Chapter Summaries

Ye Zhen returned to Blackwater Dojo after collecting Pan Wei’s debt, where Elder Bao confronted Han Shi’s divided loyalties and turned away Madam Pan’s demand to hand Ye Zhen over. The Blackwater Pill King waited to fulfill his agreement with Ye Zhen, who entered a quiet room with him and was stunned by the enormous bowl he produced.

• Ye Zhen and his companions left the Right Guard General’s Mansion with Pan Wei’s repayment, while Han Shi warned that Madam Pan might accuse them.
• Madam Pan pursued Ye Zhen’s group to Blackwater Dojo, but Ye Zhen went inside to meet the Blackwater Pill King, who had been waiting for him.
• Han Shi tried to greet the Blackwater Pill King, who ignored him and called Ye Zhen over to fulfill their agreement.
• Ye Zhen reported the debt-collection dispute to Elder Bao, who said he would handle it and let Ye Zhen accompany the Blackwater Pill King.
• Elder Bao rebuked Han Shi for putting his lineage ahead of Qi Yun Sect and persuaded Madam Pan to leave by warning of scrutiny into the Right Guard Army’s military pay.
• The Blackwater Pill King took Ye Zhen to a quiet room, where Ye Zhen was stunned when the Pill King produced an enormous bowl.

Ye Zhen received two pills from Blackwater Pill King Gai and was rewarded by Elder Bao with a flying manual and a secret technique. He eagerly took the technique to test whether Little Cat could cultivate it.

• Ye Zhen gave Blackwater Pill King Gai a sea bowl of Little Cat’s saliva and received two Earth Grade Demonic Spirit Essence Boosting Pills in return.
• Elder Bao praised Ye Zhen for collecting debts and gave him the Low-grade Earth-tier Gale Shadow Evasion Art.
• Elder Bao also gave Ye Zhen the Universe As You Wish Secret Technique, which Ye Zhen realized was suited to Little Cat.
• Elder Bao challenged Han Shi to collect a noble’s debt for a manual, but scolded him when he tried to delay the task for five days.
• Ye Zhen took Little Cat to his quiet cultivation room to try the secret technique.

Ye Zhen taught Little Cat the Universe As You Wish Secret Technique, advanced to the Spirit Drawing Mid Stage, and completed the debt-collection mission in Blackwater Royal City. As his reputation spread, a peculiar messenger arrived with a large red invitation.

• Little Cat mastered the Universe As You Wish Secret Technique and learned to shrink to kitten size without losing its weight.
• Ye Zhen refined Demonic Spirit Essence Boosting Pills and advanced from the Spirit Drawing Early Stage to the Spirit Drawing Mid Stage, then concealed his cultivation.
• Elder Bao praised Little Cat's intelligence, and Ye Zhen led Ren Xihua and three others to collect debts from the young nobles.
• Most debtors repaid, bringing Qi Yun Sect more than a million taels of gold and several thousand Low-grade Spirit Crystals, while Ye Zhen's notoriety in Blackwater Royal City grew.
• A pale, beardless messenger arrived at the training grounds and delivered a large red invitation to Ye Zhen.

Ye Zhen attended First Prince Zhu Xuan’s banquet with Elder Bao, but Prince Anchang Zhu Qianshu repeatedly forced him to give up his seats until he settled at the back of the hall. Elder Bao chose to sit beside him, and the Blackwater Pill King arrived and headed straight for Ye Zhen’s seat.

• Ye Zhen and Elder Bao arrived at First Prince Zhu Xuan’s residence, where Elder Bao was warmly welcomed and Ye Zhen was led to his seat.
• Alchemist Wang claimed Ye Zhen’s seat, and Prince Anchang Zhu Qianshu repeatedly stopped him from taking other seats until Ye Zhen sat at the back of the hall.
• Princess Huayang greeted Ye Zhen, and Elder Bao left the other guests to sit beside him.
• Elder Bao revealed that he had noticed Ye Zhen’s breakthrough to the mid-stage Spirit Drawing Realm and praised his concealed aura.
• The Blackwater Pill King arrived, ignored the offered seat at the front, and headed toward the last seat on the left.

At First Prince Zhu Xuan's banquet, Blackwater Pill King and Elder Bao showed that they valued Ye Zhen, and the guests learned that Ye Zhen had access to Tiger Saliva. The banquet began with Ye Zhen still seated beside them, but Third Prince Zhu Kun arrived with two martial artists and abruptly stopped the festivities.

