Chapter Summaries

Ye Zhen nearly killed Bu Changtian, who survived by unsealing his cultivation and then admitted defeat. The Illusory God Sect withdrew after Fu Dongxing agreed to end the conflict, but he later ordered his people to kill Ye Zhen if they met again.

• Ye Zhen drove his sword toward Bu Changtian's exposed chest while the Qi Yun Sect elders blocked the Illusory God Sect's attempt to intervene.
• Bu Changtian unsealed his cultivation at the brink of death, shattered Ye Zhen's sword force, and nearly counterattacked before Ye Zhen retreated and declared him defeated.
• Bu Changtian admitted defeat as the Qi Yun Sect elders wounded Bu Ziqi and Lei Yuankui and forced the Thousand Illusions Eagle King into retreat.
• Fu Dongxing negotiated an end to the fighting, and Guo Qijing ordered the Qi Yun Sect elders to withdraw after Fu promised the Illusory God Sect would not retaliate against the sect.
• The Illusory God Sect departed with Bu Changtian, and the rescued disciples thanked Ye Zhen for saving them.
• Fu Dongxing discovered that Bu Changtian had been badly affected by Ye Zhen's cold qi and ordered the Thousand Illusions Eagle King, Bu Ziqi, and Lei Yuankui to kill Ye Zhen if they encountered him again.

Ye Zhen insisted on leaving the Qi Yun Sect to seek treasures and stronger techniques, so Guo Qijing sent him to learn a proper Disguise Art before setting out. After Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat advanced to Mid-grade Earth-tier, Ye Zhen shared a farewell kiss with Caiyi and traveled to Blackwater Royal City to meet Liu Datong.

• Ye Zhen refused Guo Qijing's offer to spend five years cultivating in the sect and revealed his plan to seek Spirit Nurturing Pills, Jade Spirit Grass, and stronger techniques in the Illusory God Empire.
• Guo Qijing spotted flaws in Ye Zhen's disguise and gave him a Jade Talisman to take to Liu Datong, ordering him to complete his apprenticeship before leaving for training.
• Ye Zhen arranged communications with Zhong Li Jing and waited as Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat slept after swallowing three Mid-grade Earth-tier Monster Cores.
• Little Cat awakened three days later, absorbed the clouds around Fairy Maiden Peak, and advanced to Mid-grade Earth-tier.
• Caiyi realized Ye Zhen was leaving, kissed him, and urged him to stay safe.
• Ye Zhen arrived at Liu Datong's residence in Blackwater Royal City.

Ye Zhen learned the True Transformation Art, Bone Shrinking Technique, and the customs and accents needed to disguise himself as someone from another country. After twenty days of training, Liu Datong declared that Ye Zhen had mastered the skills and gave him leave to build experience on his own.

• Liu Datong explained that the highest level of disguise required becoming a different person through changes to appearance, voice, clothing, habits, and customs.
• Liu Datong taught Ye Zhen the True Transformation Art and Bone Shrinking Technique, and Ye Zhen secretly trained in them and studied foreign customs and dialects.
• After twenty days, Ye Zhen repeatedly failed Liu Datong’s test to buy food without being recognized, and Liu Datong pointed out the flaws in his disguise as a laborer.
• Liu Datong declared Ye Zhen’s training complete, and Ye Zhen bowed to thank him for passing on his art.
• Ye Zhen gave Liu Datong a personally signed calling card for the First Prince’s residence and left.

Ye Zhen traveled incognito through Dayuan City and learned that reclaiming the Battle Soul Blood Banner had brought relief to its people and a pause in the fighting. He discovered that locals had arranged a welcome for him, only for a counterfeit Marquis Wu'an to arrive first.

• Ye Zhen disguised himself, rode into Dayuan City with Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat disguised as a black cat, and noticed the city was unusually quiet.
• A young beggar told Ye Zhen that news of the recovered Battle Soul Blood Banner had prompted Sword Origin Empire's forces to withdraw and Black Water Country to release laborers and soldiers from service.
• Ye Zhen gave the beggar enough silver to start a small business after the boy described how his parents had died as conscripted laborers.
• At Hundred Battles Tower, Ye Zhen learned that local commanders, martial artists, and merchants had reserved the establishment to welcome Marquis Wu'an.
• A richly dressed young man arrived with a banner bearing the name “Marquis Wu'an. Ye,” and Ye Zhen realized he was a counterfeit.

