Chapter Summaries

Fallen Immortal brought Lin Bai back to Prince Hong Estate and explained how her parents had died after her mother was exposed as a Nine Underworlds Demon Palace spy. She revealed that Prince Liang’s Estate had also colluded with the Demon Palace, and that its spies had infiltrated powerful factions throughout Chu.

• Fallen Immortal introduced the Grand Luo Dao Fruit realm steward Uncle Lin and led Lin Bai into Prince Hong Estate.
• In Prince Hong’s study, Fallen Immortal told Lin Bai that her mother had been a Nine Underworlds Demon Palace spy and that both her parents had died after Liang Wang exposed her.
• Fallen Immortal said she intended to take revenge on Prince Liang’s Estate, while Lin Bai questioned whether her parents’ deaths had been justified.
• Fallen Immortal claimed that Prince Liang’s Estate had long colluded with the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace.
• Fallen Immortal warned Lin Bai that the Demon Palace had spies among Chu’s powerful princes, ministers, major families, and sects.

Lin Bai and Fallen Immortal discussed why Prince Hong Estate was waiting to expose Prince Liang Estate’s ties to the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace until after the Chu Emperor abdicated. Lin Bai then arranged with Chao Yushi to spread news about the princes’ deaths and draw the Third Prince into action, while seeking help finding Xia Jingzhi.

• Fallen Immortal told Lin Bai that Prince Liang Estate had harbored hundreds of Nine Underworlds Demon Palace spies, but exposing them before the Chu Emperor abdicated could provoke Liang Wang to rebel.
• Lin Bai concluded that Prince Hong Estate would wait for the new emperor to ascend, since the new ruler would be a natural ally against Prince Liang Estate.
• Chao Yushi arrived, and Lin Bai asked him to spread word that Lin Bai knew the cause of the First Prince and Second Prince’s deaths, drawing the Third Prince’s attention.
• Chao Yushi promised the news would spread across Chu within days and warned that the Third Prince might target Lin Bai or Xia Jingzhi.
• Lin Bai asked Prince Hong Estate to help locate Xia Jingzhi and promised to repay its assistance with one favor within his ability.
• Chao Yushi estimated the Third Prince might act within two or three months, and Fallen Immortal asked what agreement he and Lin Bai had made.

Lin Bai secured Prince Hong Estate’s support for his search for Xia Jingzhi and investigation into the princes’ deaths, then focused on raising his cultivation. After weighing his options, he began using his 270,000 immortal jades to attempt a breakthrough, and seven days later spiritual energy gathered above his residence.

• Chao Yushi explained that he had agreed to help Lin Bai find Xia Jingzhi and investigate the deaths of the First Prince and Second Prince in exchange for Lin Bai’s future help against Prince Liang's Estate.
• Lin Bai, Chao Yushi, and Fallen Immortal agreed to postpone dealing with Prince Liang's Estate and exchanged Command Talismans before Lin Bai returned to the Tianshui Sect palace.
• Lin Bai considered his cultivation plans and concluded that immortal jade was more effective for breaking through than Dao Fruits or medicinal pills.
• Lin Bai decided to spend his 270,000 immortal jades attempting to advance from the lower-grade Great Purity Dao Fruit Realm to the mid-grade realm.
• After resting for two days, Lin Bai entered seclusion, activated the formations, and began refining immortal jade with his Heaven Swallowing Dao Fruit.
• Seven days later, spiritual energy gathered like a funnel in the courtyard of Lin Bai’s residence.

The Third Prince learned that Lin Bai had uncovered evidence about the deaths of the First Prince and Second Prince and identified Xia Jingzhi. He feared Lin Bai would reveal the evidence at the Chu Emperor's Birthday Celebration, and Old Huo proposed dealing with Lin Bai before then.

• Old Huo reported that Lin Bai had obtained evidence concerning the First Prince's and Second Prince's deaths and had named Xia Jingzhi as a traitor of Southern Border Insect Valley.
• The Third Prince feared Lin Bai's discovery could destroy his plans to inherit the throne and questioned how Lin Bai had found Xia Jingzhi.
• Old Huo said all other people involved in the princes' deaths had been eliminated, leaving only the Third Prince, Old Huo, and Xia Jingzhi alive with knowledge of the truth.
• Old Huo suspected Lin Bai would reveal the evidence during the Chu Emperor's Birthday Celebration and urged the Third Prince to act against him beforehand.
• The Third Prince asked Old Huo to explain his countermeasure, and Old Huo began outlining his plan.

