Recaps

Zhang Qingyuan advanced to the True Essence Second Layer and joined an expedition into the Spirit Sea Sword Sect Ruins, where he survived the Gold Devouring Bees and gathered treasures. After defeating Fan Hongrui and reaching Second Layer Perfection, he hurried to the sect gate as the Mountain Protecting Formation was breached.

• Zhang Qingyuan killed Zeng Mingshi, returned to the Moon Liên Islands, and later exchanged the bounty for treasures and a Gui Water Pill Recipe, which he used to break through to the True Essence Second Layer.
• Tan Nansheng and Miao Bokang told Zhang Qingyuan that Zeng Mingshi had stolen the Spirit Sea Sword Token and invited him to help open the Spirit Sea Sword Sect Ruins, and Zhang Qingyuan accepted.
• Zhang Qingyuan and seven other cultivators opened a passage into the ruins, where Gold Devouring Bees attacked and Wang struck Zhang Qingyuan from behind.
• Zhang Qingyuan used the Yin Yang Yuan Ci Beads to escape the swarm, destroyed part of its hive, and took Royal Jelly, honey, Bee Pupae, and Worker Bees.
• Zhang Qingyuan refined the Royal Jelly while traveling through the ruins, fought demonic beasts, and killed a Great Serpent guarding a Snake Tongue Fruit.
• Fan Hongrui tried to seize the fruit, but Zhang Qingyuan defeated him and killed him after hearing his claim that an unfinished Spirit Artifact remained in the Fire Vein.
• Zhang Qingyuan consumed the Snake Tongue Fruit and reached True Essence Second Layer Perfection, then hurried toward the sect gate as cultivators attacked the Mountain Protecting Formation.
• The Mountain Protecting Formation at the Spirit Sea Sword Sect Gate was breached in a deafening explosion.

Zhang Qingyuan entered the Spirit Sea Sword Sect ruins, gained Qianyuanzi’s inheritance, and killed Wang Xing after Wang sabotaged the inheritance space. He then headed to Yangjin Peak to seek the unfinished Half-Spirit Artifact, where cultivators broke through the mountain’s restrictions and the Yanluo Twin Ghosts confronted him over a treasure he had found.

• Zhang Qingyuan challenged Nangong Bantian at the ruins’ entrance, then slipped into the sect grounds by another route.
• Zhang Qingyuan rescued Niu Jingru from the Southwest Three Bandits, and the two joined forces to explore the Inheritance Cave Mansion.
• Zhang Qingyuan gained the Four Seas Suppressing Heaven Palm and insight into Dao Essence, then passed Qianyuanzi’s inheritance trial.
• Wang Xing destroyed the array foundation and triggered the inheritance space’s collapse, but Zhang Qingyuan and Niu Jingru escaped after Qianyuanzi taught Zhang the Heaven-Shattering Finger of Qiankun.
• Zhang Qingyuan killed Wang Xing, took his Storage Bag and Myriad Phenomena Formation Disk, and learned from Niu Jingru that an unfinished Half-Spirit Artifact was being nurtured at Yangjin Peak.
• Zhang Qingyuan reached Yangjin Peak and concealed his identity among the cultivators as Nangong Bantian organized a joint assault on the mountain’s restrictions.
• Zhang Qingyuan entered a palace ruin, took a golden defensive shield and its cauldron, and was confronted by the Yanluo Twin Ghosts.

Zhang Qingyuan fought his way to the Desolate Sky Tree and helped Fan Yehuang claim the Sword Pellet, only for Ouyang Qianqiu to reveal a centuries-long scheme and overwhelm the ruins. Zhang escaped the collapsing secret realm and returned to the Cloud Water Sect encampment, where he reflected on the vast gap between himself and Cave True Realm powerhouses.

• Zhang Qingyuan defeated the Yanluo Twin Ghosts’ ambush, then fought Mad Saber Nangong Bantian and fled into the Daluo Golden Pool after Nangong joined forces with other cultivators against him.
• Zhang Qingyuan found the Desolate Sky Tree’s Golden Bud and met Fan Yehuang, who taught him the God-Hosting Undying Chapter in exchange for help reaching the Sword Pellet.
• Zhang Qingyuan confronted the cultivators at the tree, while Fan Yehuang entered the bud and took control of the Sword Pellet, driving back the gathered experts.
• Ouyang Shihong confronted Fan Yehuang and revealed that Ouyang Qianqiu had orchestrated the ruins’ opening to make Fan perform God-Hosting Rebirth in the Sword Pellet.
• Ouyang Qianqiu appeared, captured Fan Yehuang’s Sword Pellet, and prepared to kill Zhang Qingyuan, but Mingshui and Mingxin arrived and fought him.
• As the battle tore apart the secret realm, Zhang Qingyuan collected two glowing spheres from the intersection of the fire and Metal Earth Veins and escaped through the Space Channel.
• Zhang Qingyuan reached the Cloud Water Sect encampment, declined to join the hunt for Vast Sea Sect cultivators, and meditated on how far he remained below Cave True Realm powerhouses.

Zhang Qingyuan received Daoist Ming Shui’s guidance, restored his Sword Pellet, and developed the Moon Liên Islands while exploring the Spirit Sea Sword Sect Ruins. After breaking through to the True Essence Fourth Layer, he secured his claim to the islands and set out on a mission to investigate Nangong Bantian.

• Zhang Qingyuan accepted Daoist Ming Shui’s explanation for the Sect’s limited support, received personal guidance, became his Named Disciple, and agreed to use two rare essences to reopen the Spirit Sea Sword Sect Ruins Secret Realm.
• Daoist Ming Shui returned the damaged Spirit Tool Sword Pellet to Zhang Qingyuan and explained how Fan Yehuang’s sacrifice had helped defeat Ouyang Qianqiu, who escaped grievously injured.
• Zhang Qingyuan returned to the Moon Liên Islands, refined the Sword Pellet as his Natal Magic Tool, and reached the perfected True Essence Third Layer.
• Zhang Qingyuan taught cultivators on the islands for three days, helping many overcome bottlenecks, while his preaching further refined his own cultivation.
• Master Lu improved the islands’ Spirit Spring, established their protection and a two-way teleportation route to the ruins, and left Zhang Qingyuan instructions for the arrays.
• Zhang Qingyuan explored the ruins, fed Geng Metal Power and the Desolate Sky Tree to the Sword Pellet, restored it to a Mid-grade Magic Treasure, and collected records and resources before leaving.
• Zhang Qingyuan took the Tongxuan Pill and broke through to the True Essence Fourth Layer, then decided to formalize his claim to the increasingly prosperous Moon Liên Islands before the Inner Sect Grand Competition.
• Zhang Qingyuan traveled to Tiannan City, received a mission to investigate the disappearance of an Inner Sect Disciple and Nangong Bantian’s suspected involvement, and left with the possibility of extra Merit Points for killing him.