Chapter Summaries

As Black Water Country’s forces struggled against Sword Origin Sect’s numerical advantage, Ye Zhen began upgrading the Battle Soul Blood Banner to strengthen its enhancement and save the endangered Chariot Attendant. He poured immense stores of Demon Soul Blood Crystals into the banner and accelerated its refining, but the outcome of the upgrade remained uncertain as the battle continued.

• Guo Qijing used the Battle Soul Blood Banner’s enhancement to gain an advantage over Yu Ruhai, while Zou Zhi and Yu Gao Bo tried to seize the banner and Chu Taiping and Liao Feibai intervened.
• Ye Zhen found Zhong Li Jing and Li Shi gravely weakened after they burned their Origin Spiritual Power to hold off Yu Ruhai, then used the banner to enhance the arriving Black Water Country fighters.
• Sword Origin Sect’s fifteen Soul Sea Realm fighters outnumbered Black Water Country’s twelve, and Chariot Attendant came under heavy attack from Dai Hao as Chu Taiping and Liao Feibai struggled against multiple opponents.
• Ye Zhen told Zhong Li Jing and Li Shi he could raise the banner’s enhancement to forty percent by improving its grade, though he warned the process might take too long to save Chariot Attendant.
• Ye Zhen poured tens of thousands of Demon Soul Blood Crystals onto the banner, expanded it with his Spiritual Sense to speed up refining, and added more than a hundred thousand crystals while the fighters watched anxiously.

Ye Zhen and Black Water Country’s forces used the Battle Soul Blood Banner to turn the battle against Sword Origin Sect, killing five elders before Yu Ruhai escaped with the remaining eleven. The group returned safely to Blackwater Royal City, where Ye Zhen wondered how he could keep the banner.

• The Battle Soul Blood Banner surged with power, allowing Ye Zhen to strengthen Black Water Country’s fighters as Guo Qijing struck down Dai Hao and Gao Xinglie, Han Shi, and Tong Wei killed him.
• Li Quan and the other enhanced fighters severely wounded Sword Origin Sect’s elders, while Liao Feibai froze Yu Gao Bo into an ice sculpture and shattered him.
• Yu Ruhai used the Sword Origin Banner to block Black Water Country’s attacks and escape with the surviving elders, leaving Li Quan badly wounded.
• Guo Qijing and Chu Taiping escorted the victorious group to Blackwater Royal City, and the disciples praised Ye Zhen for recovering the Battle Soul Blood Banner.
• Ye Zhen closed his eyes during the return journey and considered how he could keep the Battle Soul Blood Banner.

Ye Zhen returned to Blackwater Royal City with the Battle Soul Blood Banner, knowing the sect leaders might take it from him for its protection. Emperor Yuankang tried to take possession of it during the welcome, but Ye Zhen withdrew it, leaving the banner’s ownership unresolved.

• Ye Zhen considered how the Battle Soul Blood Banner’s power and his own limited strength made it difficult to keep the banner safe from Sword Origin Sect and Black Water Country’s leaders.
• Emperor Yuankang and the royal court welcomed Guo Qijing, Chu Taiping, Ye Zhen, and the returning sect forces outside Blackwater Royal City.
• Emperor Yuankang praised Ye Zhen’s service and promised him a noble title, then asked to see the Battle Soul Blood Banner.
• Emperor Yuankang extended his hands to take the banner, and Ye Zhen nearly passed it over before realizing he might not get it back.
• Ye Zhen withdrew the banner and claimed its force could injure Emperor Yuankang; Guo Qijing backed him up, and Chu Taiping urged everyone into the city for treatment.

Ye Zhen devised a way to keep the Battle Soul Blood Banner by claiming that its power would diminish if it changed hands. While preparing for the next day's meeting, he upgraded the banner to Level Four and continued feeding it Demon Soul Blood Crystals until it stopped consuming them.

• Ye Zhen rejected Emperor Yuankang's invitations and stayed in the Refined Chamber while Guo Qijing and Chu Taiping kept the sects away from the royal family.
• Ye Zhen realized that arguing he deserved the Battle Soul Blood Banner would fail, so he planned to warn that changing hands would reduce its enhancement from forty percent to twenty percent.
• Ye Zhen used Demon Soul Blood Crystals to raise the banner's enhancement from forty percent to sixty percent, then decided to keep upgrading it.
• Ye Zhen gathered more crystals from Demon Soul Legions and raised the banner to Level Four, increasing combat strength by eighty percent.
• Ye Zhen poured more crystals onto the banner, but froze in shock when it stopped consuming them.

