Chapter Summaries

Xu Xiaoshou interrupted the top-sixty-four matches to ask the chief referee for help after a mysterious crimson seed began burning him from within. He demanded medical attention and requested to be banned from competing, leaving Xiao Qixiu and the crowd stunned.

• Xiao Qixiu addressed Wen Chong's death, warning the contestants to respect their moral limits, then announced the top-sixty-four matches.
• Xu Xiaoshou interrupted Xiao Qixiu just as the matches were about to begin, drawing the crowd's attention.
• Xu Xiaoshou explained that the crimson seed he had swallowed was melting inside him and scorching his body, while several meridians had already snapped.
• Unable to safely seek help elsewhere, Xu Xiaoshou tore off his upper garment and begged Xiao Qixiu for medical assistance.
• Xu Xiaoshou declared that he had taken drugs and requested to be banned from competing and examined immediately.

Xu Xiaoshou sought medical help after taking in the dangerous Emberlight Fire Seed, but Xiao Qixiu refused to treat him and told him to endure it. As his match against Zhang Fu began, Xu Xiaoshou realized he might be able to vent the scorching aura by fighting and tried to use the tournament rules to secure treatment if he got injured.

• Xu Xiaoshou asked Xiao Qixiu for help, and Xiao Qixiu burned his palm while examining Xu Xiaoshou’s scorching body before recognizing the Emberlight Fire Seed.
• Xiao Qixiu told Xu Xiaoshou to endure the fire seed’s effects, while Xu Xiaoshou returned to his waiting area and tried to refine the heat and repair his injuries with Red-Gold Pills.
• Xu Xiaoshou realized he might be able to vent the scorching aura through battle, then watched Chao Qingteng defeat an opponent with his Ice River Sword.
• The tournament drew Xu Xiaoshou against Zhang Fu, and Xu Xiaoshou asked Xiao Qixiu for treatment if he won or got injured during the match.
• Xiao Qixiu rejected Xu Xiaoshou’s argument and called Zhang Fu to the stage.

Xu Xiaoshou entered the arena desperate to vent the Emberlight Fire Seed’s scorching energy, but Zhang Fu’s defensive technique left the match stalled. Xu Xiaoshou eventually knocked Zhang Fu off the stage with a powerful attack, releasing much of the heat within him.

• Xu Xiaoshou challenged Zhang Fu, hoping to provoke him and make Xiao Qixiu intervene.
• Despite his friends’ warnings, Zhang Fu entered the arena and activated his Great Golden Copper Body technique.
• Xu Xiaoshou and Zhang Fu held horse stances until Xiao Qixiu warned them that the match had a time limit.
• Xu Xiaoshou struck the arena floor and threatened to attack Zhang Fu, then punched him with scorching energy that Zhang Fu endured.
• Xu Xiaoshou followed with a devastating attack that knocked Zhang Fu unconscious and sent him flying off the arena, where healers extinguished the flames and treated him.
• Xu Xiaoshou said he had held back and felt relieved after venting nearly half of the Emberlight Fire Seed’s energy.

After defeating Zhang Fu, Xu Xiaoshou realized the Emberlight Fire Seed had been earning him Passive Value every second by scorching his body. He sent a staff member to ask the chief referee for more Red-Gold Pills, armed with a three-step script for pressuring him.

• Xu Xiaoshou returned to the waiting area after defeating Zhang Fu, while spectators argued over his strength and whether he had an innate body.
• Xu Xiaoshou noticed his Passive Value had risen sharply and realized the Emberlight Fire Seed's continuous scorching counted as an attack every second.
• Xu Xiaoshou calculated that the fire seed could earn him over eighty thousand Passive Value in a day, then collapsed when he heard the number of seconds in a day.
• After discovering his Red-Gold Pills were nearly gone, Xu Xiaoshou instructed a staff member to request more from the chief referee and gave him a three-part script to use if the elder refused.

Xu Xiaoshou advanced Sharpness to Innate level, then spent twenty keys on draws, losing ten thousand Passive Value before finally obtaining Endless Vitality. He celebrated wildly in the waiting area, leaving the staff member worried about the pillar he was hugging.

• Xu Xiaoshou advanced Sharpness to Innate level and discovered he could focus its cutting gleam on his limbs, hair, and toes.
• Xu Xiaoshou spent ten keys on draws, received only messages thanking him for his patronage, and fainted from shock.
• A staff member woke Xu Xiaoshou, who cried over losing ten thousand Passive Value and decided to draw again.
• Xu Xiaoshou used another ten keys, obtained Endless Vitality and several One More Keys, and celebrated by hugging a pillar.
• The staff member watched Xu Xiaoshou rub against the pillar and worried as it grew thinner with each jump.

