Chapter Summaries

The battle between Heavenly Sword Real Person and Thunderclap Saber Master spread across Great Yan, drawing attention to the True Martial Sect and stirring conflict between the Demonic Sect and the Southern Border Alliance. As Ning Qi studied the Heavenly Thunder Blade, Prince Zhenbei asked Dragon Mountain Daoist to accept Li Ling as his disciple and offered an exchange for Heavenly Sword Real Person to teach him swordsmanship.

• Stories of the battle spread throughout Great Yan, and the great forces concluded that Heavenly Sword Real Person ranked among the strongest experts on the Heaven-Human Ranking.
• At a Demonic Sect gathering, the Vice Sect Leaders discussed avoiding the True Martial Sect and considered having Qin Yun approach his former sect, then learned that the Southern Border Alliance had attacked their strongholds and agreed to retaliate.
• Ning Qi studied the True Martial Sword Stele and the Heavenly Thunder Blade, considering how to develop his Heavenly Sword Technique and replicate the blade's ability to draw heavenly thunder.
• Prince Zhenbei asked Dragon Mountain Daoist to accept Li Ling as his disciple, and Dragon Mountain Daoist agreed to make him his Eleventh Direct Disciple.
• Prince Zhenbei asked Dragon Mountain Daoist to offer Heavenly Sword Real Person the Town Heaven Fist or another inheritance in exchange for teaching Li Ling swordsmanship, and Dragon Mountain Daoist agreed to pass on the request.

Li Ling joined the True Martial Sect as Dragon Mountain Daoist’s Eleventh Direct Disciple and began learning the Bi'an Pile, while Ning Qi agreed to help him learn Sword Dao in exchange for the North Suppressing King’s knowledge of the Martial Saint Realm. After surviving the Thunder Forbidden Zone in High Heavens, Ning Qi created the Heavenly Thunder Method during a storm and left as two sisters arrived with a confidential letter for True Martial Mountain.

• Li Ling completed his disciple-taking ceremony and became Dragon Mountain Daoist’s Eleventh Direct Disciple, while the North Suppressing King offered support to the True Martial Sect.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist taught Li Ling the Bi'an Pile, and Ning Qi agreed to help him learn Sword Dao if the North Suppressing King shared information about the Martial Saint Realm.
• Li Ling settled into sect life, built Sword Obsession Courtyard beside Zhuang Chen’s, and Jiang Baishan admitted his feelings for Lin Ruhua and promised to bring her to the Zhenwu Peach Meet.
• Ning Qi entered High Heavens, encountered its deadly Thunder Forbidden Zone, and escaped before the lightning overwhelmed him.
• During a thunderstorm, Ning Qi comprehended the Heavenly Thunder Blade and created the Heavenly Thunder Method, using it to draw and control heavenly thunder.
• Two Twin Sisters arrived at Ning Qi’s mountain peak, mistook the destruction for the work of a hidden expert, and continued toward True Martial Mountain with a confidential letter from His Highness.

Chen Xing and Chen Yue delivered the North Suppressing King's secret letter to True Martial Mountain, revealing that Martial Saint methods had vanished and providing the Town Heaven Fist for Ning Qi to study. Over the following months, Ning Qi trained and taught Li Ling, while the True Martial Sect prepared for a new era under Luo Wentian.

• Chen Xing and Chen Yue brought the North Suppressing King's secret letter to Dragon Mountain Daoist and said they would stay in True Martial City to protect Li Ling.
• Ning Qi and Dragon Mountain Daoist read that no Martial Saint method remained in the world, and they considered who had erased the methods and why.
• Ning Qi studied the North Suppressing King's Town Heaven Fist and agreed to have Heavenly Sword Real Person secretly teach Li Ling in return.
• Half a month later, two thousand volumes of Daoist Scriptures from the North Suppressing King's Mansion arrived at True Martial Mountain, and Ning Qi resumed his studies.
• Ning Qi taught Li Ling preliminary sword arts as Heavenly Sword Real Person, and Li Ling later confided the arrangement to Zhuang Chen.
• After Ning Qi swallowed his eighth Blood Jade Pill, Dragon Mountain Daoist passed the sect leadership to Luo Wentian.