Ye Zhen discovered an impostor using his name to collect gifts and gain access to Daye Pass’s military maps, then exposed him and defeated his guards. The impostor begged for his life by promising to offer an extraordinary treasure.

• Ye Zhen joined the welcoming party and watched the impostor receive a salute from Duke Ming Zhou Zhen and the Daye Pass generals.
• General Yu offered the impostor a Storage Bracelet in exchange for help getting transferred from Daye Pass, and the impostor accepted it.
• The impostor asked Duke Ming Zhou Zhen to show him Daye Pass’s Black Dragon Domain Terrain Spirit Map, claiming he had urgent military intelligence.
• Ye Zhen revealed his identity and presented his authentic Purple Talisman, prompting Duke Ming Zhou Zhen to recognize the impostor’s deception.
• The impostor and his attendants attacked Ye Zhen, but Ye Zhen swiftly defeated them and stopped his sword at the impostor’s brow.
• The impostor begged Ye Zhen to spare him and promised to give him an extraordinary treasure.

Ye Zhen exposed Wang Xingye, who had impersonated him to gain access to Daye Pass’s Military Terrain Spirit Map and locate a treasure. After uncovering the impostor’s plan, Ye Zhen sent the Crown Prince a request for rotations for the border generals and left Daye Pass to study the Treasure Map.

• Ye Zhen revealed himself, captured Wang Xingye, and asked the martial artists to expose anyone else impersonating him.
• At Daye Pass, Ye Zhen interrogated Wang Xingye and learned that he had impersonated Ye Zhen to consult the complete Military Terrain Spirit Map.
• Wang Xingye confessed that he sought a treasure marked on an old map, and Ye Zhen compared it with the military map to find several possible locations.
• Ye Zhen scarred Wang Xingye’s face to prevent further impersonation and accepted the commander’s offer to put the impostor and his followers to work for the army.
• Duke Ming Zhou Zhen asked Ye Zhen to advocate for rotations for the border generals, and Ye Zhen sent the Crown Prince a Talisman Signal promising to raise the matter.
• Ye Zhen declined a banquet, left Daye Pass overnight, and began studying the Treasure Map on the road.

Ye Zhen traveled toward Gu An Kingdom aboard the Heng Hai Hao, hoping to investigate a treasure map and find an opportunity to condense a Spirit Seed. As he returned to his room, a sharp aura made his First Sword Meridian throb involuntarily, leaving the source of the disturbance unknown.

• Ye Zhen compared the treasure map with the Military Terrain Spirit Map and identified Antai Mountain and Wild Orchid Mountain as possible treasure sites.
• After getting lost and losing his Ghost Eye Jade Lion to Monster Beasts, Ye Zhen chose to travel by Sea Beast Ship rather than risk traveling overland or through the air.
• Ye Zhen boarded the Heaven Grade Heng Hai Hao under the alias Zheng Ye and instructed the steward and maid to leave him alone while he cultivated.
• The Heng Hai Hao traveled along the Floating Red River toward Gu An Kingdom, and Ye Zhen learned that it would pass near Antai Mountain.
• As Ye Zhen turned to return to his room, a sharp aura appeared and his First Sword Meridian throbbed despite his not activating the Sword Vein Divine Ability.

Ye Zhen learned from Boss Ma that Spirit Sword Burial Mountain was a public secret realm known for erupting sword qi and broken swords. When its sword qi stirred Ye Zhen’s First Sword Meridian, he flew toward the mountain to investigate.

• Ye Zhen reacted to a terrifying sword aura, and Boss Ma explained that it came from Spirit Sword Burial Mountain.
• Ye Zhen watched sword lights cleave the clouds and noticed that each one stirred his First Sword Meridian.
• Ye Zhen bought Boss Ma Five Spirits Brew, and Boss Ma recounted how Spirit Sword Burial Mountain’s swords had inspired Yuan Shan to found the Sword Origin Sect and how the mountain became a public secret realm.
• Boss Ma explained that the mountain erupted monthly and had a major eruption every three months, then pretended to pass out when Ye Zhen asked about a Spirit Nurturing Pill.
• Ye Zhen flew toward Spirit Sword Burial Mountain because its erupting sword qi affected his Sword Vein Divine Ability.

