Chapter Summaries

Lin Bai escaped his pursuers and found Yun Ke in the Underground Palace, where she had discovered the imprisoned Azure Lotus Sect leaders. They confirmed the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace had replaced Prince Qin’s upper ranks, leaving Lin Bai and Yun Ke with the Chu Emperor and Sect Master in the prison.

• Lin Bai saw no pursuers and hurried through the Underground Palace to search for the Azure Lotus Sect Master and Holy Daughter.
• Yun Ke reached a prison cell and was mistaken for a Nine Underworlds Demon Palace warrior by an imprisoned elder, who warned her that the palace’s remnants had infiltrated Prince Qin’s upper ranks.
• The elder directed Yun Ke to the imprisoned Prince Qin and Holy Daughter, and Yun Ke found the Sect Master among the captives.
• Lin Bai arrived at the cell and introduced himself to Prince Qin, who explained that his subordinates had failed to stop the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s infiltration.

Lin Bai and Yun Ke freed the Azure Lotus Sect Master and Luo Daoguo’s imprisoned martial artists from the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s restrictions. Yun Ke warned that Luo Daoguo had half a month to quell its internal turmoil before Chu’s army arrived and treated the sect as an enemy.

• Lin Bai concluded that the Azure Lotus Sect Master had no solution to the crisis and decided to rescue the prisoners.
• Yun Ke broke the prison restrictions with black lightning, then freed the restrictions sealing the martial artists’ cultivation.
• The Azure Lotus Sect Master and Luo Daoguo’s elders escaped and thanked Yun Ke and the Azure Lotus Sect.
• Yun Ke told the Azure Lotus Sect Master that Chu’s army was advancing and Luo Daoguo had half a month to settle its turmoil before a clash could doom the sect.

The Azure Lotus Sect Master escaped the Underground Palace with Lin Bai’s help and led the sect’s elders into battle against the traitors. She left Lin Bai aside as she prepared to use the upheaval to root out hidden agents of the Four Gloom Demon Palace.

• The Azure Lotus Sect Master agreed to Lin Bai’s estimate of half a month and said she would handle the sect’s troubles herself.
• The Azure Lotus Sect Master led her recovered elders out of the Underground Palace, where the Azure Lotus Sect Grand Elder accused Old Devil Zhao of betraying the sect.
• The Azure Lotus Sect elders attacked and subdued the martial artists who had come to investigate the escape.
• The Azure Lotus Sect Grand Elder ordered the captured martial artists imprisoned alive so the sect could question them about other traitors.
• The Azure Lotus Sect Master explained that she planned to use the crisis to root out hidden agents of the Four Gloom Demon Palace, while Lin Bai stayed out of the fight.

As the Azure Lotus Sect rebellion was crushed, the Ancestor recognized the sect elders’ swordsmanship as the Azure Lotus Swordplay and grew suspicious of how smoothly events were unfolding. Sect Masters began fighting in the void, while a devastating force erupted from the forbidden ground and shook the Azure Lotus Mountain Range.

• The Ancestor watched the battle and recognized several Azure Lotus Sect elders’ swordsmanship as the first stage of the Grand Elder Art, the Azure Lotus Swordplay.
• The Azure Lotus Sect and its allies fled toward the edge of the Taiyi Dao mountain range as Lin Bai used the great formation to suppress the rebellion.
• The Ancestor saw beams of light rise from the forbidden ground and realized the Sect Masters had entered the void for a decisive battle.
• The Ancestor questioned why the Sect Master had not intervened and wondered whether the Taiyi Dao was connected to Immortal Wan Zhida.
• A wave of destructive power erupted from the forbidden ground, making the Azure Lotus Mountain Range tremble and opening countless spatial cracks.

Lin Bai left the Azure Lotus Sect after warning its Sect Master that the sect had only half a month to avoid annihilation. He reunited with Chu Zimo outside the formation, and they departed the Azure Lotus Mountain Range.

