Chapter Summaries

Ye Zhen, Green Vine, and Han Tai fought to stop the Blood God Cult from slaughtering a city and refining its victims’ blood. After Ye Zhen confronted the Blood Wolf Envoy, the Envoy lured him into an attack with a concealed demonic flame.

• Ye Zhen rushed onto the city wall and saw the Blood Disciples massacring residents while the Blood Wolf Envoy performed a blood ritual.
• Ye Zhen refused Han Tai’s suggestion to retreat and used his Azure Winged Divine Bow to kill numerous Blood Disciples as Green Vine and Han Tai fought beside him.
• The Blood Wolf Envoy attacked Ye Zhen with blood light, and Han Tai engaged him but was quickly wounded and knocked back.
• Ye Zhen gave his bow to Han Tai, who used it to shoot down Blood Disciples while Green Vine fought with her whip and talisman arrays.
• The Blood Wolf Envoy unleashed Blood Demon Finger, and Ye Zhen countered it with his own finger technique after drawing on the Battle Soul Blood Banner.
• A hidden Blood God Demonic Flame appeared behind Ye Zhen as the Blood Wolf Envoy chanted, and Han Tai warned him to beware.

Ye Zhen killed the Blood Wolf Envoy and helped Han Tai and Green Vine wipe out the Blood Robe Warriors, but the blood demon escaped. After learning why the Blood God Cult slaughtered the city for Blood Spirit Pearls, they treated the survivors and continued toward the Imperial Capital; half a month later, the city raised statues of the three rescuers.

• The Blood Wolf Envoy's Blood God World-Crossing Flame was largely countered by Ye Zhen's embryonic Azure Jade Spirit Armor, and Ye Zhen killed him with the Floating Cloud Finger, though the blood demon fled.
• Ye Zhen, Green Vine, and Han Tai killed the fleeing Blood Robe Warriors and found a Blood Spirit Pearl in the Blood Wolf Envoy's Storage Ring.
• Han Tai explained that the Blood God Cult used massacres to make Blood Spirit Pearls and had repeatedly survived attempts to destroy it.
• The three spent the night treating the city's injured survivors, then rode toward the Imperial Capital of the Illusory God Empire at dawn.
• Half a month later, the recovering city raised statues of Ye Zhen, Green Vine, and Han Tai.

Ye Zhen, Green Vine, and Han Tai reached the Imperial Capital and struggled to find lodging before Bao Hong invited them to a gathering hosted by Black Dragon Ranking expert Sha Muchao. Ye Zhen reluctantly attended to watch the ranked martial artists spar, but Sha Muchao objected to his presence because he was only at the Spirit Drawing Realm.

• Ye Zhen, Green Vine, and Han Tai entered the Imperial Capital, where Han Tai explained its strict hierarchy and martial artists’ privileges.
• After failing to find a room in the inner city, Han Tai met his friend Bao Hong, who invited the group to Sha Muchao’s gathering.
• Bao Hong explained that Sha Muchao had hosted the gathering to test potential Black Dragon Ranking competitors before the Black Dragon Ancient Land opened.
• Han Tai praised Ye Zhen’s combat strength and persuaded him to attend despite his Spirit Drawing Realm cultivation.
• Sha Muchao welcomed Han Tai and Bao Hong, then objected when he saw that Ye Zhen was a Spirit Drawing Realm martial artist.

Ye Zhen attended Sha Muchao’s martial gathering, where he clashed verbally with Wei Wuji and accurately predicted the winner of the first sparring match. The gathering continued with Wei Wuji humiliated by the fighters’ shockwave, while Green Vine mocked him.

• Sha Muchao accepted Ye Zhen’s qualifications, and Wei Wuji belittled Ye Zhen for challenging someone stronger and for the Qing Luo Sect’s record.
• Ye Zhen challenged the dead Luo Jingtian, then criticized the Illusory God Sect for boasting about a dead martial artist; Green Vine defended him when Wei Wuji grew angry.
• Sha Muchao outlined the gathering’s sparring rules, and Ma Yi and Zhou Wei began a match with their Chaotic Shadow Art and Ghost Fire Soul Falling Palm.
• Ye Zhen predicted that Zhou Wei would win, despite Ma Yi appearing to have the advantage, and explained how Zhou Wei’s balanced technique could counter Ma Yi’s attacks.
• Zhou Wei combined his ghost flames to destroy Ma Yi’s azure spike and struck Ma Yi, while the resulting shockwave drenched Wei Wuji in food and wine.
• Green Vine mocked Wei Wuji over his defeat and bedraggled appearance, and a vegetable leaf fell into his mouth.

