Chapter Summaries

Dragon Mountain Daoist lectured on how innate aspects of the human body could resonate with heaven and earth, prompting four other Heavenly Humans to join him in Dao Discourse. As Ning Qi listened, he gained an insight that resolved a key obstacle in creating the Quenching Gang Method.

• Dragon Mountain Daoist explained the principles of the Heaven and Man United Secret Skill, while the Heavenly Humans listened closely.
• People in True Martial City heard the lecture relayed from the mountain, and the White-haired Youth knelt and wept as he listened.
• Real Person Baihe asked how the innate things in the human body could resonate with heaven and earth, starting a Dao Discourse among the five Heavenly Humans.
• Carefree Lord, Old Ancestor Wang, the Cyan Ox Swordsman, and Dragon Mountain Daoist debated how root bone might connect to the Heaven-Human Dao.
• Ning Qi entered enlightenment and found a way past the difficulty of using Heaven and Earth Power to temper Gang Qi, advancing the Quenching Gang Method.

At Dragon Mountain Daoist’s Celestial Being Ceremony, Ning Qi devised a new method for tempering Gang Qi while the Heavenly Humans gave their Dao Discourse. After the ceremony ended, Old Ancestor Wang abruptly announced that no one could leave yet.

• Ning Qi used the Heavenly Humans’ Dao Discourse to create the Heaven and Earth Grindstone Gang Qi Tempering Method, which could shorten the time needed for him to reach the Heaven-Human Realm.
• The five Heavenly Humans concluded their Dao Discourse, and Dragon Mountain Daoist kept the complete secret skill’s details private because it came from his disciple’s enlightenment.
• The sparring contests showcased the True Martial Sect’s strong disciples, while the White Ape defeated several opponents without revealing his strongest abilities.
• Luo Wentian announced that the ceremony had concluded and invited the guests to stay at the True Martial Sect before departing.
• Old Ancestor Wang rose and told everyone that no one could leave for the moment.

Old Ancestor Wang presented the Great Yan Martial Saint Decree and ordered the martial artists gathered at Dragon Mountain Daoist’s Celestial Being Ceremony to join a campaign against a Demonic Sect branch. Dragon Mountain Daoist recognized that his ceremony had been used to assemble the force, but agreed to set out immediately.

• Old Ancestor Wang displayed the Great Yan Martial Saint Decree, prompting the gathered martial artists and Heaven-Humans to pay their respects to the Martial Saint.
• Old Ancestor Wang announced that he had come both to congratulate Dragon Mountain Daoist and to demand everyone’s assistance on an imperial mission.
• Old Ancestor Wang revealed that the Dead Fire Abyss between Qing Province and Chu Province housed a Demonic Sect branch and ordered all martial artists above the Core Formation Realm to reinforce the vanguard and destroy it.
• Carefree Lord mocked Old Ancestor Wang, while Old Ancestor Wang defended the order as his duty to Great Yan.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist asked when they would depart, and Old Ancestor Wang ordered them to set out immediately.

Old Ancestor Wang led the Heaven-Humans and Core Formation experts away to attack a Demonic Sect branch, leaving Ning Qi and the other guests on True Martial Mountain. Ning Qi worried that the expedition would not go smoothly as the remaining guests settled in under Luo Wentian’s watch.

• Dragon Mountain Daoist urged the guests to stay close to the Heaven-Humans during the expedition, while he, the Cyan Ox Swordsman, Carefree Lord, and Real Person Baihe formed an alliance that excluded Old Ancestor Wang.
• Old Ancestor Wang led the Heaven-Humans and Core Formation experts away, and Dragon Mountain Daoist secretly warned Ning Qi to watch over those left on True Martial Mountain.
• Luo Wentian ordered the remaining guests to stay on the mountain and arranged to conceal the expedition’s departure from the martial artists in True Martial City.
• Zhuang Chen worried about his master, and the Wang Clan disciples fled to the guest quarters after the other guests turned hostile toward them.
• Ye Qinghe reassured Ning Qi that the experts would return safely, but Ning Qi still suspected the demon-extermination operation would not be simple.

