heng on the third tier, then reacted awkwardly to the shop assistant’s story about Gu Jianyun.
• Lin Bai paid fifteen million spirit stones for a fifteen-day stay and followed the shop assistant to a room on the inn’s seventh floor.
• The shop assistant said the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was discussing the recently appeared successor of the Demon Sword, and Lin Bai asked what they were discussing.

Lin Bai learned that the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was struggling to rank him because his reputation outmatched his cultivation, then slept for days at the Heavenly Treasure Inn. After waking, he heard that the Cloud Leopard had killed a second-tier Heavenly Ladder martial artist and headed toward Cold Mountain to see it for himself.

• The waiter explained that the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was still debating which tier to assign the mysterious successor of the Demon Sword, and Lin Bai sealed his room and fell asleep.
• Lin Bai woke at dusk on the third day and heard martial artists at the inn condemn the Cloud Leopard for killing Heavenly Ladder challengers and injuring Mu Yifeng.
• The waiter told Lin Bai that the Cloud Leopard, a great-perfection Sky Realm beast king from the Night Crow Mountains, had climbed from the third tier to the second tier in two days and was challenging human geniuses on Cold Mountain.
• Lin Bai strolled through Purple Gold City and learned that the Cloud Leopard had killed Wen Hong, a second-tier Heavenly Ladder martial artist, and mocked humanity's strength.
• Intrigued by the Cloud Leopard's strength, Lin Bai headed toward the city gate to go to Cold Mountain.

At Cold Mountain, Cloud Leopard of Ten Thousand Demons Valley taunted human martial artists and defeated challengers, forcing them to humiliate themselves to survive. As the Seven Peerless Sects’ leaders watched, they recognized the Demon Race forces backing him, while Lin Bai observed from the crowd.

• Cloud Leopard challenged the human martial artists at Cold Mountain and mocked them for refusing to fight him.
• Lin Bai arrived and watched Cloud Leopard, while Gui Jing, Dong Qian, and other leaders of the Seven Peerless Sects observed from the clouds.
• The sect leaders recalled a genius who had defeated a Demon Race challenger ten years earlier before dying in a secret realm.
• Cloud Leopard defeated Zhou Rong and let him go after Zhou Rong repeated the insult about Purple Gold City’s human geniuses.
• Dong Qian warned You Yihu not to attack, and the leaders saw more than twenty Demon Race fighters watching from a nearby mountain.
• Gui Jing identified Cloud Leopard’s allies as beasts from Ten Thousand Demons Valley.

The leaders of the seven great sects recognized the Crushing Mountain Demon Saint and debated how to answer the Demon Race’s Cloud Leopard at the gathering. Gui Jing proposed having Dongfang Bai, the Demon Sword successor, confront it, and the sect leaders agreed to see his sword’s power.

• Han Zikun asked how they knew the intruders came from Ten Thousand Demons Valley, and Bao Song explained that Gui Jing recognized them.
• Gui Jing identified the black-robed elder as the Crushing Mountain Demon Saint, a peak Yin Saint Realm expert.
• You Yihu, Lou Ming, and Han Zikun discussed the danger posed by Ten Thousand Demons Valley and the Cloud Leopard’s challenge.
• Gui Jing pointed out Lin Bai, whom he called Dongfang Bai, as someone capable of dealing with the Cloud Leopard.
• Dong Qian and the other sect leaders agreed that Gui Jing should approach Dongfang Bai and let them witness the Demon Sword’s might.

Lin Bai agreed to challenge Cloud Leopard after Gui Jing promised to take one-third of the demon blood from Crushing Mountain Demon Saint. Lin Bai confronted Cloud Leopard on Cold Mountain, and their sword aura and demonic aura clashed as the fight was about to begin.

• Lin Bai heard Gui Jing offer him a reward to suppress the Demon Race's arrogance and asked for one-third of Crushing Mountain Demon Saint's demon blood.
• Gui Jing agreed to take the demon blood if Lin Bai defeated Cloud Leopard, and Lin Bai leaped into the air to accept the challenge.
• Cloud Leopard taunted the human martial artists on Cold Mountain, demanding that they send a stronger opponent or hang a banner insulting Purple Gold City.
• Lin Bai landed before Cloud Leopard, identified himself as Dongfang Bai, and drew the Demon Sword as the surrounding martial artists recognized him as its successor.
• Cloud Leopard and Lin Bai faced one another as their demonic aura and sword aura collided, shaking the area before either attacked.

Lin Bai faced Cloud Leopard on Cold Mountain and repelled his opening attack with a single sword strike. Cloud Leopard then unleashed Gale Wind Intent, and Lin Bai answered with Aurora Intent as their clash continued.

• Gu Jianyun and the watching martial warriors urged Lin Bai to defeat Cloud Leopard and uphold humanity's honor.
• Cloud Leopard attacked with full force, but Lin Bai shattered his five claw marks and wounded him with the demon sword.
• Crushing Mountain Demon Saint and Hong Sha judged Cloud Leopard's first attack careless, while You Yihu, Gui Jing, and Dong Qian praised Lin Bai's strength.
• Cloud Leopard blamed his defeat on carelessness and charged again, using Gale Wind Intent to greatly increase his speed.
• Lin Bai activated Aurora Intent and vanished beneath Cloud Leopard's attack, preparing to meet speed with speed.

