Chapter Summaries

Xu Xiaoshou used Soul Reading and spatial power to kill Golden Foot inside the Forbidden Law Barrier, then took her Marrow-Sucking Heart. Examining the Ten Aberrant Weapon, he concluded that the barrier could not suppress the powers of certain ancient weapons and wondered whether Mimicry explained his own spatial abilities.

• Xu Xiaoshou deduced that Golden Foot's Marrow-Sucking Heart let her use abilities within the Forbidden Law Barrier, then used Soul Reading to stun her and learn her identity and the other assassins' details.
• Golden Foot began to regain consciousness, but Xu Xiaoshou opened a spatial rift that split the water sphere, and deep-sea pressure crushed her to dust.
• Xu Xiaoshou confirmed that Golden Foot was dead and used Spatial Substitution to retrieve the intact Marrow-Sucking Heart.
• Xu Xiaoshou compared the Marrow-Sucking Heart with Water Ghost's Sea-Taming Divine Trident and reasoned that the Forbidden Law Barrier could not suppress the powers of the Ten Aberrant Weapons.
• Xu Xiaoshou wondered whether Mimicry was the source of his ability to use spatial attributes.

Xu Xiaoshou discovered that Mimicry let him use instantaneous Spiritual Cultivation abilities through the Forbidden Law Barrier, then disguised himself as Water Ghost and began hunting the weakened assassins in the deep sea. He confronted Little Ren and claimed to be Yama, Water Ghost.

• Xu Xiaoshou used Mimicry to unleash brief fire abilities through the Forbidden Law Barrier and concluded he could wield burst-type abilities while others were suppressed.
• Xu Xiaoshou raced through the deep sea in a water sphere and decided to hunt his enemies.
• Little Ren sensed a fire-type ability, tried to flee, and encountered a golden beast-masked man carrying the Sea-Taming Divine Trident.
• Xu Xiaoshou, disguised as Water Ghost, threatened Little Ren and offered him three choices, including death or summoning help that would lead to everyone being killed.
• Xu Xiaoshou revealed himself to Little Ren as Yama, Water Ghost.

Xu Xiaoshou, disguised as Water Ghost, forced Little Ren into a deadly escape game beneath the deep sea and pursued him as he transformed into a Gold-Swallowing Dragon. As the countdown reached its end, Little Ren spotted someone ahead and pleaded for help.

• Little Ren realized Water Ghost was a subordinate of Yama and pleaded for another choice, but Xu Xiaoshou forced him to accept a ten-breath escape challenge.
• Xu Xiaoshou said Little Ren could extend his escape time by finding people in the deep sea who would respond to him, then began counting down.
• Little Ren transformed into a Gold-Swallowing Dragon and fled, while Xu Xiaoshou matched his speed and continued the countdown.
• With the countdown nearly over, Little Ren spotted a water sphere and cried out for help, saying Yama's Water Ghost was hunting him.

Xu Xiaoshou, posing as Saint Slave’s Water Ghost, confronted Little Ren and the sack-carrying man in the deep sea and discovered that the man was not Ba Zunan. The chapter ended with the man revealing himself as Xiao Kongtong, Saint Slave’s hidden Tenth Seat, and greeting Xu Xiaoshou.

• Little Ren fled through the deep sea in his Gold-Swallowing Dragon body while Yama’s Water Ghost pursued him, and the sack-carrying uncle ordered them to stop.
• The uncle walked out of his water sphere unharmed, drew Little Ren closer, and was recognized as Ba Zunan, Saint Slave’s First Seat.
• Water Ghost accused Little Ren of seeking Xu Xiaoshou’s head, then told the uncle that he was Saint Slave’s Fifth Seat, Water Ghost.
• The uncle awkwardly pretended to recognize Water Ghost, while Xu Xiaoshou threatened to make the deep sea his burial ground unless he revealed his identity.
• The uncle shed his disguise and introduced himself as Xiao Kongtong, Saint Slave’s hidden Tenth Seat.

Xu Xiaoshou, posing as Water Ghost, discovered that Moon-Joining Immortal City's Senior Brother Xiao Kongtong was Saint Slave's hidden Tenth Seat and learned how Ba Zunan had guided his growth. Xiao Kongtong asked him to rein in his own troublemaking, but Xu refused, and the chapter ended with someone timidly asking when they could leave.

