Chapter Summaries

Ye Zhen and Caiyi prepared to leave, and Guo Qijing warned Ye Zhen to protect Caiyi’s secrets before offering him the Qi Yun Sect leadership. After bidding farewell to his brothers, Ye Zhen escorted Caiyi and Fang Ling toward Myriad Spirits Valley, where he began to suspect Fang Ling was deceiving them.

• Guo Qijing revealed Caiyi’s Heavenly Meridians, her ability to drive away a horde of Monster Beasts by crying, and the danger of exposing her Spirit Calming Jade Liquid; Ye Zhen promised to protect her.
• Ye Zhen gave Guo Qijing several martial manuals, including the Five Poisons Seal and Wind Cloud Sword Art, but declined the offer to become sect master because he feared a life without opponents.
• Ye Zhen drank with Sha Fei and Jin Yuanbao, then left them letters of introduction and support before departing.
• Ye Zhen, Caiyi, and Fang Ling traveled toward Myriad Spirits Valley, and Ye Zhen grew suspicious when they encountered unusually numerous Monster Beasts along the route.
• Ye Zhen asked Fang Ling why her surname was Fang when everyone in Myriad Spirits Valley was said to be surnamed Wan, then reached to seize her as her expression changed.

Ye Zhen exposed Fang Ling’s role in leading him and Caiyi into Hong Banjiang’s ambush, then killed her as the elders revealed their plans to seize their secrets. Hong Banjiang trapped Ye Zhen and Caiyi inside a formation, and they attempted to break through its canopy as he invoked his title, Water-Tight.

• Ye Zhen restrained Fang Ling and accused her of arranging an ambush after detecting signs that powerful Monster Beasts had been killed nearby.
• Hong Banjiang and Fan Chuyu appeared, and Ye Zhen deduced that Fang Ling had helped them by poisoning Flower Civet and luring Caiyi into the gorge.
• Ye Zhen killed Fang Ling, then arranged for Caiyi and Little Cat to face Fan Chuyu while he fought Hong Banjiang.
• Hong Banjiang demanded the secrets held by Ye Zhen and Caiyi, destroyed Ye Zhen’s Talisman Signal with a Soul Attack, and raised a formation canopy around them.
• Ye Zhen and Caiyi flew upward and struck at the canopy, but Hong Banjiang declared that his Water-Tight reputation meant they could not escape.

Ye Zhen fought Hong Banjiang and Fan Chuyu while Caiyi and Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat helped him, but Hong Banjiang trapped them in the Thousand Mechanisms Spirit Trapping Array. Ye Zhen found he could see through the array with Clear Heart Sword Intent, but Hong Banjiang overwhelmed him with repeated Spiritual Sword Mountains, leaving him in grave danger.

• Ye Zhen blocked Hong Banjiang's strike with the Crimson Jade Spiritual Armor, but Fan Chuyu wounded Caiyi and forced Ye Zhen to abandon his escape.
• Caiyi struck Fan Chuyu with Soul Power while Ye Zhen destroyed Hong Banjiang's Spiritual Sword Mountain with the Crimson Jade Seal and fought back alongside Caiyi and Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat.
• Ye Zhen discovered the Battle Soul Blood Banner strengthened his Soul Power enough to blunt Hong Banjiang's Soul Thorn, while Caiyi's enhanced Soul Attack brought Fan Chuyu down.
• Hong Banjiang used seven High-grade Spirit Crystals to activate the Thousand Mechanisms Spirit Trapping Array, separating Ye Zhen, Caiyi, Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat, and Fan Chuyu.
• Ye Zhen used Clear Heart Sword Intent to perceive the array and locate the others, but Hong Banjiang and Fan Chuyu attacked him together.
• Hong Banjiang repeatedly sent Spiritual Sword Mountains at Ye Zhen, who could not keep pace with them using his limited Crimson Jade Seals.

Ye Zhen struggled to break Hong Banjiang’s Thousand Mechanisms Spirit Trapping Array while Caiyi unleashed a terrifying Five-Colored Soul Power Storm that destroyed it. As Caiyi collapsed and Hong Banjiang prepared to attack again, a huge multicolored hand reached through a tear in the void.