Xu Xiaoshou upgraded Endless Vitality until it reached Innate Lv.1, letting it match the Emberlight Fire Seed’s destructive force and rapidly heal his wounds. He gave some Red-Gold Pills to two staff members before being called to fight for a place in the top sixteen.

• Xu Xiaoshou recognized that Endless Vitality was repairing the injuries caused by the Emberlight Fire Seed and spent skill points to raise it to Acquired Lv.6.
• Xu Xiaoshou raised Endless Vitality to Innate Lv.1, and its recovery power matched the Emberlight Fire Seed’s damage and healed a self-inflicted cut almost instantly.
• A staff member returned with ten bottles of Red-Gold Pills, and Xu Xiaoshou pressured him and another staff member into accepting two bottles each.
• As the final thirty-two contestants were narrowed down for the top sixteen, the referee called Xu Xiaoshou to the arena.

Xu Xiaoshou faced Zhou Tianshen in the round of thirty-two, where Zhou revealed his Acquired Saber Intent and challenged him over Wen Chong’s death. Xu talked Zhou out of his moral condemnation, then urged him not to concede, leaving Zhou’s fighting spirit renewed as the match was about to begin.

• Xu Xiaoshou and Zhou Tianshen met in the arena, and Zhou declared that he intended to claim first place.
• Zhou revealed his Acquired Saber Intent, shocking the spectators and making Xu realize how formidable his opponent was.
• Before the match began, Zhou condemned Xu for killing Wen Chong, and Xu countered his accusations with a barrage of arguments.
• Xu’s words left Zhou flustered and his saber intent suppressed, while the crowd reacted to their exchange.
• Xu warned Zhou not to concede defeat, and Zhou thanked Senior Brother Xu before regaining his fighting spirit.

Xu Xiaoshou fought Zhou Tianshen in a clash of Acquired Sword Intent and Acquired Saber Intent, using the battle to sharpen his swordsmanship. After breaking Zhou’s Nine Tides and altering the White Cloud Sword Technique during combat, Xu Xiaoshou challenged him to attack faster.

• Zhou Tianshen overpowered Xu Xiaoshou in their opening clash, but Xu used sword technique to deflect his saber and counterattack.
• Zhou Tianshen unleashed Nine Tides, driving Xu Xiaoshou back with waves of Saber Intent as Xu dodged and recovered from his wounds with Endless Vitality.
• Xu Xiaoshou spent two skill points to raise Sword Mastery to Acquired Lv.3 and gathered Zhou’s Saber Intent into a counterattack that broke Nine Tides.
• Xu Xiaoshou altered the White Cloud Sword Technique through Sword Intent alone, shocking Xiao Qixiu and the spectators.
• Xu Xiaoshou taunted Zhou Tianshen to attack faster, and Zhou drew his saber with renewed fury.

Xu Xiaoshou defeated Zhou Tianshen after reflecting his saber technique with a newly comprehended sword move, and Zhou broke through into the Innate Realm during the fight. Xu left to study his sword technique while Xiao Qixiu resumed the competition.

• Xu Xiaoshou raised his Sword Mastery and used Leisurely White Clouds, Two to deflect Zhou Tianshen's Immortal Pulls Up the Mountain Technique and send it back at him.
• Zhou Tianshen became absorbed in Xu Xiaoshou's sword technique, and Xu stopped his sword just short of Zhou's forehead.
• Zhou Tianshen broke through into the Innate Realm, then thanked Xu Xiaoshou for sparing him and called him a refined gentleman.
• Xiao Qixiu declared Xu Xiaoshou the winner, and Zhou Tianshen decided to make him a friend.
• Xu Xiaoshou left to ponder his sword technique as Xiao Qixiu resumed the competition.

At Goose Lake, Xu Xiaoshou began refining the Emberlight Fire Seed and discovered that the Breathing Method might let him expel its energy faster. His first attempt nearly killed him, and the straw-hatted old man watched in alarm.

• Xu Xiaoshou searched Goose Lake for the straw-hatted old man, then studied his sword insights while waiting.
• Xu Xiaoshou upgraded the Breathing Method and used his spiritual energy to draw power from the Emberlight Fire Seed, painfully refining it into his sea of energy.
• Xu Xiaoshou realized that using the Breathing Method’s exhalation might expel the fire seed’s energy from his body.
• Xu Xiaoshou exhaled a surge of scorching energy through his throat, then inhaled a Red-Gold Pill and accidentally pulled the energy back into his mouth and nose.
• The straw-hatted old man saw Xu Xiaoshou’s dangerous attempt and nearly fell from his willow branch.