Ye Zhen reached Spirit Sword Burial Mountain and entered a gorge carved by the legendary purple spirit sword, where sword intent tested his strength. After learning about the six grades of remnant swords and the mountain’s coming eruption, he continued deeper into the gorge, astonishing the martial artists watching him.

• Ye Zhen brought the Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat to Spirit Sword Burial Mountain and hid it in his robes before entering the gorge.
• Ye Zhen advanced through the gorge’s fierce sword intent and confronted a Green-robed Middle-aged Martial Artist who tried to drive him away.
• Ren Yinghua recognized Ye Zhen as a fellow countryman, and Ye Zhen reached Ren Yinghua’s position with apparent ease.
• Ren Yinghua explained the six grades of remnant swords, the mountain’s eruption cycle, and the danger posed by a One-armed Martial Artist farther ahead.
• Ye Zhen continued deeper into the gorge, leaving Ren Yinghua increasingly shocked and the Green-robed Middle-aged Martial Artist trembling.

Ye Zhen advanced deep into Sword Mark Canyon and discovered that the First Sword Meridian let him withstand the canyon’s sword intent and fully comprehend a Gray Remnant Sword. When its sword light merged into his meridian and restored three golden Origin Sword Meridians, he understood that his Sword Vein Divine Ability could replenish what he had thought was permanently lost.

• Ye Zhen passed the One-armed Martial Artist and advanced farther into Sword Mark Canyon, activating the First Sword Meridian when a powerful sword intent struck him back.
• Ye Zhen sat down to recover, while Ren Yinghua and the Green-robed Middle-aged Martial Artist reacted to how far he had advanced.
• Spirit Sword Burial Mountain erupted, sending Remnant Swords toward the canyon, and Ye Zhen intercepted two Cyan Remnant Swords and a Gray Remnant Sword.
• Ye Zhen watched the One-armed Swordsman and Ren Yinghua intercept more Remnant Swords, while the Green-robed Middle-aged Martial Artist left with only a White Remnant Sword.
• Ye Zhen studied a Gray Remnant Sword and, with the First Sword Meridian’s enhancement, comprehended its sword light in a few breaths.
• The Gray Remnant Sword’s light entered Ye Zhen’s First Sword Meridian and split into three golden sword lights, restoring his Origin Sword Meridians.

Ye Zhen cultivated at Spirit Sword Burial Mountain, using remnant swords to strengthen his Half-Pulse Divine Ability and killing a one-armed swordsman who attacked him. After half a year, a great eruption finally began, and Ye Zhen picked up two Crimson Remnant Swords, but froze as he felt their effect.

• Ye Zhen discovered that Cyan Remnant Swords added far more Origin Sword Meridians than gray ones and decided to cultivate at Spirit Sword Burial Mountain.
• During an eruption, Ye Zhen seized the Cyan Remnant Swords, killed the one-armed swordsman who attacked him, and found fifteen Cyan Remnant Swords among the man's possessions.
• Ye Zhen spent half a year at the mountain, raising his Half-Pulse Divine Ability's completion from below fifty percent to above sixty percent and driving off martial artists who challenged his territory.
• A great eruption shook Spirit Sword Burial Mountain, sending a golden sword light, dozens of Crimson Remnant Swords, and more than a hundred Blue Broken Swords into the air.
• Ye Zhen knocked down two Crimson Remnant Swords and six Cyan Remnant Swords, then froze when he picked up the crimson swords.

Ye Zhen used the force of his sword and a glimpse of Clear Heart Sword Intent to make a Spirit Transformation Realm opponent surrender the Red Broken Swords without striking. After collecting and comprehending broken swords at Spirit Sword Burial Mountain, Ye Zhen decided to leave and raise his cultivation before returning to seek more.

