Chapter Summaries

Xie Yuan and his companions fought their way through the demon army, joined forces to kill Shan Han, and escaped the Bronze Gate’s vicinity with its Demonic Core. They continued deeper into the Nine Hells Realm toward the sealed demon lord, determined to close the realm and return safely.

• Xie Yuan killed a powerful four-armed demon with his spear and Nine Hells Demon Subjugation, then warned the group to break through the demon army.
• Xie Yuan, Mu Chaoyun, Situ Qin, and Xie Lingyun fought their way out until Shan Han, a human-shaped demon, confronted them.
• Shan Han overwhelmed Xie Yuan and battled the group, but Xie Yuan and Situ Qin prepared a joint attack while Mu Chaoyun trapped the demon in an Eight Trigrams Formation.
• Xie Yuan’s axe strike, Situ Qin’s zither attack, and Mu Chaoyun’s formation killed Shan Han, whose Demonic Core Mu Chaoyun collected for purification.
• The group escaped the area before other powerful demons arrived, while several humanoid demons discovered Shan Han’s death and chose to pursue them slowly.
• Xie Yuan’s group hid a thousand miles from the Bronze Gate, recovered with a Nine Hells White Jade Magnolia, and set out toward the palace where the Nine Hells Realm Lord was sealed.

Xie Yuan and his companions reinforced the seal on the Devil Master, survived an attack by three great demons, and escaped Nine Hells. Xi revealed that she was a demon, then used herself to close the bronze gate and complete the Nine Hells Clan’s mission.

• Xie Yuan resisted the Devil Master’s illusions and continued reciting the sacrificial text, while the Devil Master gave him a small cauldron engraved with martial arts figures and let the group go.
• Xie Yuan found Mu Chaoyun weakened after she traded part of her remaining life to show the Devil Master the human world, and the group confirmed that the seal had been reinforced.
• Three great demons confronted Xie Yuan and the women, but lightning from the Demon Suppression Cauldron killed them, and the black-eyed figure from the palace claimed their Demonic Cores.
• Xie Yuan and his companions escaped the Nine Hells and met Xi outside the bronze gate, where Xi admitted that her sacrificial text had required them to use their bodies as a prison.
• Xi closed the bronze gate with her power, gave Xie Yuan a Demonic Core as thanks and apology, and faded into the gate as its golden emblem.

Xie Yuan entered the Sky Garden seeking a Golden Mandala, but Yelü Chu forced him to serve as a scout and fight other Grandmasters. After secretly gathering treasures and waiting for Yelü Chu to seize a golden flower, Xie Yuan ambushed and killed him, taking the flower for himself.

• Xie Yuan entered the Sky Garden and learned that its tiers separated martial artists by cultivation, while dangerous plants attacked anyone who tried to climb recklessly.
• Xie Yuan collected a Golden Light Fruit, but Yelü Chu arrived after killing two Grandmasters, took the fruit, and ordered Xie Yuan to follow and scout for him.
• Yelü Chu forced Xie Yuan to fight Grandmaster A Nu, then killed A Nu and made Xie Yuan retrieve the Purple Gold Tu Li Flower.
• While Yelü Chu went ahead toward the battles near the summit, Xie Yuan searched the upper gardens and collected a Spirit Essence Fruit, a Golden Sun Fruit, and a Sweet Dew Branch, but found no Golden Mandala.
• Xie Yuan saw Yelü Chu fighting A Xin and Mu Bo over a radiant golden flower, then used the Heaven Concealing Art to ambush Yelü Chu as he tried to use Xie Yuan as a shield.
• Xie Yuan killed Yelü Chu with a sword thrust and took the golden flower from his hand.

Xie Yuan killed Master Xinhe and destroyed the White Bone Bodhisattva Statue, uncovering a scheme tied to the Stove Sect before escaping from a powerful woman in purple. After he reported back to Mu Chaoyun, the Autumn Wind Pavilion promoted him to Human Rank and ordered his conduct watched.

• Xie Yuan exposed Master Xinhe's use of illusions and killed the four guards who pooled their strength to protect her.
• Xie Yuan found children being drained of their blood and vital essence, destroyed the altar, and pursued Master Xinhe into an underground palace.
• Master Xinhe used the Blood Ruyi to boost her strength, but Xie Yuan defeated and beheaded her.
• A powerful woman in purple attacked Xie Yuan, so he shattered the White Bone Bodhisattva Statue and escaped with the Blood Ruyi and Xin He's head.
• Xie Yuan told Mu Chaoyun what had happened, and she concluded that Master Xin He had colluded with the Stove Sect.
• The Autumn Wind Pavilion Master promoted Xie Yuan to Human Rank, gave him two bottles of pills, and ordered a subordinate to watch him.

