Chapter Summaries

Xu Xiaoshou persuaded A-Jie to leave the Heavenly Mystery Gate with him and tried to teach the puppet child rules for controlling its strength. When Zhou Tianshen arrived looking for Xu Xiaoshou, A-Jie struck him through a world passage, sending him away.

• Xu Xiaoshou learned that the puppet child was named A-Jie and invited it to follow him outside the Heavenly Mystery Gate.
• A-Jie agreed, and Xu Xiaoshou laid down rules against attacking others and demanded that it keep its arms folded unless commanded.
• A-Jie shrank into an iron ball but changed back before Xu Xiaoshou could finish explaining how it should hide.
• Zhou Tianshen arrived and accused Xu Xiaoshou of destroying the world, while Xu Xiaoshou tried to explain that the ten-thousand-year story was a lie.
• A-Jie appeared between Zhou Tianshen and Xu Xiaoshou, struck Zhou Tianshen into the air, and sent him through a world passage.

Xu Xiaoshou returned from Heavenly Mystery Gate with A-Jie hidden in his chest and celebrated his breakthrough to Innate. As the crowd reacted to his cultivation and antics, he reflected on the treasures and other substantial gains he had brought back.

• Xu Xiaoshou took A-Jie through the world passage after warning it to stay hidden and obey his orders.
• Xu Xiaoshou emerged into the council hall, where several hundred black-clad figures and the other Heavenly Mystery Gate survivors awaited him.
• Xu Xiaoshou joked with the crowd and complimented Yu Zhiwen, while Mu Zixi's curses steadily added to his Passive Value.
• Qiao Qianzhi noticed Xu Xiaoshou had reached Innate, and Xu Xiaoshou proudly confirmed his breakthrough.
• Xu Xiaoshou said his gains in Heavenly Mystery Gate had been substantial, thinking of his Passive Value and the treasures he carried.

Xu Xiaoshou was detained in the pavilion with the other Heavenly Mystery Gate survivors while Ye Xiaotian kept the passage open for Yuan Tou. After the passage shattered without Yuan Tou emerging, everyone’s attention turned toward the pavilion, and Xu Xiaoshou anticipated trouble.

• Xu Xiaoshou said he did not know where Yuan Tou was, and Ye Xiaotian continued maintaining the passage to the formation gate while the group waited.
• Qiao Qianzhi ordered Xu Xiaoshou to stay in the pavilion, where he joined the other survivors and tried unsuccessfully to learn voice transmission from Luo Leilei’s jade slip.
• Xu Xiaoshou irritated Luo Leilei with a string of cryptic remarks until she moved to sit beside Mu Zixi.
• Ye Xiaotian finally lost his strength, and the world passage shattered without Yuan Tou emerging.
• The gathered onlookers glanced toward the pavilion, and Xu Xiaoshou said the show was starting.

After Yuan Tou's death, Zhao Xidong investigated the collapse of the Heavenly Mystery Gate and demanded that everyone surrender their spatial rings to find two spies. Xu Xiaoshou revealed that he had the Blackfall Sword Scabbard, leaving Zhao Xidong stunned and the identities of the spies uncertain.

• Ye Xiaotian learned that Yuan Tou was gone and arranged to make one final attempt to open the Heavenly Mystery Gate's array gate the next day.
• Zhao Xidong used the Twelve-Bead Spirit Veil Disc to explain that four missing Realm-Suppressing Treasures were causing the Heavenly Mystery Gate to collapse, and declared that two spies were responsible.
• Zhao Xidong demanded everyone's spatial rings, insisting that all of them were suspicious, but Xu Xiaoshou asked how an innocent person who happened to find a Realm-Suppressing Treasure would be treated.
• Xu Xiaoshou planted Hidden Pain on the ground and revealed the Blackfall Sword Scabbard attached to it, claiming he was simply fortunate.
• Zhao Xidong realized Xu Xiaoshou had taken the scabbard from Luo Leilei and was left unsure how this affected the search for the two spies.