• The Azure Lotus Sect Sect Master dispersed the gathered disciples and began arranging the sect’s plans after regaining control.
• Lin Bai warned the Sect Master that the Azure Lotus Sect faced a calamity within half a month, then left without learning the sect’s true intentions.
• Elder Li arrived outside the formation, ended the Azure Lotus Sect’s confrontation with Chu Zimo, and withdrew with the sect’s martial artists.
• Chu Zimo worried that Lin Bai might have been caught in the fighting inside the sect, then saw him emerge safely.
• Lin Bai told Chu Zimo that the Azure Lotus Sect matter was settled, and Chu Zimo ordered the flying ship to leave the Azure Lotus Mountain Range.

After escaping the Azure Lotus Sect, Lin Bai consulted Chu Tinghan, Chu Tingxue, and Princess Chenxian about the cost and likelihood of a war against the sect. He recounted the sect’s internal power struggle but remained suspicious of the Sect Master’s account and the ancestors’ motives.

• Lin Bai contacted Chu Tinghan, Chu Tingxue, and Princess Chenxian through an image-transmission array and asked how likely their armies would be to defeat the Azure Lotus Sect.
• Chu Tinghan explained that a limited conflict could end with both sides backing down, while destroying the ancient sect would provoke a costly fight that might take a century or two.
• Lin Bai described how a Nine Underworlds Demon Palace agent had infiltrated the Azure Lotus Sect, imprisoned its Sect Master and elders, and fled after the sect’s ancestors began fighting over power.
• Lin Bai questioned the Sect Master’s claims and wondered why the ancestors had not tried to stop him from rescuing the prisoners; Chu Tingxue also sensed something was wrong.

Lin Bai learned that Taiyi Dao Pills could raise martial artists’ cultivation only by consuming Dao Fruits and leaving their own cultivation dependent on further pills and service to Chu’s military headquarters. Meanwhile, Taiyi Dao’s Sect Master and the Great Elder continued plotting against Chu’s forces and Chu Zimo as Dao Pill and Azure Lotus Sect advanced into One Night Divine Sect territory.

• Lin Bai learned that successive grades of Taiyi Dao Pills could raise users from the Dao God Realm through higher Great Purity Dao Fruit realms, but taking them ended their independent path of cultivation.
• Chu Tinghan and Princess Chenxian told Chu Zimo and Dao Pill to wait inside One Night Divine Sect territory until they arrived, while their group prepared to travel onward.
• Dao Pill and Azure Lotus Sect reviewed a map and agreed to find a small city to rest as their cloud boat crossed primeval mountains.
• The Sect Master of Taiyi Dao and the Great Elder agreed to continue their plan to ambush Chu’s army in the Dragon Mountain Range, with the Great Elder targeting Chu Zimo.
• The Sect Master of Taiyi Dao maintained the public claim that the Great Elder was in closed-door cultivation despite his betrayal and departure from the sect.

Lin Bai and Chu Zimo heard how war had devastated Jiangliu City and allowed a fleeing grandfather and granddaughter to board their cloud boat. The pair began their journey toward Shangyuan City with them as the conflict continued to spread.

• An old man from Jiangliu City asked Lin Bai and Chu Zimo to take him and his granddaughter to Shangyuan City, offering to pay for the passage.
• Lin Bai recognized Jiangliu City’s strategic position between Phoenix Valley and the Overturning Heavens Sect and asked why they had fled.
• The old man explained that the war had led to conscription, opened treasuries, bandits, and river pirates, leaving only him and the seed disciple Jiang Yuer from their group of several hundred travelers.
• Lin Bai signaled Chu Zimo to let the pair aboard, and Chu Zimo invited them onto the cloud boat without accepting their money.
• Jiang Yuer thanked Lin Bai and Chu Zimo as the old man warned that the war would eventually reach Jiangliu City.

