Chapter Summaries

Clear River Prefecture City gathered at Crescent Moon Lake after Zhong Ming and Ji Qingyue declared that they would challenge all the city's young prodigies. Ji Qingkang, Ji Qinghui, and Ji Chengping arrived to watch, convinced Zhong Ming would lose and questioning why Ji Qingyue backed him.

• Ji Qingkang was stunned by Zhong Ming and Ji Qingyue's declaration and wondered why they had chosen such a reckless course.
• Ji Qingkang and Ji Qinghui went to Crescent Moon Lake to see the challenge, while Ji Chengping initially dismissed it as a farce.
• An old steward persuaded Ji Chengping to attend by pointing out that many prodigies would gather and might catch his eye.
• Ji Chengping met Ji Qinghui and Ji Qingkang, and the three settled on a pleasure boat while waiting for Zhong Ming.
• Ji Qinghui predicted Zhong Ming had no chance of winning, arguing that challengers would wear him down and expose his weaknesses.
• Ji Qingkang suggested Ji Qingyue backed Zhong Ming because few prodigies were willing to support her, while Ji Chengping called Zhong Ming a bringer of disaster.

Zhong Ming rested in the sunlight while the great sect True Disciples hesitated to challenge him, and their rivals tried to force the Empty Moon Sect into acting first. The other sects spread rumors and delivered intelligence to Ji Qingyue, leaving her to face an increasing number of unexpected visitors.

• Zhong Ming lounged on his flying vessel and basked in the sun as the crowds at Crescent Moon Lake grew impatient for a fight.
• Zhu Junfeng tried to contact the other True Disciples, but few answered him.
• Miaoyun ordered Heavenly Sound Sect disciples to spread rumors that the Empty Moon Sect feared battle.
• Thousand Autumn Valley and other great sects also spread mocking rumors to pressure the Empty Moon Sect into serving as the vanguard.
• Zhu Junfeng realized the other sects were trying to make his faction reveal its strength first.
• Several people secretly boarded Ji Qingyue's flying vessel and offered her intelligence about the Empty Moon Sect.

After Zhong Ming instantly killed Wu Chuan with his eye technique, the major sects dismissed him as vulnerable once his ability was countered and spread rumors against the Empty Moon Sect. Zhu Junfeng struggled to choose someone to challenge Zhong Ming until a messenger announced that someone outside could test his weaknesses.

• Zhong Ming killed Wu Chuan with a single glance, shocking Ji Qinghui and Ji Qingkang.
• Ji Chengping and the major sect disciples decided Zhong Ming depended on one unusual ability and would be easy to defeat once it was countered.
• The five major sects spread rumors portraying the Empty Moon Sect as inferior, turning public opinion against it.
• Zhu Junfeng realized he needed to send someone to challenge Zhong Ming but could not risk losing another disciple.
• A messenger told Zhu Junfeng that someone outside claimed they could break Zhong Ming's eye technique and test his other abilities.

Ji Qingyue gained Ji Chengping’s subordinates after Zhong Ming’s power frightened them into signing contracts with her. Song Qingyan then stepped into the arena, trying to resist Zhong Ming’s scrutiny with his eyes closed.

• Song Qingyan and the other cultivators signed contracts to serve Ji Qingyue, fearing Zhong Ming and doubting Ji Chengping could protect them.
• Ji Chengping raged at their defection, while Ji Qinghui and Ji Qingkang initially laughed at him before growing serious.
• Zhong Ming continued testing the cultivators with his gaze, but treated those who had signed with Ji Qingyue less harshly.
• When his turn came, Song Qingyan entered the arena and closed his eyes to resist Zhong Ming’s scrutiny.

Nangong Die and Lin Kong recognized Zhong Ming’s concealed technique as swordsmanship, and Lin Kong realized Zhong Ming was tempering his sword heart in battle. Zhong Ming understood that his sword heart had taken shape through the Torchlight Heart-Eye and something connected to the sun.

• Nangong Die saw through Zhong Ming’s hidden technique, recognized him as a sword cultivator, and considered cooperating with him.
• Lin Kong sensed danger in Zhong Ming and warned Zhu Junfeng that Zhong Ming was a sword cultivator tempering his sword heart through battle.
• Zhu Junfeng concluded that Zhong Ming had feigned foolishness to make his opponents lower their guard and give him time to grow.
• Zhong Ming reflected that his confidence aligned with the conception of [Heaven Above and Earth Below, I Alone Reign], but could not alone have formed his sword heart.
• Zhong Ming realized that the Torchlight Heart-Eye, or something related to the sun, had truly given form to his sword heart.

