Recaps

Lin Bai and Xue Qing arrived at Dingtian Palace for the Heaven's Pride Banquet, where the Sixth Prince welcomed Lin Bai and he reunited with the Wine Immortal, Ni Xiang'en. The guests looked forward to the anticipated meeting of the Demonic Duo Swords.

• Lin Bai presented his invitation and brought Xue Qing into Dingtian Palace with the maid Hong'er.
• Hong'er told Lin Bai and Xue Qing that prominent young talents, princes, and geniuses had arrived for the banquet.
• The Sixth Prince, Long Qingxiao, welcomed Lin Bai before the assembled guests and toasted him with wine.
• Lin Bai praised Ni Xiang'en's Moonlight as the finest wine he had tasted, and Ni Xiang'en came over to greet him.
• Ni Xiang'en and Long Qingxiao expressed anticipation for the coming meeting of the Demonic Duo Swords.

Lin Bai attended the Heaven's Pride Banquet, where the Sixteenth Prince and Ni Xiang'en discussed the rare meeting of the Monster Sword and Demon Sword heirs. As rival geniuses grew resentful of the attention Lin Bai received, the Crown Prince of the Flying Cloud Dynasty approached him for a drink.

• The Sixteenth Prince and Ni Xiang'en told Lin Bai that the Monster Sword and Demon Sword heirs had last met six thousand years earlier, and they anticipated their coming clash.
• Young Master Xingchen complained that Lin Bai had drawn everyone's attention and vowed to defeat him and take the Monster Sword at the disciple selection.
• Young Master Hu Long provoked Young Master Xingchen, while Young Master Qian Shui silently judged his reaction.
• Lin Bai returned to his seat and drank with Xue Qing, who remarked on the many famous geniuses at the banquet.
• The Crown Prince of the Flying Cloud Dynasty approached Lin Bai and asked to share a drink, and Xue Qing identified him as Crown Prince Feiyun.

At the Heaven’s Pride Banquet, Lin Bai faced Crown Prince Feiyun’s threat of revenge and received a warning about Young Master Hu Long and Young Master Xingchen. The banquet’s anticipated climax began when Zhang Jianxing, the Demon Sword wielder, arrived.

• Crown Prince Feiyun told Lin Bai that Han Di had been like a father to him and vowed to kill Lin Bai in the martial contest three days later.
• Young Master Qian Shui introduced himself to Lin Bai and quietly warned him to beware Young Master Hu Long and Young Master Xingchen.
• Lin Bai recognized Gu Lingfei and Liang Chunrong among the guests, then spoke with Su Dynasty prince Su Lingqi about Su Cang, now called Su Lingcang.
• A maidservant announced Zhang Jianxing’s arrival to Sixth Prince Long Qingxiao, who looked toward Lin Bai as the expected meeting of the Demon Sword wielders approached.

At the Heavenly Prodigy Banquet in Dingtian Palace, Dongfang Bai met Zhang Jianxing, the Demon Sword Heir, and learned that Zhang had come to challenge him. The two drew their swords before the gathered martial artists, and their sword auras filled the hall.

• The Sixth Prince introduced Zhang Jianxing as the Demon Sword Heir and celebrated his encounter with Dongfang Bai, heir of the Demonic Duo Swords.
• Dongfang Bai approached Zhang Jianxing and toasted him, drawing the attention of everyone at the banquet.
• Zhang Jianxing told Dongfang Bai that he had come to Purple Gold City to fight him because Dongfang Bai was the only swordsman in the Lands of Lingnan who could battle the Demon Sword.
• Zhang Jianxing drew the Demon Sword, and Dongfang Bai answered by summoning the Demonic Duo Swords from his Storage Bag.
• The two swords unleashed overwhelming sword auras that made the martial artists in Dingtian Palace struggle to breathe.

At the Dingtian Palace banquet, Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing called off their sword clash, though Lin Bai accepted challenges from other geniuses. As Lin Bai left with Ni Xiang'en, she revealed that Zhang Jianxing had cultivated Destruction Intent, one of the three intents that marked a World Ender.