Luo Wentian succeeded Dragon Mountain Daoist as Sect Master of the True Martial Sect and launched reforms to expand and strengthen it. After learning that Ning Qi was both the True Martial Protector and Heavenly Sword Real Person, Luo Wentian supported his junior brother while the sect prepared to open its gates to recruits; Ning Qi then swallowed his ninth Blood Jade Pill as he neared the Core Formation Realm.

• Dragon Mountain Daoist formally installed Luo Wentian as the True Martial Sect's Second Generation Sect Master, and the disciples pledged their support.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist revealed that Ning Qi was the True Martial Protector, whose authority stood above the Sect Master in critical moments.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist disclosed to Luo Wentian that Ning Qi was Heavenly Sword Real Person, and Luo Wentian agreed to keep his identity secret.
• Luo Wentian announced reforms that reorganized the sect's ranks and halls, refined disciple assessments and contribution rewards, and set a date to open the mountain gate for recruits.
• The True Martial Sect expanded its facilities and attracted aspiring disciples and experts as its reforms spread throughout Qing Province.
• Ning Qi gave Luo Wentian a Gale Attachment Art to bolster his combat strength, then swallowed his ninth Blood Jade Pill as he approached the Core Formation Realm.

While the True Martial Sect prepared to recruit disciples, Qin Yun emerged from the Blood Demon Pool as a Candidate Holy Son and learned how much the sect had grown in his absence. Ning Qi advanced to the Core Formation Realm and believed he might reach the Heaven-Human Realm before the year ended.

• Luo Wentian and Dragon Mountain Daoist traveled to Dao Province, leaving Ning Qi to help oversee the sect and guide Zhuang Chen and Li Ling.
• Qin Yun emerged from the Blood Demon Pool after breaking through to the Heaven-Human Realm, and the Grand Elder made him one of three Candidate Holy Sons.
• Qin Yun read reports about the True Martial Sect, learned that Ning Qi had gained two junior disciples, and saw that Heavenly Sword Real Person had defeated Thunderclap Saber Master.
• Ghost Mask told Qin Yun to persuade the True Martial Sect to join the Holy Gate, court Lin Ruhua, and accompany him to investigate peace talks with the Southern Border Alliance.
• Ning Qi completed his breakthrough to the Core Formation Realm, demonstrated the power of his golden Yuan Pill, and estimated that he could reach the Heaven-Human Realm before year’s end.

Ning Qi advanced his cultivation plans while the True Martial Sect rose to become the ninth Daoist Sect under heaven and prepared to recruit disciples. Meanwhile, peace talks between the Demonic Sect and the Southern Border Alliance exposed signs that a third party had provoked their conflict, and the chapter left both sides realizing they had been used.

• Ning Qi sensed that his Core Formation breakthrough had greatly strengthened his body, lifespan, and comprehension, and he planned to refine the Divinity Forging Method before pursuing the Heaven-Human Realm.
• Luo Wentian reported that the True Martial Sect had become the ninth Daoist Sect under heaven, gaining access to shared Daoist scriptures and mutual-defense support.
• Xiong Shi and the elders prepared for the sect's upcoming recruitment, while Ning Qi began forming an idea for screening applicants seeking access to the True Martial Sword Stele.
• Qin Yun and Ghost Mask met the Southern Border Saintess and her escorts to negotiate peace, but both sides disputed the heavy casualties suffered in their escalating conflict.
• Snake Granny demonstrated Elder Wang's signature poisonous-mist technique, and Ghost Mask confirmed that the elder had already fallen, revealing that an unknown force had used both sides as borrowed blades.

The Southern Border Saintess and Ghost Mask agreed to ally against Great Yan while investigating whether the True Martial Sect had framed their forces. As the True Martial Sect opened recruitment, Ning Qi and the sect prepared for infiltration, and Luo Wentian began the first assessment trial.

