Chapter Summaries

Zhong Ming tried to fuse his five Water Fluctuations but realized he needed one more, so he chose a cultivation method that might help him reach the threshold. Xie Yuzhu arrived to test him in battle before forging his Flying Sword, and the chapter ended with Zhong Ming asking what she would offer if he won.

• Zhong Ming failed to fuse his five Water Fluctuations and decided to advance his Dragon Creek Breathing Technique to make up the missing insight.
• Youlan brought Xie Yuzhu and an elderly servant to meet Zhong Ming.
• Xie Yuzhu revealed her formidable cultivation and explained that Spirit Medicine had transformed her Life Essence despite her young appearance.
• Xie Yuzhu challenged Zhong Ming to last up to three hundred moves against her in exchange for increasingly generous Flying Sword benefits.
• Zhong Ming asked Xie Yuzhu what he would receive if he won.

Zhong Ming challenged Xie Yuzhu and won their first exchange by using an illusion and a sudden flank attack, earning her apology and an offer to forge and maintain his Flying Sword. Their rematch left Zhong Ming struggling against her seven specialized Flying Swords, but his refusal to accept defeat stirred a powerful change in his aura.

• Zhong Ming defeated Xie Yuzhu’s opening attack with an illusion and a swift strike, while her necklace shield protected her from serious harm.
• Qi Hong explained that sword cultivators had to use ruthless methods to survive, and Xie Yuzhu apologized and promised to forge Zhong Ming a better Flying Sword.
• Xie Yuzhu began their rematch by throwing the Chongyuan Sword, then split it into seven Flying Swords that Zhong Ming fought off with his techniques.
• Xie Yuzhu used the Heavy Mountain Sword’s Triple Gravity and Fine Snow’s freezing power to suppress Zhong Ming, leaving him close to defeat.
• Zhong Ming refused to surrender, focused entirely on winning, and awakened a majestic, domineering aura within his sea of consciousness.

Zhong Ming awakened his Dragon Flood Dragon Dao Rhyme during his duel with Xie Yuzhu, turning the tide with wind, rain, and a water dragon flood dragon. He struck Xie Yuzhu with a powerful final attack, leaving the onlookers astonished.

• Zhong Ming’s frustration at losing to Xie Yuzhu stirred his Dragon Flood Dragon Dao Rhyme, gathering water vapor and summoning wind and rain.
• Granny Lan asked Qi Hong, Yang Chen, and the others about Zhong Ming, and they objected when she revealed the Xie Family wanted to recruit him as a Dao Protector.
• Zhong Ming’s Dao Rhyme overwhelmed Xie Yuzhu’s seven Flying Swords, binding them in a spiraling stream of water.
• Zhong Ming charged at Xie Yuzhu as a wind-supported water dragon flood dragon, breaking through her Flying Sword attacks.
• Zhong Ming’s Long Sword shattered during his downward strike, but his Dragon Form Sword Qi struck Xie Yuzhu and sent her flying.

Zhong Ming defeated Xie Yuzhu with a devastating sword strike, though the effort left him nearly exhausted and convinced he needed to strengthen his mana. Xie Yuzhu admired his swordsmanship and asked to learn from him, while Granny Lan apologized for the Xie Family’s earlier slight.

• Zhong Ming’s Vortex Dragon struck Xie Yuzhu and sent her flying, while the attack exhausted him and shattered his sword.
• Youlan gave Zhong Ming Moonlight Spirit Water, helping him recover some mana as he reviewed the battle and resolved to improve his cultivation.
• Xie Yuzhu accepted her defeat and asked Zhong Ming to teach her swordsmanship, apologizing for doubting him.
• Zhong Ming told Xie Yuzhu to consult her parents before deciding to pursue sword cultivation, and she left determined to win their approval.
• Granny Lan apologized to Qi Hong and the others for the Xie Family’s earlier presumption and promised the family would make amends.

After Granny Lan left, Zhong Ming’s companions reflected on his talent and the hope he represented for Dragon Stream Peak. Zhong Ming resumed studying Spirit Stream Finger · Stream Interception, quickly advancing as he recognized how its ideas about flow connected to his knowledge of Water Flow and the Heaven Severing Sword Dao.