• Xu Xiaoshou recognized Xiao Kongtong as Moon-Joining Immortal City's Senior Brother and was shocked to learn he was also Saint Slave's hidden Tenth Seat.
• Xiao Kongtong complained that Xu Xiaoshou's recent actions had drawn Rao Yaoyao's attention back to Moon-Joining Immortal City, and asked Water Ghost to get Ba Zunan to make Xu settle down.
• Xu Xiaoshou refused to take responsibility, then asked whether Ba Zunan had ordered Xiao Kongtong to save him in Tiansang City.
• Xiao Kongtong revealed that Ba Zunan had arranged his rescue and the transfer of the Canon of Sword Observation to Xu Xiaoshou, whom Ba Zunan had taken as half a disciple.
• Xiao Kongtong envied Xu Xiaoshou's bonds with those who had helped him, while Xu Xiaoshou reflected on their kindness.
• A weak, tearful voice asked the two men when they could leave.

Xu Xiaoshou used Soul Reading to uncover that Little Ren was a Dragon Cave defector, then had Xiao Kongtong kill him beneath the deep sea. Xu Xiaoshou secretly stored the dragon corpse and placated Xiao Kongtong by promising him a favor, leaving Xu plotting how the favor might cause trouble between Water Ghost and others.

• Little Ren panicked after overhearing Xu Xiaoshou and Xiao Kongtong discuss Saint Slave, and begged them to spare his life.
• Xu Xiaoshou used Soul Reading and learned that Little Ren was born a dragon in Dragon Cave, had failed to steal its supreme power, and later became an assassin.
• After Xu Xiaoshou confirmed Little Ren was of little use, Xiao Kongtong killed him with Ten-Stage Sword Finger, Penetrating Dao.
• Xiao Kongtong admired the nearly intact dragon corpse, but Xu Xiaoshou stored it in the Origin Mansion World and claimed he was safeguarding it.
• Xu Xiaoshou offered Xiao Kongtong a share of the corpse or a favor, and Xiao Kongtong chose the favor.
• Xu Xiaoshou privately imagined using the favor to provoke a conflict between Xiao Kongtong and the real Water Ghost, as well as Huangquan and Ba Zunan.

Xu Xiaoshou persuaded Xiao Kongtong to travel with him while plotting to use the swordsman against Night Owl, then learned more about the ancient sword arts and Rao Yaoyao’s abilities. Meanwhile, Shouye succumbed to the draining water sphere and remembered Gou Wuyue’s warning about choosing to enter the game.

• Xu Xiaoshou told Xiao Kongtong he intended to kill Night Owl, and Xiao agreed to travel with him while refusing to reveal himself or fight Night Owl.
• Xiao Kongtong explained that his No-Sword Technique let him fight beneath the Forbidden Law Barrier and warned that Rao Yaoyao’s Emotion Sword Art could make the deep-sea water fear her.
• Xu Xiaoshou reassured Xiao Kongtong that he could handle Night Owl and Rao Yaoyao, while secretly planning to make Xiao expose his identity if they met Night Owl.
• Shouye, drained by the water sphere and nearly out of pills, struggled to stay conscious by recalling Xu Xiaoshou’s words and his duty to save the Moonless Sword Immortal.
• Shouye lost consciousness and remembered joining the White Robes, serving Gou Wuyue, and hearing that he had chosen to blind his eyes while the world remained muddied.

Shouye revived after a failed Ghost Beast experiment and received a message from the dying Xingye, who identified himself as a Ghost Beast. Rao Yaoyao found Shouye beneath the deep sea, where he questioned her about the captured Ghost Beasts and finally asked what he was.

• Shouye heard Lord Bei Huai and the experimenter discuss the deaths of 365 trial subjects before discovering that Shouye, their seventh subject, was reviving.
• Shouye met Xingye in a chaotic inner world, where Xingye warned him about the scene he had witnessed and said someone had scattered his body, spiritual body, and soul.
• Xingye revealed that he was called a Ghost Beast before his image shattered and Shouye regained consciousness beneath the deep sea.
• Shouye used righteous energy to activate the Forbidden Law Barrier and opened his eyes as Rao Yaoyao called to him.
• Shouye asked Rao Yaoyao where the Red Robes had taken captured Ghost Beasts, and she said she had killed the one she captured.
• As the water sphere threatened to tear him apart, Shouye asked Rao Yaoyao what he was.