After winning his twelfth consecutive match, Xie Yuan rode with Xie Lingyun to Jade Buddha Temple, where they discovered that its enormous Jade Buddha had vanished without a trace. Their investigation grew more puzzling when Fa Zhi denied receiving the Golden Buddha Statue sent by Xie Lingyun’s family, and the chapter ended as a vendor offered them a Golden Buddha Statue.

• Xie Yuan defeated Xie Chun with the Heaven Illusion Art, won his protective jade pendant, and claimed his twelfth consecutive victory.
• Xie Yi and an old man discussed Xie Yuan’s talent and agreed to consider admitting him to the Martial Repository after his match with Xie Dun.
• Xie Chun told Xie Dun about his defeat, and Xie Dun said he would challenge Xie Yuan in a couple of days.
• Xie Yuan and Xie Lingyun rode to Jade Buddha Temple and found that its enormous Jade Buddha had disappeared without damaging the hall.
• Xie Lingyun learned from Fa Zhi that the temple had not received the Golden Buddha Statue her family had sent, so she and Xie Yuan hurried back toward the city.
• A vendor stopped Xie Yuan and Xie Lingyun on the road and offered to sell them a Golden Buddha Statue.

After escaping Nine Hells with valuable treasures, Xie Yuan and his companions settled in a secluded valley, where he worked to purify and refine the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron. Situ Qin left to answer a summons from her mother, and the chapter ended as Xie Yuan completed the cauldron’s purification and claimed it as his own.

• Mu Chaoyun displayed their Nine Hells spoils, including three Demonic Cores, rare spiritual treasures, and the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron, and led the group toward an Earth Vein Spiritual Land.
• Xie Yuan and Situ Qin escorted Xie Lingyun home, where she reunited with her family, and Situ Qin told Xie Yuan that Lingyun feared she was holding him back.
• Xie Yuan began purifying the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron in the valley and focused his insights from it on advancing Chopping Wood.
• Situ Qin helped Xie Yuan purge the cauldron’s demonic qi, then accepted a purified Demonic Core and left to visit her mother, Situ Wan.
• Mu Chaoyun emerged from seclusion to give Situ Qin the Demonic Core, then returned to work on the remaining cores while Xie Yuan continued refining the cauldron.
• Xie Yuan sensed that the last trace of demonic qi had vanished and fully refined the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron.

Xie Lingyun uncovered Xie Yuan’s disguise as Yao Tianchuan, learned his true identity, and promised to keep it secret before returning to Chen Commandery. As Xie Yuan continued cultivating and covertly helped Su Xing investigate the Yao Family, the Autumn Wind Pavilion Master summoned him and asked whether he knew of a traitor in the Pavilion.

• Yao Yuzhi welcomed Xie Lingyun and her party with a lavish reception, hoping to strengthen ties with the Xie Family and arrange a match with Yao Tianchuan.
• Xie Lingyun confronted Xie Yuan at Wangjiang Tower, deduced that he was impersonating Yao Tianchuan, and learned his real name; she agreed to keep his identity secret.
• Xie Lingyun returned to Chen Commandery the next day, and Xie Yuan told Mu Chaoyun about their meeting; Mu Chaoyun teased him before discussing their likely upcoming separation.
• Xie Yuan spent more than a month cultivating at the Yao Residence while secretly supplying Su Xing with clues for the investigation into the Yao Family.
• The Autumn Wind Pavilion Master summoned Xie Yuan and asked whether he knew about a suspected traitor within Autumn Wind Pavilion.

Xie Yuan killed the Autumn Wind Pavilion Master in a desperate battle, then saved the gravely injured Mu Chaoyun with a rare Yao Family pill. After the fight, Xie Bing identified the dead assassin and discovered that Xie Yuan had defeated him, while Yao Yuzhi vowed revenge and ordered the Yao Family to move to the Capital City.

