Chapter Summaries

Meng Qi and Xu Yue found Jin Li at the Shen Family, where an Outer Scenery expert pursued them after Meng Qi attacked him. They discovered the Shen Family was a demon stronghold and escaped after Xu Yue decapitated the Snake Demon pursuing them.

• Meng Qi blocked Jin Li's attack, struck him into the pavilion, and fled with Xu Yue as a hidden Outer Scenery expert gave chase.
• Little Fox sensed something unusual, sent Aunt Zhong to investigate, and heard the Shen Family head apologize for the disturbance.
• Meng Qi turned to fight the pursuer with Heaven Smiting Five Thunders, forcing the Snake Demon to evade and attack him from the side.
• Xu Yue emerged from concealment and severed the Snake Demon's neck with his Heaven-Breaking Sword.
• The wounded Snake Demon fled beyond the city, and Meng Qi realized the Shen Family was a demon stronghold.

Meng Qi and Xu Yue fled the wounded Snake Demon, only to be ambushed by an Outer Scenery cat demon after the city’s experts were lured away. A masked man killed the cat demon, and the exhausted pair headed to Six Doors for shelter.

• The wounded Snake Demon escaped Wen'an and drew the city’s three Outer Scenery experts away, while the Six Doors constable activated the city formation.
• Xu Yue realized the Snake Demon had lured away the experts so an Outer Scenery demon at the Shen Family residence could attack them, and a cat demon plunged the area into darkness.
• Meng Qi used the Body Sacrifice Art and Falling into the Red Dust to distract the cat demon, allowing Xu Yue to strike and injure her.
• A masked man covered in Dragon Tattoos emerged from the darkness and killed the injured cat demon with one blow.
• Xu Yue gave Meng Qi a pill, and the two headed to Six Doors to wait for the city’s Outer Scenery experts to return.

Meng Qi and Xu Yue reported that the Shen Family was connected to demons, but the Queen Mother of the West-masked Little Fox attacked Six Doors before reinforcements arrived. Xu Yue stopped her from killing Constable Niu, and Little Fox revealed that she had targeted them because Meng Qi used Ananda's Precept-Breaking Saber Art.

• Meng Qi warned Constable Niu that the Shen Family was made up of demons and urged him to request reinforcements.
• Constable Niu sent an urgent report, then rushed to protect Xu Yue and Meng Qi when an intruder broke through Six Doors' formation and killed his subordinates.
• The Queen Mother of the West-masked Little Fox overwhelmed Constable Niu and nearly killed him.
• Xu Yue used his sound-based art to interrupt Little Fox's killing move, allowing Constable Niu to escape into the room with him and Meng Qi.
• Little Fox declared that the Demon Saint's Edict allowed demons to kill practitioners of Ananda's Precept-Breaking Saber Art and explained that she had identified Meng Qi from the dead cat demon's transmitted memories.

Xu Yue used a zither and mind-attacking techniques to repel Little Fox after she revealed herself as the demon who had appeared as the Queen Mother of the West. The zither broke and Xu Yue was badly injured, while Meng Qi began to suspect Xu Yue’s identity.

• Meng Qi recognized Little Fox as the demon who had once appeared as the Queen Mother of the West, and realized he and Xu Yue were too exhausted to fight her normally.
• Xu Yue played the Nine Nether Immortal Melody, building sound ripples that Little Fox tore through as she revealed her demon identity and attacked.
• Xu Yue snapped a zither string and used Ananda’s Precept-Breaking Saber Art to overwhelm Little Fox’s mind, then struck her with demonic heads formed from mist.
• Little Fox regained consciousness despite her shaken primordial spirit, escaped into the shadows, and left Xu Yue’s zither broken and Xu Yue badly injured.
• Xu Yue said Little Fox would not trouble them for a while, and Meng Qi wondered whether Xu Yue could be that person.

Xu Yue and Meng Qi recovered in Wen'an after driving off Little Fox Qingqiu and helping defeat the Shen Family demons. As the Shen Family escaped and their exploits earned them invitations to He Jiu’s Xingyun Banquet, the latest Human Ranking placed Xu Yue first and Su Ziyuan third.