• Ye Zhen used Origin Spirit Jade Liquid to restore his spiritual power, then struck a formation base with his Origin Sword Meridian while Hong Banjiang’s Spiritual Sword Mountain shattered Ye Zhen’s armor and wounded him.
• Caiyi’s Soul Power overwhelmed Fan Chuyu and strained the formation, but Hong Banjiang sacrificed Origin Spiritual Blood to stabilize it.
• Caiyi broke through a restraint within her mind and released a Five-Colored Soul Power Storm that destroyed the formation bases and sent Hong Banjiang flying.
• Caiyi confirmed Ye Zhen was alive, then collapsed; Hong Banjiang recovered and prepared to attack him.
• Ye Zhen sensed an immense power in the void, and a dazzling multicolored hand emerged through a tear in space.

A golden-browed man emerged from a Spatial Rift, awakened Caiyi, and crushed Hong Banjiang before asking Caiyi to return to his clan. Caiyi chose to stay with Ye Zhen, but the man left her a Five-Colored Stone that could take her to the clan and help her find her birth parents.

• A golden-browed man tore open the void and recognized Caiyi as a bloodline descendant of his clan.
• The man awakened Caiyi, and she identified Hong Banjiang as the one who had forced her into her exhausted state.
• The golden-browed man froze Hong Banjiang, dragged him back, and crushed him with a five-colored hand, erasing him in collapsed space.
• Ye Zhen recovered from feeling powerless and resolved to grow strong enough to surpass the golden-browed man.
• The golden-browed man offered to take Caiyi back to his clan, but she refused to leave Ye Zhen despite learning she might find her birth parents there.
• As the Spatial Rift closed, the golden-browed man gave Caiyi a Five-Colored Stone that could transport her to his clan.

After Fan Chuyu escaped, Ye Zhen and Caiyi pursued him with the Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat’s help. They caught sight of him near Qi Yun Sect, where the Sect Master and several elders waited at the mountain gate, leaving Ye Zhen’s attempt to stop Fan Chuyu uncertain.

• Ye Zhen discovered that Fan Chuyu had vanished, and Caiyi used her powerful soul perception to track the lingering traces of his soul fluctuations.
• Ye Zhen and Caiyi flew after Fan Chuyu while carrying the recovering Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat, whose innate ability later boosted their speed.
• Caiyi sensed Fan Chuyu heading toward Qi Yun Sect, and Ye Zhen suspected he planned to seize cultivation resources before fleeing the country.
• Fan Chuyu noticed Ye Zhen pursuing him and raced toward the sect, while Little Cat helped Ye Zhen and Caiyi close the distance.
• Fan Chuyu pointed out Sect Master Guo Qijing and several elders waiting above Qi Yun Sect’s mountain gate, then plunged toward them while taunting Ye Zhen.

Ye Zhen pursued Fan Chuyu toward Qi Yun Sect’s elders and killed him with the Crimson Jade Seal despite the elders’ presence. As Ji Che’s Fist Qi struck Ye Zhen, the elders expected disaster, but the chapter ended as the light cleared and they saw an inexplicable result.

• Fan Chuyu relied on Qi Yun Sect’s elders to protect him and taunted Ye Zhen while fleeing toward them.
• Ye Zhen used the Battle Soul Blood Banner to restore Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat and strengthen his Soul Power, then chased Fan Chuyu and shot him with three Azure Winged Spirit Arrows.
• Fan Chuyu cried for help as Ye Zhen hurled the Crimson Jade Seal at him, and Second Elder Ji Che rushed to intervene.
• Ye Zhen ordered the Crimson Jade Seal to explode, killing Fan Chuyu before Sect Master Guo Qijing could stop the blast.
• Ji Che’s Fist Qi struck Ye Zhen, and the Qi Yun Sect elders were stunned when the light dispersed.

Ye Zhen defended his killing of Fan Chuyu before the Qi Yun Sect by giving the disciples a fabricated account, then told the Sect Master and elders the truth about Hong Banjiang and Caiyi’s bloodline. After the elders swore to keep the secrets, Ye Zhen and Caiyi left the sect together, heading toward a place Ye Zhen promised she would like.

