Chapter Summaries

Su Yu discovered that the dark fragment resonated with the Indestructible Sutra and revealed incomplete words suggesting a connection to its second layer. Unable to recover a full inheritance, he stored the fragment and focused on restoring himself before the Eastern Pole True Dragon Gathering.

• Su Yu returned to Tianhai Courtyard, ate dinner, and sealed his room with the isolation formation before examining the fragment.
• As Su Yu circulated the Indestructible Sutra, the fragment glowed and revealed the incomplete words “Indestructible,” “Flesh and blood,” and “Second.”
• Su Yu concluded that the damaged fragment might hold a clue to the Indestructible Sutra’s second layer, but he could not recover a complete cultivation method.
• Su Yu placed the fragment in a Jade Box and decided to investigate its origins after the True Dragon Gathering rather than alert Old Hu to its value.
• Su Yu set aside further cultivation and sword practice, circulated the thirteenth level of the Azure Profound Divine Art, and waited for the gathering to begin.

As the True Dragon Gathering began in Dongji City, Ye Chen and his companions prepared to head to the venue. Yan Qingxuan and Su Yu emerged from secluded cultivation with breakthroughs to the fifth and sixth levels of the Sea Breaking Realm, and Jiang Yao arrived to lead them onward.

• A bell rang through Dongji City, and Ye Chen, Chu Changge, Luoting, and Lin Yue left cultivation with their Sea Breaking Realm cultivation stabilized.
• Xia Li, Yang Tian, and Luo Yunshang emerged at the Peak Ninth Level of Essence Transformation Realm, while Xia Yun Huang prepared to watch the gathering.
• Yan Qingxuan left her room after breaking through to the fifth level of the Sea Breaking Realm, and she encouraged Xia Yun Huang that she was close to a breakthrough.
• Su Yu emerged at the sixth level of the Sea Breaking Realm after a risky two-level breakthrough, and Yan Qingxuan urged him not to take such risks again.
• Jiang Yao arrived to escort the group, confirmed Su Yu's foundation was stable, and heard footsteps outside the courtyard gate.

Nie Kuanglan and the others accompanied Su Yu to the True Dragon Gathering, where his rapid rise to the Sixth Layer of the Sea Breaking Realm impressed his companions and drew attention from rival branches. At the venue, Su Yu reunited with Liu Tingchao and encountered the still-injured Fang Qingshi and his group.

• Elder Zhou checked Su Yu's aura and advised him to let his foundation settle after the gathering, while Lin Feng renewed his desire to fight him despite losing confidence.
• The group traveled through Dongji City to the enormous gathering venue, where Xia Yun Huang recognized the gulf between her place at the arena's edge and Su Yu's path toward its center.
• Jiang Yao brought the group into the Tianhai Chamber of Commerce's reserved area, where Su Yu greeted Liu Tingchao, who had decided at the last moment to attend.
• Liu Tingchao learned that Su Yu had reached the Sixth Layer of the Sea Breaking Realm and joked that the discovery had brought him another blow.
• Su Yu spotted the injured Fang Qingshi among Beiyue Branch's young martial artists, and the group that had previously mocked Su Yu fell quiet after sensing his cultivation.

Su Yu learned that his Dongxuan Token let him bypass the True Dragon Gathering’s three qualification tests and enter the Main Gathering waiting area. As the gathering opened, he separated from Yan Qingxuan and the others, who remained behind to face the tests whose rules had not yet been revealed.

• Su Yu’s arrival at the sixth level of the Sea Breaking Realm renewed Fang Qingshi’s distress over their earlier defeat, while Su Yu ignored him.
• A Tianhai Chamber of Commerce steward gave Su Yu a pale gold identity plaque linked to his Dongxuan Token and gave the other verified martial artists white plaques for the qualification tests.
• Jiang Yao explained that recommendation slots bypassed the first three tests, while the Dongxuan Token also connected its holder’s ranking to Dragon Luck shared with the recommending faction.
• Yan Qingxuan told Su Yu she would make it to the Main Gathering, and he said he believed her.
• When the bells opened the Main Gathering waiting area, Jiang Yao sent Su Yu inside, directed Yan Qingxuan and the other test candidates to wait for instructions, and sent Xia Li, Yang Tian, Luo Yunshang, and Xia Yun Huang to the spectator stands.
• Su Yu entered the passage as its Formation dispersed, while the eastern trial area remained sealed and the test rules stayed unknown.

