Chapter Summaries

Xia Wuji used Mystic Fire Branch Communication Talismans to lure opponents to him, and Lin Ling killed Liao Xiu with the Azure Pupil Profound Light. As Lin Ling began teleporting away, Xia Wuji learned Wang Chao and Qin Rui were searching for them and activated three talismans to draw them in.

• Qin Wei accused Lin Qun of planting spies after Xia Wuji activated a Mystic Fire Branch Communication Talisman, while Lin Qun denied it.
• Liao Xiu and two consummate Life and Death Realm martial artists arrived to attack Xia Wuji and Lin Ling.
• Xia Wuji let Lin Ling face Liao Xiu, and Lin Ling blasted Liao Xiu apart with the Azure Pupil Profound Light before Xia Wuji killed her two companions with flying swords.
• Xia Wuji gave Lin Ling a pill and told her to activate her Teleportation Talisman; she began waiting for it to transport her away.
• Xia Wuji questioned the two surviving Mystic Fire Branch martial artists, learned Wang Chao and Qin Rui were searching for them, then killed the men and activated all three Communication Talismans he had collected.

Wang Chao and Qin Rui led Mystic Fire Branch fighters to find Xia Wuji, while Lin Ling was rescued from the competition island after revealing her Pale Eyes and Azure Pupil Profound Light. Qin Rui attacked Xia Wuji, who remained alone to face the group.

• Wang Chao and Qin Rui learned that Xia Wuji and Lin Ling had been found, then hurried toward their location with other Mystic Fire Branch fighters joining them.
• After Lin Ling killed Liao Xiu with Pale Eyes and Azure Pupil Profound Light, Li Xuan recognized her talent and ordered the Second Elder to teleport her off the island early.
• Lin Ling thanked Li Xuan, who urged her to cultivate diligently, while Qin Wei and the First Elder believed the competition would still end in the Mystic Fire Branch's favor.
• Qin Rui told the fighters to kill Lin Ling first and insisted that Xia Wuji be left for him to kill.
• Wang Chao saw evidence that Liao Xiu had died but kept his suspicions to himself, hoping Qin Rui would be killed by Xia Wuji.
• Qin Rui demanded that Xia Wuji reveal Lin Ling's hiding place, then attacked him with a saber when Xia Wuji refused.

Xia Wuji killed Qin Rui and Wang Chao, along with the Mystic Fire Branch martial artists who attacked alongside them, leaving the branch’s strength in the trial devastated. With Qin Wei’s plans for claiming the Ninth Elder position ruined, the chapter ended with Xia Wuji still standing on the island.

• Xia Wuji killed Qin Rui with his flying swords, shocking the observers at Mystic Alliance headquarters and enraging Qin Wei.
• Wang Chao vowed to avenge Qin Rui, then attacked Xia Wuji with five Mystic Fire Branch martial artists while Xia Wuji’s flying swords killed all five.
• Wang Chao knocked aside Xia Wuji’s remaining flying swords and charged, believing Xia Wuji could no longer fight.
• Xia Wuji drew the Jinghong Sword and split Wang Chao in two, killing Qin Wei’s first disciple.
• Xia Wuji’s actions left fourteen of the Mystic Fire Branch’s thirty trial participants dead, including Qin Wei’s son and two disciples, and wrecked Qin Wei’s plans to become Ninth Elder.

Xia Wuji helped the Mystic Light Branch win the trial, securing Lin Qun’s appointment as the Mystic Alliance’s Ninth Elder. Lin Qun then arranged for Xia Wuji to use the Mystic Turtle Shell the next day to divine clues connected to Qin Baishang.

