Chapter Summaries

Lin Buzheng and Li Zhengyi investigated the ambush on Lin Bai and suspected the Broken Sword Tribe, while Li Zhengyi warned Lin Buzheng not to pair Lin Bai with Li Buxian. Lin Bai awoke in his residence, recovering from his severe injuries, and told his visitors that his attackers were dead.

• Lin Buzheng identified the dead attackers as likely members of Black Sword Hall of the Broken Sword Tribe and ordered an investigation into their identities and motives.
• Li Zhengyi told Lin Buzheng to investigate who had lured Lin Bai to the Northern Forest, then privately suspected Mo Wenshen.
• Li Zhengyi rebuked Lin Buzheng for suggesting that Lin Bai and Li Buxian be matched.
• Lin Bai awoke in his residence, where Li Buxian, Li Qianqian, and Li Fugui gathered at his bedside.
• Lin Bai sensed that his injuries were healing and reassured the three that his attackers were dead.

After waking from more than ten days of unconsciousness, Lin Bai learned that the Ten Sons Battle had begun and that Li Buxian had given up her chance to compete so she could care for him. Despite her worries, he went with Li Buxian, Li Qianqian, and Li Fugui to watch the top-hundred battle, arriving at the crowded arena before the Kunxu Divine Tower.

• Lin Bai woke up after more than ten days, and Li Qianqian told him that the Ten Sons Battle had started two days earlier.
• Li Fugui said he had been eliminated in the first round, Li Qianqian had reached the top hundred, and Li Buxian had forfeited her chance to care for Lin Bai.
• Lin Bai thanked Li Buxian and learned that many powerful Li family disciples had emerged to compete for the Kunxu Seventy-Two Arts.
• Li Buxian initially refused to let Lin Bai leave to watch the matches, but relented when he promised to go only briefly.
• Li Buxian and Li Fugui supported the still-weak Lin Bai as the group headed to the arena before the Kunxu Divine Tower, where tens of thousands had gathered for the top-hundred battle.

Lin Bai, still badly injured, joined Li Zhengyi and the Grand Elder to watch the Kunxu Ten Sons battle as the Top Hundred Battle began. Li Daoyuan and Li Xiang fought to an apparent draw, and the Grand Elder asked Lin Bai whether Li Xiang’s displayed strength could earn him Quasi-Holy Son status at the Eastern Continent Academy.

• Li Buxian brought Lin Bai and Li Fugui to the high platform, where Li Zhengyi and the Grand Elder gave them seats.
• Li Zhengyi urged Lin Bai to protect his life and act within his limits, while Lin Bai affirmed that he would honor their agreement.
• A Li family elder announced the Top Hundred Battle’s first match between Li Daoyuan and Li Xiang.
• Li Daoyuan and Li Xiang exchanged courteous words before clashing, and their displayed strength appeared evenly matched.
• The Grand Elder asked Lin Bai whether Li Xiang’s current strength would be enough to make him a Quasi-Holy Son at the Eastern Continent Academy.

Lin Bai watched the Li Family’s martial competitions and predicted that Li Tao would need more than seven hundred exchanges to defeat Li Tianqing. After Li Tao failed to win within a hundred exchanges, the Grand Elder conceded their wager and gave Lin Bai a bottle of Hundred Flowers Jade Dew Pills.

• The Grand Elder and Li Zhengyi asked Lin Bai whether Li Xiang could become a Quasi-Holy Son, and Lin Bai said Li Xiang was not qualified.
• Li Daoyuan defeated Li Xiang after nine hundred exchanges, and the Li Family’s competition continued until Li Tao faced Li Tianqing in the fifteenth match.
• After watching thirty exchanges, Lin Bai predicted Li Tao would need at least seven hundred exchanges to win and wagered the Grand Elder’s Hundred Flowers Jade Dew Pills against the Grand Elder’s prediction of victory within a hundred exchanges.
• Li Tao and Li Tianqing continued fighting beyond a hundred exchanges without a winner, so the Grand Elder acknowledged his loss and handed Lin Bai the pills.

Lin Bai won the Grand Elder’s Hundred Flowers Jade Dew Pills after Li Tao defeated Li Tianqing in the 750th round, and the pills began restoring his strength. When Li Buzheng entered his match against Li Mei, Lin Bai called him over and warned him to be careful of her.

• Lin Bai declined to take the pills before the wager’s result was clear, and Li Tao won after 750 rounds, earning Lin Bai the Hundred Flowers Jade Dew Pills.
• The Grand Elder explained that he felt remorse for opposing Lin Bai’s cultivation of the Kunxu Seventy-Two Arts, and Lin Bai accepted the pills and swallowed one.
• Lin Bai estimated that taking all ten pills would restore his strength to about seventy percent, then watched as the martial contest continued.
• When Li Buzheng was called to fight Li Mei, Lin Bai summoned him to the high platform and warned him to be careful of her.
• Li Buzheng said he was confident against Li Mei, but Lin Bai replied that he might still lose.