Shouye, trapped in a deep-sea water sphere, rejected Rao Yaoyao’s abandonment and desperately tried to survive, triggering a Nine-Death Lightning Tribulation. The nine tribulations appeared at once over the Yunlun Mountain Range, and Jiang Buyi realized the event was connected to Solitary Sound Cliff.

• Rao Yaoyao calmed Shouye with the Emotion Sword Art, but chose not to rescue him after he answered that his faith was justice.
• Shouye pleaded to live as Rao Yaoyao left, then remembered Xu Xiaoshou’s words and fought against the Forbidden Law Barrier.
• Shouye roared that he still wanted to live and wanted to see Xu Xiaoshou again, unleashing thunder beneath the deep sea.
• Water Ghost watched the Nine-Death Lightning Tribulation gather over the Yunlun Mountain Range and explained that Shouye’s struggle had stirred its power.
• Jiang Buyi saw all nine colors of the tribulation appear at once, suspected a connection to Solitary Sound Cliff, and erased Jiang Xian’s memories of the event.

As Xu Xiaoshou, disguised as Water Ghost, crossed the corpse-strewn deep sea with Xiao Kongtong, he heard Xiao Kongtong recount the Lei family’s destruction and reveal Saint Slave’s opposition to the five Saint Emperor clans. Xiao Kongtong ended by hinting that Ba Zunan’s past and defeat by Hua Changdeng were tied to love, leaving Xu Xiaoshou stunned and eager to learn more.

• Xu Xiaoshou, disguised as Water Ghost, and Xiao Kongtong passed water spheres containing dead cultivators, and Xu Xiaoshou reflected on Saint Slave’s brutal methods and the need to protect those close to him.
• Xu Xiaoshou asked Xiao Kongtong about the struggle for the Great Dao, and Xiao Kongtong described how the Dao Clan seized the Lei family’s authority and wiped out the clan.
• Xiao Kongtong named the five Saint Emperor clans as Yue, Bei, Hua, Rao, and Dao, and claimed a Saint Emperor’s intervention had helped Hua Changdeng defeat Ba Zunan.
• Xiao Kongtong said Ba Zunan’s Emotion Sword Art and love had become both his strength and his undoing, leaving Xu Xiaoshou surprised that a woman might have influenced the old battle.

Xu Xiaoshou, disguised as Water Ghost, coaxed Xiao Kongtong into revealing gossip about Ba Zunan and Moon Palace Slave, then joined him in swearing a secrecy oath that triggered heavenly lightning. They realized the lightning came from a Nine-Death Lightning Tribulation occurring in the deep sea, and Xiao Kongtong was struck again as Xu Xiaoshou considered whether Shouye might be the one undergoing it.

• Xiao Kongtong told Xu Xiaoshou that Ba Zunan's lover was Moon Palace Slave, the top-ranked beauty from the Moon Clan, and claimed her name explained Saint Slave's name.
• Xu Xiaoshou teased Xiao Kongtong about his interest in the Peerless Beauty Ranking, and the two swore an oath to keep their conversation secret.
• Heavenly lightning struck Xiao Kongtong and Xu Xiaoshou, revealing that the deep-sea bolts carried the power of the Nine-Death Lightning Tribulation.
• Xu Xiaoshou and Xiao Kongtong realized someone might be attempting all nine stages of the tribulation despite the Forbidden Law Barrier, and Xiao Kongtong said past attempts had failed.
• Xiao Kongtong begged Xu Xiaoshou to part the water currents for him, but another bolt struck and sent him floating upward through the sea.

Xu Xiaoshou realized Water Ghost was siphoning spiritual essence and lightning-tribulation power to feed an unknown purpose beneath the deep sea, while Shouye struggled through the weakened Nine-Death Lightning Tribulation. At Solitary Sound Cliff, Water Ghost threw captured Path-Cutters and Higher Void cultivators into the sea of clouds.

• Xu Xiaoshou and Xiao Kongtong fled from the lightning tribulations, and Xu Xiaoshou deduced that Water Ghost was harvesting spiritual essence and most of each tribulation’s power.
• Shouye endured successive lightning strikes, recognized that the tribulation had been weakened, and heard a familiar voice urge him to live.
• Shouye used the restorative power from surviving a strike to resist the deep-sea pressure and moved toward another tribulation, calling its target a fellow traveler.
• Water Ghost observed several groups undergoing tribulation and questioned the captured Eastern Region assassins about their pursuit of Xu Xiaoshou.
• Water Ghost tossed the captives’ water spheres into the sea of clouds, telling them to go feed the fish in his domain.