Su Yu watched the Great Li Emperor and the leaders of the Ten Great Sects arrive at the True Dragon Gathering, where rivalries and the balance of power in the Eastern Domain became clear. As the gathering’s seats filled, an enormous ancient sword appeared in the sky.

• Su Yu entered the Tianhai Chamber of Commerce's seating area and observed the Great Li Emperor arrive and take his throne.
• The Thunder Pole Sect Purple-Robed Elder and the Guiyuan Sword Sect White-Haired Elder traded barbs before the Great Li Emperor stopped them from fighting.
• The Taixuan Sect Green-Robed Elder arrived, teased the two rivals, and watched as the remaining sect leaders took their seats.
• The Great Sun Sect Red-Browed Elder and the Nether Sect Black-Robed Elder exchanged threats, while the Heaven Wind Sect and Blood God Sect leaders also clashed before the Great Li Emperor restored order.
• Su Yu recognized that the Great Li Imperial Clan maintained order partly by balancing the Ten Great Sects against one another.
• A distant sword cry drew the sect elders' attention as an enormous ancient sword emerged through the clouds.

Heavenly Sword Mountain, Profound Heaven Sacred Land, and True Martial Pavilion arrived at the Eastern Pole True Dragon Gathering, where their leaders discussed Heavenly Sword Venerate’s lingering influence. Su Yu recognized the name as the person believed to hold Sword Elder’s remains, and the gathering’s main event began as crimson-gold light appeared in the passage.

• Heavenly Sword Mountain arrived on an ancient sword, and its gray-robed middle-aged representative greeted the Great Li Emperor.
• Profound Heaven Sacred Land arrived in a flying palace, and its white-robed woman exchanged remarks with Heavenly Sword Mountain about choosing disciples.
• True Martial Pavilion arrived on a giant black beast, and its burly elder joked with the Great Li Emperor and the other guests about his delayed journey.
• The leaders discussed Heavenly Sword Venerate’s seclusion and the respect his past sword battle still commanded from other powerful figures.
• Su Yu recalled that Sword Elder had identified Heavenly Sword Venerate as the likely holder of his remains, then suppressed his anger because he was not yet strong enough to pursue the old grudge.
• The three Central Domain forces took their seats as the Great Li Imperial Clan prepared the young disciples for the event, and crimson-gold firelight appeared in the passage.

The Seven Sects’ young geniuses arrived at the True Dragon Gathering, and several exchanged barbed remarks while noticing Su Yu’s rapid breakthrough. As the Upper Three Sects’ entrances remained closed, the Thunder Pole Sect passage finally lit up with purple lightning and crimson flame, drawing everyone’s attention.

• Pei Xuanyang and Ling Zhaoye noticed Su Yu had advanced to the sixth layer of the Sea Breaking Realm, and Ling Zhaoye said Pei Xuanyang should judge him after seeing him fight.
• Feng Changkong traded taunts with Pei Xuanyang about their unresolved contest before taking his seat.
• Xue Wusha suspected Su Yu had wielded the sharp power that disrupted his blood aura aboard the flying ship, while Luo Hanyi confronted Xue Wusha over the smell of his blood aura.
• Qin Xinghe and Gu Chongshan arrived with the Star Sect and Mountain Suppression Sect, and the Seven Sects’ waiting area grew tense as the geniuses awaited the Upper Three Sects.
• Pei Xuanyang complained that the Thunder Pole Sect was late, then fell silent as purple lightning and crimson flame emerged from its passage.

Lei Wuji, Chu Tianque, and Ji Xuanyi arrived at the True Dragon Gathering, drawing the attention of the gathered sect geniuses. Their presence left Su Yu unable to judge Ji Xuanyi’s strength, while the three Supremes took their places among the Upper Three Sects.

