Chapter Summaries

Elder in Python Robes used rank meat to lure sea beasts and force Zhang of Peach Blossom to yield, but the bait also summoned a deadly swarm of Ghost Fish. The Ghost Fish killed the beasts and trapped the gathered fighters above the open sea, leaving Elder in Python Robes facing the anger of his allies.

• Zhang of Peach Blossom tried to appease Elder in Python Robes by offering to arrange a meeting with Mr. Zhong, but Elder also demanded an answer for Xu Yi killing a comrade.
• Elder in Python Robes threatened Zhang and had Giant Bird Legion members scatter Nine-headed Camphorwood meat into the sea, prompting Zhang to yield.
• A Two-headed Giant Snake and a Blazing Fire Sea Lion rose to feed and began fighting over the meat.
• Ghost Fish appeared, devoured both sea beasts, and then leapt toward the people above the water.
• Elder in Python Robes realized the Ghost Fish had trapped everyone at sea and saw his newly assembled allies glare at him in resentment.

Xu Yi killed the Elder in Python Robes after Zhang of Peach Blossom and his companions refused to stand with him. After the three tried to attach themselves to Xu Yi, their threats provoked a fight, while Xu Yi continued focusing on cultivating and gathering information about the Peach Blossom Demon.

• The Elder in Python Robes tried to make Xu Yi kill himself while Zhang of Peach Blossom, the yellow-faced middle-aged man, and the beautiful woman in red disavowed him.
• Xu Yi killed the Elder in Python Robes with his Coral Horn and drove the assembled cultivators into a panic.
• The beautiful woman in red and her companions recognized Xu Yi as the fighter from the selection battle and tried to follow him, but the other cultivators surrounded them.
• Zhang of Peach Blossom and the beautiful woman in red threatened the crowd, and a fight broke out after Xu Yi refused to let their insults go unanswered.
• Xu Yi reflected that Liu Yinglin had found news of the Peach Blossom Demon and that he planned to cultivate while waiting for the Strength Battle to end.

Xu Yi used the Sound Interception Technique to uncover a plot against him, then killed four members of the group before they could carry it out. Eight mid-stage Soul Sensing Realm experts remained to face him as the battle began.

• Xu Yi ordered the others to kill Zhang of Peach Blossom and two companions, then collected their rings, soul bottles, and resentment orbs.
• Xu Yi made the survivors travel with him while Ghost Fish pursued them across the sea.
• Xu Yi overheard the group planning to lure away the Ghost Fish and trap him in a formation, with two Giant Bird Sect members assigned to use blood bait.
• Xu Yi killed the two bait-bearers, then slew the red-robed elder and the big-eared middle-aged man who were meant to anchor the formation.
• The eight surviving experts confronted Xu Yi, who retreated and prepared to rely on Swift Body Talismans, the Coral Horn, and his Fire Gang Malice.

Xu Yi fought off eight Soul Sensing experts, destroying their alliance and killing two of them as they fled. He pursued the remaining six until they stopped and tried to negotiate peace, knowing their plan and waiting for them to state their terms.

• Xu Yi used his Fire Gang Malice and Finger Swords to break through the eight experts’ defenses and damage their Mechanical Birds.
• Xu Yi exploited the group’s inability to defend themselves and destroyed two Mechanical Birds, causing the alliance to collapse.
• Two experts fled, but Xu Yi chased them down and killed them before pursuing the remaining six.
• The six experts discussed their dwindling supplies and the Ghost Fish, then agreed to ask Xu Yi for peace.
• The Bald Monk claimed their ambush had been a misunderstanding and proposed that they work together against the Ghost Fish.
• Xu Yi told the Bald Monk to state the plan they had agreed on instead of wasting time.

Xu Yi forced the Bald Monk and five other cultivators to swallow Life-Death Gu, turning them into his subordinates, then questioned the Bald Monk about the Strength Battle. He learned that the Strength Order directed the trial and points mattered, and he warned the group not to use Fire Gang Malice against him.

• The Bald Monk and the other five swallowed Life-Death Gu and handed their empty bottles to Xu Yi to avoid being killed.
• Xu Yi stopped the group from flying farther, shared food and water with them, and asked about the Strength Battle.
• The Bald Monk explained that the Strength Order guided the trial and that earning points brought greater benefits and rewards.
• Xu Yi reassured the six that he would not kill his new helpers for points, then threatened them against revealing Fire Gang Malice.
• The Bald Monk denied that he or the others would betray Xu Yi and flattered him as their benefactor.

