Chapter Summaries

Gu Jianyun hunted a Mountain Moving Beast while Gu Feng secretly planned to use her peril to secure a place at the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Apprentice Gathering. After a disheveled man claimed the beast and a dozen more Primordial Wilds Breeds surrounded them, Gu Jianyun insisted on fighting them herself.

• Gu Feng led the group in luring Gu Jianyun after a fleeing Mountain Moving Beast, planning to rescue her and win her gratitude.
• Gu Jianyun killed the Mountain Moving Beast with a sword strike, but a disheveled man emerged from beneath it and claimed he had delivered the fatal blow.
• Gu Jianyun confirmed the fatal wound was on the beast's neck and let the man take its corpse.
• More than a dozen Primordial Wilds Breeds appeared around Gu Jianyun and the man.
• The man warned Gu Jianyun that she could not defeat the beasts and offered to handle them, but she claimed them for herself and prepared to fight.

Lin Bai watched Gu Jianyun battle a dozen Primordial Wilds Breeds, intrigued by the power of her Ancient Sword Art but critical of her incomplete mastery. After she was knocked down and injured, Lin Bai stopped teasing her and prepared to face the beasts.

• Gu Jianyun charged the Primordial Wilds Breeds and failed to pierce one beast's hide with her initial sword strikes.
• Gu Jianyun unleashed a powerful technique from the Ancient Sword Art, severed a beast's arm, and continued fighting despite being unable to finish off the creatures.
• Lin Bai reflected that he had encountered only a few Primordial Wilds Breeds in three months and wondered why more than a dozen had gathered there.
• Gu Jianyun refused Lin Bai's offer of help, fought on while he ate and watched, and was eventually struck down by a beast.
• Lin Bai put away his food and wine, revealed surging sword intent, and faced the Primordial Wilds Breeds with killing intent.

Lin Bai rescued Gu Jianyun by killing more than a dozen Primordial Wilds Breed with one sword, then hid his true strength to avoid the Six Fiends of Lingnan. He left the Primordial Wilds and declared that he had arrived in Lingnan, vowing to avenge Suxin.

• Lin Bai charged the Primordial Wilds Breed and killed more than a dozen of them with a single sword strike, leaving Gu Jianyun stunned.
• Lin Bai teased Gu Jianyun about his swordsmanship, and she angrily insisted that she would surpass him after joining the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect.
• Gu Feng arrived with more than a dozen Sky Realm martial artists and found the Primordial Wilds Breed dead, ruining his plan to rescue Gu Jianyun and win a quota for the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Apprentice Gathering.
• Lin Bai claimed the corpses as his spoils, while Gu Feng grew furious but left with Gu Jianyun and the others.
• Lin Bai revealed that he was hiding his strength to avoid the Six Fiends of Lingnan, then left the Primordial Wilds and vowed to avenge Suxin.

Lin Bai reached Arid Dragon City and learned that the Gu Lineage was recruiting a sword cultivator to teach its young mistress, offering a possible path to one of its three apprentice spots. He went to the Gu family hoping to enter the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect and find Ye Jianjun, and introduced himself as Dongfang Bai.

• Lin Bai arrived in Arid Dragon City and heard that the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Apprentice Gathering was three months away and the Gu Lineage controlled the city's three spots.
• Lin Bai decided that securing a Gu Lineage spot could help him enter the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect and approach Ye Jianjun, one of the Six Fiends of Lingnan.
• Lin Bai learned the Gu family was seeking a powerful sword cultivator to teach its young mistress and went to apply.
• A gatekeeper doubted Lin Bai's claim because of his disheveled appearance but agreed to take him inside for a chance to prove himself.
• When the gatekeeper asked his name, Lin Bai introduced himself as Dongfang Bai.

Lin Bai joined more than a hundred sword cultivators seeking to guide Gu Qingyun’s daughter and learned that the Gu family would reward a successful candidate with a spot at the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Apprentice Gathering. Mo Changyun secured Gu Qingyun’s promise, leaving Lin Bai eager to compete for the same prize.

