Chapter Summaries

Li Yun cultivated to the Sixteenth Layer of Body Tempering and sensed that his 360 Innate Apertures had not completed his transformation. After using 3,000 Myriad Wonders Points to push the Five Elements Creation Heavenly Art past its limit, he emerged seven days later looking almost divine.

• Li Yun reached the Sixteenth Layer of Body Tempering, opening 360 Innate Apertures that drew in Spirit Qi and strengthened his body.
• Li Yun sensed that his Body Tempering remained incomplete and held off on refining his apertures, though he did not know how to progress further.
• Li Yun decided to use Myriad Wonders Points to push the Five Elements Creation Heavenly Art past its limit, then spent another half month letting Spirit Qi nourish his apertures.
• Li Yun spent 3,000 Myriad Wonders Points to break through the Five Elements Creation Heavenly Art and was engulfed in five-colored light as its profound truths cycled between him and the world.
• After seven days, the light faded, and Li Yun hovered above the ground with a faint five-colored radiance, appearing like a god or immortal.

After awakening the divine Five Elements Sovereign talent, Li Yun planned to investigate Crane Mountain’s strongholds and told Tian Qing that greater upheaval might soon engulf Great Yan and the Purple Moon Continent. He left Tian Qing focused on strengthening himself rather than rushing to unite the local strongholds.

• Li Yun discovered that Five Elements Sovereign let him command the Five Elements within his body and faintly influence those around him, and that it could help him continue tempering his body beyond the Sixteenth Layer.
• Li Yun rested after his breakthrough, then summoned Tian Qing as he planned to investigate Crane Mountain’s strongholds.
• Tian Qing brought Li Yun food and wine, saw his unassuming but otherworldly appearance, and asked whether he had reached the Innate Realm.
• Li Yun said the Innate Realm posed no real difficulty for him, but he did not want to enter it through an imperfect method.
• When Tian Qing asked whether Guiyang Stronghold and Flying Crane Stronghold could unite after Li Yun’s breakthrough, Li Yun told him to strengthen himself instead of fixating on Crane Mountain.
• Li Yun warned Tian Qing that Great Yan and perhaps the whole Purple Moon Continent might soon descend into chaos.

Li Yun warned Tian Qing that the Purple Moon Continent faced an incomprehensible enemy and ordered him to prepare by gathering martial arts and intelligence on Crane Mountain’s strongholds. Tian Qing and Li Feihe brought Li Yun more than twenty techniques, and he promised to guide them before asking for an update on the intelligence.

• Li Yun told Tian Qing to gather Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts and collect information on Crane Mountain’s other strongholds before Li Yun united them.
• Li Yun said he would leave Crane Mountain eventually and warned Tian Qing that the Purple Moon Continent had been targeted by a powerful enemy.
• Tian Qing left shaken by Li Yun’s warning and resolved to become stronger.
• Three days later, Tian Qing and Li Feihe brought Li Yun more than twenty ordinary One-Star Martial Arts and Cultivation Techniques.
• Li Yun accepted the techniques, promised to guide Tian Qing and Li Feihe, and asked how their information gathering was progressing.

Li Yun learned about Crane Mountain’s strongholds and the Three Strongholds’ apparent strategy of collecting tribute while letting smaller bands take the risks. After mastering the martial arts Li Feihe and Tian Qing brought him, he silently slipped through a courtyard wall and headed into the mountains.

• Li Feihe and Tian Qing gave Li Yun basic information about Crane Mountain’s twenty-five strongholds and its three powerful central strongholds.
• Li Yun learned that the Three Strongholds collected annual silver from smaller strongholds while those bands carried out the raids.
• Li Yun told Li Feihe and Tian Qing to stop gathering information and promised to guide their training in a few days.
• Li Yun spent his Myriad Wonders Points bringing the ordinary cultivation techniques and Martial Arts they had brought to the Perfection Realm.
• At dusk, Li Yun passed through a courtyard wall and walked into the mountains without alerting anyone.

Li Yun used his Five Elements Sovereign talent to enter Crane Mountain unnoticed and reached Blood Tiger Stronghold to investigate it. He observed the stronghold’s training and became curious about the Drill Instructor’s unexplained trace of True Qi.

• Li Yun passed through the mountain’s natural elements, killed a tiger that sensed him, and stored its body in the Gate of Myriad Wonders.
• Li Yun reached Ox Horn Peak and headed up Left Horn Peak toward Blood Tiger Stronghold, avoiding its hidden sentries without being seen.
• Li Yun arrived at the stronghold’s summit and watched the Drill Instructor scold bandits practicing saber techniques.
• Li Yun noticed that the Drill Instructor had reached the Fourteenth Layer of the Houtian Realm yet showed a trace of True Qi.
• The Second Chief came to the training ground, and the Drill Instructor complained that the bandits were too untalented to teach.