Ye Zhen challenged Wei Wuji after Wei Wuji defeated Han Tai, then used Clear Heart Sword Intent to fight the much stronger opponent to a standstill. As Wei Wuji unleashed Azure Crane Phantom Kill again, Han Tai urgently warned him not to harm Ye Zhen.

• Wei Wuji challenged Green Vine, but Han Tai stepped in to fight him instead.
• Wei Wuji used his speed and Azure Crane Phantom Kill to defeat Han Tai, and Ye Zhen intervened before he could strike again.
• Ye Zhen awakened Clear Heart Sword Intent and fought Wei Wuji without using the Battle Soul Blood Banner.
• Ye Zhen’s swordsmanship kept Wei Wuji at bay, astonishing the onlookers with his strength despite his lower cultivation.
• Wei Wuji launched Azure Crane Phantom Kill at Ye Zhen, prompting Green Vine to cry out and Han Tai to urgently warn Wei Wuji not to harm him.

Ye Zhen defeated Wei Wuji at a martial artists’ gathering, then watched Sha Muchao defeat Bao Hong and chose not to fight Sha. At the banquet, Ye Zhen learned that Fragrant Division Pill King’s Spirit Nurturing Pills would be auctioned in three days.

• Ye Zhen used Floating Cloud Finger to shatter Wei Wuji’s azure crane phantom and severely injure him, prompting Wei Wuji to leave the gathering.
• The martial artists’ sparring continued, and Sha Muchao defeated Liang Ji with Thousand Absolute Palms.
• Bao Hong trapped Sha Muchao in his Ground-Drawing Cage, but Sha Muchao broke free with Bear King Mountain-Moving Hammer, and Bao Hong conceded.
• Sha Muchao invited Ye Zhen to fight, but Ye Zhen refused to avoid exposing his trump cards.
• At the banquet, Ye Zhen heard that Fragrant Division Pill King would auction Spirit Nurturing Pills and other treasures in three days.

Ye Zhen and his companions failed to obtain an auction invitation from Master Chijin, but a mysterious woman in a carriage unexpectedly sent Ye Zhen a genuine invitation. The woman’s familiar voice left Ye Zhen wondering who she was as Wen Tianyu fled in embarrassment.

• Ye Zhen, Green Vine, and Han Tai visited Master Chijin, who explained that he had already given the Fragrant Division Pill King's invitation to someone else and could not retrieve it.
• Master Chijin apologized and gave Green Vine and Han Tai two pieces of Low-grade Treasure Armor before they left.
• Wen Tianyu mocked the group outside Master Chijin's residence, and Han Tai insisted they would still find an invitation before the auction.
• A woman in a luxurious carriage sent Ye Zhen a genuine Fragrant Division Pill King's invitation, silencing Wen Tianyu.
• Green Vine teased Wen Tianyu about becoming Han Tai's grandson, and Wen Tianyu left in embarrassment while Ye Zhen recognized the woman's voice.

Hai Luoshuang exposed Ye Zhen’s identity, persuaded him to join the Myriad Stars Tower, and told him the Sword Origin Sect believed he had returned to Black Water Country. As Ye Zhen went to the Fragrant Division Pill King’s auction with Green Vine and Han Tai, he spotted Bu Changtian and feared his disguise might be recognized.

• Hai Luoshuang explained that she had identified Ye Zhen through his questions about the Spirit Nurturing Pill and had used a real invitation to draw him out.
• Ye Zhen agreed to join the Myriad Stars Tower as a Meteorite after learning that Liao Feibai was one of its Guardian Stars.
• Hai Luoshuang told Ye Zhen that the Sword Origin Sect believed he had returned to Black Water Country and had sent spies there to search for him.
• Green Vine and Han Tai gave Ye Zhen Storage Rings of savings to help him win the Spirit Nurturing Pill at the auction, and he accepted their gifts.
• Ye Zhen, Green Vine, and Han Tai arrived at the Fragrant Division Pill King’s auction, where Ye Zhen saw Bu Changtian and tried to avoid drawing attention.
• Bu Changtian sensed a piercing gaze and looked toward Ye Zhen’s back.