• Autumn Wind Pavilion Master attacked Xie Yuan, who used the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron, his axe techniques, and his Sword Heart to withstand the assault until Mu Chaoyun remotely activated an array.
• Xie Yuan struck Autumn Wind Pavilion Master with successive Splitting Mount Hua attacks, killing him, but narrowly avoided a final sword launched at him as he fell from exhaustion.
• Xie Yuan gave Mu Chaoyun a Phoenix God Organ Nourishing Pill, helped stabilize her condition, and carried her away from the ruined valley.
• Xie Bing examined the battlefield, recognized Autumn Wind Pavilion Master as Yao Yuyi, and confirmed through Xie Lingyun that Xie Yuan had been there.
• News of Yao Yuyi's death spread, while Yao Yuzhi mourned him, vowed revenge, and ordered the Yao Family to relocate to the Capital City.

Xie Yuan agreed to accompany Yun Xing to the Stove Sect after she promised possible help for Xie Yi’s Soul Loss Syndrome and clues about the Mu Family’s destruction. He spent the remaining time training, mastered the first move of the Heaven Burning World Destroying Spear, and then departed with Yun Xing for the Holy Church.

• Yun Xing persuaded Xie Yuan to join her by offering a possible treatment for Xie Yi and a chance to investigate the North Capital Mountain Mu Family’s destruction.
• Xie Yuan agreed to leave with Yun Xing after preparing, while deciding not to tell Cui Pingjun the full reason for his journey.
• Xie Yuan secluded himself and trained at the Xie Family Martial Repository, where his spear technique advanced to the realm of refined mastery.
• Xie Yuan told Cui Pingjun he was seeking a way to help Xie Yi, and she reluctantly agreed to let him go.
• Xie Yuan met Yun Xing outside Chen Commandery fifteen days later, and she set out to take him to the Holy Church.

Xie Yuan drove Autumn Wind Pavilion Master away with Splitting Mount Hua, but the assassin returned and trapped Xie Yuan and the gravely injured Mu Chaoyun inside her damaged formation. As Autumn Wind Pavilion Master counted down and Mu Chaoyun shielded him, Xie Yuan swallowed the two Demonic Cores to recover his strength and vanished from the house when the countdown reached one.

• Xie Yuan used Splitting Mount Hua to injure Autumn Wind Pavilion Master and frighten him into retreating, then found Mu Chaoyun injured in her cottage.
• Mu Chaoyun unknowingly transferred blessings to Xie Yuan, and Autumn Wind Pavilion Master returned to ambush them; Mu Chaoyun used the Eight Trigrams Lotus to block his attack and enclosed the cottage in a formation.
• Autumn Wind Pavilion Master attacked the patched formation, worsening Mu Chaoyun's injuries, while Mu Chaoyun urged Xie Yuan to refine the purified Demonic Cores and regain his strength.
• Xie Yuan began absorbing the Demonic Cores inside Mu Chaoyun's refinement formation, but he could not bear to let her keep suffering the backlash.
• Xie Yuan crushed and swallowed both Demonic Cores, using his body as a furnace as Autumn Wind Pavilion Master counted down to one, then vanished from the house.

Xie Yuan and Yun Xing escaped the Black Heaven Book’s candle prison after Xie Yuan gained mastery of new martial techniques, but the Palm-Sized World began collapsing and he emerged alone. He learned that the Emperor had been assassinated and the Crown Prince had besieged the Fourteenth Prince’s palace; as assassins attacked the Fourteenth Prince, Xie Yuan was caught in the opening assault.

• Yun Xing opened the stone door to the Stove Sect leader’s cave, where Xie Yuan discovered that a black candle had trapped both of them inside its flames.
• Xie Yuan used the Eight Trigrams Lotus to access the Black Heaven Book’s martial displays, improving his Heaven Burning World Destroying Spear and gaining Heaven Piercing Style and the combined axe technique Thousand Army Breaker.
• Yun Xing took the candle and broke open the cavern dome to escape, but her strike triggered the collapse of the Palm-Sized World; someone outside restored it, and Xie Yuan reappeared in the palace without Yun Xing.
• Situ Qin told Xie Yuan that her mother, Situ Wan, had assassinated the Emperor, the Crown Prince had seized control, and the Fourteenth Prince’s palace was under siege because he held the Emperor’s Imperial Edict.
• The Crown Prince ordered his soldiers to storm the palace, and disguised attendants joined the attack on the Fourteenth Prince; several daggers targeted Xie Yuan as he stood beside him.

Xie Yuan learned that Jade Serenity had manipulated his fate and caused the Mu Family’s destruction to gather the Black Heaven Book and prepare to strike down Heaven. When Jade Serenity attacked him using the Nourishing Body Skill, Mu Chaoyun stopped Sikong Qin from intervening, insisting Xie Yuan had to face the trial as a brilliant light erupted over the battlefield.

