Chapter Summaries

Lin Bai tracked the Tiangang Sect’s trail to Paradise Tavern and confronted its owner, Wang Li, after recognizing the sect’s aura among the patrons. Surrounded by Wang Li and the tavern’s fighters, Lin Bai demanded to know where the sect’s headquarters was and remained ready to fight.

• Lin Bai and Zhuo Qing searched the West City for a tavern connected to the Tiangang Sect, and Lin Bai chose Paradise Tavern after sensing the same flame aura he had detected on a young follower.
• Lin Bai asked Zhuo Qing to wait outside and summon Lord Lei Lin if he did not return within half an hour, then entered the tavern alone.
• Wang Li introduced himself as the owner of Paradise Tavern and denied having any connection to the Tiangang Sect.
• Lin Bai told Wang Li that the young man Ma Mu had revealed the tavern’s location before Lin Bai killed him.
• Wang Li and the tavern’s martial artists surrounded Lin Bai, who demanded the location of the Tiangang Sect’s headquarters and warned that he was not afraid to face them all.

Lin Bai confronted Wang Li at Paradise Tavern to learn the location of Tiangang Sect’s headquarters. After escaping the tavern’s attackers and defeating Wang Li’s first assault, Lin Bai watched him unleash a devastating flame secret art and prepare to strike again.

• Lin Bai demanded that Wang Li reveal Tiangang Sect’s headquarters, but Wang Li denied knowing what he meant and threatened him.
• Wang Li signaled an attacker to stab Lin Bai, and Lin Bai used lightning and flying swords to repel the tavern’s martial artists and pursue Wang Li.
• Lin Bai caught up with Wang Li in the rear courtyard, where their exchange left Wang Li badly injured and brought up Lin Bai’s use of the Southern Bright Sword Sutra.
• Wang Li asked whether Lin Bai was connected to the Liu family of Tianyi City, but Lin Bai denied knowing about the family and again demanded Tiangang Sect’s location.
• Wang Li activated Tiangang Sect’s flame secret art, withering into a corpse-like form as his strength surged, then charged Lin Bai with a blazing punch.

Lin Bai defeated Wang Li and learned from his memories that Tiangang Sect had bribed Ma Ling, a Starmoon Prefecture official, to protect it. Ma Ling tried to arrest Lin Bai, but Lei Lin intervened, and Xu Le, Ye Lu, and Zhuo Qing arrived as the confrontation continued.

• Lin Bai fought Wang Li, recognized that he was burning his blood and lifespan with an evil art, and struck him with two sword techniques, prompting Wang Li to flee.
• Lin Bai pursued Wang Li, used a Martial Soul Secret Method to search his memories, and learned Tiangang Sect's headquarters and Ma Ling's role as its protector.
• Ma Ling arrived, attacked Lin Bai, and accused him of being a member of the Demonic Sect while trying to take him to Starmoon Prefecture.
• Lei Lin blocked Ma Ling's attack and defended Lin Bai as Xu Le, Ye Lu, and Zhuo Qing arrived.

Ma Ling accused Lin Bai of being a remnant of the Tiangang Sect and tried to take him into custody, but Young Master Wu Hu intervened and vouched for Lin Bai. Lin Bai revealed the Tiangang Sect’s headquarters was connected to the Qi family, then went with Ma Ling to Starmoon Prefecture while Wu Hu and Lei Lin headed to investigate.

• Ma Ling accused Lin Bai of belonging to the Tiangang Sect, and Lin Bai denied it as Lei Lin and the others reacted.
• Young Master Wu Hu arrived with soldiers and said he had personally recommended Lin Bai to Microstar Hall, making Ma Ling’s accusation implausible.
• Lin Bai revealed that Wang Li had told him the Tiangang Sect’s headquarters was at the Qi family on Floating Cloud Avenue in the western city.
• Wu Hu ordered Ma Ling to take Lin Bai to Starmoon Prefecture without interrogating him, while Wu Hu and Lei Lin went to the Qi family.
• Lin Bai agreed to accompany Ma Ling, and Lei Lin promised to report the matter and work to get him released.

