Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning practiced the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword at the Water Moon Sword Palace, rapidly increasing his skill and clearing the mist above Reflecting Moon Lake. He collected the palace’s tribute and planned to visit Divine Sword Villa for its payment before preparing for the Martial Examination in the Royal Capital.

• Xiao Emei gave Jiang Ning her bed, then slept on the couch while he rested at the Water Moon Sword Palace.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword, sending a powerful strike across Reflecting Moon Lake that cleared its mist and astonished the palace disciples and patrols.
• Xiao Emei led Jiang Ning to the treasury, where he accepted three boxes of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and more than a dozen Crimson Flame Blood Crystals.
• Jiang Ning decided to visit Divine Sword Villa to collect its tribute and gather resources before traveling to the Royal Capital for the Martial Examination.

Jiang Ning visited Divine Sword Villa to collect Martial Path resources, and Shangguan Feilong provided fifty-three Crimson Flame Blood Crystals. Jiang Ning discovered that the Great Sun Furnace made each crystal fifty percent more effective, while elsewhere a young man told Yellow Sky Daoist that Xiao Bai might have been discovered.

• Shangguan Feilong welcomed Jiang Ning and explained that his health had improved since Spirit Sword Sword Nine was taken away.
• Shangguan Feilong led Jiang Ning to the treasure vault and presented him with fifty-three Crimson Flame Blood Crystals gathered for his Martial Path advancement.
• Jiang Ning consumed a Crimson Flame Blood Crystal and found that the Great Sun Furnace refined it instantly with roughly fifty percent greater effect.
• On an unnamed Desolate Island, the young man told Yellow Sky Daoist that Xiao Bai might have been discovered and that he could not trace the past through Xiao Bai.

The Yellow Sky Daoist resolved to begin his rebellion against Great Xia between late autumn and early winter, while Jiang Ning returned to Dongling City and learned that famine was spreading across the Nine Provinces. At home, Jiang Yiming asked Jiang Ning to help him seek an engagement to Lin Jiaxin.

• The Yellow Sky Daoist told his disciple Jing'er to summon Huang Tianhua and the others and set their plans in motion after Xiao Wuque discovered them.
• Jiang Ning found refugees from Xichuan County entering Dongling City and learned that drought and locusts had driven them from their homes.
• Wang Shouyi explained that grain was becoming difficult to buy and that he might eventually have to bar refugees from Dongling City.
• Wang Shouyi asked Jiang Ning to protect his two daughters if misfortune befell him, and Jiang Ning agreed.
• Jiang Yiming told Jiang Ning that he wanted to become engaged to Lin Jiaxin and asked him to speak with his parents; Jiang Ning agreed to help.

Jiang Ning supported Jiang Yiming’s relationship with Lin Jiaxin and comforted Zhong Ling as she struggled to adjust to living away from her great-grandfather. After reflecting on the growing refugee crisis and his limits, Jiang Ning trained his sword technique, leaving Bai Luoyu and Zhao Yulong astonished by his increasing strength.

• Jiang Ning backed Jiang Yiming’s wish to be with Lin Jiaxin, promised to take responsibility for him, and said he would visit the Lin Manor with him the next day.
• Jiang Ning comforted Zhong Ling, who tearfully wondered whether her great-grandfather had abandoned her, and offered to let her stay in his courtyard with Linglong.
• Zhong Ling chose a room beside Jiang Ning’s, and Linglong joined her as they settled in.
• Jiang Ning considered the refugee crisis, the danger posed by the Grotto-heaven, and his inability to change events without greater strength, then trained the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword and gained 85 experience points.
• Bai Luoyu saw Jiang Ning’s sword strike shake the night sky, gave up comparing himself to Jiang Ning, and resolved to keep improving; Zhao Yulong also remarked on Jiang Ning’s growing power.

Jiang Ning investigated Lin Jiaxin and brought his nephew Jiang Yiming to visit the Lin Family, where Lin Zhenbei was scolding his daughter for loving a constable’s son. The families met, and Lin Zhenxing realized Jiang Yiming and Lin Jiaxin were the young couple at the center of Jiang Ning’s visit.