Water Ghost met Demi-Saint Jiang Buyi at Solitary Sound Cliff, where Jiang Buyi sought his help locating Yama and obtaining its Lei Clan Eyes. Water Ghost agreed to provide intelligence for a favor, then promised to deliver detailed information within a day.

• Jiang Buyi introduced himself as a Demi-Saint of the Puxuan Jiang Clan and confirmed Water Ghost’s suspicion that he wanted the Lei Clan Eye.
• Water Ghost refused Jiang Buyi’s attempts to recruit him and Night Cats, then demanded a price for helping him.
• Jiang Buyi revealed that he wanted Huangquan and the Lei Clan Eyes held by other Yama members, and offered Water Ghost a favor in return for their whereabouts.
• Water Ghost accepted the deal and promised detailed information on every Yama member within one day, then told Jiang Buyi there was no need to see him out.

Xu Xiaoshou left the ancient door beneath the deep sea to return and try to save Shouye from the Nine-Death Lightning Tribulation. As Shouye endured the punishment, he learned the truth about the Holy Spirit Hall and became a Ghost Beast Host, abandoning his former faith as the lightning destroyed his wings.

• Xu Xiaoshou asked Xiao Kongtong what would happen if an outsider entered a Nine-Death Lightning Tribulation's range, then decided to return and look for Shouye.
• Xu Xiaoshou warned Xiao Kongtong not to open the ancient door and flew upward toward the tribulation.
• Shouye survived the lightning through the Ghost Beast power Xingye had left inside him, awakening as a Ghost Beast Host.
• Shouye realized the Holy Spirit Hall had deceived the Red Robes and that Ghost Feeders were experiments that could turn their subjects into Ghost Beast Hosts.
• Shouye charged into the lightning as his wings and body were destroyed, rejecting his old faith and declaring, "If a man does not act for himself, heaven and earth will destroy him!"

Xu Xiaoshou entered several Nine-Death Lightning Tribulations while searching for Shouye, surviving the strikes by relying on his abilities and absorbing their power. He reached the likely location of Shouye’s tribulation, where he sensed two layers of tribulation power overlapping.

• Xu Xiaoshou entered a Cutting Path cultivator’s Nine-Death Lightning Tribulation, but the Orange Firmament Divine Thunder badly injured him and knocked his swords away.
• Xu Xiaoshou reached the tribulation-crosser and saw that the person was reduced to a skull and fragments of bone; a Golden Shriek Divine Thunder struck and killed him.
• Xu Xiaoshou endured another lightning strike using Berserk Giant, Explosive Stance, Inch-Realm Force Field, and Great Feast, then broke through to the late stage of the Celestial Phenomena Realm.
• Xu Xiaoshou continued searching for Shouye, entering the tribulations of several Cutting Path cultivators and absorbing lightning power along the way.
• Xu Xiaoshou reached the likely site of the first Cutting Path cultivator’s tribulation and sensed two overlapping layers of tribulation power.

Xu Xiaoshou found Shouye undergoing a lightning tribulation and discovered that the Red Robe had become a Ghost Beast Host. As the two endured the tribulation together, Shouye began to explain that his transformation was connected to his mastery of Higher Void power when he attained the Path of Slashing.

• Xu Xiaoshou searched for the tribulation transcender and found a feathered figure surrounded by ghost aura.
• A lightning tribulation struck Xu Xiaoshou and the stranger, badly injuring Xu Xiaoshou despite his defenses.
• Xu Xiaoshou recognized the stranger as Shouye when the lightning revealed his familiar face and voice.
• Shouye confirmed he no longer needed help and said he would not borrow outsiders' strength.
• Xu Xiaoshou asked whether Shouye had become a Ghost Beast Host and why, and Shouye began explaining that he had grasped Higher Void power when he attained the Path of Slashing.

Xu Xiaoshou learned that Shouye had discovered the Holy Spirit Hall’s use of Ghost Beast power and had turned against its authority, though he remained determined to pursue the truth by any means necessary. After Shouye promised he would never become Xu Xiaoshou’s enemy, Xu Xiaoshou uncovered the disturbing reason for his strength, and Shouye cast him out of the tribulation before declaring that Shouye was dead and he was now Black Night.