Lin Bai warned Li Buzheng that someone had equipped opponents with the Seven Great Prodigies’ fighting habits and weaknesses, and Li Buzheng used the warning to defeat Li Mei quickly. Li Daoyuan and Li Tao suspected a plot against the prodigies and considered joining forces to find its mastermind.

• Lin Bai pointed out that opponents had unusually detailed knowledge of Li Daoyuan and Li Tao’s techniques and weaknesses, and warned Li Buzheng that the Seven Great Prodigies had been set up.
• Li Buzheng fought Li Mei and confirmed she knew his openings, but changed his usual style after Lin Bai’s warning.
• Li Daoyuan and Li Tao agreed that someone was targeting the Seven Great Prodigies and discussed finding the person behind it, with Li Tao insisting Li Buzheng must agree to cooperate.
• Li Buzheng caught Li Mei off guard with his changed approach and defeated her in sixty rounds.
• Li Buzheng thanked Li Mei for yielding, then left the arena and gave Lin Bai a grateful look.

Lin Bai exposed that someone had been exploiting the Seven Great Prodigies of the Li family’s weaknesses, but Li Zhengyi chose to let the competition continue as a warning. After Li Chuyi won with a single strike using thirteen currents of Intent power, the Seven Great Prodigies agreed to join forces against the person targeting them.

• Li Buzheng defeated Li Mei in sixty moves, and Lin Bai told Li Zhengyi and the Grand Elder that opponents seemed to know the Seven Great Prodigies’ fighting styles and weaknesses.
• Li Zhengyi decided to let the suspected cheating go unchecked so the prodigies could learn from the experience, despite the Grand Elder’s objections.
• The remaining Seven Great Prodigies struggled against their opponents before Li Chuyi defeated his opponent with one sword strike and thirteen currents of Intent power.
• By a riverside, Li Chuyi confirmed that his opponent had targeted a weakness in his sword technique, and Li Buzheng proposed that the Seven Great Prodigies work together to find the person scheming against them.

After recovering about seventy percent of his strength, Lin Bai joined Li Fugui and Li Buxian to watch the final round of the Kunxu Ten Sons competition, which would determine the top ten and the champion. The competition began with Li Ge, an orphaned branch-family fighter who had reached the final round through his own strength.

• Lin Bai used ten Hundred Flowers Jade Dew Pills over seven days and recovered about seventy percent of his strength.
• Li Fugui and Li Buxian told Lin Bai that the final round would take place the next day, and Lin Bai agreed to attend.
• At dawn, Li Fugui and Li Buxian accompanied Lin Bai to the arena before the Kunxu Divine Tower, where over two hundred thousand people had gathered.
• Li Zhengyi announced that the top ten would enter the Kunxu Divine Tower to cultivate the Kunxu Seventy-Two Arts, while the champion could represent Kunxu and might become its future Lord.
• The competition began with Li Ge's match, and Li Fugui explained that the orphaned branch-family fighter had reached the fourth round without a powerful family, parent, or master behind him.

Li Ge surprised the arena by defeating Li Yuanxu after concealing his strength, while the Li family’s Seven Great Prodigies advanced to the top twenty-five. During the break, they suspected Li Muzhi, Li Ronghuan, or Li Renjie of plotting against them and prepared to show no mercy if matched against any of the three.

• Li Ge endured Li Yuanxu’s attacks for hundreds of rounds before defeating him with a palm strike.
• Lin Bai realized Li Ge had hidden his strength and was as powerful as the Seven Great Prodigies.
• Li Buzheng, Li Daoyuan, Li Qianqian, Li Zhaoxing, Li Le, Li Tao, and Li Chuyi advanced into the top twenty-five.
• During the half-hour break, the Seven Great Prodigies debated whether Li Muzhi, Li Ronghuan, or Li Renjie was plotting against them.
• The Seven Great Prodigies returned to the arena and fixed cold gazes on Li Muzhi, Li Ronghuan, and Li Renjie.

The top-twenty-five round ended with the Seven Great Prodigies, Li Ronghuan, Li Renjie, and Li Muzhi among the fifteen advancing martial artists. The final round for the Kunxu Ten Sons began under rules that let competitors challenge one another for tokens, and Li Daoyuan opened by calling out Li Ronghuan, Li Renjie, and Li Muzhi.

• Li Ke received a bye in the top-twenty-five round, and the Seven Great Prodigies and Li Ronghuan, Li Renjie, and Li Muzhi all advanced to the top fifteen.
• After an hour's rest, the elder explained that each competitor received three tokens and could challenge others, with losers surrendering a token and anyone left without tokens being eliminated.
• Lin Bai explained that the token rules gave competitors chances to challenge for points and could produce large differences in their final rankings.
• Li Daoyuan stepped onto the platform, surprising the crowd by challenging Li Ronghuan, Li Renjie, or Li Muzhi instead of Li Buzheng.

