Chapter Summaries

Zhang Qingyuan killed the Scarred Man with a sword strike infused with Sword Intent, then realized the technique’s rapid progress came from his sword foundation. He accepted compensation from Jiang Haisheng and continued toward the Luoshui Jiang Family, though he had not broken through to the Artistic Conception of perfected sword styles.

• Zhang Qingyuan recovered after his sword strike nearly exhausted his Spirit Essence and mental energy.
• Zhang Qingyuan realized that his Sword Drawing Technique had unleashed Sword Intent, killing the Scarred Man and bringing its proficiency close to Great Accomplishment.
• Zhang Qingyuan understood that the Sword Intent from his Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles had accelerated his Sword Drawing Technique cultivation.
• Zhang Qingyuan sensed a resonance with Sword Intent but failed to break through into the Artistic Conception of perfected sword styles.
• Jiang Haisheng thanked Zhang Qingyuan and offered him fifty Spirit Stones, which Zhang Qingyuan accepted instead of killing him.
• Zhang Qingyuan decided to continue toward the Luoshui Jiang Family as planned.

After defeating the men who ambushed Jiang Haisheng, Zhang Qingyuan learned about the Jiang Family’s conflict and asked Jiang Haisheng to take him to Jiang Yuan. The two reached Luoshui County City, while Zhang Qingyuan sorted through his spoils and planned how to use them.

• Zhang Qingyuan questioned Jiang Haisheng about the ambush, searched the corpses, and killed a wounded attacker who had survived.
• Jiang Haisheng explained that the Jiang Family was feuding with a newly risen cultivation alliance and recognized Jiang Yuan as a member of his family’s branch.
• Zhang Qingyuan asked Jiang Haisheng to lead him to Jiang Yuan, and the two traveled together toward Luoshui County City.
• Zhang Qingyuan counted the spoils, including two Magic Tools, three Storage Bags, 357 Spirit Stones, Talismans, and manuals for Heavenly Eagle Hand and the Object Manipulation Technique.
• Zhang Qingyuan planned to keep the Magic Tools and cultivate the two techniques, sell other valuables, and arrived at Luoshui County City with Jiang Haisheng the next day.

Zhang Qingyuan traveled to Luoshui County City while cultivating the Scarred Man’s techniques, then visited Jiang Yuan at the Jiang Family residence. Jiang Yuan explained why he had returned home and said he might skip the Outer Sect Grand Competition, while praising Zhang Qingyuan’s recent rise in strength.

• Zhang Qingyuan mastered the Object Manipulation Technique on the journey and neared the threshold of cultivating the Heavenly Eagle Hand.
• Jiang Haisheng guided Zhang Qingyuan to the Jiang Family residence, where mourning streamers marked recent deaths in Jiang Yuan’s branch.
• Jiang Yuan welcomed Zhang Qingyuan, and Jiang Haisheng soon departed after bringing him to the manor.
• Jiang Yuan told Zhang Qingyuan that hostile cultivators had attacked his branch’s Spirit Grain convoy and killed several relatives and friends.
• Jiang Yuan said he might forgo the Outer Sect Grand Competition because his cultivation was only at the peak of the Spirit Essence Realm Sixth Level, then praised Zhang Qingyuan’s achievements.

Zhang Qingyuan stayed at Jiang Yuan’s residence while seeking access to the Jiang Family’s Sword Intent Post, and continued cultivating through the night. After practicing his Qi Breaking Needle, he broke through the initial difficulty of the Heavenly Eagle Hand and successfully unleashed the martial skill.

• Zhang Qingyuan asked Jiang Yuan to help him meet the Jiang Family’s Clan Leader so he could request the Sword Intent Post, and Jiang Yuan agreed to speak with the Clan Leader the next day.
• Zhang Qingyuan cultivated the Water Essence Art in his guest room and increased its proficiency by one point.
• Zhang Qingyuan practiced controlling the Qi Breaking Needle with the Object Manipulation Technique and pierced a stone, though he found the needle difficult to aim accurately.
• Zhang Qingyuan repeatedly attempted to activate the Heavenly Eagle Hand, gradually improving his hand seals and Spirit Essence circulation.
• Zhang Qingyuan successfully formed a phantom heavenly eagle with the Heavenly Eagle Hand.

Zhang Qingyuan mastered the Heavenly Eagle Hand and grew more confident about the coming Outer Sect Grand Competition. The Jiang Family decided to offer him a chance to view the Sword Intent Post if he fought for them in an upcoming contest, while returning Liu Zhouwu’s jade talisman rather than accepting his favor.