• Second Elder Ji Che’s punch cracked Ye Zhen’s armor but left him unharmed, and Sect Master Guo Qijing demanded an explanation for Fan Chuyu’s death.
• Ye Zhen told the gathered disciples that Fan Chuyu had ambushed him to learn the Battle Soul Blood Banner’s secrets and had colluded with the Sword Origin Sect, prompting the disciples to condemn Fan Chuyu as a traitor.
• Guo Qijing summoned Ye Zhen and Caiyi to the Council Hall, where Ye Zhen recounted what had really happened, including Hong Banjiang’s death and Caiyi’s awakened bloodline.
• Guo Qijing declared the account a highest sect secret and led the elders in swearing Soul Oaths with Golden Mouth Soul Severing Divine Talismans.
• A day later, Ye Zhen and Caiyi quietly left the Qi Yun Sect while Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat continued recovering in Ye Zhen’s arms, and Ye Zhen promised to take Caiyi somewhere wonderful.

After Caiyi mastered the Floating Cloud Finger, she and Ye Zhen continued their scenic journey toward Jade Water Lake and the Black Dragon Ancient Land. Caiyi exhausted her Soul Power to direct Ye Zhen forty thousand li, and their destination revealed a sudden, impossible change in the weather.

• Caiyi mastered the Floating Cloud Finger in six days, then shattered Ye Zhen’s technique and Crimson Jade Spiritual Armor in a sparring match.
• Their sparring caused Floating Cloud Cave to collapse, so Ye Zhen and Caiyi left and continued sightseeing through the Black Dragon Domain.
• As they flew above Rainbow Forest, Caiyi used her Soul Power to search in the distance, then told Ye Zhen to fly forty thousand li before collapsing into sleep.
• The next day, Ye Zhen brought Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat down over the forest and mountains, where the sunny sky abruptly became a freezing, snowy night.

Ye Zhen and Caiyi entered a soul illusion concealing the entrance to a hidden paradise, where they faced a Phantom Soul Beast. After the Phantom Soul Beast King’s attacks proved capable of harming them, Caiyi realized they were in danger.

• Caiyi explained that the snowfall was a soul illusion and guided Ye Zhen through it using his Clear Heart Sword Intent.
• Caiyi used Five-colored Spiritual Light to save Long Ze, Liu Fei, and Luo Liu from freezing themselves to death in the illusion.
• Ye Zhen and Caiyi leaped into the poisonous-looking pool and found a hidden paradise beneath it.
• A Phantom Soul Beast’s howl distorted the paradise into a landscape of monsters, poisonous miasma, and flames, while Caiyi protected Ye Zhen from the sound’s effects.
• A beast’s claw struck Ye Zhen’s Crimson Jade Spiritual Armor and flames scorched Caiyi’s hair, revealing that the attacker was the Phantom Soul Beast King.

Ye Zhen and Caiyi resisted the Phantom Soul Beast King's illusions and relentless attacks, but their spiritual power began to run low. Caiyi used her Soul Power-filled blood as bait, drawing the Beast King into range of Ye Zhen's sword; he struck it down and rushed to Caiyi's side.

• Caiyi's Five-colored Spiritual Light and Ye Zhen's lightning-infused Wind Cloud Sword Qi destroyed the Phantom Soul Beast King's conjured monsters, while they saw through its illusions.
• The Phantom Soul Beast King intensified its attacks, trying to exhaust Ye Zhen and Caiyi with endless waves of monsters and Soul Power.
• Ye Zhen learned that the Beast King was a Heaven-tier monster with a vast soul range, and he and Caiyi devised a plan to lure it closer.
• Caiyi spilled her Soul Power-rich blood, drawing the Beast King and its manifestations toward her from every direction.
• Ye Zhen unleashed his Origin Sword Meridian and Clear Heart Sword Intent, killing the Beast King and dispersing its attackers before rushing to Caiyi.

After the Mirage Dragon Pearl absorbed the Phantom Soul Beast King's corpse and Monster Core, it opened its Second Layer Space and refined the beast's Soul Power for Ye Zhen. Ye Zhen's Soul Power broke through to Form Condensation, and Caiyi hinted that her promised gift would now be even more effective.