Ma Ling realized Lin Bai had exposed his connection to the Tiangang Sect and tried to kill him in a Silver Moon City alley before fleeing. Lin Bai struck back with his strongest sword and escaped, but Ma Ling survived and pursued him.

• Ma Ling worried that the Nine Great Families’ investigation of the Tiangang Sect would expose his long-running corruption and leave him unable to escape blame.
• Ma Ling realized Lin Bai might have followed him to monitor his movements, led him into an alley, and accused him of knowing about his ties to the Tiangang Sect.
• Ma Ling decided to kill Lin Bai and flee Silver Moon City, then struck him with a claw that shattered his defenses and wounded him.
• Lin Bai unleashed the Azure Heavens Demon Execution Sword, blasted Ma Ling with a powerful sword beam, and fled the alley.
• Ma Ling emerged unharmed and chased after Lin Bai.

Lin Bai escaped Ma Ling’s pursuit with Dugu Xu’s help and waited at Microstar Hall for Wu Hu and Lei Lin to investigate the Qi family. The Qi family was exposed as the Tiangang Sect’s headquarters and destroyed, clearing Lin Bai’s name and earning him a reward.

• Ma Ling chased Lin Bai through the streets of Silver Moon City, but Dugu Xu pulled him into hiding and brought him back to Microstar Hall.
• Dugu Xu warned Lin Bai about the danger of the mission and told him to wait while Wu Hu and Lei Lin investigated the Qi family.
• Wu Hu and Lei Lin searched the Qi family, discovered experts cultivating the Tiangang Blood Ignition Art, and reported their findings to the Nine Great Families and Starmoon City.
• The Qi family was razed, its headquarters destroyed, and Starmoon Prefecture distributed rewards to those involved.
• Dugu Xu told Lin Bai that he had been vindicated and could claim his share of the reward from Lei Lin.

After receiving his reward for helping destroy the Tiangang Sect, Lin Bai left his squad and drank with Dugu Xu instead. He learned about Demon God Ridge and decided to go there to cultivate.

• Lei Lin worried that Ma Ling had taken Lin Bai, while Ye Lu and Zhuo Qing warned that Lin Bai's abilities and flying swords were unusual.
• Lin Bai returned and said Ma Ling had tried to kill him, then accepted two thousand Vermillion Bird Pills from Lei Lin.
• Xu Le implied the pills should have belonged to Ji Yang, prompting Lei Lin to rebuke him after Lin Bai left.
• Lin Bai went to Microstar Hall, where Dugu Xu shared wine and stories about the Barren Ancient Continent and the Celestial God Tomb.
• Dugu Xu told Lin Bai that Demon God Ridge held many demon beasts and demon cities, and Lin Bai said he planned to go there to cultivate.

Lin Bai left Silver Moon City for the perilous Demon God Ridge after Dugu Xu failed to dissuade him. He reached the Nine Sun Mountains on the ridge’s outskirts, where demon beasts roamed and the dangers ahead awaited him.

• Dugu Xu tried to persuade Lin Bai to stay in Silver Moon City and offered to find him a safe post, but Lin Bai insisted on going to Demon God Ridge.
• Dugu Xu gave Lin Bai maps, Vermillion Bird Pills, food, and other supplies, and promised to arrange Lin Bai’s departure from the Heaven Rank Fifth Squad.
• Lin Bai exchanged Voice Transmission Tokens with Dugu Xu, then left Silver Moon City alone on his flying sword.
• After three days and nights of travel, Lin Bai reached the Nine Sun Mountains on the outskirts of Demon God Ridge and spotted demon beasts following him.

Lin Bai explored the Nine Sun Mountains in Demon God Ridge, hoping to cultivate by fighting powerful demonic beasts. He killed a Quasi-Dao Realm black-furred ape and absorbed its demonic blood, then continued searching for more prey.