Xu Yi and his companions reached the Chaotic Light Gate, the only route to the second checkpoint and their hope of survival. When they learned that only ten people could pass through at a time, Xu Yi kept his group together and led them into the fierce battle around the gate.

• Xu Yi handed out voice-transmission balls and read accounts of the Chaotic Star Sea while his companions waited.
• When the Strength Orders announced the route to the second checkpoint, Xu Yi led the seven of them northwest to the light gate.
• Xu Yi saw cultivators repelled by the gate and learned from the Bald Monk that it admitted only ten people per round, up to 120 in a day.
• Triangle Eye and the others urged Xu Yi to enter alone, but Xu Yi ordered them to follow him and obey his commands.
• Xu Yi led his companions toward the gate as cultivators fought in a deadly free-for-all, and Strength Orders exploded when attacks struck comrades.

Xu Yi led six others through the light gate by exploiting the exhausted crowd’s hesitation and shielding their charge with a baleful barrier. On the far side, the Bald Monk and Triangle Eye considered pledging themselves to Xu Yi, while Xu Yi narrowly escaped a Pincer-tailed Tiger Crocodile in a swamp.

• Xu Yi disguised his group with Body Concealing Pills, formed a mutual defense array, and charged toward the light gate as the fighting subsided.
• Xu Yi’s group warned the crowd that their attacks could endanger their comrades, then used a powerful baleful barrier to withstand the weakened assault and pass through the gate.
• The Bald Monk and Triangle Eye landed safely, praised Xu Yi’s judgment and ability, and privately considered pledging themselves to him.
• More members of the Giant Bird Legion arrived, while Xu Yi landed near a mud pit and narrowly escaped a Pincer-tailed Tiger Crocodile’s bite.

Xu Yi rejoined the Blazing Fire Legion after surviving a magnetic storm and passing through a Chaotic Light Gate. The Young Master appointed him chief squad leader, and Guo Zhongye withdrew his objection.

• Xu Yi approached the Blazing Fire Legion’s gathering after restoring his original appearance, and Mr. Hong praised him to the Young Master and the assembled members.
• Guo Zhongye objected to Mr. Hong’s praise and pointed out that Xu Yi had only fifty points on his Strength Order, compared with his own eighty.
• The Young Master ordered Guo Zhongye to yield the chief squad leader position to Xu Yi, while Xu Yi apologized for failing to protect him.
• Mr. Hong explained that Xu Yi had survived a magnetic storm in the Star Explosion Sea and passed through a Chaotic Light Gate, astonishing the crowd.
• Guo Zhongye apologized and accepted that Xu Yi was stronger, and Mr. Hong announced Xu Yi as chief squad leader.

Xu Yi joined the expedition to hunt monsters in Starry Canyon, hoping to earn points and obtain a mid-grade Thunder Spirit Stone. He set off toward the teleportation array while the young master in yellow and Old Hong debated whether he could become an asset to the Blazing Fire Merchant Association.

• Xu Yi declined a command post, and the young master in yellow left Guo Zhongye in charge of the squad.
• Old Hong explained that the group would raid monster lairs in Starry Canyon and earn points and rewards by collecting monster cores.
• Xu Yi learned the core values and asked whether a Speech Stage core could be exchanged for a mid-grade Spirit Stone.
• Xu Yi revealed that he needed a mid-grade Thunder Spirit Stone, but Old Hong said the Blazing Fire Merchant Association did not have one and suggested he earn enough points to seek one from Venerate of Light's treasury.
• Xu Yi headed southwest toward the teleportation array, while Old Hong and the young master in yellow discussed whether Xu Yi could benefit their association.

Xu Yi gathered the six people he had rescued and ordered them to help capture a Thunder Cat Bear, then disrupted a battle against three bears near Mysterious Thunder Cave. After seeing the bears huddle together in fear, he let them escape into the cave.

