Chapter Summaries

Li Yun passed the True Martial Platform’s test, and Liu Yunshi agreed to recognize his contributions and arrange an exchange for the nearly two thousand techniques he brought back. Li Yun proposed delaying an expedition into the Beast-Grazing Land until he could develop a technique to disguise a person’s aura, and the True Martial Platform agreed to relay the plan.

• Zhao Gongnian insisted that Li Fenghua’s contributions be recognized and that he receive the rewards he had earned.
• Liu Yunshi told Li Yun that the True Martial Platform would recognize his contributions and asked to copy techniques from the Purple Moon Continent; Li Yun agreed to let it copy nearly two thousand in exchange for cultivation resources.
• Liu Yunshi asked Li Yun for his opinion on sending people into the Beast-Grazing Land, and Li Yun warned that they would need enough strength to survive the Weird Demons’ hunts.
• Li Yun proposed postponing the plan while he developed a technique to conceal or imitate a person’s aura, allowing martial artists to establish a foothold in the Beast-Grazing Land.
• Liu Yunshi agreed to pass Li Yun’s proposal up the chain, then taunted Zhao Gongnian before leaving Villa No. 1 with the True Martial Platform’s delegation.

Li Yun declined a promotion ceremony but asked Zhao Gongnian for cultivation resources, then cultivated rapidly at the Western Suburbs Spiritual Qi Acupoint. As Zhao Gongnian delivered the promised treasures and pills to the Qiao Family Residence, Li Yun rushed back to claim them, astonishing the accompanying Inner Sect Elders with his bluntness.

• Li Yun told Zhao Gongnian he was confident he could create a technique to alter a person's aura and fool the Weird Demons, though he needed time.
• Li Yun refused a promotion ceremony but asked Zhao Gongnian to provide cultivation resources, and Zhao promised to support him.
• Li Yun returned to the Western Suburbs Spiritual Qi Acupoint and, after three days of cultivation, accumulated enough True Qi to fill two apertures.
• Li Yun worried that filling his Seven Hundred Twenty Apertures would take years and resolved to obtain resources and reach the Purple Moon Continent quickly.
• Zhao Gongnian brought cultivation treasures and pills to the Qiao Family Residence and sent Qiao Tai to summon Li Yun.
• Li Yun hurried back, thanked Zhao Gongnian, and openly asked where the resources were, leaving the accompanying Inner Sect Elders dumbstruck.

Zhao Gongnian defended his decision to give Li Fenghua special cultivation resources after learning that Li Yun had filled two apertures in three days without help. The Inner Sect Elders suspected Zhao Gongnian had a personal reason for favoring Li Fenghua, just as Liu Yunshi arrived and mocked the Sect Master for acting as Li Fenghua’s nanny.

• The Inner Sect Elders questioned Li Fenghua’s special resource allotment and bristled at his blunt manner.
• Zhao Gongnian discovered that Li Yun had filled two apertures with True Qi in three days without resources and was astonished by his speed.
• Xu Sanqiu urged Zhao Gongnian to revoke the allotment, but Zhao Gongnian refused and ordered the elders not to interfere.
• The Inner Sect Elders suspected Li Fenghua might be Zhao Gongnian’s illegitimate son, and Zhao Gongnian noticed their suspicious expressions.
• Liu Yunshi arrived at the Qiao Family Residence with his subordinates and teased Zhao Gongnian for becoming Li Fenghua’s full-time nanny.

Liu Yunshi delivered the True Martial Platform’s decision to follow Li Fenghua’s counter-invasion plan, along with First-Class Merit, abundant cultivation resources, and a Level One pass granting access to the Cangnan Headquarters Martial Armory. Li Yun then showed Liu Yunshi and Zhao Gongnian nearly two thousand martial texts from the Purple Moon Continent and gave them Spiritual Imprints to help them learn its language.

• Zhao Gongnian and Liu Yunshi traded barbs while Liu Yunshi greeted Li Fenghua and offered to be called Uncle Liu.
• Liu Yunshi told Li Fenghua that the True Martial Platform had postponed its plan and would act when Li Fenghua was ready to lead the counter-invasion.
• Liu Yunshi announced Li Fenghua’s First-Class Merit and presented him with eight chests of cultivation resources and a Level One pass.
• Liu Yunshi confirmed that Li Fenghua could freely enter the Cangnan Headquarters Martial Armory and copy any Cultivation Techniques or Martial Arts there.
• Li Yun led Liu Yunshi and Zhao Gongnian to a room containing nearly two thousand Purple Moon Continent martial texts and gave each of them a Spiritual Imprint to learn the language.