Ye Zhen used the Demon Soul Blood Crystals from his enemies’ Storage Bracelets to raise the Battle Soul Blood Banner to level five, learning that the Demon Soul Hall was a claimable war weapon and that he could make the banner recognize him as its owner. After recovering from the ordeal, he joined Black Water Country’s leaders for a meeting about who would hold the banner.

• Ye Zhen found enough Demon Soul Blood Crystals in the Storage Bracelets of the martial artists he had killed to complete the banner’s upgrade.
• The level-five banner revealed secrets about the Demon Soul Battlefield, including that the Demon Soul Hall was a claimable war weapon and that level five was the banner’s highest level.
• Ye Zhen used his blood and Spiritual Sense to make the Battle Soul Blood Banner recognize him completely, concealing its Blood Fiend aura and allowing him to control it remotely.
• Ye Zhen slept for three days while Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat guarded him, then woke when Han Shi arrived with the Sect Master’s invitation.
• Ye Zhen entered a meeting with Emperor Yuankang, the princes, Guo Qijing, Chu Taiping, and the sect elders, where Zhu Kun proposed discussing who would hold the Battle Soul Blood Banner.

Ye Zhen faced a dispute over who would hold the Battle Soul Blood Banner, then revealed that it had permanently acknowledged him as its master. The two sect masters confirmed no one could remove its Soul Imprint, so Ye Zhen kept the banner as Emperor Yuankang prepared to reward the other participants.

• The royal family, Qi Yun Sect, and Li Shui Sect argued over custody of the Battle Soul Blood Banner and agreed to rotate it among them.
• Third Prince Zhu Kun demanded that Ye Zhen hand over the banner, and Ye Zhen warned that it would lose power if it changed masters.
• Zhu Kun challenged Ye Zhen’s claim, citing intelligence that the banner could not completely acknowledge a master, so Ye Zhen tossed it to him to test.
• Zhu Kun failed to activate the banner, and Chu Taiping and Guo Qijing confirmed that its indelible Soul Imprint could not be erased.
• Chu Taiping and Guo Qijing ruled that Ye Zhen would keep the banner, disappointing Zhu Kun and delighting First Prince Zhu Xuan.
• As Emperor Yuankang moved to reward the other participants, Chu Taiping stepped forward and interrupted him, saying he had something to add.

Ye Zhen secured the Battle Soul Blood Banner while Chu Taiping and Guo Qijing arranged measures to protect him and conceal its whereabouts. The Royal Court made him a hereditary Third-Rank Marquis with a fief and honored his parents, and the chapter ended with First Prince Zhu Xuan asking Ye Zhen what he thought of Princess Huayang.

• Chu Taiping and Guo Qijing warned the gathering not to reveal that Ye Zhen still possessed the Battle Soul Blood Banner, then arranged a cover story, emergency Talisman Signals, and protection for him.
• The Royal Court granted the Five Nations Grand Assembly participants titles and rewards, while Ye Zhen received the hereditary title of Third-Rank Marquis Wu'an and Jincheng County as his fief.
• Ye Zhen accepted the gold and Spirit Crystals but refused the ten beauties, and his father Ye Tiancheng and mother Mi Jiangxue received honors at his request.
• Ye Zhen declined most invitations from nobles and aristocrats but attended First Prince Zhu Xuan's banquet, where Princess Huayang personally served him.
• First Prince Zhu Xuan asked Ye Zhen what he thought of his younger sister, Princess Huayang.

Ye Zhen refused First Prince Zhu Xuan’s attempt to arrange a marriage with Princess Huayang, then was lured to meet Third Prince Zhu Kun, who offered him enormous rewards for support in the succession struggle. Zhu Kun’s offer left Ye Zhen to decide whether to help him claim the throne.

• First Prince Zhu Xuan proposed that Ye Zhen marry Princess Huayang, but Ye Zhen refused because he loved Caiyi and had no feelings for the princess.
• Princess Huayang ran from the hall in tears, while Zhu Xuan accepted Ye Zhen’s refusal and resumed the banquet.
• A palace eunuch summoned Ye Zhen to arrange his Golden Book and Jade Seal, but instead brought him to an estate where Third Prince Zhu Kun was waiting.
• Zhu Kun explained that he had lost the Li Shui Sect’s support and feared Zhu Xuan would become crown prince, so he sought Ye Zhen’s backing.
• Zhu Kun offered to make Ye Zhen an Iron-Cap King and grant him one-third of Black Water Country’s prefectures and commanderies if Ye Zhen helped him take the throne.

