Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ning learned about the Primordial Spirit and rejected Xia Xuanyan’s offer to marry Xia Wanqin in exchange for Xuanhuang Liquid, unwilling to live within a grotto-heaven. He planned to return home and then enter the Royal Capital’s Martial Examination Metropolitan Examination, while Shen Wenyuan believed the Martial Saint Manor might help him achieve the Ninth Blood Exchange.

• Xia Xuanyan explained that Primordial Spirit experts could influence the laws of heaven and earth, and described the longevity associated with the Primordial Spirit and Immortal Body.
• Xia Xuanyan offered Jiang Ning Xuanhuang Liquid if he married into the Xia Family and left behind offspring, but Jiang Ning decided that life inside a Blessed Grotto-heaven would be a cage.
• Xia Xuanyan told Xia Wanqin to make Jiang Ning fall for her and said he would help Jiang Ning pursue the Martial Dao Myth if he joined the family.
• Jiang Ning visited Ye Zhengqi, where Shen Wenyuan asked about Xia Xuanyan’s visit and supported Jiang Ning’s choice not to join the Xia Family.
• Jiang Ning said he would return home before going to the Royal Capital for the Martial Examination Metropolitan Examination, and Shen Wenyuan said the Martial Saint Manor might provide treasures to help him complete the Ninth Blood Exchange.

Jiang Ning tested Jiang Yiming’s martial arts, strengthened his training, and reflected on the preparations needed for his Ninth Blood Exchange. He then practiced the Great Sun Ascending True Intent in the Eastern Mausoleum Mountain Range and received a new visualization experience notification as the sun set.

• Jiang Ning tested Jiang Yiming’s strength, urged him to fight with greater force, and learned that his single-arm strength had reached 2,630 jin.
• Jiang Ning gave Jiang Yiming golden Cooling Tea infused with Essence Blood and ordered him to practice until he reached the Seventh Rank while concealing his Martial Path realm.
• Jiang Ning considered the challenges of the Ninth Blood Exchange and concluded that he needed more physical strength, resources, and Martial Dao True Intent before attempting it.
• Jiang Ning traveled to the Eastern Mausoleum Mountain Range and unleashed his Great Sun Ascending True Intent, scorching the vegetation before extinguishing the resulting fire.
• Jiang Ning meditated beneath the Great Sun, gained Summer Time Treasure Scroll experience, and received a Visualization Experience Points notification as the sun sank toward the horizon.

Jiang Ning perfected the Great Sun Ascending Artistic Conception and broke through the Seven Stars Demon Subduing Sword to its Seventh Limit Break, then used the Great Sun’s power to benefit those around him. He left Xiao Doubao with a Great Sun True Intent Seed and described the power as a rule.

• Jiang Ning practiced the Seven Stars Demon Subduing Sword until it met the requirements for another Limit Break, spending ten thousand Source Energy Points to advance it and improve the Turn Misfortune into Blessing Trait.
• Jiang Ning found that the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword gained Experience Points more efficiently than the Seven Stars Demon Subduing Sword, and decided to focus on perfecting the Great Sun Ascending Artistic Conception instead.
• Jiang Ning connected with the rising sun until the Great Sun Ascending Artistic Conception reached the Perfected Realm, while his Visualization skill also advanced.
• A radiant Great Sun appeared above Jiang Ning’s courtyard, making Zhong Ling, Linglong, Liu Wanwan, and Xiao Doubao feel their bodies grow stronger.
• Jiang Ning gave Xiao Doubao a Great Sun True Intent Seed, and told Zhong Ling and Linglong that the power he had displayed was a rule.

Jiang Ning tested the life-restoring rule of his perfected Great Sun Ascending Artistic Conception, then returned to the Shangyang Inner Scenery to strengthen his Spiritual Body in the Yang Pool. He met Bai Li, a Celestial Fox senior brother who gifted him Gold Qi, and began drawing the pool’s Yang energy toward himself.

• Jiang Ning used the Great Sun Ascending Artistic Conception to restore vegetation across a fire-scorched mountain hollow and identified its rule as one that restored life and Vitality.
• Jiang Ning cultivated the Summer Time Treasure Scroll while a senior sect leader warned his junior brother to bring Zhong Ling back peacefully and not underestimate Jiang Ning.
• Jiang Ning used his Shangyang Immortal Sect token to enter the Inner Scenery again, hoping to make his Spirit Soul Pure Yang.
• Jiang Ning met Bai Li, a Celestial Fox man in the Yang Pool, who welcomed him and gave him Gold Qi that could help condense a Gold Dao Fruit or Five Elements Dao Fruit.
• Jiang Ning entered the Yang Pool and activated his Trait to devour its energy currents, surprising Bai Li, who moved farther away and continued cultivating.