Ye Xiaotian and Qiao Qianzhi discussed Xu Xiaoshou’s discovery of the Blackfall Sword Scabbard, while Jiang Bianyan revealed its significance to Yu Zhiwen. When Zhao Xidong demanded Xu Xiaoshou’s ring, Xu accused Luo Leilei of being the spy, and she answered by revealing an enormous ice-blue egg.

• Ye Xiaotian and Qiao Qianzhi discussed Elder Sang’s involvement and Ye’s wager over Xu Xiaoshou’s opportunity.
• Jiang Bianyan identified the Blackfall Sword Scabbard as Yousi Sword’s scabbard, and Yu Zhiwen reacted with intense interest.
• Xu Xiaoshou explained how he found the scabbard at Blackfall Cliff, but Zhao Xidong still demanded to inspect his ring.
• Xu Xiaoshou clasped Zhao Xidong’s hand instead of giving him the ring, then claimed he knew who the spy was.
• Xu Xiaoshou pointed to Luo Leilei, who rose and revealed a massive ice-blue egg as her own opportunity.

Zhao Xidong searched Xu Xiaoshou’s ring but found no realm-suppressing treasures, then tried to inspect Luo Leilei’s ring and was electrocuted. Luo Leilei revealed herself as a powerful threat and faced the Spirit Law Pavilion enforcers while hoping the Thrones would stay out of the fight.

• Zhao Xidong searched Xu Xiaoshou’s ring, found no realm-suppressing treasures, and returned it while keeping him under suspicion.
• Luo Leilei handed Zhao Xidong her ring, whose lightning immobilized and burned him when he touched it.
• Luo Leilei blasted the pavilion with purple-black lightning, stunning everyone inside, then knocked Zhao Xidong down.
• Luo Leilei challenged Ye Xiaotian over the rule forbidding Thrones from fighting lower-level Spirit Refiners, and invoked Hall Master Jiang’s presence.
• Luo Leilei faced the recovering enforcers and used an Edict to draw in spiritual energy, revealing a faint Master-level aura.

Luo Leilei broke her seal and revealed Master-level power, but Ye Xiaotian prepared to imprison her before her expected Saint Slave reinforcements arrived. She tried to implicate Xu Xiaoshou, who turned the accusation into a dramatic rejection and convinced the Spirit Palace that he would not betray it.

• Luo Leilei's seal broke, releasing her Thunder God Physique and Violet Lightning Wings as four Masters moved to confront her.
• Jiang Bianyan told Ye Xiaotian not to hold back, and Ye Xiaotian began using Void Imprisonment against Luo Leilei.
• Luo Leilei saw Xu Xiaoshou sneaking away and shouted for him to run, making everyone suspect they were accomplices.
• Xu Xiaoshou declared that he had rejected Luo Leilei's invitations to join the Saint Slave and insisted that he could not leave the Spirit Palace.
• Xu Xiaoshou's mention of his teacher eased Ye Xiaotian and Qiao Qianzhi's suspicions, and attention shifted back to Luo Leilei.

Xu Xiaotian’s forces tried to capture Luo Leilei, but an unseen swordsman stopped four Grandmasters from striking her. A blind man carrying a purple staff appeared, and Luo Leilei recognized him as Brother Shuangxing.

• Luo Leilei cursed Xu Xiaoshou after his remark turned the crowd against her, while Xu Xiaoshou gained Passive Value from her anger.
• Ye Xiaotian ordered four Grandmasters to attack the immobilized Luo Leilei, and Xu Xiaoshou turned away, believing he could not change her fate.
• An unseen sword qi stopped the four Grandmasters’ palms just before they hit Luo Leilei and began tearing through their bodies.
• Xu Xiaoshou recognized the sword qi as a weakened form of the masked man’s All Things Are Swords and suspected the masked man had arrived.
• A figure carrying a purple staff emerged from the path, and Luo Leilei joyfully identified him as Brother Shuangxing.