• Xu Yue admitted that he had saved Meng Qi, warned him to keep the concealed identity secret, and brushed off Meng Qi’s teasing about the young lady he had rescued.
• Little Fox Qingqiu fled beyond the city, troubled by the lingering imprint Xu Yue’s attacks had left on her, and decided to enter secluded cultivation to remove it.
• Three human Exterior Scenery experts killed the fleeing Snake Demon and learned that Xu Yue and Meng Qi had wounded an Exterior Scenery demon and driven back a Perfect Half-step.
• The Shen Family escaped Wen’an while the city’s forces stayed out of their way, and the renowned figures praised Xu Yue and Meng Qi for their strength.
• He Jiu’s servant invited Xu Yue and Meng Qi to the Xingyun Banquet, and the latest Human Ranking placed Xu Yue first and Su Ziyuan third.

Meng Qi traveled to Yingcheng for the Xingyun Banquet while martial artists discussed Xu Yue’s rise to first place on the Human Ranking and Meng Qi’s reputation as Muscular Dharma King. Gu Xiaosang boarded his boat and told him Qi Zhengyan had been in danger and that she had saved him, asking Meng Qi to meet her secretly.

• Yan Chong and Wang Zai discussed Xu Yue’s rise to first place on the Human Ranking and praised Meng Qi’s ability to withstand an Exterior Scenery master’s attack.
• Meng Qi passed a riverside restaurant aboard a pleasure boat, greeted Wang Zai, and overheard martial artists insist he was Muscular Dharma King despite his efforts to shed the title.
• Gu Xiaosang approached Meng Qi by boat, called him her husband, and jumped aboard his pleasure boat.
• Meng Qi asked Gu Xiaosang what had happened to Qi Zhengyan and warned that Xu Yue could prevent her from escaping.
• Gu Xiaosang told Meng Qi she had saved Qi Zhengyan and asked him to shake off Xu Yue and meet her secretly.

Meng Qi and Xu Yue speculated about Qi Zhengyan’s injuries before visiting He Jiu at Xingyun Manor. He Jiu challenged Xu Yue after losing the Human Ranking’s top spot, but Xu Yue’s taunts left him furious and eager to fight.

• Xu Yue and Meng Qi suspected Qi Zhengyan had been injured while dealing with Myth’s reserve squad, and Meng Qi planned to visit Gu Xiaosang later.
• Xu Yue and Meng Qi arrived at Xingyun Manor and were led to meet He Jiu, the former Human Ranking number one.
• He Jiu recognized that Xu Yue had reached Return to Truth, Return to Simplicity and declared that they would no longer walk the path alone.
• Xu Yue mocked He Jiu’s slower progress and refused to spar, claiming He Jiu was injured and that it would be unfair to bully a senior.
• He Jiu explained that the Wolf King had ambushed him, but Xu Yue’s question about whether the Wolf King escaped left He Jiu angered and more determined to fight.

After Xu Yue unsettled He Jiu, Meng Qi attended Wang Zai’s gathering, where his efforts to shed the “Muscular Dharma King” reputation backfired. He then visited the injured Qi Zhengyan and heard Gu Xiaosang raise concerns about Xu Yue, leaving Qi Zhengyan to weigh what he knew against his belief in resisting fate.

• Xu Yue’s mockery broke through He Jiu’s imperfect state of mind and helped him begin rebuilding it, while He Jiu reflected on his ambition to Ascend to Heaven in One Step.
• Wang Zai invited Meng Qi and Xu Yue to an exchange gathering; Meng Qi eagerly went alone to meet young experts and visit Gu Xiaosang and Qi Zhengyan.
• Meng Qi gave the young experts guidance, but their admiration only reinforced his “Muscular Dharma King” reputation and frustrated him.
• Meng Qi found Qi Zhengyan injured, and Qi Zhengyan explained that a Half-step Outer Scenery reserve member of Myth had ambushed him before Gu Xiaosang rescued him.
• Gu Xiaosang asked Qi Zhengyan to explain why Xu Yue’s situation was special, while Qi Zhengyan considered the Dao Marker, Reduce and Seek Emptiness, and his refusal to accept that everything was predestined.