• Lin Bai arrived at the Gu family’s rear courtyard and waited among the sword cultivators who had gathered for the recruitment.
• Gu Hai led the candidates to the Martial Arts Arena, where Lin Bai recognized the Sword Testing Stone as Black Gold Ancient Rock.
• Gu Qingyun explained that candidates would be judged by the depth of the mark they left on the stone and offered a million spirit stones as consolation for those not chosen.
• Gu Qingyun promised that a candidate who successfully taught his daughter could receive anything in the Gu family, including a spot at the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Apprentice Gathering.
• Mo Changyun, the Cloud Sword Cultivator of North King Mountain, asked for one of the gathering’s spots, and Gu Qingyun agreed if he taught his daughter well.
• Lin Bai realized the spot was also the reason he had come and grew eager to compete.

At the Gu family’s Sword Dao test, Mo Changyun left a seven-inch mark on the Sword Testing Stone and seemed certain to become Gu Jianyun’s teacher. Just as Gu Qingyun prepared to announce his choice, someone in the crowd volunteered to test himself.

• Gu Jianyun appeared onstage and arrogantly questioned whether the gathered Sword Dao cultivators were worthy of her respect.
• Mo Changyun challenged the crowd, then used his Sword Dao without spiritual power to leave a seven-inch mark on the Sword Testing Stone.
• Gu Qingyun explained that Mo Changyun had cultivated Earth Intent at North King Mountain, and Gu Jianyun considered learning from him to prepare for the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Apprentice Gathering.
• Mo Changyun claimed no one could match his mark, and the other Sword Dao cultivators hesitated to compete as he mocked them as cowards.
• As Gu Qingyun began announcing the Gu family’s choice, an unidentified voice from the crowd volunteered to take the test.

Lin Bai, posing as Dongfang Bai, challenged Mo Changyun at the Sword Testing Stone and criticized his blood-soaked sword dao. The chapter ended with Lin Bai declaring Mo Changyun’s swordsmanship to be utter dogshit before making his own attempt.

• Lin Bai stepped out of the crowd, introduced himself as Dongfang Bai, and walked toward the Sword Testing Stone while Gu Jianyun recognized him and angrily called him shameless.
• Mo Changyun mocked Lin Bai’s Heaven Core Realm cultivation, then boasted that he had killed nearly ten thousand people and defined killing as his sword dao.
• Lin Bai said he could not remember how many people he had killed, prompting Gu Qingyun to regard him as an unusually experienced killer.
• Lin Bai chose a Grade Nine Spirit Tool despite the other sword cultivators offering to lend him better weapons.
• Before beginning the assessment, Lin Bai confronted Mo Changyun and said his swordsmanship was a heap of dogshit.

Lin Bai humiliated Mo Changyun by carving thirty-three identical nine-inch sword scars into the Sword Testing Stone, winning the Gu family's contest to guide Gu Jianyun's sword cultivation. After Gu Qingyun appointed him, Lin Bai asked for a spot in the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Apprentice Gathering.

• Lin Bai carved a nine-inch sword scar into the Sword Testing Stone and challenged Mo Changyun to watch his swordsmanship.
• Lin Bai carved thirty-three nine-inch scars spelling “Mo Changyun Eats Shit,” and Mo Changyun fainted after spitting blood in anger.
• The other sword cultivators conceded, and Gu Qingyun chose Lin Bai to guide Gu Jianyun for two months.
• Gu Qingyun offered Lin Bai the Gu family's help, and Lin Bai asked for a spot in the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Apprentice Gathering.

Lin Bai accepted Gu Qingyun’s challenge to teach Gu Jianyun enough swordsmanship to win a city competition and earn a spot in the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Apprentice Gathering. After Gu Jianyun refused to see him, Lin Bai returned to his courtyard and prepared to break through to the Sky Realm.