Lin Bai risked a breakthrough to the mid-grade Great Purity Dao Fruit Realm, driven by his desire to gain the strength to leave the Demon Realm and find his family and friends. He succeeded despite the danger, then stabilized his cultivation after a month of recovery.

• Tianshui Sect members guarded Lin Bai’s residence for seven days while he attempted his breakthrough, and Qiao Mo realized he wanted to leave the Demon Realm.
• A surge of spiritual energy and power emerged from Lin Bai’s residence, signaling that he had reached the mid-grade Great Purity Dao Fruit Realm.
• Lin Bai emerged and thanked the Tianshui Sect members, while Ancestor Pan Qing congratulated him and warned him not to rush his next breakthrough.
• Lin Bai recognized that his dangerous attempt had pushed his Dao Fruit to develop too quickly, and Ancestor Pan Qing gave him medicinal pills to stabilize his cultivation.
• After a month of taking the pills and cultivating in seclusion, Lin Bai successfully stabilized his new realm.

After emerging from seclusion, Lin Bai learned that the Flying Sword Devil Sect had arrived in the Imperial Capital and that its Saint, Luo Qiu, had challenged the Divine Armory Pavilion arena. Lin Bai learned how the arena was being used to rank visiting martial artists, leaving the capital poised for more contests.

• Grand Ancestor Pan Qing told Lin Bai that many sects and friends had sent invitations while he was in seclusion, and Lin Bai set them aside to ask about the Third Prince.
• Grand Ancestor Pan Qing revealed that the Flying Sword Devil Sect had arrived with a powerful delegation led by its Saint, Luo Qiu, and had invited Lin Bai to a banquet.
• Bai Yifei said Luo Qiu had defeated eighteen opponents of the same realm at the Divine Armory Pavilion arena within three days.
• Qiao Mo explained that the pavilion had opened its arena for martial exchanges ahead of the Chu Emperor’s Birthday Celebration and would use the contests to update its rankings.

Lin Bai emerged from seclusion and received the repaired Yellow Springs Demon Bone from Meng Ye, learning it could grant him Superior-Grade Great Purity Dao Fruit Realm power for only half an hour. He owed Meng Ye fifty thousand immortal jades and began thinking about how to earn the money.

• Lin Bai learned that delegations from the Flourishing Sects and Chu's major families and sects would arrive in the imperial capital, but heard no news about the Third Prince.
• Lin Bai decided to seek out Chao Yushi after leaving seclusion to learn more about the Third Prince's movements.
• Meng Ye visited Lin Bai on Old Man Wuchuan's orders and delivered the repaired Yellow Springs Demon Bone.
• Meng Ye explained that the bone could grant Lin Bai Superior-Grade Great Purity Dao Fruit Realm power for half an hour, after which he had to remove it or risk death.
• Lin Bai discovered he had spent all his immortal jades and agreed to owe Meng Ye fifty thousand until he could pay Old Man Wuchuan.

Meng Ye told Lin Bai that the Third Prince had taken the bait after hearing Lin Bai’s investigation into the First and Second Princes’ deaths. He explained why Old Man Wuchuan had returned to the Imperial Capital and left Lin Bai to handle the coming confrontation.

• Meng Ye delivered the Yellow Springs Demon Bone and activated a barrier around Lin Bai’s residence so they could speak privately.
• Meng Ye revealed that the Third Prince had invited Old Man Wuchuan to help refine a Grand Yi Divine Weapon after Lin Bai’s remarks at the Immortal Abode Restaurant spread.
• Lin Bai urged Old Man Wuchuan to leave the Imperial Capital and offered to repay his debt, but Meng Ye said his master could no longer leave.
• Meng Ye explained that Old Man Wuchuan had chosen to return because the First and Second Princes had once shown him kindness.
• Meng Ye said the Third Prince had taken Lin Bai’s bait and urged him to seize the opportunity, while Old Man Wuchuan and Meng Ye would leave the matter to him.
• Lin Bai promised to protect Old Man Wuchuan and handle the rest, and Meng Ye departed.