• Jade Serenity revealed that he had guided Xie Yuan toward the Black Heaven Book, destroyed the Mu Family, and manipulated Mu Chaoyun and Prince of Western Peace for his plan.
• Jade Serenity admitted that Mu Chaoyun had chosen to gather the Black Heaven Book to protect Xie Yuan instead of seeking revenge, and Xie Yuan refused to surrender the pages.
• Xie Yuan attacked Jade Serenity with the Black Heaven Divine Sword and Ji Clan Divine Axe, but Jade Serenity evaded the blows and used the Nourishing Body Skill to make Xie Yuan’s Inner Breath run wild.
• Sikong Qin rushed toward the battlefield, but Mu Chaoyun blocked her and said Xie Yuan had to endure the trial and that only she could save him.
• A brilliant, sunlike light erupted across the battlefield as Sikong Qin turned back in alarm.

Xie Yuan and Situ Qin defeated an Autumn Wind Pavilion assassin and uncovered the Qian and Yao families’ suspected role in trafficking people and supporting the assassins. After returning to Yunshan Mountain, Xie Yuan received the Yunshan Sword Intent Scripture, opening his path to Grandmastery.

• Situ Qin and Xie Yuan discussed sharing credit for killing the Heaven Rank Assassin after Li Tai arrived and confirmed their safety.
• Xie Yuan proposed that some trafficked children were intended for Autumn Wind Pavilion, and Li Tai found markings suggesting the assassin had been branded as a child.
• Situ Qin ordered her people to investigate the Qian and Yao families and alert the Yun Mountain Prince, then delayed the Qian family steward while she rested and ate with Xie Yuan.
• Xie Yuan returned to Yunshan Mountain, reported the trafficking case to Li Xingtuo, and received the Yunshan Sword Intent Scripture as his reward.
• Xie Yuan read the scripture, saw his progress register at its first layer, and planned to cultivate it before using the Nourishing Body Skill to accelerate his progress.

After destroying Vajra Gate, Xie Yuan searched Yu Chunsheng’s home and rescued Xu Ding, though the young man believed the escort agency had killed his father. Xie Yuan returned to his room exhausted, only to find the Black Robed Figure waiting there.

• Xie Yuan learned that Yu Chunsheng had taken Xu Mo’s son hostage and agreed to find him.
• Xie Yuan searched Yu Chunsheng’s residence, discovered Xu Ding beneath the woodshed, and carried him away after knocking him unconscious.
• Yu Chunsheng learned Xu Ding had been taken and blamed Xie Yuan, while Shen Longteng left the yamen satisfied.
• Xie Yuan returned to the escort agency, delivered Xu Ding, and went to rest.
• Xie Yuan found the Black Robed Figure sitting in his room, and she greeted him as Chief Escort Leader Xie.

Black Tiger Fist Hall and Divine Weapon Hall challenged the Iron Clothes Gate’s Core Disciples, defeating three of them in succession. After Liu Heshang ended the matches, Lin Tao pointed to Xie Yuan as someone stronger than the disciples, drawing everyone’s attention to him.

• Wang Black Tiger insisted that only Core Disciples compete, and Liu Heshang accepted the restriction despite suspecting the other halls wanted to undermine the Iron Clothes Gate’s medicine business.
• Zheng Dongxiang lost to a Black Tiger Fist Hall disciple after being overwhelmed by his punches.
• Cao Shan entered the next match but was beaten, and his opponent continued striking him after he had lost his fighting strength.
• Lin Tao fought a Divine Weapon Hall disciple, who dislocated his shoulder, elbow, and wrist before Liu Heshang stopped the contest.
• Lin Tao told Liu Heshang that someone stronger than the Core Disciples remained, then pointed at Xie Yuan.

Xie Yuan defeated Huang Zifeng in three sparring matches, including disarming him with a single perfected saber strike after Huang drew his sword. Cui Zhi recognized Xie Yuan’s mastery and asked whether he was interested in swordsmanship.

• Cui Zhi and the Lin siblings watched in disbelief as Xie Yuan’s strength overwhelmed Huang Zifeng in their first two sparring matches.
• Huang Zifeng admitted defeat in fist and footwork, then challenged Xie Yuan again with his sword drawn.
• Xie Yuan accepted the challenge and met Huang’s sword thrust with Wolf King Howls at the Moon, knocking the sword from Huang’s hand in one strike.
• Huang Zifeng realized he had lost all three matches, while Cui Zhi recognized that Xie Yuan had perfected his saber art.
• Cui Zhi approached Xie Yuan and asked whether he was interested in swordsmanship.