• Lin Bai traveled through the Nine Sun Mountains and recalled that powerful Demon Race cities and demonic beasts dwelled in Demon God Ridge.
• Lin Bai found a giant footprint and a cave, where a black-furred ape emerged and attacked him.
• Lin Bai fought the Quasi-Dao Realm ape with his lightning and swords, then killed it with “Night Ends, Dawn Arrives.”
• Lin Bai used the Devouring Sword Soul to absorb the ape’s demonic blood and found it more beneficial than tens of thousands of Vermillion Bird Pills.
• Lin Bai stored the ape’s bones in his Storage Bag and continued searching the Nine Sun Mountains for demonic beasts.

Xiao Nanfeng discovered that the notorious demon beasts assigned for his family trial had already been killed, and he blamed his rival Xiao Jiushan. Lin Bai arrived at Sky Tiger Mountain to hunt the Golden-Winged Tiger, while Xiao Nanfeng and his group headed there too.

• Xiao Nanfeng and Honored Guest Qin Chang found that the Earth-Core Fire Spirit had been killed, and Qin Chang identified sword traces linking the slain beasts to one sword cultivator.
• Xiao Qiushui suggested Xiao Jiushan might be behind the interference, and Xiao Nanfeng concluded his rival was trying to sabotage his trial.
• Qin Chang told Xiao Nanfeng that the Golden-Winged Tiger remained at Sky Tiger Mountain and that the family might expect him to hunt a Dao Realm demon beast if no notorious targets remained.
• Xiao Nanfeng furiously led Qin Chang and the others toward Sky Tiger Mountain to hunt the Golden-Winged Tiger.
• Lin Bai reached Sky Tiger Mountain and faced the Golden-Winged Tiger, hoping to refine its demon blood and break through to the peak of the Apex Realm.

Lin Bai killed the Golden-Winged Tiger and used its blood to break through to the peak of the Apex Realm, then encountered Xiao Nanfeng and his group. Xiao Nanfeng accused him of killing the tiger and attacked him with a flying sword.

• Lin Bai fought the Golden-Winged Tiger and slew it with the seventh technique of the Sword Canon, Hundred-Mile Longsong.
• Lin Bai absorbed the tiger's blood with the Devouring Sword Soul and advanced to the peak of the Apex Realm.
• Lin Bai stored the Golden-Winged Tiger's corpse and noticed five young men and women arriving with a Purple-Robed Elder.
• The Purple-Robed Elder suggested Lin Bai had been sent by Xiao Jiushan, and Xiao Nanfeng descended to confront him.
• Lin Bai admitted he had killed the Golden-Winged Tiger, and Xiao Nanfeng angrily launched a flying sword at him.

Lin Bai fled after Xiao Nanfeng mistook him for an agent of Xiao Jiushan, but he defeated Xiao Nanfeng with a single sword strike when the latter pursued him. Xiao Nanfeng admitted his defeat just as Xiao Jiushan arrived and asked whether he had completed the trial.

• Xiao Nanfeng attacked Lin Bai and demanded to know how many Vermillion Bird Pills Xiao Jiushan had offered him, while Lin Bai insisted he wanted no trouble and fled.
• Xiao Nanfeng chased Lin Bai and attacked with his flying sword, but Lin Bai blasted it away with the Five-Colored Divine Lightning.
• When Xiao Nanfeng demanded that Lin Bai leave an arm behind, Lin Bai struck him with the Dragon Eye Flying Sword and sent him crashing into the mountain forest.
• Lin Bai warned Xiao Nanfeng to stop following him and disappeared, while Xiao Nanfeng realized Lin Bai could have killed him with that strike.
• Qin Chang, Xiao Qiushui, and the others caught up, and Xiao Nanfeng revealed that Lin Bai had defeated him with a single sword strike.
• Xiao Jiushan arrived aboard a warship and asked Xiao Nanfeng whether he had completed the trial.