Jiang Ning gained Pure Yang spiritual-body traits in the Yang Pool, then heard a sermon on the Way of Space that deepened his understanding. He discovered the Ascending Heaven Stair and began climbing it for its Gold Qi rewards, while Bai Li followed behind him.

• Jiang Ning absorbed the Gold Qi into his body and saw Golden Light radiating from his flesh, indicating that he had achieved Spiritual Body Pure Yang.
• At the Sermon Platform, Jiang Ning listened to a mysterious woman lecture on the Way of Space, witnessing ripples and golden flowers in the void as his perception of space improved.
• Jiang Ning left the Sermon Platform and found the Ascending Heaven Stair, which he suspected was the third usable location Shen Yue Ru had not shown him.
• Jiang Ning climbed the stairs through increasingly powerful spiritual pressure, reaching the fifty-third step before Bai Li appeared below and began ascending after him.
• Jiang Ning noticed Bai Li standing more than a dozen steps behind him on the staircase.

Jiang Ning climbed the Heavenly Ladder, where the Spiritual Pressure tempered his Spiritual Body until he reached the second floor and qualified for a reward. He chose Breathing Soil, which vanished into his palm, leaving him unsure what effect it would have.

• Bai Li explained that the Heavenly Ladder tested Spiritual Body strength and that reaching its hundredth step represented the strength of a Yang Spirit; he then climbed ahead of Jiang Ning.
• Jiang Ning endured the increasing pressure, felt his Spiritual Body grow stronger, and reached the ninety-eighth step as Shen Yue Ru began climbing behind him.
• Jiang Ning crossed the hundredth step and entered the second floor, where a message offered him a choice among three rewards.
• Jiang Ning examined Earth Qi, a Spirit Soul Crystal, and Breathing Soil, then chose the Breathing Soil because it could nurture and accelerate the growth of an Immortal Root.
• The Breathing Soil melted into Jiang Ning's palm and disappeared, but he could detect no change in his body.

Jiang Ning was expelled from the Heavenly Ladder after its Spiritual Pressure pushed him past his limit, but the tempering had transformed his Spirit Soul into a Yang Spirit. He tested his new ability by traveling through the night to visit several people and places, then left Shangguan Feilong with a warning that he had inspected Divine Sword Villa.

• Jiang Ning climbed the second level of the Heavenly Ladder, where the increasing Spiritual Pressure further tempered his Spiritual Body, while Shen Yue Ru reached the level and called to him as he was expelled.
• Jiang Ning awoke in reality and discovered that his Spirit Soul had transformed into a Yang Spirit, which could leave his body and affect matter.
• Jiang Ning traveled to Wang Qingtan's room, but left before she awoke; Wang Qingtan sensed his Yang Spirit and decided to find him the next day.
• Jiang Ning visited Luoshui County and Canglang Martial Hall, then saw Xiao Emei's progress and sensed a mysterious presence near the Divine Maiden Statue at Water Moon Sword Palace.
• Jiang Ning inspected Divine Sword Villa and wrote to Shangguan Feilong that he had checked the villa and approved of his conduct.

After achieving the Yang Spirit, Jiang Ning tested his newfound ability to travel unseen and withstand sunlight, then discovered that Breathing Soil had nourished his Immortal Root and that Gold Qi had entered his Dantian. He checked his increased Source Energy Points and went to sleep, leaving his new cultivation gains unexplored.

• Shangguan Feilong examined the erased tabletop at Divine Sword Villa and worried about the power of the unseen visitor.
• Jiang Ning flew to the Marquis Mansion, where Shen Wenyuan sensed his Yang Spirit but could not see him before Jiang Ning departed.
• Jiang Ning realized that Qingyi’s special constitution might explain how she had once detected and injured an Earthly King's Yin Spirit.
• Jiang Ning returned to Dongling City at dawn and confirmed that sunlight no longer harmed his Yang Spirit.
• Jiang Ning found that his Immortal Root had grown and gained a silver leaf linked to space, while Breathing Soil and Gold Qi had settled in his Dantian.
• Jiang Ning checked his Panel, saw that his Source Energy had risen to 201333, and fell asleep.

Fang Yu of Zhi Xuan Mountain came to Dongling City to take Zhong Ling, and he wounded Zhao Yulong before confronting Jiang Ning at his home. When Fang Yu threatened Jiang Ning’s family and attacked, Jiang Ning unleashed a dazzling Golden Light that shook Fang Yu’s confidence.