Xu Xiaoshou endured the Emberlight Fire Seed’s scorching energy and refined it through repeated cycles of the Breathing Method and Red-Gold Pills, while Elder Sang watched and decided to take him as a disciple. By the next day, Xu Xiaoshou had reached the peak of the seventh level of Spirit Refinement and fallen asleep before his advancement match.

• Xu Xiaoshou survived the Emberlight Fire Seed’s violent energy by combining the Breathing Method, Endless Vitality, and Red-Gold Pills, then resolved to keep refining it.
• Elder Sang watched Xu Xiaoshou endure the pain and cultivate again, and decided to take him as a disciple.
• Elder Sang ordered the Spirit Law Pavilion enforcers to withdraw from Goose Lake after they arrived to investigate the destruction.
• Xu Xiaoshou refined away the Emberlight Fire Seed overnight, reached the peak of the seventh level of Spirit Refinement, and damaged Goose Lake with repeated bursts of scorching energy.
• Xu Xiaoshou arrived at Cloud-Emerging Platform exhausted and fell asleep while Xiao Qixiu resumed the top-sixteen advancement matches.
• A staff member slapped Xu Xiaoshou awake and told him it was his turn.

Xu Xiaoshou advanced to the tournament’s top eight after Li Cen Jing conceded and asked him for an autograph. As he waited for his next match, he doubted he could win the championship against opponents with Innate attribute power.

• Xu Xiaoshou woke from a dream in the waiting area, then entered the arena to cheers from the crowd.
• Li Cen Jing praised Xu Xiaoshou, asked for his autograph, and conceded so she could save her strength for the ranking matches.
• Xu Xiaoshou signed Li Cen Jing’s hand and accepted her spirit brush, while her jealous friend charged at her after the match.
• Xu Xiaoshou advanced to the top eight and reflected on the strength of Innate cultivators and his lack of Innate attribute power.
• Xu Xiaoshou checked his spiritual energy and Passive Value while waiting for his next match, uncertain he could win the championship.

Xu Xiaoshou spent his Passive Value on Red Roulette draws and obtained the passive skill Perception, which let him sense and clearly observe people around him without looking. He continued drawing after upgrading the skill, but the staff mistook his excitement for another episode and rushed to restrain him.

• Xu Xiaoshou spent ten thousand Passive Value on ten roulette draws, received mostly empty results, and avoided fainting while the staff prepared emergency supplies.
• Xu Xiaoshou spent more Passive Value on another set of draws and obtained Perception, then discovered he could sense the staff members while his head was stuck in the ceiling.
• Xu Xiaoshou put ten skill points into Perception, raising it to Innate Lv.1 and extending its clear range to around ten meters.
• Xu Xiaoshou realized Perception let him see and hear the staff members behind the wall, and imagined using it to ambush Wen Chong.
• Xu Xiaoshou bought nine more keys and drew again, while the staff members mistook his roar for another episode and charged in to hold him down.

Xu Xiaoshou accidentally injured Ren Chong after Mu Zixi's victory, then fussed over him while the next match was announced. Xiao Qixiu called Xu Xiaoshou to face Chao Qingteng, and Xu Xiaoshou hurried off after briefly meeting Mu Zixi.

• Mu Zixi defeated Ren Chong by growing a spiritual tree that sent him flying out of the arena.
• Ren Chong fell into the waiting area, where Xu Xiaoshou reflexively kneed him and badly injured him.
• After Ren Chong glared at him, Xu Xiaoshou approached and pretended to set his bones while the medics tried to intervene.
• Xiao Qixiu announced Xu Xiaoshou's match against Chao Qingteng, prompting Xu Xiaoshou to carry Ren Chong toward the medics and tend to him.
• Mu Zixi introduced herself to Xu Xiaoshou, who hurried to the arena after Xiao Qixiu called for him.

Xu Xiaoshou tried to negotiate an advantage against Chao Qingteng before their quarterfinal match, then struggled to understand Chao Qingteng’s snow-based techniques. Chao Qingteng froze Xu Xiaoshou with two sword strikes and prepared to continue attacking.

• Xu Xiaoshou accused Chao Qingteng of cheating by making it snow before the match and persuaded Xiao Qixiu to shorten the distance between them.
• Xu Xiaoshou rushed up close to Chao Qingteng, and Xiao Qixiu began the match.
• Xu Xiaoshou’s opening punch struck an ice decoy, while Chao Qingteng appeared behind him and widened the distance.
• Chao Qingteng used One Sword Ice River, whose cold slowed Xu Xiaoshou despite missing him, then froze him with a second sword strike.
• Chao Qingteng saw that Xiao Qixiu would not intervene and decided to keep attacking Xu Xiaoshou.