Xiao Jiushan invited Xiao Nanfeng to join his trip to the Profound Cloud Mountains, where he hoped to find the Yin-Yang Creation Two-Life Flower and secure the Heaven Tramplers Alliance’s allegiance. Xiao Nanfeng suspected Xiao Jiushan was pursuing the herb to heal the Sword Qi lodged in his body, and went along with Xiao Qiushui to watch him.

• Xiao Jiushan met Xiao Nanfeng after his trial and mocked him for failing to hunt the Quasi-Dao Realm demon beasts, which Lin Bai had already killed.
• Xiao Jiushan invited Xiao Nanfeng to the Profound Cloud Mountains, explaining that the Heaven Tramplers Alliance had reported finding the Yin-Yang Creation Two-Life Flower there.
• Xiao Nanfeng accused Xiao Jiushan of seeking the herb to heal the Sword Qi Nangong Mo had inflicted on him three years earlier.
• Xiao Jiushan prepared to leave when Xiao Nanfeng hesitated, but Xiao Nanfeng boarded the airship with Xiao Qiushui and said they would watch for misconduct.
• The Heaven Tramplers Alliance summoned its members to the Profound Cloud Mountains to exterminate the demon beasts, including the martial artists Lin Bai had encountered.

Lin Bai reached the Profound Cloud Mountains, where the Heaven Tramplers Alliance had gathered to hunt demonic beasts. After killing a Quasi-Dao Realm Sky Eagle and learning the alliance claimed the mountains, he collected his prey and left.

• Lin Bai traveled from the Nine Sun Mountains to the Profound Cloud Mountains, killing demonic beasts along the way.
• Lin Bai killed a wounded Quasi-Dao Realm demonic bird with one sword as it fled from a Heaven Tramplers Alliance hunting group.
• Qiu Yang told Lin Bai the bird was called a Sky Eagle and agreed that it belonged to Lin Bai, while Tu Ling objected.
• Qiu Yang warned Lin Bai that the Heaven Tramplers Alliance had occupied the Profound Cloud Mountains and advised him to leave.
• Lin Bai collected the Sky Eagle and departed after warning Tu Ling not to glare at him.

Tu Ling pursued Lin Bai to steal the demon bird, while Qiu Yang tried to stop him and explained why he had given it away. As Lin Bai left the Profound Cloud Mountains, he investigated a mysterious voice that threatened him, then suspected its owner was bluffing and offered to help.

• Tu Ling led two men from camp, using Myriad Year Incense to track Lin Bai so they could kill him and take the demon bird.
• Qiu Yang told a subordinate that the sword wound on the demon bird showed Lin Bai was a formidable sword cultivator, and ordered Tu Ling not to cause trouble.
• Qiu Yang learned Tu Ling and the other two had left camp to pursue Lin Bai, so he rushed after them.
• Lin Bai decided to leave the Profound Cloud Mountains, then followed a group of fleeing Quasi-Dao Realm martial artists to discover what had frightened them.
• A powerful voice threatened Lin Bai from an apparently empty forest, but Lin Bai questioned whether the unseen speaker was truly strong.
• Lin Bai prepared to defend himself, then thanked the voice for sparing him and asked whether it needed his assistance.

Lin Bai tracked the arrogant voice in the woods and discovered a black crow using a formation and an imitation to scare intruders away. The crow revealed that it had roamed Demon God Ridge for centuries by imitating powerful beings, while Lin Bai agreed not to take its Phoenix Tree Branch if it answered his question.

• Lin Bai ignored the voice's threats and followed its increasingly frantic reactions into the woods.
• Lin Bai passed a black crow on a fallen tree, then doubled back and surprised it after it thought he had left.
• Lin Bai revealed that he had noticed the crow's formation and identified the Phoenix Tree Branch beneath its claws.
• The crow threatened to fight Lin Bai over the branch, then agreed to answer his question when he promised not to take it.
• The crow admitted it had imitated the voice and aura, using the trick to roam Demon God Ridge for several hundred years without meeting an opponent.

