Chapter Summaries

Ye Zhen defeated Shang Lingqi in a brutal match, leaving Shang gravely wounded and unable to continue the tournament. As the final four key battles approached, Yan Cong urged Yan Yijun to preserve his strength against Shang and kill Ye Zhen, while Yan Yijun admitted he did not understand Ye Zhen’s technique.

• Ye Zhen pierced Shang Lingqi with his Heart Sword after Soul Shocking Heavenly Lightning left Shang unable to move, but Shang struck back with natal spiritual blood and escaped with a life-threatening wound.
• Yun Chongxiao stopped Ye Zhen from pursuing Shang, and Wu Mengshan carried the unconscious Shang from the arena for treatment.
• The crowd and tournament leaders reacted to Ye Zhen’s victory; his win guaranteed a top-three place and cost Shang any chance at first place.
• The remaining second-day matches ended without major surprises, leaving Ye Zhen and Yan Yijun undefeated and four highly anticipated battles for the final day.
• Yan Cong told Yan Yijun to conserve strength if he faced Shang first and to kill Ye Zhen; Yan Yijun promised to fight but admitted he had not figured out how Ye Zhen defeated Shang.

Ye Zhen drew Yan Yijun for the second round of the Spirit Gathering Ranking Tournament, setting up their long-awaited battle amid the Sun Moon Divine Cult’s hopes of victory. Yan Yijun began the match by attacking Ye Zhen with Yin Luo Ice Fiend Qi.

• Wu Mengshan conceded Shang Lingqi’s match against Yan Yijun after Shang Lingqi’s injuries proved too severe for him to fight.
• Nian Xinghe conceded to Yun Ce after thirteen exchanges, and Zuo Xiong conceded to Xie Zhi to avoid risking further injury.
• Luo Xin conceded to fellow Heavenly Net Sect member Xie Zhi in the second round.
• Ye Zhen drew Yan Yijun, prompting Qingyun Fort and the Heavenly Net Sect to hope Yan Yijun would defeat him.
• Yan Yijun displayed memorial tablets for Yan Kun and Yan Shaoqi and threatened to kill Ye Zhen, who mocked him before Yan Yijun attacked with an icy palm.

Ye Zhen fought Yan Yijun in a fierce battle, using his soul arts to break free from Yan Yijun’s pressure but struggling to find a way to win without revealing his strongest weapons. The battle ended on a sudden warning omen as Yan Yijun’s concealed Yin Sha Ice Light Wheel struck Ye Zhen and engulfed him in icy energy.

• Ye Zhen realized Yan Yijun had feigned rage to drain his spiritual power, then used the Illusion Soul Divine Eyes to interrupt Yan Yijun and seize the initiative.
• Ye Zhen and Yan Yijun traded soul attacks, sword aura, and Yin Luo Ice Fiend Qi while the spectators watched in astonishment.
• Ye Zhen considered using Zi Ling’s power or his Great Force Hammer but feared the risks and doubted the hammer could defeat Yan Yijun.
• A warning omen in Ye Zhen’s Clear Heart Sword Intent alerted him as Yan Yijun concealed the Yin Sha Ice Light Wheel inside an ice-fiend palm seal.
• Yan Yijun’s Yin Sha Ice Light Wheel burst from the shattered palm seal and struck Ye Zhen’s chest, engulfing him in Yin Sha Ice Light and Yin Luo Ice Fiend Qi.

Ye Zhen survived Yan Yijun’s attacks by using the Mirage Dragon Pearl to absorb the Yin Luo Ice Fiend Qi, then discovered that his connection to the Golden Back Stone Beast King’s Essence Soul Pearl could strengthen the Great Force Hammer. He overwhelmed Yan Yijun with the empowered weapon and sent it crashing toward him as he lay injured.

• Yan Yijun’s Yin Sha Ice Light Wheel shattered Ye Zhen’s armors, but the Fire Scale Armor blunted the strike and the Mirage Dragon Pearl absorbed the remaining cold energy.
• Yan Yijun launched another full-power attack, and Ye Zhen countered with the Great Force Hammer, which lost their clash but bought him time.
• Ye Zhen used his connection to the Golden Back Stone Beast King’s Essence Soul Pearl to draw Earth Spirit Energy into the Great Force Hammer and amplify its power.
• The empowered Great Force Hammer extinguished Yan Yijun’s Yin Sha Ice Light Wheel and smashed through his defenses, breaking his bones and knocking him to the ground.
• Ye Zhen sent the Great Force Hammer hurtling down toward the fallen Yan Yijun as Earth Spirit Energy continued to gather around it.