• Gu Qingyun offered Lin Bai a spot in the gathering if Gu Jianyun won first place in a martial competition two months later, and barred Lin Bai from entering if she competed.
• Lin Bai told Gu Qingyun that Gu Jianyun’s weak martial soul, poor aptitude, and weak foundation made victory difficult, angering her and driving her from the arena in tears.
• Gu Qingyun admitted that Gu Jianyun’s aptitude was ordinary and told Lin Bai to improve her swordsmanship or find a spot elsewhere; Lin Bai agreed to try.
• The next morning, Lin Bai went to Gu Jianyun’s courtyard to begin teaching her, but she angrily hurled a jade bottle at the door and refused to see him.
• Lin Bai returned to his courtyard, decided to cultivate while Gu Jianyun calmed down, and used his Devouring Sword Soul on the Primordial Wilds Breeds in his Storage Bag to prepare for a Sky Realm breakthrough.

Lin Bai consumed the Primordial Wilds Breed's bloodline power and broke through to the Sky Realm, then began studying Rainstorm Intent while preparing to hide his abilities in Lingnan. As Gu Qingyun and Gu Hai passed his residence, they entered a sword-intent domain that made a falling raindrop appear as lethal Sword Qi.

• Lin Bai devoured the bloodline power of more than a dozen Primordial Wilds Breed corpses and broke through to the Sky Realm.
• Lin Bai decided he could not use his known techniques and weapons in Lingnan without revealing his identity, so he studied Rainstorm Intent in the Thatched Hut Rainstorm Painting.
• Lin Bai practiced with a Grade Nine Spirit Tool in his courtyard as Gu Qingyun and Gu Hai discussed finding Gu Jianyun another sword teacher, possibly Mo Changyun.
• Gu Qingyun and Gu Hai noticed rain falling and realized they had entered a powerful sword cultivator's intent domain when a raindrop appeared to transform into Sword Qi aimed at Gu Qingyun.

Lin Bai comprehended a rare Rainstorm Intent, prompting Gu Qingyun to decide that he should teach Gu Jianyun and arrange her marriage to Du Yue. After Gu Jianyun returned from meeting Du Yue in tears and accused Lin Bai of humiliating her, Lin Bai took her wrist and demanded to be led to the reception hall.

• Gu Qingyun and Gu Hai fled Lin Bai’s rainstorm, recognized it as a rare sword Intent, and decided Lin Bai was the strongest person in Arid Dragon City and the right teacher for Gu Jianyun.
• Gu Qingyun told Gu Hai to invite Du Yue to discuss his marriage to Gu Jianyun, hoping to pressure her into giving up her resistance.
• Lin Bai dispersed the rainstorm and went to Gu Jianyun’s courtyard the next morning, where a maid told him Gu Qingyun had summoned her to meet Du Yue.
• Gu Jianyun returned in tears, accused Lin Bai, Du Yue, and Zhao Chou of humiliating her, and demanded that Lin Bai leave the Gu Family.
• Lin Bai seized Gu Jianyun’s wrist and ordered the maid to take him to the reception hall.

Lin Bai confronted Du Yue and Zhao Chou for insulting his disciple, Gu Jianyun, and swiftly struck Du Yue down. He then met Zhao Chou’s sword attack head-on, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Lin Bai brought Gu Jianyun into the reception hall and demanded to know who had disparaged her talent.
• Du Yue admitted making the insults and mocked Lin Bai, who defended his right as Gu Jianyun’s teacher to criticize her while forbidding others from doing so.
• When Du Yue refused to apologize, Lin Bai disarmed him and slapped him, knocking out his teeth and sending him crashing to the floor.
• Zhao Chou rose to avenge Du Yue, and Lin Bai challenged him despite Gu Jianyun warning that Zhao Chou was at the fifth level of the Sky Realm.
• Lin Bai thrust Du Yue’s Supreme Martial Spirit Tool toward Zhao Chou’s incoming sword, while Gu Jianyun felt moved by Lin Bai’s defense of her.