Li Yun overheard the Blood Tiger Stronghold chiefs discussing their plan to establish a sect and offered to help train their disciples. The chiefs remained wary as the chapter ended with them questioning whether they could trust him.

• The second chief ordered Xue You to teach the disciples the Wind-Splitting Saber Art and bring them to at least the Twelfth Level of the Houtian Realm within three months.
• The second chief told the other chiefs that Blood Tiger Stronghold's disciples were progressing too slowly to compete for the Martial Armory.
• Li Yun overheard the chiefs reveal that the Three Strongholds were preparing to establish a sect and reconsidered whether he needed to destroy them.
• Li Yun appeared before the four chiefs and offered to help train their disciples.
• The second chief questioned Li Yun's identity and asked why they should work with someone they did not know.

Li Yun challenged the Blood Tiger Stronghold and revealed his skill, prompting its chief, Wang Chaoshan, to assess him as a mysterious prodigy from a great sect. Li Yun said he had come to join Wang Chaoshan’s planned sect, but Wang Chaoshan remained convinced he had been sent to test the stronghold.

• Li Yun dodged the second-in-command’s attack, slapped him aside, then evaded the other three leaders and sat on the chief’s throne.
• Wang Chaoshan arrived and filled the hall with formidable Martial Intent, making Li Yun recognize that he was far stronger than the other leaders.
• Wang Chaoshan sensed a profound five-element mystery in Li Yun and suspected he was a prodigy from a Great Sect or Great Clan.
• Li Yun introduced himself and asked to join Wang Chaoshan’s planned sect, but Wang Chaoshan said his group only wanted a peaceful place for its followers.
• Wang Chaoshan insisted Li Yun must have come from a great power to test the stronghold, and Li Yun laughed at his assumption.

Li Yun exploited Wang Chaoshan’s mistaken belief that he came from a powerful background and offered to help Blood Tiger Stronghold found a sect by training its men. The two began private negotiations, with Wang Chaoshan dismissing his four lieutenants before Li Yun revealed his terms.

• Li Yun confirmed Wang Chaoshan’s assumption that he came from an important background and claimed meeting him could be a great opportunity for Blood Tiger Stronghold.
• Li Yun pointed out that Wang Chaoshan lacked the foundation and capable men needed to establish a sect.
• Li Yun proposed personally training selected members of Blood Tiger Stronghold and promised to double their strength within three months.
• Wang Chaoshan asked what Li Yun expected in return and considered whether accepting a powerful backer would cost him too much independence.
• Li Yun asked Wang Chaoshan to send his four lieutenants away so they could discuss the partnership alone.
• Wang Chaoshan ordered the lieutenants outside and promised to tell them the outcome afterward.

Li Yun convinced Wang Chaoshan that he came from a powerful Lineage but wanted no control over the new sect, only access to the Martial Armory. Wang Chaoshan agreed to let him study it, while Li Yun privately admitted he had bluffed his way into the deal.

• Li Yun dismissed the four stronghold chiefs and questioned Wang Chaoshan about the Three Strongholds' plan to found a sect around the Martial Armory.
• Wang Chaoshan admitted that the strongholds would compete for control because he was unsure Blood Tiger Stronghold could defeat the others.
• Li Yun claimed his Lineage could make the Yan Kingdom's Imperial Clan tremble, then said he had left it to pursue the Martial Dao without its resources.
• Li Yun asked for unrestricted access to the Martial Armory and promised to help establish the sect and protect it from other powers.
• Wang Chaoshan eagerly accepted Li Yun's terms, and Li Yun privately rejoiced that his bluff had worked.

Li Yun learned the history of the Martial Armory and the three strongholds’ plan to found the Crane Mountain Blade Sect through a contest. After studying the Pan Martial Art and Wind-Splitting Saber Art, he promised to teach the Blood Tiger Stronghold’s men and demonstrate the saber art at the Perfection Realm the next morning, leaving Wang Chaoshan stunned and doubtful.

• Wang Chaoshan told Li Yun that he, Gu Yang, and Bai Tou Weng held the three Secret Keys to the Extinct Blade Sect’s Martial Armory, which preserved the sect’s legacy.
• Wang Chaoshan explained that the three stronghold leaders planned to found the Crane Mountain Blade Sect and settle leadership through a contest between trained fighters.
• Wang Chaoshan admitted that his men had made little progress, despite Xue You’s skill as a saber instructor.
• Li Yun asked to see the Pan Martial Art and Wind-Splitting Saber Art, then quickly returned the manuals after reviewing them.
• Li Yun told Wang Chaoshan to rest the men and promised to teach them the next morning, demonstrating the Wind-Splitting Saber Art at the Perfection Realm with Blade Intent.
• Wang Chaoshan was dumbstruck, wondering how Li Yun could reach the Perfection Realm in a single night.