• The Southern Border Saintess argued that an expert who could imitate others might have impersonated both the North Suppressing King and Elder Wang, making the True Martial Sect a suspect in the attacks.
• Ghost Mask and the Southern Border Saintess agreed to ally, exchange support for their Martial Saint plans, and investigate both Great Yan and the True Martial Sect.
• Ning Qi strengthened his techniques, gave Luo Wentian an enhanced pseudo-core secret skill, and prepared the True Martial Sect for its recruitment day.
• Qin Yun and the Southern Border Saintess discussed planting spies among the True Martial Sect's recruits, while Ning Qi and Dragon Mountain Daoist considered a warning letter about their alliance.
• Luo Wentian enforced the recruitment standards, Xiong Shi frightened away those who protested, and the remaining candidates gathered for the assessment.
• Luo Wentian began the first trial, the Ascension Stairway, and warned that candidates who could not reach the top would not enter the True Martial Sect.

Ning Qi’s True Martial Sect tested prospective disciples with the Ascension Stairway, an Automaton Formation, and the Heart Inquiry Platform. The Heart Inquiry Platform exposed several Gang Yuan Realm candidates as agents of rival forces, leaving the sect’s leaders to face the newly revealed infiltration.

• Luo Wentian explained the Ascension Stairway rules, and the children began the willpower test as many gave up along the climb.
• Goudan dragged himself to the summit despite exhaustion and injuries, and Luo Wentian welcomed him with food and encouragement.
• Gang Yuan Realm candidates faced the Automaton Formation, where the blue-robed swordsman and a smaller group endured its attacks; Ning Qi identified several suspected spies and sent White Ape into action.
• Luo Wentian announced the Heart Inquiry Platform as the final test, and the candidates answered questions that revealed their true inclinations and affiliations.
• Several candidates named the Holy Gate, Southern Border, Sword Inquiry Pavilion, and Unphased Gate, until one man’s shout awakened everyone on the platform.

Luo Wentian and the True Martial Sect captured the spies who tried to flee during the assessment, with Luo Wentian and Yuan Tiansheng displaying unexpected strength. After recruiting sixteen Protectors, Luo Wentian began the children’s Heart Inquiry and grew interested in Goudan as a possible disciple.

• The spies exposed by the Heart Inquiry Platform fled, but Luo Wentian used the Thunder Tiger Pseudo-Core to overpower several of them while the sect’s allies helped surround the rest.
• Yuan Tiansheng revealed his six-zhang Ape King True Body, defeated the two Jade Liquid Realm Demonic Sect spies, and helped Luo Wentian capture the Core Formation Realm Blade Guest.
• Ning Qi and Dragon Mountain Daoist discussed Yuan Tiansheng’s martial arts and bloodline awakening, while the Southern Border Saintess learned that her spies had all been captured.
• Luo Wentian welcomed sixteen candidates who passed the Heart Inquiry as Zhenwu Sect Protectors and began the assessment for the children.
• Goudan volunteered first, passed the children’s Heart Inquiry with firm answers, and drew Luo Wentian’s attention as a potential disciple.

After the True Martial Sect accepted three hundred disciples and uncovered spies during its recruitment, Luo Wentian and Ning Qi confronted the threat of an alliance between the Demonic Sect and the Southern Border Alliance and demanded compensation from other infiltrating sects. Unphased Gate apologized and sent a large tribute, while nearby Sword Inquiry Pavilion still had not responded.

• Ye Qinghe announced the children who passed the Heart Inquiry Platform, including Goudan, leaving about three hundred new Outer Disciples.
• News of the recruitment and the True Martial Sect’s strength spread across the provinces, while the disciples wondered about Ning Qi’s hidden abilities.
• Luo Wentian reported that spies from the Demonic Sect and Southern Border Alliance had revealed the two powers were allied, and Ning Qi urged the sect to stay vigilant.
• Luo Wentian sent demanding letters to Unphased Gate and Sword Inquiry Pavilion after learning both had planted spies; he also spread news of their actions.
• Unphased Gate apologized and sent scriptures, rare books, medicines, materials, and manuals as compensation, while Sword Inquiry Pavilion remained silent.

