Chapter Summaries

At the Zhenwu Peach Meet, Ning Qi shared the fruits of his research and prepared his Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters for the dangerous turmoil beyond the mountain. As he continued cultivating and improving his defensive art in seclusion, Jiang Baishan returned badly wounded after using a Blood Burning Pill.

• Ning Qi explained that his cultivation improvements had made the Peach Fruit more potent, while his fellow disciples recounted their rapid progress.
• Ning Qi asked his Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters to seek records about Martial Saints and strange arts, then gave them Blood Burning Pills for emergencies.
• Many Zhenwu Disciples descended the mountain to gain experience, leaving Ning Qi to study scriptures and train on True Martial Mountain.
• Ning Qi developed the Azure Profound Body Protection Art by studying the Azure Profound Treasure Armor, then continued refining it as his cultivation advanced.
• Jiang Baishan returned to True Martial Mountain with his left arm nearly severed after taking a Blood Burning Pill.

Jiang Baishan returned injured after a woman chased him for accidentally seeing her bathing, while he and the others discussed the growing turmoil across Great Yan. As Ning Qi continued investigating Martial Saint rumors and cultivating, he began transforming his White Mist Realm Gang Qi into Jade Liquid.

• Jiang Baishan told Ning Qi and Luo Wentian that a woman had chased him for a month after he accidentally encountered her bathing, and he vowed to confront her again once he recovered.
• Jiang Baishan reported that the Demonic Sect had spread across Great Yan and that the Martial World was descending into chaos, amid rumors that the Great Yan Martial Saint had died.
• After a month of recovery, Jiang Baishan went back down the mountain to gather information and received two more Blood Burning Pills from Ning Qi.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist recovered and secretly descended the mountain to investigate Blood Rain Pavilion, while Ye Qinghe returned with a rumor about an aged Martial Saint who had never ascended.
• Ning Qi assessed his cultivation and, during a snowfall, used the Myriad Form True Aura Technique to compress his Gang Qi until the first jade-like drop of Jade Liquid formed.

Ning Qi completed his breakthrough to the Jade Liquid Realm, tested his new strength, and continued refining his techniques while the True Martial Sect celebrated Ye Qinghe’s advancement. With his power now near the peak of Great Flame, Ning Qi resolved to avenge his parents.

• Ning Qi finished condensing his White Mist into a vast Jade Liquid Sea, gaining strength and vitality that he believed could let him contend with Heaven-Human Ranking experts.
• Ning Qi manifested Divine Beasts from gang qi, experimented with a Gang Qi Clone, and improved the Azure Profound Body Protection Art.
• Ye Qinghe emerged from seclusion in the White Mist Realm, becoming the True Martial Sect’s fourth publicly known Gang Yuan Realm True Disciple.
• Ning Qi continued cultivating and developing secret arts while Dragon Mountain Daoist helped investigate Blood Rain Pavilion, and the two planned to strike when its movements became clear.
• At nine years old, Ning Qi recalled the fire that orphaned him and resolved to avenge his parents now that he had the strength to do so.

As Ning Qi prepared to investigate Blood Rain Pavilion after the year-end, Jiang Baishan brought back rumors that Beast Emperors existed in the Southern Border and might share the Martial Saints’ fate. At the Divine Sword Sect’s Grand Competition, Dong He poisoned and betrayed the Divine Sword Elder as Blood Rain Pavilion’s forces attacked, leaving the Elder to unleash a desperate sword art to protect Zhuang Chen.

• Jiang Baishan told Ning Qi that Beast Emperors comparable to Martial Saints were rumored to live in the Ten Thousand Mountains of Southern Border and had vanished from the outside world.
• After learning that Blood Rain Pavilion had contracted inward, Ning Qi decided to track it down personally after the year-end.
• At the Divine Sword Sect’s Grand Competition, the Divine Sword Elder resolved to investigate the Blood Pool, but Dong He accused him of wasting his disciples’ lives and revealed his resentment over being denied a Condensing Aura Pill.
• Dong He poisoned the Divine Sword Elder and attacked him, then Blood Rain Pavilion’s black-clad forces stormed the sect while some disciples turned against their fellows.
• The black-clad leader ordered Zhuang Chen captured alive for his Innate Sword Bone, and the Divine Sword Elder shielded him as the sect fell around them.
• The Divine Sword Elder split his Yuan Pill and unleashed the Sword Core Disintegration Great Art to protect Zhuang Chen.