Li Yun improved the Divine Wind Saber Art and Falling-Dust Light-Smoke Step to the Perfection Realm, then decided to leave for the Beast-Grazing Land the next day. As he practiced his new footwork on the way back to the Qiao Family Residence, two figures appeared on the mountain path.

• Li Yun’s True Qi cultivation reached nearly eighty apertures, and he used his remaining Myriad Wonders Points to perfect the Divine Wind Saber Art and Falling-Dust Light-Smoke Step.
• Li Yun resolved to travel through the Beast-Grazing Land to the Purple Moon Continent and planned to tell Qiao Tai, Qiao Meng, and Zhao Gongnian before leaving.
• Li Yun practiced the Falling-Dust Light-Smoke Step while walking back, drawing a small amount of earth energy to replenish his True Qi.
• Two figures appeared on the mountain path about two kilometers from the Qiao Family Residence as Li Yun walked beneath the night sky.

Li Yun confronted Zhang Qi and another Innate Aperture Refining Realm Martial Artist who had been sent by Wang Lifeng to kill him. After taunting them, Li Yun watched Zhang Qi launch a powerful saber attack, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Zhang Qi and his companion discussed how Wang Lifeng had ordered Li Yun's death and decided to kill him before Qiao Tai could arrive.
• Li Yun approached the two men and asked if Wang Lifeng had sent them, then threatened to kill Wang Lifeng himself.
• Zhang Qi and his companion mocked Li Yun, and Li Yun called them dead men who reeked of corpses.
• Zhang Qi drew his saber and unleashed a fierce attack with his cultivated saber art, while his companion was surprised by its strength.

Li Yun killed Zhang Qi and his companion after they attacked him, then met Ye Chen, who had been tracking the two men. Recognizing Ye Chen as a notorious figure, Li Yun decided Wang Lifeng was unlikely to survive long with Ye Chen around.

• Zhang Qi's companion complained that Zhang Qi had concealed his mastery of the Autumn Wind Falling Leaves Blade, then watched Li Fenghua overpower Zhang Qi with a single strike.
• Li Yun's Divine Wind Blade Intent killed Zhang Qi's fleeing companion as he tried to escape.
• Li Yun sheathed his blade and said he wanted to go to the Beast-Grazing Land to fight freely and earn Myriad Wonders Points.
• Li Yun sensed a hidden onlooker and called him out; the young man emerged and explained that he had been tracking Zhang Qi and his companion.
• Li Yun recognized the man as Ye Chen and recalled that he had killed Luo Han in a Sand City nightclub.
• Li Yun concluded that Ye Chen would likely kill Wang Lifeng within two months, so he no longer needed to pursue Wang Lifeng himself.

Ye Chen learned from Elder Ming that Li Yun had reached perfect Body Tempering, opening all 360 apertures, and was far more extraordinary than he had believed. Elder Ming warned Ye Chen not to provoke Li Yun or dwell on fate, while Ye Chen considered challenging him to a spar.

• Li Yun told Ye Chen he believed Ye Chen would become a peerless martial expert, then departed without explaining his confidence.
• Ye Chen summoned Elder Ming from the Ring, and Elder Ming identified Li Yun as an extraordinary talent who had opened all 360 apertures before entering the Aperture Refining Realm.
• Elder Ming warned Ye Chen not to offend Li Yun, and Ye Chen recalled that Wang Lifeng had sent people to ambush him.
• Elder Ming described how some people were fated to offend those they should not and meet miserable ends, but cautioned Ye Chen against probing or trying to control fate.
• Ye Chen asked whether he could spar with Li Yun, and Elder Ming left the decision to him before returning to the Ring.

Li Yun returned to the Qiao Family Residence, revealed his real name to Qiao Meng, and spent the night with her before preparing to leave again. He guided her cultivation, then quietly entered Demon Cave No. 27 at dusk.

• Li Yun told Qiao Meng that Wang Lifeng had sent men to kill him and said he would enter the Beast-Grazing Land again the next day.
• Li Yun embraced Qiao Meng, revealed that his real name was Li Yun, and carried her to the bedroom.
• Ye Chen arrived at the Qiao Family Residence but left after he and Elder Ming realized Li Yun and Qiao Meng were together inside.
• Li Yun taught Qiao Meng the Five Elements Creation Heavenly Art and left a Spiritual Imprint to help her cultivate faster.
• Li Yun spent more time with Qiao Meng, then slipped back into Demon Cave No. 27 at dusk.

Li Yun returned to the Beast-Grazing Land, brought Sun Yifei and his two companions into the Myriad Wonders World, and slaughtered Weird Demons to amass points. After his total passed three hundred thousand, a powerful enemy's killing intent appeared above the Mountain Forest.