Ji Qinghui recruited Ji Chengping and Ji Qingkang to help stop Zhong Ming, offering support from Empty Moon Sect in exchange for valuable items. Ji Chengping handed over a Dragon Vein Jade Pendant, while Ji Qingkang contributed a Seven-Soul Blood-Burning Pill, leaving Ji Qinghui equipped to arrange Zhong Ming’s defeat.

• Ji Qinghui received Zhu Junfeng’s plea for support and decided to gather help to stop Zhong Ming’s winning streak.
• Ji Qinghui proposed that Ji Chengping and Ji Qingkang join forces with him and contribute valuable items for the effort.
• Ji Qingkang recognized that Ji Qinghui was using Empty Moon Sect’s involvement to make his brothers pay, but chose not to expose the scheme.
• Ji Chengping gave Ji Qinghui his Dragon Vein Jade Pendant and demanded that Zhong Ming lose miserably.
• Ji Qingkang offered a Seven-Soul Blood-Burning Pill because he had brought no other valuable items.

Lin Kong and Zhong Ming faced off as Zhong Ming unleashed the pressure and divine-soul attack of his Solar Divine Sword. Lin Kong’s Empty Moon Sect cultivation resisted the attack, and he remained confident that he could win while using the Dragon Vein Jade Pendant to avoid injury.

• Zhong Ming sensed a dragon aura protecting Lin Kong and traced it to the Dragon Vein Jade Pendant at Lin Kong’s waist.
• Zhong Ming decided he no longer needed to exploit the pendant’s weak points and intensified his solar pressure.
• Lin Kong faced Zhong Ming’s Solar Divine Sword, but his hollow, silent consciousness sea resisted its flames and inner-demon effects.
• Lin Kong judged that he could endure Zhong Ming’s divine-soul technique and seize the advantage afterward.
• Lin Kong offered Zhong Ming time to use his abilities, keeping one hand behind his back as he maintained his grandmasterly bearing.

Zhong Ming defeated Lin Kong with a single glance, frightening the True Disciples who had underestimated him. The Empty Moon Sect’s Dao Protector withdrew with Lin Kong, while Zhu Junfeng avoided challenging Zhong Ming as he recovered.

• Zhong Ming crushed Lin Kong with a glance, leaving the lakeshore cultivators astonished and the True Disciples wary of facing him.
• Nangong Die reconsidered Zhong Ming and saw his strength as a chance to eliminate the Heavenly Sound Sect, while Miaoyun and Di Yun agreed the Empty Moon Sect had more reason to worry.
• Zhu Junfeng flew out to rescue Lin Kong, but an old Dao Protector appeared first, caught Lin Kong, and gave him a medicinal pill.
• Aunt Qin and Ji Qingyue’s guards stood between the Dao Protector and Zhong Ming, and Aunt Qin invoked Zhong Ming’s status as a retainer of the Clear River Commandery Prince’s Residence.
• The Dao Protector accepted Lin Kong’s defeat, praised Zhong Ming, and departed with Lin Kong.
• Zhu Junfeng declined to challenge Zhong Ming while he had not recovered, claiming he disdained taking advantage of his weakness.

Prince of Qinghe learned that Zhong Ming had defeated Lin Kong with a single look and questioned whether that alone could hold off the major sects. At the Empty Moon Sect's camp, Zhuang Gong helped Zhu Junfeng infer that Zhong Ming's sudden power came from the sun, and Zhu Junfeng considered how to counter it.

• Prince of Qinghe heard that Zhong Ming had defeated Lin Kong by grievously wounding his soul with a single look.
• The old steward showed Prince of Qinghe a crystal recording of the fight, and the prince praised Zhong Ming while doubting he could suppress the entire estate alone.
• Zhuang Gong rebuked Zhu Junfeng for fearing Zhong Ming and argued that his strength had surged through an external source.
• Zhu Junfeng recalled Zhong Ming's sunlike aura and surges of power, then reasoned that he could counter them by gaining the higher position, overpowering his aura, or arranging a nighttime match.

Zhong Ming refined his body with solar power, advanced his Dao Seed, and awakened the spell Eyes Open, Day Arrives. As he cultivated toward forming a Divine Lord Dharma Avatar, Ji Qingyue managed her growing influence while Ji Qinglian sought an opening to draw closer to Zhong Ming.