• Blackwater Pill King and Elder Bao sat beside Ye Zhen, and the Grand Steward learned that Ye Zhen had been forced into the last seat and slapped the responsible steward out of the hall.
• Blackwater Pill King drove Venerable Wang away, revoked his access to the Alchemy Lecture Conference, and warned him not to retaliate against Ye Zhen.
• Blackwater Pill King summoned Princess Huayang to attend Ye Zhen and himself, and First Prince Zhu Xuan began the banquet after arriving.
• Blackwater Pill King admitted that he needed Tiger Saliva, and Ye Zhen used Little Cat to fill a bowl with it without asking for payment.
• Third Prince Zhu Kun entered with two martial artists, laughing that First Prince Zhu Xuan had held a banquet without inviting him, and the music and dances stopped.

At First Prince Zhu Xuan’s banquet, Third Prince Zhu Kun tried to provoke Ye Zhen and then used swordsman Lie Kuangsha’s performance to challenge him. Ye Zhen rejected Zhu Kun’s invitation and dismissed Lie Kuangsha’s skill; the chapter ended with Lie Kuangsha challenging Ye Zhen to a sword dance.

• Third Prince Zhu Kun arrived at First Prince Zhu Xuan’s banquet and handed invitations to the guests for his own banquet the next day.
• Blackwater Pill King rejected Zhu Kun’s invitation, and Ye Zhen bluntly refused to attend, angering Zhu Kun and easing Elder Bao’s concerns.
• Zhu Kun interrupted the entertainment and introduced Lie Kuangsha, who performed a sword display that unsettled the guests.
• Princess Huayang described Lie Kuangsha’s record of killing martial artists, but Ye Zhen called his swordsmanship barely passable.
• Lie Kuangsha directed a sword strike toward Ye Zhen, stopped short, and challenged him to dance swords.

Ye Zhen rejected Lie Kuangsha’s sword dance challenge, then accepted his life-or-death duel and killed him with a single strike. He returned to his seat and asked Princess Huayang to pour wine as the stunned hall fell silent.

• Lie Kuangsha provoked Ye Zhen into a sword dance, but Ye Zhen refused and called him a performer who served princes as a slave.
• Lie Kuangsha swore a blood oath to kill Ye Zhen, and Princess Huayang warned Ye Zhen of his formidable reputation, but Ye Zhen chose to fight.
• Ye Zhen told Lie Kuangsha to attack first and broke his Wild Sand Artistic Conception by standing firm.
• Ye Zhen used his layered Protective Gang Qi to withstand Lie Kuangsha’s sword strike, then drew the Heavenly Crystal Sword and beheaded him.
• Ye Zhen returned to his seat, asked Princess Huayang to pour wine, and left the princes and nobles stunned.

After killing Lie Kuangsha, Ye Zhen won the First Prince Zhu Xuan’s favor and the gratitude of Lie Kuangsha’s victims’ families, then completed his month guarding the Blackwater Dojo. As he prepared to return to the mountain, Ren Xihua invited him to join an exploration of a mysterious Secret Realm or martial artist’s estate.

• Third Prince Zhu Kun left the banquet after Ye Zhen stood firm, while Blackwater Pill King praised Ye Zhen and promised to help him obtain Earth Grade Monster Cores and refine pills.
• First Prince Zhu Xuan gave Ye Zhen and Elder Bao gifts and offered them beauties, but Ye Zhen declined, and Zhu Xuan later teased Princess Huayang about her affection for Ye Zhen.
• Ye Zhen spent the month guarding the dojo, cultivating with Spirit Crystals after finding that Human Grade Monster Cores barely helped his Spirit Drawing Realm cultivation.
• Families of martial artists killed by Lie Kuangsha came to the dojo to thank Ye Zhen for avenging their loved ones, and he refused their gifts and gave them silver instead.
• After the month-long assignment ended, Ren Xihua invited Ye Zhen to help explore a possible Secret Realm or martial artist’s cultivation estate.

Ye Zhen joined Han Shi and Ren Xihua on an expedition to a Secret Realm beneath Black Gold Lake, where Lu Congfei and his companions had already failed to enter four times. After Ye Zhen revealed his reputation for defeating Lie Kuangsha, the group accepted him, fought off Monster Beasts on the journey, and reached the whirlpool hiding the entrance.