• Li Yun found Sun Yifei and his two companions near their former meeting place and offered to take them to the Purple Moon Continent.
• Li Yun knocked the three unconscious, brought them into the Myriad Wonders World, and assigned the Ginseng King to watch over them.
• Li Yun resumed hunting Weird Demons across the Beast-Grazing Land and gathered over a hundred thousand Myriad Wonders Points within two or three days.
• Li Yun continued slaughtering Weird Demons for another seven or eight days, pushing his points past three hundred thousand.
• As Li Yun rested in the Mountain Forest, a sharp killing intent appeared overhead, followed by a bolt of ink-black lightning.

Li Yun survived a devastating Thunderbolts attack by hiding underground, but a Spirit Condensation Realm Demon Person and his forces searched for him. He discovered the enemy had sealed the area with a hidden Thunder Barrier and was trapped inside, uncertain how to escape without being detected.

• Li Yun hid nearly a hundred meters underground and survived the Thunderbolts attack, though the tremors injured him.
• Thousands of Weird Beasts and Demon People surrounded the Mountain Forest as a purple-robed Spirit Condensation Realm expert ordered them to search for Li Yun.
• The Spirit Condensation Realm expert used Thunderbolts True Intent to scan beneath the ground, so Li Yun cautiously fled beyond the range of his gaze.
• Li Yun discovered a hidden Thunder Barrier enclosing the area from above ground to deep underground and realized the expert had set a trap to force him into the open.
• Li Yun considered using Earth Power to break through the barrier but feared the attempt would reveal his location.

Li Yun used his Yin-Yang Eyes to distort the Thunder Barrier and escape the Demon People Leader’s Thunder Prison. He fled far underground and across the surface, while the Demon People Leader discovered the breach too late to pursue him easily.

• Li Yun tried to batter the Thunder Barrier with Earth Power, but realized it would take three days and consume too much True Qi.
• Li Yun used his Yin-Yang Eyes to send yin-yang power into the Thunder Barrier, which began to twist without alerting the Demon People Leader.
• Li Yun fired two more bursts of yin-yang power, widening a fissure in the barrier enough for him to escape.
• Li Yun traveled seven or eight kilometers underground, surfaced, entered his Demon Soul state, and fled at full speed.
• More than two hours later, the Demon People Leader discovered the breach and raged, but finding Li Yun again would be difficult.

Li Yun returned to the Purple Moon Continent and learned that Demon Caves had appeared in both the Great Yan Kingdom and the Southern Xuan Dynasty. After warning Sun Yifei and the other two about the worsening invasion, he asked them to gather intelligence while he prepared to establish a faction in Western Mountain Commandery.

• Li Yun left the Beast-Grazing Land through the Demon Cave and investigated the situation in Green Mountain City.
• Li Yun learned that the Great Yan Kingdom was fighting Weird Demons and that a Demon Cave had appeared in the Southern Xuan Dynasty.
• Li Yun released Sun Yifei and the other two, fed them, and warned them that the invasion of the Purple Moon Continent was worsening.
• Li Yun explained that he hoped to grow stronger, find the Devil Master, and help Blue Star and the Purple Moon Continent join forces.
• Li Yun asked Sun Yifei and the other two to learn the local language, join factions, and gather information for him in Western Mountain Commandery without revealing they came from Blue Star.

Li Yun returned to Western Mountain Commandery after a month away and reunited with Xiuhe, who discovered that he had entered the Innate Realm. When he revealed his King Grade True Qi, Xiuhe realized her young master might become a Martial King.

• Li Yun returned to Western Mountain Commandery and embraced the worried Xiuhe.
• Xiuhe noticed Li Yun had formed True Qi and asked whether he had cultivated High-Grade True Qi.
• Li Yun corrected Xiuhe's guesses about his True Qi grade, leaving her to suspect it was Mystery Grade.
• Li Yun released a trace of his King Grade True Qi, suppressing Xiuhe's ability to circulate her own True Qi.
• Xiuhe realized Li Yun had already cultivated King Grade True Qi.

Li Yun returned home after cultivating King Grade True Qi, astonishing Xiuhe with the feat and promising to seek a way to transform her True Qi. Cao Wenxuan visited Li Yun bearing an unusually generous gift and asked him to go to the Cloud Immortal Residence.

• Xiuhe repeatedly asked Li Yun how he had cultivated King Grade True Qi, then reacted with awe when he explained its significance.
• Li Yun told Xiuhe he might be able to change her True Qi after studying more Xiantian Cultivation Techniques, and she went to prepare food.
• Cao Wenxuan arrived at Li Yun's home with a large gift of Pearl White Leaf tea and claimed he had come to pay a visit.
• Li Yun recognized that Cao Wenxuan had an ulterior motive but welcomed him and asked him to speak plainly.
• Cao Wenxuan admitted he had a favor to ask and asked Li Yun to go to the Cloud Immortal Residence.