• Zhong Ming’s body grew stronger and more refined as solar power and Purifying Flame tempered his flesh and bones.
• When Zhong Ming’s Dao Seed passed the 50-point threshold, he gained Eyes Open, Day Arrives, a spell that let him transform into a sun by consuming stored solar power.
• Zhong Ming continued purifying himself against Demon Star’s influence and used his resources to open forty-nine apertures, bringing his total to eighty-five.
• Ji Qingyue organized her growing faction, negotiated with local families and merchants, and remained busy while Zhong Ming cultivated.
• Ji Qinglian began building relationships with Yi Yunya, Xie Yushuang, Xue Yao, and Zhong Ming’s other attendants, hoping to change her own fate.

Li Ye planned to use the Five Organs Divine Sect to slaughter sect disciples in the Starlit Moon Vault, weakening the Prince of Qinghe and concealing Youtan Heaven’s role. The next morning, Zhong Ming learned that rumors had branded him a sex fiend.

• Li Ye explained how the planned slaughter would ruin the Prince of Qinghe’s alliances and make him dependent on Youtan Heaven.
• Li Ye agreed to send his personal guards after the Chief Priest warned that Zhong Ming’s strength made them an insufficient threat.
• The Chief Priest gave Li Ye a Silent Night Veil to block heavenly light and detection.
• Yi Yunya told Zhong Ming that people had accused him of being a sex fiend, and he wondered how the smear had taken that turn.

Luo Qinzhu challenged Luo Heng's defense of the Luo Family's alliance with Youtan Heaven, while explaining that she judged Zhong Ming by his resilience rather than whether he won. As Zhong Ming prepared to fight against the great sects, Nangong Die secretly offered to help him break their countermeasure, expecting him to ask what she wanted in return.

• Luo Heng mocked Luo Qinzhu for expecting Zhong Ming to support Qing Lian and defended his plan to join Youtan Heaven.
• Luo Qinzhu accused Luo Heng of acting furtively and said he was no match for Zhong Ming, though she expected Zhong Ming to lose against the great sects.
• Luo Qinzhu said she would judge Zhong Ming by whether he could show his potential and keep his Dao heart after defeat.
• Nangong Die contacted Zhong Ming and explained that the sects had prepared counters to his solar power and set up the Heavenly Light-Shielding Art.
• Nangong Die offered to break the restriction so Zhong Ming could fight at full strength, hoping to embarrass the other sects and build a relationship with him.

Yi Yunya met Golden Jade Tower’s powerful tower master, Qin Shang, and learned that the tower had supplied the great sects with treasures to use against Zhong Ming. Qin Hongyu offered her a mist-dispelling treasure and tried to recruit her by warning that Princess Qingyue could diminish her standing, but Yi Yunya remained unmoved.

• Yi Yunya left for Golden Jade Tower, where she met tower master Qin Shang and her aunt, Yi Qing.
• Qin Shang praised Yi Yunya’s resolve and offered her a steward’s position under her.
• Yi Qing revealed that Golden Jade Tower had delivered treasures to block heavenly light and resist soul attacks for use against Zhong Ming.
• Qin Hongyu approached Yi Yunya, offered cooperation and a treasure that could dispel mist, and criticized Princess Qingyue as a partner for Zhong Ming.
• Qin Hongyu warned that Yi Yunya could be neglected if Zhong Ming gained Princess Qingyue, but Yi Yunya responded without visible concern.

Zhong Ming openly challenged the True Disciples of the major sects, and his overwhelming confidence impressed the onlookers while enraging his opponents. Wei Yuan prepared to fight him, but Di Yun and Miaoyun asked to claim the duel themselves.

• Zhong Ming declared that none of the True Disciples could defeat him and urged them to challenge him with everything they had.
• Zhong Ming's conviction strengthened, and his pressure shook the air and sank the surface of Crescent Moon Lake.
• Wei Yuan of the Yin Mountain Sect stepped forward to fight Zhong Ming as dark clouds gathered overhead.
• Di Yun blocked Wei Yuan and insisted on fighting Zhong Ming over the humiliation of his junior sister.
• Miaoyun pleaded with Wei Yuan to let her and Di Yun settle the matter concerning her innocence.

Di Yun used the Heavenly Sound Sect’s melody to command the wind and rain and summon a vast tide of water swords against Zhong Ming. The battle began with Zhong Ming still appearing powerful but now seeming vulnerable to a fight.

• The storm weakened Zhong Ming’s overwhelming aura, and Di Yun and the watching True Disciples realized he could be challenged.
• Miaoyun told Nangong Die that staking everything on Zhong Ming had been a mistake, while Nangong Die answered her with contempt.
• Di Yun played a flute melody that halted the rain and wind, then shaped them into tens of thousands of water swords aimed at Zhong Ming.
• Zhong Ming recognized Di Yun’s technique as the Heavenly Sound Secret Art’s Azure Sea Sword Tide Melody and assessed how it controlled water vapor.
• The lakeshore cultivators marveled at the immense sword tide and feared Zhong Ming was in serious trouble.