• Fang Yu arrived in Dongling City and told Zhao Yulong that he had come on the Mountain Shaker Great Grandmaster’s orders to take Zhong Ling.
• Zhao Yulong refused to reveal Jiang Ning’s address, so Fang Yu pierced his chest with a finger strike and then tracked Jiang Ning down himself.
• Jiang Ning sensed Fang Yu’s powerful Life Force Field, brought Linglong with him, and met Fang Yu at the residence gate as Zhao Yulong followed.
• Fang Yu entered the residence and demanded that Jiang Ning hand over Zhong Ling, but Jiang Ning refused because Zhong Yue had entrusted her to him.
• Fang Yu threatened Jiang Ning’s family and attacked him; Jiang Ning’s Golden Light erupted like a Great Sun, causing Fang Yu’s confidence to falter.

Jiang Ning killed Fang Yu after he threatened Jiang Ning’s family, then accepted Zhong Ling’s loan of her mother’s soul-protecting Three-Story Small Pagoda. He examined the treasure in the Eastern Mausoleum Mountain Range and resisted the temptation to refine it, while recognizing the danger posed by the forces behind Zhi Xuan Mountain.

• Jiang Ning killed Fang Yu with one punch, and Zhao Yulong realized Jiang Ning might be an Invincible Grandmaster.
• Jiang Ning destroyed Fang Yu’s remains, dismissed Zhao Yulong, and reassured Zhong Ling and his family.
• Zhong Ling lent Jiang Ning her mother’s Three-Story Small Pagoda, and Jiang Ning bound it to himself and placed it in his Spiritual Platform.
• Jiang Ning traveled to the Eastern Mausoleum Mountain Range and considered the threat from Zhi Xuan Mountain and the Blessed Grotto-heavens.
• Jiang Ning sensed the pagoda’s twenty-seven Restrictions and its soul-protecting power, then suppressed his desire to refine it.

After killing Fang Yu, Jiang Ning focused on advancing the Summer Time Treasure Scroll as unrest threatened to spread. Zhi Xuan Mountain’s Mountain Master Yun Shanhai agreed to join the Heaven Response Alliance if Li Sixiang helped avenge Fang Yu, while Jiang Ning reached the breakthrough threshold for his cultivation method.

• Jiang Ning decided to prioritize raising his strength, then spent four days cultivating the Summer Time Treasure Scroll under the Great Sun.
• Wang Qingtan visited Jiang Ning at night, teased him about watching her and Zhong Ling sleep, and stayed with him.
• Li Sixiang told Zheng Changfeng and Yun Shanhai that Fang Yu had died at Jiang Ning’s hands.
• Yun Shanhai refused to attack a County Inspector directly but offered to join the Heaven Response Alliance if Li Sixiang avenged Fang Yu.
• Li Sixiang agreed and requested a section of Divine Bone bearing Yun Shanhai’s Mountain and Sea Artistic Conception.
• Jiang Ning filled the Summer Time Treasure Scroll’s progress to 10000/10000 and reached the Perfected Realm breakthrough threshold.

Jiang Ning broke through the Summer Time Treasure Scroll and gained the purple-grade Yangyan True Fire, a powerful solar flame that could melt rock and metal. He then practiced the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword until it reached the Perfected Realm, leaving him ready to spend Source Energy on its Seventh Limit Break.

• Jiang Ning spent 10,000 Source Energy Points on the Summer Time Treasure Scroll, causing a Great Sun to erupt within him and setting the surrounding mountain ablaze.
• Zhao Yulong and Su Zhi witnessed the distant Golden Light and discussed Jiang Ning’s standing as a prodigy who might one day become a Martial Saint.
• Jiang Ning discovered that the breakthrough had granted him the Yangyan True Fire, tested its power, and learned it could melt rock and metal while consuming his Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
• Jiang Ning reviewed his progress in Visualization and the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword, then decided to practice until the sword skill reached its next breakthrough.
• Jiang Ning practiced through the night until the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword reached the Perfected Realm, and he noted that its Seventh Limit Break would cost 10,000 Source Energy Points.

Jiang Ning advanced his swordsmanship and visualization while preparing for the Martial Examination in the Royal Capital and watching for Zhi Xuan Mountain's response. Elsewhere, Li Sixiang recruited Tyrant Saber Li San to kill Jiang Ning, offering him a Divine Bone containing the Intent of Mountains and Rivers.

