Recaps

Ning Qi joined the True Martial Sect as it welcomed Old Man Divine Sword, who had come to renew his ten-year challenge against Daoist Longshan for control of True Martial Mountain. Old Man Divine Sword refused Daoist Longshan’s offer to return the mountain and insisted they settle their old wager through a fair fight.

• Ning Qi arrived with the White Ape and greeted Daoist Longshan and the True Martial Sect disciples, who remarked on how much he had grown.
• Qin Yun arrived after training intensely, and Daoist Longshan worried that his disciple was pushing himself too hard.
• Old Man Divine Sword’s procession reached the mountain, and Daoist Longshan welcomed him while the two exchanged barbed remarks about the mountain and their past wager.
• Old Man Divine Sword refused to accept True Martial Mountain without a fight and reminded Daoist Longshan of their ten-year agreement.

The True Martial Sect and Divine Sword Sect welcomed each other at a banquet, where Ning Qi met the lively young disciple Zhuang Chen. Daoist Longshan and Old Man Divine Sword replaced their personal ten-year duel with a disciple sparring contest, leaving both sects’ disciples eager to prove themselves.

• Daoist Longshan and Old Man Divine Sword set aside their brewing confrontation and went to Mingwu Pavilion to discuss the ten-year agreement.
• Ning Qi introduced White Ape as Yuan Tiansheng, a third-generation True Martial Sect disciple, to the curious Zhuang Chen.
• Zhuang Chen sat beside Ning Qi at the banquet and peppered him with questions while Ning Qi eventually focused on his own cultivation.
• Daoist Longshan and Old Man Divine Sword announced that their disciples would settle the ten-year agreement through sparring, with the winning sect gaining use of True Martial Mountain for ten years.
• Daoist Longshan told the disciples to take the practice seriously and promised rewards for outstanding performances, while Ning Qi remained unimpressed.

The True Martial Sect and Divine Sword Sect held a friendly competition, with the True Martial disciples proving stronger in the outer disciple matches and Qin Yun defeating Yan Shiheng among the True Disciples. Old Man Divine Sword, dissatisfied with the results, asked for one more match.

• Daoist Longshan and Old Man Divine Sword discussed the competition, which Longshan had arranged to give their disciples experience and spare Divine Sword some embarrassment.
• Wang Chong defeated Li Bing, and the True Martial Sect's outer disciples went on to win more often than the Divine Sword Sect's.
• Sun Chuanhai lost to Yan Shiheng in the first True Disciple match after hundreds of exchanges.
• Qin Yun challenged Yan Shiheng and defeated him, boosting the True Martial Sect's morale.
• Daoist Longshan suggested ending the competition, but Old Man Divine Sword looked toward Zhuang Chen and requested one more match.

Old Man Divine Sword offered his gifted young disciple Zhuang Chen the Dragon Owl Sword as a prize for defeating any True Martial Sect disciple under ten. After Zhuang Chen easily beat Zhao Changhe, Ning Qi stepped forward to challenge him, and the chapter ended before their fight began.

• Old Man Divine Sword proposed a match between eight-year-old Zhuang Chen and the True Martial Sect's disciples under ten, with the Dragon Owl Sword as the prize.
• Zhuang Chen defeated ten-year-old Zhao Changhe with a wooden sword, revealing his Tendon Refinement cultivation and exceptional swordsmanship.
• Daoist Longshan recognized that Zhuang Chen might possess an Innate Sword Bone, while Old Man Divine Sword proudly praised his disciple.
• Ning Qi stepped forward to face Zhuang Chen after Daoist Longshan warned him to hold back.
• Zhuang Chen told Ning Qi to leave rather than fight, and Ning Qi prepared to teach him a lesson.

Ning Qi defeated Zhuang Chen in a sword match, revealing a Sword Dao mastery that astonished both sects. Zhuang Chen immediately begged Ning Qi to teach him, leaving Old Man Divine Sword furious and Daoist Longshan wary of the old man’s interest in his disciple.