• Xia Wuji activated Wang Chao and Qin Rui’s Communication Talismans, then defeated the Mystic Fire Branch contestants who answered the summons.
• The Mystic Light Branch won the trial after all thirty Mystic Fire Branch contestants died, while four Mystic Light Branch contestants were lost.
• Li Xuan appointed Lin Qun as the Mystic Alliance’s Ninth Elder and praised Xia Wuji and Lin Ling before the alliance’s leaders.
• Lin Qun asked Zhang Shengqing to use his promotion reward for a chance to activate the Mystic Turtle Shell, and Zhang Shengqing agreed to prepare it for the next day.
• Lin Qun told Xia Wuji he would take him and Lin Ling to the Mystic Turtle Shell, with Xia Wuji performing the divination because of his karmic connection.
• The next day, Lin Qun received notice that the Mystic Turtle Shell was ready and brought Xia Wuji and Lin Ling to it.

Xia Wuji used the Mystic Turtle Shell to learn that his aunt Qin Baishang was connected to Purgatory and likely on Purgatory Island. He decided to join Purgatory and rise through its ranks to reach the island and uncover the truth.

• Xia Wuji used his mother's jade pendant to ask the Mystic Turtle Shell for information about Qin Baishang, and it revealed a vision of Purgatory Island.
• Lin Qun told Xia Wuji that Qin Baishang was likely on Purgatory Island, though her status there was unknown.
• Lin Qun gave Xia Wuji the Mystic Alliance's information about Purgatory, including its ranks and the requirements for reaching Purgatory Island.
• Xia Wuji refused to let Lin Qun investigate the island and said he would join Purgatory, advance to the fifth level, and go there himself.
• Lin Ling warned Xia Wuji that his plan was dangerous, but Xia Wuji asked Lin Qun to find the nearest Purgatory branch.

Xia Wuji traveled to the Sea Heart Gang’s territory to take Purgatory’s martial artist recruitment examination, where he unexpectedly encountered Bai Ziliu, an enemy from the Mystic Alliance. After cultivating on the island and breaking through to the third layer of the Life and Death Realm, Xia Wuji was summoned with the other candidates to the examination square.

• Lin Qun told Xia Wuji that Purgatory was recruiting martial artists at the Sea Heart Gang, and Xia Wuji set out with Jiang Zhiyuan and Pengfei.
• A Purgatory patrol accepted Jiang Zhiyuan’s bribe and brought them to the examination island, where a greedy young man took their Spirit Boat.
• Xia Wuji encountered Bai Ziliu, who recognized him and planned to have others deal with him without leaving evidence.
• Xia Wuji cultivated on the island for two days and broke through to the third layer of the Life and Death Realm.
• A booming announcement ordered all examination candidates to gather at the island’s central square within half an incense stick.

Xia Wuji entered Purgatory’s assessment, where the first test required more than a thousand of the 2,165 candidates to die. As Bai Ziliu secretly directed candidates to kill him, Xia Wuji’s seven flying swords overwhelmed his attackers, leaving the slaughter ongoing and Yao Xi and Purgatory’s elder astonished by his skill.

• Xia Wuji left Jiang Zhiyuan and Pengfei behind and went alone to the square for Purgatory’s assessment.
• A Purgatory elder sealed the square and announced that candidates had to survive until only 1,000 remained.
• The candidates began killing one another, and Xia Wuji used his flying swords to kill several attackers who targeted him.
• Bai Ziliu secretly ordered candidates to attack Xia Wuji, while Yao Xi noticed Bai Ziliu watching him.
• Xia Wuji controlled seven flying swords at once, killing nearby candidates and astonishing Yao Xi and the elder.
• A woman at the Third Layer of the Nirvana Realm attacked Xia Wuji with paired sabers, but his seven swords shattered her attack and killed her.

Xia Wuji survived Purgatory’s brutal first trial with his flying swords, then faced an attempt by Bai Ziliu to kill him during a spy inspection. Yao Xi intervened to protect him and declared him her man, setting her against Bai Ziliu.