Ning Qi created the Innate Sword Body Secret Art by studying Zhuang Chen’s Innate Sword Bone and began teaching it to him. Meanwhile, the experts remained under lockdown on True Martial Mountain as they waited for the Great Yan forces to confront the Demonic Sect, and Ning Qi wondered whether his master’s mission was going smoothly.

• Ning Qi reasoned that Old Ancestor Wang had revealed the Martial Saint Token in exchange for benefits from the Great Yan Imperial Court, and resolved to hold him responsible if anything happened to his master.
• The guests vented their anger by repeatedly challenging Wang Clan disciples, while Luo Wentian intervened only when their sparring threatened to become serious.
• Ning Qi examined Zhuang Chen’s Innate Sword Bone over several days and used its special fluctuations to devise the Innate Sword Body Secret Art.
• True Martial Mountain’s continued closure stirred suspicion in True Martial City, while Luo Wentian and the other leaders hoped that Great Yan experts had reached the Demonic Sect.
• Ning Qi taught the new secret art to Zhuang Chen and wondered whether his master’s mission was progressing safely.

General Shenyu led the Imperial Court and reinforcements from Dragon Mountain Daoist’s Celestial Being Ceremony to attack the Demonic Sect Branch in Dead Fire Abyss. Old Devil Lin was badly wounded but escaped, and his bloodied counterattack destroyed Old Ancestor Wang’s right arm before continuing toward Dragon Mountain Daoist.

• General Shenyu welcomed Old Ancestor Wang’s reinforcements and explained that the Demonic Sect was protecting its Blood Demon Flowers while preparing to move them.
• General Shenyu ordered everyone to rest for an hour, then led an assault on the Demonic Sect Branch as Old Devil Lin ordered his people to break through.
• Old Ancestor Wang and the other reinforcements joined the battle, leaving the Demonic Sect’s five Heaven-Human Realm experts outnumbered and under attack.
• General Shenyu and the Cyan Ox Swordsman struck Old Devil Lin down, gravely injuring him and severing one of his arms.
• Old Devil Lin consumed an immature Blood Demon Flower and used the Blood Burning Art to escape, slashing Old Ancestor Wang’s right arm into powder before his attack continued toward Dragon Mountain Daoist.

Old Devil Lin's slash wounded Dragon Mountain Daoist before the Imperial Court's forces defeated the Dead Fire Abyss experts and pursued him. Fleeing toward Blackwind Cliff, Old Devil Lin detoured to attack the Wang Family in Qing Province, where he began cutting down the estate.

• Old Devil Lin's blood-colored blade severed Old Ancestor Wang's arm and injured Dragon Mountain Daoist, who survived by using Ning Qi's secret skill and the Cyan Ox Swordsman's aid.
• The Cyan Ox Swordsman helped the Imperial Court's forces kill the four remaining Demonic Sect Heavenly Humans, then joined General Shenyu's pursuit of Old Devil Lin.
• Old Devil Lin realized General Shenyu could keep chasing him and chose to flee toward Blackwind Cliff, while planning to attack the Wang Family and True Martial Sect on the way.
• Old Devil Lin reached the Wang Clan Estate, identified himself as the person Wang Qinghe's family had brought reinforcements against, and unleashed Blood-colored Saber Qi on the mansion.

Old Devil Lin destroyed the Wang Clan while fleeing General Shenyu, then headed for True Martial Mountain to attack the True Martial Sect. As his Blood-colored Saber Qi descended on the mountain, Ning Qi unleashed his strongest Heaven Sword to stop him.

• Old Devil Lin nearly wiped out the Wang Clan, and General Shenyu resumed the pursuit after arriving too late to prevent the massacre.
• The Cyan Ox Swordsman and then Old Ancestor Wang reached the ruins; Old Ancestor Wang learned what had happened and swore vengeance on Old Devil Lin.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist realized Old Devil Lin might target True Martial Mountain and hurried ahead, while the other Heavenly Humans followed.
• Old Devil Lin burned the remaining power of the Blood Demon Flower to rush toward True Martial Mountain, and General Shenyu recognized his target and warned the people there.
• Ning Qi sensed Old Devil Lin's attack, entered Heaven and Man United, and sent his Heaven Sword toward the descending Blood-colored Saber Qi.

