Chapter Summaries

After Lin Bai’s Near God-Rank Martial Soul dominated the first round, he entered the Night Crow Mountains for the second-round battle and learned that the Aura Spirit Bracelets could be won from other contestants. The chapter left him facing Gu Lingfei, whom he threatened as the Demon Sword appeared in his hand.

• Lin Bai’s Near God-Rank Martial Soul stood out above the other contestants, and Wan Yuxin announced the Night Crow Mountains battle as the second round.
• Wan Yuxin gave the contestants Aura Spirit Bracelets and sent them through a teleportation formation to random locations in the Night Crow Mountains.
• Lin Bai received a bracelet holding fifty zhang of Aura Spirit and decided to seek more Aura Spirit from other martial artists.
• Spectators spotted Lin Bai near Setting Sun Mountain and saw that he was about to encounter Gu Lingfei, whom Gui Jing praised as a skilled sword cultivator.
• Lin Bai met Gu Lingfei in the mountains, reminded her that she had escaped him outside Chaoyang City, and drew the Demon Sword.

Lin Bai killed Gu Lingfei with one sword and accumulated fortune spirit power in the Night Crow Mountains. Later, he found the badly injured Gu Jianyun and asked who had hurt her.

• Lin Bai dismissed Gu Lingfei’s claim that they would both be badly wounded and killed him with one sword, despite Gu Lingfei attempting to escape with his Martial Soul Secret Method.
• Lin Bai took Gu Lingfei’s Storage Bag and fortune bracelet, raising his fortune spirit power from fifty zhang to one hundred zhang.
• Lin Bai reasoned that hunting martial artists on the Second Step of the Heavenly Ladder was worthwhile and continued gathering fortune spirit power, which reached seven hundred zhang after three hours.
• Gu Jianyun hid in a forest to tend her wounds and cursed Liang Chunrong, Taihe, and Luan Fei for injuring her.
• Lin Bai appeared behind Gu Jianyun, saw her wounds reopen as she jumped in fright, and demanded to know who had hurt her.

Lin Bai found Gu Jianyun injured and took her to confront the three Cloud Heaven Dynasty geniuses who had attacked her. He arrived just in time to save Xue Qing from Liang Chunrong, while Luan Fei and Tai He disowned their companion.

• Gu Jianyun told Lin Bai that Liang Chunrong, Tai He, and Luan Fei had injured her, and Lin Bai offered to take her for revenge.
• Liang Chunrong tortured Xue Qing and demanded that he insult Dongfang Bai, but Xue Qing refused and praised him instead.
• Lin Bai appeared before Liang Chunrong could kill Xue Qing, drove him back with sword might, and asked Xue Qing if he was all right.
• Gu Jianyun gave Xue Qing pills and took him aside while Lin Bai confronted Liang Chunrong, Luan Fei, and Tai He.
• Luan Fei and Tai He claimed they had nothing to do with Liang Chunrong's attack on Xue Qing, leaving Liang Chunrong stunned.

Lin Bai killed Luan Fei, Tai He, and Liang Chunrong with his sword, then claimed their fortune energy. After sending Gu Jianyun and Xue Qing away, he confronted two young men who had been watching from the forest.

• Luan Fei and Tai He attacked Lin Bai together, but he killed both with one sword strike.
• Liang Chunrong charged Lin Bai and was killed by a single slash.
• The sect leaders discussed which sword sect might recruit Lin Bai, while Lin Bai collected the three men's fortune energy, bringing his total to more than four thousand two hundred zhang.
• Lin Bai sensed danger, ordered Gu Jianyun to take Xue Qing away, and called out to two young men watching in the forest.
• Two unfriendly young men emerged from the forest.

Crown Prince Feiyun and Young Master Xingchen confronted Lin Bai on the mountain, and Young Master Xingchen attacked him with the ancestral Nine Heavens Star Codex. Lin Bai survived the devastating Three Thousand Star Kill, but emerged battered and bleeding.