• Ni Xiang'en interrupted Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing's sword standoff, and the two put away their swords and toasted one another.
• Xue Qing admitted she had been terrified by their sword might, while Lin Bai reflected that Zhang Jianxing's origins and sword intent were unknown to him.
• At the banquet, princes and geniuses toasted or challenged Lin Bai, and the Sixth Prince provided music and dancers.
• Lin Bai and Xue Qing prepared to leave, and Ni Xiang'en joined them after Lin Bai accepted the Sixth Prince's Sound Transmission Talisman.
• Outside Dingtian Palace, Ni Xiang'en told Lin Bai that Zhang Jianxing had cultivated Destruction Intent and explained that its practitioners, along with those who cultivated Slaughter Intent or Death Domain, were called World Enders.

After the Heaven’s Pride Banquet, Lin Bai learned that the wielders of the Demonic Duo Swords would face each other during Purple Gold City’s apprentice-acceptance tournament. Xue Qing brought him the tournament rules, which explained the Martial Soul test, the Night Crow Mountains competition, and the rankings that could make participants famous across the Southern Lands.

• Lin Bai returned to the Heavenly Treasure Inn and sold more than two hundred demonic beast corpses to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion for fifteen billion spirit stones.
• News spread through Purple Gold City that Dongfang Bai and Zhang Jianxing would have a true exchange during the apprentice acceptance.
• Xue Qing brought Lin Bai the released tournament rules, explaining that participants would first have their Martial Souls tested before competing in the Night Crow Mountains for aura spiritual power.
• Xue Qing told Lin Bai that observers from the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion and the Seventy-Two Dynasties would rank the outstanding competitors in Genius Tier and Young Lord Tier, and Lin Bai asked whether the Young Lord Tier matched the current Three Young Masters.

Lin Bai reflected on the talent rankings for the disciple selection and briefly sensed a chance to advance his Rainstorm Intent, but failed to grasp it. After cultivating the Nameless Sword Art, he went with Xue Qing to the central square on the day of the selection.

• Lin Bai considered how the observation team would assess martial artists for the Genius Tier and Young Lord Tier rankings.
• Lin Bai felt his Rainstorm Intent loosen toward a breakthrough, but the fleeting opportunity passed.
• Lin Bai thought about Zhang Jianxing's pursuit of Destruction Intent and practiced the Nameless Sword Art with the Demon Sword.
• Xue Qing found Lin Bai still cultivating on the morning of the disciple selection and reminded him that the event was beginning.
• Lin Bai washed up and went with Xue Qing to the central square, where the city's martial artists had gathered.

Lin Bai and Xue Qing arrived at Purple Gold City’s central square for the five-yearly disciple-selection contest, where the Lord of the Forbidden City opened the event. The Martial Soul test began with Young Master Qian Shui called forward, while Lin Bai and the other contestants awaited their turns.

• Lin Bai and Xue Qing entered the crowded square, where allies greeted Lin Bai and Young Master Hu Long, Young Master Xingchen, and Crown Prince Feiyun regarded him with hostility.
• After two hours, the Lord of the Forbidden City and experts from the seven major sects arrived and were welcomed by the assembled martial artists.
• The Lord of the Forbidden City announced the start of the disciple-selection contest and invited contestants bearing Purple Gold City Tokens into the arena.
• Wan Yuxin explained that the first round would test contestants’ Martial Soul grades, with an observation delegation judging their potential.
• Wan Yuxin called Young Master Qian Shui forward as the first contestant to take the Martial Soul test.

At the martial-soul test, Young Master Xingchen shocked the arena with an Emperor Grade Martial Soul, while Dongfang Bai revealed a seemingly pitiful Yellow Rank One. Young Master Xingchen mocked Dongfang Bai, who let his smile fade and asked if the insult was really so funny.

• Young Master Qian Shui tested as Heaven Grade Nine, then Young Master Xingchen revealed an Emperor Grade Martial Soul and drew the admiration of the arena and the sect leaders.
• Young Master Hu Long, Wine Immortal Ni Xiang'en, and Demon Sword Heir each tested as Heaven Grade Nine, while most second-level martial artists had lower ranks.
• Xiang Yangtian tested as Heaven Grade Nine, and Xue Qing noted he could be a dark horse from the second level.
• Dongfang Bai tested as Yellow Rank One, leaving the crowd and the sect leaders astonished, while Zhang Jianxing remained focused on competing with him in swordsmanship.
• Young Master Xingchen jeered at Dongfang Bai for having a Yellow Rank One Martial Soul, and Dongfang Bai's smile faded as he asked whether Xingchen found it that funny.

