Chapter Summaries

Gu Xiaoxian noticed an unusually large Imperial Court contingent at the Spring Welcome Tea Party and suspected the Night Emperor planned to challenge the Four Great Sects. Xu Yourong recognized Li Yun and asked Yang Yundu to avenge her, but Ye Li ordered her to leave Yang Yundu and sent him to help set up tents.

• Gu Xiaoxian saw that seventy or eighty Imperial Court figures had arrived, far more than usual, and considered whether the Night Emperor had prepared new fighters to challenge the Four Great Sects.
• Gu Xiaoxian glanced at Li Yun and confidently arranged for his group to set up their tents.
• Xu Yourong spotted Li Yun and urged Yang Yundu to humiliate and kill him in revenge for what happened at Green Peak Mountain.
• Yang Yundu promised to make Li Yun pay, but Wen Fang rebuked him for acting above his station as a servant.
• Xu Yourong defended Yang Yundu until Ye Li intervened, called her back to his side, and ordered Yang Yundu to help the attendants set up tents.

Hu Xuan visited the Celestial Martial Sect’s tent to assess Li Yun and discuss the formidable competitors at the Spring Welcome Tea Party. After learning how strong the Tianyen Sect, Tinnu Sect, and Night Emperor’s side appeared, Hu Xuan ordered Zhao Yu and Wang Chen to avoid fighting if Li Yun entered the arena.

• Hu Xuan approached Gu Xiaoxian’s tent with Zhao Yu and Wang Chen, greeted Li Yun, and probed the Celestial Martial Sect’s likely main fighter.
• Gu Xiaoxian claimed Gao Xingchen was the main fighter and Li Yun was only there to broaden his horizons, prompting Hu Xuan to realize the introduction had misled him.
• Hu Xuan and Gu Xiaoxian noticed Ye Li among Night Emperor’s group and suspected his presence explained their unusually large force.
• Hu Xuan described Wang Jinxiu of the Tianyen Sect and Zhao Shanhe of the Tinnu Sect as dangerous competitors and doubted the Tianye Sect could take first place.
• After returning to his tent, Hu Xuan told Zhao Yu and Wang Chen to watch Li Yun and not take the field if Li Yun did.

Hu Xuan warned Zhao Yu and Wang Chen that Li Yun was likely a Lingyun Pavilion disciple and urged them to avoid challenging him directly. As the Spring Welcome Tea Party began, Du Shanjun announced that its winner would receive the Imperial Court’s title of Young Lord of Dongyang.

• Hu Xuan told Zhao Yu and Wang Chen that Li Yun was probably the Celestial Martial Sect’s newly admitted Lingyun Pavilion disciple and advised them to let other sects confront him.
• Zhao Shanhe dismissed Li Yun, Ye Li, and Wang Jinxiu as unworthy rivals, while Wang Jinxiu resolved to win despite fearing their abilities.
• Gu Xiaoxian shared information about twelve dangerous opponents with Li Yun, Gao Xingchen, and the others, warning them not to underestimate anyone or risk their lives.
• Du Shanjun opened the Spring Welcome Tea Party and announced that the victor would receive the Imperial Court’s Young Lord of Dongyang title, equivalent to a third-rank provincial noble title.

Du Shanjun announced that the Spring Welcome Tea Party champion would receive the title Young Lord of Dongyang, a prize the Night Emperor had secretly devised to elevate Ye Li and weaken rival young Martial Artists. The contest began with Song Yu stepping forward, only to be swarmed by challengers.

• Gu Xiaoxian and the others suspected the Night Emperor had created the Young Lord of Dongyang title to pave the way for Ye Li, while Yang Yundu resolved to claim it for himself.
• Du Shanjun privately reflected on the Night Emperor’s ten-year plan to have Ye Li use the title to organize young Imperial Court supporters and undermine the Four Great Sects.
• Du Shanjun announced the Spring Welcome Tea Party had begun and invited young talents to accept challenges for the championship.
• Song Yu of the Pingliu Sect volunteered to take the stage first, hoping to seize an opportunity to make his name.
• He Qin, Zhou Cang, Ye Shaoxiong, and several others rushed forward to challenge Song Yu, leaving him angry and forced to choose an opponent.