• Jiang Ning practiced the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword and improved his control over the energy released by his strikes.
• Feng Jiuge told Jiang Ning that Lin Jiaxin was an Eighth Rank Martial Artist with a good reputation, and Jiang Ning said he would take Jiang Yiming to meet the Lin Family.
• Jiang Yiming dressed carefully and accompanied Jiang Ning and Feng Jiuge to the Lin Family.
• Lin Zhenbei scolded Lin Jiaxin for wanting to marry a constable’s son, while Lin Jiaxin defended Jiang Yiming’s appearance and martial talent.
• Steward Li summoned Lin Zhenbei and Lin Jiaxin to meet Jiang Ning, who was waiting with Jiang Yiming in the reception hall.
• Lin Jiaxin recognized Jiang Yiming, and Lin Zhenxing inferred from their exchanged glances that they were the young couple Jiang Ning had brought together.

Jiang Ning helped Jiang Yiming and Lin Jiaxin gain Lin Zhenbei’s approval, then broke through the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword and gained the light purple Sword Seed Trait. Testing it in the Eastern Mausoleum Mountain Range, he found that it greatly accelerated his sword practice and also strengthened the Seven Stars Demon Subduing Sword.

• Jiang Ning visited the Lin Family, where Lin Zhenbei reversed his opposition to Jiang Yiming and Lin Jiaxin’s relationship after learning who Jiang Ning was.
• Jiang Ning and Lin Zhenbei let Jiang Yiming and Lin Jiaxin walk together, while Lin Jia'er regretted missing her chance with Jiang Ning but denied regretting her earlier choice.
• Jiang Ning told Jiang Yiming to practice diligently and wait until he was at least twenty to marry, then returned home to practice his sword.
• Jiang Ning spent two thousand Source Energy Points to break through the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword and gained the light purple Sword Seed Trait.
• Jiang Ning tested the Sword Seed in the Eastern Mausoleum Mountain Range and found that his Twofold Yin-Yang Sword experience gains had risen to about one hundred points per cycle.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Seven Stars Demon Subduing Sword and confirmed that the Sword Seed had increased its power and experience gains as well.

Jiang Ning repeatedly advanced the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword, gaining new Sword Intent traits and improving his Sword Dao attainment, though each breakthrough made progress slower and more costly. He then practiced the Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword with his heightened understanding and began to see the technique from a new perspective.

• Jiang Ning used his improved Sword Dao Talent to gain Experience Points rapidly in the Seven Stars Demon Subduing Sword and the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword.
• After breaking through the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword, Jiang Ning comprehended the Stars Shift Sword Intent and gained a trait that returned an opponent's method upon them.
• Jiang Ning spent three days filling the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword's progress, then broke through again and gained the deep-blue Twofold Yin-Yang Fusion trait, which let him fuse multiple energies into Unity.
• Jiang Ning found that the latest breakthrough greatly reduced his sword-practice efficiency, but his attainment improved enough to raise the Seven Stars Demon Subduing Sword's gains.
• Jiang Ning began practicing the Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword and gained new insights as he perceived the technique from a higher perspective.

Jiang Ning advanced the Seven Stars Demon Subduing Sword to its Sixth Limit Break, raising Clear Sword Heart to purple and boosting his sword-practice efficiency. He tested whether ordinary swordplay could further improve his Sword Dao Talent, then decided to stop and prepare for his Eighth Blood Exchange because his Source Energy was running low.

• Jiang Ning practiced the Seven Stars Demon Subduing Sword for three days and brought it to the Perfected Realm.
• He spent five thousand Source Energy Points to break through the technique, upgrading Clear Sword Heart to light purple and increasing his gains from sword practice.
• Jiang Ning confirmed the improved talent also raised his Twofold Yin-Yang Sword gains, but decided further breakthroughs would have to wait until he had more Source Energy.
• He read and practiced Fufeng Swordplay through its Fourth Limit Break, gaining the Swift Sword, Light as Wind, and Skilled Sword Traits.
• After testing Skilled Sword, Jiang Ning found it improved his sword-practice efficiency only slightly and abandoned further breakthroughs in Fufeng Swordplay.
• With only 1,073 Source Energy Points remaining, Jiang Ning decided it was time to undergo the Eighth Blood Exchange.

Jiang Ning began his Eighth Blood Exchange at Glazed Lake, using Spiritual Opportunity and stored energy to endure the dangerous transformation. His body regenerated and grew stronger as Divine Radiance multiplied, but he remained desperately hungry and continued consuming treasures.

