Chapter Summaries

Prince Rong’s forces trapped Fu Qingshuang and her companions after they rescued Wen Jia, forcing them to fight their way out of the Divine Capital. When Su Xianmei learned they were being pursued, Lin Bai set out to help them in the Eastern Wasteland Forest.

• Prince Rong arrived with hundreds of powerful fighters and ordered his Seventy-Two Royal Guards to stop Xun Zhizang and the others from escaping.
• Fu Qingshuang attacked Prince Rong while Xun Zhizang, Bai Mu, and the others broke through the encirclement; Mo Wenshen stayed to fight Fu Qingshuang.
• Prince Rong sent his Royal Guards after the escaping companions, and Mo Wenshen joined the pursuit after urging Prince Rong to use them as leverage against Lin Duo and Li Subai.
• Xun Zhizang and the others fled into the Eastern Wasteland Forest and asked Su Xianmei for help through a Voice Transmission Token.
• Su Xianmei told Lin Bai that her father and the others were in danger, and Lin Bai left the Star Forging Estate to rescue them despite her warning.

Lin Bai flew into the Eastern Wasteland Forest and killed a peak Apex Realm warrior from Prince Rong’s residence. Meanwhile, Mo Wenshen tracked the Peach Mountain Eighteen Immortals with Wen Jia’s help and cornered them in the forest.

• Su Xianmei stayed behind as Lin Bai put on white clothes and a purple-gold Rose Mask and flew toward the eastern outskirts.
• Lin Bai killed a peak Apex Realm warrior who identified himself as a servant of Prince Rong, then continued deeper into the forest.
• Mo Wenshen used a compass to locate Wen Jia, who had activated a jade pendant, and led Tan Gang, Su Linghai, and several hundred warriors after him.
• Fu Qingshuang and the others realized Wen Jia had been revealing their location to Mo Wenshen, while Xun Zhizang held him beneath his arm.
• Mo Wenshen and several hundred powerful warriors appeared in the sky and surrounded Fu Qingshuang and her companions.

Lin Bai arrived as the Night Emperor of Badlands Prefecture and joined Fu Qingshuang’s group against Prince Rong’s forces. He slaughtered the Apex Realm attackers, while Mo Wenshen and the others remained engaged with Fu Qingshuang’s allies.

• Hundreds of martial artists descended from the clouds as Mo Wenshen, Tan Gang, and Su Linghai confronted Fu Qingshuang, Xun Zhizang, Bai Mu, and Monk Jiufeng.
• Lin Bai arrived wearing his purple-gold Rose Mask, deflected Mo Wenshen’s attack, and declared that everyone there would die.
• Mo Wenshen ordered his fighters to capture Lin Bai alive while Su Linghai and Tan Gang attacked Bai Mu and Xun Zhizang.
• Fu Qingshuang blocked Mo Wenshen and recognized Lin Bai, who confirmed his identity and said they should not worry about his arrival.
• Lin Bai used Sword Scripture techniques to kill dozens of Apex Realm martial artists, and Tan Gang mistook him for a remnant of Sword Lake.

Lin Bai and Fu Qingshuang escaped Prince Rong’s forces with help from mysterious black-clad martial artists and the Mystic Void Grotto Spirit Boat. They arrived at a hidden manor, where Lin Bai discovered Yin Jiuling, A Ning, and his other companions had gathered.

• Prince Rong arrived with soldiers, and Wen Jia betrayed Xun Zhizang by striking him and returning to Mo Wenshen’s side.
• Tens of thousands of black-clad martial artists attacked Prince Rong’s troops, using the Hundred Souls Battle Saint Formation to help Fu Qingshuang, Lin Bai, and the others escape east.
• An old man waiting aboard the Mystic Void Grotto Spirit Boat brought the group away from the Eastern Wasteland Forest at great speed.
• The spirit boat carried them to a concealed manor beneath a verdant mountain, where Lin Bai was astonished to find Yin Jiuling, A Ning, Fang Yiyun, Shu Xiang, Changsun Yun, and the others.