Ning Qi’s Heaven Sword crippled Old Devil Lin and helped General Shenyu and the Cyan Ox Swordsman defeat him before he could destroy True Martial Mountain. Dragon Mountain Daoist returned to find the sect intact, while the others wondered who had wielded the sword.

• Ning Qi sent a Heaven Sword through Old Devil Lin’s attacks and severed his right arm and leg, leaving him gravely wounded.
• General Shenyu attacked Old Devil Lin, and the Cyan Ox Swordsman joined the battle as the sect’s disciples watched from True Martial Mountain.
• Old Devil Lin exhausted the Blood Demon Flower’s power, cursed the Great Yan Dynasty, and self-detonated; General Shenyu and the Cyan Ox Swordsman survived the blast.
• The White-haired Youth recognized Old Devil Lin as Elder Lin and suspected that the Daoist who had once spared him wielded the Heaven Sword.
• General Shenyu told the Cyan Ox Swordsman that he had not stopped Old Devil Lin before the Heaven Sword struck.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist rushed back to True Martial Mountain fearing it had been destroyed, but found the disciples safe and wondered what had happened to Old Devil Lin.

After Old Devil Lin was killed, Dragon Mountain Daoist concealed Ning Qi’s identity by claiming a reclusive senior had wielded the Heavenly Sword. The survivors left True Martial Mountain to mourn their losses, while Ning Qi worried over his injured master and the Wang Clan, and the Heavenly Sword Real Person became famous across the surrounding provinces.

• Dragon Mountain Daoist learned that Ning Qi’s Heavenly Sword had wounded Old Devil Lin, then told General Shenyu and the others that a reclusive senior had protected True Martial Mountain.
• General Shenyu accepted Dragon Mountain Daoist’s explanation and departed with the Imperial Court’s Heaven-Humans after confirming Old Devil Lin’s death.
• Old Ancestor Wang learned that his clan’s estate had been destroyed and left True Martial Mountain with the surviving Wang Clan members, while the sect’s people watched them with hostility.
• Ning Qi saw that Dragon Mountain Daoist had returned injured and silently resolved his anger toward Old Ancestor Wang.
• The Core Formation Realm survivors returned, and Dragon Mountain Daoist compensated the forces that had suffered losses in the fighting.
• News of the battle spread through the surrounding provinces, earning General Shenyu renown and giving Ning Qi the title Heavenly Sword Real Person.

After the Demonic Sect’s retaliation threatened the True Martial Sect, Ning Qi took treasures from the sect’s vault to strengthen himself. He decided to prioritize a method for refining a False Pill from the Flying Thunder Tiger’s Beast King Inner Core, hoping it would let him wield Heaven and Earth Power for longer.

• Dragon Mountain Daoist told Ning Qi that Imperial Court experts were guarding the True Martial Sect and the rebuilt Wang Clan, making an attack by the Demonic Sect less likely for now.
• Ning Qi asked Dragon Mountain Daoist for the gifts from his Celestial Being Ceremony, and Dragon Mountain Daoist let him choose from the Treasure Vault while keeping the Millennial Flame Yang Jade for his recovery.
• Ning Qi took several treasures from the vault, including the Flying Thunder Tiger’s Beast King Inner Core, and postponed helping Dragon Mountain Daoist destroy the Blood Rain Pavilion until his master recovered.
• Ning Qi examined the treasures and decided that the Light Fruit and Enlightenment Tea Tree Seed could wait, while the Night-Shining Pearl and Sharira Pill might later be combined to refine a cultivation pill.
• Ning Qi concluded that he could use the Beast King Inner Core to refine a False Pill and increase his control over Heaven and Earth Power, then made developing the False Pill Method his top priority.

Ning Qi studied the True Mystery Sect’s Daoist Scriptures to accelerate his creation of the False Pill Method, while Daoist Baishan tried to recruit him and the White Ape. The True Mystery Sect departed without persuading either of them, and Ning Qi left with new knowledge about Dao Province and renewed inspiration for his method.

• Ning Qi purified the Flying Thunder Tiger’s Beast King Inner Core and worked on a False Pill Method, expecting his progress to benefit from further study.
• The True Mystery Sect arrived at True Martial Mountain with eighteen hundred Daoist Scriptures, and Ning Qi stayed behind to read and organize them.
• Daoist Baishan proposed raiding Daoist Sects in Dao Province with Ning Qi, then described the province’s major sects when Ning Qi asked about them.
• Ning Qi read more than a thousand new Daoist Scriptures and believed they would shorten the time needed to complete the False Pill Method.
• Daoist Baishan tried to recruit Ning Qi and the White Ape, but both remained with the True Martial Sect when the True Mystery Sect departed.