• Xia Wuji’s Seven Swords Flying Together killed more than a dozen attackers, frightening the remaining contestants and angering Bai Ziliu.
• The first trial ended, and Purgatory killed twenty-three contestants who tried to withdraw.
• The examiner began the second trial with the Heavenly Spirit Heart-Questioning Pearl and exposed eighteen people who had resisted its power.
• Bai Ziliu accused Xia Wuji of hiding his motives and attacked him despite Xia Wuji’s truthful explanation.
• Yao Xi blocked Bai Ziliu’s attack, defended Xia Wuji, and declared that he was her man.

Xia Wuji passed Purgatory’s second assessment after Yao Xi protected him from Bai Ziliu’s accusations and questioning. Yao Xi claimed him for her faction, and the candidates set off by ship for the third assessment.

• Yao Xi drew her sword to stop Bai Ziliu from attacking Xia Wuji and asked Xia Wuji to join her faction; he agreed.
• Bai Ziliu resumed questioning Xia Wuji about his ties to four Chaos Sea factions and Lu Feixia, but Xia Wuji denied knowing her, and Yao Xi stopped the questioning when it turned to his sword techniques.
• The assessment elder ended the confrontation, and Yao Xi told Xia Wuji that he had passed the second assessment.
• Purgatory exposed dozens of spies during the assessment and warned the remaining candidates that further spies would face severe punishment.
• Yao Xi allowed Xia Wuji to bring Jiang Zhiyuan and Pengfei aboard the ship to the third assessment, then called him to a private lounge.

Yao Xi explained that the third trial would send Xia Wuji and the other candidates to hunt Skull Island cultivators, while allowing candidates to steal one another’s tokens. Bai Ziliu arranged for Wu Xiao and Wu Ying to kill Xia Wuji, and the trial began with Xia choosing to hunt alone.

• Yao Xi told Xia Wuji that more than five hundred Skull Island cultivators were trapped on an island and that candidates would earn points by collecting their identity tokens.
• Yao Xi explained that candidates could also attack one another for tokens and that the top three would receive an immediate promotion in Purgatory.
• Bai Ziliu recruited Wu Xiao and Wu Ying, gave them Hanyuan Spirit Pills, and ordered them to kill Xia Wuji.
• The trial ship reached the sealed island, and the candidates entered after the formation opened.
• Xia Wuji released his Seven Flying Swords to warn off potential attackers, rejected invitations to form a group, and set out alone.

Xia Wuji killed Skull Island cultivators during Purgatory’s trial while suspecting a larger counterattack was underway. The chapter ended as a hundred-yard skeletal phantom appeared on the island and began striking it.

• Purgatory’s overseers ordered their martial artists to monitor the trial participants and eliminate anyone suspected of being a Skull Island spy, while Bai Ziliu and Yao Xi argued over whether Xia Wuji was suspicious.
• Xia Wuji defeated three Skull Island cultivators who attacked him with a spirit artifact net, killing them with his flying swords and earning five points.
• After half a day, Xia Wuji had killed nine Skull Island cultivators and earned fourteen points, but wondered why he had encountered no opponents above the second layer of the Nirvana Realm.
• Xia Wuji suspected the stronger Skull Island cultivators had gathered to counterattack, and a powerful blast soon revealed a hundred-yard skeletal phantom on the island.

Xia Wuji and Li Hai headed toward the Skull Spirit Statue after Purgatory ordered the assessment participants to destroy it, with a Heaven-grade Lower Rank cultivation technique promised for killing Yang Li. Xia Wuji joined a group of powerful participants planning their attack, but Wu Xiao immediately rejected him.

• Li Hai introduced himself to Xia Wuji and asked for help joining Sword Rakshasa's command, but Xia Wuji offered only a noncommittal promise.
• A Purgatory elder ordered all assessment participants to attack the Skull Spirit Statue and offered an additional reward for killing Yang Li.
• Li Hai warned Xia Wuji that Yang Li was a fifth-layer Nirvana Realm genius, while Xia Wuji said he wanted the reward and continued toward the statue.
• Li Hai identified Wu Xiao, Wu Ying, and the other fifth-layer martial artists who had gathered to plan their attack.
• A fifth-layer female martial artist invited Xia Wuji to join their discussion, but Wu Xiao called him trash and said they were better off without him.