Lin Bai retook the Martial Soul test and revealed a Near God-Rank Martial Soul, shocking the arena and prompting witnesses to confirm that he possessed twin Martial Souls. The chapter ended with Young Master Xingchen humiliated and vowing to kill Lin Bai, while the Lord of the Forbidden City privately noticed Lin Bai’s resemblance to someone.

• Young Master Xingchen mocked Lin Bai’s Yellow Rank One Martial Soul, and Lin Bai asked Wan Yuxin to let him test again.
• Lin Bai touched the black stone, which changed its result to Near God-Rank Martial Soul and stunned the arena.
• Wan Yuxin and the leaders of the seven sects recognized that Lin Bai likely had twin Martial Souls, while Young Master Xingchen accused him of cheating.
• The Lord of the Forbidden City questioned Lin Bai, who acknowledged the truth indirectly, and the Lord confirmed that Lin Bai had twin Martial Souls.
• Senior Qi Changye and the observers confirmed Lin Bai’s twin Martial Souls, leaving Young Master Xingchen humiliated and furious.
• The Lord of the Forbidden City returned to his seat and privately noted how much Lin Bai resembled someone he knew.

After Lin Bai’s Near God-Rank Martial Soul dominated the first round, he entered the Night Crow Mountains for the second-round battle and learned that the Aura Spirit Bracelets could be won from other contestants. The chapter left him facing Gu Lingfei, whom he threatened as the Demon Sword appeared in his hand.

• Lin Bai’s Near God-Rank Martial Soul stood out above the other contestants, and Wan Yuxin announced the Night Crow Mountains battle as the second round.
• Wan Yuxin gave the contestants Aura Spirit Bracelets and sent them through a teleportation formation to random locations in the Night Crow Mountains.
• Lin Bai received a bracelet holding fifty zhang of Aura Spirit and decided to seek more Aura Spirit from other martial artists.
• Spectators spotted Lin Bai near Setting Sun Mountain and saw that he was about to encounter Gu Lingfei, whom Gui Jing praised as a skilled sword cultivator.
• Lin Bai met Gu Lingfei in the mountains, reminded her that she had escaped him outside Chaoyang City, and drew the Demon Sword.

Lin Bai killed Gu Lingfei with one sword and accumulated fortune spirit power in the Night Crow Mountains. Later, he found the badly injured Gu Jianyun and asked who had hurt her.

• Lin Bai dismissed Gu Lingfei’s claim that they would both be badly wounded and killed him with one sword, despite Gu Lingfei attempting to escape with his Martial Soul Secret Method.
• Lin Bai took Gu Lingfei’s Storage Bag and fortune bracelet, raising his fortune spirit power from fifty zhang to one hundred zhang.
• Lin Bai reasoned that hunting martial artists on the Second Step of the Heavenly Ladder was worthwhile and continued gathering fortune spirit power, which reached seven hundred zhang after three hours.
• Gu Jianyun hid in a forest to tend her wounds and cursed Liang Chunrong, Taihe, and Luan Fei for injuring her.
• Lin Bai appeared behind Gu Jianyun, saw her wounds reopen as she jumped in fright, and demanded to know who had hurt her.

Lin Bai found Gu Jianyun injured and took her to confront the three Cloud Heaven Dynasty geniuses who had attacked her. He arrived just in time to save Xue Qing from Liang Chunrong, while Luan Fei and Tai He disowned their companion.