After the True Mystery Sect departed, Ning Qi searched True Martial City and confirmed the Imperial Court had stationed experts there to protect the True Martial Sect. Inspired by a battle between Heaven-Human Realm experts, he devised a method to connect a Beast King Inner Core to his body and created the Pseudo-Core Heaven Uniting Art.

• Ning Qi said farewell to Daoist Baishan and the True Mystery Sect disciples, then went to True Martial City with Ye Qinghe.
• Using his Wind Sensing Art, Ning Qi identified three Heaven-Human Realm experts and ten Core Formation Realm experts concealed in the city.
• Ning Qi reflected on Old Devil Lin's battle and realized that connecting his body to Heaven and Earth Power could help a False Pill replace a Yuan Pill.
• Ning Qi implanted the Beast King Inner Core beside his heart and linked them with blood-red branches, forming the Pseudo-Core Heaven Uniting Art.

Ning Qi strengthened his cultivation and prepared for the Demonic Sect’s threat after learning the Imperial Court had withdrawn most of its forces from True Martial City. The Demonic Sect’s Vice Sect Leader then summoned its experts and ordered them to destroy the Wang Clan and the True Martial Sect.

• Ning Qi assessed the False Pill’s power and limits, then continued tempering his Gang Qi and studying Daoist scriptures and the gifts from his Celestial Being Ceremony.
• Ning Qi revived the Enlightenment Tea Tree seed and planted it beneath his rattan chair, then used a Light Fruit to improve the True Martial Peach Tree’s medicinal properties.
• The Demonic Sect attacked General Shenyu again, wounding him and gaining a slight advantage over the Imperial Court.
• Ning Qi visited True Martial City and found that most Imperial Court forces had left, prompting him to rely on his False Pill to defend against the Demonic Sect.
• Ghost Mask summoned Demonic Sect experts, set aside further attacks on Shen Yu for the moment, and ordered them to destroy the Wang Clan and the True Martial Sect.

The Demonic Sect planned to strike the Wang Family and True Martial Sect, while Qin Yun was kept from the operation and worried about his former comrades. At True Martial Mountain, Imperial Court envoys arrived with Princess Li Qingyue and Prince Zhenbei’s heir Li Ling, then granted the True Martial Sect generous rewards.

• Ghost Mask ordered Elder Wang to attack the Wang Family and the True Martial Sect when the Imperial Court’s reward party arrived.
• Ghost Mask told Qin Yun to remain in the Underground Palace, leaving him unable to warn his former sect about the planned attack.
• Ning Qi stayed alert at the Seeking Dao Institute as several days passed and the True Martial Peach Tree sprouted.
• Eunuch Ye brought Li Qingyue and Li Ling to True Martial Mountain, where they hoped to meet Heavenly Sword Real Person.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist welcomed the Imperial Court delegation and received its decree granting the True Martial Sect a Daoist Jade Tablet, ownership of True Martial City, and a Blood Sun Mushroom for him.

Ning Qi and the True Martial Sect faced a Demonic Sect assault while Prince Zhenbei’s heir Li Ling and Princess Li Qingyue were visiting. The North Suppressing King appeared and killed the enemy who threatened them, while the battle around True Martial Mountain continued.

• Eunuch Ye delivered the Imperial Court’s gifts and brought Li Ling and Li Qingyue to True Martial Mountain, where Dragon Mountain Daoist declined to promise them a meeting with Heavenly Sword Real Person.
• Ning Qi sensed several powerful auras approaching and prepared to fight as the Demonic Sect’s Heaven-Human Realm experts surrounded True Martial Mountain.
• Elder Wang attacked the sect, but Ning Qi’s Heaven Sword shattered his poisonous Great Handprint, and the two began fighting.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist, the Butcher Knife wielder, and Eunuch Ye engaged Demonic Sect experts, leaving Old Zhang free to seize Li Ling and Li Qingyue.
• The North Suppressing King appeared behind Old Zhang, killed him, and admonished Li Ling and Li Qingyue for their recklessness.