• Caiyi recovered after losing blood, and Ye Zhen warned her never to risk herself like that again.
• Ye Zhen touched the Phantom Soul Beast King's corpse, and the Mirage Dragon Pearl absorbed and refined its body, soul, and Monster Core.
• The Phantom Dragon King's Soul Power shattered the Mirage Dragon Pearl's second seal, and Ye Zhen discovered that its first and second spaces had fused while its stored essence souls seemed more alive.
• The Mirage Dragon Pearl sent Ye Zhen a drop of purified Soul Power, and Caiyi used her Five-colored Spiritual Light to help him fuse with it.
• Caiyi said Ye Zhen had reached the Second Layer of Soul Power: Form Condensation, and Ye Zhen formed a soul blade that split and withered a distant tree.
• Caiyi said her gift would be even more effective now that Ye Zhen's Soul Power had broken through.

Ye Zhen killed Long Ze, Liu Fei, and Luo Liu after they crossed his warning line and entered the hidden estate while he and Caiyi were recovering. Caiyi then led Ye Zhen deeper into the estate to find the gift she had sensed, leaving them before its discovery.

• After the snow illusion vanished, Long Ze, Liu Fei, and Luo Liu entered the hidden estate despite Ye Zhen and Caiyi having saved them.
• Ye Zhen warned the three men not to cross his sword mark, but Luo Liu, Long Ze, and Liu Fei crossed it.
• Ye Zhen used Soul Thorn and Wind Cloud Sword Qi to kill Luo Liu, Long Ze, and Liu Fei.
• Ye Zhen reflected on how his second-layer Form Condensation soul cultivation strengthened his combat abilities and reduced the danger of facing Soul Sea Realm experts.
• After Caiyi recovered some Soul Power, she explained how she had sensed the Phantom Soul Beast King's hidden soul aura and led Ye Zhen through the estate toward her gift.
• Caiyi pointed ahead and told Ye Zhen that the gift she had sensed was there.

Ye Zhen and Caiyi found Soul Saliva Fruits, and Ye Zhen used one to raise his soul cultivation to Subtle Insight while Caiyi helped Little Cat consume another. After testing Ye Zhen’s improved abilities, they left the hidden residence with the Soul Saliva Vine and a newly empowered Little Cat.

• Caiyi gave Ye Zhen a Soul Saliva Fruit and helped Little Cat consume another, while Ye Zhen ate the first fruit and entered a three-day cultivation period.
• Ye Zhen awakened with his soul cultivation advanced to the third soul level, Subtle Insight, and discovered he could perceive everything within a hundred meters.
• Ye Zhen and Caiyi sparred with their Floating Cloud Fingers, revealing that Ye Zhen’s attack had improved but remained weaker than Caiyi’s.
• Four days later, Little Cat awakened with greatly strengthened Soul Power and enlarged itself so Ye Zhen and Caiyi could ride it.
• Caiyi gave Ye Zhen the Soul Saliva Vine, and Little Cat carried them away at a speed of five thousand li per hour.

Ye Zhen settled the Yu Family’s Red Spirit Jade debt, then arrived with Caiyi at Black Dragon Ancient Land for the Black Dragon Ranking competition. As rival sects confronted him, the ancient land opened.

• Yu Jing found Ye Zhen and Caiyi at Falling Jade Mountain, and Ye Zhen told her family to hand over whatever Red Spirit Jade they had mined in five days.
• Yu Feilong gave Ye Zhen more than forty-three thousand pieces of Red Spirit Jade, and the Yu Family’s leaders were relieved that their immediate crisis had passed.
• Ye Zhen and Caiyi reached Black Dragon Ancient Land early and reunited with Qi Yun Sect disciples and elders.
• Xie Lu threatened Ye Zhen, and the Thousand Illusions Eagle King challenged him before Ye Zhen revealed his Crimson Jade Spiritual Armor and a vast Soul Power rose behind him.
• A bell rang, the ground trembled, and the gathered sects saw Black Dragon Ancient Land open.

As the Black Dragon Ancient Land emerged, its radiant dragon issued twelve Black Dragon Tokens to eligible Soul Sea Realm masters, and Ye Zhen learned how the tokens rewarded those overseeing the tournament. Ji Che urged Ye Zhen to reach the Black Dragon Ranking’s top ten to help Zhong Li Jing recover, but an enormous butterfly appeared on the horizon before Ye Zhen could answer.