Lin Bai and his companions entered Extraterrestrial Mountain Villa, where they learned that its master had brought their scattered friends there and kept them safe while providing cultivation resources. They remained unsure of the master’s motives as their reunion turned to teasing and memories of how Lan Ling and Chen Qianyun had gotten together.

• Xun Zhizang and Fu Qingshuang warned Lin Bai that the villa was protected by formidable formations and that its unfamiliar Quasi-Dao Realm steward could pose a danger.
• A Ning told Lin Bai that she and Yin Jiuling had been summoned to the villa with news that he was in danger, then kept there and supplied with cultivation resources until they reached the ninth stage of the Apex Realm.
• Fang Yiyun, the Heavenly Crippled Four Brothers, Feng Wenjun, and Shi Jiamu explained how messengers had brought them to the villa, and Fang Yiyun described their escape from Prince Rong’s residence.
• Lin Bai teased Feng Wenjun and Shi Jiamu about their closeness, prompting A Ning and Shi Jiamu to bicker.
• Xun Zhizang and Feng Lingzi recalled setting up Lan Ling and Chen Qianyun, and Fu Qingshuang revealed that their scheme had led to Lan Yuxin’s birth.

The Seventh Young Master revealed that he had founded Extraterrestrial Mountain Villa and explained why he had sheltered Lin Bai, Fu Qingshuang, and the others. He had chosen Lin Duo as Heavenly Treasure Pavilion’s backup candidate in the struggle for the throne, and the story ended with him explaining that Lin Duo’s victory could make him the family’s next clan head.

• Uncle Li escorted Lin Bai, Fu Qingshuang, and the others to a banquet, where they met the villa’s master, Qian Duoduo, also known as the Seventh Young Master, and his daughter Su Xianmei.
• The Seventh Young Master welcomed the Peach Mountain Eighteen Immortals and apologized to Lin Bai’s group for luring them to the villa and keeping them confined.
• Fu Qingshuang asked why the Seventh Young Master had risked Heavenly Treasure Pavilion’s standing to protect them, and he said the Sacred Nation could not threaten the pavilion.
• The Seventh Young Master explained that Heavenly Treasure Pavilion’s heirs each backed rival contenders for the throne to protect the family’s interests whichever contender won.
• The Seventh Young Master revealed that he had chosen Lin Duo as a backup candidate and could become Heavenly Treasure Pavilion’s clan head if Lin Duo became emperor.

The Seventh Young Master explained why the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion supported rival factions in the Central Sacred Nation and revealed that he had chosen Lin Duo as his candidate for clan head. He offered to secretly help Lin Bai and his companions rescue Lin Duo from the Black Prison, leaving Lin Bai to decide whether to proceed.

• The Seventh Young Master said he had chosen Lin Duo to become emperor, explaining that the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion’s control of the Central Sacred Nation’s economy made it too costly to overthrow the Sacred Nation outright.
• The Seventh Young Master revealed that the Ancient Immortal Sect and the Central Sacred Nation’s surviving imperial elders made open intervention too dangerous.
• The Seventh Young Master said he had gathered everyone to offer help rescuing Lin Duo from the Black Prison, and Fu Qingshuang told Lin Bai the decision was his.
• Lin Bai asked why the Seventh Young Master had not rescued Lin Duo earlier, and the Seventh Young Master explained that he could only support Lin Bai’s effort from behind the scenes to avoid openly opposing the Central Sacred Nation.

The Seventh Young Master pledged to help Lin Bai rescue Lin Duo and revealed that he had discovered the Black Prison’s entrance. He explained how Su Xianmei and a dying prisoner had helped him uncover information, leaving Lin Bai with a path toward finding his parents.