Lin Bai defeated and killed Cloud Leopard in Violet Gold City, fulfilling his promise to Gui Jing. Gui Jing then appeared and challenged Crushing Mountain Demon Saint, who had agreed to provide one-third of his demon blood.

• Lin Bai used Aurora Intent to gain the upper hand against Cloud Leopard, then defeated him with Specters and Demons after Cloud Leopard revealed his true form.
• Cloud Leopard charged at Lin Bai again despite his injuries, and Lin Bai killed him with a sword strike between the brows.
• The human martial artists cheered Lin Bai, while Crushing Mountain Demon Saint and Hong Sha cried out over Cloud Leopard's death.
• Lin Bai prepared to collect Cloud Leopard's corpse and reminded Gui Jing that he had fulfilled his promise.
• Gui Jing appeared with other experts, confirmed he would honor his word, and descended to confront Crushing Mountain Demon Saint.

Gui Jing descended from the clouds and defeated Crushing Mountain Demon Saint, taking a potful of his demon blood for Lin Bai. Crushing Mountain Demon Saint fled after threatening retaliation, while Gui Jing let him go to avoid provoking a war.

• Martial artists greeted the powerful experts gathered in the clouds, and Lin Bai noticed Dong Qian briefly studying Dongfang Bai.
• Gui Jing attacked Crushing Mountain Demon Saint and forced him to reveal his White Fur Ape form.
• Gui Jing severed the White Fur Ape’s wrist, pinned him down, and drained enough demon blood to fill a large pot.
• Gui Jing gave the demon blood to Lin Bai, who accepted it and hoped it would help him reach the ninth level of the Sky Realm.
• Crushing Mountain Demon Saint threatened to report Gui Jing to the Demon Lord, then fled when Gui Jing declared he would kill him.
• Gui Jing allowed Crushing Mountain Demon Saint to escape to avoid a war between the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect and Ten Thousand Demons Valley.

After killing Cloud Leopard, Lin Bai returned to Purple Gold City, broke through to the ninth level of the Sky Realm, and learned that the Heavenly Stairway ranked him on its second step because its records still listed his cultivation as the eighth level. He dismissed the ranking dispute, focused on the coming martial contest, and remained intent on entering the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect.

• Lin Bai reunited with Gu Jianyun and Gu Qingyun, teased Jianyun, and declined their offer to stay at the Gu family estate because he had already settled into the Heavenly Treasure Inn.
• Lin Bai refined Cloud Leopard's corpse and the blood taken from Crushing Mountain Demon Saint, breaking through to the ninth level of the Sky Realm.
• News of Lin Bai's victory spread through Purple Gold City, and the Heavenly Stairway listed him on its second step for killing Cloud Leopard.
• The martial artists in the Heavenly Treasure Inn protested Lin Bai's placement, and the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion explained that its first step required full completion of the Sky Realm.
• Lin Bai noted that the Pavilion's explanation was outdated because he had already reached the ninth level, but said he did not care about the ranking.

Lin Bai received an invitation to the Heaven's Pride Banquet and decided to attend to meet the Heavenly Stairway’s geniuses. The day before the banquet, a Black-Robed Warrior killed Hong Sha on Cold Mountain with the Demon Sword, shocking the onlookers.

• After the Heaven's Treasure Pavilion senior left, the shop assistant revealed Lin Bai's identity as Dongfang Bai, and martial artists crowded around him with praise and complaints about his Heavenly Stairway ranking.
• The shop assistant delivered Lin Bai an invitation from Long Qingxiao to attend the Heaven's Pride Banquet at Dingtian Palace on the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month.
• The shop assistant explained that the banquet let geniuses meet potential rivals and gave dynasties a chance to recruit them; Lin Bai decided to attend to meet the Three Young Masters and other experts.
• Lin Bai stayed in his room for three days to consolidate his cultivation while the banquet approached.
• On Cold Mountain, a Black-Robed Warrior wielding the Demon Sword killed Hong Sha before he could reveal his true form, and the gathered martial artists recognized the sword.

Lin Bai learned that Zhang Jianxing, the Demon Sword Heir, had slain a Beast King and planned to attend Dingtian Palace’s Heaven’s Pride Banquet. Lin Bai brought Xue Qing along to the banquet, where their arrival stirred excitement among the crowd gathered outside.

• Xue Qing told Lin Bai that Zhang Jianxing had emerged as the Demon Sword Heir after killing the Beast King Hong Sha with one strike on Cold Mountain.
• Lin Bai saw Zhang Jianxing’s name on the Heaven Stairway Stele and agreed to meet him at the banquet the next day.
• Xue Qing revealed that he was a disciple-recruitment candidate working at the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, and Lin Bai invited him to accompany him to Dingtian Palace.
• Lin Bai and Xue Qing traveled to Dingtian Palace for the Heaven’s Pride Banquet as a crowd gathered outside to see the arriving geniuses.
• Lin Bai and Xue Qing stepped out of their carriage, and the crowd erupted at the arrival of the Demon Sword Heir.