• The radiant dragon’s roar subdued the Monster Beasts, then it distributed Black Dragon Tokens to Soul Sea Realm masters, including the Thousand Illusions Eagle King, Xie Lu, and Hai Luoshuang.
• Zhong Li Jing and Ji Che led Ye Zhen away from the token recipients, and Ji Che explained that ranking results determined which sects received tokens.
• Ji Che revealed that Black Dragon Tokens replenished and strengthened their recipients’ foundations, and said Ye Zhen might win Zhong Li Jing a chance to recover by entering the top ten.
• Ji Che asked whether Ye Zhen was confident he could make the top ten, but Ye Zhen spotted an enormous butterfly approaching on the horizon.

Hua Wushuang and Bu Changtian arrived at the Black Dragon Ancient Land, where Bu Changtian threatened Ye Zhen over his brother’s death. After the age-testing gate opened, Ye Zhen and Caiyi entered the ancient land and saw the Void Iron Chains, the first trial.

• Hua Wushuang arrived on the Flowing Light Flower Butterfly King, unnerving competitors who feared he would take their ranking places.
• Bu Changtian arrived on his Wind Winged Lightning Eagle and confronted Ye Zhen, threatening to kill him for his younger brother’s death.
• The twelve Soul Sea Realm martial artists used their Black Dragon Tokens to open the ancient gates, and Elder Qingyi announced the age test.
• Hua Wushuang entered first, while several over-age martial artists were rejected by the rosy light gate.
• Ye Zhen took Caiyi by the hand, passed through the gate, and saw the Void Iron Chains spread across a mist-shrouded void.

Ye Zhen mastered the Void Iron Chains by learning to control his spiritual power, passed the trial quickly, and saved himself from a rival’s attack. After he reached the waiting valley, Palm Absolute Bu Changtian provoked him into a possible Monster Beast match between Little Cat and the Wind Winged Lightning Eagle.

• Ye Zhen placed Caiyi ahead of him in line and stepped onto the Void Iron Chains, where crushing pressure tested his spiritual power.
• After a void undercurrent nearly knocked him off, Ye Zhen realized the trial tested control and technique, then used the currents to steady himself and race across the chain.
• A fifth-level Spirit Transformation Realm martial artist charged at Ye Zhen, but Ye Zhen swung beneath the chain and knocked him into the void.
• Little Cat was forced to reveal its true form near the end of the chain, and Ye Zhen leaped off with it before its weight could pull him down.
• In the valley, Palm Absolute Bu Changtian sent his Wind Winged Lightning Eagle to provoke Little Cat and challenged Ye Zhen to let their Monster Beasts fight.

Ye Zhen agreed to let Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat fight Bu Changtian’s higher-ranked Wind Winged Lightning Eagle after Little Cat refused to back down. The battle turned fierce, and the Wind Winged Lightning Eagle appeared to gain the upper hand as it unleashed two bolts of lightning at Little Cat.

• Bu Changtian challenged Ye Zhen to a fight between their Demonic Servants, and Ye Zhen initially refused because the Wind Winged Lightning Eagle outranked Little Cat.
• Little Cat insisted on fighting to defend its pride, and Caiyi warned Ye Zhen that avoiding the battle could harm it.
• Ye Zhen accepted Bu Changtian’s challenge, and both warriors withdrew ten miles so their Demonic Servants would fight without interference.
• Little Cat began the battle with a powerful Wind Blade and gathered cloud qi, while the observers saw that it suffered no rank suppression and fought beyond its usual strength.
• The Wind Winged Lightning Eagle gradually gained the advantage and wounded Little Cat before firing two bolts of thunderlight at it.

Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat used the Universe As You Wish Secret Technique to escape the Wind Winged Lightning Eagle’s fatal attacks and turn the battle around. After exhausting the eagle with its speed and evasiveness, Little Cat restored its full size and killed it with a bite to the neck.

• The Wind Winged Lightning Eagle repeatedly wounded Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat, while Ye Zhen and Caiyi were blocked from interfering by Bu Changtian, Zuo Bin, and Tao Hui.
• Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat shrank with the Universe As You Wish Secret Technique and dodged the eagle’s fatal claw, then became smaller and used its speed to evade further attacks.
• The Wind Winged Lightning Eagle unleashed a barrage of lightning, but Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat shrank to palm size and avoided the strikes until the eagle had spent much of its strength.
• Cloud Winged Tiger Little Cat taunted the weakened eagle, then restored its original size beside it and bit through its neck, killing it.