• Xue Qing and Gu Jianyun saw Crown Prince Feiyun and Young Master Xingchen approach Lin Bai, while observers in Purple Gold City recognized their hostility.
• Bao Song and Gui Jing protested that the pair were joining forces against Lin Bai, while Dong Qian welcomed the fight because Lin Bai was unlikely to join his sect.
• Lin Bai asked whether Crown Prince Feiyun and Young Master Xingchen would attack together or separately, and Crown Prince Feiyun and Young Master Xingchen argued over who would kill him.
• Young Master Xingchen charged Lin Bai, shattered his sword gleam with a palm strike, and sent him flying more than five hundred meters.
• Lin Bai counterattacked with Aurora Intent, but Young Master Xingchen unleashed Three Thousand Star Kill and flattened everything within a thousand meters.
• Lin Bai reappeared in midair with his white robes tattered, his hair disheveled, and blood at the corner of his mouth.

Lin Bai defeated Young Master Xingchen in a fierce battle, exposing the gap between Xingchen’s initial-stage Star Intent and Lin Bai’s swordsmanship. As the wounded Xingchen took pills, Crown Prince Feiyun stepped forward to challenge Lin Bai.

• Young Master Xingchen used the Starfall Movement Technique and Three Thousand Star Kill, but Lin Bai countered with Demons and Ghosts and sent him flying.
• Lin Bai explained that Xingchen’s Star Intent was powerful but not yet at the mid-stage, then provoked him to attack again.
• Lin Bai evaded Three Thousand Star Kill, broke through Xingchen’s Star Shield with Yellow Springs Ghost Rain and Blood Sky Slash, and gravely wounded him.
• The crowd reacted in shock to Xingchen’s defeat, while Bao Song and Gui Jing rejoiced and Dong Qian looked grim.
• Xingchen swallowed pills, and Crown Prince Feiyun stepped forward to challenge Lin Bai.

After Lin Bai defeated Young Master Xingchen, Crown Prince Feiyun challenged him, claiming first-step Heavenly Ladder strength, but Lin Bai badly wounded him with one sword and exposed the claim as false. Crown Prince Feiyun, furious at the humiliation, charged at Lin Bai again.

• Crown Prince Feiyun stepped in after Young Master Xingchen fell and claimed he had battle prowess equal to a first-step Heavenly Ladder genius.
• Gu Jianyun, Xue Qing, and the martial artists in Purple Gold City condemned Crown Prince Feiyun for taking his turn against Lin Bai.
• Crown Prince Feiyun attacked Lin Bai with his Blazing Fire Intent, but Lin Bai countered with Lingering Night and sent him flying with a severe injury.
• Lin Bai said Crown Prince Feiyun was only among the upper ranks of the second step, prompting the crowd to look toward Wan Yuxin, who had made the earlier assessment.
• Crown Prince Feiyun roared that he would kill Lin Bai and charged at him again with his Blazing Fire Intent unleashed.

Lin Bai fought Crown Prince Feiyun while Young Master Hu Long waited for a chance to strike, but Zhang Jianxing intervened and wounded Hu Long. With Young Master Qian Shui and Ni Xiang'en arriving, the gathered martial artists anticipated the coming clash between the demon sword and the devil sword.

• Young Master Hu Long watched Lin Bai fight Young Master Xingchen and Crown Prince Feiyun, then prepared to attack when Feiyun was sent flying.
• Young Master Hu Long launched a surprise strike at Lin Bai with the Gale Wind Intent and Water Drop Intent.
• Zhang Jianxing appeared and struck Young Master Hu Long, cutting his chest and leaving a massive sword scar in the earth.
• Lin Bai thanked Zhang Jianxing, who explained that he had arrived earlier and waited after noticing Hu Long hiding nearby.
• Young Master Qian Shui and Ni Xiang'en arrived, and martial artists across Purple Gold City gathered their attention on the expected sword clash.

Lin Bai faced Young Master Xingchen, Crown Prince Feiyun, and Young Master Hu Long after they joined forces against him, while Zhang Jianxing took on Young Master Hu Long. Their battles erupted before the crowd in Purple Gold City, where the fight between the sword heirs reached a new climax.