Song Yu and Ye Shaoxiong began a measured duel at the Spring Welcome Tea Party until Ding Rui interrupted and defeated them both with one powerful sword technique. Ding Rui claimed the arena and challenged the remaining experts, leaving the crowd wondering whether anyone else would get a chance to shine.

• Song Yu chose Ye Shaoxiong as his opponent, and the two fought evenly while keeping their attacks measured.
• Li Yun recognized that Song Yu and Ye Shaoxiong were using the bout to display their skills and build their reputations.
• Ding Rui berated the pair for wasting time, then leaped into the arena and struck them both with his perfected sword art.
• Ding Rui's sword attack badly wounded Song Yu and Ye Shaoxiong, who withdrew after he mocked them.
• Ding Rui invited challengers to face him, and the crowd fell quiet at his arrogance.

At the Spring Welcome Tea Party, Ding Rui’s rule-breaking streak ended when Xu Mo defeated him, and Wen Fang briefly took the arena before losing to a Tianye Sect disciple. As top fighters from the Four Great Sects took over the matches, Zhao Yu won three bouts, prompting Gao Xingchen to ask Gu Xiaoxian for permission to challenge him.

• Xu Mo used his powerful saber technique to defeat Ding Rui, who left the arena in disgrace.
• Wen Fang defeated Xu Mo after a long fight, won two more consecutive matches, and then lost to a Tianye Sect disciple.
• The Four Great Sects’ disciples and noble scions dominated the matches over the following three hours.
• Zhao Yu defeated opponents from the Tinnu Sect, the Tianyen Sect, and the Night Emperor’s faction in succession.
• Gao Xingchen asked Gu Xiaoxian to let him challenge Zhao Yu, and Gu Xiaoxian agreed.

Gao Xingchen defeated Zhao Yu in a fiercely contested duel at the Spring Welcome Tea Party, while Li Yun sensed that the gathering might soon undergo major changes. The chapter ended with Ye Li preparing to face the sects’ strongest disciples and Yang Yundu secretly believing that no one could resist his control.

• Li Yun told Gu Xiaoxian that he had a strange premonition about the tea party, and Gu Xiaoxian wondered at the accuracy of his intuition.
• Gao Xingchen and Zhao Yu fought evenly, drawing the attention of Wang Jinxiu, Zhao Shanhe, and Ye Li.
• Ye Li planned to establish his prestige against the strongest contestants, while Du Shanjun warned him not to underestimate Li Yun.
• Yang Yundu watched from among the servants and thought that the strongest disciples would all fall under his control.
• After fighting for a quarter of an hour, Gao Xingchen and Zhao Yu agreed to decide the match with one final move.
• Their swords collided in a burst of Sword Qi, and Zhao Yu fell into a small pit; he accepted defeat and congratulated Gao Xingchen.

Wang Jinxiu defeated Gao Xingchen with a single display of his Innate Sword Skill, then Zhao Shanhe emerged from the Tinnu Sect's pavilion with a powerful saber aura. Li Yun recognized that Zhao Shanhe was building momentum with the Heaven-Slaying Draw Sword Technique.

• Wang Chen lost his chance to challenge Gao Xingchen when Wang Jinxiu entered the arena first.
• Wang Jinxiu offered Gao Xingchen time to recover, but Gao Xingchen refused and attacked with forty-nine sword shadows.
• Wang Jinxiu shattered Gao Xingchen's sword shadows and stopped his strike just short of injuring him, prompting Gao Xingchen to concede.
• Li Yun comforted Gao Xingchen by offering to teach him an Innate Sword Skill, while Gu Xiaoxian teased Li Yun about being called an elder.
• Zhao Shanhe stepped out of the Tinnu Sect's pavilion, and Li Yun recognized his growing aura as the Heaven-Slaying Draw Sword Technique.