Gu Xiaosang and Qi Zhengyan discussed Meng Qi’s resistance to the identity tied to him, while Meng Qi avoided joining Zhao Yi’s faction in the imperial succession struggle. After returning to Xingyun Manor, Meng Qi received a visit from Xuan Zhen, who invited him to meet the Crown Prince.

• Gu Xiaosang and Qi Zhengyan discussed why Meng Qi trusted Xu Yue and whether a Dao Marker could resist its true self.
• The Mi Family invited Meng Qi and Xu Yue to a banquet hosted by Third Prince Zhao Yi, but Meng Qi refused because he supported Fifth Prince Zhao Heng.
• Zhao Yi learned of Meng Qi’s refusal, wondered whether Zhao Heng had recruited him, and considered the Crown Prince’s Buddhist ties.
• Xuan Zhen visited Meng Qi at Xingyun Manor and invited him to Puxian Zhai to speak with the Crown Prince.

Xu Yue and Meng Qi joined Xuan Zhen to meet Crown Prince Zhao Qian, while Xu Yue recognized that Amitabha had woven karmic obligations around Shaolin and the prince. The chapter left them meeting Zhao Qian and his two Exterior Scenery protectors at Puxian Zhai.

• Xuan Zhen invited Xu Yue and Meng Qi to meet Zhao Qian, and Xu Yue agreed.
• Xuan Zhen revealed that he had arrested Beggar's Clan members trafficking women and children, and Meng Qi noted their possible ties to the grasslands.
• Xu Yue realized Amitabha had used Shaolin's ties to Zhao Qian to create a karmic debt, and resolved to repay Shaolin rather than Amitabha.
• Xu Yue and Meng Qi followed Xuan Zhen through Puxian Zhai and met Zhao Qian, the black-clothed eunuch, and the temple's abbot.

Xu Yue rejected Crown Prince Zhao Qian’s attempt to recruit him, making clear that his ties to Shaolin did not make him the Crown Prince’s subordinate. Zhao Qian swallowed his anger and let Xu Yue and Meng Qi leave, preserving Shaolin’s support.

• Zhao Qian complimented Xu Yue, and his black-robed eunuch tried to intimidate Xu Yue for answering the Crown Prince too casually.
• Xu Yue rebuked the eunuch and told Zhao Qian he would not join a lame-duck Crown Prince with no hope of taking the throne.
• Abbot Huayan urged Xu Yue to support Shaolin’s decision, but Xu Yue invoked his status as a lay disciple and challenged the Crown Prince’s claim on him.
• Xu Yue told Xuan Zhen to leave the dangerous company and said he would treat his martial uncle to tea another day.
• Xu Yue left with Meng Qi, while Zhao Qian held back from confronting them to avoid alienating Shaolin.

After Xu Yue rebuffed the Crown Prince, the prince planned to spread rumors implying Xu Yue supported him, hoping to force the prodigy into seeking his protection. Xu Yue and Meng Qi continued toward the city, where Wang Siyuan revealed that both princes had come to Yingcheng over the True Imperial Seal, and that Jiang had arrived at the Jiangdong branch of Sword Washing Pavilion.

• The Crown Prince stopped his eunuch from retaliating against Xu Yue and ordered him to spread word of the prince’s admiration for him, intending to make others believe Xu Yue supported the Crown Prince.
• Xu Yue and Meng Qi discussed their enemies and agreed that reaching Outer Scenery would help them handle the threats against them.
• Xu Yue and Meng Qi followed the sound of a zither into a courtyard, where Xu Yue beat Wang Siyuan after Wang Siyuan claimed he had predicted a bloody disaster.
• Wang Siyuan told Xu Yue and Meng Qi that Yingcheng’s princes were likely pursuing more than talented recruits and that Jiang had arrived at Sword Washing Pavilion’s Jiangdong branch.
• Wang Siyuan explained that Situ Kong had obtained the True Imperial Seal and summoned both princes to raise its price; Xu Yue then described the seal’s connection to the former Great Kang dynasty and the Human Emperor Sword.