• Lei Wuji entered with resonant six-tenths Thunder Intent and Fire Intent, then challenged Pei Xuanyang to face him at the True Dragon Platform.
• Lei Wuji surveyed the seven sects’ geniuses before a surge of sword cries announced Chu Tianque’s arrival.
• Chu Tianque paused after noticing Su Yu, whose Perfect Sword Intent quieted the Cold Abyss Sword, then continued to his seat.
• Ji Xuanyi arrived in black robes, prompting Lei Wuji, Chu Tianque, and other geniuses to react to his obscured strength.
• Ji Xuanyi exchanged words with Lei Wuji and Chu Tianque, then took his place at Taixuan Sect as the three foremost young talents gathered.

The Great Li Emperor opened the Eastern Pole True Dragon Gathering’s qualification tests, revealing three trials for 1,862 martial artists. As the participants gathered before the first test, Su Yu recognized several rivals, including former Canghai Ranking champion Xiao Chenzhou; the purple-robed elder announced that the first round tested enlightenment.

• The Great Li Emperor declared that strength alone mattered on the True Dragon Platform and unveiled the three-part testing ground.
• An imperial elder assigned numbers to the jade tokens and announced that 1,862 martial artists would take the qualification tests, while spectators estimated that fewer than ten percent would pass.
• Su Yu surveyed the crowd and recognized Han Junyue, Xu Guanhai, Gu Hanzhou, Lu Mingchuan, Qin Xuance, Xie Wuya, Wei Qianlan, Yue Qianshan, Lu Qingmei, Lin Feng, and Zhao Yuxin.
• Su Yu spotted Xiao Chenzhou, the former top-ranked Canghai Ranking martial artist, and Xiao Chenzhou briefly met his gaze before looking back at the Enlightenment Stele.
• The purple-robed elder announced that the first round tested enlightenment.

The purple-robed elder explained the three rounds of the qualification trial: comprehension, combat strength, and martial will. The first batch began the comprehension test as the chapter ended.

• The purple-robed elder described the Enlightenment Stele test, its passing score, the ranking display, and the rules against cheating.
• Xu Guanhai warned Lu Mingchuan to steady his mind, while Su Yu discerned that the stele’s patterns showed incomplete martial principles.
• The purple-robed elder explained that participants had to make the combat-strength pillar shine green or brighter, with up to three attacks.
• The purple-robed elder described the Will Battlefield, where participants had to endure the illusion of powerful opponents, pain, and death without their martial will collapsing.
• Fang Qingshi recalled Su Yu’s sword strike and watched him before the first hundred participants took their places and began the comprehension test.

The first round of the True Dragon Gathering tested the participants’ comprehension of martial principles, eliminating nearly half of them. Yan Qingxuan finished first with ninety-seven points, and the survivors were given half an hour to rest before the second round.

• The first six batches of participants took the test, and many failed to reach the sixty-point passing score.
• Lu Mingchuan scored fifty-eight and was eliminated, while Gu Hanzhou passed with seventy-three and Xu Guanhai took first place with ninety-three.
• Han Junyue, Wei Qianlan, Yue Qianshan, Qin Xuance, Xie Wuya, Lu Qingmei, and Fang Qingshi passed their tests.
• Xiao Chenzhou scored ninety-five, moving ahead of Xu Guanhai on the comprehension ranking.
• Yan Qingxuan scored ninety-seven, while Ye Chen scored ninety and the other members of their group also passed.
• The first round ended with 968 of 1,862 participants advancing, and the purple-robed elder announced a half-hour rest before the second round.

The young martial artists tested their combat strength on the Seven-Colored Combat Power Pillars, with green required to qualify. Ye Chen reached green with his Eighty Percent Sword Intent, while several other geniuses also passed; Fang Qingshi stepped forward as the test continued.

• The purple-robed elder explained the pillar test, and early candidates who failed to reach green were eliminated.
• Luoting and Lin Yue both stopped at yellow, while Chu Changge narrowly failed despite unleashing Seventy Percent Sword Intent.
• Gu Hanzhou reached green, and Ye Chen qualified with a single strike powered by Eighty Percent Sword Intent.
• Several disciples from the Ten Great Sects reached cyan, while Han Junyue, Qin Xuance, Xie Wuya, Wei Qianlan, Lu Qingmei, and Yue Qianshan reached green but not cyan.
• Fang Qingshi stepped out from the crowd as the test continued.