Gu Changhe rejected the Sword Inquiry Pavilion’s responsibility for sending spies into the True Martial Sect and urged the sect to stand firm against Heavenly Sword Real Person. Ning Qi and Luo Wentian devised a plan to close the True Martial Mountain and use the swordsmen deprived of the True Martial Sword Stele to pressure the Sword Inquiry Pavilion, setting events in motion as the swordsmen left the mountain.

• Gu Changhe emerged from the Inheritance Sword Tower, rebuked Tang Qiu and the Sword Inquiry Pavilion elders for coveting the True Martial Sword Stele, and told them to demand proof that the captured intruders were spies.
• Gu Changhe declared that the Sword Inquiry Pavilion would not apologize or yield, and he expressed confidence that he could challenge Heavenly Sword Real Person.
• Luo Wentian, Ning Qi, and Dragon Mountain Daoist read the Sword Inquiry Pavilion’s denial and planned to close True Martial Mountain so the deprived swordsmen would turn pressure toward the pavilion.
• Luo Wentian told the swordsmen at the True Martial Sword Stele that the sect was closing its gates while it investigated the spies, and they left in frustration and anger.
• Ye Qinghe praised Luo Wentian’s convincing performance after the swordsmen had departed, while Luo Wentian waited for the situation to develop.

The True Martial Sect’s closure of the mountain stirred anger among swordsmen, and rumors blaming Sword Inquiry Pavilion turned that anger into widespread hostility. After Luo Wentian hung two captured spies above True Martial City’s gate, Sword Inquiry Pavilion’s leaders resolved to retaliate, and Grand Elder Gu Changhe set out for True Martial Mountain.

• Swordsmen in True Martial City grew restless as the True Martial Sect kept its gates closed, while Ning Qi continued cultivating and drawing insights from the True Martial Sword Stele.
• Rumors spread that Sword Inquiry Pavilion had coveted the True Martial Sword Stele and caused the closure, prompting swordsmen across the land to target the pavilion and its members.
• Luo Wentian rejected Sword Inquiry Pavilion’s offers of compensation and ordered two captured spies hung above True Martial City’s gate so everyone could identify them.
• Sword Inquiry Pavilion’s leaders grew furious over the public humiliation and worsening pressure on the sect.
• Grand Elder Gu Changhe called the leaders useless and chose several people to accompany him to True Martial Mountain to inspect the alleged spies.

Sword Inquiry Pavilion’s Gu Changhe confronted the True Martial Sect and demanded that Heavenly Sword Real Person appear, but Ning Qi answered through the True Martial Sword Stele’s power and killed Gu Changhe and the other Sword Inquiry Pavilion fighters. Li Ling watched from the back mountain as he continued learning the sword, and the chapter left him newly determined to become as strong as Heavenly Sword Old Senior.

• Chen Xing told Chen Yue that they would support the True Martial Sect if it fought Sword Inquiry Pavilion, while Qin Yun and the Southern Border Saintess discussed the coming clash.
• Gu Changhe arrived at True Martial City with Tang Qiu and killed the two suspected spies before leading Sword Inquiry Pavilion toward True Martial Mountain.
• Gu Changhe dismissed the True Martial Sect’s leaders, praised the mountain and Ascension Stairway, and declared that the True Martial Sword Stele should be joined with Sword Inquiry Pavilion’s Inheritance Sword Tower.
• When Gu Changhe challenged Heavenly Sword Real Person and attacked the True Martial Sword Stele, Ning Qi’s sword strike awakened the stele and destroyed Gu Changhe’s Sword Qi.
• The stele summoned thirty-six heavenly swords that formed the Tiangang Sword Formation, killing Gu Changhe and the other Sword Inquiry Pavilion fighters apart from Tang Qiu.
• Li Ling watched the battle while practicing under Heavenly Sword Old Senior, then asked whether he could someday become as powerful and received a yes.

After Heavenly Sword Real Person killed Gu Changhe through the True Martial Sword Stele, the world reeled at the revelation of his strength. Sword Inquiry Pavilion accepted harsh terms from Luo Wentian, ending with two of its Heaven-Human elders hauling its Inheritance Sword Tower toward True Martial Mountain.