• Lin Bai declared that he would save Lin Duo, and the Seventh Young Master promised to support him.
• The Seventh Young Master told Lin Bai that he had found the Black Prison’s entrance by sending people to infiltrate it.
• The Seventh Young Master revealed that he had kept Su Xianmei close to pass information to Su Yanhua and protect the Peach Mountain Eighteen Immortals.
• The Seventh Young Master explained that he had watched Lin Bai’s martial contest to judge whether Lin Bai could challenge the Central Sacred Nation.
• The Seventh Young Master recounted how he rescued a tortured family ancestor, who revealed the Black Prison’s location before dying.

The Seventh Young Master revealed that he had engineered the Ling Family's destruction to learn the Black Prison's location and explained that the prison lay beneath the Divine Capital. He warned Lin Bai that reaching it meant breaching the imperial palace, facing the Heaven Guardians, and confronting formidable forces inside the prison.

• Su Xianmei recalled how the Seventh Young Master sent her to Cangbei County to spread a rumor about a divine medicine in the Ling Family's treasury, leading to the family's destruction and its master's imprisonment.
• The Seventh Young Master explained that he used the Ling Family master to discover the Black Prison's location and revealed that its entrance was beneath the Emperor's Throne in the Hall of All Living Beings.
• The Seventh Young Master described the thirteen guarded palace gates, the Dragon Martial Army, and the Heaven Guardians protecting the imperial city and Hall of All Living Beings.
• The Seventh Young Master said entering the Black Prison required the Sacred Imperial Jade Seal and warned that a ruthless army guarded the prison, while its Lord might possess Dao Realm power.

After the banquet, Lin Bai comforted Su Xianmei over realizing the Seventh Young Master had used her and reaffirmed his determination to rescue Lin Duo from the Black Prison. He left Su Xianmei with renewed resolve as the dangerous mission approached.

• The Seventh Young Master warned that the Black Prison was heavily guarded, reinforcements could arrive, and their group lacked enough people to rescue Lin Duo safely.
• Fu Qingshuang ended the tense discussion, and the guests finished the banquet before returning to their courtyards.
• Unable to sleep, Lin Bai found Su Xianmei drinking alone and upset about having been used by the Seventh Young Master.
• Lin Bai told Su Xianmei that everyone had their own strengths and encouraged her to find her purpose, then said he would fight to break into the Black Prison and rescue Lin Duo.
• Lin Bai left with a jug of wine, and Su Xianmei regained her fighting spirit.

Lin Bai met with his parents’ sworn brothers, who recalled their glorious and painful past while welcoming him as family. He asked them to help him rescue his parents, and they agreed to plan their next move carefully.

• Lin Bai brought wine to Fu Qingshuang, Xun Zhizang, Su Yanhua, Feng Lingzi, Bai Mu, and Monk Jiufeng, thanked them for protecting him and his parents, and bowed to them as his uncles.
• Fu Qingshuang accepted Lin Bai’s bow on behalf of the group and helped him to his feet.
• Monk Jiufeng recalled the group’s exploits in the Divine Capital and mourned the betrayal of Li Jianyue, while Su Yanhua explained why Jiufeng had become a monk and left for the Western Continent.
• Xun Zhizang lightened the mood by recounting Monk Jiufeng’s legendary drinking, and Lin Bai promised to drink with him after rescuing his parents.
• Lin Bai asked his uncles to assist him as he continued forward, and they agreed to prepare carefully for their next move.

Lin Bai reunited with his friends at Extraterrestrial Mountain Villa and heard Yin Jiuling describe the suffering that nine reincarnations had caused him. Yin Jiuling said Lin Bai had helped him recover some lost qualities, but he still needed to regain his humanity.

• Lin Bai left Fu Qingshuang and the others as they teased Su Yanhua and began drinking together.
• Lin Bai joined Feng Wenjun, Shi Jiamu, Yin Jiuling, and his other friends for a late-night gathering.
• Feng Wenjun and Shi Jiamu promised to support Lin Bai in the dangerous actions ahead.
• Lin Bai spoke with Yin Jiuling, who recounted his nine reincarnations and the numbness they had left him with.
• Yin Jiuling told Lin Bai that he had regained some lost qualities through their friendship but still needed to recover his humanity.