• Jiang Ning spent Source Energy to break through the Twofold Yin-Yang Sword, gaining the All-Encompassing trait, then practiced it and the Seven Stars Demon Subduing Sword.
• Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu visited Jiang Ning to congratulate him on his strength, and he shared wine with them.
• Jiang Ning confirmed that the Martial Examination was twenty-one days away and planned to travel alone to the Royal Capital, while waiting to see whether Zhi Xuan Mountain would act over Fang Yu's death.
• Jiang Ning's Visualization skill reached Minor Completion, improving his progress with the Summer Time Treasure Scroll and the Great Sun Ascending Artistic Conception.
• Li Sixiang met Tyrant Saber Li San by the Luo River and asked him to kill Dongling County Patrol Envoy Jiang Ning.
• Li Sixiang offered Li San a Divine Bone containing the Intent of Mountains and Rivers, which Li San recognized as Yun Shanhe's Mountain River Finger.

Jiang Ning confronted Tyrant Saber Li San, who arrived in Dongling City on someone’s commission and challenged him to a fight. After Jiang Ning endured Li San’s saber strike unharmed, Li San unleashed a mysterious power from a Jade Box, conjuring a mountain-sized finger and a raging river that engulfed Jiang Ning.

• Tyrant Saber Li San entered Dongling City, and the gate captain recognized him as a wanted Grandmaster and alerted the Patrol Office.
• After receiving the Prefecture Lord’s warning that Li San was heading for his residence, Jiang Ning sent Linglong and his household to Dongling Mountain and went to meet Li San.
• Zhao Yulong watched as Li San approached Jiang Ning and began building up his Saber Intent.
• Li San struck Jiang Ning with his saber, but Jiang Ning’s Indestructible Vajra Body left him unharmed.
• Li San crushed a Jade Box and unleashed a mountain-sized finger that conjured a surging river, which submerged Jiang Ning as Zhao Yulong watched in shock.

Jiang Ning killed Tyrant Saber Li San after surviving the Mountain River Finger, then brought the finger bone to Shen Wenyuan, who identified it as a Divine Bone carrying the technique of Yun Shanhe, the Mountain River Marquis. Jiang Ning learned that Zhi Xuan Mountain’s master was a powerful Title Grandmaster and asked about the balance of power in Five Peaks Prefecture.

• Jiang Ning survived Tyrant Saber Li San’s finger technique with his Sixteen-Foot Golden Body, killed Li San, and took the white finger bone from him.
• Jiang Ning and Zhao Yulong suspected the attack came from Zhi Xuan Mountain, and Zhao advised Jiang Ning to ask Shen Wenyuan about the bone.
• Jiang Ning visited Shen Wenyuan, who identified the technique as Yun Shanhe’s Mountain River Finger and described Yun Shanhe as the Title Grandmaster known as Mountain River Marquis.
• Shen Wenyuan identified the finger bone as a Divine Bone from an ancient deity, explaining that it had carried the Mountain River Finger’s Artistic Conception.
• Jiang Ning asked whether the Imperial Court could suppress the sect forces in Five Peaks Prefecture, and Shen Wenyuan said Zhi Xuan Mountain’s Mountain River Marquis was nearly matched only by the prefecture’s Title-level Prefecture Lord.

Jiang Ning traveled to Jun Tian City to meet the Marquis of Five Peaks Prefecture, while preparing a new sword and planning to conceal his identity if he fought Zhi Xuan Mountain. The Marquis and Zhong Yue discussed their plan to draw out the force behind Zhi Xuan Mountain before learning that Jiang Ning had arrived.

• Jiang Ning crossed into Five Peaks Prefecture, entered Jun Tian City, and stayed at Spring Breeze Pavilion to rest before visiting the Marquis.
• Jiang Ning reforged his Blade Embryo into a Sword Embryo with Yangyan True Fire and bound it to himself with his blood.
• Jiang Ning went to the Marquis Mansion and presented his Identity Token, identifying himself as the Dongling County Patrol Envoy.
• The man in the purple Python Robe told Zhong Yue that he intended to make a move and wanted the force behind Zhi Xuan Mountain to emerge.
• Zhong Yue pledged his support, and the Marquis said he had fifty percent confidence against the Zhi Xuan Mountain Master.
• A gate guard reported Jiang Ning's arrival, and the Marquis ordered him to bring over Jiang Ning's Identity Token.

Jiang Ning met the Purple Robe Marquis and Zhong Yue in Jun Tian City, learned that Zhi Xuan Mountain had sent an assassin after him, and agreed to join their planned assault on the mountain. While waiting for the operation, he practiced the Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword and made a major breakthrough, leaving him eager to test it the next day.