Zhong Ming overwhelmed Di Yun by taking control of his Sword Qi river and defeating him, stunning the spectators and the powerful figures watching. Prince of Qinghe decided to reward and support Zhong Ming, while Qin Hongyu reassessed Yi Yunya’s rising status.

• Zhong Ming seized control of Di Yun’s Sword Qi and transformed it into a water dragon, leaving Di Yun exhausted and defeated.
• The spectators marveled at Zhong Ming’s strength after he won by taking over Di Yun’s spell with a single sentence.
• Prince of Qinghe recognized Zhong Ming’s potential, ordered invitations to a banquet if he won every match, and prepared three treasures as a reward.
• Qin Hongyu was shocked by Zhong Ming’s victory and realized Yi Yunya’s status had risen alongside his.
• Qin Hongyu and her companions envied Yi Yunya, who appeared surprised by Zhong Ming’s victory.

Luo Qinzhu warned Luo Heng and Youtan Heaven’s chief priest that Zhong Ming had to be defeated, while both sides recognized that Youtan Heaven’s weakness could prompt the Clear River Commandery Prince to purge them. The chief priest confidently ordered Mingya to fight, as Empty Moon Sect disciples mocked Youtan Heaven after Zhong Ming’s victory.

• Luo Heng and Youtan Heaven’s chief priest realized that showing weakness could lead the Clear River Commandery Prince to eradicate Youtan Heaven.
• Youtan Heaven’s chief priest declared that its believers would defeat Zhong Ming and ordered Mingya to attack.
• Empty Moon Sect disciples celebrated Zhong Ming’s victory over Di Yun and mocked Youtan Heaven’s cultists for their earlier boasts.
• Youtan Heaven’s cultists glared at the Empty Moon Sect, and Ji Qinghui intervened to prevent a fight.

Zhong Ming effortlessly burned a Youtan Heaven cultist to ashes with a glance, shocking the Prince of Qinghe’s advisers and the cultists alike. As the Prince reconsidered how much danger Youtan Heaven posed, Li Ye and the chief priest prepared to confront Zhong Ming before their plans collapsed.

• Zhong Ming killed the purple-patterned youth with a single glance, stunning the Prince of Qinghe and his advisers.
• The Prince of Qinghe’s advisers debated whether Youtan Heaven’s cultists were weak or Zhong Ming was exceptionally powerful, and the Prince chose to keep watching.
• Luo Heng broke down over Zhong Ming’s display, while Luo Qinzhu mocked the chief priest and warned that her husband would not spare them.
• Li Ye and the chief priest acknowledged they had underestimated Zhong Ming and resolved not to lose the next battle.
• Li Ye asked the chief priest whether he should fight Zhong Ming, showing confidence that he could defeat him.

Zhong Ming gained the Heartmind Mirror, which let him see himself, heaven and earth, and other living beings with greater clarity. By reflecting Mingya’s essence, he discovered that Mingya’s sudden power came from a finite source that would fade if the fight lasted.

• Zhong Ming comprehended the Heartmind Mirror and realized it could reveal flaws in his body, help remove pill toxins, and support his cultivation.
• He recognized that reflecting mountains, rivers, and other natural phenomena could deepen his understanding of Charm and Dragon’s Charm.
• Zhong Ming linked the Heartmind Mirror with Great Dream of a Thousand Autumns, allowing him to embody the natural scenes he had observed in dreams.
• His heart-lake reflected the cultivators at Crescent Moon Lake and revealed Mingya as a dark-purple epiphyllum.
• Zhong Ming saw that the mysterious energy empowering Mingya was temporary and concluded that Mingya would weaken if he endured long enough.

Zhong Ming faced Mingya’s reflection-based attacks while analyzing how they worked. He learned that reflection could connect reality and illusion, or light and shadow, to attack an original body, and saw a path for developing his own abilities.

• Zhong Ming condensed a Solar Divine Wheel behind himself, and Mingya recognized that Zhong Ming’s presence now matched his own.
• Mingya grew enraged at Zhong Ming’s pitying gaze and launched an attack through the enormous pupil above his head.
• Phantom weapons struck Zhong Ming’s reflection, but his water dragon failed to block them and his Dragon Creek Robe absorbed their force.
• Mingya tried to phase away Zhong Ming’s robe, while Zhong Ming studied the reflection attack instead of countering it.
• Zhong Ming realized reflections could link reality and illusion or light and shadow to harm an original body, and considered using Great Dream of a Thousand Autumns and solar flames to explore those powers.