Li Yun spent Myriad Wonders Points to master the Wind-Splitting Saber Art and Pan Martial Art, then cultivated through the night. Wang Chaoshan explained to his brothers why he believed Li Yun was a hidden prodigy, and they prepared to see him teach the disciples at dawn.

• Li Yun settled into a secluded courtyard and used points to raise the Wind-Splitting Saber Art and Pan Martial Art to the Perfection Realm.
• Li Yun cultivated the Five Elements Essence through the night while Wang Chaoshan met with his four brothers.
• Wang Chaoshan told his brothers that Li Yun's powerful Five Elements True Intent proved he came from a great sect or Lineage and was no threat to their planned Crane Mountain Blade Sect.
• Ye Qilian explained that befriending Li Yun might earn their new sect a powerful backer.
• Wang Chaoshan revealed that Li Yun planned to teach the disciples the Wind-Splitting Saber Art at dawn, and the brothers looked forward to witnessing his skill.

Li Yun used the dawn’s Purple Qi from the East to cultivate before going to the training ground to teach the disciples. When Xue You challenged him and refused to step aside, Li Yun kicked him flying, leaving the drill instructor injured on the ground.

• Li Yun absorbed the scarce Purple Qi from the East during his morning cultivation and resolved to use it at dawn each day.
• Wang Chaoshan and his four brothers brought Li Yun to the training ground, where fifty disciples were waiting.
• Xue You continued drilling the disciples despite Wang Chaoshan’s order to dismiss him, and Ye Qilian dragged him aside.
• Xue You accused Li Yun of butting in and demanded that he prove himself.
• Li Yun kicked Xue You more than ten meters, and Xue You crashed to the ground bleeding.

Li Yun demonstrated the Wind-Splitting Saber Art’s divine-level perfection, leaving its saber intent imprinted in the minds of fifty bandit disciples. Xue You died, and Wang Chaoshan and the other chiefs were left stunned by Li Yun’s talent and power.

• Li Yun struck Xue You down after Xue You cursed at him, then told the bandit disciples he would teach them to cultivate.
• Li Yun drew Zhang Daquan and used a single slash to split the howling wind, unleashing Blade Intent that imprinted the Wind-Splitting Saber Art in the minds of the fifty disciples.
• Xue You screamed in disbelief and died, while Wang Chaoshan and the other chiefs realized Li Yun had reached the art’s ultimate perfection in one night.
• Zhang Fei asked Ye Qilian to slap him to prove the scene was real, then complained when Ye Qilian hit him hard.
• Wang Chaoshan recognized Li Yun as a peerless Martial Dao talent and resolved to stay close to him.

Li Yun taught fifty stronghold disciples the Wind-Splitting Saber Art by imprinting Blade Intent on their minds, then warned Wang Chaoshan that they needed three days to recover. After Li Yun rested, Wang Chaoshan brought him food and wine and asked whether he could imprint Martial Intent on the stronghold leaders too.

• Li Yun demonstrated the Wind-Splitting Saber Art, and more than half of the fifty disciples reached Minor Accomplishment after one lesson.
• Li Yun told Wang Chaoshan that the disciples needed three days of rest before receiving another Blade Intent imprint.
• Li Yun returned to his courtyard and cultivated the Five Elements Creation Heavenly Art to recover from the mental strain.
• Wang Chaoshan stopped Ye Qilian from asking Li Yun for an imprint and arranged a meal for him.
• After Li Yun ate, Wang Chaoshan asked whether Li Yun could imprint Martial Intent on his brothers.

Li Yun agreed to consider leaving Blade Intent imprints for Wang Chaoshan after reaching the Innate Realm, then descended the mountain and killed three men who tried to question him. Their allies discovered that the killer had mastered the Wind-Splitting Saber Art to the Perfection Realm, leaving them stunned by the Blood Tiger Stronghold’s hidden strength.

• Wang Chaoshan asked Li Yun to leave Blade Intent imprints for him, and Li Yun said he might try after reaching the Innate Realm.
• Li Yun left the Blood Tiger Stronghold and promised to return in three days to instruct its disciples.
• Three unfamiliar Martial Artists ambushed Li Yun and demanded information about the stronghold and its progress in the Wind-Splitting Saber Art.
• Li Yun killed all three with a single saber strike and continued on his way.
• Young Master Zhuang examined the corpses and identified residual Blade Intent from a Perfection Realm practitioner of the Wind-Splitting Saber Art, shocking the men with him.

Li Yun returned to Guiyang Stronghold after learning that Crane Mountain’s Three Strongholds planned to unite and establish a sect, while a Wind-Splitting Saber Art master tracked him there. Li Yun told Tian Qing about the plan and his agreement with Wang Chaoshan, then sensed the pursuer nearby.