Lin Bai spoke with his companions about his coming journey to the Black Prison and his plan to try to bring Wen Jia back from Mo Wenshen’s influence. He then sat with A Ning, who began explaining her connection to Lin Duo’s sword.

• Yin Jiuling said he would accompany Lin Bai to the Black Prison and described his ambition to recover everything lost through reincarnation.
• Lin Bai told Fang Yiyun and the others that he intended to return to Divine Capital and try to persuade Wen Jia to turn back, while his companions prepared to join the Black Prison expedition.
• The Heavenly Crippled Four Brothers thanked Lin Bai for his past help and offered to accompany him to the Black Prison.
• A Ning showed Lin Bai the iron sword, and he recognized it as his father’s weapon.
• A Ning told Lin Bai that her master was Red Flower Sky, one of the Peach Mountain Eighteen Immortals.

A Ning told Lin Bai that her father was Red Flower Sky and explained how she had inherited the iron sword and sought its rightful master. Lin Bai then prepared to ask Seventh Young Master for help entering Black Prison to rescue his parents, leaving their proposed transaction about to begin.

• A Ning recounted how her grandfather rescued the wounded Red Flower Sky, who later married her mother and gave A Ning the iron sword to deliver to its true master, Lin Duo.
• A Ning recalled her adventures with Lin Bai and agreed to join him in going to Black Prison when he was ready.
• Lin Bai and his companions lamented that Old Eccentric and the Half-Demon giant were missing, then ended their late-night gathering.
• Su Xianmei met Lin Bai when he returned, and he asked her to accompany him to see Seventh Young Master about Black Prison.
• Lin Bai told Seventh Young Master that he needed a complete plan and substantial manpower to enter Black Prison, rescue his parents, and escape safely.

Lin Bai negotiated with the Seventh Young Master for the resources and manpower needed to prepare his companions and enter Black Prison. The Seventh Young Master agreed to provide substantial support, then asked what Lin Bai would offer in return, and Lin Bai promised him the entire world once the deal was done.

• Lin Bai asked what help the Seventh Young Master could provide, and the Seventh Young Master revealed he could mobilize one percent of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's resources, enough to buy one-tenth of the Eastern Continent.
• Lin Bai asked the Seventh Young Master to train Fang Yiyun, Meng Li, Changsun Yun, Shu Xiang, Wu Ming, Yin Jiuling, A Ning, the Heavenly Crippled Four Brothers, Feng Wenjun, Shi Jiamu, and the others through expeditions to ancient sites and treasure lands.
• The Seventh Young Master promised the group powerful weapons, cultivation techniques, pills, and other treasures, and said he would let them choose what they needed.
• The Seventh Young Master offered Lin Bai his private force of ten thousand Apex Realm martial artists, including seventy-two at the peak of the Apex Realm, to help with entering Black Prison.
• The Seventh Young Master asked what Lin Bai would give him in return, and Lin Bai promised that the entire world would be his once the deal was done.

Lin Bai secured Seventh Young Master's support for an army against the Black Prison within half a year, then returned to Divine Capital to prepare allies and speak with Wen Jia. The chapter ended with Lin Bai ordering the Sword Alliance to rapidly train its loyal members for the coming campaign.

• Lin Bai promised Seventh Young Master the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion clan leader position in exchange for his help, and they agreed to prepare for an attack on the Black Prison within half a year.
• Seventh Young Master told Su Xianmei she could keep her position and use the pavilion's resources until Lin Duo was rescued.
• Lin Bai told Fu Qingshuang, Yin Jiuling, and the others to cultivate with the pavilion's support, then left Extraterrestrial Mountain Villa with Su Xianmei.
• Lin Bai said he would speak with several Army Marquises and Wen Jia, hoping to reveal his identity and bring Wen Jia away from Prince Rong's side.
• After reaching Divine Capital, Lin Bai summoned the Sword Alliance's Twelve Crows and ordered White Crane to distribute cultivation resources to loyal members, especially those above the Apex Realm.