Meng Qi and Xu Yue discussed the Human Emperor Sword and gathered allies against Myth, but a message from Gu Xiaosang warned that Qi Zhengyan was in danger. Xu Yue hurried Meng Qi toward Dragon Pan Mountain, leaving Meng Qi uncertain about Gu Xiaosang’s motives and the secrets others shared about them.

• Meng Qi questioned Xu Yue’s claim that he might possess a Son of Heaven Destiny, and Xu Yue considered the connection between his existence and the Heavenly Emperor.
• Meng Qi decided to meet his companions before investigating the Mi Family, and Jiang Zhiwei agreed to seek help from Sword Washing Pavilion’s elders.
• Jiang Zhiwei revealed that she and Ruan Yushu had joined Immortal Traces, sharing their codenames with Meng Qi.
• Gu Xiaosang sent Meng Qi a note warning that Qi Zhengyan was in danger at Dragon Pan Mountain’s Grave Valley.
• Xu Yue took Meng Qi toward the outskirts to help Qi Zhengyan, while Meng Qi wondered what Gu Xiaosang and the others were hiding from him.

Xu Yue and Meng Qi went to Grave Valley to help Qi Zhengyan, where they found five monks killed by Myth’s Nine Heavens Thunder God. Eunuch Zhang blamed Meng Qi, but Xu Yue stood between them as Qi Zhengyan’s battle drew their attention.

• Xu Yue told Meng Qi that Qi Zhengyan’s danger was likely connected to the True Imperial Seal, and Meng Qi resolved to help his senior brother.
• Meng Qi and Xu Yue found five dead monks beside the Crown Prince, whose wounds bore the lightning-infused blade intent of Myth’s Nine Heavens Thunder God.
• Eunuch Zhang accused Meng Qi of killing the monks, but Xu Yue defended him and challenged the eunuch’s authority.
• Qi Zhengyan’s attacks flashed in the distance, and Xu Yue told Meng Qi to go investigate while he handled Eunuch Zhang.
• Meng Qi headed toward the battle, intending to meet Situ Kong and learn more about Sticky Karma and his inescapable fate.

Xu Yue defeated and killed Eunuch Zhang despite the eunuch’s Exterior realm, using his defensive art, Phoenix Qin, and Sword Intent. Gu Xiaosang then appeared, having reached the Exterior realm, and hinted she might publicize Xu Yue’s feat.

• Eunuch Zhang threatened Xu Yue for opposing the Crown Prince and attacked him with his movement technique and finger force.
• Xu Yue endured Eunuch Zhang’s attacks with his protective divine art and used the Phoenix Qin to disrupt the eunuch’s movements.
• Xu Yue trapped Eunuch Zhang with waves of sound and killed him with Sword Intent.
• Gu Xiaosang appeared before Xu Yue, revealed her Exterior realm breakthrough, and offered to publicize his victory.

Xu Yue and Meng Qi secured the True Imperial Seal after the Thief King’s death, while Xu Yue killed Eunuch Zhang. At the Xingyun Banquet, Zhao Qian questioned them about Grave Valley, and Meng Qi redirected suspicion toward an Outer Scenery saber user.

• Gu Xiaosang warned Xu Yue not to harm Meng Qi, then left after confirming Meng Qi’s encounter was over.
• Xu Yue found Meng Qi and Qi Zhengyan with the dead Thief King; Meng Qi explained his oath to find a buyer for the True Imperial Seal and give half the price to the Thief King’s son.
• Xu Yue agreed to help the Thief King’s son and took the True Imperial Seal, while Meng Qi learned that Xu Yue had killed Eunuch Zhang.
• He Jiu’s Xingyun Banquet began, and Crown Prince Zhao Qian arrived early after Eunuch Zhang’s death unsettled him.
• Zhao Qian asked Meng Qi and Xu Yue about Grave Valley, and Meng Qi described the monks’ killer as an Outer Scenery saber user whose techniques resembled his own.