• Gu Jianyun told Lin Bai that Liang Chunrong, Tai He, and Luan Fei had injured her, and Lin Bai offered to take her for revenge.
• Liang Chunrong tortured Xue Qing and demanded that he insult Dongfang Bai, but Xue Qing refused and praised him instead.
• Lin Bai appeared before Liang Chunrong could kill Xue Qing, drove him back with sword might, and asked Xue Qing if he was all right.
• Gu Jianyun gave Xue Qing pills and took him aside while Lin Bai confronted Liang Chunrong, Luan Fei, and Tai He.
• Luan Fei and Tai He claimed they had nothing to do with Liang Chunrong's attack on Xue Qing, leaving Liang Chunrong stunned.

Lin Bai killed Luan Fei, Tai He, and Liang Chunrong with his sword, then claimed their fortune energy. After sending Gu Jianyun and Xue Qing away, he confronted two young men who had been watching from the forest.

• Luan Fei and Tai He attacked Lin Bai together, but he killed both with one sword strike.
• Liang Chunrong charged Lin Bai and was killed by a single slash.
• The sect leaders discussed which sword sect might recruit Lin Bai, while Lin Bai collected the three men's fortune energy, bringing his total to more than four thousand two hundred zhang.
• Lin Bai sensed danger, ordered Gu Jianyun to take Xue Qing away, and called out to two young men watching in the forest.
• Two unfriendly young men emerged from the forest.

Crown Prince Feiyun and Young Master Xingchen confronted Lin Bai on the mountain, and Young Master Xingchen attacked him with the ancestral Nine Heavens Star Codex. Lin Bai survived the devastating Three Thousand Star Kill, but emerged battered and bleeding.

• Xue Qing and Gu Jianyun saw Crown Prince Feiyun and Young Master Xingchen approach Lin Bai, while observers in Purple Gold City recognized their hostility.
• Bao Song and Gui Jing protested that the pair were joining forces against Lin Bai, while Dong Qian welcomed the fight because Lin Bai was unlikely to join his sect.
• Lin Bai asked whether Crown Prince Feiyun and Young Master Xingchen would attack together or separately, and Crown Prince Feiyun and Young Master Xingchen argued over who would kill him.
• Young Master Xingchen charged Lin Bai, shattered his sword gleam with a palm strike, and sent him flying more than five hundred meters.
• Lin Bai counterattacked with Aurora Intent, but Young Master Xingchen unleashed Three Thousand Star Kill and flattened everything within a thousand meters.
• Lin Bai reappeared in midair with his white robes tattered, his hair disheveled, and blood at the corner of his mouth.

Lin Bai defeated Young Master Xingchen in a fierce battle, exposing the gap between Xingchen’s initial-stage Star Intent and Lin Bai’s swordsmanship. As the wounded Xingchen took pills, Crown Prince Feiyun stepped forward to challenge Lin Bai.

• Young Master Xingchen used the Starfall Movement Technique and Three Thousand Star Kill, but Lin Bai countered with Demons and Ghosts and sent him flying.
• Lin Bai explained that Xingchen’s Star Intent was powerful but not yet at the mid-stage, then provoked him to attack again.
• Lin Bai evaded Three Thousand Star Kill, broke through Xingchen’s Star Shield with Yellow Springs Ghost Rain and Blood Sky Slash, and gravely wounded him.
• The crowd reacted in shock to Xingchen’s defeat, while Bao Song and Gui Jing rejoiced and Dong Qian looked grim.
• Xingchen swallowed pills, and Crown Prince Feiyun stepped forward to challenge Lin Bai.

After Lin Bai defeated Young Master Xingchen, Crown Prince Feiyun challenged him, claiming first-step Heavenly Ladder strength, but Lin Bai badly wounded him with one sword and exposed the claim as false. Crown Prince Feiyun, furious at the humiliation, charged at Lin Bai again.

• Crown Prince Feiyun stepped in after Young Master Xingchen fell and claimed he had battle prowess equal to a first-step Heavenly Ladder genius.
• Gu Jianyun, Xue Qing, and the martial artists in Purple Gold City condemned Crown Prince Feiyun for taking his turn against Lin Bai.
• Crown Prince Feiyun attacked Lin Bai with his Blazing Fire Intent, but Lin Bai countered with Lingering Night and sent him flying with a severe injury.
• Lin Bai said Crown Prince Feiyun was only among the upper ranks of the second step, prompting the crowd to look toward Wan Yuxin, who had made the earlier assessment.
• Crown Prince Feiyun roared that he would kill Lin Bai and charged at him again with his Blazing Fire Intent unleashed.