Wu Xiao and Wu Ying forced Xia Wuji out of their team before the assault on the Skull Spirit Statue, while Xia suspected they were acting on Bai Ziliu’s orders. As the battle against Yang Li began, Xia joined the attack on the formation sustaining the statue.

• Wu Xiao and Wu Ying insulted Xia Wuji and threatened to quit the operation if he joined, while Wang Yu defended his sword-flying technique.
• After Wu Ying attacked Xia, the other martial artists intervened and insisted that he withdraw; Xia left, intending to use the group’s attack to his advantage.
• Xia suspected Wu Xiao and Wu Ying were Bai Ziliu’s people and decided he would kill them after they had served their purpose.
• Outside the island, Bai Ziliu mocked Xia to Yao Xi, who remained silent.
• Wu Xiao and the other martial artists attacked the Skull Spirit Statue, but Yang Li controlled it from within its ribs and disrupted their formation.
• The assessment participants began attacking the formation sustaining the Skull Spirit Statue, and Xia Wuji surged forward to join them.

Xia Wuji carved through Skull Island’s defenders while Li Hai followed behind, claiming the spoils and protecting Xia’s kills. As Xia approached the formation, Li Hai helped him overcome a Nirvana Realm Fourth Layer opponent, leaving the path forward open.

• Xia Wuji killed Skull Island martial artists as he advanced, while Li Hai collected their Storage Rings and guarded the spoils from other trial participants.
• Li Hai killed a trial participant who tried to claim one of Xia’s kills, and Xia rewarded Li Hai with a chance to finish off a wounded opponent.
• Xia planned to enter the formation, kill its Formation Master, destroy its core, and seize an opportunity to kill Yang Li.
• A Nirvana Realm Fourth Layer Skull Island martial artist blocked Xia’s path and attacked him with a spear technique that formed a shark phantom.
• Li Hai struck the shark phantom with blood-colored sword qi, sending the spear-wielder off balance, and Xia’s seven flying swords killed him.

Xia Wuji brought the weakened Li Hai into the formation to attack its core, where a Skull Island Formation Master confronted them with nine powerful skeletons. As the battle began, the formation’s guardians remained confident in the Formation Master’s ability to kill them.

• Xia Wuji collected the Storage Rings and agreed to bring Li Hai along if he survived until the assessment ended.
• Bai Ziliu condemned Xia Wuji’s decision, while Yao Xi defended his loyalty and talent.
• Wu Xiao urged the assessment participants to attack the Skull Spirit Statue with greater force, though they continued to hold some strength in reserve.
• Xia Wuji and Li Hai killed Skull Island martial artists on their way to the formation’s core, where they found two Nirvana Realm Fifth Layer guardians and a sixth-tier mid-grade Formation Master.
• The Formation Master summoned nine Nirvana Realm Third Layer skeletons and sent them to attack Xia Wuji and Li Hai.

Xia Wuji defeated Skull Island’s formation master and destroyed the core formation eye, then killed the two Nirvana Realm Fifth Layer martial artists guarding it. He left Li Hai with one of the fallen opponents’ rewards.

• Xia Wuji used his powerful spiritual power to slow the nine skeletons, shattered them with Shaking the Mountains and Rivers, and killed Skull Island’s formation master.
• The Purgatory elder awarded Xia Wuji five points, while Bai Ziliu insisted that two Nirvana Realm Fifth Layer opponents still threatened him.
• Xia Wuji struck the core formation eye with the Spirit Reversal Seal, throwing the two Skull Island martial artists into disarray and making the formation explode.
• Xia Wuji pursued the wounded martial artists through the air and killed both with the Jinghong Sword.
• Xia Wuji landed, sheathed his sword, and told Li Hai to take one of the fallen opponents’ items.