The dying Divine Sword Elder escaped the destruction of the Divine Sword Sect and reached True Martial Mountain with Zhuang Chen, whose sword bone and foundation had been ruined. He entrusted Zhuang Chen to Dragon Mountain Daoist before his life ended, while Ning Qi and Dragon Mountain Daoist suspected the attack was connected to the Human Blood Pool and a wider conspiracy.

• The Divine Sword Elder carried the gravely injured Zhuang Chen toward True Martial Mountain while their pursuers abandoned the chase to avoid Heavenly Sword Real Person.
• Zhuang Chen called for Ning Qi at True Martial Mountain, and Dragon Mountain Daoist and Ning Qi found the Divine Sword Elder near death.
• The Divine Sword Elder told Dragon Mountain Daoist that Dong He had betrayed the Divine Sword Sect and black-clothed attackers had assaulted it over the Human Blood Pool.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist promised to investigate the attackers, and the Divine Sword Elder asked him to take Zhuang Chen as his disciple.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist accepted Zhuang Chen as his tenth True Disciple, and the Divine Sword Elder revealed that Zhuang Chen knew of the Sword Saint Inheritance before dying.

After Divine Sword Elder was buried, Ning Qi treated the unconscious Zhuang Chen and discovered that his shattered Sword Bone might be restored with an improved Innate Sword Body technique. Dragon Mountain Daoist left True Martial Sect to investigate the Divine Sword Sect’s destruction, while a group of Core Formation Realm cultivators planned to seize Zhuang Chen’s Innate Sword Bone.

• Ning Qi buried the Dragon Owl Sword with Divine Sword Elder, and Zhuang Chen passed out from his injuries after honoring his master.
• Ning Qi examined Zhuang Chen and found that his shattered Sword Bone was beginning to gather, giving him hope that he could revive it by improving the Innate Sword Body secret art.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist left True Martial Sect to investigate the destroyed Divine Sword Sect, while Ning Qi stayed behind to treat Zhuang Chen.
• After news of the Divine Sword Sect’s destruction spread, a group of Core Formation Realm cultivators discussed taking Zhuang Chen’s Innate Sword Bone for their Blood King Gu.
• The group prepared Heaven-Sensing Gu pills and decided to draw lots to choose who would infiltrate True Martial Sect.

Ning Qi helped Zhuang Chen begin restoring his shattered Sword Bone, then intercepted a Core Formation Realm intruder who had infiltrated True Martial Mountain to abduct Zhuang Chen. The intruder was captured, and Ning Qi’s strength left her wondering why her Heaven-Sensing Gu had not detected Heaven and Earth Power.

• Ning Qi warned Zhuang Chen about the agony of restoring his Sword Bone, then used his Gang Qi to help Zhuang Chen revive it through the Innate Sword Body Secret Art.
• Zhuang Chen endured the treatment, and Ning Qi told him that with further guidance he might fully recover his Sword Bone within a month.
• A Bewitching Woman sneaked into True Martial Mountain, hoping to abduct Zhuang Chen and steal his Innate Sword Bone without alerting Heavenly Sword Real Person.
• Ning Qi sensed the intruder, disguised himself as an ordinary young Daoist, and approached her to capture her alive.
• The Bewitching Woman struck Ning Qi and rushed to kill him, but he effortlessly dispersed her Gang Qi, suppressed her, and grabbed her by the neck.

Ning Qi captured an assassin who had infiltrated True Martial Sect for the Innate Sword Bone and learned that the Nameless Faction and Blood Rain Pavilion came from Southern Border. The assassin died by a hidden poison before he could uncover more, while her allies canceled the operation and decided to lie low.

• Ning Qi caught the attacker, identified her as a Core Formation Realm cultivator, and used an eye technique to interrogate her.
• The woman, Shen Yubing, revealed that she sought the Innate Sword Bone to refine the Blood King Gu and that the Divine Sword Sect had been destroyed by the Nameless Faction.
• Shen Yubing identified the Nameless Faction and Blood Rain Pavilion as coming from Southern Border, but Heaven and Earth Power woke her and triggered a deadly poison inside her heart.
• Ning Qi concluded that the faction had used Shen Yubing as a pawn, resolved to alert Dragon Mountain Daoist, and considered how Southern Border tribes might be behind his family's death.
• Zhao Dong and the other Black-clothed men learned that Jade Maiden had died, canceled their operation targeting the Innate Sword Bone, and chose to lie low.

Ning Qi and Dragon Mountain Daoist investigated the Southern Border connection behind the Blood King Gu and planned a discreet inquiry, while Dragon Mountain Daoist left the mountain to pursue leads. Zhuang Chen continued recovering his Sword Bone and prepared to tell Ning Qi about the Sword Saint Inheritance.