• Ye Zhen's sword aura overwhelmed the mole-faced First Layer Spirit Transformation Realm martial artist, who conceded the two Red Broken Swords and fled.
• Ye Zhen realized he had briefly entered the state of Clear Heart Sword Intent, though he could not summon it at will.
• Sword Origin Sect Elder Zhisheng seized the Golden Remnant Sword and declared it belonged to the Sword Origin Sect.
• Ye Zhen collected broken swords and spent ten days comprehending a Crimson Remnant Sword, which he estimated could refine and merge more than four hundred Origin Sword Meridians.
• After a scarce eruption at Spirit Sword Burial Mountain, Ye Zhen decided to leave, raise his cultivation to the Spirit Transformation Realm, and return later; Ren Yinghua approached him as he prepared to go.

Ye Zhen reached Sanyuan City with Ren Yinghua, who explained the value of broken swords and introduced him to Hai Luoshuang, the Tower Master of Myriad Stars Tower. Ye Zhen refused her invitation to join, but accepted her challenge to exchange pointers; Dong Xuan arrived, and both men reacted with surprise when they saw each other.

• Ren Yinghua told Ye Zhen that broken swords from Spirit Sword Burial Mountain could be sold for substantial sums and escorted him to Sanyuan City.
• Ren Yinghua invited Hai Luoshuang, the powerful Tower Master of Myriad Stars Tower, to meet Ye Zhen and offer him membership.
• Ye Zhen declined Hai Luoshuang's invitation because he did not trust an organization he knew nothing about.
• Hai Luoshuang challenged Ye Zhen to exchange pointers with Dong Xuan, one of the Seventy-two Meteorites, and Ye Zhen agreed.
• Ren Yinghua brought Dong Xuan into the courtyard, where Dong Xuan and Ye Zhen both reacted with surprise at seeing each other.

Ye Zhen declined Hai Luoshuang’s invitation to join Myriad Stars Tower, but accepted her invitation to an auction featuring Crimson Remnant Sword fragments. At the auction house, he realized the invitation carried significant influence and found Hai Luoshuang waiting in his VIP room.

• Dong Xuan admitted that Ye Zhen had defeated him before he could make a move, convincing Hai Luoshuang that Ye Zhen was a rare talent.
• Hai Luoshuang offered Ye Zhen access to Myriad Stars Tower’s resources and information, but Ye Zhen refused to join before investigating the organization.
• Hai Luoshuang gave Ye Zhen an invitation to an auction where at least five Crimson Remnant Sword fragments were expected to appear.
• Three days later, Ye Zhen used the invitation to enter Heavenly Treasure Auction House after its guards turned away an uninvited martial artist.
• An attendant escorted Ye Zhen to a VIP room, where he was surprised to find Hai Luoshuang already seated.

Ye Zhen attended an auction with Hai Luoshuang, learned that eight Crimson Remnant Swords were available, and watched the bidding on rare treasures begin. The Crimson Remnant Sword auction opened with fierce competition, and the price quickly reached one million five hundred thousand taels of gold.

• Hai Luoshuang invited Ye Zhen to join Myriad Stars Tower and told him that eight Crimson Remnant Swords were up for auction.
• Ye Zhen noticed that most bidders had disguised or concealed themselves, and Hai Luoshuang explained that smaller auctions attracted valuable treasures and discreet buyers.
• The auctioneer sold a Low-grade Treasure Armor for two hundred and eighty thousand taels of gold and the saber manual Flowing Light Slash for six hundred and seventy thousand taels.
• The auction house sold seven sets of Cyan Remnant Swords, while Ye Zhen declined to bid because many swords held overlapping sword dao insights.
• The auctioneer began selling the eight Crimson Remnant Swords in two sets, and bids for the first set quickly rose to one million five hundred thousand taels of gold.

Ye Zhen won both sets of Crimson Remnant Swords at auction, spending seven million taels of gold. As he prepared to complete the transaction, the auction’s grand finale was revealed: a Mid-grade Treasure Sword called the Profound Yang Sword.

• A richly dressed youth bid against Ye Zhen for the first set of Crimson Remnant Swords, but Ye Zhen raised the price to three million taels of gold and won.
• Ye Zhen competed with the youth for the second set, ultimately winning it for four million taels of gold after the youth ran out of funds.
• A steward invited Ye Zhen to complete the handover, but the auctioneer announced that the grand finale treasure was about to appear.
• The auctioneer opened a stone case, revealing the Profound Yang Sword, a Mid-grade Treasure Sword that astonished Hai Luoshuang and Ye Zhen.