• Zhuang Chen drew his wooden sword and challenged Ning Qi, who accepted a sword from Ye Qinghe.
• Zhuang Chen attacked with a dozen sword blossoms and then reached the realm of Sword and Man as One.
• Ning Qi calmly countered with a graceful sword strike, disarmed Zhuang Chen, and held his sword against the boy’s belly.
• Old Man Divine Sword recognized Ning Qi’s Sword Intent and called him a potential Sword Saint, while Daoist Longshan warned him not to covet Ning Qi.
• Zhuang Chen grabbed Ning Qi’s trouser leg and begged him for instruction, offering to become his disciple, and Old Man Divine Sword grew furious.

After Ning Qi won the final match, Daoist Longshan persuaded Old Man Divine Sword to stay and share insights into the Celestial Person realm. As Ning Qi advanced toward the Inner Essence Realm and devised a new cultivation method, Zhuang Chen found him and offered to trade a secret art for instruction in his sword technique.

• Old Man Divine Sword gave Daoist Longshan the Dragon Owl Sword, and the two elders agreed to stay while their disciples exchanged ideas.
• Ning Qi sensed Internal Force forming and mapped out the stages of the Inner Essence Realm and the path toward Gang Essence.
• Ning Qi combined the Heaven-Shaking Force, Earth-Shaking Force, and Sea-Covering Force to create True Martial Force, then decided to devise a method suited to the Myriad Forms Origin Stake.
• Zhuang Chen sneaked into the Dao-Seeking Courtyard, where White Ape fought him to a standstill until Ning Qi called them apart.
• Zhuang Chen praised Ning Qi's unusual sword technique and offered to reveal a Peerless Secret Art in exchange for being taught it.

Ning Qi learned the Dream Taotie secret art from Zhuang Chen and used his swordsmanship to guide Zhuang Chen toward Sword Intent. After the Divine Sword Sect departed, Ning Qi refined his ideas for a new Layered Force Method, while Old Man Divine Sword discovered his disciple’s rapid progress and the chapter left Ning Qi’s method nearing a breakthrough.

• Zhuang Chen taught Ning Qi the Dream Taotie secret art, and Ning Qi promised to teach him swordsmanship in return.
• Ning Qi demonstrated his swordsmanship and guided Zhuang Chen in practicing a technique suited to his Overbearing Sword Intent.
• Over the next several days, Ning Qi trained Zhuang Chen while studying Dream Taotie and considering how to improve the Layered Force Method.
• Zhuang Chen said farewell to Ning Qi and Yuan Tiansheng when the Divine Sword Sect left True Martial Mountain.
• Zhuang Chen confessed to Old Man Divine Sword that he had shared Dream Taotie, then demonstrated the sword technique Ning Qi had taught him.
• A month after the Divine Sword Sect departed, Ning Qi’s creation of his Layered Force Method reached a critical juncture.

Ning Qi created the Great Dream Nine Death Force, then advanced to the Inner Essence Realm and began using the method to strengthen his body. As he prepared for his first transformative slumber, he learned that Daoist Longshan had come out of seclusion.

• Ning Qi entered Enlightenment and devised the Great Dream Nine Death Force, using dreamlike feigned death and rebirth to push his body toward its limits.
• Ye Qinghe told Ning Qi that Qin Yun had left the Divine Sword Sect and that Daoist Longshan had sent him down the mountain to gain experience.
• Ning Qi condensed his Internal Force into an Inner Essence fruit, reached the Inner Essence Realm, and began practicing his new method.
• Ning Qi went to see Daoist Longshan but found that he had entered seclusion, so Ning Qi continued cultivating and studying at the Dao-Seeking Courtyard and Scripture Pavilion.
• As Ning Qi prepared to enter his first slumber for a bodily transformation, White Ape brought him news that Daoist Longshan had emerged from seclusion.

After seclusion, Daoist Longshan became confident he would soon reach the Celestial Person Realm and learned that five-year-old Ning Qi had already broken through to the Inner Essence Realm. He warned Ning Qi to conceal his talent, then began to tell him about his birth.