• Xu Yi reached a forest checkpoint, killed a blue-robed cultivator who tried to stop him, and flew west to meet the Bald Monk and Triangle Eye.
• The other four members of Xu Yi's group arrived, and he ordered them to help him deal with a Thunder Cat Bear despite their objections.
• Xu Yi led the group southeast to Mysterious Thunder Cave, where more than twenty cultivators from three sects were fighting three Thunder Cat Bears.
• Xu Yi broke through the attackers' formation, allowing the three injured bears to flee into the cave.

Xu Yi drove off a hunting party by demonstrating overwhelming power and claiming the Thunder Cat Bear den for several legions. After his companions took up watch, he addressed the bears inside in the language of demons.

• The white-robed young master refused to accept Xu Yi's claim to the den, though he had drugged most of its Thunder Cat Bears with Imperial Dragon Saliva Incense.
• Xu Yi struck the ground with a powerful blow, creating a huge crater and frightening the hunters into reconsidering a fight.
• Bald Monk and the others arrived, and Xu Yi's companions used their legion badges to reinforce the impression that several legions had joined forces.
• The hunters fled, and the white-robed young master left after glaring at Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi ordered his companions to guard the perimeter, then called to Brother Xiong in the language of demons.

Xu Yi persuaded the Thunder Cat Bear clan’s leader, who called himself Lei Zi, that he wanted to negotiate rather than attack. He began proposing a deal, arguing that human cultivators would continue to threaten the clan even if he left.

• Xu Yi explained that he had overheard the Thunder Cat Bears and challenged their belief that all humans were enemies.
• Xu Yi warned that the clan could not protect its members or treasures against human attackers, prompting the largest Thunder Cat Bear to confront him.
• Xu Yi calmly argued that he had no wish to harm the clan and that attacking him and his allies would bring disaster.
• The Thunder Cat Bear introduced himself as the Son of Thunder and demanded to be called Lei Zi.
• Xu Yi said he wanted to make a deal and explained that human cultivators would keep harassing the Thunder Cat Bear clan every few decades.

Xu Yi negotiated with the Thunder Cat Bear for demon cores in exchange for sparing and protecting the clan. He accepted the bear’s offer of two powerful cores for a hundred lesser ones, though he immediately regretted not bargaining harder.

• Xu Yi explained that he had driven off the humans to protect the Thunder Cat Bear clan and asked for a small payment of demon cores.
• The Thunder Cat Bear returned to the cave to consult the other bears, then offered Xu Yi a deal rather than fight.
• The Thunder Cat Bear proposed exchanging one Early-stage Tongyu Realm core and one Mid-stage Tongyu Realm core for a hundred demon cores.
• Xu Yi recognized that the Thunder Cat Bear was bluffing but accepted the offer anyway, then regretted not negotiating for more.

Xu Yi agreed to protect Thunder Cat Bear's clan in exchange for two demon cores, trusting Thunder Cat Bear to keep his promise. He used the supposed alliance of the Five Great Legions to drive away intruders and promised his six companions rewards and a chance to withdraw after this checkpoint.

• Thunder Cat Bear said he would give Xu Yi the demon cores after Xu Yi fulfilled his promise, and Xu Yi agreed to trust him.
• Xu Yi told his six companions to guard the demon lair and set an hourglass to track the remaining time in the twelve-hour demon-hunting battle.
• When three riders approached, Xu Yi claimed the lair was occupied by the Five Great Legions, and the riders left without a fight.
• Xu Yi and his companions used the same bluff to turn away more than ten groups over the next five hours.
• Bald Monk asked Xu Yi why they were guarding the lair, and Xu Yi promised each companion at least a hundred spirit stones and a chance to withdraw after the checkpoint.

Xu Yi tried to hold the Thunder Cat Bear lair until the second trial ended as more groups converged on it. The White-Robed Young Master returned with Brother Fan and attacked Xu Yi, who kept stalling while the others hid inside the lair.

• Triangle Eye and the Bald Monk argued over who was closer to Xu Yi, while Xu Yi warned everyone to stay alert.
• As more groups arrived, Xu Yi led the others into the lair and stayed outside to keep watch.
• The White-Robed Young Master arrived with Brother Fan and accused Xu Yi of stealing his points and ruining his attempt to capture the Thunder Cat Bears.
• Xu Yi claimed the Five Great Legions had already divided the bears and left him behind, hoping to delay the newcomers.
• The White-Robed Young Master attacked Xu Yi with a baleful blade, but Xu Yi dodged it.