• Han Shi invited Ye Zhen and Ren Xihua to help Lu Congfei explore a dangerous Secret Realm, and the three fellow disciples set out together.
• On Lu Congfei's boat, Ba Lang and Jiu Lie questioned Han Shi's choice of companions, so Ye Zhen challenged Ba Lang and invoked his victory over Lie Kuangsha.
• Lu Congfei recognized Ye Zhen's reputation and accepted him into the group, then explained the expedition's treasure-sharing rules and the Secret Realm's underwater entrance.
• The group crossed Black Gold Lake, fending off attacking Monster Beasts as they traveled toward its center.
• After nearly six hours, Lu Congfei led everyone through the air toward a whirlpool and revealed that the Secret Realm lay beneath it.

Ye Zhen and his companions found a river passage guarded by countless Black Gold Pythons and Iron Tooth Demon Fish, then attempted to cross along the cave wall. Ba Lang threw Ye Zhen toward the swarm, but Ye Zhen and Little Cat turned the attack against him, leaving Ba Lang to fall among the pythons.

• Ye Zhen stopped Han Shi from approaching the Black Gold Grass and revealed that Black Gold Pythons lurked beneath it.
• Lu Congfei's group admitted that the river was also filled with Iron Tooth Demon Fish, while Ye Zhen realized they had intended to use his group as scapegoats.
• Ye Zhen proposed crawling across the cave wall using physical strength, and all six companions began climbing toward a stone stele marked with the words "Black Water."
• Ba Lang deliberately broke a stone pillar, grabbed Ye Zhen's leg, and threw him toward the Black Gold Python swarm.
• Little Cat bit Ba Lang's hand, and Ye Zhen struck Ba Lang to regain his hold on the cave wall as Ba Lang fell among the pythons.

Ye Zhen and his companions escaped the Black Gold Pythons, fought over the death of Ba Lang, and joined forces to defeat the beasts guarding Blackwater Mansion’s herb garden. After claiming herbs and six Monster Cores, they reached the mansion’s Martial Arts Arena, where Ye Zhen noticed a strangely intelligent old turtle beside a pond.

• Ba Lang drew the Black Gold Pythons toward himself, but Ye Zhen wounded him and led Han Shi and Ren Xihua up the cave wall to escape.
• At the Blackwater Mansion entrance, Lu Congfei accused Ye Zhen of killing Ba Lang, but Jiu Lie warned that their clash would attract the pythons, and both sides entered through the Stone Gate.
• Thirteen Azure Water Dragon Crocodiles attacked in the Herb Garden, and Ye Zhen, Han Shi, Ren Xihua, Lu Congfei, and Jiu Lie killed them together.
• Ye Zhen gave up his turn to select herbs in exchange for any Monster Cores in the crocodile corpses, and he found six Low-grade Earth-tier Monster Cores.
• The group searched the mansion’s empty rooms and reached the Martial Arts Arena, where four Low-grade Treasure Weapons drew everyone’s attention.
• Ye Zhen noticed an old turtle watching them from the pond and suspected its gaze was unusually human, while Lu Congfei urged the group to divide the weapons.

Ye Zhen learned from the Old Turtle of the Cold Pond that the Blackwater Mansion held hidden treasures and claimed a brilliant black sphere from the cave wall before Lu Congfei could find it. After Lu Congfei failed to seize the sphere or uncover more treasure, Ye Zhen stayed with Han Shi and Ren Xihua to search the cold pond, where Han Shi dove in.

• Ye Zhen used Little Cat to coax the Old Turtle of the Cold Pond into revealing that valuable treasures were hidden in the pond and elsewhere.
• While the group divided the Low-grade Treasure Weapons, Ye Zhen chose a glowing patch on the cave wall and uncovered a human-sized black sphere that lit the Martial Arts Arena.
• Lu Congfei demanded the sphere, then attacked Ye Zhen when he refused; Ye Zhen armed Han Shi and Ren Xihua, and the three faced Lu Congfei and Jiu Lie until Jiu Lie persuaded Lu Congfei to back down.
• Lu Congfei searched and wrecked the Blackwater Mansion, attacked the Old Turtle of the Cold Pond, and repeatedly dove into the pond without finding anything before leaving with Jiu Lie.
• Ye Zhen persuaded Han Shi and Ren Xihua to search the cold pond again, and Han Shi plunged into it.