Xu Xiaoshou countered Chao Qingteng’s Acquired Sword Intent, survived his ice-based techniques, and wounded him after exposing how his movement through the snow worked. The crowd began cheering for Xu Xiaoshou as Chao Qingteng retreated to the arena’s edge.

• Chao Qingteng unleashed his Acquired Sword Intent with Galaxy, shattering the ice sculpture that held Xu Xiaoshou.
• Xu Xiaoshou caught the sword qi with his Light of Sharpness-coated hand and hurled it back at Chao Qingteng.
• Xu Xiaoshou used Leisurely White Clouds I: Sword Net Form to wound Chao Qingteng and destroy his ice substitute.
• Xu Xiaoshou tracked Chao Qingteng’s Walking Through Snow technique and struck him as he emerged, piercing his palm with an eagle claw.
• Chao Qingteng retreated to the arena’s edge, while Xu Xiaoshou accused him of cheating and the crowd began cheering for Xu Xiaoshou.

Xu Xiaoshou endured Chao Qingteng’s deadly snowflake attack and was trapped in a compressed ice statue, but Hidden Pain returned from the horizon and struck Chao Qingteng, freeing Xu Xiaoshou. Xu Xiaoshou collapsed after revealing his White Cloud Sword Technique, while the crowd realized his sword had reached a new level.

• Chao Qingteng unleashed Great Cold Without Weapons, turning the accumulated snow into countless sword-intent flakes that pierced Xu Xiaoshou.
• Chao Qingteng struck Xu Xiaoshou with Profound Ice Stele-Sealing Palm and compressed the resulting ice into a statue around him.
• Hidden Pain returned at tremendous speed, pierced Chao Qingteng’s chest, and struck the ice statue.
• The ice statue cracked as Hidden Pain trembled, and Xu Xiaoshou walked out before collapsing to the ground.
• Chao Qingteng asked what sword technique Xu Xiaoshou had used, and Xu Xiaoshou answered, “White Cloud Sword Technique.”

Xu Xiaoshou survived Chao Qingteng’s attacks and urged the medical staff to save his opponent, then watched Mo Mo win her quarterfinal match. Back in his courtyard, Xu Xiaoshou accidentally broke through to the eighth realm of Spirit Refining and wondered why the old man had made him swallow the Emberlight Fire Seed.

• Xu Xiaoshou insisted that the medical staff treat the unconscious Chao Qingteng first, while his own injuries healed rapidly through Endless Vitality.
• Chao Qingteng briefly regained consciousness, then fainted again, prompting the medical staff to glare at Xu Xiaoshou.
• Xu Xiaoshou left the arena to applause and stayed to watch Mo Mo defeat her tenth-realm opponent in two exchanges.
• Xu Xiaoshou returned to his courtyard, inhaled a Spirit Refining Pill, and accidentally broke through to the eighth realm of Spirit Refining.
• Xu Xiaoshou checked his Passive Value and considered the Emberlight Fire Seed and the old man’s reasons for making him swallow it.

Xu Xiaoshou practiced sword intent through the night, experimenting with entrusting it to objects and trying to make Hidden Pain fly. He discovered the sword only gained vitality as it returned to him, but he still could not control it well enough to ride it.

• Xu Xiaoshou studied Chao Qingteng's sword technique and tried to make sword intent inhabit gravel, but his attempt failed.
• Xu Xiaoshou considered pursuing a sword path that relied on sword intent alone as he prepared for the semifinals.
• Xu Xiaoshou realized Reversing Sword Form had made Hidden Pain seem alive when he summoned it back during his fight with Chao Qingteng.
• Xu Xiaoshou threw Hidden Pain and tried to ride it, but the sword tripped him and sent him crashing to the ground.
• Xu Xiaoshou discovered Hidden Pain gained vitality only as it returned to him, then kept testing the strange effect without learning how to fly on it.

The outer court gathered for the Wind and Cloud Tournament semifinals, while Zhang Xinxiong’s interest in Xu Xiaoshou stirred unease among the audience. Xu Xiaoshou failed to appear at first, but arrived dramatically on a streak of sword light just as the match was about to begin.

• The audience filled the arena, where Su Qianqian and other prominent inner court figures watched the tournament.
• Zhang Xinxiong asked Liu Zhen where Xu Xiaoshou was and hinted at his interest in the man who had killed Ah Chong.
• Xiao Qixiu announced the semifinals between Xu Xiaoshou and Mu Zixi, and Mu Zixi entered the arena.
• The staff revealed that Xu Xiaoshou was missing, and Xiao Qixiu found only sword marks at his courtyard.
• Xu Xiaoshou appeared from the horizon standing on a streak of sword light, astonishing the audience.