Ye Zhen defeated Yan Yijun with the Great Force Hammer, leaving him near death before Wu Mengshan stopped the finishing blow. The Myriad Stars Tower party departed with Yan Yijun, while Yun Chongxiao told his frustrated son Yun Ce that Ye Zhen’s strength could benefit Qingyun Fort.

• Ye Zhen smashed most of Yan Yijun’s body with the Great Force Hammer, and Yan Cong rushed to intervene as Ye prepared another strike.
• Jian Qianxiong blocked Yan Cong, while Wu Mengshan seized the hammer and stopped Ye Zhen from killing Yan Yijun.
• The assembly declared Ye Zhen the winner, and Elder Sun carried Yan Yijun away with Yan Cong and the rest of the Myriad Stars Tower party.
• The other martial artists realized Ye Zhen might also defeat Yun Ce, who felt humiliated after his own defeat by Yan Yijun.
• Yun Chongxiao asked Yun Ce why he was troubled and said Ye Zhen’s rise could be a good thing for Qingyun Fort.

Yun Chongxiao gave Yun Ce the rare Essence Violent Body Pill and ordered him to kill Ye Zhen so Qingyun Fort could win the Spirit Gathering Assembly. After the remaining matches narrowed the field, Ye Zhen challenged Qingyun Fort directly, and Yun Ce entered the final battle after secretly swallowing the pill.

• Yun Chongxiao explained that Yan Yijun's death left Ye Zhen as Yun Ce's sole rival for first place and gave Yun Ce the Essence Violent Body Pill, warning that its power could cost him a major realm of cultivation.
• Yun Ce promised to kill Ye Zhen, while Shang Lingqi defeated Yun Yue despite his injuries and showed the crowd how formidable he remained.
• Ye Zhen recovered during the break and considered a weakness he had observed in Yun Ce's Spirit Weapon-based fighting style.
• Shang Lingqi conceded his match against Yun Ce, and the Heavenly Net Sect gave up its chance at the assembly's final victory.
• Ye Zhen refused to draw a lot and challenged Yun Ce and Yun Xin to face him; Yun Ce leaped onto the stage and secretly swallowed the pill.

Yun Ce used a forbidden pill or secret art to raise his cultivation and challenge Ye Zhen, prompting Jian Qianxiong to order Ye Zhen to surrender rather than risk his life. Yun Ce's crude insults drove Ye Zhen back onto the platform, and Jian Qianxiong warned him not to let anger cloud his judgment.

• Yun Ce's aura surged to the late fifth level of the Pulse Forging Realm as he approached the platform, and Jian Qianxiong accused Yun Chongxiao of shamelessly exploiting a cultivation boost.
• Jian Qianxiong ordered Ye Zhen to surrender, arguing that Qingyun Fort's attempt to eliminate him could be thwarted by conceding the match.
• Ye Zhen left the platform, leaving Yun Ce and Yun Chongxiao dismayed that their plan and the clan's Essence Violent Body Pill had been wasted.
• Yun Ce insulted Ye Zhen and his family until Ye Zhen stopped, turned back, and returned to the platform amid the Sun Moon Divine Cult's furious protests.
• Jian Qianxiong let Ye Zhen return but warned him to remain calm and not let anger cloud his judgment.

Ye Zhen provoked Yun Ce and trapped him in an illusion with his Illusion Soul Divine Eyes, turning Yun Ce’s attacks wild during their match. Yun Chongxiao admitted Yun Ce’s defeat and pleaded with Ye Zhen to let his son recover his senses.

• Ye Zhen taunted Yun Ce about rumors concerning his mother and Yun Chongxiao, provoking Yun Ce’s fury.
• While Yun Ce was distracted and glaring at him, Ye Zhen trapped him in an illusion using the Illusion Soul Divine Eyes.
• Yun Ce attacked Ye Zhen with the Sea Covering Seal, but struck a phantom and smashed the fighting platform instead.
• Ye Zhen unleashed a Soul Attack, causing Yun Ce to attack wildly, including at the presiding official Wu Mengshan.
• Yun Chongxiao admitted Yun Ce’s defeat and begged Ye Zhen to release him from the illusion.

Ye Zhen rejected Yun Chongxiao’s offer and used a soul technique to leave Yun Ce an idiot, avenging his mother’s insult. Yun Chongxiao was prevented from attacking Ye Zhen by the Spirit Gathering Assembly’s rules, then carried Yun Ce away in grief and hatred.