After Meng Ye warned Lin Bai that the Third Prince might already be making a move, he told him about the Divine Armory Pavilion’s gambling arenas as a way to earn immortal jades. Lin Bai decided to prioritize meeting Chao Yushi and dealing with the Third Prince, then left the Tianshui Sect residence with Qiao Mo and Qin Yao.

• Meng Ye warned Lin Bai that their meeting could be investigated and that the Third Prince might already have taken action.
• Meng Ye explained that the Divine Armory Pavilion hosted gambling around its martial arena, where Holy Sons and Holy Daughters wagered immortal jades.
• Lin Bai calculated that his breakthrough had consumed all 270,000 immortal jades he had, and estimated he would need 300,000 to 500,000 more for his next breakthrough.
• Lin Bai decided to focus on the Third Prince and planned to meet Chao Yushi before making further plans.
• Qiao Mo and Qin Yao joined Lin Bai as he left the Tianshui Sect residence, and the three wandered through the imperial capital.

As the Chu Emperor’s Birthday Celebration approached, Lin Bai toured the capital with Qiao Mo and Qin Yao while drawing the attention of the Third Prince’s watchers. After receiving a message from Zhang Linghu, he went to the Moon Palace and arranged to visit Deer Terrace Palace for Lady White Deer’s sword dance.

• Lin Bai spent the day exploring the capital’s busy market with Qiao Mo and Qin Yao, noticing people secretly watching him and suspecting the Third Prince had begun paying attention to him.
• Zhang Linghu sent Lin Bai a message naming the Moon Palace, Deer Terrace Palace, and Lady White Deer.
• Lin Bai told Qiao Mo and Qin Yao he had business at the Moon Palace, then went there alone after they agreed to wait outside for three hours.
• Lady Qiong Yi told Lin Bai that Yun Ke had left the Moon Palace and described the performances planned by its Courtesans.
• Lin Bai chose to attend Lady White Deer’s sword dance at Deer Terrace Palace and followed a maid there.

Lin Bai arrived at Deer Terrace Palace for the Sword Dance banquet but lacked the five hundred immortal jades required to enter. Before he found a solution, he encountered Li Mo, Zhao Xiantu, and a formidable sword cultivator they identified as Lin Bai’s fellow young-generation rival, Luo Qiu.

• Lin Bai realized he had no money or suitable treasure to pay Deer Terrace Palace’s admission fee and worried that making a scene would embarrass Tianshui Sect and Chu Emperor.
• The maids at the entrance recognized Lin Bai as Wolf Marquis but insisted that he pay the five-hundred-immortal-jade fee.
• Li Mo and Zhao Xiantu arrived with their young family talents and a visitor called Brother Luo, discussing Lady White Deer and Moon Palace’s courtesans.
• Li Mo and Zhao Xiantu recognized Lin Bai and said they hated him, then introduced him to Brother Luo as Tianshui Sect’s Holy Son, Wolf Marquis, and Chu’s foremost young sword cultivator.
• Lin Bai suspected that Brother Luo was Luo Qiu, the Holy Son of the Flying Sword Devil Sect, and studied the formidable sword cultivator.

At the Moon Palace, Lin Bai clashed with Luo Yu of the Flying Sword Devil Sect after Luo Yu accused him of stealing the sect’s sword-control techniques. Lin Bai refused to pay admission to Deer Terrace Palace without his own immortal jades, and a crow appeared just after he said he had sent someone to bring them.

• Luo Yu insulted Lin Bai as a thief who had stolen the Flying Sword Devil Sect’s cultivation art, while Li Mo and Zhao Xiantu joined in mocking him.
• Lin Bai invoked his title as Wolf Marquis and warned Luo Yu to mind his words; Li Mo and Zhao Xiantu restrained Luo Yu from starting a fight in the Moon Palace.
• Luo Yu introduced himself as a cousin of Holy Son Luo Qiu, and Lin Bai dismissed him for not being Luo Qiu.
• The maids at Deer Terrace Palace asked Lin Bai, Li Mo, and Zhao Xiantu to pay five hundred immortal jades to enter and watch the sword dance.
• Lin Bai said he had left without immortal jades but had sent someone to deliver them, and a crow cried from the woods above the palace.