Lin Bai and Chu Zimo took refugees aboard their cloudship as they traveled toward Shangyuan City, where bandits had made the route dangerous. After hearing that Black Wind Stronghold had killed thousands, Lin Bai’s group prepared to face them, while a mysterious party began taking over the stronghold.

• Lin Bai and Chu Zimo let refugees from various Lineages and sects board their cloudship without charging them, and Taiyi Dao arranged their accommodations and increased the guards’ vigilance.
• Jiang Yuer told Taiyi Dao that Black Wind Stronghold had occupied the mountains ahead and killed several thousand travelers in half a month.
• Cai Weishan and Taiyi Dao dismissed the bandits as a minor threat, while Taiyi Dao advised the cloudship to travel low along the river rather than fly overhead.
• The cloudship departed the small city with its crowded deck and continued toward Shangyuan City.
• White-robed martial artists killed the Black Wind Stronghold leader, then announced that they would take the name Black Wind Stronghold.
• The newcomers ordered their people to prepare for Prince Qin’s Lin Bai to pass through the area.

As Lin Bai’s cloud boat passed through Bottleneck Pass, the Black Wind Stronghold trapped it inside a formation and attacked. The bandits shattered Lin Bai’s defensive screen and unleashed a deadly radiance across the boat, leaving the passengers in danger.

• Lin Bai and the passengers discussed the Black Wind Stronghold as the cloud boat entered the narrow Bottleneck Pass.
• The Black Tortoise Battalion assessed the terrain and warned the passengers to stay alert.
• The Black Wind Stronghold appeared, surrounded the cloud boat, and activated a formation over the river.
• The bandits attacked Lin Bai’s defensive screen with a powerful orb and shattered it.
• The orb’s radiance swept across the cloud boat, killing weaker martial artists and blinding and deafening those aboard.

Lin Bai was ambushed by Black-Robed Men wielding a strange pearl that repeatedly robbed him of his sight and hearing. After escaping into a primeval jungle, he learned the attackers were led by Li Siyuan, a divine son of the Four Gloom Demon Palace, and realized their target was him.

• The Black-Robed Men used the round pearl to blind and deafen Lin Bai and the martial artists aboard the cloud boat.
• Lin Bai dodged a sword attack by instinct and fled through the mountains, using his formation-breaking technique to escape into a primeval jungle.
• The pearl's radiance struck Lin Bai again as his senses began to recover, while he worried about Prince Qin and the Black Tortoise Battalion.
• Dozens of Black-Robed Men caught up with Lin Bai, and their leader removed his bamboo hat and identified himself as Li Siyuan, divine son of the Fourth Divine Hall of the Four Gloom Demon Palace.
• Lin Bai sensed that Li Siyuan was in the Great Purity Dao Fruit Realm and realized the attackers had targeted him rather than the Black Tortoise Battalion.

Lin Bai met Zi Luyun and the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s delegation, who invited him to their branch because his presence in the One Night Divine Sect’s territory disrupted their plans. When Lin Bai refused to go, Zi Luyun revealed that they would force him to come.

• Lin Bai recognized Li Siyuan as a Grand Luo Dao Fruit Realm martial artist and recalled his encounters with the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s God Children and Goddess.
• Zi Luyun introduced himself and invited Lin Bai to visit the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace’s branch, claiming the palace had advanced martial cultivation in the Devil Realm Eastern Region.
• Lin Bai politely declined and asked why the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace wanted him as a guest.
• Zi Luyun said Lin Bai had caused too much of a stir in the One Night Divine Sect’s territory and that the palace needed to take him away for its plans.
• Lin Bai refused to go, and Zi Luyun threatened to break his limbs and carry him to the palace if he would not come willingly.
• Lin Bai assessed the seventeen black-robed martial artists: eleven were Superior-Grade Great Purity Dao Fruit cultivators, and six had reached the Third Great Palace Realm.