• Shi Yun and Yang Chen discussed Granny Lan’s mistaken belief about why the Xie Family was unqualified to take Zhong Ming as a Dao Protector.
• Qi Hong and the others compared their limited progress with Zhong Ming’s rapid comprehension, while taking heart from his strength as their hope for Dragon Stream Peak.
• Zhong Ming resumed studying Spirit Stream Finger · Stream Interception, seeking a way to cultivate faster despite his third-grade spirit root.
• Zhong Ming recalled how the Dragon Flood Dragon Dao Rhyme could accelerate his cultivation, then reviewed the Experience Points gained from his earlier sword strike.
• Zhong Ming recognized that Stream Interception used the principles of Water Flow to find and sever a vital point, and his cultivation art advanced rapidly as he studied.
• Zhong Ming connected the art’s deeper theory of flow to the Heaven Severing Sword Dao.

Zhong Ming cultivated Spirit Stream Finger · Stream Interception by observing how all things changed and flowed, using Intent Reading to gain insight more quickly. As his progress grew, the consequences of his victory over Xie Yuzhu and his comprehension of Dao rhythm began to affect the Xie Family.

• Zhong Ming realized that Stream Interception could disrupt the flow of swordsmanship, spells, and spiritual power, and planned to combine it with Dragon Creek Swordplay.
• Zhong Ming discovered that Stream Interception extended beyond Water Flow to All Things Flowing, giving it a new cultivation direction that could still complement his other Water Flow traits.
• Zhong Ming began cultivating by observing the natural world and recognized that the technique required insight rather than ordinary practice.
• Zhong Ming activated Intent Reading and treated a tree as a book, gaining a deeper understanding of its growth and the flow of its life.
• Zhong Ming gained substantial progress in Spirit Stream Finger · Stream Interception, while the aftermath of his victory over Xie Yuzhu began to reach the Xie Family.

Xie Yuzhu asked Xie Lingmin for permission to learn swordsmanship from Zhong Ming, but her mother initially dismissed his achievement as a Dao Rhyme Fragment. After questioning Granny Lan about Zhong Ming’s fight, Xie Lingmin recognized his extraordinary potential and decided to win him over.

• Xie Yuzhu told Xie Lingmin she wanted to learn the sword from Zhong Ming because he had defeated her and had exceptional comprehension.
• Granny Lan recounted Zhong Ming’s battle, and Xie Lingmin concluded he had comprehended a Dao Rhyme Fragment rather than Dao Rhyme.
• Xie Lingmin revealed that Xie Yuzhu’s own Dao Rhyme Fragment had been implanted at great expense, while Zhong Ming had comprehended his himself in less than a month.
• Xie Lingmin ordered Granny Lan to offer Zhong Ming ten Trial Platform opportunities as an apology and to win his favor.
• Granny Lan suggested ten opportunities might be too few, as Zhong Ming could become a peak master or even a Sect Master candidate.

Xie Lingmin struggled over whether to invest in Zhong Ming, fearing the dangers of his sword-cultivator path while wanting to secure his talent for the Xie Family. Meanwhile, Yi Yunya fought Yi Yunyan for access to the Illustration of the Flood Dragon and defended her decision to invest in Zhong Ming, just as Youlan arrived at the Golden Jade Tower.

• Xie Lingmin considered how the Xie Family might try to bind Zhong Ming to them through Xie Yuzhu, but decided to wait and see rather than risk her daughter's safety.
• Xie Lingmin told Granny Lan to observe Zhong Ming at the Trial Platform and record his results to test his comprehension and soul strength.
• After Zhong Ming recovered, Youlan hurried to find Yi Yunya at the Golden Jade Tower, where Yi Yunya was arguing with Yi Yunyan over the Illustration of the Flood Dragon.
• Yi Yunyan argued that the diagram should be used for Ye Cheng and mocked Zhong Ming's Spiritual Root, background, and lack of backing, while Yi Yunya defended his comprehension and potential.
• Yi Yunyan claimed that Xue Yao's actions showed even Zhong Ming's Senior Disciple Sister did not value him, and Yi Yunya insisted Xue Yao considered him the strongest on Dragon Stream Peak.
• As the others began siding with Yi Yunyan, Youlan arrived at the Golden Jade Tower.