• Shouye told Xu Xiaoshou that the Holy Spirit Hall used Ghost Beast power and said he would seek the truth, even if it meant pursuing it by any means necessary.
• Shouye said he was neutral, blamed Rao Yaoyao for abandoning him, and promised Xu Xiaoshou he would leave Red Robes and come to his aid when needed.
• Shouye urged Xu Xiaoshou to leave before the 108th bolt, but Xu Xiaoshou questioned how he could withstand the remaining tribulation without pills.
• Shouye admitted his pills had run out long ago, and Xu Xiaoshou realized he had been eating something else to survive.
• Shouye repelled Xu Xiaoshou with blackened righteous energy and announced that Shouye was dead and he should now be called Black Night.

After Shouye transformed into Black Night, Xu Xiaoshou reconsidered his path and decided he needed to reach the Throne quickly by devouring treasures. Water Ghost found him in the deep sea and asked for help with a dangerous-sounding task, leaving Xu Xiaoshou wary of what he was about to be asked to do.

• Xu Xiaoshou reflected on Shouye's transformation and concluded that his best chance of surviving his enemies was to strengthen himself rather than return to the Yunlun Mountain Range.
• Xu Xiaoshou decided to accelerate his cultivation by devouring lightning tribulations and treasures, aiming to reach the Throne.
• Water Ghost approached Xu Xiaoshou unexpectedly, and Xu Xiaoshou tried to flee before Water Ghost seized his heart with the Water Dao and stopped him.
• Water Ghost said he had a small matter that required Xu Xiaoshou's help, but admitted it might endanger his life.
• Water Ghost promised to cover for Xu Xiaoshou if the task succeeded and said Xu Xiaoshou could leave Saint Slave afterward, making Xu Xiaoshou suspect the job was far from small.

Xu Xiaoshou resisted Water Ghost’s effort to recruit him into a plot against a Jiang Clan Semi-Saint, but learned that the threat could reach his junior sister through her God-Devil Pupils. He stayed to hear more after Water Ghost explained the danger, then discovered the conflict had begun because the Semi-Saint disrespected Water Ghost.

• Water Ghost told Xu Xiaoshou that he wanted to kill a Jiang Clan Semi-Saint and urged him to help desecrate the Saint, but Xu Xiaoshou tried to leave.
• Water Ghost warned that the Semi-Saint had targeted Xu Xiaoshou’s family and friends, then named his silver-haired junior sister as a potential target because of her God-Devil Pupils.
• Water Ghost explained that the Semi-Saint sought Yama’s Lei Clan Eyes and could eventually track down Xu Xiaoshou’s junior sister through the eyes’ resonance.
• Xu Xiaoshou questioned why Water Ghost wanted to kill the Semi-Saint, and Water Ghost admitted he was angered by the man’s disrespectful tone.
• Water Ghost nearly revealed his status before realizing Xu Xiaoshou was fishing for information, leaving Xu Xiaoshou astonished by the petty cause of their conflict.

Water Ghost urged Xu Xiaoshou to embrace ambition and exploit the conflict between powerful players rather than focus only on survival, arguing that Xu had grown strong enough to influence the Great Path struggle. Xu agreed to hear Water Ghost’s proposal but demanded a way to survive and gain strength, and Water Ghost promised him means of self-defense before revealing them.

• Water Ghost explained that Wuxiu would have urged Xu Xiaoshou to use both sides’ conflict for his own benefit instead of retreating from the Demi-Saint’s game.
• Water Ghost argued that Xu Xiaoshou’s position had changed now that he could influence Throne-level battles, and warned that clinging to his old cautious mindset could lead to disaster.
• Xu Xiaoshou thanked Water Ghost for his advice, while privately wondering whether Water Ghost had mistaken him for a deceased child.
• Water Ghost admitted he wanted Xu Xiaoshou to help him, and Xu Xiaoshou agreed to consider it only if he could protect his life and gain something useful.
• Water Ghost revealed that the Jiang Clan’s Demi-Saint wanted Yama and the Lei Clan Eye, then praised Xu Xiaoshou for guessing that he planned to make him impersonate Huangquan.
• Xu Xiaoshou negotiated for a survival plan and a chance to grow, and Water Ghost promised to provide him with means of self-defense.