• Ning Qi told Dragon Mountain Daoist about the Bewitching Woman and the Blood King Gu, and they suspected that a few Southern Border tribes and Heaven-Human powerhouses were involved.
• Ning Qi and Dragon Mountain Daoist planned to investigate human trafficking and the Human Blood Pool, and Dragon Mountain Daoist agreed to descend the mountain in secret while Ning Qi guarded True Martial Mountain.
• Ning Qi gave Dragon Mountain Daoist the Azure Profound Treasure Armor and revealed that he had killed the Demonic Sect powerhouse who had escaped the earlier raid.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist encouraged Zhuang Chen during his recovery and told him to share the Sword Saint Inheritance with Ning Qi.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist quietly left the mountain, and Ning Qi helped Zhuang Chen continue reviving his Sword Bone through the Innate Sword Body Secret Art.
• Zhuang Chen told Ning Qi he was ready to explain the Sword Saint Inheritance that the Divine Sword Elder had taught him.

Ning Qi learned the Azure Edge Sword Saint’s incomplete inheritance from Zhuang Chen and devised a safer version of its life-or-death sword-core technique. After Zhuang Chen’s Sword Bone recovered and he began training in the Yazi Stance, Ning Qi completed the Virtual Sword Core Disintegration Great Art.

• Zhuang Chen recounted the Azure Edge Sword Saint’s inheritance, and Ning Qi gained insights into its sword arts and the idea that Martial Saints wield Heaven and Earth Power.
• Ning Qi considered adapting the Sword Core Disintegration Great Art with a False Pill or a virtual sword core, while Dragon Mountain Daoist investigated the suspicious people near the mountain.
• Zhuang Chen moved into Sword Inquiry Courtyard, and White Ape grew close to him as he recovered and spent time with Ning Qi’s fellow disciples.
• After more than a month, Ning Qi confirmed that Zhuang Chen’s Sword Bone had fully recovered, and Luo Wentian told him to begin cultivating the Yazi Stance.
• Ning Qi taught Zhuang Chen the Yazi Stance and continued refining his technique; he condensed a Virtual Sword Core above his Jade Liquid Sea and completed the Virtual Sword Core Disintegration Great Art.

Ning Qi strengthened his secret arts while waiting for Blood Rain Pavilion to reveal itself, and the Enlightenment Tea Tree seed sprouted, giving him a deeper sense of the life Dao Resonance. When Dragon Mountain Daoist brought news of a Blood Rain Pavilion assassin’s imminent mission, Ning Qi prepared to pursue the trail toward the culprit behind Snow Plum Manor’s destruction.

• Ning Qi created the Pseudo-Core Disintegration Great Art, a powerful trump card whose use would leave him injured and require half a year of recovery.
• Zhuang Chen settled into the True Martial Sect and grew close to Ye Qinghe and Yuan Tiansheng, while Dragon Mountain Daoist continued tracking the Southern Border forces.
• The Enlightenment Tea Tree seedling broke through the soil, and Ning Qi consolidated his understanding of the life Dao Resonance.
• A month later, Dragon Mountain Daoist returned with news that “Thunder” of Blood Rain Pavilion would assassinate the Black Wind Bandits’ chief in seven days.
• Ning Qi agreed to join the operation, confident in the tracking, concealment, and pupil techniques he had prepared.

Ning Qi descended True Martial Mountain alone to hunt the Blood Rain Pavilion assassin Thunder and uncover the truth behind the destruction of Divine Sword Sect. After killing Thunder and taking his place, he infiltrated the hidden stronghold, summoned Elder Pang, and discovered the Blood King Gu feeding in the Blood Pool.

• Ning Qi refused Dragon Mountain Daoist's offer to accompany him, demonstrated his superior strength, and descended the mountain in disguise.
• In Canghe Prefecture City, Ning Qi learned that the Iron Fist Sect and Black Wind Bandits were about to clash, then secretly waited at Black Wind Mountain for Thunder.
• Thunder helped the Iron Fist Sect kill the Black Wind Bandits' chief, then gathered the corpses to take to the Blood Rain Pavilion's stronghold.
• Ning Qi killed Thunder, stole his appearance and knowledge, and used the assassin's identity to enter the stronghold with the corpses.
• Ning Qi summoned Elder Pang to the Blood Pool, watched him release a Blood King Gu, and realized the creature absorbed and refined vitality, potentially becoming a treasure that could help someone reach the Heaven-Human Realm.