• Daoist Longshan told Luo Wentian that he expected to reach the Celestial Person Realm within one to three years, and Luo Wentian proposed preparing a Celestial Person Ceremony.
• Luo Wentian reported that Ning Qi had visited during Daoist Longshan's seclusion, prompting Daoist Longshan to suspect his youngest disciple had made a breakthrough.
• Ning Qi arrived at Mingwu Pavilion and confirmed that he had reached the Inner Essence Realm at age five.
• Daoist Longshan marveled at Ning Qi's talent and warned him not to reveal his cultivation or age to outsiders.
• Ning Qi asked about the important matter Daoist Longshan had promised to explain, and Daoist Longshan began telling him about his birth.

Ning Qi learned that the Blood Rain Tower may have killed his parents and resolved to seek revenge only after growing strong. He began his first bodily death transformation in seclusion, and after seven days a faint trace of Qi returned.

• Daoist Longshan told Ning Qi that his parents, Ning Ye and Jiang Xuemei of Snow Plum Manor, had been killed and that the Blood Rain Tower might have been involved.
• Ning Qi promised Daoist Longshan that he would remember his family’s murder but would wait until he had enough strength to take revenge.
• Daoist Longshan explained Inner Essence Realm cultivation, while Ning Qi’s insights showed how little remained for his master to teach him.
• Ning Qi consumed nourishing treasures, locked himself in his room, and began the first death of his physical body under the protection of the Great Dream Nine Death Force.
• White Ape guarded Ning Qi’s room as the year-end tournament approached, and after seven days he sensed Qi returning inside.

Ning Qi completed a seven-day death-and-rebirth cycle through Great Dream Nine Death Force, emerging with a stronger body and Internal Force. At the True Martial Sect’s year-end tournament, he declined Jiang Baishan’s challenge, and Luo Wentian and Jiang Baishan prepared to spar instead.

• After seven days in a deathlike state, Ning Qi awakened and used the Light of Vitality to restore his withered body.
• Ning Qi realized that rebirth had doubled his physical strength and greatly improved his Internal Force.
• Ning Qi reassured White Ape that his cultivation might involve more such transformations, then watched him practice.
• At the year-end gathering, the True Martial Sect held its Outer and Inner Disciple tournaments and awarded the top performers.
• Jiang Baishan invited Ning Qi to spar, but Ning Qi refused and joked that they could ask again in twenty years.
• Luo Wentian challenged Jiang Baishan to a fight, and Jiang Baishan accepted.

Ning Qi watched the True Martial Sect’s year-end competition, broadened his outlook, and then created arts to conceal his strength and change his appearance. He tested both techniques and left with plans to improve the disguise with medicines.

• Jiang Baishan narrowly defeated Luo Wentian, and Luo praised him as the sect’s second strongest disciple.
• Ning Qi let go of his competitiveness after reflecting on the True Martial Sect’s unity and the lesson he had learned from Luo Wentian.
• Ning Qi studied concealment manuals and created the Stillness Art, which could hide his life force or imitate higher realms.
• Ning Qi created the Form-Shifting and Bone-Changing Technique and used it to alter his features and grow taller.
• Ning Qi decided the disguise could be perfected further with medicines.

Ning Qi completed his second false death and advanced to the Threefold Stage of the Inner Essence Realm, gaining greater strength, solid inner force, and a sense that his lifespan had increased. As summer arrived, Qin Yun returned to True Martial Mountain.

• Ning Qi used the Form-Shifting and Bone-Changing Technique and the Stillness Art to conceal his appearance and aura while continuing to cultivate in seclusion.
• The peach trees outside the Dao-Seeking Courtyard produced sweet peaches, and Ning Qi sent them to Daoist Longshan and his fellow disciples.
• Ning Qi entered his second false death, and the White Ape waited calmly until Ning Qi awoke ten days later.
• Ning Qi discovered his body had grown twice as strong again and his inner force had become half-solid, then decided to postpone choosing a force-transforming attribute.
• Ye Qinghe's peach blossom wine spoiled, so the White Ape shared his own brew, which Ye Qinghe claimed she had made with him.
• Qin Yun returned to the mountain a few days later.