• Yun Chongxiao begged Ye Zhen to spare Yun Ce and offered low-grade spirit armor and a personal favor.
• Ye Zhen refused, saying Yun Ce had insulted his mother, and used a soul technique that left Yun Ce mentally ruined.
• Yun Chongxiao tried to attack Ye Zhen, but Jian Qianxiong blocked him and reminded him that Qingyun Fort could be expelled from the Spirit Gathering Assembly for causing trouble.
• Yun Ce awoke with no understanding and behaved like an idiot, horrifying the spectators and devastating Yun Chongxiao.
• Yun Chongxiao carried Yun Ce off the arena while glaring at Ye Zhen with hatred.

After Ye Zhen’s victory secured the Spirit Gathering Assembly for the Sun Moon Divine Cult, the five powers finalized the rankings and prepared the top-three prizes. Ye Zhen learned that Longevity Sacred Water was among the rewards, while the remaining prize was still being announced.

• After Yun Xin charged at Ye Zhen to avenge Yun Ce, Yun Chongxiao knocked Yun Xin unconscious and carried him away, and the tournament’s remaining matches quickly ended.
• The Sect Masters ranked Ye Zhen first, Yun Ce second, Shang Lingqi third, and the dead Yan Yijun fourth in the individual points standings.
• The final power rankings placed the Sun Moon Divine Cult first with 490 points and the Longevity Sect last with 120, deepening Yin Changsheng’s anger over the sect’s losses and the missing Soul-Capturing Jade Skull.
• Wu Mengshan collected the powers’ Soul Imprints on a Jade Talisman, which summoned a sealed jade slip that he handed to Jian Qianxiong.
• Wu Mengshan announced that the Longevity Sect and Myriad Stars Tower would provide the top-three prizes, and Ye Zhen was delighted when the Longevity Sect’s reward was revealed as Longevity Sacred Water.
• Wu Mengshan drew out the announcement of Myriad Stars Tower’s reward, leaving its identity unrevealed.

Ye Zhen won the Spirit Gathering Ranking Tournament and received Longevity Sacred Water, the first half of the Ancient Demon God Palace Secret Records, and a unique map that drew dangerous attention. After the assembly ended, he returned to the Sun Moon Divine Cult and decided that helping Xiao Mao break through would be his next priority.

• Wu Mengshan announced the Myriad Stars Tower's valuable Ancient Demon God Palace records and map as rewards, and Tian Guizhang explained that their public presentation could provoke deadly greed.
• Wu Mengshan awarded Ye Zhen two drops of Longevity Sacred Water, the first half of the Secret Records, and the Simplified Map, while the second- and third-place winners received lesser rewards.
• The Sun Moon Divine Cult secured the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein's entrance and exit before Ye Zhen's group departed Immortal Light Mountain.
• During the return journey, Ye Zhen considered his gains, recalled clues about the Five Elements Blood Fusion Pill, and resolved to prioritize Xiao Mao's breakthrough.
• Jian Qianxiong welcomed the returning group at the Sun Moon Divine Cult and ordered the drums beaten and the temple opened to reward its heroes.

Jian Qianxiong rewarded the Sun Moon Divine Cult’s leaders and the three champions of the Spirit Gathering Assembly, elevating Ye Zhen into the cult’s core and granting him exceptional cultivation and training privileges. Ye Zhen, Nian Xinghe, and Zuo Xiong awaited the mysterious grand prize Jian Qianxiong had promised before the trial.

• Jian Qianxiong praised Deputy Cult Master Tian Guizhang for recognizing and recommending Ye Zhen, then granted him extra time in the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein and the Low-grade Spirit Weapon Wind Cloud Brush.
• Jian Qianxiong rewarded Feng Qingyue with extra cultivation time for admitting Ye Zhen to the Moonlight Hall.
• Jian Qianxiong promoted Ye Zhen to a golden-moon robe, gave him a Deputy Cult Master’s stipend and divine statue access, and granted him additional cultivation time.
• Jian Qianxiong gave Nian Xinghe and Zuo Xiong silver-star robes, stipends, extra cultivation time, and permission to pay respects to the divine statue.
• Jian Qianxiong granted the three champions Divine Ability Martial Skills, required cultivation materials, and opportunities to enter the Sun Moon Divine Altar for enlightenment.
• Ye Zhen, Nian Xinghe, and Zuo Xiong waited for Jian Qianxiong to reveal the mysterious grand prize he had promised.