• Heavenly Sword Real Person used the sword stele’s thirty-six heavenly swords to kill Gu Changhe, while Luo Wentian brought the terrified Tang Qiu inside to discuss the spy.
• Martial artists and the Southern Border Saintess reassessed Heavenly Sword Real Person’s threat; she told Qin Yun that Ning Qi might be a survivor of Snow Plum Manor, and Qin Yun realized the Demonic Sect no longer trusted him.
• News of Gu Changhe’s death spread across Great Yan, prompting Thunderclap Saber Master to enter seclusion and the North Suppressing King to warn the True Martial Sect against provoking other powers.
• Tang Qiu agreed that Sword Inquiry Pavilion would close its mountain for two hundred years, surrender its Inheritance Sword Tower and texts, and provide treasures to the True Martial Sect.
• Tang Qiu ordered Sword Inquiry Pavilion’s two remaining Heaven-Human elders to deliver the tower themselves, and that night witnesses saw them dragging it through the dark.

Ning Qi absorbed the Sword Inquiry Pavilion’s inheritance and transformed its tower into the Ten Thousand Paths Tower, which the True Martial Sect opened to outside martial artists in exchange for their own arts. The Sword Inquiry Pavilion accepted two centuries of seclusion, while the True Martial Sect’s rise drew the attention of the martial world and potentially the experts in Great Flame’s Imperial City.

• Luo Wentian required the Sword Inquiry Pavilion to close itself off for two hundred years, and its elders left the Inheritance Sword Tower with the True Martial Sect.
• Ning Qi entered the tower, comprehended its accumulated Sword Intents, and erased redundant or chaotic traces.
• Ning Qi turned the tower into the Ten Thousand Paths Tower, where visitors would exchange martial inheritances for the right to comprehend its contents.
• Tang Qiu delivered the Sword Inquiry Pavilion’s remaining compensation and agreed that the sect would remain secluded for two hundred years.
• The True Martial Sect reopened its mountain gate and announced that it would open both the True Martial Sword Stele and the Ten Thousand Paths Tower.
• The martial world reacted to the announcements, and the North Suppressing King wondered whether an expert in Yan Province Imperial City would take notice of Heavenly Sword Real Person.

After defeating Heart Inquiry Sword, Ning Qi’s reputation as the Heavenly Sword Real Person drew the attention of the Imperial Court, rival swordsmen, and hidden experts. As the True Martial Sect flourished, Ning Qi studied the Sword Inquiry Pavilion’s texts for clues about the Martial Saint realm.

• Flame Martial Great General told General Shenyu that the Heavenly Sword Real Person was strong enough to rival Sun Chasing Sword King and ordered him to investigate the Southern Border and station himself in Qing Province.
• Sun Chasing Sword King rebuked his followers for envying the Heavenly Sword Real Person, praised the True Martial Sword Stele, and said he hoped to meet Ning Qi after emerging from seclusion.
• Blade Demon heard people discuss Ning Qi’s victory and realized how to make the hilt of his broken blade disappear.
• The Blind Old Man wondered whether the Heavenly Sword Real Person was one of his old friends and considered visiting the True Martial Sword Stele.
• Ning Qi’s victory sparked discussion across Great Yan, while the True Martial Sword Stele and Ten Thousand Paths Tower drew growing crowds and helped the True Martial Sect prosper.
• Ning Qi studied ancient Sword Inquiry Pavilion texts for information about the Martial Saint realm as the Enlightenment Tea Tree grew from the buried Heavenly Human corpses.

Ning Qi discovered a hidden page in Wu Jianghe’s autobiography that warned the Great Yan Martial Saint might be suppressing the Martial Saint Realm and described a possible path toward it. He resolved to investigate the Martial Saint’s strength while continuing his cultivation and research, as True Martial City grew into a major martial arts center and the Zhenwu Peach Meet approached.