• Young Master Zhuang examined the traces left by Li Yun’s killings, recognized that Li Yun had mastered the Wind-Splitting Saber Art, and tracked him toward Guiyang Stronghold.
• Young Master Zhuang saw Li Yun enter Guiyang Stronghold and suspected he was a rival from the Lineage seeking the Martial Armory.
• Li Yun returned to his private courtyard and told Tian Qing that the Three Strongholds planned to unite and establish a sect.
• Li Yun told Tian Qing that he had agreed to help Wang Chaoshan found the sect, with Wang Chaoshan likely becoming its first Sect Master.
• Li Yun sensed someone on the eastern side of the courtyard and realized the pursuer had followed him.

Zhuang Haiwen infiltrated Guiyang Stronghold to investigate who had sabotaged his plans at Crane Mountain, but Li Yun had already detected him and invited him into the courtyard. Their meeting ended with Zhuang Haiwen smashing the tea Li Yun offered and demanding to know how Li Yun knew the Wind-Splitting Saber Art and who had sent him.

• Zhuang Haiwen slipped into Guiyang Stronghold unnoticed by its sentries, but Li Yun detected him and sent Tian Qing to invite him inside.
• Tian Qing realized an intruder had entered the stronghold and, ashamed that Li Yun had spotted him first, went to confront the hidden sentries.
• Zhuang Haiwen dismissed Tian Qing and entered Li Yun's courtyard, where Li Yun calmly prepared tea for both of them.
• Li Yun warned Zhuang Haiwen that he would not kill him as long as he kept his saber sheathed, then praised the Azure Sea Needle Tea.
• Zhuang Haiwen swept his saber across the table, shattering his tea cup, and demanded to know how Li Yun knew the Wind-Splitting Saber Art and who had sent him to Crane Mountain to ruin his plans.

Li Yun defeated Zhuang Haiwen, who had come to Guiyang Stronghold seeking the Extinct Blade Sect's Martial Armory for the Zhuang Lineage. After Zhuang Haiwen threatened him with the lineage's revenge, Li Yun killed him and left the threat unanswered.

• Zhuang Haiwen drew his saber and attacked Li Yun, who stayed seated and used Earth Pulse Earth-Energy to rupture Zhuang Haiwen's spleen.
• Zhuang Haiwen accused Li Yun of ambushing him, but Li Yun mocked him and drove him back with overwhelming Blade Intent.
• Li Yun demanded to know why Zhuang Haiwen had followed him, and Zhuang Haiwen revealed that he sought an ancestor's legacy in the Extinct Blade Sect's Martial Armory.
• Zhuang Haiwen claimed the Martial Armory belonged to the Zhuang Lineage and threatened that they would avenge him if Li Yun killed him.
• Li Yun dismissed Zhuang Haiwen's threat and used earth-energy to shatter all five of his vital organs, killing him.

After disposing of Zhuang Haiwen's body, Li Yun investigated the heavily guarded Martial Armory, hoping to enter with his Five Elements Sovereign talent and Earth Burrowing Technique. The armory's defenses repelled him, and the resulting disturbance alerted its guards, forcing him to hide in a river.

• Tian Qing carried Zhuang Haiwen's corpse away to bury it and was ordered to ensure the sentries kept quiet about the night's events.
• Li Yun realized the Zhuang Lineage had secretly supported White-Headed Old Man Stronghold and decided to investigate the Martial Armory without telling Blood Tiger Stronghold.
• Li Yun infiltrated White-Headed Old Man Stronghold's territory and navigated the traps and hidden sentries guarding the ravine leading to the Martial Armory.
• Li Yun found the armory entrance guarded by an outpost of Acquired Realm Martial Artists and two Innate Masters, and saw that its gate required three Secret Keys.
• Li Yun tried to use his Earth Burrowing Technique to pass through the wall, but a powerful force sealed the earth-element power and stopped him.
• The wall trembled and alerted the guards, so Li Yun retreated and hid in a river across the ravine.

Li Yun entered the mountain through an underground river and used his Five Elements Sovereign Talent to bypass the Formation seal and reach the Martial Armory. He found the Extinct Blade Sect’s collection of nearly two thousand books and began reading them.

• Li Yun slipped back into the stream after the White-Headed Old Man Stronghold guards dismissed the earthquake as a false alarm.
• Li Yun followed the stream into an underground river beneath the mountain and discovered the Formation seal did not block it.
• Li Yun used the weakened earth seal inside the mountain to travel through the rock and locate a tunnel leading toward the Martial Armory.
• Li Yun explored the tunnel and entered a limestone cave lit by Luminous Pearls.
• Li Yun opened a stone door and found eighteen shelves holding nearly two thousand books containing the Extinct Blade Sect’s Martial Dao legacy.
• Li Yun removed a book’s wax coating and began to read.