After the Sun Moon Divine Cult rewarded Ye Zhen, Nian Xinghe, and Zuo Xiong for their contributions, Ye Zhen learned more about the mysterious Divine Sacrifice and prepared to claim his remaining rewards. He went to the Arcane Canon Tower to choose a High-grade Heaven-tier Divine Ability Martial Skill, where he began reading about the Heavenly Mechanism Spirit Locking Sword Array.

• Cult Master Jian Qianxiong granted Ye Zhen, Nian Xinghe, and Zuo Xiong permission to attend next year's Divine Sacrifice and arranged support for the families of Yu He and Zhuang Ling.
• The Sun Moon Divine Cult celebrated its victory and newly won right to use the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein, while Ye Zhen slipped away from the feast with Feng Qingyue.
• Feng Qingyue told Ye Zhen that the Divine Sacrifice was a secretive ceremony held every three years, attended by the Cult's two Grand Elders and only a handful of others.
• Ye Zhen decided to postpone comprehending the Sun Moon Divine Altar and planned to cultivate in the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein after choosing a Divine Ability Martial Skill and helping Xiao Mao advance.
• Ye Zhen visited Zhu Ling at the Internal Affairs Hall and entered the fourth floor of the Arcane Canon Tower to choose one of the Cult's seven High-grade Heaven-tier Divine Ability Martial Skills.
• Ye Zhen picked up a jade slip and began reading the summary of the Heavenly Mechanism Spirit Locking Sword Array.

Ye Zhen chose Kun Yuan Divine Palm because it could exploit his Earth Spirit Energy, though two required treasures were missing. He planned to search for a Gen Earth Spirit Pearl after cultivating in the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein, while Yang Yiguan prepared an ambush after receiving Ye Zhen’s message.

• Ye Zhen selected Kun Yuan Divine Palm from the Divine Sect’s manuals, despite Zhu Ling’s recommendation of other skills, because it suited his Earth Spirit Energy.
• Zhu Ling explained that the sect lacked ten High-grade Yellow Earth Spirit Crystals and a Gen Earth Spirit Pearl, and said the sect would search for them.
• Ye Zhen realized he already had Top-grade Yellow Earth Spirit Crystals and asked Zhu Ling to notify him if the sect found a pure Earth Element Monster Beast.
• Ye Zhen left the Arcane Canon Tower and sent a talisman message to Yang Yiguan about the reward concerning Cloud Winged Tiger King Xiao Mao.
• Yang Yiguan summoned his disciples and ordered Ma Yue to lead them into an ambush, telling them to await his arrival and follow his orders.

Ye Zhen demanded that Yang Yiguan produce a Five Elements Blood Fusion Pill before he would share his intelligence, then revealed that it concerned Xuan Hu. Meanwhile, Yao Sen sank into despair over losing influence in the Sun Moon Divine Cult until a woman in red confronted him.

• Ye Zhen met Yang Yiguan and demanded a Five Elements Blood Fusion Pill in exchange for information about the scale Yang had sought.
• Yang Yiguan tried to stop Ye Zhen from leaving, but Feng Qingyue revealed that she had captured eleven of Yang's disciples, including Ma Yue.
• Ye Zhen named Xuan Hu as the subject of his intelligence, then gave Yang Yiguan his talisman mark and left with Feng Qingyue.
• Ye Zhen and Feng Qingyue agreed to enter secluded cultivation together at the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein the next day.
• Yao Sen drank alone, brooding over his loss of influence to Tian Guizhang, until a woman in red smashed his wine jars and bowls and he angrily rebuked her.

Yu Hanjing urged Yao Sen to use the truth behind Zhu Jiutian’s death to turn Zhu Ling against Ye Zhen, and Yao Sen considered the chance to eliminate his rival. Ye Zhen returned to the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein to cultivate, where his four Talent Bloodlines manifested in the sky.

• Yu Hanjing told Yao Sen that she had engineered Zhu Jiutian’s death and proposed directing Zhu Ling’s investigation toward Ye Zhen.
• Yu Hanjing explained that Zhu Ling had uncovered suspicious details about his son’s death and could be led to suspect Ye Zhen through Yao Sen’s testimony.
• Ye Zhen remembered Caiyi, who had been missing for nearly four years, while traveling with Feng Qingyue to Immortal Light Mountain.
• Ye Zhen and Feng Qingyue entered the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein, and Feng Qingyue flew off to cultivate on her own.
• Ye Zhen cultivated with the Shattered Jade True Scripture and found that the Top-grade Spirit Vein accelerated his progress far beyond a High-grade Spirit Vein.
• Ye Zhen’s four Talent Bloodlines sent blood-colored beams into the sky, and he recognized the phenomenon as Bloodline Manifestation.