Lei Shuangxing arrived at Spirit Palace and revealed himself as a blind Sword Sect from Saint Slave, while the seven tolls of the bell signaled that Saint Slave reinforcements were coming. He said he had come to take someone, leaving the law enforcers unsure who he intended to claim.

• The law enforcers and Xu Xiaoshou found that Lei Shuangxing appeared to have no cultivation, but he identified himself as a member of Saint Slave.
• Lei Shuangxing told Luo Leilei, “I'm here,” and Yu Zhiwen recognized him as someone who had survived the Lei family's destruction.
• Ye Xiaotian learned that Lei Shuangxing was a Sword Sect, a swordsman whose sword intent had reached the Grandmaster level despite his lack of cultivation.
• Lei Shuangxing crushed a jade token, releasing a sword aura that struck Spirit Palace's grand array and rang the bell seven times.
• Ye Xiaotian realized that Xiao Qixiu was calling for aid and that Saint Slave's upper ranks were approaching.
• When Ye Xiaotian demanded to know what he wanted, Lei Shuangxing calmly said he had come to take someone.

As Lei Shuangxing held Ye Xiaotian at bay with jade stones and sword techniques, Xu Xiaoshou tried to flee with Mu Zixi, who suddenly fell ill. Xu Xiaoshou carried her away from the council hall, while the confrontation at the Spirit Palace remained unresolved.

• Ye Xiaotian sent Jiang Bianyan to help defend the Spirit Palace's main gate and allowed Qiao Qianzhi to use a dangerous formation if necessary.
• Lei Shuangxing refused to let the law enforcement personnel withdraw and trapped them with sword-infused sand and stones.
• Xu Xiaoshou found Mu Zixi burning with fever, gave her honey and a Life Spirit Seal, then carried her toward the Spirit Treasury Pavilion to seek Elder Sang.
• Lei Shuangxing told Ye Xiaotian that the Chief had ordered him to break Ye Xiaotian's healed arm again and revealed that his jade could lock onto a target.
• A second wave of sword aura suppressed Lei Shuangxing's sand and stones, and Xu Xiaoshou hurried past him with Mu Zixi to handle an urgent matter.

Xu Xiaoshou carried Mu Zixi away from Lei Shuangxing, recognizing that his reckless charge had forced the blind swordsman to hold back his jade stones and let Ye Xiaotian’s officers escape. The group praised Xu Xiaoshou, then realized Zhou Tianshen, Zhao Xidong, and four Grandmasters were still at the pavilion and pressured him to return and rescue them.

• Xu Xiaoshou’s sudden charge with Mu Zixi made Lei Shuangxing suspect he was being baited into wasting one of his last two jade stones, while Ye Xiaotian ordered the enforcement officers to retreat.
• Xu Xiaoshou sprinted into the forest with Mu Zixi, and the black-clad men followed to congratulate and thank him for breaking the deadlock.
• Xu Xiaoshou admitted he had acted in a hurry to find Elder Sang because Mu Zixi’s fever was worsening, then invited the group to praise him more.
• Xu Xiaoshou asked where Zhou Tianshen was, and the group realized that Zhou Tianshen, Zhao Xidong, and four immobilized Grandmasters remained at the pavilion.
• A black-clad enforcement officer ordered Xu Xiaoshou to return and rescue them, arguing that he was the only one among them who could withstand Lei Shuangxing’s sword intent.

Xu Xiaoshou returned to the council hall carrying an unconscious Mu Zixi, who clung to him and bit him until he fed her the Life Spirit Seal. Seeing Ye Xiaotian restrained by Lei Shuangxing’s hostages, Xu Xiaoshou reflected on the choices that shaped different paths of cultivation, then asked Lei Shuangxing to spare him one of the five captives.