Lin Bai fought Crown Prince Feiyun while Young Master Hu Long waited for a chance to strike, but Zhang Jianxing intervened and wounded Hu Long. With Young Master Qian Shui and Ni Xiang'en arriving, the gathered martial artists anticipated the coming clash between the demon sword and the devil sword.

• Young Master Hu Long watched Lin Bai fight Young Master Xingchen and Crown Prince Feiyun, then prepared to attack when Feiyun was sent flying.
• Young Master Hu Long launched a surprise strike at Lin Bai with the Gale Wind Intent and Water Drop Intent.
• Zhang Jianxing appeared and struck Young Master Hu Long, cutting his chest and leaving a massive sword scar in the earth.
• Lin Bai thanked Zhang Jianxing, who explained that he had arrived earlier and waited after noticing Hu Long hiding nearby.
• Young Master Qian Shui and Ni Xiang'en arrived, and martial artists across Purple Gold City gathered their attention on the expected sword clash.

Lin Bai faced Young Master Xingchen, Crown Prince Feiyun, and Young Master Hu Long after they joined forces against him, while Zhang Jianxing took on Young Master Hu Long. Their battles erupted before the crowd in Purple Gold City, where the fight between the sword heirs reached a new climax.

• Young Master Qian Shui and Ni Xiang'en said they would watch without intervening, while Young Master Hu Long recovered and argued with them and Zhang Jianxing.
• Young Master Xingchen and Crown Prince Feiyun proposed joining Young Master Hu Long to challenge Lin Bai, and the three surrounded him.
• Lin Bai unleashed the Demon Sword's power and declared he did not fear all three attacking together, but Zhang Jianxing claimed Young Master Hu Long as his opponent.
• Zhang Jianxing attacked Young Master Hu Long, forcing him to retreat before the two began a fierce duel.
• Young Master Xingchen and Crown Prince Feiyun attacked Lin Bai together, and Lin Bai met them in a clash of sword light, fist shadow, and Blazing Fire Intent.
• The melee drew excited, divided crowds in Purple Gold City, while Young Master Qian Shui, Ni Xiang'en, Lord of the Forbidden City, and sect leaders watched.

Lin Bai killed Crown Prince Feiyun and forced Young Master Xingchen to unleash the Nine Thousand Star Kill. The nine thousand light swords descended toward Lin Bai, leaving the battle at its most dangerous point.

• The Sixth Prince dismissed Young Master Xingchen, Young Master Hu Long, and Crown Prince Feiyun as no match for the Demonic Duo Swords and lamented that he had failed to gain the divine sword’s recognition.
• Lin Bai fought Young Master Xingchen and Crown Prince Feiyun while Zhang Jianxing battled Young Master Hu Long.
• Lin Bai used Tempest’s End to pierce Crown Prince Feiyun’s throat and kill him.
• Young Master Xingchen unleashed the Nine Heavens Star Codex’s Nine Thousand Star Kill, draining his spiritual power to summon nine thousand light swords.
• Young Master Qian Shui, Ni Xiang'en, and Zhang Jianxing reacted with alarm as the swords charged toward Lin Bai.

Lin Bai used the sixth move of Nameless Sword Art to turn Young Master Xingchen’s Nine Thousand Star Kill back against him, leaving Dong Qian to intervene before Xingchen was killed. Dong Qian declared Xingchen the loser and returned him to Purple Gold City, while the Lord of the Forbidden City wondered whether Dongfang Bai was someone he recognized.

• Young Master Xingchen unleashed Nine Thousand Star Kill, but Lin Bai used Seizing Force to redirect its beams toward him with Tempest's End.
• Nine Thousand Star Kill battered Young Master Xingchen until Dong Qian arrived and shattered the attack to save him.
• Lin Bai demanded Young Master Xingchen's bracelet, and Dong Qian removed it and tossed it to Lin Bai before declaring Xingchen defeated.
• Gui Jing and Bao Song discussed the history of swordsmanship prodigies and Dong Qian's desire to protect Xingchen, prompting the Lord of the Forbidden City to silence them.
• The Lord of the Forbidden City studied Dongfang Bai and wondered whether he could be the person he had in mind.