Third Prince Zhu Kun offered Ye Zhen a vast fief and an oath backed by the Golden Mouth Soul Severing Divine Talisman to win his support, but Ye Zhen refused because he despised Zhu Kun’s willingness to sacrifice the country for the throne. When Zhu Kun threatened Ye Zhen’s family, Ye Zhen’s Battle Soul Blood Banner stirred and he drew his Heavenly Crystal Sword to attack.

• Third Prince Zhu Kun offered Ye Zhen control of a third of Black Water Country, including its taxes, officials, and army, but Ye Zhen rejected the offer.
• Third Prince Zhu Kun offered to swear an oath with the Golden Mouth Soul Severing Divine Talisman, yet Ye Zhen said he did not want his family to suffer as the imperial family did.
• Ye Zhen started to leave, and Third Prince Zhu Kun threatened him before an Old Eunuch of the Spirit Transformation Realm appeared beside the prince.
• Third Prince Zhu Kun revealed that Ye Zhen held the Battle Soul Blood Banner and threatened to have his thousand-plus relatives in Jincheng County slaughtered.
• Ye Zhen cried, “Courting death!” as the Battle Soul Blood Banner surged, then drew his Heavenly Crystal Sword while the Old Eunuch shielded Third Prince Zhu Kun.

Ye Zhen fought off Third Prince Zhu Kun’s Old Eunuch bodyguard and pursued Zhu Kun before he could escape. After learning Zhu Kun had not yet sent assassins after his family, Ye Zhen killed him, leaving himself injured by the Old Eunuch’s sinister force.

• Ye Zhen used the Battle Soul Blood Banner and his Origin Sword Meridian to wound the Old Eunuch, who blocked an attack meant for Third Prince Zhu Kun.
• Ye Zhen traded blows with the Old Eunuch, using his Black Wind Treasure Armor to survive the bodyguard’s attack before decapitating him with the Heavenly Crystal Sword.
• Ye Zhen shot Zhu Kun from the sky with an Azure Winged Spirit Arrow, then sealed the prince’s spirit power as he fell.
• Ye Zhen demanded to know whether Zhu Kun had sent assassins after his family, and Zhu Kun admitted he had not sent them yet.
• Ye Zhen ignored Zhu Kun’s claim of imperial status and smashed his head with a palm strike.

After Third Prince Zhu Kun was found murdered, Ye Zhen admitted to killing him when imperial and Li Shui Sect officials questioned him. Elder Li Shi halted the investigation, but Sect Master Guo Qijing then asked Ye Zhen why he had killed the prince.

• The Imperial Guard and Li Shui Sect traced Zhu Kun's secret meeting to Ye Zhen and confronted him at the Blackwater Dojo.
• Ye Zhen admitted that he had killed Zhu Kun, prompting Wu Han to try to seize him before Elder Bao intervened.
• Ye Zhen named several supposed accomplices and explained that Zhu Kun had asked him for support in becoming Crown Prince.
• Li Shi ended the questioning and persuaded Wu Han that Ye Zhen lacked the ability and motive to kill Zhu Kun.
• Guo Qijing summoned Ye Zhen and asked why he had killed Zhu Kun.

Ye Zhen returned to Qi Yun Sect after Third Prince Zhu Kun’s death was blamed on Sword Origin Sect, then sorted his spoils and sought help with his failed attempts to condense a Spirit Seed. The chapter ended as Illusory God Sect’s Bu Changtian arrived at Gu Xuan Sect and demanded that Cha Hai come out.

• Sect Master Guo Qijing told Ye Zhen that his mistake was hiding Zhu Kun’s death instead of openly standing by his actions.
• Qi Yun Sect and Li Shui Sect concluded that Sword Origin Sect elders had killed Zhu Kun while seeking the Battle Soul Blood Banner, and the imperial family gave the prince a grand funeral.
• Caiyi greeted Ye Zhen at Qi Yun Sect, and Guo Qijing advised him to delay visiting his parents because Sword Origin Sect might be watching for the Battle Soul Blood Banner.
• Ye Zhen counted the wealth and weapons he had seized, asked Caiyi about condensing a Spirit Seed, and then visited Instructor Liao Feibai for guidance.
• Bu Changtian arrived above Gu Xuan Sect with three Illusory God Sect elders and demanded that Cha Hai come out.

The Thousand Illusions Eagle King and Bu Changtian accused Gu Xuan Sect and Cha Hai of killing Luo Jingtian and other Illusory God Sect disciples, then threatened Gu Xuan Sect with captured disciples. Cha Hai surrendered himself but redirected their suspicion toward Ye Zhen of Qi Yun Sect, who he said had killed Da Hai, the Water Fire Golden Ape, and at least six Illusory God Sect disciples.