Xu Yi provoked Brahma into a public fight, then used the rivalry between Brahma and the Star Sea Myth to delay the battle. Jing Qianjian arrived, challenged Brahma’s motives, and left the promised showdown poised to begin.

• Xu Yi claimed he had waited for a worthy opponent, enraging the young master in white, who introduced Brahma the Invincible.
• Brahma accepted Xu Yi’s challenge, and Xu Yi proposed waiting for a larger audience before they fought.
• Nearly a hundred people gathered, and Xu Yi stalled by asking Brahma to wait for the Star Sea Myth, Jing Qianjian.
• Brahma granted Xu Yi half an hour to wait for Jing Qianjian before forcing the fight.
• Jing Qianjian arrived with dozens of comrades and accused Brahma of trying to prove himself worthy of a duel by beating Xu Yi.

Xu Yi delayed his fight with Brahma by arranging a public wager and then disputing the terms, while Brahma struggled to protect his chance to make a name for himself. With less than two incense sticks left before the trial ended, Xu Yi finally beckoned Brahma to attack, but imposed more conditions and continued trying to stall.

• Xu Yi proposed a wager on his fight with Brahma, drawing the crowd into a lengthy debate over how to manage the stakes.
• The Black Robed Elder, identified as Song Xingyan, asked Xu Yi and Brahma to hand over their spirit stones, but Xu Yi objected and Brahma and Jing Qianjian backed him.
• After the crowd's wagers were secured, Xu Yi challenged Brahma with less than two incense sticks remaining before the trial ended.
• Xu Yi said he would fight barehanded and demanded that Brahma let him attack for one incense stick, infuriating Brahma.
• Xu Yi focused on prolonging the confrontation while concealing his limited offensive options.

Xu Yi faced Brahma without using a magic artifact and challenged him to attack while he stood his ground. He shattered Brahma’s Ice Soul Slash barehanded, leaving the arena stunned.

• Xu Yi refused to use a magic artifact and told Brahma he would withstand an attack without dodging.
• Brahma summoned Frost Snow Mark and unleashed Snow Falls Upon the World, but Xu Yi’s soul garment endured until the attack ended.
• Xu Yi challenged Brahma to land one attack while he stood still, and Brahma promised to submit if Xu Yi survived it.
• Brahma used Ice Soul Slash, sending a massive crescent blade toward Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi stood motionless and shattered the crescent blade between his palms.

Xu Yi used Stars Shift and Heavens Turn to turn Brahma’s Water Gang Sha against the protective array, scattering the spirit stones and frightening his opponents into submission. He concealed the severe damage the technique had done to his meridians as the crowd fought over the stones.

• Xu Yi unleashed a mass of intertwined energy that shattered the array guarding the spirit stones.
• The crowd rushed to seize the falling stones and descended into a violent fight.
• Brahma and Jing Qianjian abandoned their plans to challenge Xu Yi after witnessing his power.
• Xu Yi recalled how he had instinctively used Stars Shift and Heavens Turn to absorb Brahma’s attack and combine Water Gang Sha with Fire Gang Malice.
• Xu Yi realized the technique could contain Gang Sha because his meridians had surpassed its original limits, though forcing it had badly injured them.
• Xu Yi remained still and hid his dire condition, keeping the crowd at a distance.

Xu Yi used the Great Evolution Array of Rotation to turn the crowd’s attacks back on them, killing dozens and raising his Strength Order score above the threshold for purple. With the trial nearly over, his allies congratulated him while Jing Qianjian and the surviving opponents fled.

• Xu Yi’s scheme unraveled when the awakened Thunder Cat Bears revealed that he had not yet completed the trial.
• Jing Qianjian urged the crowd to abandon their fight over spirit stones and attack Xu Yi, who activated the Great Evolution Array of Rotation.
• The array absorbed the crowd’s combined attack and blasted it southeast, killing nearly thirty people and scattering more than twenty souls.
• The deaths sent Xu Yi’s Strength Order score above six hundred, turning his token purple.
• The Bald Monk and the others congratulated Xu Yi, while the surviving crowd cursed him and Jing Qianjian fled.