Ye Zhen attended Fragrant Division Pill King's auction in disguise, where the only Spirit Nurturing Pill drew competition from several powerful families. As bidding began, Green Vine worried that they could not afford it, but Ye Zhen insisted he had a way to raise the funds.

• Ye Zhen entered Private Room Nine and avoided recognition by Palm Absolute Bu Changtian, who briefly found his gaze familiar.
• True Person Tianzhu arrived with Wen Tianyu and another young man, and the guests discussed the Hu, Mo, and Bu families' competition for the sole Spirit Nurturing Pill.
• Green Vine and Han Tai offered their Low-grade Treasure Armors for auction to raise funds, but Ye Zhen told them to keep the armors and said he had another plan.
• Steward Gu explained the auction rules, including on-the-spot payment, and introduced Master Xu as the auctioneer.
• Master Xu opened the auction with Spirit Calming Jade Liquid.

Ye Zhen recognized the auction’s Spirit Calming Jade Liquid as the drink Caiyi had often given him and renewed his resolve to grow strong enough to protect her. He bought Spirit Transformation Pills for his companions, then baited Wen Tianyu into driving the final set’s price to 1.31 million taels of gold, leaving Wen Tianyu and True Person Tianzhu alarmed when Ye Zhen stopped bidding.

• The three doses of Spirit Calming Jade Liquid sold for 90,000, 80,000, and 85,000 Low-grade Spirit Crystals, and Ye Zhen realized they were weaker than the liquid Caiyi had given him.
• Remembering Caiyi and his inability to protect her, Ye Zhen resolved to raise his cultivation and become strong enough to keep her safe.
• Ye Zhen bid 700,000 taels of gold for the first set of Spirit Transformation Pills after Wen Tianyu tried to disrupt his bidding.
• Wen Tianyu forced Ye Zhen to pay 800,000 taels of gold for the second set, believing he had made Ye Zhen spend extra money.
• Ye Zhen raised the third set’s price to 1.3 million taels, and Wen Tianyu bid 1.31 million just as True Person Tianzhu warned him to stop.
• Ye Zhen smiled and did not bid again, leaving Wen Tianyu and True Person Tianzhu to realize that Wen Tianyu might be stuck with the costly pills.

Ye Zhen outmaneuvered Wen Tianyu during the Spirit Transformation Pills auction, then watched the Ancient Moon Sword sell for a huge price. The Shattered Jade True Scripture’s appearance caught Ye Zhen’s attention, and the chapter ended as bidding began.

• Wen Tianyu tried to drive up Ye Zhen’s bid for Spirit Transformation Pills but was left paying 610,000 taels of gold when Ye Zhen stopped bidding.
• Ye Zhen won the final two batches of Spirit Transformation Pills cheaply and gave them to Green Vine and Han Tai.
• The Ancient Moon Sword sold to a mysterious bidder in private room number two for 270,000 Low-grade Spirit Crystals, while Ye Zhen chose not to compete further.
• Ye Zhen reacted with surprise when the auctioneer introduced the incomplete Mid-grade Earth-tier Shattered Jade True Scripture, and bidding began.

Ye Zhen recognized the Shattered Jade True Scripture as the missing first half of the Shattered Jade Battle Body and maneuvered to buy it without revealing his connection. Hu Shuai drove up the price, believing he had weakened Ye Zhen’s chances of bidding on the Spirit Nurturing Pill, and the chapter ended with Ye Zhen confidently accepting the challenge.

• Ye Zhen concluded that the Shattered Jade True Scripture complemented his Shattered Jade Battle Body and decided to bid carefully so others would not suspect he held its latter half.
• A Soul Sea Realm expert opened the bidding at fifty-five thousand Low-grade Spirit Crystals, and Ye Zhen bid sixty thousand while explaining that he wanted the scripture for reference.
• Hu Shuai of the Iron City Hu Family entered the bidding, and he and Ye Zhen drove the price up to one hundred sixty thousand Low-grade Spirit Crystals.
• Ye Zhen paid for and obtained the Shattered Jade True Scripture, then traded insults with Hu Shuai after learning he had raised the price to reduce Ye Zhen’s funds for the Spirit Nurturing Pill.
• Hu Shuai declared that he expected to outbid Ye Zhen for the Spirit Nurturing Pill, while Ye Zhen answered confidently and Palm Absolute Bu Changtian frowned.