Lin Bai revealed his Rainstorm Intent and wounded Zhao Chou, forcing Zhao Chou to flee with Du Yue. Afterward, Lin Bai defended Gu Jianyun’s honor and left the Gu family, deeply moving Gu Jianyun.

• Zhao Chou used half-step Gale Wind Intent to overwhelm Lin Bai and wound him during their aerial fight.
• Gu Qingyun promised to protect Lin Bai, while Du Yue threatened to destroy the Gu family after joining a powerful sect.
• Rain began falling as Lin Bai unleashed Rainstorm Intent, pierced Zhao Chou with countless sword shadows, and forced him to escape with Du Yue.
• Lin Bai regretted that he could not kill Zhao Chou because of their difference in cultivation realms.
• Lin Bai told Gu Jianyun that only he had the right to criticize his student, then left the Gu family as Gu Jianyun and Gu Qingyun watched in astonishment.

After recovering from his battle with Zhao Chou, Lin Bai learned why the Du Family had turned against the Gu Family and challenged Du Yue’s status as Arid Dragon City’s number-one genius. Gu Jianyun vowed to defeat Du Yue at the martial competition in two months, and Gu Qingyun staked his own reputation on her victory.

• Lin Bai studied the Thatched Hut Rainstorm Painting and reflected on how Rainstorm Intent had let him fight a stronger opponent.
• Gu Qingyun brought Gu Jianyun to apologize, and Lin Bai agreed to teach her swordsmanship after hearing how Du Yue had insulted her and demanded she become his concubine.
• Gu Hai reported that the Du Family Head and more than a hundred family heads had come to accuse the Gu Family of suppressing Du Yue.
• The Du Family Head challenged Lin Bai to face Du Yue at the martial competition, but Lin Bai explained that Gu Jianyun could compete in his place.
• Gu Jianyun vowed to defeat Du Yue in two months, and Gu Qingyun promised to apologize at the Du Family’s door if she lost.

Lin Bai began teaching Gu Jianyun and recognized that the Gu Family’s Ancient Sword Art was meant to be light and graceful rather than forceful and heavy. After demonstrating the technique with the Intent of the Gale, he left Gu Jianyun wondering whether her family had misunderstood it for nearly a thousand years.

• Lin Bai told Gu Jianyun to calm her mind before practicing, and she settled her stirring sword aura through meditation.
• Gu Jianyun performed the Ancient Sword Art for Lin Bai, while Gu Qingyun and Gu Hai watched and discussed its lost intent.
• Lin Bai said Gu Jianyun’s heavy, Earth Intent approach contradicted the sword technique’s true nature, and she challenged him angrily.
• Lin Bai caught Gu Jianyun’s sword between two fingers and dispelled its sword intent, showing her that her approach was wrong.
• Lin Bai demonstrated the Ancient Sword Art as a graceful, ethereal sword technique resembling the Intent of the Gale, leaving Gu Jianyun questioning her family’s tradition.

Lin Bai examined the Gu Family’s Ancient Sword Art and spent half a month trying to uncover the intent hidden within it. Watching the transition from night to dawn, he finally realized the art required Aurora Intent.

• Lin Bai demonstrated a powerful version of Immortal Guides the Way, prompting Gu Qingyun to ask whether he had uncovered the Ancient Sword Art’s mystery.
• Lin Bai explained that the sword art required a rare, ethereal intent, and Gu Qingyun gave him the family’s damaged ancient manual to study.
• Lin Bai memorized the five sword moves and practiced them for half a month without understanding the intent, while Gu Qingyun watched.
• Lin Bai glimpsed an insight during his practice but lost it, then pushed himself to exhaustion with repeated sword strikes.
• As dawn broke, Lin Bai recognized the intent as the light crossing the world and named it Aurora Intent.