After learning that Zhong Ming had comprehended Dao Rhyme and defeated Xie Yuzhu in one move, Yi Yunya decided to secure his support by invoking Shattered Jade. She accepted the risk of being cast out of the Yi Family and asked Yi Qing for a Top-grade Earth-grade Treasure.

• Youlan told Yi Yunya that Zhong Ming had comprehended Dao Rhyme and defeated Xie Yuzhu in a single move.
• Yi Yunya learned that Xie Yuzhu admired Zhong Ming and wanted to follow him to learn swordsmanship, prompting Yi Yunya to resolve to bind him to her side.
• Yi Yunyan tried to redirect the gathering toward choosing who would receive the Illustration of the Flood Dragon, but Yi Yunya ignored her and addressed Yi Qing.
• Yi Yunya declared that she wanted Shattered Jade, despite Yi Qing warning her that failure could leave her on the margins of the Lineage.
• Yi Yunya confirmed her decision and requested a Top-grade Earth-grade Treasure from Yi Qing.

Yi Yunya spent her father’s Merit Points and used Shattered Jade to secure a high-grade Earth-grade Treasure, accepting strict deadlines from Yi Qing as she backed Zhong Ming. While Yi Family descendants formed alliances and sought her support, Zhong Ming unknowingly gained a major insight into flow by meditating beneath the stars.

• Yi Yunya asked Yi Qing to combine Shattered Jade resources with her father’s Merit Points for a high-grade Earth-grade Treasure, and Yi Qing approved while imposing deadlines for her to become a Steward and then a Jade-grade Steward.
• Yi Qing gave Yi Yunya all three uses of the Flood Dragon True Intent Diagram before leaving to handle the Shattered Jade procedures.
• Yi Yunya affirmed her faith in herself and Zhong Ming, while Yi Yunyan and other Yi Family descendants doubted her chances and began forming alliances against her.
• Several Yi Family descendants sought to attach themselves to Yi Yunya, and she accepted them as potential allies who could help her rise and support Zhong Ming.
• Zhong Ming rested in a bamboo forest and gained cultivation progress by listening to nature, then earned a major insight into flow by observing the sun, moon, and stars.

Zhong Ming cultivated by observing the sun and comprehended Water Ripple, while Yi Yunya brought him the chance to choose a high-grade earth-rank treasure at the cost of staking her future in the Yi Family. Zhong Ming accepted her offer and responsibility for the matter, and Yi Yunya revealed she had deliberately left herself no way back.

• Zhong Ming watched the sun throughout the day and gained new insight into the flow of power, comprehending Water Ripple and advancing Spirit Stream Finger · Stream Interception.
• Youlan and Yi Yunya arrived with Spirit Meals and told Zhong Ming that Yi Yunya had staked her resources and standing to obtain a high-grade earth-rank treasure for him.
• Youlan explained that Yi Yunya could be expelled from the Yi Family's direct line if she failed to meet her advancement goals, but Yi Yunya insisted the decision was her own.
• Zhong Ming asked whether Yi Yunya was certain, then accepted the treasure and promised to take responsibility for the matter.
• Yi Yunya gave Zhong Ming a catalog of Golden Jade Tower treasures to choose from, while Youlan warned that her mistress had gambled too much.
• Yi Yunya told Youlan she had deliberately cut off her path of retreat, even if she lost Shattered Jade.

Yi Yunya explained that she had wagered on losing the Shattered Jade assessment to deepen Zhong Ming’s bond with her, while Zhong Ming browsed Golden Jade Tower’s treasure catalog. He chose the Clear Sound Spring Stone for its ability to restore his soul power and its potential to teach him a new ability.

• Yi Yunya told Youlan that Zhong Ming’s future success mattered more to her than winning the wager, and admitted she hoped losing would make him feel closer to her.
• Yi Yunya reflected that Zhong Ming’s talent would attract rivals for his affection, so she planned to make a lasting impression by staking everything on him.
• Zhong Ming focused on cultivation and dismissed the need for schemes, believing strength could overcome them.
• Zhong Ming reviewed several treasures, including the Thirteen Year Cicada, Sorrowful Performer Mask, and Ancient Sea Conch, but found reasons not to choose them.
• Zhong Ming selected the Clear Sound Spring Stone, hoping its soul-restoring effect would let him use Intent Reading more often and help him develop a new ability.