Ye Zhen outbid Wen Tianyu for the Viscera Strengthening Pills, leaving Wen without the pills he needed to complete his Acquired Spirit Body. As the auction’s Spirit Nurturing Pill reached 250,000 Low-grade Spirit Crystals, Ye Zhen interrupted Hu Shuai’s apparent victory with a bid of his own.

• Wen Tianyu bid six million taels of gold for the final bottle of Viscera Strengthening Pills, but True Person Tianzhu stopped him from raising his offer against Ye Zhen.
• Ye Zhen won the bottle for eight million five hundred thousand taels of gold and remarked that those who set traps for others were trapped themselves.
• The auctioneer explained the Spirit Nurturing Pill’s rarity and opened bidding at fifty thousand Low-grade Spirit Crystals.
• Hu Shuai, Mo Xinshui, and Bu Changtian drove the bidding upward, until Hu Shuai offered 250,000 Low-grade Spirit Crystals and the others withdrew.
• Ye Zhen interrupted the auction just before Hu Shuai could claim the Spirit Nurturing Pill, prompting Hu Shuai to challenge his ability to compete.

Ye Zhen countered Hu Shuai’s attempt to trap him by revealing the Five Poisons Seal, a Low-grade Heaven-tier Divine Ability Martial Skill, and offering to exchange it for the Spirit Nurturing Pill. As Soul Sea Realm experts began bidding for the pill on his behalf, Hu Shuai lost his chance to obtain it.

• Hu Shuai taunted Ye Zhen for running out of Spirit Crystals and urged the auctioneer to award him the Spirit Nurturing Pill.
• Ye Zhen presented the Five Poisons Seal manual as payment, and the appraiser and two Soul Sea Realm experts confirmed it was a Low-grade Heaven-tier Divine Ability Martial Skill.
• Ye Zhen offered to exchange the Five Poisons Seal for the Spirit Nurturing Pill through whichever senior could win the bid.
• Soul Sea Realm experts competed with rising bids for the Spirit Nurturing Pill, while Hu Shuai realized he could no longer compete and grew resentful.

Ye Zhen secured the Spirit Nurturing Pill by trading away the Five Poisons Seal, then learned that Fragrant Division Pill King had issued a bounty on the Blood God Cult and its Blood Spirit Pearls. The chapter ended with Ye Zhen keeping his two pearls secret while anticipating his breakthrough to the Spirit Transformation Realm.

• Elder Qingyi of the Illusory God Sect won the Five Poisons Seal for one million three hundred and ten thousand Low-grade Spirit Crystals, while Ye Zhen received the Spirit Nurturing Pill in exchange for the martial skill.
• Steward Gu announced Fragrant Division Pill King's long-term bounty for killing Blood Wolf Envoys and Blood Tiger Venerables, and offered a reward for Blood Spirit Pearls.
• Ye Zhen, Green Vine, and Han Tai realized they had destroyed the Blood God Talisman Token from the Blood Wolf Envoy they had killed, leaving Ye Zhen with only two Blood Spirit Pearls.
• Fragrant Division Pill King explained to Steward Gu that Ye Zhen's direct exchange had kept him from attracting Soul Sea Realm experts with a huge fortune.
• Green Vine and Han Tai worried that Ye Zhen had traded away a valuable martial skill too cheaply, but Ye Zhen explained that the deal had protected them from greedy experts.
• Ye Zhen declined to claim the bounty for his Blood Spirit Pearls for now and felt excited that the Spirit Nurturing Pill brought him closer to the Spirit Transformation Realm.

Ye Zhen began using the Spirit Nurturing Pill to condense a Spirit Seed, but an assassin broke into his room while he was focused on the process. Little Cat killed the intruder, while two people waited outside the inn for the outcome.

• Ye Zhen prepared to condense a Spirit Seed and took the Spirit Nurturing Pill as his four Talent Bloodlines entered the spiritual-power vortex.
• Little Cat spotted Ghost Shadow sneaking toward Ye Zhen's window, and Ye Zhen chose to continue focusing on his cultivation.
• Ghost Shadow climbed through the window, believing he could deal with the small black cat without alerting Ye Zhen.
• Little Cat pounced on Ghost Shadow, expanded to its true size, and crushed his neck with a claw.
• Two people waited anxiously outside the inn for news of Ghost Shadow's assassination.

Ye Zhen used the Spirit Nurturing Pill to stabilize his Spirit Seed and break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, discovering that his four Talent Bloodlines greatly accelerated his cultivation. Outside the inn, Hu Shuai and Butler Hu waited through the night for the assassin Ghost Shadow, unaware of what had happened inside.

