Chapter Summaries

Li Hao accepted Ren Qianqian as his Sword Attendant and demonstrated his exceptional control of sword qi while she began training under his guidance. As the true dragon selection drew near, Li Qianfeng returned with people from Boundless Mountain, and the chapter ended with him studying Li Hao at a family gathering, unable to gauge his cultivation.

• Li Yuanzhao brought Ren Qianqian to Li Hao, and she agreed to serve the Li Family for life in exchange for learning swordsmanship.
• Li Hao named Ren Qianqian his Sword Attendant, showed her a controlled sword strike using sword qi, and directed Li Yuanzhao to study sword manuals.
• Li Hao guided Ren Qianqian's sword practice over the following days while Bian Ruxue noticed her progress.
• Bian Ruxue saw Li Qianfeng ride past with a Bodhisattva from Boundless Mountain and warned Li Hao that he seemed dangerous.
• With three days left before the true dragon selection, Li Tiangang brought Chen Hefang down from Forget Sorrow Mountain, and the family gathered at Green Lotus Courtyard.
• Li Qianfeng met Li Hao at the gathering and found that he could not discern Li Hao's cultivation realm.

Li Hao met his relatives and received Eternal Night, the famous sword once wielded by his Ninth Brother, from Chen Hefang. As the True Dragon Selection began and guests gathered at the Divine General Residence, Sword Wudao arrived at Li Hao’s courtyard.

• Li Mingguang and Li Sibei greeted Li Hao and Li Qianfeng, said they would not compete for the True Dragon Seat, and urged the cousins not to let the contest cause grudges.
• Chen Hefang welcomed her grandchildren and told Li Mingguang she hoped he would stay safe at the border.
• Chen Hefang gave Li Hao Eternal Night, the famous sword once used by his Ninth Brother, and gave Li Qianfeng Buddhist scriptures containing the Great Compassion Hand technique.
• As the True Dragon Selection approached, officials, nobles, and members of the Liu Family arrived at the Divine General Residence, many supporting Li Qianfeng.
• Li Hao relaxed in his courtyard as Bian Ruxue returned with Sword Wudao.

Bian Ruxue brought Sword Wudao to support Li Hao, who clashed with the Sword Saint over his Ninth Uncle’s sword before the guests gathered for the True Dragon banquet. As Li Qianfeng received support from the Boundless Buddha, a decree from the Yu Emperor summoned Li Hao to receive an edict, leaving the courtyard stunned.

• Bian Ruxue brought Sword Wudao and his disciples to the Mountains and Rivers Courtyard, where Li Hao challenged the Sword Saint’s criticism of Eternal Night and his Ninth Uncle.
• Li Tiangang welcomed Sword Wudao, and Bian Ruxue reassured Li Hao before joining her master in the inner courtyard.
• Song Yufeng kept Tan Palace Academy’s disciples from attending the banquet, while Zhou Zheng visited Li Hao with his father.
• Li Tiangang led Li Hao and his supporters to Chen Hefang’s courtyard, where Sword Wudao encountered the Bodhisattva of Boundless Mountain, the Northern Lands Blade Saint, and an elder from the Demon Suppression Division.
• An Arhat presented Li Qianfeng with Buddhist Prayer Beads on behalf of the Boundless Buddha, then an announcement summoned Li Hao to receive the Yu Emperor’s edict.

Eunuch Chu Jiuyue delivered the Yu Emperor’s Edict praising Li Hao’s talent and character, strengthening his position ahead of the True Dragon Selection. The emperor’s reasons remained unknown, while Liu Yuerong regretted failing to kill Li Hao and Xiang Yuguang withdrew his support from Li Qianfeng.

• Chu Jiuyue arrived at Li Manor and proclaimed an edict that praised Li Hao and his family, then stayed to share the banquet.
• Li Hao wondered whether the old man he had met by the river was the Yu Emperor, while Chu Jiuyue concealed what she suspected about the emperor’s visit.
• Chu Jiuyue’s presence unsettled Li Qianfeng’s supporters, and Bian Ruxue watched Li Hao with memories of their childhood.
• Liu Yuerong regretted giving Li Hao the Poison Pill instead of killing him, while Xiang Yuguang apologized to her and left the banquet.
• Lin Wujing reassured Liu Yuerong that Li Qianfeng could still prevail through the strength of his foundations.