• Jiang Ning met the Purple Robe Marquis, received his Identity Token, and learned the Marquis planned to report his achievements against Zhi Xuan Mountain.
• Jiang Ning showed the Marquis and Zhong Yue a Divine Bone carrying the Mountain River Finger's Artistic Conception and revealed that Zhi Xuan Mountain had sent someone to assassinate him while trying to abduct Zhong Ling.
• Zhong Yue apologized for placing Jiang Ning in danger, and Jiang Ning urged the Marquis to stop leaving those around him vulnerable to hidden attacks.
• The Purple Robe Marquis revealed he had prepared to attack Zhi Xuan Mountain and welcomed Jiang Ning's help, with the assault set for the next day and Jiang Ning planning to conceal his identity.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword in his courtyard, gained a surge of experience with a strike that split dusk and dawn, and resolved to reach proficiency before the operation.

Jiang Ning attended a family banquet hosted by the Marquis, politely refused Lady Xu’s attempt to match him with Rong'er, and then trained the Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword until it broke through to proficiency. He discovered that its mastery-level spatial distortions made the sword difficult to perceive and parry, but consumed Golden Mist rapidly, leaving him wary as he prepared to attack Zhi Xuan Mountain the next day.

• Jiang Ning arrived at the Marquis’s family banquet, where the Marquis introduced Lady Xu and Zhou Tuo and told Zhou Tuo to address him as Uncle Jiang.
• Lady Xu asked whether Jiang Ning was married, and he said he already had a marriage betrothal, ending her hopes of matching him with Rong'er.
• Back in his courtyard, Jiang Ning practiced the Tai Xu Yin Yang Sword until it broke through from initiation to proficiency.
• Jiang Ning inspected his Dantian and found that his Immortal Root had grown into a seven-inch-and-eight sapling with three radiant leaves.
• Jiang Ning tested the sword’s mastery-level techniques and found that they distorted space and perception, making the blade hard to track while rapidly draining Golden Mist.
• Jiang Ning let his depleted energy recover naturally and rested, knowing he would attack Zhi Xuan Mountain the next day.

Jiang Ning received imperial-tribute Xuan Shuang Zhi clothing and a silver Mask from the Purple Robe Marquis’s household to conceal his identity for the campaign against Zhi Xuan Mountain. He joined the Marquis on the way to the operation, where the Marquis revealed his forces’ deployment and said he had a sixty percent chance of success if Xuan Yuan Blessed Land stayed out of it, or eighty percent if it intervened.

• Jiang Ning practiced swordsmanship while waiting for word from the Purple Robe Marquis.
• Lady Xu brought Jiang Ning Xuan Shuang Zhi clothes and a silver Mask, while Rong'er praised him but felt she was not worthy of him.
• Jiang Ning put on the imperial-tribute outfit and Mask, then told the Purple Robe Marquis he would use swordsmanship to conceal his identity.
• Jiang Ning summoned his own sword, and the Purple Robe Marquis accepted it before they set out together.
• Jiang Ning kept pace with the Purple Robe Marquis as they flew toward Zhi Xuan Mountain, and the Marquis explained that Patrol Office martial artists and Feng Ming Army units were approaching from several directions.
• The Purple Robe Marquis said Jiang Ning could hold off a Top Grandmaster and estimated their chances of success at sixty percent without Xuan Yuan Blessed Land’s intervention, or eighty percent if it intervened.

Purple Robe Marquis Zhou Sheng and Jiang Ning arrived at Zhi Xuan Mountain, where Zhou Sheng demanded that Yun Shanhe surrender Gongsun Zhi. Yun Shanhe challenged Zhou Sheng to a match, while Feng Zhen and Zhong Yue attacked Fang Daoquan and were quickly overwhelmed.

• Feng Zhen confronted Zheng Changfeng at Middle Finger Peak, but Fang Daoquan arrived and used Spiritual Pressure to show he was close to becoming a Second Rank Great Grandmaster.
• Jiang Ning and Purple Robe Marquis Zhou Sheng arrived after breaking the Sound Barrier, while the Feng Ming Army concealed itself in groups across the surrounding forests.
• Zhou Sheng demonstrated his Spiritual Pressure against Fang Daoquan, then called Yun Shanhe down from the peak and demanded that he hand over Gongsun Zhi.
• Yun Shanhe refused and challenged Zhou Sheng to a match, and the two men rose into the sky.
• Feng Zhen and Zhong Yue attacked Fang Daoquan; he repelled Feng Zhen's staff strike, wounded Zhong Yue with one blow, and charged at Feng Zhen again.