Xie Yuan reunited with Situ Qin in Cloud Province, learned that the Sky Garden might hold the rare Golden Mandala he needed, and set out west. After visiting old acquaintances, he found Lu Lao San and killed him with the Lin Family Treasure Blade.

• Situ Qin welcomed Xie Yuan after his return, and they shared stories before discussing his plan to travel to the Western Regions.
• Li Tai told Xie Yuan about the Sky Garden, its rare treasures, and the dangers of reaching it; Situ Qin wanted to accompany Xie Yuan, but he left without her the next morning.
• Xie Yuan visited Li Lan and Wang Lei, left them medicine and money, and paid his respects at the escort agency's ancestral hall before heading west.
• At Wind Sand Market, Xie Yuan paid the Boss Lady for Lu Lao San's recent whereabouts and learned that he was at Blue Water Oasis City.
• Lu Lao San rejected White Robe's demand to absorb his bandits and planned to make one last attempt at Golden City before Xie Yuan confronted him.
• Xie Yuan defeated Lu Lao San's attacks, rescued the women from being used as hostages, and beheaded him with the Lin Family Treasure Blade.

Xie Yuan’s message brought Li Xingtuo to the Heaven Cloud Garden, where he defeated Yuan Zhen, Wang Junlin, and the Autumn Wind Pavilion Master and lifted the siege. After welcoming Li Xingtuo into the Xie Family, Xie Yuan learned that the Sword Sect leader had come to aid him as a disciple and was invited to return to Yunshan Mountain for further cultivation.

• Xie Lin urged Xie Chen to break out of the besieged Heaven Cloud Garden, but Li Xingtuo arrived on his sword before they could act.
• Yuan Zhen tried to turn Li Xingtuo away, but Li Xingtuo declared he would protect the Heaven Cloud Garden for the Xie Family.
• Li Xingtuo struck Yuan Zhen, Wang Junlin, and the Autumn Wind Pavilion Master with his Fleeting Light Shadow Sword, forcing all three to flee.
• Xie Yuan welcomed Li Xingtuo at the Xie Family Clan Land as the medicine-laden carriages returned from the Heaven Cloud Garden.
• In private, Li Xingtuo revealed his past connection to Xie Yi and asked whether Xie Yuan should be called Zhang Shan; Xie Yuan showed his swordsmanship and explained his cultivation.
• Li Xingtuo told Xie Yuan he had come to help a Sword Sect disciple, offered to guide his breakthrough, and invited him back to Yunshan Mountain to study Sword Peak.

Xie Yuan unleashed his strongest axe strike against Jade Serenity, but Jade Serenity survived and struck him down as he completed the Black Heaven Book. Six months later, Situ Qin and Mu Chaoyun prepared a formation to bring Xie Yuan back, while Mu Chaoyun insisted he would return.

• Xie Yuan used the copper coin Zhang Junyi had given him, but Jade Serenity dismissed it and resumed his attack.
• Xie Yuan recovered control of his True Qi and struck Jade Serenity with Strength, Split, Mount Hua, injuring him but failing to defeat him.
• Jade Serenity struck Xie Yuan with Clear Light, apparently killing him, then gathered all nine pages of the Black Heaven Book as Mu Chaoyun led the unconscious Situ Qin away.
• Jade Serenity spared Wu Daoji temporarily after he offered knowledge about the Heavenly Dao, then searched the pit and questioned the copper coin's purpose.
• Half a year later, Situ Qin held an infant while Mu Chaoyun activated a formation and promised to bring Xie Yuan back.

Xie Yuan arrived at Thunder Duke River and turned the tide of the escort convoy’s battle against Rooster Mountain’s bandits. He killed the Third Leader with a powerful Three-Pronged Axe strike, while Zhao Xingyang remained locked in battle with Boss Song.

• Xie Yuan charged down the slope and cut into the bandits surrounding the escort convoy, lifting the escorts’ morale.
• Zhao Xingyang fought Boss Song while Xie Yuan used the Moon-Chopping Axe Technique to kill more than twenty bandits and carve through their ranks.
• The Third Leader broke away to attack Xie Yuan, but Qin Hai and several escort masters delayed him until he reached the rear of the formation.
• The Third Leader overwhelmed Xie Yuan with repeated saber strikes, while Zhao Xingyang fought desperately to reach them.
• Xie Yuan poured his Blood Qi and Inner Strength into a Three-Pronged Axe counterattack, cleaved the Third Leader’s saber, and killed him.