Ning Qi killed Elder Pang, learned that the Southern Border Tribes Alliance was raising Blood Emperor Gu to create a Martial Saint, and took over Pang’s identity and stronghold. He lured Elder Shou and the other Blood Rain Pavilion leaders to the underground palace, where he recognized Feng as the man who destroyed Snow Plum Manor and launched a surprise attack on Elder Shou.

• Elder Pang explained that the mature Blood King Gu could help a Core Formation Realm expert reach the Heaven-Human Realm, then revealed its purpose was to raise a Blood Emperor Gu capable of helping a peak Heaven-Human Realm expert become a Martial Saint.
• Ning Qi ambushed Elder Pang, extracted what he knew about the Blood Emperor Gu and the Southern Border Tribes Alliance, and killed him, feeding his body to the Blood King Gu until it matured.
• Ning Qi used Elder Pang’s appearance and the Purple Jade Bamboo Tube to impersonate him, summoned the Blood Rain Pavilion members, and ordered them to remain at the stronghold while he investigated the supposed spy.
• Elder Shou and the others arrived, and Ning Qi recognized Feng as the one-eyed assassin who had destroyed Snow Plum Manor nine years earlier.
• Ning Qi produced the mature Blood King Gu to ease Elder Shou’s suspicions, then struck him with a venomous Great Handprint, starting a fight between the two elders.

Ning Qi destroyed the Southern Border Alliance’s Qing Province stronghold, avenged the destruction of Snow Plum Manor, and matured a second Blood King Gu. After delivering Dong He to the True Martial Sect, he set out to investigate the True Martial Underground Palace and rumors of a Martial Saint.

• Ning Qi fought Elder Shou, overcame his Iron Armor Gu, and captured him after he tried to flee.
• Ning Qi killed everyone in the stronghold, interrogated the survivors about the Southern Border Alliance and Snow Plum Manor, and executed wind with Night Plum Swordplay.
• Ning Qi fed the Blood King Gu from Elder Shou’s tube with the Blood Pool’s vitality, matured it, and confirmed the two Blood King Gu could not coexist.
• Ning Qi destroyed the stronghold’s traces, set it ablaze, and left without alerting the Southern Border Alliance.
• Ning Qi abducted Dong He, crippled him, and secretly handed him to the True Martial Sect’s disciples for Dragon Mountain Daoist and Zhuang Chen to judge.
• Ning Qi decided to visit the vanished True Martial Underground Palace and a town rumored to hold information about the Martial Saint.

Ning Qi searched for the True Martial Underground Palace and heard unsettling rumors about the Heaven Chopping Martial Saint before refining the Blood Jade Pill from the Blood King Gu. He returned to True Martial Mountain with a faster path to cultivation and new suspicions about the Martial Saints’ fate.

• Ning Qi found no Underground Palace in Qing Province, but traced a trail of unusually hard soil that suggested it had moved underground after Dragon Mountain Daoist discovered it.
• Ning Qi listened for nearly a month to the Blind Old Man’s stories about the Heaven Chopping Martial Saint, then heard him hint that Martial Saints might have suffered disasters and leave town without explanation.
• Ning Qi received the auxiliary ingredients Luo Wentian had sent and refined the Blood King Gu into six Blood Jade Pills apiece.
• Ning Qi took a Blood Jade Pill and found that it greatly accelerated his cultivation, estimating that ten pills would let him reach the Core Formation Realm.
• Ning Qi considered how the Southern Border Alliance might interpret the Fat and Thin Elders’ disappearance, then headed back to True Martial Mountain.

Ning Qi returned to True Martial Mountain and resumed cultivation while the Southern Border Alliance investigated the destruction of its Qing Province stronghold. The alliance suspected the Demonic Sect and True Martial Sect, while Ning Qi and his fellow disciples celebrated Zhuang Chen at the Zhenwu Peach Meet and teased Jiang Baishan about a possible love interest.

• Ning Qi told Dragon Mountain Daoist how he had destroyed the Southern Border stronghold, and learned that Zhuang Chen had killed Dong He to avenge Divine Sword Elder.
• Ning Qi reunited with White Ape and resumed his routine, using Blood Jade Pill liquid to help the Enlightenment Tea Tree grow.
• The Southern Border Saintess and Snake Granny investigated the ruined stronghold, traced the attacker's poisonous power, and ordered their subordinates to investigate the Demonic Sect and True Martial Sect.
• At the Zhenwu Peach Meet, the disciples welcomed Zhuang Chen, and Ye Qinghe and Luo Wentian teased Jiang Baishan about secretly writing a love letter.