Ye Zhen connected his First Sword Meridian between his dantian and Soul Sea, officially breaking through to the Pulse Forging Realm and greatly strengthening his abilities. As he cultivated in the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein, he noticed that much of the absorbed Worldly Essence was not becoming spiritual power and began searching for the cause.

• Ye Zhen rooted his First Sword Meridian in his dantian and joined it to the golden heavenly pillar in his Soul Sea, successfully connecting heaven and earth.
• Ye Zhen found that his Clear Heart Sword Intent suppressed his Soul Sea more strongly and let him unleash Heart Sword auras far faster than before.
• Ye Zhen realized that his Talent Bloodlines would limit his cultivation to the fourth level of the Pulse Forging Realm and worried about finding a way to strengthen them.
• Ye Zhen absorbed Worldly Essence from the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein, and his First Sword Meridian drew it in far more quickly than ordinary Talent Bloodlines.
• Ye Zhen discovered that less than half of the Worldly Essence he absorbed became spiritual power, searched his body for the reason, and suddenly understood what was happening.

Ye Zhen connected his second Black Dragon Bloodline to heaven and earth, increasing his rate of absorbing Worldly Essence as he tested whether it would awaken. The event also alerted a distant black-robed martial artist, who sensed the aura’s location and declared that his battle of destiny was near.

• Zi Ling admitted it had absorbed most of Ye Zhen’s Worldly Essence, and Ye Zhen allowed it to take only twenty percent from then on.
• Ye Zhen spent a month cultivating in the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein, advancing to the middle stage of the first level of the Pulse Forging Realm while studying the Kun Yuan Divine Palm.
• Ye Zhen realized his second Black Dragon Bloodline had completed meridian forging and decided to connect it with heaven and earth before reaching the usual cultivation threshold.
• Ye Zhen moved the Black Dragon Bloodline into his dantian and Soul Sea, successfully connecting it with heaven and earth and increasing his Worldly Essence absorption by at least thirty percent.
• A distant martial artist in black dragon-embroidered robes sensed Ye Zhen’s aura, announced that his battle of destiny was approaching, and sent out dragon-marked Jade Talismans.

Ye Zhen’s cultivation advanced astonishingly fast, so Feng Qingyue taught him the Pulse Concealment Art and revealed that she had concealed her own higher cultivation. After they left the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein, Ye Zhen and Feng Qingyue grew closer on their flight, and she asked whether he would attend the Divine Sect’s worship the next day.

• Ye Zhen remained disappointed that the Black Dragon Bloodline would only pulse when he practiced the Black Dragon Hegemony Style, but his cultivation reached nearly the peak of Pulse Forging Realm Second Level.
• Feng Qingyue arrived and was shocked by Ye Zhen’s rapid cultivation; he explained his First Sword Meridian and Black Dragon Bloodline, and she gave him her mother’s Pulse Concealment Art.
• Feng Qingyue revealed that she had concealed her cultivation and released her aura, showing Ye Zhen that she had reached the peak of Pulse Forging Realm Seventh Level.
• Ye Zhen learned the Pulse Concealment Art, then left the Immortal Realm Spirit Vein with Feng Qingyue while concealing his cultivation as the late First Level of the Pulse Forging Realm.
• When Xiao Mao abruptly stopped in flight, Ye Zhen fell against Feng Qingyue, and they remained close together until she asked if he would attend the Divine Sect’s worship the next day.

At his first monthly worship ceremony, Ye Zhen's devotion caused the Mirage Dragon Pearl's third seal to shatter, though he concealed the cause from the Sun Moon Divine Cult. After the ceremony, Zhu Ling told him there was news about the Gen Earth Spirit Pearl.

• Ji Yuanxiu explained the Sun Moon Divine Lord worship rituals to Ye Zhen and gave him a Jade Talisman with the words for worship.
• Ye Zhen worshipped alongside Feng Qingyue and the others, and the Divine Lord's image in his mind blazed with golden light.
• The Mirage Dragon Pearl trembled as its beast souls roared, and their power shattered its third seal, expanding its internal space to more than ten thousand meters.
• Cult Master Jian Qianxiong accepted Ye Zhen's explanation that the golden light signaled exceptional devotion, and the worshippers praised him.
• Zhu Ling called to Ye Zhen as he was leaving and told him there was news of the Gen Earth Spirit Pearl.