Zhong Ming used the Clear Sound Spring Stone to recover his mental strength and grew confident that he could win first place in the end-of-month assessment. As he began studying the stone’s Dao Rhythm, Yi Yunya handled Granny Lan’s visit and Granny Lan worried that the Xie Family had acted too late.

• Zhong Ming used Intent Reading twice more to study the sun, then refined the Clear Sound Spring Stone Yi Yunya brought him and recovered from his mental exhaustion.
• Zhong Ming resolved to aim for first place in the end-of-month assessment, reassured Yi Yunya that he would repay her trust, and promised to help her win her steward assessment.
• Granny Lan arrived without Xie Yuzhu and offered ten Trial Platform trial tickets on behalf of the Xie Family, but Zhong Ming declined them as a favor he did not deserve.
• Yi Yunya took over the discussion with Granny Lan while Zhong Ming began using Intent Reading to study the Clear Sound Spring Stone.
• Granny Lan worried that the Xie Family had waited too long while Yi Yunya handled her in the manner of a mistress.

Yi Yunya accepted the Xie Family’s ten trial tickets while offering Zhong Ming an Earth-grade high-quality treasure, choosing to support his growth despite making enemies. Studying the Clear Sound Spring Stone helped Zhong Ming advance Spirit Stream Finger · Stream Interception to Realm 3 and gain the trait Mirror Still Water · Ripple, which let him sense the breathing and weaknesses of everything within thirty-three meters.

• Yi Yunya realized the Xie Family had not seriously backed Zhong Ming, accepted its ten trial tickets, and offered him an Earth-grade high-quality treasure in response.
• Youlan warned Yi Yunya that she was making enemies, but Yi Yunya said she wanted Zhong Ming to grow faster.
• Zhong Ming studied the Clear Sound Spring Stone and gained insights into using flow to wash away weariness, pain, and other negative states.
• Zhong Ming advanced Spirit Stream Finger · Stream Interception to Realm 3 and gained the trait Mirror Still Water · Ripple.
• Zhong Ming sensed the breaths of everything within thirty-three meters and realized that their rhythms revealed their vital weaknesses.

Zhong Ming discovered that the Clear Sound Spring Stone greatly amplified his Mirror Still Water · Ripple trait, then learned that a Heaven-grade Golden Jade Tower retainer could earn him access to rare treasures. He resolved to pursue first place in the Seven Mysteries Sect’s month-end examination, while Yi Yunya warned Youlan that his chance of becoming Sect Master did not mean he would win this month.

• Zhong Ming tested Mirror Still Water · Ripple and found that the Clear Sound Spring Stone raised its effect to the fourth-realm level.
• Without the Spring Stone, Zhong Ming could still sense nearby breathing and rhythms, but his range fell to eleven meters and the feedback lasted only an instant.
• Zhong Ming asked Yi Yunya about buying similar treasures, and she explained that high-grade Earth-grade treasures were auctioned for tens of thousands of spirit stones.
• Yi Yunya told Zhong Ming that a Heaven-grade Golden Jade Tower retainer could receive a rare treasure, but he would first need to take first place in the month-end examination and become a True Disciple.
• Zhong Ming remained eager to pursue first place, and after he left, Yi Yunya struck Youlan for assuming his chance of becoming Sect Master meant he would win the examination.

Zhong Ming rested before using Mirror Still Water · Ripple and Intent Reading to fuse his Water Flow insights, incorporating the Clear Sound Spring Stone’s rhythm in pursuit of a new Dao Rhyme of Water. Meanwhile, Xie Lingmin regretted underestimating him and ordered Yuzhu to learn the sword from him and the Xie Family to learn of his talent; Zhong Ming’s fusion began, but its outcome remained unknown.