• Hu Shuai and Butler Hu hid across from the inn and grew impatient when Ghost Shadow did not emerge.
• Ye Zhen swallowed the Spirit Nurturing Pill, which replenished his Innate Bloodline spiritual power and kept his nearly collapsed Spirit Seed intact.
• Ye Zhen stabilized the Spirit Seed, sensed Worldly Essence without opening his eyes, and began drawing it into the Spirit Seed through his four Talent Bloodlines.
• Ye Zhen reflected that Talent Bloodlines could grow and resolved to pay more attention to raising them as he stabilized his new cultivation.
• Ye Zhen celebrated reaching the Spirit Transformation Realm at eighteen and rapidly cultivated with his newly condensed spiritual power.
• Hu Shuai questioned Butler Hu about Ghost Shadow's absence, and they wondered whether the assassin had killed his target and slipped away.

Ye Zhen confronted Hu Shuai after surviving an assassination attempt and revealed his new Spirit Transformation Realm cultivation, then accepted Hai Luoshuang’s invitation to join the Myriad Stars Tower. At the Star Picking Pavilion, Hai Luoshuang began explaining the mutually beneficial rule that had made her so eager to recruit him.

• Ye Zhen revealed his Spirit Transformation Realm aura to Hu Shuai, who realized Ye Zhen knew about the assassination and fled with Steward Hu.
• Green Vine urged Ye Zhen to punish Hu Shuai, but Ye Zhen said they could not act in the Imperial Capital’s inner city and noted Hu Shuai had lost his chance to advance.
• Ye Zhen accepted Hai Luoshuang’s invitation to join the Myriad Stars Tower and arrived at its Star Picking Pavilion for his welcoming ceremony.
• Hai Luoshuang introduced Ye Zhen to Yan Kunshan and the other martial artists, then led him to a confidential courtyard for a private conversation.
• Hai Luoshuang told Ye Zhen that the Myriad Stars Tower’s strength exceeded what he had seen and admitted she had designs on him because of a mutually beneficial rule within the organization.

Ye Zhen joined Myriad Stars Tower and learned its rules, ranks, and resources. Hai Luoshuang then guaranteed him a place among the Seventy-two Meteorites, prompting Yan Kunshan to challenge her actions.

• Hai Luoshuang explained that members who made the Black Dragon Ranking had to stay at Myriad Stars Tower headquarters for at least half a month to receive remarkable rewards, and Ye Zhen accepted the agreement.
• Hai Luoshuang led Ye Zhen to the Star Hall, where he joined Myriad Stars Tower by registering his details, offering Origin Vital Blood, and receiving an Identity Jade Token.
• Yan Kunshan explained the tower's ranks and requirements for becoming one of the Seventy-two Meteorites, and Ye Zhen remembered Hai Luoshuang had promised him that status.
• Hai Luoshuang guaranteed that Ye Zhen would become the sixty-seventh Meteorite, and Yan Kunshan objected that a newcomer could not be promoted directly.
• Yan Kunshan accused Hai Luoshuang of improperly giving away the Fragrant Division Pill King's invitation, but she showed that she had paid five million taels of gold for it.
• Yan Kunshan continued to accuse Hai Luoshuang of breaking the rules by promoting Ye Zhen directly into the Seventy-two Meteorites.

Hai Luoshuang defended Zheng Fuyun’s place among the Seventy-two Meteorites by betting her position on his reaching the Black Dragon Ranking’s top thirty-six. When Yan Kunshan forced Zheng Fuyun to challenge Yue Qi for a higher rank, Ye Zhen accepted, and their fight began.

• Hai Luoshuang invoked Myriad Stars Tower’s rules and promised to take responsibility if Zheng Fuyun failed to reach the Black Dragon Ranking’s top thirty-six by year’s end.
• Yan Kunshan agreed to admit Zheng Fuyun but insisted he start at the bottom of the Seventy-two Meteorites unless he won a ranking match.
• Ye Zhen challenged Yan Kunshan to arrange an opponent, and Yan selected Yue Qi, a Second Layer Spirit Transformation Realm expert ranked thirty-eighth.
• Hai Luoshuang warned Ye Zhen that Yue Qi had defeated stronger opponents, but Ye Zhen accepted the challenge and asked about the rewards for winning.
• Ye Zhen and Yue Qi took their positions in the plaza, and Yue Qi opened the battle with a storm of sword lights.