Qin Yun returned to the True Martial Sect after more than half a year away and was confined by Daoist Longshan, while Ning Qi continued advancing his cultivation. At the New Year gathering, Qin Yun revealed his rapid progress and challenged Ning Qi, leaving him uncertain about his senior brother’s motives.

• Qin Yun returned to the mountain, reunited with the True Disciples, and visited Daoist Longshan, who ordered him to train in confinement.
• Ning Qi advanced to the Five-Stack Realm, surpassed Song Cheng, and continued developing his force-transformation method while training with Tiansheng.
• Daoist Longshan allowed Qin Yun to attend the New Year competition, where the disciples urged him to apologize to their master if he had offended him.
• Jiang Baishan decisively defeated Luo Wentian, then Qin Yun challenged Jiang Baishan and revealed that he had reached the Inner Essence Six-Stack Realm.
• Qin Yun invited Ning Qi to spar, and Ning Qi sensed that Qin Yun’s changes might be connected to him.

Ning Qi suspected Qin Yun’s jealousy had become a Heart Demon and searched the Scripture Pavilion for ways to treat it. As Qin Yun’s secret manual intensified his obsession, he set out to test Ning Qi and was stopped by a waiting figure.

• Ning Qi considered whether to accept Qin Yun’s invitation to spar, but Daoist Longshan ended the competition and took Qin Yun aside.
• Ning Qi decided to research Heart Demons in the Scripture Pavilion, while Daoist Longshan warned Qin Yun to steady his mind and gave him the Clear-Heart Instruction.
• Qin Yun’s thoughts returned to Ning Qi, and he used a Fragmentary Manual that increased his cultivation but distorted his state of mind.
• Ning Qi read about Heart Demons and sensed an unfamiliar presence approaching, so he changed his appearance and concealed himself.
• Qin Yun disguised himself as a bandit and headed to test Ning Qi’s strength, but stopped in shock when he saw a figure waiting ahead.

Ning Qi disguised himself as a powerful Daoist and stopped Qin Yun from sneaking toward Little Nine’s residence, defeating him with one palm. After recognizing Qin Yun and learning he was being driven by a heart demon, Ning Qi decided to inform Daoist Longshan, while Qin Yun left the True Martial Sect in shame.

• Ning Qi confronted the black-clad Qin Yun, who attacked him after jealousy and malice took hold.
• Ning Qi struck Qin Yun with one palm, badly injuring him, and Qin Yun escaped using smoke bombs.
• Ning Qi recognized Qin Yun as his Eighth Senior Brother and resolved to tell Daoist Longshan about the heart demon.
• Qin Yun realized he had been influenced by the Fragmentary Manual again and feared he might harm Little Nine or others.
• Qin Yun kowtowed toward Mingwu Pavilion, wept, and left the True Martial Sect under cover of night.

Ning Qi and Daoist Longshan discovered that Qin Yun had left True Martial Mountain after struggling with his Heart Demon, and Daoist Longshan later learned he had joined the Demon Sect. Daoist Longshan told the disciples to cut ties with Qin Yun, then secretly gave Ning Qi the True Martial Sect’s treasure vault key and urged him to keep his cultivation progress private.

• Ning Qi told Daoist Longshan about Qin Yun’s strange visit, and they hurried to Qin Yun’s residence, where Song Cheng found letters from Qin Yun for his master and Ning Qi.
• Ning Qi read Qin Yun’s letter offering him a collection of books and realized Qin Yun had likely left because of his Heart Demon; Daoist Longshan went down the mountain to find him.
• Half a month later, Daoist Longshan returned alone and told the disciples that Qin Yun had joined the Demon Sect, ordering them not to interfere and declaring that Qin Yun was no longer part of the True Martial Sect.
• Jiang Baishan called Qin Yun a traitor, while Luo Wentian assured Ning Qi that Qin Yun’s choice was not his fault; Ning Qi said he hoped to create a secret Technique to remove Qin Yun’s Heart Demon.
• Daoist Longshan visited Ning Qi late at night, reassured him about Qin Yun, gave him the treasure vault key, and told him not to share his cultivation progress with anyone.