The second round of the Seven-Colored Battle Power Pillars highlighted Xu Guanhai, Yan Qingxuan, and Xiao Chenzhou, while 417 participants advanced to the Will Battlefield. Liu Tingchao endured repeated deaths in an overwhelming illusion but was expelled shortly before the test ended.

• Fang Qingshi reached cyan, followed by Xu Guanhai and Yan Qingxuan, whose performances drew the attention of sect representatives.
• Xiao Chenzhou illuminated the blue crystal pillar with a single saber strike, impressing the True Martial Pavilion elder.
• After the second round, 417 participants entered the Will Battlefield, where the purple-robed elder explained that they had to endure until the incense burned out.
• Liu Tingchao repeatedly faced a masked spear-wielder in the illusion and failed to defend against its attacks, even as he resolved to keep trying to catch up with Su Yu, Yan Qingxuan, and Ye Chen.
• Liu Tingchao was expelled from the formation with little time remaining, and he accepted that he had narrowly failed the test.

Han Junyue, Wei Qianlan, Lu Qingmei, Gu Hanzhou, and Fang Qingshi were eliminated from the Will Battlefield, while Yue Qianshan endured his opponent’s attacks until time ran out. The third round ended with 173 of 417 participants qualifying for the Eastern Pole True Dragon Gathering.

• Han Junyue and Wei Qianlan lost their resolve after repeated defeats in the illusions and were eliminated from the Formation Platform.
• Lu Qingmei was sent out of the Formation Platform, and Gu Hanzhou was eliminated after realizing he could not answer whose path his sword sought to follow.
• Fang Qingshi became consumed with defeating Su Yu, ignited his Soul Power, and was forcibly expelled from the Will Battlefield before royal martial artists subdued him.
• Yue Qianshan repeatedly rose to fight the Heavy Sword despite his injuries, and his name remained lit until the incense ran out.
• The purple-robed elder ended the test and announced that 173 of the 417 participants had qualified for the Eastern Pole True Dragon Gathering.

The purple-robed elder explained the rules for the Eastern Pole True Dragon Gathering’s first main stage, a seven-day contest in the True Dragon Space where participants would compete for Dragon Luck. The 301 participants prepared to rest before entering the space the next morning, knowing that only 128 would advance.

• Ye Chen joined Su Yu and Yan Qingxuan after leaving the Will Battlefield, and they observed the direct-entry geniuses gathering with those who passed the qualification tests.
• The purple-robed elder summoned the True Dragon Stele and nine True Dragon Mirrors, then announced that all 301 participants would enter the True Dragon Space for the first stage.
• The elder explained that participants could earn Dragon Luck by defeating dragon spirits, claiming nodes, or defeating rivals, and that the top 128 after seven days would advance.
• The elder described how True Dragon Jade Talismans would record Dragon Luck, allow limited transfers after battles, and protect or withdraw participants facing mortal danger.
• The purple-robed elder warned against killing incapacitated opponents, explained the True Dragon Mirrors’ limited viewing, and told the participants to rest before gathering again the next morning.

Su Yu and the other qualified martial artists entered the True Dragon Space through bound jade talismans, which recorded their auras and sealed cultivation-boosting items. Su Yu was teleported into a desolate Stone Forest, where he discovered that the landscape shifted as he moved.

• The purple-robed elder distributed True Dragon Jade Talismans, and Su Yu and the other participants bound them to their auras.
• The purple-robed elder explained the talismans’ restrictions, and no participant withdrew.
• Su Yu, Yan Qingxuan, Ye Chen, Lin Feng, and the others took their Formation positions as the True Dragon Space opened.
• The Formation teleported Su Yu away from the platform and into a silent Stone Forest.
• Su Yu sensed no other martial artists or dragon spirits nearby, then noticed that two stone pillars had moved hundreds of zhang away after he took ten steps.