• Jiang Ning had Linglong guard Glazed Lake while he prepared for his Eighth Blood Exchange.
• Jiang Ning refined treasures into stored energy and gathered Spiritual Opportunity with his Inner Alchemy Pellet, which nourished his Immortal Root and grew it to three inches and one-tenth.
• Jiang Ning triggered the Blood Exchange, withering as his blood mist formed a scarlet dragon and his vitality nearly failed.
• Jiang Ning's True Spirit Mark returned, allowing his Inner Alchemy Pellet to revive his heart and blood-making functions as Divine Radiance particles merged with his newborn blood.
• Jiang Ning replenished himself with Spiritual Opportunity, then devoured Blood Crystals, Spiritual Plants, and other treasures to satisfy his body's hunger and fuel his transformation.

Jiang Ning completed his Eighth Blood Exchange and considered how to prepare for the Ninth and reach the Second Grade Divine Intent Realm. After deciding to visit Guangning City the next day to check on the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Scroll, he relaxed by the lake with Linglong and ended their talk about whether humans and demons could have children.

• Jiang Ning completed his Eighth Blood Exchange, discovered that his Light Gold blood made grass grow rapidly, and shared drops of it with Linglong.
• Jiang Ning drank with Zhong Ling, Linglong, and Old Turtle, gave Old Turtle a cup of wine infused with Emperor Flow Paste, and carried the drunken Zhong Ling to bed.
• Jiang Ning concluded that he needed to visit the Royal Capital to obtain the method for reaching the Second Grade Divine Intent Realm and planned to strengthen his body before attempting the Ninth Blood Exchange.
• Jiang Ning decided to visit Guangning City the next day to ask the Myriad Blossom Pavilion about the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Scroll, then watched the sunset with Linglong.
• Linglong asked whether humans and demons could have children, and Jiang Ning flicked her on the head and told her not to think about such nonsense.

Jiang Ning strengthened his Wind Thunder Step, gaining a spatial divine ability that let him travel a hundred zhang with each step, then flew to Guangning City. There, Xia Wanqin learned that his strength had reached the Top Grandmaster level and that the six Twenty-Four Solar Terms fragments he requested had been collected.

• Jiang Ning practiced his two sword techniques after finding that his Source Energy had risen to 183763.
• Jiang Ning gave Xie Xiaojiu Spirit Sword Sword Nine and three drops of his blood, then warned the sword not to harm her.
• Jiang Ning spent 50000 Source Energy to advance Wind Thunder Step to its Ninth Limit Break and mastered the improved Ground Shrinking to an Inch divine ability.
• Jiang Ning replenished his energy in a lake and flew to Guangning City, breaking the sound barrier along the way.
• Xia Wanqin received intelligence that Jiang Ning had become a Top Grandmaster and learned that the six fragments he had commissioned had been collected.

Jiang Ning met Xia Wanqin at the Myriad Blossom Pavilion, where she tried to recruit him into Xuanhuang Grotto-heaven by offering him an Immortal Path and a noble bride. Jiang Ning joked that he would choose Xia Wanqin herself, but she agreed to consider marrying him and said she would give him an answer later.

• Shen Congyun told Jiang Ning that he ranked fourth on the newest Hidden Dragon Heaven Rankings and was assessed as a Strong Grandmaster.
• Xia Wanqin visited Jiang Ning, disclosed that the Myriad Blossom Pavilion belonged to her family, and asked Shen Congyun to leave so she could speak with Jiang Ning privately.
• Xia Wanqin served Jiang Ning Enlightenment Tea and explained that she wanted to recruit him into Xuanhuang Grotto-heaven because he possessed an Immortal Root.
• Xia Wanqin offered Jiang Ning abundant cultivation resources if he married a noble daughter of Xuanhuang Grotto-heaven, and she explained the grotto-heaven rankings.
• Jiang Ning jokingly asked whether he could choose Xia Wanqin, and she agreed on the condition that her father approved, leaving Jiang Ning to insist that he had only been joking.

Jiang Ning declined Xia Wanqin’s invitation to join the Xuanhuang Grotto-heaven Great World and returned to Pine Breeze Villa to cultivate the Spring Season Treasure Scroll. After entering a state of Enlightenment, he advanced the art to Great Completion, then discovered Marquis Shen Wenyuan waiting outside his courtyard.