Lin Bai persuaded the Sword Alliance to spend its resources preparing for an attack on the Central Sacred Nation in six months, promising its martial artists a universal amnesty if they succeeded. After White Crane began mobilizing the alliance, Lin Bai met with several marquises at the Drunken Dream Pavilion, where Marquis Yu arrived and was shocked to find them gathered.

• Lin Bai told the Twelve Crows of the Sword Alliance that he planned to attack the Central Sacred Nation in six months, and they all pledged to serve him.
• Lin Bai gave White Crane a letter for Emperor Xiao and ordered him to send the families of the participating martial artists to the Divine Martial Nation.
• Lin Bai promised that victory would bring the Sword Alliance a universal amnesty, after which he would dissolve the alliance and let its members leave freely.
• White Crane summoned Apex Realm martial artists, arranged their families’ departure, and distributed cultivation resources as Lin Bai had instructed.
• Seven days later, Marquis Yu entered the Drunken Dream Pavilion and found Lin Bai with six other marquises, including Marquis Tianwei and Marquis Blood Moon.

Lin Bai summoned seven Army Marquises whose cultivation was being drained by Dao Seeds left in them by his elder brother, then demanded they gather their armies outside the Divine Capital within half a year. He gave them three days to decide, threatening to use the Dao Seeds to strip them of their cultivation if they refused.

• Marquis Yu arrived at Rivers and Mountains Private Chamber and discovered that the other six Army Marquises also carried Dao Seeds and were under Lin Bai's control.
• Lin Bai warned the seven that he could use the Dao Seeds to kill them before their forces outside Drunken Dream Pavilion could attack.
• Lin Bai offered to remove the Dao Seeds if the seven gathered their armies near the Divine Capital within half a year.
• When Marquis Beining refused, Lin Bai activated his Dao Seed and began draining his cultivation until Marquis Beining begged him to stop.
• Lin Bai gave the seven Army Marquises three days to decide whether to obey or lose their cultivation.

The seven Army Marquises agreed to serve Lin Bai after failing to find a way to remove the Dao Seeds, and they asked him to promise to free them once his plans succeeded. Lin Bai ordered them to secretly gather their loyal legions near the divine capital within half a year, giving him forces to tie down its experts.

• Marquis Tianwei summoned the other six Army Marquises, and they debated whether Lin Bai served the Crown Prince or the Seventeenth Prince before deciding to accept his terms.
• The seven Army Marquises met Lin Bai at Drunken Dream Pavilion, and Marquis Tianwei asked him to remove their Dao Seeds and grant them freedom after his plan succeeded.
• Lin Bai agreed and ordered the marquises to bring every fully obedient legion through the Four Royal Prefectures' blockade to the divine capital within half a year.
• The seven Army Marquises promised to assemble powerful forces, exchanged Voice Transmission Tokens with Lin Bai, and departed separately.
• Lin Bai concluded that the legions could occupy the divine capital's experts and give him room to carry out his plans.

Lin Bai asked the Snare to arrange a meeting with Wen Jia, who was recovering inside Prince Rong's residence. After Su Xianmei revealed the Snare's origins and warned Lin Bai to use it cautiously, he planned to leave the Divine Capital after meeting Wen Jia, and Su Xianmei expected to go with him.

• Lin Bai learned from Su Xianmei that Wen Jia remained inside Prince Rong's residence, out of reach of Heaven's Treasure Pavilion.
• Lin Bai summoned Su Xiaotian and hired the Snare to arrange a meeting with Wen Jia, giving him a portrait and directing him to collect payment from White Crane.
• Su Xianmei told Lin Bai that Prince Fu had founded the Snare and recounted how it became the Divine Capital's leading intelligence agency.
• Su Xianmei warned Lin Bai that relying too much on the Snare could expose their plans, and Lin Bai said he would treat the meeting as a way to connect with Prince Rong's residence.
• Lin Bai said he would leave the Divine Capital and Central Sacred Nation after meeting Wen Jia, and Su Xianmei asked whether he planned to abandon her.