Zhao Shanhe prepared to fight Wang Jinxiu, but Zhou Yuanhu conceded the match for the Tianyen Sect, seemingly to save Wang Jinxiu’s strength and leave Zhao Shanhe to exhaust himself against Ye Li. Before Ye Li could challenge him, the arrogant Xie Yu'an appeared and provoked Zhao Shanhe.

• Zhao Shanhe built up his aura and warned Wang Jinxiu that he would die if Zhao drew his blade.
• Zhou Yuanhu ordered Wang Jinxiu to concede before the fight began, and Wang Jinxiu reluctantly withdrew.
• Li Yun explained to Gu Xiaoxian that Zhao Shanhe’s Heaven-Slaying Draw Sword Technique made his first strike especially dangerous and that Zhou Yuanhu might be trying to exhaust Ye Li.
• Ye Li rose to challenge Zhao Shanhe, but an imposing old man and the arrogant Xie Yu'an arrived at Pingding Mountain.
• Xie Yu'an stepped into the arena and offered to test himself against the gathered young talents, and Zhao Shanhe demanded that he leave or die.

Li Yun recognized Xie Yu'an as a possible Meng Po Society leader, but Xie Yu'an revealed himself as Heavenly Dragon Berserker’s disciple after defeating Zhao Shanhe and silencing the crowd. Li Yun chose not to confront him yet, and Ye Li stepped forward to challenge Xie Yu'an.

• Li Yun told Gu Xiaoxian that the Meng Po Society’s Young Master Yu'an might be Xie Yu'an, prompting Gu Xiaoxian to react with killing intent.
• Xie Yu'an blocked Zhao Shanhe’s Heaven-Slaying Draw Sword Technique with the White Dragon Fan, then defeated him and knocked him from the arena.
• Ouyang Li attacked Xie Yu'an, but a black-clothed old man intercepted him and announced that Xie Yu'an possessed the White Dragon Fan.
• Xie Yu'an confirmed that Heavenly Dragon Berserker was his master, and Ouyang Li withdrew with the injured Zhao Shanhe.
• Gu Xiaoxian warned Li Yun against provoking Xie Yu'an, and Li Yun decided to watch as Ye Li entered the arena to challenge him.

Ye Li and Xie Yu'an fought a fierce duel at Pingding Mountain, revealing that both had cultivated Third-Grade True Qi and powerful Martial Arts. As the crowd watched, Li Yun claimed he could defeat either of them—or both together—in one move.

• Xie Yu'an attacked Ye Li, and the two Supreme's disciples began a fierce battle with their signature fan and sword techniques.
• Zhao Shanhe regretted his defeat, while Ouyang Li told him that the sect would have required him to study more than the Heaven-Slaying Draw Sword Technique.
• Zhou Yuanhu identified Ye Li and Xie Yu'an's True Qi as Third-Grade, leaving Wang Jinxiu stunned by their strength.
• Li Yun calmly drank tea with Gu Xiaoxian as the crowd focused on the duel.
• Gao Xingchen asked how many moves Li Yun would need to win, and Li Yun said one move, even if he fought both opponents at once.

Xie Yu'an defeated Ye Li and claimed the title of Young Lord of Dongyang, but Yang Yundu challenged him after revealing strength that stunned the Great Houses. Yang Yundu entered the arena, determined to win the title and marry Xu Yourong.

• Xie Yu'an exploited Ye Li's waning stamina, struck him from behind, and defeated him in the arena.
• Xie Yu'an declared himself the Spring Welcome Tea Party's victor and claimed the title of Young Lord of Dongyang.
• Du Shanjun helped the wounded Ye Li while the gathered crowd fell silent.
• Yang Yundu stood up and challenged Xie Yu'an, prompting Wen Fang to attack him for breaking the rules.
• Yang Yundu seized Wen Fang's wrist and threw him aside, shocking the children of the Great Houses.
• Xu Yourong urged Yang Yundu to defeat Xie Yu'an, and Yang Yundu entered the arena to claim the title and marry her.

Yang Yundu defeated Xie Yu'an with a powerful spiritual martial art and was about to be named Young Lord of Dongyang when Li Yun challenged him. Yang Yundu erupted in anger at Li Yun’s taunts, and the two prepared to fight.