Lin Bai faced four Grand Luo Dao Fruit-realm experts sent by the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace and recognized Ning Heng, head of Prince Qin's Lineage. Their clash revealed that Lin Bai's demonic sword could crack Ning Heng's famed Regret Severing Divine Blade, leaving the four opponents surrounding him.

• Lin Bai identified the blade-wielding opponent's weapon as the Regret Severing Divine Blade, the ancestral treasure of Prince Qin's Lineage, and recalled Ning Heng's rise and revenge.
• Ning Heng revealed his face and urged Lin Bai to stop resisting and go with them, while Luo Daoguo mocked Lin Bai and confirmed the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace had sent powerful experts.
• Ning Heng slashed at Lin Bai, who blocked the attack with his demonic sword and cracked the treasured blade's edge.
• Lin Bai's spiritual power blasted Ning Heng backward, and he noted that the Regret Severing Divine Blade fell short of Grand Yi Divine Weapon might.
• Lin Bai looked toward the four Grand Luo Dao Fruit-realm opponents with his demonic sword in hand and four flying swords circling him.

Lin Bai used the Reverse Five Elements Sword Formation to hold off four Great Luo Dao Fruit Realm martial artists and wound them. Luo Daoguo advised them to escape the formation’s limited area, but Yin Han tried to stop them as the fight continued.

• Lin Bai’s Reverse Five Elements Sword Formation grew in power and sealed the four martial artists within an area a hundred zhang across.
• Li Siyuan warned the others that the formation altered the space and advised them to retreat beyond its range.
• Zhu Yan used the Heaven Measuring Ruler against the sword-wielding martial artist, while Yin Han attacked with his heavy demon sword.
• The sword-wielding martial artist countered with blood-red ice flowers and ice spikes, forcing Yin Han to defend himself.
• Luo Daoguo urged the four martial artists to leave the formation, and they began retreating in different directions.
• Yin Han moved to block their escape, but the sword-wielding martial artist suddenly sensed danger as he tried to break out.

Lin Bai reflected on the Grand Luo Dao Fruit Realm fighters’ power and the limits of his Reverse Five Elements Sword Formation while facing Luo Daoguo and the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace martial artists. He decided to keep fighting, believing he could escape the barrier whenever he chose.

• A sword-wielding martial artist used a secret technique to escape the Reverse Five Elements Sword Formation, while the other three Grand Luo Dao Fruit Realm martial artists also reached safety.
• Luo Daoguo praised the sword formation and questioned Li Siyuan about its origins, while Li Siyuan admired Lin Bai for facing the group without falling behind.
• Lin Bai realized the formation’s weakness had been exposed and that the opponents recovered quickly with pills and healing techniques.
• Lin Bai considered ways to escape the barrier, including using the Devouring Heaven Dao Method to tear it open, and decided to deal with the attackers first.
• Luo Daoguo ordered the four Grand Luo Dao Fruit Realm martial artists to attack Lin Bai again.

Lin Bai unleashed his sword formations against four Grand Taiyi Divine Realm martial artists while they worked together to surround and attack him. One of them revealed his Qi and Blood Dragon Transformation, and the fight continued as Lin Bai faced attacks from all sides.

• Lin Bai’s killing intent surged, and he sent the Heaven and Earth Eight Kill Sword Formation against the body-and-dharma cultivator.
• The body-and-dharma cultivator defended himself with a secret art, while his companions took positions around Lin Bai and prepared their attacks.
• The empty-handed martial artist spat out a pearl that released an imposing power, but Lin Bai identified it as something other than a Grand Luo Dao Fruit weapon.
• The body-and-dharma cultivator charged Lin Bai and activated Qi and Blood Dragon Transformation, surrounding himself with blood-colored smoke shaped like dragons and tigers.
• The other three martial artists attacked Lin Bai as the transformed cultivator drew his attention, while Li Siyuan watched from a distance.