• Jiang Ning refused Xia Wanqin’s offer, explaining that he valued his freedom and could pursue Immortal Path methods through other connections.
• Jiang Ning studied the Clear Brightness and Grain Rain fragments, mastering both Artistic Conceptions and unlocking the Spring Season Treasure Scroll for improvement.
• Jiang Ning practiced the six spring Artistic Conceptions until they formed an Artistic Conception that controlled Vitality.
• Shen Wenyuan arrived at Pine Breeze Villa with a black-clad man and waited outside Jiang Ning’s courtyard rather than interrupting his cultivation.
• Jiang Ning entered Enlightenment, gained 5,693 Experience Points, and raised the Spring Season Treasure Scroll to Great Completion.
• Jiang Ning opened the courtyard gate and greeted Shen Wenyuan, surprised that the Marquis had come to see him.

Jiang Ning showed Shen Wenyuan his Spring Vitality insight and Fire Eye, then asked him to explain the Second Rank Great Grandmaster realm. Shen Wenyuan demonstrated Martial Dao True Intent and Spiritual Pressure, but Jiang Ning resisted both with ease, leaving Shen Wenyuan surprised by his strength.

• Shen Wenyuan recognized that Jiang Ning’s cultivation had unleashed Spring Vitality and learned that Jiang Ning had gained insight during Enlightenment.
• Jiang Ning revealed his Fire Eye, explaining how he had seen the Great Demon White Dragon and the Human Emperor Sword in its belly.
• Shen Wenyuan gave Jiang Ning the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Fragmentary Scrolls and explained the Second Rank Divine Intent Realm and its Spiritual Body.
• Shen Wenyuan cast Jiang Ning into an illusory world of Summer Thunderclap Artistic Conception, but Jiang Ning shattered it with his Saber Intent.
• Shen Wenyuan released his Spiritual Pressure, yet Jiang Ning reported feeling only the courtyard’s sudden silence, prompting Shen Wenyuan to admit he had underestimated him.

Jiang Ning learned from Shen Wenyuan about First Grade realms, the Martial Peak, and the title of Supreme Powerhouse, then explored the extraordinary control over Vitality granted by the Spring Season Treasure Scroll. He obtained all six Summer Season solar-term fragments and began comprehending and practicing their Artistic Conceptions.

• Shen Wenyuan explained that First Grade involved the Hunyuan and Unity Realms, described the Martial Peak, and clarified that Supreme Powerhouse was a title for someone who reached the martial path’s pinnacle.
• Shen Wenyuan left Jiang Ning several Solar Term Fragments and departed, while wondering how many Blood Exchanges Jiang Ning had completed.
• Jiang Ning discovered that his Spring Season Artistic Conceptions let him drain Vitality from plants and restore it, and he trained the Spring Season Treasure Scroll to gain experience.
• Jiang Ning found that the fragments Shen Wenyuan and Shen Congyun had gathered gave him all six Summer Season solar terms.
• Jiang Ning studied the Beginning of Summer, Grain Full, Grain in Ear, and Summer Solstice fragments, then practiced their distinct Blade Intents as his understanding grew.

Jiang Ning perfected the Solar Term Fragments and mastered the Summer Time Treasure Scroll, unleashing the destructive Great Sun Ascending Artistic Conception in the Cangmang Forest. As Ye Zhengqi arrived and recognized Jiang Ning’s power, another expert approached from the west.

• Jiang Ning perfected all six Solar Term Fragments, mastered the Summer Time Treasure Scroll, and discovered that his Summer Time Intent was Great Sun Ascending.
• Jiang Ning flew to the Cangmang Forest and tested his saber art, scorching the land and reducing the nearby vegetation to ash.
• Ye Zhengqi followed Jiang Ning’s trail, witnessed the golden eruption, and realized Jiang Ning had created it.
• Shen Wenyuan sensed the powerful energy but declined to investigate, while Nan Zhiwei recognized a formidable expert and raced toward the forest.
• Jiang Ning reflected on the technique’s power and his competing cultivation priorities before Ye Zhengqi arrived and asked about the move.
• Jiang Ning explained his Summer Time Intent, and Ye Zhengqi warned that someone was approaching from the west.

Jiang Ning accepted Nan Zhiwei’s challenge and revealed his remarkable defensive swordsmanship, then overwhelmed the famed Invincible Divine Sword with a single counterattack. The spar ended with Nan Zhiwei blasted through trees, while Jiang Ning remained unharmed and satisfied with the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword.