After Dong Qian and Lou Ming rescued Young Master Xingchen and Young Master Hu Long, Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing prepared to fight each other. Blade Cultivator Xiang Yangtian arrived and challenged the two sword heirs, and Zhang Jianxing accepted as Lin Bai watched.

• Dong Qian rescued Young Master Xingchen, while Zhang Jianxing severed Young Master Hu Long’s arms.
• Young Master Hu Long called for Lou Ming, who rescued him and took him away despite objections from the other sect leaders.
• Zhang Jianxing retrieved a bracelet from Young Master Hu Long’s severed arm, then he and Lin Bai prepared to fight while Ni Xiang'en and Young Master Qian Shui promised not to interfere.
• Xiang Yangtian arrived and challenged Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing to a match.
• Zhang Jianxing accepted Xiang Yangtian’s challenge, and Lin Bai stepped aside to watch.

Xiang Yangtian challenged Zhang Jianxing and proved that his saber skill could match the Demon Sword Heir’s before Zhang Jianxing’s full power overwhelmed him. Lin Bai stopped Zhang Jianxing from killing Xiang Yangtian, who declared that he had fought to restore the honor of Blade Cultivators, and You Yihu announced that the Heaven Blade Sect was claiming him.

• Xiang Yangtian fought Zhang Jianxing to a standstill for a hundred blows, astonishing Lin Bai, the crowd, and You Yihu with his saber skill.
• Zhang Jianxing unleashed his Destruction Intent and defeated Xiang Yangtian with one strike, but Xiang Yangtian refused to admit defeat and charged again.
• Lin Bai knocked aside Zhang Jianxing’s killing blow and asked Xiang Yangtian why he was willing to die.
• Xiang Yangtian declared that he wanted to prove Blade Cultivators deserved recognition alongside Sword Cultivators, saying his saber had once been a Divine Weapon.
• You Yihu claimed Xiang Yangtian for the Heaven Blade Sect and threatened war against anyone who competed for him.

Xiang Yangtian challenged Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing to prove the worth of Blade Cultivators, while You Yihu and Dong Qian argued over whether their sects would claim him. After Lin Bai’s words and Zhang Jianxing’s recognition of his blade, Licang, Xiang Yangtian admitted defeat and left resolved to restore Blade Cultivators’ reputation.

• You Yihu declared that the Heavenly Blade Sect would protect Xiang Yangtian and treat any competing sect as an enemy.
• Dong Qian said the Holy Seal Sect would accept Xiang Yangtian only if he chose to join, while Han Zikun noted that the other sects were unlikely to compete.
• Lin Bai challenged Xiang Yangtian’s decision to seek death for the sake of Blade Cultivators and urged him to find the courage to start over after failure.
• Xiang Yangtian admitted defeat, and Zhang Jianxing identified his treasured blade as Licang.
• Xiang Yangtian acknowledged that Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing surpassed him and vowed to make Blade Cultivators’ name resound throughout the world before leaving.

After Xiang Yangtian attained enlightenment and left, You Yihu proposed reviving the annual Blade-and-Sword Contest, and Gui Jing said the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect would have to be persuaded. Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing then began their battle with the Demon Sword Zihuang and Devil Sword Niesheng, devastating the Night Crow Mountains as they fought.

• Gui Jing reminded You Yihu that the Heavenly Blade Sect's extreme Blade Cultivators had turned the old Blade-and-Sword Contest into a slaughterhouse and caused it to end.
• You Yihu acknowledged the Blade Cultivators' past mistakes and proposed restoring the annual contest, while Gui Jing said the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect's Sword Sovereign would need to agree.
• The Lord of the Forbidden City announced that the main event would be the battle between the Demonic Duo Swords.
• Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing prepared to fight, naming their swords Zihuang and Niesheng, while Young Master Qian Shui and Ni Xiang'en retreated to safety.
• Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing exchanged their first blows, then Lin Bai attacked with the Nameless Sword Art as their sword techniques ravaged the Night Crow Mountains.