The Seven Great Prodigies began challenging the competition’s strongest dark horses, defeating Li Renjie, Li Muzhi, and Li Ronghuan. Li Chuyi then challenged the still-recovering Li Renjie, leaving the crowd stunned.

• Li Daoyuan challenged Li Ronghuan, Li Renjie, or Li Muzhi, and Li Renjie stepped up to fight him.
• After a hundred rounds, Li Daoyuan struck Li Renjie from the arena without using the Grand Extinction Art and took his token.
• Li Zhaoxing challenged Li Muzhi and defeated him after three hundred rounds, taking his token.
• Li Le challenged Li Ronghuan and defeated him after more than two hundred rounds.
• Li Chuyi called on the injured Li Renjie to fight, shocking the crowd and angering Li Renjie, Li Ronghuan, and Li Muzhi.

Li Chuyi challenged Li Renjie, but the Seven Great Prodigies’ dispute over who had targeted them during the previous round stalled the fight. As the martial battles continued, four contestants were eliminated, leaving eleven contenders and Li Muzhi, Li Renjie, and Li Ronghuan in danger with two tokens each.

• Li Renjie accused the Seven Great Prodigies of targeting him and his companions, while Li Muzhi and Li Ronghuan demanded an explanation from Li Buzheng.
• Li Buzheng sought Lin Bai’s judgment, and Lin Bai indicated that Li Renjie and the others were probably not behind the attacks; Li Chuyi then postponed their fight until Li Renjie had recovered.
• Li Daoyuan, Li Zhaoxing, and Li Le remained convinced that the three were guilty and promised to fight them after they recovered, while other contestants challenged one another.
• Li Menghui lost to Li Yun, Li Ge, and Li Ke, and was eliminated after losing three tokens.
• Li Peng, Li Ke, and Li Yun were eliminated after losing their battles, leaving eleven contestants; Li Zhaoxing led with six tokens, while Li Renjie, Li Muzhi, and Li Ronghuan each held two.

Li Zhaoxing defeated Li Muzhi and took his token, strengthening his lead in the martial contest. When Li Buzheng entered the arena, everyone expected him to challenge Li Muzhi, but he instead called out Li Zhaoxing.

• Li Le proposed eliminating one of the three contestants with the fewest tokens to settle the Kunxu Ten Sons positions, and Li Zhaoxing challenged Li Muzhi.
• Li Zhaoxing defeated Li Muzhi after several hundred exchanges and took his token, bringing his total to seven.
• Li Qianqian and Li Tao warned Li Buzheng that Li Zhaoxing could win the contest if his token lead continued to grow.
• Li Buzheng entered the arena and challenged Li Zhaoxing, surprising the watching martial artists.

Li Buzheng challenged and defeated Li Zhaoxing to gain the chance to claim first place in the martial contest, leaving them tied in tokens. Before Li Buzheng could recover, Li Daoyuan challenged him, and Li Buzheng accepted.

• Li Buzheng challenged Li Zhaoxing instead of Li Muzhi because he needed to prevent the contest from ending with Li Zhaoxing in first place.
• After a thousand exchanges, Li Buzheng defeated Li Zhaoxing, leaving both men with six tokens.
• Li Tao realized Li Buzheng needed another token before the contest could end and planned for him to challenge Li Muzhi after recovering.
• Li Daoyuan challenged Li Buzheng while he was exhausted from his fight with Li Zhaoxing.
• Despite Li Tao's warning, Li Buzheng accepted Li Daoyuan's challenge and stepped onto the platform.

Li Buzheng and Li Daoyuan fought for first place in the Kunxu competition, with Li Daoyuan gaining the upper hand after Li Buzheng exhausted much of his spiritual power. Li Daoyuan revealed his Grand Extinction Art and taunted Li Buzheng for choosing Dragon Slayer Swordplay over the Kunxu Seventy-Two Arts, drawing a flash of killing intent from Lin Bai.

• Li Buzheng and Li Daoyuan agreed to fight for first place and the chance to represent Kunxu in the world.
• Li Buzheng and Li Daoyuan traded powerful attacks, shaking the combat stage and astonishing the watching martial artists.
• Li Buzheng used Buddha's Wrath but failed to hit Li Daoyuan and depleted much of his spiritual power.
• Li Daoyuan revealed the Grand Extinction Art, one of the Kunxu Seventy-Two Arts, and gathered its destructive power.
• Li Daoyuan mocked Li Buzheng for giving up a chance to learn the Kunxu Seventy-Two Arts in favor of Dragon Slayer Swordplay, and Lin Bai looked at him with killing intent.