Ye Zhen decided to bid on the cracked Mid-grade Treasure Sword, the Profound Yang Sword, after learning it could still amplify spiritual power but could not withstand Soul Sea Realm power. Just as Yin Kainian seemed poised to win it for seventy thousand Low-grade Spirit Crystals, Ye Zhen raised the bid to seventy-five thousand.

• Ye Zhen and the auction hall learned that the Profound Yang Sword was a damaged Mid-grade Treasure Sword whose cracks prevented it from unleashing sword qi and made it unsafe for Soul Sea Realm users.
• Hai Luoshuang warned Ye Zhen against competing with Yin Kainian, but Ye Zhen remained intent on bidding.
• Yin Kainian raised the price to sixty-five thousand Low-grade Spirit Crystals, and the Sword Origin Sect elder eventually withdrew from the contest.
• Yin Kainian bid seventy thousand Low-grade Spirit Crystals, leaving the other bidders ready to concede.
• Ye Zhen shocked the auction hall by bidding seventy-five thousand Low-grade Spirit Crystals.

Ye Zhen won the Profound Yang Sword for 126,000 Low-grade Spirit Crystals, despite Yin Kainian exhausting his wealth to outbid him. At the Heavenly Treasure Auction House, Ye Zhen faced a payment shortfall and began offering his spoils, then produced a Jade Talisman to cover the remaining cost.

• Ye Zhen and Yin Kainian drove the Profound Yang Sword bidding up to 126,000 Low-grade Spirit Crystals, and Ye Zhen won when Yin Kainian ran out of funds.
• Yin Kainian told Chen Tai to track Ye Zhen and planned to attack him outside Sanyuan City, while he secretly struck at Ye Zhen in the auction house and was stopped by its guards.
• Ye Zhen followed a manager to settle his purchases, and Hai Luoshuang remained astonished by his wealth and offered to help.
• The manager calculated that Ye Zhen was still short 69,000 Low-grade Spirit Crystals after counting his notes and crystals.
• Ye Zhen offered Storage Bracelets, Treasure Rings, weapons, and pills toward the debt, then produced a Jade Talisman and asked whether it would be enough.

Ye Zhen paid for the Profound Yang Sword by selling his Ice Fiend Qi manual, then stayed in Sanyuan City to avoid Yin Kainian. After half a month of sword training, he prepared to leave, but Hai Luoshuang offered him a verbal message.

• Ye Zhen sold the Ice Fiend Qi manual to the Heavenly Treasure Auction House for seventy thousand Low-grade Spirit Crystals and used the proceeds to settle his bill.
• Hai Luoshuang warned Ye Zhen that Yin Kainian was the Blood Fox Sword, a dangerous fugitive who had murdered Sword Origin Sect disciples and would likely target him beyond Sanyuan City.
• Ye Zhen accepted Hai Luoshuang's advice and stayed at an inn belonging to Myriad Stars Tower while comprehending the eight Crimson Remnant Swords.
• After half a month, Ye Zhen advanced Clear Heart Sword Intent to sixty-five percent and gained a thirty percent chance of entering its heightened state.
• Ye Zhen told Hai Luoshuang he was leaving, and she offered him a verbal message instead of a gift.

Ye Zhen left Sanyuan City after Hai Luoshuang told him that Spirit Nurturing Pills would soon be auctioned in the Illusory God Empire. As he traveled through a maple forest, he discovered an ambush arranged by Chen Tai and killed four of the attackers with the Profound Yang Sword.

• Hai Luoshuang told Ye Zhen that the Fragrant Division Pill King had gathered the herbs for Spirit Nurturing Pills and that one or two pills would likely be auctioned in two or three months.
• Ye Zhen left Sanyuan City on foot, while Hai Luoshuang learned that the Zheng Ye of the Golden Rainbow Sect had been missing for several years.
• Chen Tai told Blood Fox Sword Yin Kainian that Great River Gang experts were waiting to ambush Ye Zhen in the maple forest.
• Ye Zhen used animal calls to detect the ambushers, created a spiritual shadow, and silently killed three of them among the trees.
• Third Brother attacked Ye Zhen with blade qi, but Ye Zhen split the attack and Third Brother in two with the Profound Yang Sword.