• Bu Changtian attacked Gu Xuan Sect’s peak, prompting its elders and the Thousand Illusions Eagle King to clash before both sides held back.
• The Thousand Illusions Eagle King accused Gu Xuan Sect of killing Luo Jingtian, while Bu Changtian blamed Cha Hai for the Illusory God Sect’s losses.
• The Thousand Illusions Eagle King revealed that his forces had captured six Gu Xuan Sect disciples and threatened to kill one every ten breaths unless Cha Hai came out.
• Cha Hai surrendered to protect the captured disciples and showed the Illusory God Sect his severed left arm as evidence that he had been badly wounded.
• Cha Hai said Ye Zhen of Qi Yun Sect in Black Water Country had killed Da Hai, the Water Fire Golden Ape, and at least six Illusory God Sect disciples, drawing the Eagle King and Bu Changtian’s attention to Ye Zhen.

Instructor Liao Feibai explained how Ye Zhen's inferior Talent Bloodline made condensing a Spirit Seed difficult and described the risks and possible shortcuts. Ye Zhen left for Caiyi Peak weighing his options, while Instructor Liao Feibai reflected that the choice of path was his to make.

• Instructor Liao Feibai warned Ye Zhen that Talent Bloodlines shaped the limits of cultivation and the number of martial divine abilities a person could forge.
• Ye Zhen asked how he could condense a Spirit Seed quickly, and Instructor Liao Feibai explained that painstaking cultivation with the Spirit Nurturing Art could take three years and still carried a risk of failure.
• Ye Zhen told Instructor Liao Feibai about his failed attempt, and she reassured him that he had not yet consumed any Innate Bloodline spirit energy.
• Instructor Liao Feibai said the Universe Stone Array Secret Realm was unavailable to Ye Zhen and described Spirit Nurturing Pills and Jade Spirit Grass as other possible aids.
• Ye Zhen thanked Instructor Liao Feibai and returned to Caiyi Peak, while she watched him leave and said the choice of road was his.

Ye Zhen mastered the first level of the Spirit Light Manifestation Secret Art and chose not to risk condensing a Spirit Seed without the needed materials. As he considered how to obtain a Spirit Nurturing Pill and Jade Spirit Grass, four attackers appeared above Qi Yun Sect and launched devastating strikes against its peaks.

• Ye Zhen tested his new secret art, confirming he could control two spiritual manifestations that each traveled over a thousand meters before dispersing.
• Caiyi brought Ye Zhen Spirit Calming Liquid, watched his manifestations, and received the Jade Talisman so she could learn the secret art.
• Three days later, Ye Zhen formed a large sphere of condensed spiritual power and revealed the Innate Bloodline energy in his four Talent Bloodlines, but withdrew his attempt to condense a Spirit Seed because failure could endanger his martial path.
• Ye Zhen thought about finding a Spirit Nurturing Pill and Jade Spirit Grass when four figures appeared above Qi Yun Sect and sent an enormous spiritual eagle toward Chaotic Cloud Peak.
• Bu Changtian launched a fist shadow toward East Arrival Peak, while Qi Yun Sect's defenders roared in anger, raised a hand seal and sword light, and sounded the alarm.

Illusory God Sect attacked Qi Yun Sect and demanded Ye Zhen and the Battle Soul Blood Banner, while Liao Feibai disrupted their plan by overwhelming Bu Changtian. The chapter ended with Ye Zhen realizing he had to find a way to save himself.

• Guo Qijing and Liao Feibai repelled the Thousand Illusions Eagle King and Bu Changtian, and Liao Feibai chased Bu Changtian through the air with her sword.
• The Thousand Illusions Eagle King revealed five captured Qi Yun Sect disciples as hostages, but Liao Feibai kept attacking until Guo Qijing ordered her to stop.
• Guo Qijing rejected Illusory God Sect's demand to hand over Qi Yun Sect disciples, and his Sect Guardian Spirit Treasure blocked an assault from the Thousand Illusions Spirit Sword.
• The Thousand Illusions Eagle King demanded that Qi Yun Sect hand over Ye Zhen and the Battle Soul Blood Banner in exchange for sparing the sect.
• Ye Zhen realized Illusory God Sect had targeted him and resolved to find a way to save himself.

The Illusory God Sect threatened the Qi Yun Sect and demanded Ye Zhen and the Battle Soul Blood Banner, but Ye Zhen proposed joining forces with the Gu Xuan Sect to resist them. After admitting he had killed Luo Jingtian, Ye Zhen revealed that he had upgraded the banner to level three, increasing combat strength by sixty percent, leaving the Illusory God Sect shaken.