• Nan Zhiwei arrived after sensing Jiang Ning’s display of power and asked to spar, offering him a favor in return.
• Jiang Ning accepted, borrowed a sword from Ye Zhengqi, and demonstrated a profound Sword Intent that convinced Nan Zhiwei he truly was skilled in the sword.
• Nan Zhiwei unleashed a storm of sword attacks, but Jiang Ning held his ground and neutralized every strike with the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword.
• Nan Zhiwei sensed danger in the energy Jiang Ning’s defense had gathered and asked him to make a move.
• Jiang Ning released the gathered force in a torrent that swept Nan Zhiwei away and sent him crashing through several trees.
• Ye Zhengqi marveled at Jiang Ning’s strength, and Jiang Ning praised the power of the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword.

Jiang Ning defeated Nan Zhiwei with the Great Sun Ascending Artistic Conception, revealing power worthy of an Invincible Grandmaster. Afterward, Jiang Ning reflected on the technique’s connection to his Pure Yang Body and the Yang Character Scripture, while Ye Zhengqi wondered whether Jiang Ning would soon be promoted.

• Nan Zhiwei asked Jiang Ning to demonstrate the Great Sun-like move, and Jiang Ning struck him with the Great Sun Ascending Artistic Conception.
• The Heavenly Surveillance Bureau detected an Invincible Grandmaster-level energy fluctuation near Guangning Prefecture and projected the blinding golden Great Sun.
• Nan Zhiwei admitted defeat, recovered rapidly after taking an Elixir Pill, and thanked Jiang Ning for showing mercy.
• Ye Zhengqi recognized Jiang Ning’s strength as that of an Invincible Grandmaster, then departed for Guangning City.
• Jiang Ning tested the Great Sun Ascending Artistic Conception again and suspected its exceptional power came from his Pure Yang Body or Shangyang Immortal Sect inheritance.
• Ye Zhengqi saw the golden Great Sun rise behind him and worried that Jiang Ning’s strength would lead the higher-ups to promote him.

After defeating Nan Zhiwei, Jiang Ning strengthened the Marquis Mansion’s position as Shen Wenyuan learned of his power. Xia Wanqin offered Jiang Ning wine from the Profound Yellow Great Cave Heaven and renewed her proposal that he join her family and marry her, while Jiang Ning remained surprised by her openness to his having other wives.

• Ye Zhengqi told Shen Wenyuan that Jiang Ning had defeated Nan Zhiwei with ease and appeared to be an Invincible Grandmaster, easing Shen Wenyuan’s worries about the growing Heaven Response Alliance.
• Jiang Ning used the setting sun to cultivate the Great Sun Ascending Artistic Conception, saw his Summer Time Treasure Scroll progress rise, then returned to Pine Breeze Villa and slept.
• Jiang Ning woke refreshed, checked his Source Energy, and went to a wine shop to eat and drink.
• Xia Wanqin joined Jiang Ning, offered him Nine Heavens Cloud Dew, and explained that Cave Heaven Worlds could help cultivators advance toward the Yang Spirit realm.
• Jiang Ning asked whether cultivators could reach the Yang Spirit realm without joining a Cave Heaven World, and Xia Wanqin said it was extremely difficult.
• Xia Wanqin praised Jiang Ning for defeating Nan Zhiwei and again invited him to join the Xia Family and marry her, saying she would accept his other wives; Jiang Ning was astonished.

Xia Wanqin urged Jiang Ning to join the Immortal Path, then brought her father, Xia Family Head Xia Xuanyan, to assess him. Jiang Ning advanced the Summer Time Treasure Scroll to Great Completion and welcomed Xia Xuanyan, a Primordial Spirit expert, into his courtyard for a conversation.

• Xia Wanqin explained that the world’s environment was recovering because of the Heavenly Dao and urged Jiang Ning to enter the Cave Heaven World, leaving him Nine Heavens Cloud Dew as she departed.
• Jiang Ning cultivated under the sun and advanced the Summer Time Treasure Scroll from Minor Completion to Great Completion.
• Xia Wanqin showed her father, Xia Xuanyan, records about Jiang Ning and told him she wanted to marry Jiang Ning.
• Xia Xuanyan and Xia Wanqin visited Jiang Ning, who recognized Xia Xuanyan as a Primordial Spirit expert with a Self-Formed Microcosm.
• Jiang Ning invited Xia Xuanyan into his courtyard and served him wine mixed with Emperor Flow Paste.