Lin Bai learned from a boastful crow that the Yin-Yang Creation Two-Life Flower was hidden beneath Dragon King Mountain and could restore the dead. He realized that obtaining it might allow Li Subai to regain her physical body.

• The crow used its terrifying voice and claims of supernatural abilities to impress Lin Bai, then sensed three people approaching the mountain.
• The crow frightened Tu Ling and his two companions into fleeing, sparing Lin Bai from fighting them over the demon bird.
• After hearing the crow mention the Yin-Yang Creation Two-Life Flower, Lin Bai demanded to know more about it.
• The crow explained that the divine medicine lay beneath Dragon King Mountain, where the Heaven Tramplers Alliance and the demon king's forces were gathering for a battle.
• Lin Bai recognized that the flower could help him restore Li Subai's physical body.

Lin Bai learned why the Heaven Tramplers Alliance was unlikely to defeat the Demon King of Dragon King Mountain and take the Yin-Yang Creation Two-Life Flower. He forced the Crow to join his own attempt, agreeing to a thirty-seventy split, and they set off for Dragon King Mountain.

• The Crow said the Heaven Tramplers Alliance would lose because the Demon King was a second-tribulation Dao Realm expert whose true form, the Flame Stomping Wild Bull, could split the Profound Cloud Mountains with one punch.
• The Crow warned Lin Bai that the kings of Demon City would crush anyone who tried to take the Yin-Yang Creation Two-Life Flower out of Demon God Ridge.
• Lin Bai dismissed the Crow's boasts and decided its knowledge of Dragon King Mountain would help with his plan.
• The Crow tried to flee with the Phoenix Tree Branch, but Lin Bai stopped it with a flying sword and demanded that it come along.
• The Crow bargained for a share of the spoils, and Lin Bai agreed to a thirty-seventy split before they headed for Dragon King Mountain.

Lin Bai and the crow reached Dragon King Mountain and planned to exploit the Heaven Tramplers Alliance’s attack to find the Yin-Yang Creation Two-Life Flower. The alliance prepared to assault the mountain that night at Xiao Jiushan’s command.

• Lin Bai learned that the crow believed their chances of taking the flower were low, then traveled north toward Dragon King Mountain.
• Lin Bai and the crow reached a distant peak and learned that the flower grew in a guarded passage leading to the Netherworld.
• Lin Bai agreed to wait for the Heaven Tramplers Alliance to create confusion, while the crow speculated that the alliance did not know where the passage was.
• Xu Cheng welcomed Xiao Jiushan and Xiao Nanfeng, and promised to obtain the flower in exchange for the alliance becoming a branch of the Xiao Family.
• Xu Cheng announced that the Heaven Tramplers Alliance would attack Dragon King Mountain when the moon reached its zenith, and his forces began moving out.

Lin Bai and the Crow followed the Heaven Tramplers Alliance's ambush force into Dragon King Mountain, seeking the passage to the Netherworld Realm. Inside the Wild Bull King's palace, the Wild Bull King attacked the invaders with overwhelming power, leaving Lin Bai and the Crow facing a deadly obstacle.

• Lin Bai and the Crow watched the Heaven Tramplers Alliance advance as the Wild Bull King sent a horde of powerful demonic beasts to defend Dragon King Mountain.
• Lin Bai avoided the main battle, found the Alliance's elite force scaling the mountain's western cliffs, and followed them into the palace.
• The Crow told Lin Bai that the passage to the Netherworld Realm was inside the Wild Bull King's palace and promised to guide him there.
• Lin Bai entered the blood-soaked palace and heard the Wild Bull King declare that none of the martial artists would leave alive.
• The Wild Bull King blasted the Alliance's Dao Realm experts with a beam and black lightning, killing several and forcing Lin Bai to witness its terrifying strength.