• Yi Yunya judged that Zhong Ming would likely lose the Seven Peaks Grand Competition but planned to guide his growth and use his success to restore sword cultivation in Seven Mysteries Sect.
• Zhong Ming reviewed his Water Flow insights and waited until his spirit recovered before attempting to fuse them into a new Dao Rhyme.
• Granny Lan told Xie Lingmin that Yi Yunya had given Zhong Ming a high-grade Earth-rank treasure, prompting Xie Lingmin to regret her arrogance and reconsider her plans for Yuzhu.
• Xie Lingmin ordered Granny Lan to tell Yuzhu she could learn the sword from Zhong Ming and to inform the Xie Family about him.
• At midnight, Zhong Ming released Mirror Still Water · Ripple, used Intent Reading, and added the Clear Sound Spring Stone’s dripping rhythm as he began fusing his water insights.

Zhong Ming’s Water Dao Rhythm formed after an enlightenment that used Clear Sound Spring Stone and Water Flow to cleanse his body of impurities and pill toxins. He woke healthier and stronger, then challenged Shi Yun to a full-strength fight to test his new limits.

• During enlightenment, Zhong Ming used Water Flow and Mirror Like Water to cleanse his body, removing accumulated pill toxins and harmonizing its discordant areas.
• Zhong Ming absorbed a flood of insights about water, advanced many cultivation techniques, and eventually fell asleep from the strain.
• The next morning, Zhong Ming discovered that his Water Dao Rhythm had formed and that he could command nearby water as easily as his limbs.
• Qi Hong, Yang Chen, Shi Yun, Lin Shuyu, Yi Yunya, and Youlan arrived and were startled by Zhong Ming’s transformed, radiant appearance; Yi Yunya lamented that she had lost.
• Zhong Ming summoned water swords and challenged Shi Yun, asking him to fight at full strength despite Shi Yun’s Mid Qi Condensation cultivation.

Zhong Ming interrupted his planned spar with Shi Yun to fight Zhuang Yi, who challenged him after hearing Xue Yao call him Dragon Stream Peak’s strongest. Zhong Ming’s seemingly harmless water-drop attack concealed a devastating follow-up that left Zhuang Yi gravely injured.

• Shi Yun prepared to spar with Zhong Ming using early Qi Condensation strength, while Yi Yunya and the others expected Zhong Ming to lose.
• Zhuang Yi arrived, challenged Zhong Ming, and accused Shi Yun of bullying a cripple before insisting on fighting Zhong Ming first.
• Zhong Ming warned Zhuang Yi to use all his strength, then flicked a water droplet that Zhuang Yi blocked without feeling any force.
• As Zhuang Yi began gathering spiritual power, Zhong Ming’s hidden strike hit his internal organs, causing him to vomit blood and collapse.
• Zhong Ming sighed and reminded Zhuang Yi that he had told him to be careful and give the attack his all.

Zhong Ming grievously wounded Zhuang Yi with a single drop of water, then treated him as the others realized they had mistaken his restraint for arrogance. As the group prepared for Shi Yun’s coming duel with Zhong Ming, Lin Shuyu explained how Zhong Ming could conceal attacks within Water Flow.

• Zhong Ming rushed to treat Zhuang Yi after his strike left him grievously wounded, and Qi Hong, Shi Yun, Yi Yunya, and the others hurried over.
• Qi Hong, Youlan, Shi Yun, and the others recognized that Zhong Ming’s warnings and restrained attack had come from courtesy, not arrogance.
• Shi Yun admitted he would have ignored Zhong Ming’s warning too, while the group reflected on how much Zhong Ming’s strength had grown.
• Lin Shuyu told Shi Yun that he had to win the coming duel so the group could remain useful to Zhong Ming, and Shi Yun resolved to fight seriously.
• Lin Shuyu warned Shi Yun that Zhong Ming could conceal attacks in Water Flow and transmit them through the air into an opponent’s body, but Shi Yun said he knew how to counter the move.

Zhong Ming fought Shi Yun and used his Dragon Stream - Sword Drawing Technique to launch a devastating water-drop strike hidden in a rainstorm. Shi Yun deflected the attack with Water Circulation and prepared to counter, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Xie Yongjie watched Zhong Ming and Shi Yun from afar through a spell without affecting their battle.
• Zhong Ming summoned a torrential rain to obscure Shi Yun’s vision as he prepared his strongest strike.
• Zhong Ming fired a water droplet charged with his accumulated mana, sending it toward Shi Yun at several times the speed of sound.
• Shi Yun used Water Circulation to deflect the strike, then formed a sword-finger seal and summoned another stream of rotating water.