Lin Bai negotiated with the crow to borrow immortal jade for his entry to Deer Terrace Palace, where they planned to watch the sword dance. The crow abandoned its demand for the Green Jade Fragment but proposed a new condition involving Holy Daughter Mo Nan’s robe as they entered.

• The crow landed on Lin Bai’s shoulder and insulted Li Mo, then threatened him until Lin Bai stopped it and invoked the Chu Emperor.
• Lin Bai asked the crow to lend him five hundred immortal jades, and the crow demanded repayment of fifty thousand and freedom to go wherever it wanted in the Chu Kingdom.
• The crow asked for the Green Jade Fragment as its third condition, but Lin Bai refused, so the crow agreed to let him owe a favor instead.
• The crow gave Lin Bai five hundred immortal jades, which Lin Bai handed to the Deer Terrace Palace maidservant to gain entry.
• The crow admitted it had searched the Imperial Capital’s treasuries and mentioned the Nine Heavens Starry Robe worn by Holy Daughter Mo Nan, then teased Lin Bai about wanting it.
• Lin Bai and the crow bickered as they entered Deer Terrace Palace and sat at a small table to watch the sword dance.

Lin Bai watched Lady White Deer’s sword dance at Deer Terrace Palace and recognized her One-Turn Sword Heart. Luo Yu then provoked her by comparing her favorably to Lin Bai, while Lin Bai stayed in his private room and Lady White Deer deflected the insult.

• Lin Bai entered Deer Terrace Palace, watched Lady White Deer perform a sword dance, and sat in a private room with the crow.
• The crow said Bai Xiaoxiao had asked it to keep an eye on Lin Bai and had given cultivation manuals to her group.
• Lin Bai sensed that Lady White Deer possessed a One-Turn Sword Heart, and she ended her dance and welcomed the gathered sword cultivators.
• Luo Yu praised Lady White Deer as possibly superior to Lin Bai, provoking the guests and drawing the crow’s anger.
• The crow explained that the Flying Sword Devil Sect lacked the complete sword-flying Dao inheritance held by the Flying Sword Immortal Sect.
• Lady White Deer recognized Luo Yu’s hostility and said that Lin Bai remained the foremost young sword cultivator in the Chu Kingdom.

At Deer Terrace Palace, Luo Yu provoked Lin Bai and challenged his reputation, prompting Lin Bai to defeat and suppress him with a flying sword. The guests were left stunned as Lin Bai ordered the music and dancing to continue.

• Lady White Deer finished her sword dance, and Luo Yu disparaged Lin Bai in front of the guests.
• Lady White Deer changed the subject and prepared to perform another sword dance while Luo Yu continued to taunt Lin Bai.
• Lin Bai released his sword intent and sent a flying sword at Luo Yu, overpowering Luo Yu's swords.
• Lin Bai's flying sword pierced Luo Yu's chest, pinned him at the bottom of the pool, destroyed his meridians, and sealed his Dao Fruit.
• Lin Bai told everyone to continue the music and dancing.

Lin Bai suppressed Luo Yu at Deer Terrace Palace and discussed the Third Prince’s investigation with Chao Yushi and Zhang Linghu. He planned to seek information about Xia Jingzhi from the arriving Southern Border Insect Valley delegation.

• Lin Bai ignored Luo Yu’s curses and continued watching Lady White Deer’s sword dance after suppressing him beneath the pool.
• Li Mo and Zhao Xiantu tried to pressure Lin Bai into releasing Luo Yu, but left to summon help after he threatened them.
• Chao Yushi and Zhang Linghu arrived, and Lin Bai discussed how the Third Prince might target either him or Xia Jingzhi.
• Lin Bai reasoned that the Third Prince’s attempt to capture Xia Jingzhi could reveal the traitor’s location if Xia resisted.
• Lin Bai decided to visit the Southern Border Insect Valley delegation for clues about Xia Jingzhi, and Chao Yushi approved.

Lin Bai and Chao Yushi finalized a plan to find Xia Jingzhi and uncover the Third Prince’s role in the princes’ deaths. As Lin Bai left Deer Terrace Palace, he left Luo Yu trapped in the pool and hinted at a confrontation with the Flying Sword Devil Sect.