• Young Master Qian Shui and Ni Xiang'en said they would watch without intervening, while Young Master Hu Long recovered and argued with them and Zhang Jianxing.
• Young Master Xingchen and Crown Prince Feiyun proposed joining Young Master Hu Long to challenge Lin Bai, and the three surrounded him.
• Lin Bai unleashed the Demon Sword's power and declared he did not fear all three attacking together, but Zhang Jianxing claimed Young Master Hu Long as his opponent.
• Zhang Jianxing attacked Young Master Hu Long, forcing him to retreat before the two began a fierce duel.
• Young Master Xingchen and Crown Prince Feiyun attacked Lin Bai together, and Lin Bai met them in a clash of sword light, fist shadow, and Blazing Fire Intent.
• The melee drew excited, divided crowds in Purple Gold City, while Young Master Qian Shui, Ni Xiang'en, Lord of the Forbidden City, and sect leaders watched.

Lin Bai killed Crown Prince Feiyun and forced Young Master Xingchen to unleash the Nine Thousand Star Kill. The nine thousand light swords descended toward Lin Bai, leaving the battle at its most dangerous point.

• The Sixth Prince dismissed Young Master Xingchen, Young Master Hu Long, and Crown Prince Feiyun as no match for the Demonic Duo Swords and lamented that he had failed to gain the divine sword’s recognition.
• Lin Bai fought Young Master Xingchen and Crown Prince Feiyun while Zhang Jianxing battled Young Master Hu Long.
• Lin Bai used Tempest’s End to pierce Crown Prince Feiyun’s throat and kill him.
• Young Master Xingchen unleashed the Nine Heavens Star Codex’s Nine Thousand Star Kill, draining his spiritual power to summon nine thousand light swords.
• Young Master Qian Shui, Ni Xiang'en, and Zhang Jianxing reacted with alarm as the swords charged toward Lin Bai.

Lin Bai used the sixth move of Nameless Sword Art to turn Young Master Xingchen’s Nine Thousand Star Kill back against him, leaving Dong Qian to intervene before Xingchen was killed. Dong Qian declared Xingchen the loser and returned him to Purple Gold City, while the Lord of the Forbidden City wondered whether Dongfang Bai was someone he recognized.

• Young Master Xingchen unleashed Nine Thousand Star Kill, but Lin Bai used Seizing Force to redirect its beams toward him with Tempest's End.
• Nine Thousand Star Kill battered Young Master Xingchen until Dong Qian arrived and shattered the attack to save him.
• Lin Bai demanded Young Master Xingchen's bracelet, and Dong Qian removed it and tossed it to Lin Bai before declaring Xingchen defeated.
• Gui Jing and Bao Song discussed the history of swordsmanship prodigies and Dong Qian's desire to protect Xingchen, prompting the Lord of the Forbidden City to silence them.
• The Lord of the Forbidden City studied Dongfang Bai and wondered whether he could be the person he had in mind.

After Dong Qian and Lou Ming rescued Young Master Xingchen and Young Master Hu Long, Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing prepared to fight each other. Blade Cultivator Xiang Yangtian arrived and challenged the two sword heirs, and Zhang Jianxing accepted as Lin Bai watched.

• Dong Qian rescued Young Master Xingchen, while Zhang Jianxing severed Young Master Hu Long’s arms.
• Young Master Hu Long called for Lou Ming, who rescued him and took him away despite objections from the other sect leaders.
• Zhang Jianxing retrieved a bracelet from Young Master Hu Long’s severed arm, then he and Lin Bai prepared to fight while Ni Xiang'en and Young Master Qian Shui promised not to interfere.
• Xiang Yangtian arrived and challenged Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing to a match.
• Zhang Jianxing accepted Xiang Yangtian’s challenge, and Lin Bai stepped aside to watch.

Xiang Yangtian challenged Zhang Jianxing and proved that his saber skill could match the Demon Sword Heir’s before Zhang Jianxing’s full power overwhelmed him. Lin Bai stopped Zhang Jianxing from killing Xiang Yangtian, who declared that he had fought to restore the honor of Blade Cultivators, and You Yihu announced that the Heaven Blade Sect was claiming him.