• Yang Yundu struck Xie Yu'an with the World-Saving Fist, overwhelming his spirit and forcing the black-clad old man to carry him away.
• The crowd marveled at Yang Yundu’s strength, while Ye Li seethed at being overshadowed by a servant.
• Du Shanjun began to announce Yang Yundu as Young Lord of Dongyang because no one else stepped forward to challenge him.
• Li Yun interrupted the announcement and confronted Yang Yundu, saying that Yang Yundu had cost him the chance to deal with Xie Yu'an.
• Yang Yundu mocked Li Yun and invoked Princess Mingguang, but Li Yun called him her dog, provoking Yang Yundu to unleash even greater power.

Li Yun overwhelmed Yang Yundu with his True Intent sword skill, shocking the martial sects gathered at Pingding Mountain. Before the confrontation could go further, the ancient Cloud Dragon Zen Temple emerged from the cliff, sending its aura across Eastern Cloud Prefecture.

• Xu Yourong recognized Li Yun and urged Yang Yundu to teach him a lesson, while Gu Xiaoxian warned her to stop insulting a Lingyun Pavilion disciple.
• Yang Yundu challenged Li Yun, who taunted him about his origins and ambitions before drawing his Ancient Sword.
• Li Yun trapped Yang Yundu in an illusion of sorrow with his sword intent, leaving him unable to break free as onlookers realized Li Yun vastly surpassed him.
• Ouyang Li, Zhou Yuanhu, and Hu Xuan silently agreed that Li Yun had to die to preserve the balance among the Four Great Sects, but not while Chen Jiuxu could see.
• The cliff where the Yuchun Tea Tree grew exploded, revealing a phantom ancient temple and spreading news that the Cloud Dragon Zen Temple had emerged.

After the Cloud Dragon Zen Temple appeared on Pingding Mountain, Li Yun and the Celestial Martial Sect gathered outside the area and investigated its origins. Chen Jiuxu revealed that the temple was an Ancient Supreme Treasure and its entrance would open in half a month.

• News of the Cloud Dragon Zen Temple spread across Eastern Cloud Prefecture, drawing Martial Artists to Pingding Mountain.
• Gu Xiaoxian, Li Yun, and Gao Xingchen's group settled at an estate while waiting for Chen Jiuxu, and Li Yun privately suspected Yang Yundu was connected to the temple's appearance.
• Chen Jiuxu arrived, praised Li Yun's growing fame, and declared that the Celestial Martial Sect would protect him.
• Li Yun asked Chen Jiuxu what he had learned at Pingding Mountain, and Chen Jiuxu confirmed that the Cloud Dragon Zen Temple was an Ancient Supreme Treasure whose entrance would open in half a month.

Li Yun learned that Cloud Dragon Zen Temple’s emergence could trigger a struggle over an Ancient Supreme Treasure, but he stayed in seclusion to cultivate while outsiders gathered. As outer-prefecture Martial Artists provoked the Spring Welcome Tea Party’s participants, Eastern Cloud Prefecture’s young fighters suffered a string of defeats, with Li Yun, Yang Yundu, Xie Yu'an, and Ye Li still absent or untested.

• Gu Xiaoxian and Li Yun reacted with shock when Chen Jiuxu explained that Cloud Dragon Zen Temple might hold an Ancient Supreme Treasure, though he said its fate could not be decided by force alone.
• Li Yun wondered whether his Heavenly Origin Ring was also an Ancient Supreme Treasure, then suggested Yang Yundu might be connected to Cloud Dragon Zen Temple’s emergence.
• Chen Jiuxu said the temple’s entrance would open in half a month and warned that even if Yang Yundu was destined for it, he would not be the only contender.
• Li Yun stayed at the residence to cultivate as Martial Artists gathered in town and he gained recognition as the Young Lord of Dongyang and Eastern Cloud Prefecture’s top Houtian Realm expert.
• Outer-prefecture Martial Artists provoked the Spring Welcome Tea Party participants, and Gao Xingchen, Zhao Yu, Wang Chen, Wang Jinxiu, and Zhao Shanhe all lost their ensuing fights.