At the Li Family True Dragon selection, Li Hao and Li Qianfeng agreed to settle their claim in a spar despite Li Qianfeng's advantage in age and experience. As Li Qianfeng drew his sword, Li Hao summoned a chopstick instead, leaving the duel poised to begin.

• Li Qingzheng arrived and called Li Hao, Li Qianfeng, and the other young family members forward to identify candidates for the True Dragon Position.
• Li Rumeng briefly stepped forward, but Li Fenghua rebuked her and she withdrew.
• Lin Wujing cited the Buddha Master's prayer beads as proof of Li Qianfeng's character, and Li Qingzheng waived the character test.
• Li Qianfeng proposed a spar while sealing one arm, and Li Hao accepted despite the crowd recognizing the terms favored Li Qianfeng.
• Li Qianfeng summoned his sword from Murong Qiulan, while Li Hao called a chopstick from the banquet table instead of drawing Eternal Night.

Li Hao defeated Li Qianfeng’s strongest sword technique with a chopstick, then faced him again after Li Qianfeng unleashed power bestowed by his master. Li Hao crushed Li Qianfeng’s hand and pierced his eye before Lin Wujing intervened.

• Li Hao parried Li Qianfeng’s sword qi with a chopstick and matched his Boundless Sea Sword Art: Rising Moon with a superior version.
• Li Hao’s attack sent Li Qianfeng crashing into a banquet table, leaving him wounded and humiliated.
• Li Qianfeng activated power from his master, temporarily opening his Great Meridians to 82 and greatly boosting his strength.
• Li Qianfeng charged Li Hao, but Li Hao deflected his sword, crushed his hand, and drove the chopstick into his eye.
• Lin Wujing intervened, separated the two, and carried the injured Li Qianfeng away from Li Hao.

Li Hao exposed Liu Yuerong’s alleged plot to poison him as a baby after he maimed Li Qianfeng in the True Dragon Contest. The chapter ended with the Li Family stunned as Li Hao recounted memories from when he was one, supporting his claim that he remembered the incident.

• Lin Wujing stopped Li Hao from killing Li Qianfeng, whose injured eye was treated by the Li Family’s Divine Doctor.
• Li Hao rejected Li Tiangang’s rebuke, clashed with Li Mingguang and Li Sibei, and slapped Li Rumeng for insulting his mother.
• Li Rumeng’s words revealed that Li Hao’s mother came from Great Wasteland Heaven, prompting Li Hao to seek answers in the Green Lotus Back Courtyard.
• Liu Yuerong condemned Li Hao for injuring her son, and Li Tiangang ordered him to kneel and apologize when he arrived.
• Li Hao accused Liu Yuerong of poisoning him as a baby to destroy his divine blood and claimed Boundless Mountain had supplied the secret medicine.
• When Liu Yuerong and Lin Wujing demanded proof, Li Hao recounted memories from when he was one, leaving the gathered family astonished.

Li Hao accused Liu Yuerong of poisoning him as a child and tried to explain why he had kept silent, but the courtyard remained divided over the lack of proof. When Li Tiangang struck Li Hao and then sent Little White Fox crashing through a wall, Li Hao erupted in fury and unleashed a vast aura.

• Liu Yuerong denied poisoning Li Hao and argued that he had no evidence, while He Jianlan and Li Qingzheng leaned toward believing him.
• Li Tiangang said Liu Yuerong should not have known about his breakthrough, deepening Li Hao’s doubts when his father did not affirm his accusation.
• Li Hao declared that Liu Yuerong and Qian Feng would not leave, and Liu Yuerong invoked the death of her husband, Li Feng Ping, to turn Li Tiangang against him.
• Li Rumeng accused Li Hao of striking her, and Li Tiangang slapped Li Hao and reprimanded him in front of the courtyard.
• Little White Fox tried to shield Li Hao, but Li Tiangang struck him through a courtyard wall, prompting Li Hao to roar and unleash a tremendous aura.