Xia Wuji dismantled Skull Island’s formation and led Li Hai into the battle, while Yang Li unleashed a deadly last attack as the Skull Spirit Statue collapsed. Wu Ying confronted Xia Wuji under the pretense of demanding tokens, and he told her to kill herself.

• Xia Wuji dismantled the formation, killed its Formation Master, and led Li Hai outside as Yao Xi praised his tactics and Bai Ziliu fell silent.
• The Skull Spirit Statue collapsed and its inscribed bones exploded, killing seven Nirvana Realm Fourth Layer examinees and one Nirvana Realm Fifth Layer examinee.
• Yang Li killed another injured Nirvana Realm Fifth Layer examinee, then Wu Xiao, Wang Yu, and two others fought over the chance to kill him for Purgatory’s reward.
• Wu Xiao and Wang Yu turned on each other over Yang Li, while Xia Wuji and Li Hai cut through the remaining Skull Island cultivators.
• Wu Ying attacked Xia Wuji, then demanded the tokens he had collected so she could claim she was pursuing a better battle record; Xia Wuji mocked her and told her to kill herself.

Xia Wuji killed Wu Ying and then Yang Li during the Purgatory trial, while Yao Xi attacked Bai Ziliu outside the island. The chapter ended with Wu Xiao still fighting Wang Yu as Xia Wuji moved toward them.

• Li Hai accused Wu Ying of acting under someone else's orders, and Wu Ying insisted she was pursuing her own cultivation path.
• Yao Xi slashed Bai Ziliu across the chest after he admitted ordering Wu Xiao and Wu Ying to kill Xia Wuji; Bai Ziliu healed himself and stayed to watch the trial.
• Xia Wuji severed Wu Ying's black nails with his Seven Flying Swords, then pierced through her head and took her Storage Ring.
• Wu Xiao flew into a rage at Wu Ying's death and intensified his fight with Wang Yu, while Xia Wuji headed toward them.
• Yang Li launched a final bone-spear attack at Xia Wuji, missed, and collapsed after exhausting his strength; Xia Wuji killed him with a sword strike.

Xia Wuji killed Yang Li and defeated Wu Xiao after their clash escalated into a final exchange of their strongest attacks. Wu Xiao died on the ground, leaving Xia Wuji standing victorious in the Purgatory trial.

• Xia Wuji beheaded Yang Li after dodging his final attack.
• Wu Xiao charged at Xia Wuji, but Wang Yu intercepted him and was badly injured by his Desperate Slash.
• Xia Wuji steadied Wang Yu and sent his seven flying swords to attack Wu Xiao in a sword formation.
• Wu Xiao unleashed the final move of the Thirteen Destruction Slashes, while Xia Wuji merged his seven swords into one.
• Xia Wuji's unified flying sword shattered Wu Xiao's saber light, broke his saber, and pierced his neck, killing him.

Xia Wuji killed Wu Xiao and led the assessment survivors to victory over the Skull Island warriors. He finished first with 261 points and was named a future First-Class Asura of Ghost Sword Island, with a Heaven Grade Lower Rank technique awarded for killing Yang Li.

• Xia Wuji killed Wu Xiao, while Yao Xi celebrated his victory and Bai Ziliu left after threatening that their conflict was not over.
• Li Hai brought Xia Wuji Wu Xiao's Storage Ring, and Xia Wuji gave it to the injured Wang Yu and warned the other assessors not to harm her.
• Xia Wuji refused to spare two men who had stolen his battle spoils, and Li Hai killed them before following Xia Wuji.
• Xia Wuji and the others finished clearing the island of Skull Island warriors, and the assessment survivors gathered to have their points counted.
• Xia Wuji ranked first with 261 points, ahead of Wang Yu's 52, and the elder declared him a First-Class Asura of Ghost Sword Island and delivered the promised technique reward for killing Yang Li.