Ye Zhen discovered and collected 103 Ice Spirit Crystals and a jade slip from the cold pond, apparently with the Old Turtle of the Cold Pond’s help. After the group escaped Blackwater Mansion, the Azure Clad Five Fiends blocked their way and demanded their Storage Bracelets.

• Han Shi and Ren Xihua failed to endure the cold pond, but Ye Zhen descended to its bottom and found pale Ice Spirit Crystals.
• Ye Zhen collected all 103 Ice Spirit Crystals and a jade slip, while the Old Turtle of the Cold Pond remained hidden.
• Ye Zhen left the pond without revealing his treasure to Han Shi and Ren Xihua, and the three decided to leave Blackwater Mansion before Lu Congfei could act.
• The Old Turtle of the Cold Pond reappeared after the group departed, spoke of how much hope they might bring, and vanished along with the pond’s water.
• Ye Zhen, Han Shi, and Ren Xihua safely crossed the vortex current, but the Azure Clad Five Fiends surrounded them and demanded their Storage Bracelets.

Ye Zhen and his companions fought the Azure Clad Five Fiends, and Ye Zhen killed several of the bandits despite being outnumbered. After he chose to kill Blood Fiend rather than evade Lu Congfei’s ambush, Lu Congfei struck Ye Zhen from behind and pressed his attack.

• Ye Zhen refused to surrender his Storage Bracelet and vowed to kill the Azure Clad Five Fiends after Ren Xihua explained their crimes.
• The Azure Clad Five Fiends attacked Ye Zhen, Han Shi, and Ren Xihua, and Ye Zhen revealed his Spirit Drawing Mid Stage cultivation.
• Ye Zhen killed Poison Fiend with Wind Sweeping Clouds and killed Ghost Fiend with Primal Chaos Qi.
• Han Shi and Ren Xihua defeated Wealth Fiend and Lust Fiend, while Ye Zhen killed the fleeing Blood Fiend despite Lu Congfei’s sneak attack.
• Lu Congfei’s sword tore open Ye Zhen’s back, and he pursued Ye Zhen to finish him off.

Ye Zhen and his companions fought off the ambush, killing the Lust Fiend, Wealth Fiend, and Lu Congfei while Jiu Lie escaped. They headed back toward the sect, and Instructor Liao Feibai and Caiyi met them on the way.

• Little Cat and Jiu Lie intervened in the battle, allowing Ye Zhen to kill the Lust Fiend and Han Shi to kill the Wealth Fiend.
• Ye Zhen and Little Cat overwhelmed Lu Congfei, and Little Cat killed him after Ye Zhen severed his arm; Jiu Lie fled from Han Shi.
• Han Shi treated Ren Xihua, and the three survivors divided the Storage Bracelets and exchanged weapons before leaving.
• Ye Zhen and Ren Xihua rode Little Cat toward the sect, while Han Shi followed behind.
• Instructor Liao Feibai arrived with Caiyi, who saw Ye Zhen's wounded back and asked who had injured him.

After recovering from his injuries, Ye Zhen examined the treasures from Blackwater Mansion, discovered a powerful Spiritual Power Secret Technique, and spent half a month cultivating it. Instructor Liao Feibai arrived on Fairy Maiden Peak with one good piece of news and one bad one.

• Ye Zhen regretted sparing Lu Congfei after realizing the later ambush could have been avoided, and vowed not to leave future threats alive.
• Ye Zhen took out the black sphere, which frightened Little Cat; he suspected it was the eyeball of a powerful Spirit Beast but could not uncover its secrets.
• Ye Zhen read the jade slip and learned that Ice Fiend Qi required Ice Spirit Crystals and could harm even Spirit Transformation Realm experts.
• After half a month of cultivation, Ye Zhen used Ice Fiend Qi to freeze a wooden stake and damage a pine tree, while Caiyi warned that the powerful technique might harm him.
• Caiyi praised the Wind Cloud Sword Art Ye Zhen had taught her, and Instructor Liao Feibai arrived and offered them one good and one bad piece of news.

Ye Zhen learned that Qu Zhanqian had reached the Spirit Transformation Realm and would likely enter the Sect Grand Competition, increasing the pressure on him to prepare. He chose to follow his own judgment at the Scripture Depository, selecting a cultivation art that would boost his spiritual power, and began considering which martial skill to learn next.