• Xu Xiaoshou tried to send Mu Zixi for treatment, but she clung to him and bit him while feverish, so he decided to carry her himself.
• Xu Xiaoshou flew back toward the pavilion with Mu Zixi on his back and fed her the Life Spirit Seal to keep her from biting him.
• At the council hall, Lei Shuangxing held five law enforcers hostage while Ye Xiaotian restrained Luo Leilei, leaving the two sides at a stalemate.
• Xu Xiaoshou saw the standoff and reflected on how cultivation demanded choices, contrasting Elder Sang’s solitary path with Ye Xiaotian’s concern for those around him.
• Xu Xiaoshou greeted Lei Shuangxing and asked him to spare one of the five captives.

Xu Xiaoshou repeatedly distracted Lei Shuangxing and used a white ring to rescue Zhou Tianshen, then Zhao Xidong, from his control. The chapter ended with Lei Shuangxing realizing Xu Xiaoshou had fooled him again and escaping with another hostage.

• Xu Xiaoshou used a white ring to seal Lei Shuangxing’s sword aura and carried Zhou Tianshen to Ye Xiaotian.
• Lei Shuangxing held back from attacking because Ye Xiaotian still controlled Luo Leilei, while Xu Xiaoshou taunted him from behind Ye Xiaotian.
• Xu Xiaoshou pretended to spot the Masked Man in the forest, making Lei Shuangxing and the others turn toward the empty woods.
• While Lei Shuangxing was distracted, Xu Xiaoshou used the ring to take Zhao Xidong and escaped, laughing at Lei Shuangxing for falling for the trick.

Xu Xiaoshou used Luo Leilei as a hostage to force Lei Shuangxing to exchange prisoners, and the standoff escalated into a clash. It ended with Lei Shuangxing unleashing his full Master sword intent.

• Xu Xiaoshou dodged Lei Shuangxing’s attempt to crush the jade stone by using Luo Leilei as a human shield, but Ye Xiaotian’s imprisonment of the void kept her from moving.
• Xu Xiaoshou cut Luo Leilei’s neck and pressured Lei Shuangxing to exchange hostages, arguing that her rescue was a major part of the mission.
• Lei Shuangxing returned two of Xu Xiaoshou’s captured people, but their auras were nearly imperceptible, prompting Xu Xiaoshou to stab Luo Leilei while avoiding her vital points.
• Lei Shuangxing released his full Master sword intent, filling the area with countless tiny swords and turning the surroundings into a looming threat.

Xu Xiaoshou traded Luo Leilei for the unconscious Master, then discovered that Lei Shuangxing was far more powerful than he had assumed. As Lei Shuangxing unleashed a famed sword, Xu Xiaoshou faced a deadly attack while Ye Xiaotian remained under an illusion.

• Xu Xiaoshou negotiated an exchange with Lei Shuangxing and traded the unconscious Master for Luo Leilei.
• Xu Xiaoshou taunted Lei Shuangxing about his purple cane, provoking him to attack with Man Is the Sword.
• Xu Xiaoshou tried to restrain Lei Shuangxing, but Lei broke free while Ye Xiaotian stood frozen under an illusion.
• Xu Xiaoshou struck Lei Shuangxing with an iron ball before he could crush the jade stone, but Lei escaped with Luo Leilei.
• Lei Shuangxing's purple cane transformed into a famed sword, and he launched a silver strike at Xu Xiaoshou.

Lei Shuangxing’s Soul-Drawing Staff pierced Xu Xiaoshou and Mu Zixi, but Mu Zixi disrupted Ye Xiaotian’s God-Devil Pupils and let him break free. As Ye Xiaotian rescued Xu Xiaoshou from Lei Shuangxing’s sword qi, the returning attack struck Xu Xiaoshou head-on, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Lei Shuangxing drove the Soul-Drawing Staff through Xu Xiaoshou’s Master Physique and pierced Mu Zixi, who was coiled around his back.
• Mu Zixi woke and used her eyes to weaken Ye Xiaotian’s God-Devil Pupils, though the effort made her eyes bleed.
• Ye Xiaotian broke free, sealed the space around Lei Shuangxing, and forced him to recall the Soul-Drawing Staff.
• Lei Shuangxing shattered the Sword-Qi Jade Stone and unleashed sword qi, but Ye Xiaotian transferred Xu Xiaoshou and Mu Zixi out of its path.
• Lei Shuangxing revealed that the sword qi could lock onto its target, and its returning strike passed straight through Xu Xiaoshou.