Ning Qi created the Formless Gang Body, a controllable human-shaped gang qi clone, while cultivating and keeping watch over the Southern Border Alliance. The Great Flame Heaven-Human Ranking was updated, and He Yan returned to True Martial Mountain with explosive news.

• Luo Wentian said the True Martial Sect would compete for a place among the top Daoist sects and planned to consult the True Mystery Sect after the Zhenwu Peach Meet.
• The disciples discussed the coming Heaven-Human Ranking update, and Zhuang Chen demonstrated his sword talent before the gathering ended.
• Ning Qi developed the Formless Gang Body by combining his gang qi with techniques that gave the clone a human form, a core, and stability.
• Ning Qi continued cultivating and monitoring the Southern Border Alliance while Dragon Mountain Daoist taught Zhuang Chen.
• He Yan hurried back to True Martial Mountain and announced that the Great Flame Heaven-Human Ranking had been updated.

The Great Flame Heaven-Human Ranking placed Heavenly Sword Real Person thirty-sixth, stirring the long-running rivalry between swordsmen and saber-wielders and drawing the Southern Border Alliance’s attention. With Thunderclap Saber Master under pressure to challenge him, Ning Qi resolved to face the contest openly and defeat him decisively if he came.

• He Yan brought the updated ranking to True Martial Sect, where the disciples celebrated Heavenly Sword Real Person’s entry at thirty-sixth while Ning Qi worried the fame would attract trouble.
• He Yan introduced the ranking’s leading experts, and Ning Qi studied North Suppressing King, Blade Demon, Flame Martial Great General, and Listening Wind Old Man while measuring their strength against his own.
• Swordsmen and saber-wielders argued across Great Yan after Heavenly Sword Real Person displaced Thunderclap Saber Master, and their dispute escalated into challenges and fights.
• The Southern Border Saintess and Snake Granny planned to watch a likely duel between Thunderclap Saber Master and Heavenly Sword Real Person to assess Ning Qi and decide their next moves against the Demonic Sect.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist asked Ning Qi how True Martial Sect should respond if Thunderclap Saber Master challenged him, and Ning Qi insisted he would defeat the saber master cleanly if he came.

Prince Zhenbei brought Li Ling to True Martial Mountain as the Martial World awaited Thunderclap Saber Master’s challenge, while Luo Fu Swordmaster offered Heavenly Sword Real Person a sword and was refused. When Thunderclap Saber Master finally challenged him, their opening clash proved evenly matched, and Ning Qi decided to fight cleanly as Heavenly Sword Real Person appeared before the world for the first time.

• Prince Zhenbei brought Li Ling to True Martial Mountain, where Li Ling befriended Zhuang Chen and Yuan Tiansheng.
• Thunderclap Saber Master sent a challenge letter inviting Heavenly Sword Real Person to fight on True Martial Mountain half a month later.
• Luo Fu Swordmaster offered to lend Heavenly Sword Real Person his sword, but Dragon Mountain Daoist refused on the hidden senior’s behalf.
• Thunderclap Saber Master arrived and called for Heavenly Sword Real Person to come out and fight.
• The heavenly sword clashed with Thunderclap Saber Master’s Thunder Blade, and Ning Qi decided to defeat him cleanly.
• Ning Qi’s figure shot into the sky as Heavenly Sword Real Person appeared before the world for the first time.

Ning Qi, appearing as Heavenly Sword Real Person, defeated Thunderclap Saber Master and established the True Martial Sword Stele at True Martial Mountain. The stele became a sword-comprehension site for outsiders, while Ning Qi intended it to protect the sect and help him gather the Wisdom of All Beings.

• Heavenly Sword Real Person appeared before the gathered martial artists, and his Sword Intent astonished the experts watching him.
• Thunderclap Saber Master attacked with the Heavenly Thunder Blade, but Heavenly Sword Real Person destroyed his strike and overwhelmed him with nine Heavenly Swords, severing his left arm while sparing his life.
• Thunderclap Saber Master offered the Heavenly Thunder Blade and promised to send his Thunderclap Secret Records, and Heavenly Sword Real Person accepted the blade.
• Heavenly Sword Real Person used the blade to carve the True Martial Sword Stele, whose Sword Intent stunned onlookers and could be used by those without malicious intent to comprehend the Sword Dao.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist announced that swordsmen could view the stele, while Ning Qi planned to use it to safeguard the True Martial Sect and gather insight from other swordsmen.
• Thunderclap Saber Master, Luo Fu Swordmaster, and other blade experts departed, and news of Heavenly Sword Real Person and the True Martial Sword Stele spread throughout the world.