Li Daoyuan defeated Li Buzheng and Li Muzhi, securing seven tokens and becoming the apparent champion as the Kunxu Ten Sons were selected. Li Zhengyi then revealed that the competition was not over until the ten finalists faced a powerful martial artist who would judge whether they could cultivate the Kunxu Seventy-Two Arts.

• Li Daoyuan defeated Li Buzheng with the Grand Extinction Art, taking one of his tokens and leaving him with five.
• Li Daoyuan challenged Li Muzhi, defeated him after five hundred exchanges, and claimed his final token, eliminating him.
• Li Zhengyi confirmed that the Kunxu Ten Sons had been selected and told Li Daoyuan that he appeared to be the champion.
• Li Zhengyi explained that the finalists still had to face a powerful martial artist and win his approval to cultivate the Kunxu Seventy-Two Arts.
• Li Daoyuan and the recovering Li Buzheng asked who Li Zhengyi had chosen to test the finalists.

Li Zhengyi named Lin Bai as the final examiner for the Kunxu Ten Sons tournament, where the contestants could win valuable Golden Tokens by defeating him. After the Ten Sons recovered their strength and the final test began, Li Buxian worried that Lin Bai was still injured and had only recovered seventy percent of his power.

• Li Zhengyi revealed that Lin Bai would test the Kunxu Ten Sons, surprising the gathered martial artists and unsettling Li Buzheng and Li Daoyuan.
• Li Zhengyi explained that Lin Bai held three Golden Tokens, each worth two Ordinary Tokens, and that each contestant would fight him once to determine the final rankings.
• The Grand Elder gave recovery pills to the Kunxu Ten Sons, and they spent an hour restoring their injuries and spiritual power.
• Lin Bai descended onto the tournament platform as the final test began.
• Li Buxian warned Li Zhengyi that Lin Bai was injured and had recovered only seventy percent of his strength, but Li Zhengyi replied that it should be enough.

Lin Bai began examining the Kunxu Ten Sons by fighting Li Renjie and Li Ronghuan. He defeated Li Renjie and judged him qualified, then faced Li Ronghuan, whose opening punch forced Lin Bai back ten steps.

• Lin Bai announced that he would judge the Kunxu Ten Sons fairly and began with Li Renjie, who had the fewest tokens.
• Li Renjie attacked Lin Bai with the Wild Gale God-Slaying Slash, and the two fought for three hundred exchanges without Lin Bai drawing his sword.
• Li Renjie unleashed Furious Wind, Wrath of the God, but Lin Bai used the Great Sun-Chasing Art and a punch to defeat him.
• Lin Bai returned Li Renjie's token and declared him qualified to remain among the Kunxu Ten Sons.
• Li Ronghuan challenged Lin Bai with the Green Mountain Subduing Demons Seventy-Two Fists, and their first punch forced Lin Bai back ten steps.

Lin Bai defeated Li Ronghuan by using his flying swords to counter Green Mountain Subduing Demons Seventy-Two Fists and approved him as qualified to become one of the Kunxu Ten Sons. After two victories, Lin Bai began his assessment of Li Ge.

• Li Ronghuan drove Lin Bai back with the first seventy punches of Green Mountain Subduing Demons Seventy-Two Fists.
• Lin Bai used his flying swords to stop Li Ronghuan's seventy-first punch and explained that interrupting the fist technique's momentum weakened it.
• Li Ronghuan unleashed his seventy-second punch, but Lin Bai's Taiji Two Forms Sword Formation blocked it, and Li Ronghuan admitted defeat.
• Lin Bai accepted Li Ronghuan's token and declared that both Li Ronghuan and Li Renjie were qualified to become Kunxu Ten Sons.
• Li Ge stepped onto the fighting platform, offered to let Lin Bai rest, and prepared to begin their assessment.

Lin Bai recognized Li Ge as the shadowy figure who had lured him toward the Northern Forest after Li Ge revealed his hidden movement technique. Li Ge admitted he had been concealing his strength and attacked Lin Bai with the same fist technique Li Ronghuan had used.

• Li Ge attacked Lin Bai, but Lin Bai’s Protective Lightning repelled him and a punch sent him flying.
• Lin Bai pressed his attack, and Li Ge used a ghostly movement technique to appear behind him with a short sword; Lin Bai escaped with the Wishful Ring.
• Lin Bai drew his demon sword and battered Li Ge through hundreds of exchanges, then unleashed Hidden Dragon in the Abyss.
• Li Ge evaded Lin Bai’s sword with Great Soul Shift, prompting Li Buzheng, Li Buxian, and Li Fugui to recognize the Grand Elder’s Kunxu Seventy-Two Art.
• Lin Bai identified Li Ge as the shadowy figure from outside Intent Cultivation Valley, and Li Ge stopped hiding his strength and attacked with Green Mountain Subduing Demons Seventy-Two Fists.