• Instructor Liao Feibai told Ye Zhen that the Sect Grand Competition was one month away and that Qu Zhanqian had broken through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, likely so he could compete before becoming a True Disciple.
• Caiyi offered to injure Qu Zhanqian, but Ye Zhen insisted he could still challenge him without using his Sword Vein Divine Ability, while Instructor Liao Feibai warned him about the danger of revealing it.
• Instructor Liao Feibai offered Ye Zhen her Low-grade Earth-tier Ice Spirit Art, but he declined because he wanted to choose manuals suited to his own path.
• Ye Zhen entered the fifth floor of the Scripture Depository with his Quasi-True Disciple Jade Talisman and rebuffed Fan Chuyu, who left after seeing the talisman.
• After reviewing the manuals, Ye Zhen chose the Five Revolutions Yuan Cultivation Art to expand his spiritual power and support his Wind Cloud Sword Technique, then considered which martial skill to select.

Ye Zhen chose the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique and spent nearly a month mastering it while hunting Earth-tier beasts and cultivating. After refining a Monster Core and using Spirit Crystals, he broke through to the Spirit Drawing Late Stage before the Sect Grand Competition and set out to advance the Five Revolutions Yuan Cultivation Art.

• Ye Zhen bought the Five Revolutions Yuan Cultivation Art and Flowing Cloud Sword Technique using Sect Contribution Points and borrowed funds.
• Ye Zhen mastered Flowing Cloud Nine Flashes and killed two Three-eyed Thunder Leopards, obtaining a Low-grade Earth-tier Monster Core with Little Cat’s help.
• Ye Zhen refined the Monster Core and continued cultivating with Spirit Crystals, but his first attempt did not immediately trigger a breakthrough.
• Ye Zhen gathered Worldly Essence and spiritual power until he broke through to the Spirit Drawing Late Stage.
• Ye Zhen resolved to complete the fourth revolution of the Five Revolutions Yuan Cultivation Art while his momentum lasted.

Ye Zhen watched Feng Haoran win the Outer Disciple competition and learned that Qu Zhanqian had broken through to the Spirit Transformation Realm ahead of the Inner Disciple contest. When Caiyi was badly injured in an attack on Qu, Ye Zhen carried her away and vowed to kill Fan Chuyu and Qu Zhanqian if anything happened to her, while Fan Chuyu ordered Qu to kill Ye Zhen in the coming contest.

• Ye Zhen reached the fourth revolution of his Five Revolutions Yuan Cultivation Art and went to watch the Sect Grand Competition after Caiyi declined to join him.
• Sha Fei was eliminated before the top two hundred, while Feng Haoran won first place among the Outer Disciples and noticed Ye Zhen in the crowd.
• Ye Zhen heard that Qu Zhanqian had reached the Spirit Transformation Realm and that the Inner Disciple competition would begin the next day.
• Caiyi attacked Qu Zhanqian, but Hong Banjiang and Fan Chuyu joined forces against her until Liao Feibai intervened and Sect Master Guo Qijing stopped the fighting.
• Ye Zhen discovered Caiyi had attacked Qu for his sake, carried her away injured, and threatened Fan Chuyu and Qu Zhanqian.
• Fan Chuyu told Qu Zhanqian to kill Ye Zhen during the competition, and Qu agreed.

Ye Zhen entered Qi Yun Sect’s Inner Disciple competition amid rumors surrounding Caiyi and a field of formidable opponents. After the group stage produced several dark horses, Ye Zhen was drawn against Sun Zuohai for the opening match of the finals.

• Ye Zhen left Caiyi to recover and arrived at East Arrival Peak, where Jin Yuanbao told him that most disciples now expected Qu Zhanqian to win.
• Seventh Elder Zhong Li Jing explained the points-based group stage, and Ye Zhen identified Qu Zhanqian, Gao Xinglie, and Changsun Ran as his main rivals.
• Jin Yuanbao won his first match with an unexpected movement technique, while Ye Zhen warned Ren Xihua not to underestimate Yue Meng.
• Yue Meng nearly defeated Ren Xihua with her swordsmanship, then finished second in her group; Sun Zuohai also emerged as a dark horse by defeating Heaven Ranking disciples.
• Zhong Li Jing drew Ye Zhen and Sun Zuohai for the first match of the finals, and Ye Zhen walked toward the Martial Arena.