• Chao Yushi and Prince Hong Estate’s old subordinates agreed to monitor the Third Prince, search for Xia Jingzhi, and protect Lin Bai, while Lin Bai planned to seek help from the Southern Border Insect Valley.
• Lin Bai asked Chao Yushi to watch Old Man Wuchuan, Meng Ye, and Ye Danyang as possible bait, and instructed him to capture Xia Jingzhi alive if they found him.
• Lady White Deer introduced herself as Chao Yushi’s daughter and offered Deer Terrace Palace as a contact point for Prince Hong Estate’s old subordinates.
• Lady White Deer warned Lin Bai that Li Mo and Zhao Xiantu had gone to alert the Flying Sword Devil Sect about Luo Yu, whom Lin Bai had left trapped in the pool.
• Lin Bai told Lady White Deer to tell the Flying Sword Devil Sect to have an elder retrieve his flying sword, then left while Chao Yushi smiled knowingly.

Chao Yushi explained that Lin Bai’s demand for a Flying Sword Devil Sect elder to draw the sword trapping Luo Yu was a calculated challenge to the sect’s pride. After Lin Bai left Deer Terrace Palace, the sect’s elder and disciples arrived to rescue Luo Yu and discovered the overwhelming Sword Qi filling the pool.

• Chao Yushi told Lady White Deer and Zhang Linghu that the Flying Sword Devil Sect would risk its reputation if an elder tried to draw Lin Bai’s sword, and advised them to let Lin Bai and the sect handle the matter.
• Lady White Deer arranged for Moon Palace’s artifact refiners to repair Deer Terrace Palace, then went to greet the Flying Sword Devil Sect delegation led by an elder in purple robes and accompanied by Luo Qing, Li Mo, and Zhao Xiantu.
• Lady White Deer relayed Lin Bai’s message that he had suppressed Luo Yu beneath the pool and challenged an elder to draw the flying sword from Luo Yu’s heart.
• Luo Qing objected to Lin Bai’s demand, but the elder told him to stop arguing and went to the pool to rescue Luo Yu.
• The elder, Luo Qing, and Lady White Deer saw that Lin Bai had transformed every drop of water in the pool into powerful Sword Qi, and the elder admitted he had underestimated Lin Bai.

A purple-robed elder of the Flying Sword Devil Sect found that Lin Bai’s sword intent still guarded the pool and suspected Lin Bai possessed a complete Dao lineage. After leaving Moon Palace Island, Lin Bai reunited with Qiao Mo and Qin Yao and stopped at a teahouse.

• The purple-robed elder sensed Lin Bai’s powerful sword intent in the pool and heard Luo Yu demand revenge.
• Luo Qing tried to reach Luo Yu but was battered by the pool’s sword intent and forced to retreat.
• The elder recognized the Heaven and Earth Three Kill Sword Formation and wondered whether Lin Bai was a true disciple of the Flying Sword Immortal Sect with a complete Dao lineage.
• The elder refused to rescue Luo Yu, telling Luo Qing that the younger generation had to handle the matter themselves, then left Moon Palace Island.
• Lin Bai met Qiao Mo and Qin Yao after leaving the island, and the three went to a teahouse where the waiter recommended Nine Phoenix Blood Tea.

Lin Bai met with an elder of the Flying Sword Devil Sect, who had come to question him about his sword-controlling art. Lin Bai concealed his master’s identity and claimed he was a registered disciple from a minor world, leaving the elder shaken by the story of a master who crossed the void.

• Lin Bai ordered four cups of Nine Phoenix Blood Tea and told Qiao Mo and Qin Yao that an important guest would arrive.
• A purple-robed elder of the Flying Sword Devil Sect appeared, and Lin Bai welcomed him to the tea table.
• Lin Bai apologized for his earlier trouble with the sect’s disciples, while the elder said he had no interest in interfering in the affairs of juniors.
• When the elder asked about his sword-controlling art, Lin Bai said it was not taught by the Flying Sword Devil Sect and refused to reveal his master’s name.
• Lin Bai said his master had crossed the void, traveled through his minor world, and taken him as a registered disciple, astonishing the elder, Qiao Mo, and Qin Yao.