Li Yun learned that Cloud Immortal Residence stood where Cloud Immortal Valley had once been, the site of a century-old upheaval between martial artists from Great Yan and the Black and White Dynasty. Cao Wenxuan recounted how rumors of an immortal maiden and a hidden opportunity drew even Martial Kings to the valley, but the supposed treasure was never found.

• Cao Wenxuan invited Li Yun to visit Cloud Immortal Residence and described it as a Martial Dao Holy Land.
• Li Yun asked about a legendary battle there, and Cao Wenxuan explained that ten Martial Kings had fought over an opportunity a hundred years earlier.
• Cao Wenxuan told Li Yun that the site had once been Cloud Immortal Valley, a misty place rich in Spirit Qi and natural treasures.
• Cao Wenxuan said rumors claimed Cloud Immortal Aunt had transformed the valley and might have left behind a great opportunity.
• Cao Wenxuan explained that martial artists flocked to the valley and fought over the rumored treasure, but nobody found it, and Cloud Immortal Aunt faded into legend.

Li Yun learned that Cloud Immortal Residence might be connected to the legendary Cloud Immortal Aunt and agreed to visit so he could obtain an Entry Token for Cao Wenxuan. He planned to investigate the residence while telling himself he was going to critique it and protect himself.

• Cao Wenxuan told Li Yun that Cloud Immortal Residence had been built in Cloud Immortal Valley and that its mysterious founder might be descended from Cloud Immortal Aunt.
• Cao Wenxuan explained that handsome men could enter without an Entry Token and receive two tokens when they left.
• Li Yun realized Cao Wenxuan wanted him to secure a token and offered him three thousand taels of gold for the favor.
• Li Yun agreed to visit Cloud Immortal Residence, suspecting it concealed something beyond its reputation for beautiful women.
• Li Yun feigned eagerness to visit while privately deciding to investigate the residence before its secrets could catch him off guard.

Li Yun went to the Cloud Immortal Residence in Cloud Immortal Valley to see what made it so famous and whether he could gain entry. On the way there, Zhang Yingjun mistook Li Yun’s handsome face for mockery and ordered his guards to kill him.

• After Cao Wenxuan left, Xiuhe warned Li Yun that the Cloud Immortal Residence seemed suspicious, but Li Yun said he would visit it the next morning.
• Li Yun traveled toward Cloud Immortal Valley and saw young martial artists returning dejectedly after being denied entry.
• Li Yun crossed the marsh around the valley with the Falling-Dust Light-Smoke Step and admired the site as a possible base for his own force.
• Zhang Yingjun cursed the Cloud Immortal Residence after receiving a low score for his looks and being denied entry.
• When Zhang Yingjun saw Li Yun, he grew resentful of Li Yun’s greater handsomeness and ordered his guards to kill him.

Li Yun killed a White Robe youth and his guards after they attacked him, then continued to Cloud Immortal Valley. There, Qin Mu gave him a score of ninety-five and registered him under the false name Lin Zishan, sending him onward for further screening to meet the Cloud Immortal Maiden.

• The White Robe youth sent his Xiantian guards after Li Yun, and Li Yun killed the guards and then beheaded the youth.
• Li Yun reached Cloud Immortal Valley and climbed to a checkpoint on the mountainside.
• Qin Mu assessed Li Yun’s appearance at ninety-five points and offered to register him for the Cloud Immortal Residence.
• Li Yun gave Qin Mu the name Lin Zishan and learned that the Cloud Immortal Maiden was his young mistress.
• Qin Mu registered Li Yun and told him to continue uphill for a stricter second score, while the waiting young men watched enviously.

Li Yun reached Cloud Immortal Residence’s second checkpoint, where he learned that candidates had to endure a painful test to prove their physical strength. He accepted a Flame-Burning Pill from a seductive evaluator, unaware of her contemptuous reaction.

• Li Yun arrived at the second checkpoint and impressed the matrons and young women with his appearance and bearing.
• A matron explained that the second evaluation tested candidates’ physiques and that a score above ninety would let them proceed to the third checkpoint.
• Li Yun waited in a room, where a beautiful woman appeared and offered him a Flame-Burning Pill that caused intense pain.
• The woman said Li Yun had to endure the pill’s effects for sixty breaths to pass, and ninety breaths to earn a score of ninety.
• Li Yun pretended to be bewitched by the woman and eagerly took the pill, while she secretly regarded him with contempt.