• Ning Qi uncovered silver pages hidden inside Wu Jianghe’s autobiography and read Wu Jianghe’s warning not to reveal or study the Martial Saint insights with others while Great Yan ruled.
• Ning Qi considered whether the Great Yan Martial Saint had erased the Martial Saint Method and decided he needed to learn more about Martial Saint strength before exposing himself or confronting powerful enemies.
• Ning Qi studied Wu Jianghe’s theory that advancing to Martial Saint required refining Heaven and Earth Power into a force one could control, and he stored the silver page for future use.
• Ning Qi rested by pondering how to make Gang Qi endure after leaving his body so he could give it to fellow disciples as protection.
• Martial artists flocked to True Martial City because of the True Martial Sword Stele and Ten Thousand Paths Tower, and the city expanded as Zhenwu Disciples patrolled to prevent conflicts.
• Jiang Baishan left Song Cheng to lead the patrol while he handled personal business, and Song Cheng looked forward to the Zhenwu Peach Meet in five days.

Jiang Baishan learned that Lin Ruhua was the daughter of Demonic Sect Vice Sect Leader Lin Xue Shuang, but accepted her and brought her to meet Dragon Mountain Daoist and Luo Wentian. Lin Ruhua warned them that the Demonic Sect and Southern Border were plotting to produce a Martial Saint within three years, leaving the True Martial Sect facing an approaching threat.

• Jiang Baishan asked Lin Ruhua to join him at the True Martial Sect, and she revealed her identity as Lin Xue Shuang's daughter.
• Lin Ruhua told Jiang Baishan that the Demonic Sect and Southern Border suspected the True Martial Sect of instigating their past conflict and might target its disciples.
• Lin Ruhua identified Qin Yun as the person who had secretly warned the True Martial Sect and explained that he had become a Candidate Holy Son but was now under suspicion and pressure from the Demonic Sect.
• Jiang Baishan brought Lin Ruhua to Bright Martial Pavilion, where she shared the intelligence with Dragon Mountain Daoist and Luo Wentian.
• Lin Ruhua warned that the Demonic Sect and Southern Border were close to producing a Martial Saint and might attack Great Yan within three years, leaving Dragon Mountain Daoist gravely concerned.

Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua agreed to marry, but Dragon Mountain Daoist ordered them to leave the mountain for three years to avoid being trapped between their families as the Demonic Sect and Southern Border sought to produce Martial Saints. Ning Qi and the True Martial Sect planned to delay that threat, and the chapter ended with Dragon Mountain Daoist sending a warning to the North Suppressing King.

• Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua vowed to marry each other, and Lin Ruhua accepted Dragon Mountain Daoist as her master.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist ordered Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua to leave the mountain for three years, and they agreed to attend the Zhenwu Peach Meet before departing.
• Ning Qi explained that the Demonic Sect and Southern Border were likely using external power to create Martial Saints, and he expected to reach the Heaven-Human Realm in half a year.
• Luo Wentian proposed seeking the Great Yan Imperial Court's help and alerting the Martial World, while Dragon Mountain Daoist urged Ning Qi to escape if the sect faced destruction.
• Dragon Mountain Daoist wrote a confidential warning about the Martial Saint plot and sent Chen Xing to deliver it to the North Suppressing King while Chen Yue stayed to guard True Martial City.

At the Zhenwu Peach Meet, Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua announced they would become husband and wife before Jiang Baishan left the True Martial Sect with her. Ning Qi gave them protective Mandarin Duck Jade Pendants containing Gang Yuan Sword Seeds, then ended the gathering by serving Enlightenment Tea.

• The True Martial Sect secretly prepared survival seeds while Dragon Mountain Daoist searched for news of the Demonic Sect and Southern Border.
• At the Zhenwu Peach Meet, Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua announced their marriage, and the disciples celebrated and shared wedding candy.
• Ning Qi gave Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua handmade Mandarin Duck Jade Pendants that could unleash his Gang Qi and Sword Intent, sense their holders, and calm their minds.
• The disciples laughed together as Ye Qinghe shared stories about Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua, helping ease the sadness over their coming departure.
• Ning Qi served Enlightenment Tea and wished his fellow disciples flourishing martial fortune and a smooth road ahead.