Li Hao rejected Li Tiangang as his father after Li Tiangang struck Little White Fox, and the two fought in the Green Lotus Courtyard. As Li Tiangang summoned his Divine Soul, Li Hao revealed a Heaven and Earth Dharma Form more than a hundred zhang tall, drawing attention across Qingzhou City.

• Li Hao pleaded with Li Qingzheng to save Little White Fox, then knelt in despair as Li Qingzheng carried her away to find the Divine Doctor.
• Li Hao blamed Li Tiangang for hurting Xiao Rou and severed their father-son bond, while Li Tiangang decided to punish him despite Chen Hefang and others trying to intervene.
• Li Hao and Li Tiangang exchanged powerful blows, both spat blood, and those present realized Li Tiangang's earlier strike had triggered the Li Family heart oath's backlash.
• Li Tiangang summoned his golden Divine Soul, and Li Hao unleashed his full strength to form a Heaven and Earth Dharma Form more than a hundred zhang tall.
• Sword Wudao sensed Li Hao's enormous Dharma Form from outside the Divine General Residence and rose above Qingzhou City to look toward it.

Li Hao fought Li Tiangang with his Heaven and Earth Dharma Form after Li Tiangang attacked him, astonishing the Li Family with his power and apparent potential to become a Sage. After Li Qingzheng stepped aside to protect the Ancestral Shrine, Li Hao faced his father again and unleashed Boundless Sea.

• Li Hao manifested his Heaven and Earth Dharma Form, and Li Tiangang attacked it with his Divine Might Blade.
• Li Hao condensed his dharma form, summoned a divine sword from his courtyard, and struck Li Tiangang with Rising Moon, but Li Tiangang tore through the sword’s moonlight.
• Li Qingzheng intervened and explained that Li Hao’s dharma form resembled the legendary power of the Sages, while Li Tiangang insisted that Li Hao needed discipline.
• Li Hao asked after Xiao Rou and urged Li Qingzheng to step aside so he could protect the Ancestral Shrine; Li Qingzheng withdrew, disappointed in Li Tiangang.
• Li Hao resumed fighting Li Tiangang and unleashed Boundless Sea, covering the courtyard in overwhelming sword intent.

Li Hao fought Li Tiangang across the Divine General Residence and Qingzhou City, but the gap in their cultivation left him fleeing for his life. Facing death, Li Hao found his own path by taking heaven and earth as his reference, opened the Heavenly Gate, and unleashed a new sword form against Li Tiangang’s descending palm.

• Li Hao’s Boundless Sea swordsmanship overwhelmed Li Tiangang’s Divine Soul until Li Tiangang shattered the sword tide with divine might.
• Li Hao combined Tiger Pressure with traits from the Blood Sea Ferocious Jiaolong Painting, the Coiled Mountain Painting, and the Qiongqi Mountain Painting to resist Li Tiangang’s pressure.
• Li Tiangang struck Li Hao down and pursued him through the streets, while Li Hao repeatedly tried to escape and then fought back with Boundless Sea.
• As Li Tiangang’s attacks trapped him, Li Hao realized he could take heaven and earth and all things as his reference, then opened the Heavenly Gate within his heart.
• Li Hao awakened the new sword form Boundless Sea: Other Shore and severed the distance to Li Tiangang’s descending palm with a slash that seemed to cut through the void.

Li Hao broke into the Grandmaster Realm and discovered the beginnings of his own martial path, but Li Tiangang overwhelmed him in battle. As Li Tiangang condemned his actions and invoked the Li Family’s sacrifices, Li Hao rejected the family and declared he would no longer bear the surname Li.

• Li Hao wounded Li Tiangang with his divine sword, then combined Sword Intent and fist techniques to stagger him and reveal that he had reached the Grandmaster Realm.
• Li Hao found the first step of his path, All Streams Return to the Source, and attacked with a powerful fist as Li Tiangang unleashed his Three Immortalities Realm strength.
• Li Tiangang’s golden palm defeated Li Hao’s attack, and he knocked Li Hao from the sky before striking him again and leaving him gravely injured.
• Li Tiangang accused Li Hao of betraying the Li Family and reminded him of the sacrifices made by its members, including his dead uncles.
• Li Hao refused to explain himself and told Li Tiangang that he would no longer be named Li.