Su Yu navigated the Stone Forest, where distances shifted unpredictably, and defeated a gray dragon spirit whose Dragon Qi led him to a small Dragon Luck node. After absorbing its Dragon Qi, he continued investigating the distortion and realized that the distance between points—not his direction—was changing.

• Su Yu tested the Stone Forest’s shifting distances with a thrown stone, his Soul Power, and a sword mark, then encountered a gray dragon spirit that attacked from an apparently empty space.
• Su Yu waited until the dragon spirit came close and killed it with the Cold Abyss Sword, absorbing its Dragon Qi into the True Dragon Jade Talisman.
• The jade talisman pointed Su Yu toward a Dragon Luck node, but distorted distances and his returning sword mark made the journey take more than two hours.
• Liu Tingchao recognized Su Yu in a True Dragon Mirror, while Elder Zhou noticed that the Stone Forest itself was distorted.
• Su Yu reached the small node and absorbed its Dragon Qi, though his ranking remained beyond two hundredth place.
• Su Yu tested the distances between two boulders and concluded that the Stone Forest distorted the distance between points.

As the first day in the True Dragon Space ended, Feng Changkong rose to first place while Ye Chen fell near the bottom of the rankings. Su Yu, ranked two hundred and thirty-seventh after a day trapped in the distorted Stone Forest, discovered a fleeting passage between two stone pillars and rushed toward it.

• Feng Changkong overtook Xue Wusha to take first place on the True Dragon Stele, while the spectators discussed the leading geniuses' feats and rankings.
• Luoting found Yan Qingxuan at one hundred and twelfth and Ye Chen near the bottom; Ye Chen then dropped to one hundred and twenty-eighth.
• Elder Zhou and the others worried that Su Yu might be lost in the Stone Forest, where shifting space distorted distances and directions.
• Su Yu checked his True Dragon Jade Talisman and saw that he ranked two hundred and thirty-seventh after killing one Dragon Spirit and finding one small Dragon Qi gathering point.
• Su Yu tested the Stone Forest's distortions with gravel and Soul Power, discovered a temporary passage between two stone pillars, and dashed toward it.

Su Yu escaped the Chaotic Stone Forest, collected dragon luck, and climbed to 76th place while Lei Wuji defeated two powerful dragon spirits and took first. As the second day ended, the barrier to the True Dragon Space’s inner region began to weaken.

• Su Yu used his soul power and sword qi to escape the shifting passage in the Chaotic Stone Forest, then followed dragon aura across the grassland.
• Su Yu killed a gray-black dragon spirit and absorbed its dragon luck, raising his ranking from 237th to 189th.
• Su Yu found more dragon luck nodes and defeated three dragon spirits, reaching 104th place on the True Dragon Stele.
• Lei Wuji defeated purple and crimson dragon spirits guarding a rich node with coordinated thunder and fire attacks, claiming first place on the True Dragon Stele.
• By evening, Yan Qingxuan ranked 51st, Ye Chen ranked 72nd, and Su Yu had climbed to 76th.
• Su Yu watched the barrier to the inner region weaken as the third day approached and powerful dragon roars sounded beyond it.

Su Yu entered the inner region, defeated a swift dragon spirit, and claimed Dragon Qi nodes that raised his ranking to forty-seventh. Elsewhere, Chu Tianque broke a massive dragon-pattern barrier with one sword strike and secured second place, while a pillar of light drew powerful martial artists toward it at the end of the day.

• Su Yu entered the inner region and saw a golden dragon spirit guard a dense Dragon Qi node among enormous dragon bones.
• Su Yu used the Cold Abyss Sword and his Wind and Cloud movement to kill the dragon spirit, then absorbed the node's Dragon Qi and rose to sixty-first place.
• Su Yu found another node by afternoon and climbed to forty-eighth as rankings across the inner region shifted.
• Chu Tianque broke the dragon-pattern barrier around a vast dragon-skeleton node with a single sword strike and rose to second place, behind Lei Wuji.
• Su Yu reached forty-seventh place by the end of the third day, then headed toward a distant pillar of golden light as powerful auras converged on it.