Ning Qi mastered the Myriad Forms Chapter, allowing his internal force to change properties freely, and continued advancing his Inner Essence cultivation. Just as he prepared for his fifth feigned death, Luo Wentian brought news that Jiang Baishan had reached the Gang Essence Realm.

• Ning Qi studied ninety-two Force-Transformation Methods and developed the Myriad Forms Chapter, switching his internal force between properties such as heat, cold, and tremors.
• Ning Qi resolved to reach great completion of the Inner Essence stage and continued cultivating as his strength grew.
• Ning Qi welcomed visits from his senior brothers and sisters, valuing their company while he cultivated.
• Ning Qi reached the opportunity for his fifth feigned death and prepared to seek resources from the treasury.
• Luo Wentian told Ning Qi that Jiang Baishan had broken through to the Gang Essence Realm, causing Ning Qi to pause his plans.

Jiang Baishan broke through to the Gang Essence Realm, restoring the True Martial Sect’s standing and giving Ning Qi a chance to assess Gang Qi. After completing his fifth death-like state, Ning Qi greatly strengthened his body and inner force, then considered investigating the bloodline within White Ape.

• Jiang Baishan demonstrated his Gang Qi, slicing a boulder thirty zhang away and impressing the True Martial Sect’s disciples.
• Ning Qi judged that his strength could surpass Jiang Baishan’s, though he noted the danger of Gang Qi at range.
• News of Jiang Baishan’s breakthrough spread, and the forces watching the True Martial Sect withdrew.
• Ning Qi completed his fifth death-like state, raising his physical strength to six times Body Tempering Perfection and reaching Sixfold Realm, Inner Essence Great Accomplishment.
• Ning Qi extended his condensed inner force beyond his body and considered using it to investigate White Ape’s bloodline.

Ning Qi tested his Internal Force on White Ape, then hosted a gathering with his fellow disciples to celebrate the peaches at his courtyard. After reaching the Seventh Fold Realm, he learned that the Purple River Sword Sect had arrived again while Daoist Longshan remained in seclusion.

• Ning Qi used his Internal Force to examine White Ape but could only sense his shoulder before the force was depleted, so he told White Ape to train toward learning Ventriloquism.
• Ye Qinghe admitted that she and White Ape had made the Peach Blossom Brew together, and Ning Qi's disciples gathered at his courtyard to drink it and eat peaches.
• Luo Wentian named their annual gathering the True Martial Peach Gathering, and Ning Qi felt at peace watching his fellow disciples celebrate together.
• Ning Qi reached the Seventh Fold Realm, strengthening his Internal Force, but another attempt to send it deep into White Ape's body failed.
• Luo Wentian told Ning Qi that Daoist Longshan was still in seclusion, and Jiang Baishan called out that people from the Purple River Sword Sect had arrived again.

Ning Qi suspected the Purple River Sword Sect had come to probe Daoist Longshan’s condition, and Luo Wentian left for the Purple River Sword Venerable’s birthday banquet while Jiang Baishan guarded the sect. Ten days later, the Iron Ridge Three Fiends prepared to attack True Martial Mountain, believing Longshan’s seclusion left the sect vulnerable.

• Ning Qi questioned the Purple River Sword Sect’s invitation, and Luo Wentian explained that rumors claimed Daoist Longshan was gravely wounded or nearing the Celestial Person Realm.
• Luo Wentian left for the birthday banquet with several disciples, warning Jiang Baishan and the others to protect the sect while Longshan remained in seclusion.
• Ning Qi told White Ape to watch the sect closely and report anything suspicious.
• The Iron Ridge Three Fiends gathered at the foot of True Martial Mountain and discussed attacking while Longshan was secluded.
• Iron Eagle argued that Longshan would not emerge unless they made too much of a commotion, and that Jiang Baishan was the sect’s only serious remaining threat.