Xu Xiaoshou survived Lei Shuangxing’s devastating sword qi by redirecting its force, while Ye Xiaotian fought back against the masked man’s array artifacts. Lei Shuangxing escaped with Luo Leilei by crushing a teleportation bead, leaving Xu Xiaoshou, Mu Zixi, and Ye Xiaotian behind.

• Xu Xiaoshou used sword intent to shift out of the path of Lei Shuangxing’s sword qi, though it badly injured his hands and body.
• Ye Xiaotian transferred Xu Xiaoshou and Mu Zixi to his side, and Xu Xiaoshou began recovering with Endless Vitality.
• Ye Xiaotian twisted space and sent dimensional fragments at Lei Shuangxing, who blocked them with an array disc.
• Lei Shuangxing fixed the space inside his barrier with purple jade, thwarting Ye Xiaotian’s attempt to transfer him.
• Lei Shuangxing crushed a teleportation bead and vanished with Luo Leilei.

Ye Xiaotian failed to capture Lei Shuangxing and his companion after they escaped using another golden teleportation pearl, then discussed the Saint Slave with Xu Xiaoshou. The chapter left Xu Xiaoshou pondering the Saint Slave’s rumored connection to Ghost Beasts and thinking of Mo Mo.

• Ye Xiaotian smashed the council hall and forcibly dragged the teleporting Lei Shuangxing and his companion back, but they escaped again with a second golden pearl.
• Ye Xiaotian explained that the pearls and the other treasures used in the rescue were priceless, and told Xu Xiaoshou to keep his Blackfall Sword Scabbard safe.
• Xu Xiaoshou and Ye Xiaotian considered whether the Saint Slave was an elite organization, and Ye Xiaotian called it an extremist group despite admitting he knew little about its motives.
• Ye Xiaotian said the Saint Slave’s purpose was rumored to involve Ghost Beasts, while warning Xu Xiaoshou not to pursue dangerous knowledge.
• Xu Xiaoshou denied knowing about Ghost Beasts, then privately connected the subject to Mo Mo.

Xu Xiaoshou and Mu Zixi sought shelter as the Spirit Palace’s grand array shook, while a mysterious old man battered the law enforcers at the gates. He faced five Thrones and claimed he had lived in seclusion for more than a hundred years, leaving them stunned.

• Ye Xiaotian praised Xu Xiaoshou’s sudden strength, warned him and Mu Zixi to hide, and left to help defend the array gate.
• Xu Xiaoshou discovered Mu Zixi’s fever had passed, questioned her about her strange behavior, and took her toward the Spirit Treasury Pavilion.
• A stoop-backed old man carrying a shoulder pole walked past the beaten law enforcers, striking down anyone who tried to rise.
• The old man reached the mountaintop and faced Xiao Qixiu, Qiao Qianzhi, Jiang Bianyan, and two white-haired elders.
• Jiang Bianyan admitted he did not recognize the old man, who said he had lived in seclusion for more than a hundred years.

Jiang Bianyan and the others recognized Cen Qiaofu, a legendary Dao Severing Realm Throne who had joined Saint Slave and was guarding the Spirit Palace gates. After he easily defeated two elders and held the rest in place with a chess game, Ye Xiaotian arrived to find Cen ready to challenge him.

• Jiang Bianyan recognized the old man as Cen Qiaofu, and Cen confirmed that he had joined Saint Slave.
• Cen warned Jiang Bianyan to tell Holy Spirit Hall that he might visit their headquarters, then said the group and any Thrones who arrived had to stay there.
• Cen brought out a chessboard and invited them to play, but knocked two elders aside with his shoulder pole when they attacked.
• Cen explained that his blows against the grand array were meant to signal that the battle was worsening and draw reinforcements.
• Ye Xiaotian arrived, and Cen planted his shoulder pole, picked up the chessboard, and invited him to play.