At the Xingyun Banquet, He Jiu challenged Xu Yue, but Xu Yue sent Meng Qi to fight him first and announced he would challenge all the Human Ranking prodigies present. Meng Qi and He Jiu clashed in a fierce test of skill and will, leaving He Jiu determined to face Meng Qi at full strength.

• Wang Siyuan warned Xu Yue and Meng Qi about the approaching great calamity and powers returning from reincarnation.
• He Jiu announced that he wanted to challenge Xu Yue, but Xu Yue told him to fight Su Ziyuan first and then declared he would challenge every Human Ranking prodigy present.
• He Jiu accepted Meng Qi as his first opponent, and the two exchanged blows in the arena.
• He Jiu unleashed sword qi from his acupoints, and Meng Qi charged through it with his Hardening Kung Fu and struck back with Heaven Smiting Five Thunders.
• The spectators were astonished by Meng Qi's strength and resilience as the battle continued.

He Jiu and Meng Qi’s battle drew the Human Ranking experts into a massive clash that pushed Xingyun Manor to the brink of destruction. He Jiu, Wang Siyuan, and Meng Qi each Ascended to Heaven in One Step, and Xu Yue began a Heavenly Tribulation whose five-layered phenomenon spread across the Real World.

• He Jiu and Meng Qi fought at full strength, and Xu Yue swept the other Human Ranking experts into the battle while stopping Wang Siyuan from exploiting the clash.
• He Jiu broke away first and endured the Heavenly Tribulation, Ascending to Heaven in One Step.
• Wang Siyuan followed, using the lingering power of the tribulation to Ascend to Heaven in One Step as well.
• After confirming his own path through battle, Meng Qi endured four layers of Heavenly Tribulation and cleaved open the chaotic world with his Inner Landscape phenomenon.
• Xu Yue Ascended to Heaven in One Step, and his five-layered Heavenly Tribulation began spreading its dark celestial phenomenon across the Real World.

Xu Yue completed an unprecedented Five-layered Heavenly Tribulation, drawing the attention of powerful forces across the Real World. Myth members abandoned their original plans to target the Crown Prince and began organizing a joint attack on Xu Yue and Meng Qi while they were newly ascended.

• Xu Yue completed his Five-layered Heavenly Tribulation, shocking Wang Siyuan and the other spectators.
• Xu Yue sensed that the breakthrough had strengthened his Inner Scenery Phenomenon, though he realized his public image would force him to adjust how he acted.
• The tribulations of Xu Yue and Meng Qi stirred concern and hostility among powerful figures across the Real World.
• Myth members gathered outside the city and decided to coordinate with Buren Tower to attack Xu Yue and Meng Qi.
• The Myth members considered contacting the Vast Sea Evil Blade for help with the planned attack.

Myth and its allies debated whether to attack Meng Qi and Xu Yue before they stabilized their new Outer Scenery breakthroughs, while Ze Luoju urged caution and the Buren Tower assassin sought instructions. Meng Qi began to grasp his new Outer Scenery strength and reflected on Xu Yue’s earlier feat, leaving their enemies still weighing their next move.

• Myth assembled four Outer Scenery experts and contacted Buren Tower to plan a strike against Meng Qi and Xu Yue before they adapted to their breakthroughs.
• Ze Luoju worried that the six assembled experts might not be enough and argued that they should wait for reinforcements rather than risk being surrounded.
• The Yellow Tier Assassin said he needed orders before requesting a higher-level Buren Tower assassin, while Myth also tried to summon more allies.
• Meng Qi regulated his breath, sensed the power of Outer Scenery, and realized how terrifying Xu Yue’s earlier solo victory over an Outer Scenery expert had been.