Tie Long, Tie Ying, and Tie Hu attacked the True Martial Sect to steal its inheritance, with Tie Long drawing the disciples away while Tie Ying headed for the Scripture Pavilion. Tie Ying encountered Ning Qi in disguise, and Ning Qi struck as Tie Ying charged at him.

• Tie Long planned for Tie Ying to enter the Scripture Pavilion while Tie Hu stayed near the mountain gate and watched for other threats.
• The three brothers secretly intended to copy the inheritance for themselves and flee to Cangzhou if it proved extraordinary.
• Tie Long attacked the True Martial Sect’s training grounds and fought Jiang Baishan and the other True Disciples, drawing their attention.
• Tie Ying slipped toward the Scripture Pavilion but sensed someone watching him and forced Ning Qi out of hiding.
• Ning Qi shattered Tie Ying’s Gang Qi with his greatsword, and Tie Ying charged at him in anger.

Ning Qi killed Tie Ying with the Threefold Cold Flame Sword and hurried toward the martial arts arena to help his senior brothers. Tie Long sensed Tie Ying’s death, decided to retreat, and faced the True Disciples’ attempt to stop him.

• Ning Qi outpaced Tie Ying and cleaved through his Heavenly Eagle True Gang with a three-zhang sword strike.
• Ning Qi killed Tie Ying with a second sword stroke and headed for the martial arts arena.
• Tie Long sensed Tie Ying’s death through the Heartlink Gu and feared that a powerful expert was lurking nearby.
• Tie Long abandoned his taunts and decided to retreat, while Jiang Baishan and the others moved to stop him.

The Iron Ridge Three Fiends attacked True Martial Sect, but Tie Long and Tie Hu fled after learning Tie Ying had died, leaving the sect unsure who killed him. Ning Qi returned to the martial arts ground and chose to stay and protect the sect as disciples reported finding a corpse near a fight site.

• Jiang Baishan and the other disciples fought Tie Long, and Xiong Shi identified him as River-Crossing Dragon of the Iron Ridge Three Fiends.
• Tie Hu arrived to support Tie Long and learned that Flying Heaven Eagle Tie Ying had died; Tie Long blamed a hidden expert and said they had been tricked by Wang.
• Tie Long and Tie Hu fled the mountain, deciding to leave Qingzhou and return for revenge after growing stronger.
• Ning Qi realized he might have killed Flying Heaven Eagle Tie Ying but stayed on the mountain rather than pursue the fleeing brothers.
• Ning Qi returned to the martial arts ground, where Ye Qinghe warned him to stay safe, and a disciple announced that a corpse had been found near signs of a fight.

The True Martial Sect’s disciples discovered Flying Heaven Eagle’s corpse and identified him through the True Intention Diagram tattooed on his back. Jiang Baishan concluded that a mysterious swordsman had killed him, and the disciples began to suspect the expert was secretly protecting their sect.

• Jiang Baishan and the others followed the battle traces to a ruined pavilion and realized a Gang Essence Realm fight had taken place.
• Xiong Shi identified the corpse as Flying Heaven Eagle after finding the Tyrant Tiger True Intention Diagram tattooed on his back.
• Xiong Shi explained that the Iron Ridge Three Fiends had tattooed one another’s True Intention Diagrams on their bodies to guard against betrayal.
• Jiang Baishan examined Flying Heaven Eagle’s wounds and concluded that a nameless expert had killed him with a sword strike.
• A disciple reported there were no signs of fighting near the Scripture Pavilion or elsewhere, leading the group to guess the expert was a hidden protector of the True Martial Sect.
• Ning Qi looked up from studying the True Intention Diagram as the others grew excited about their imagined hidden guardian.