The North Suppressing King rescued Li Ling and Li Qingyue on True Martial Mountain, routing the Demonic Sect attackers and forcing Elder Wang to flee. Ning Qi secretly pursued the wounded Elder Wang and killed him, leaving the death to be blamed on the North Suppressing King.

• Li Qingyue and Li Ling clung to the North Suppressing King after their ordeal, while Ning Qi watched from the Scripture Pavilion.
• The North Suppressing King severely injured Elder Wang with a punch, and Ning Qi struck him with Heaven Sword as he fled; the King then killed the three remaining Demonic Sect Heavenly Humans.
• Ning Qi followed Elder Wang using the Sword Qi mark he had placed on him and ambushed him in a mountain range.
• Ning Qi transformed into his Ape King True Body and battered Elder Wang, overcoming his treasure armor and preventing his escape.
• Elder Wang begged for his life, but Ning Qi crushed him and declared that the North Suppressing King had killed him.

Ning Qi killed Elder Wang, collected his treasure armor and corpse, and returned to True Martial Mountain after the Demonic Sect’s attack. The North Suppressing King took Li Ling and Li Qingyue away, while Li Ling remained determined to learn swordsmanship from Heavenly Sword Real Person someday.

• Ning Qi used the Ape King True Body to kill Elder Wang, then took his Green Light Treasure Armor and body as spoils.
• The North Suppressing King reassured Eunuch Ye and the butcher that they had done their best to protect Li Ling and Li Qingyue.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist thanked the North Suppressing King, who praised Heavenly Sword Real Person’s strength and said he could rank among the Heaven-Human experts.
• The North Suppressing King persuaded Li Ling to leave True Martial Mountain, promising to find him a sword master after they returned.
• Li Ling said goodbye to Dragon Mountain Daoist, and the North Suppressing King took him and Li Qingyue away.

The Demonic Sect’s attacks devastated the Wang Clan and shook the Great Flame Martial World, while the sect’s leaders debated their next move. Qin Yun persuaded Ghost Mask to delay attacking the True Martial Sect for three years, then requested permission to enter the Blood Demon Pool.

• Eunuch Ye departed with four Demonic Sect Heavenly Humans’ corpses, and Dragon Mountain Daoist reassured Ye Qinghe that Ning Qi was safe.
• News spread that the North Suppressing King had killed four attackers at the True Martial Sect while Heavenly Sword Real Person had held off their strongest fighter.
• The Demonic Sect destroyed the Wang Clan estate and killed the Imperial Court’s three stationed experts, while Wang Old Ancestor disappeared.
• As Heaven-Human battles spread fear across Great Flame, Ghost Mask’s followers learned that Elder Wang had likely been slain by the North Suppressing King.
• Qin Yun argued that the Demonic Sect should delay its attack on the True Martial Sect, accepted Ghost Mask’s order to lead the attack in three years, and requested entry to the Blood Demon Pool.

Qin Yun entered the Blood Demon Pool after the Demonic Sect suspended Heaven-Human Realm operations, while Ghost Mask planned to use his transformation to bind him to the Holy Gate. At Bright Martial Pavilion, Ning Qi learned about the elusive True Martial Underground Palace, refined a pill that accelerated his cultivation, and discovered that the Enlightenment Tea Tree seed had begun to sprout.

• Qin Yun agreed to enter the Blood Demon Pool, and Ghost Mask promised to petition for him to become a Holy Son candidate if he returned alive.
• Ghost Mask suspended operations by Heaven-Human Realm experts and privately said he intended for Qin Yun to destroy the True Martial Sect after emerging from the pool.
• Ning Qi and Dragon Mountain Daoist discussed the tacit truce between the Great Yan Imperial Court and the Demonic Sect, and Dragon Mountain Daoist recounted how he had found the True Martial Underground Palace.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist promised to take Ning Qi to the place where he had once found the underground palace.
• Ning Qi created the Golden Jade Pill and found that one pill could support a month of cultivation, bringing him closer to the Jade Liquid Realm.
• Ning Qi noticed that the Enlightenment Tea Tree seed beneath the wicker chair had begun to sprout.