Li Siyuan attacked Lin Bai, believing the Light Pearl had rendered him helpless, but he revealed he had only been pretending. Yu Zhu then ambushed the Light Pearl with her demon sword, badly wounding her before she escaped, and Yu Zhu was left to wonder how the attack had fallen short.

• Li Siyuan believed Lin Bai was controlled by the Light Pearl and rushed in to kill him.
• Lin Bai suddenly regained his senses and revealed that he had feigned being affected to lure Li Siyuan close.
• Yu Zhu used the opening to slash at the Light Pearl with her demon sword, and Lin Bai's protective light screen absorbed much of the blow.
• The Light Pearl retreated with her defenses shattered and suffered a deep wound to her right shoulder.
• Yu Zhu admitted that she had tricked the Light Pearl into coming close, then lamented that the sword had not killed her.

Li Siyuan used Dao Arts from the Four Underworlds Demon Scripture to summon a Fiend God phantom and strike at Lin Bai. Lin Bai tried to evade and block the attack, but the punch broke through his defenses and left him crashing into the barrier wall.

• Lin Bai split Li Siyuan's black mist with a sword strike, and she countered by sending countless black spikes at him.
• Lin Bai crushed the spikes with the Heaven Measuring Ruler as Li Siyuan summoned a Divine Phantom and a Fiend God phantom.
• The Divine Phantom and Fiend God phantom joined their hand seals and unleashed the Devilish World Calamity Art, shaking the barrier-enclosed space.
• The Fiend God locked onto Lin Bai and punched through the Chaotic Seven Elements Sword Formation despite its attempt to blunt the blow.
• Lin Bai was sent flying by the punch and crashed into the barrier wall.

Lin Bai defeated the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace martial artists but let the wounded Li Siyuan escape through the barrier with its compass. Zhou Qihui escaped the barrier and reunited with the Black Tortoise Battalion, then led the cloud boat toward Xia Yuan City.

• Li Siyuan seized the barrier compass and escaped, so Lin Bai killed the eleven trapped Great Purity Dao Fruit Realm martial artists with his Reverse Five Elements Sword Formation.
• Lin Bai collected the fallen enemies’ Storage Bags and Divine Weapons, then examined the transparent barrier and determined it could not hold him.
• Zhou Qihui used the Heaven Swallowing Dao Fruit’s restriction-breaking power to cut an opening in the barrier and leave it.
• Zhou Qihui met the Black Tortoise Battalion and explained that he had fought the Divine Son of the Fourth Divine Hall of the Nine Underworlds Demon Palace.
• The Black Tortoise Battalion and Zhou Qihui returned to the cloud boat, and Zhou Qihui ordered the Taiyi Dao soldiers to sail for Xia Yuan City.

Lin Bai and Chu Zimo entered crowded Shangyuan City with Zhao Xing Office and the Black Tortoise Battalion, where they met a local secret agent who had built a family business. At the Mo Family residence, the agent reported that Shangyuan City’s upper echelon had secretly departed after receiving an edict from the Azure Lotus Sect, leaving the city braced for war.

• Chu Zimo learned that Shangyuan City required Night Stones for entry, and Lin Bai arranged passage tokens and supplies for Zhao Xing Office and the Black Tortoise Battalion.
• Mo Lin introduced himself as a contact sent by the Zhao Xing Office and led Lin Bai and the others into Shangyuan City.
• Lin Bai described the crowds of martial artists and shortages of spiritual medicine caused by the approaching war.
• At the Mo Family residence, a middle-aged secret agent and Zhen Junlan paid their respects to Chu Zimo and the Young Lord of Prince Liang.
• The middle-aged man explained that the Zhao Xing Office had stationed him in Shangyuan City for over two thousand years and that his family business provided intelligence.
• The middle-aged man reported that nearly half of Shangyuan City's upper echelon had secretly left after receiving an edict from the Azure Lotus Sect.