Lin Bai comprehended the Aurora Intent hidden in the Gu family's Ancient Sword Art and spent half a month training Gu Jianyun in it. He then took her to Demon Heaven Ridge to hunt demonic beasts and cultivate before the Arid Dragon City martial competition.

• Lin Bai realized the Ancient Sword Art contained Aurora Intent and demonstrated its power, astonishing Gu Qingyun.
• Gu Qingyun thanked Lin Bai for uncovering the sword art's true meaning and asked him to teach Gu Jianyun.
• Lin Bai trained Gu Jianyun for half a month, criticizing her swordplay as she struggled to improve.
• Lin Bai asked Gu Jianyun about places with many demonic beasts and chose Demon Heaven Ridge for their cultivation trip.
• Gu Qingyun supplied pills, Saint Light Stone, and other provisions before Lin Bai and Gu Jianyun departed for Demon Heaven Ridge through Arid Dragon City's teleportation formation.

Lin Bai brought Gu Jianyun to Demon Heaven Ridge for training and ordered her to hunt one hundred Sky Realm Third Layer demon beasts. After she returned with only seventy-five, he punished her by striking her palm and raised the next day's target to one hundred and fifty.

• Lin Bai told Gu Jianyun to hunt one hundred Sky Realm Third Layer demon beasts while he secretly followed to protect her.
• Gu Jianyun hunted demon beasts throughout the day, cursing Lin Bai as she went, while Lin Bai watched from concealment.
• Gu Jianyun returned at dusk with seventy-five demon beasts and told Lin Bai that was all she could manage.
• Lin Bai seized Gu Jianyun, sealed her cultivation, and struck her palm dozens of times for failing the task.
• Lin Bai ordered Gu Jianyun to hunt one hundred and fifty demon beasts the next day, and she vowed to kill him.

Lin Bai forced Gu Jianyun to hunt demon beasts and punished her with palm strikes whenever she failed to meet his quota, while secretly using the beasts she collected to advance his cultivation. After eighteen days of training, Gu Jianyun began recruiting helpers, and Lin Bai proudly credited himself with teaching her to adapt.

• Lin Bai refined the blood of Gu Jianyun’s collected demon beasts and reached the peak of the Sky Realm first layer, while Gu Hai and the Gu family death warriors watched but stayed hidden.
• Gu Jianyun hunted fewer than Lin Bai’s quota, so Lin Bai struck her palm seventy times and demanded an even larger catch the next day.
• Gu Jianyun began taking cultivation pills and worked to improve her cultivation and comprehend Aurora Intent so she could meet Lin Bai’s demands.
• Over the following days, Gu Jianyun repeatedly returned from hunting and endured increasingly severe palm strikes, reaching 530 strikes on the eighteenth day.
• Gu Jianyun set out with helpers to hunt demon beasts, and Lin Bai secretly praised himself for teaching her to find a solution.

Lin Bai continued training Gu Jianyun by making her hunt demon beasts and punishing her for falling short, while she advanced toward comprehending the Aurora Intent. The next morning, Lin Bai broke through to the fifth level of the Sky Realm, and Gu Jianyun resumed her cultivation under his direction.

• Lin Bai found that Gu Jianyun had brought back about a thousand fourth-level Sky Realm demon beasts, fewer than he had demanded.
• Gu Jianyun tried to persuade Lin Bai to spare her, but he insisted on punishing her with seven hundred and fifty strikes, and she attacked him with Lingering Night before he overpowered her.
• After the punishment, Gu Jianyun told Lin Bai she had sensed the Aurora Intent with help from a Saint Light Stone and his guidance.
• Lin Bai absorbed the demon beast blood with his Devouring Sword Soul, and his cultivation broke through to the fifth level of the Sky Realm by dawn.
• Gu Jianyun realized Lin Bai had advanced faster than she had and wondered whether the demon beast blood aided his breakthroughs, but Lin Bai urged her to focus on the day-night transition and cultivate the Aurora Intent.