Li Tiangang tried to force Li Hao to admit fault and punished him with chains, while Li Muxiu arrived and defended the badly wounded youth. The confrontation continued as Li Tiangang blamed Li Hao’s upbringing and achievements on the Li Family, and Li Muxiu insisted Hao’er had earned them himself.

• Li Tiangang summoned hooked chains and threatened to torture Li Hao, while Li Qingzheng protested and urged Hao’er to apologize.
• Li Hao rejected Li Tiangang’s appeal to their father-son bond, and Li Tiangang’s chains pierced his shoulder blades and dragged him down.
• Li Muxiu arrived, lifted the barely breathing Li Hao, and promised to see justice done for him.
• Li Tiangang accused Li Muxiu of spoiling Li Hao and argued that the Li Family had given Hao’er his talent, resources, and techniques.
• Li Muxiu retorted that Li Hao had barely used the family’s resources and had achieved everything through his own cultivation.

Li Hao survived his brutal fight with Li Tiangang, and the Li Family discovered that his extraordinary talent did not depend on medicine. As Li Muxiu confronted Liu Yuerong over the old poisoning, the family began to accept that Li Hao had no need to scheme for the True Dragon Position.

• Li Muxiu carried the gravely wounded Li Hao away after Li Hao rejected the Li surname and declared that he would repay the Li Family for everything he had received.
• Li Tiangang admitted that Li Hao had reached the grandmaster realm, then returned to the Divine General Residence with Li Xuanli.
• The Divine Doctor found that Li Hao could not absorb medicine but was healing on his own, seemingly like someone in the imperishable realm; Li Muxiu and Li Qingzheng removed the Dragon Teeth from his body.
• Li Muxiu ordered everyone from Li Hao's room and confronted Li Tiangang, then summoned the family to the Law Enforcement Hall to investigate the conflict.
• Li Muxiu accused Liu Yuerong of poisoning Li Hao years earlier and revealed that Li Hao had entered the fifteen li realm at thirteen without cultivating, leaving the family doubtful that he had schemed against Li Qianfeng for the True Dragon Position.

Li Muxiu accused Liu Yuerong of poisoning Li Hao and demanded that Li Qianfeng choose between the Divine General Residence and Boundless Mountain, but Li Tiangang blocked harsher action while promising an investigation. As rumors about Li Hao’s clash with his father spread through Qing Prefecture, Song Qiumo and Song Yufeng prepared to visit him at the residence.

• Li Muxiu said Liu Yuerong had poisoned Li Hao with an undetectable pill and ordered Li Qianfeng to leave Boundless Mountain or the Divine General Residence; Liu denied the accusation and demanded proof.
• Li Muxiu challenged Li Tiangang for failing to support Li Hao, but Li Tiangang insisted on investigating the matter under family law and refused to let Li Muxiu impose punishment.
• After Li Muxiu left, Chen Hefang urged Liu Yuerong to tell the truth, but Liu asked whether even Chen Hefang distrusted her.
• Stories about Li Hao’s battle with Li Tiangang spread across Qing Prefecture, and people speculated about the cause and what punishment Li Hao would face.
• At Tan Palace Academy’s Cold Pond, Song Qiumo said she only wanted Li Hao to survive, and Song Yufeng proposed visiting him as his registered teacher; they agreed to go and talk without violence.

After waking from his injuries, Li Hao learned that his mother was alive in Great Wasteland Heaven and decided to leave the Divine General Residence. He confronted Li Tiangang and revealed that he had killed the assassin sent after him when he was six, declaring that the boy Li Tiangang had lost was already dead.

• Li Hao woke in the Divine General Residence, thanked Li Muxiu for saving him, and learned that his mother was alive in Great Wasteland Heaven, though finding her would be perilous.
• Li Hao dressed despite his injuries and told Li Muxiu he would leave the residence; he said farewell to Uncle Lin, thanked Li Muxiu, and parted from Li Yuanzhao and Bian Ruxue.
• Li Tiangang arrived and challenged Li Hao’s decision to leave, but Li Hao said Li Tiangang no longer had the right to discipline him and that he was no longer his son.
• Li Hao reminded everyone that the assassin who attacked him at age six had targeted him to shake Li Tiangang’s state of mind, then revealed that he had crushed the assassin to death himself.