• The Thousand Illusions Eagle King threatened to kill five captured Qi Yun Sect disciples unless Guo Qijing surrendered Ye Zhen and the Battle Soul Blood Banner.
• Ye Zhen suggested giving the banner to the Gu Xuan Sect, and Liao Feibai and Guo Qijing vowed to join forces with them if necessary.
• The Thousand Illusions Eagle King threatened Ye Zhen, who admitted killing Luo Jingtian and displayed Luo Jingtian's Six-Fingered Eagle Gauntlet.
• The Thousand Illusions Eagle King attacked Ye Zhen, but the Qi Yun Sect elders and Liao Feibai stopped the strike.
• Ye Zhen revealed that he had upgraded the Battle Soul Blood Banner to level three, allowing it to increase combat strength by sixty percent, and the Illusory God Sect members were stunned.

Ye Zhen concealed that he could control the level-five Battle Soul Blood Banner, using its displayed sixty-percent boost to deter the Illusory God Sect and bluff about reinforcements. He challenged Bu Changtian over his brother’s death, then began setting conditions for a duel as the Eagle King agreed to hear them.

• Ye Zhen revealed the Demon Soul Blood Crystal costs to upgrade the Battle Soul Blood Banner, and the Illusory God Sect members doubted his claims.
• Ye Zhen secretly activated the banner while Liao Feibai pretended to take control of it, and the Qi Yun Sect members gained a sixty-percent combat boost.
• Ye Zhen and Zhong Li Jing warned the Illusory God Sect about Qi Yun Sect’s allies and Sword Origin Sect’s recent defeat, prompting the four visitors to retreat together.
• The Thousand Illusions Eagle King threatened to ambush Ye Zhen outside the sect, so Ye Zhen offered to fight and then taunted him for volunteering himself.
• Ye Zhen accused Bu Changtian of being able to avenge Bu Changxuan, showed him the Long Wind Sword, and demanded conditions before agreeing to duel him.
• The Thousand Illusions Eagle King asked Ye Zhen to state his conditions, allowing Ye Zhen to take control of the negotiation.

Ye Zhen lured the Illusory God Sect into agreeing to withdraw if he fought Bu Changtian, then insisted they battle at equal cultivation and received the Battle Soul Blood Banner’s boost. Their first exchange ended with Ye Zhen dodging Bu Changtian’s lethal palm by using his sword’s rebound, but the Heavenly Crystal Sword shattered as Ye Zhen counterattacked with its fragments and drew the Azure Winged Divine Bow.

• Ye Zhen offered to fight Bu Changtian in exchange for the Illusory God Sect returning to its sect, and the Thousand Illusions Eagle King and Bu Ziqi accepted.
• Ye Zhen demanded that Bu Changtian suppress his cultivation to the Peak Spirit Drawing Realm, and Bu Changtian sealed his own cultivation.
• Liao Feibai used the Battle Soul Blood Banner to empower Ye Zhen, doubling his Soul Power before the duel began.
• Ye Zhen attacked with the Wind Cloud Sword Technique, but Bu Changtian broke his sword wheel with the Thousand Absolute Palms and drove a deadly palm toward him.
• Ye Zhen used the rebound of the Heavenly Crystal Sword to evade Bu Changtian’s strike, then sent the shattered sword fragments at him and drew the Azure Winged Divine Bow.

Ye Zhen used the Azure Winged Divine Bow to force Bu Changtian into a defensive stalemate, then baited him into charging and wounded him with a concealed sequence of attacks. The chapter ended with Ye Zhen driving the Long Wind Sword toward Bu Changtian’s chest wound.

• Bu Changtian ignored Ye Zhen’s broken sword fragments, while Ye Zhen drew the Azure Winged Divine Bow and kept its arrow aimed without firing.
• Ye Zhen circled Bu Changtian at a distance, forcing him to shield himself with Thousand Absolute Palms as the Qi Yun Sect elders mocked him.
• Ye Zhen suggested a draw, provoking Bu Changtian to abandon his defenses and charge; Ye Zhen fired the Azure Winged Spirit Arrow, which pierced Bu Changtian’s palm and wounded his chest.
• Bu Changtian struck back, but Ye Zhen used the Spirit Light Manifestation Secret Art to confuse him and then attacked with Ice Fiend Qi, freezing him.
• Ye Zhen replaced the Ice Fiend Qi in his right hand with the Long Wind Sword and thrust it toward Bu Changtian’s chest wound.