• Xiang Yangtian fought Zhang Jianxing to a standstill for a hundred blows, astonishing Lin Bai, the crowd, and You Yihu with his saber skill.
• Zhang Jianxing unleashed his Destruction Intent and defeated Xiang Yangtian with one strike, but Xiang Yangtian refused to admit defeat and charged again.
• Lin Bai knocked aside Zhang Jianxing’s killing blow and asked Xiang Yangtian why he was willing to die.
• Xiang Yangtian declared that he wanted to prove Blade Cultivators deserved recognition alongside Sword Cultivators, saying his saber had once been a Divine Weapon.
• You Yihu claimed Xiang Yangtian for the Heaven Blade Sect and threatened war against anyone who competed for him.

Xiang Yangtian challenged Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing to prove the worth of Blade Cultivators, while You Yihu and Dong Qian argued over whether their sects would claim him. After Lin Bai’s words and Zhang Jianxing’s recognition of his blade, Licang, Xiang Yangtian admitted defeat and left resolved to restore Blade Cultivators’ reputation.

• You Yihu declared that the Heavenly Blade Sect would protect Xiang Yangtian and treat any competing sect as an enemy.
• Dong Qian said the Holy Seal Sect would accept Xiang Yangtian only if he chose to join, while Han Zikun noted that the other sects were unlikely to compete.
• Lin Bai challenged Xiang Yangtian’s decision to seek death for the sake of Blade Cultivators and urged him to find the courage to start over after failure.
• Xiang Yangtian admitted defeat, and Zhang Jianxing identified his treasured blade as Licang.
• Xiang Yangtian acknowledged that Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing surpassed him and vowed to make Blade Cultivators’ name resound throughout the world before leaving.

After Xiang Yangtian attained enlightenment and left, You Yihu proposed reviving the annual Blade-and-Sword Contest, and Gui Jing said the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect would have to be persuaded. Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing then began their battle with the Demon Sword Zihuang and Devil Sword Niesheng, devastating the Night Crow Mountains as they fought.

• Gui Jing reminded You Yihu that the Heavenly Blade Sect's extreme Blade Cultivators had turned the old Blade-and-Sword Contest into a slaughterhouse and caused it to end.
• You Yihu acknowledged the Blade Cultivators' past mistakes and proposed restoring the annual contest, while Gui Jing said the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect's Sword Sovereign would need to agree.
• The Lord of the Forbidden City announced that the main event would be the battle between the Demonic Duo Swords.
• Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing prepared to fight, naming their swords Zihuang and Niesheng, while Young Master Qian Shui and Ni Xiang'en retreated to safety.
• Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing exchanged their first blows, then Lin Bai attacked with the Nameless Sword Art as their sword techniques ravaged the Night Crow Mountains.

Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing fought a devastating sword duel in the Night Crow Mountains, revealing the extraordinary power of their sword techniques. After half an hour of clashes, they agreed to decide the victor with one final sword strike.

• Lin Bai unleashed a series of fierce sword techniques against Zhang Jianxing, astonishing Young Master Qian Shui, Ni Xiang'en, and the spectators in Purple Gold City.
• Zhang Jianxing countered with “Three thousand worlds shattered by one sword; looking back, singing the Song of Mortals!” and sent Lin Bai flying with a clash that injured them both.
• Gui Jing, Bao Song, and Lord of the Forbidden City recognized Zhang Jianxing as the successor of a powerful figure, while Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing continued battling and destroyed half of the Night Crow Mountains.
• After roughly half an hour, Zhang Jianxing proposed deciding the victor with one sword, and Lin Bai agreed.
• Zhang Jianxing charged at Lin Bai, who met him with “Tempest's End!”

Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing ended their Demonic Duo Swords battle in a draw, and Zhang Jianxing left Purple Gold City after explaining that the sects would not accept him. The recruitment reached its final selection round, where Reaching Heaven Sword Sect and East Ripple Sword Sect both invited Dongfang Bai to join.

• Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing exchanged powerful sword strikes that sent them both crashing into the ground.
• Lin Bai and Zhang Jianxing agreed that their fight was a draw and parted ways as Zhang Jianxing left the Night Crow Mountains.
• Lin Bai returned to Purple Gold City with Young Master Qian Shui and Ni Xiang'en, then tended to his injuries while the other warriors returned.
• Wan Yuxin announced the final recruitment selection and explained that the genius list would be released before the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.
• Gui Jing and Bao Song simultaneously invited Dongfang Bai to join Reaching Heaven Sword Sect and East Ripple Sword Sect.

Gui Jing and Bao Song competed to recruit Lin Bai, describing the contrasting strengths of the East Ripple Sword Sect and the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect. Gui Jing demonstrated the vast reach of his sect, then asked Lin Bai whether he cultivated the Grand Five Elements Art.

• Dong Qian also tried to recruit Lin Bai for the Holy Seal Sect, but Bao Song dismissed the sect’s swordsmanship and praised the East Ripple Sword Sect’s hundred thousand elite sword cultivators.
• Bao Song explained that the East Ripple Sword Sect selected swordsmanship prodigies and offered deep heritage and rare sword intents.
• Gui Jing acknowledged the East Ripple Sword Sect’s advantages before describing the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect’s open recruitment and widespread presence.
• At Gui Jing’s call, nearly two hundred thousand Reaching Heaven Sword Sect disciples in Purple Gold City stood and saluted him, astonishing Lin Bai, Bao Song, and Dong Qian.
• Gui Jing asked Lin Bai whether he was cultivating the Grand Five Elements Art.

Lin Bai chose to join the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect after learning it possessed the Azure Wood Divine Lightning, one of the five arts in the second volume of the Five Elements Scripture. The apprentice gathering ended with the martial artists assigned to sects, and Lord of the Forbidden City invited Lin Bai to discuss his Demon Sword.

• Gui Jing told Lin Bai that the Grand Five Elements Art was incomplete and that the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect possessed the Azure Wood Divine Lightning, one of the five arts in the Five Elements Divine Lightning Manual.
• Lin Bai chose the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect, becoming its inner disciple and resolving to use his new position to get close to Ye Jianjun and kill him.
• Young Master Qian Shui joined the East Ripple Sword Sect, Ni Xiang'en joined Seven Luminaries Starfall Mountain, and Gu Jianyun and Xue Qing joined the Reaching Heaven Sword Sect.
• The seven great sects divided the more than three thousand martial artists among them, and the apprentice gathering ended after three hours.
• Lord of the Forbidden City invited Lin Bai to the City Lord's Mansion to discuss the Demon Sword, while Gui Jing warned him not to harm the new Reaching Heaven Sword Sect disciple.

Lin Bai met the Lord of the Forbidden City, who revealed that Lin Bai was Lin Duo and Li Subai’s son and that the Azure Dragon Empire’s Emperor, Long Lingxiao, was responsible for his parents’ fate. Lin Bai left determined to grow stronger and seek answers, having also learned that Su Xianmei was his betrothed.

• The Lord of the Forbidden City summoned Lin Bai to a private hall and saw through his disguise, calling him by his real name.
• The Lord of the Forbidden City revealed Lin Bai’s parents’ names and said he had been waiting for Lin Bai, but he did not know where the parents were or whether they were alive.
• The Lord of the Forbidden City said Lin Bai needed strength enough to destroy the Azure Dragon Empire before learning more, and named Emperor Long Lingxiao as the cause of his parents’ suffering.
• Lin Bai vowed to prepare before confronting Long Lingxiao, then left the hall after the Lord of the Forbidden City urged him to endure and grow stronger.
• The Lord of the Forbidden City revealed that Su Yanhua’s daughter, Su Xianmei, was Lin Bai’s betrothed and had followed him; Lin Bai departed, while the Lord of the Forbidden City said Lin Duo and Li Subai’s son was coming.