After revealing that he had survived two assassination attempts through his own strength, Li Hao rejected his family’s claims on him and chose to leave the Divine General Residence. He agreed to guard Heaven’s Gate Pass for three years to repay the Li Family, then walked away as Jiang Hanxing recalled a poem about finding kindred souls.

• Li Hao revealed that he had killed the Circulation Realm assassin and the two Jiaolong Great Demons himself, shocking Li Tiangang and the others.
• Li Hao told Li Tiangang that he no longer considered himself part of the Li Family, and Li Muxiu tried unsuccessfully to stop him from leaving.
• Li Hao came to bid farewell to Chen Hefang and the other madams as Tan Palace Academy’s White Hall disciples gathered outside to see him.
• Li Tiangang demanded that Li Hao repay the Li Family by replacing the cultivation manuals he had learned, returning the precious medicines and demon blood, and guarding Heaven’s Gate Pass for three years.
• Li Hao accepted the terms and crossed the Divine General Residence’s threshold, leaving the Li Family as he had promised.
• Jiang Hanxing wished Li Hao well and quoted the poem, “Fear not that the road ahead holds no kindred soul!”

Li Hao left the Li Family after clashing with Li Tiangang, refusing the family’s sword and setting out for Heaven’s Gate Pass with Ren Qianqian. Five days into the journey, Bian Ruxue caught up with them, and Li Hao urged her to continue pursuing the Sword Dao before sending her home.

• Li Tiangang forbade the family from secretly helping Li Hao, while promising to protect him and postpone the True Dragon Selection for three years.
• Li Hao refused the Black Sword Case and left the Divine General Residence with Ren Qianqian, who chose to follow him.
• Bian Ruxue watched Li Hao depart and hurried after him, distressed that she had not comforted him sooner.
• Five days later, Li Hao and Ren Qianqian camped near Li Prefecture’s border on their way to Heaven’s Gate Pass, and Bian Ruxue found them.
• Li Hao told Bian Ruxue they were even for the comfort they had once given each other and urged her to return and pursue the Sword Dao.

Li Hao continued toward Heaven’s Gate Pass with Feng Boping, Ren Qianqian, and Little White Fox, while Bian Ruxue turned back to pursue her Sword Dao. Dragon Gate Road proved overrun by demons and neglected, and Li Hao reached its end wondering why the Li Family had abandoned its post.

• Li Hao shared roasted tiger meat and wine with Feng Boping, Ren Qianqian, and Bian Ruxue around the campfire, where Feng Boping teased Bian Ruxue about being Li Hao’s wife.
• At dawn, Li Hao said goodbye to Bian Ruxue, who returned home resolved to reach the pinnacle of the Sword Dao.
• Li Hao and Feng Boping approached Dragon Gate Road, where an old herb-gatherer warned them that demons infested it and the road beyond was a place of death.
• After entering Dragon Gate Road, Li Hao used a wooden stick to send Sword Qi more than twenty li and kill a crocodile-like demon threatening the road.
• Li Hao and Ren Qianqian traveled past demon remains and killed demons sleeping along the road, then reached its end as Li Hao wondered why the Li Family had left it so neglected.

Li Hao reached Azure Cliff City, only to find it reduced to a mound surrounded by a battered military camp and Li Family burial mounds. Though Li Hongzhuang initially refused to believe he was the sole reinforcement, she chose to stay and fight beside him rather than abandon the place.

• Li Hongzhuang honored the soldiers killed defending Azure Cliff City and learned that reinforcements were expected to arrive soon.
• Li Hao arrived with Ren Qianqian and a white fox, introduced himself as Ji Hao, and said he had come alone to guard the pass for three years.
• Li Hongzhuang angrily questioned whether Li Tiangang intended to abandon the pass, while Li He arrived and spoke with her privately.
• Li Hao learned that the camp stood where Azure Cliff City had been destroyed, and Li Hongzhuang recognized him as her nephew after Li He explained who he was.
• Li Hongzhuang urged Li Hao to leave, but when he asked her to withdraw the soldiers, she refused to abandon the place and vowed to fight alongside him.