Martial Artists from Eastern Cloud Prefecture argued over their defeats at the hands of outsiders, then the White Wood Twin Swords from Dongxuan Prefecture arrived at Flying Goose Tower and challenged them. Bai Linsheng followed Xu Ming outside to fight, while Mu Wanrong waited inside.

• Martial Artists at Flying Goose Tower complained that outsiders were humiliating Eastern Cloud Prefecture and debated why Ye Li had not stepped forward.
• A Martial Artist defended Ye Li, rebuking another man for judging a Spring Welcome Tea Party contender despite lacking the skill to qualify himself.
• Bai Linsheng and Mu Wanrong entered the inn, and the locals recognized them as the White Wood Twin Swords who had defeated Gao Xingchen.
• Bai Linsheng taunted the gathered Martial Artists, prompting Xu Ming to challenge him and leap out through a window to fight.
• Bai Linsheng told Mu Wanrong to find a seat, then darted outside after Xu Ming.

Xu Ming challenged Bai Linsheng outside Flying Goose Tower, losing after damaging his own Life Origin but managing to cut Bai Linsheng’s shoulder. As Eastern Cloud Prefecture’s Martial Artists urged Li Yun and the other young experts to respond, Gu Xiaoxian brought the gravely injured Xu Ming to Li Yun and asked him to save him.

• Bai Linsheng mocked Xu Ming and claimed he would defeat him within ten breaths, but Xu Ming attacked with a blood-red saber technique that forced Bai Linsheng to fight in earnest.
• Bai Linsheng defeated Xu Ming and wounded him, while Xu Ming pointed out that the ten breaths had passed and revealed a small cut on Bai Linsheng’s shoulder before collapsing.
• A physician found that Xu Ming had burned his Life Origin and severely damaged his meridians, leaving him at risk of becoming unable to wield a saber again.
• Eastern Cloud Prefecture’s Martial Artists called for Li Yun, Yang Yundu, Xie Yu'an, and Ye Li to act against the White Wood Twin Swords, disturbing Li Yun’s cultivation.
• Gu Xiaoxian brought the injured Xu Ming to Li Yun and said the Sect Master wanted Li Yun to save him if he could.

After learning that outsiders were using young Martial Artists to pressure Eastern Cloud Prefecture, Li Yun agreed to heal Xu Ming and declared that he would challenge all outsiders below the Innate Realm at Flying Goose Tower. His provocation enraged visiting geniuses, and thousands gathered before sunset to watch the confrontation.

• Gu Xiaoxian explained the recent trouble caused by young Martial Artists from other prefectures, and Li Yun realized they were being used to pressure Eastern Cloud Prefecture.
• Li Yun agreed to treat Xu Ming and told Gu Xiaoxian to spread his challenge for that night at Flying Goose Tower.
• Li Yun knocked Xu Ming unconscious before secretly treating his damaged Life Origin with Pills and medicinal ingredients as cover.
• Gao Xingchen announced Li Yun's challenge in deliberately insulting terms, provoking Martial Artists from other prefectures.
• Chen Qianshu, He Yiming, and other visiting geniuses vowed to defeat Li Yun, while nearly ten thousand Martial Artists crowded the town around Flying Goose Tower.

Li Yun appeared atop Flying Goose Tower and used Heipi to defeat three Houtian Realm challengers before insulting the martial artists from other prefectures. As Gao Xingchen slipped away, Little Fist God He Yiming charged onto the tower to challenge Li Yun.

• Li Yun arrived at Flying Goose Tower, where three young Houtian Realm martial artists mocked him and challenged him.
• Li Yun summoned Gao Xingchen and berated him for letting unworthy challengers come forward; Gao Xingchen played along and explained how he had delivered Li Yun's challenge.
• When the three young men attacked Gao Xingchen, Heipi slashed them across the chest and knocked them from the rooftop.
• Li Yun taunted the martial artists from other prefectures, saying that even in twenty years they would not catch up to his heels.
• Gao Xingchen quietly left the rooftop, and Little Fist God He Yiming appeared and vowed to make Li Yun pay for his arrogance.