• Zhang Qingyuan practiced the Heavenly Eagle Hand until he had thoroughly mastered it, then returned to his guest room to rest.
• The Jiang Family Elders debated whether to let Zhang Qingyuan view the Sword Intent Post in exchange for Liu Zhouwu’s jade talisman and favor.
• The Great Elder proposed returning the jade talisman and offering Zhang Qingyuan a chance to view the Sword Intent Post if he won a contest for the Jiang Family.
• Several Elders realized the Great Elder intended to build goodwill with both Liu Zhouwu and Zhang Qingyuan while using the contest to secure help over the mineral mines.

Zhang Qingyuan agreed to fight for the Jiang Family in its arena contest against the Rogue Cultivator Alliance, after learning he would be allowed to view the Sword Intent Post. The Alliance’s carefully chosen fighters left the contest tied at two draws, three wins, and three losses, making Zhang Qingyuan’s match against Zhu Xiangyu decisive.

• The Jiang Family Grand Elder told Zhang Qingyuan he would have a chance to view the Sword Intent Post and explained that the Jiang Family would owe him a favor.
• The Jiang Family and the Rogue Cultivator Alliance held a nine-match arena contest to settle ownership of two Spirit Mines.
• The Alliance used lower-ranked fighters and sacrificial tactics to draw the first match and take advantage in the next battles.
• The Jiang Family’s later fighters fought desperately, leaving the score at two draws, three victories, and three defeats before the final match.
• Zhang Qingyuan faced Zhu Xiangyu, and the Jiang Family Grand Elder promised him access to the Sword Intent Post and an item from the family treasury if he won.

Zhang Qingyuan faced Zhu Xiangyu in an arena battle that would decide the Jiang Family’s fortunes. After Zhu Xiangyu’s Ghost Fire Nether Art nearly stunned him with its spiritual-sense attacks, Zhang Qingyuan evaded the next wave of flames, and their fight continued.

• The Jiang Family Grand Elder warned Zhang Qingyuan that Zhu Xiangyu’s Ghost Fire Nether Art could shake an opponent’s spiritual sense.
• Zhu Xiangyu opened the match by launching six pale ghostfire orbs at Zhang Qingyuan.
• Zhang Qingyuan’s punch destroyed one orb, but its spiritual-sense impact nearly made him fall; he used Cloud Smoke Steps to evade the remaining five.
• Zhu Xiangyu summoned black horned serpents from the flames, while Zhang Qingyuan dodged their attacks with Cloud Smoke Steps.

Zhang Qingyuan discovered that Zhu Xiangyu’s later spells were weaker than his opening attack and feigned exhaustion to lure him in. He broke through Zhu Xiangyu’s Flame Shield with a prepared sequence of attacks and landed a powerful punch, leaving the fight’s outcome unresolved.

• Zhang Qingyuan tested Zhu Xiangyu’s spells and realized the six opening fireballs had been an ultimate technique, while the later attacks were comparatively weak.
• Zhang Qingyuan pretended to be overwhelmed and gradually moved closer to Zhu Xiangyu as the spectators assumed he could not counterattack.
• Zhang Qingyuan charged through Zhu Xiangyu’s Fire Dragon and unleashed Heavenly Eagle Hand against his Flame Shield.
• Zhu Xiangyu’s exploding Flame Shield stalled Zhang Qingyuan, but Zhang Qingyuan used the Qi Breaking Needle to wound Zhu Xiangyu’s shoulder and interrupt his spell.
• Zhang Qingyuan followed up with Collapsing Mountain, punching Zhu Xiangyu squarely in the chest.

Zhang Qingyuan defeated Zhu Xiangyu in the arena, securing two Spirit Mines for the Jiang Family. The next day, he searched the Jiang Family treasury and, facing a choice among three treasures, reached for one as his time ran out.

• Zhang Qingyuan struck Zhu Xiangyu with a powerful punch, sending him severely wounded off the arena and winning the match.
• The Jiang Family Grand Elder celebrated the victory while Zhu Tao left with an ugly expression, and the Jiang Family gained control of two Spirit Mines.
• The next day, the Jiang Family Grand Elder brought Zhang Qingyuan into the family treasury and let him choose a treasure as compensation.
• After searching the treasury, Zhang Qingyuan narrowed his choices to Wind Thunder Steps, a Spirit Enhancing Pill, and the Profound Origin Bodyguard Armor.
• As evening approached, Zhang Qingyuan made his decision and reached toward one of the three treasures.

Zhang Qingyuan chose the Profound Origin Bodyguard Armor to shore up his defense, then rested before visiting the Jiang Family’s Sword Intent Post. As he entered the forbidden cave and saw the living scroll, its Sword Intent pulled him into a desolate world.

• Zhang Qingyuan chose the Profound Origin Bodyguard Armor from the Jiang Family treasury, prioritizing his defense and future opportunities to earn Spirit Stones.
• The Jiang Family Grand Elder praised Zhang Qingyuan’s choice and offered to show him the Sword Intent Post.
• Zhang Qingyuan spent the night refining the armor and sleeping to restore his mental state.
• The next morning, the Jiang Family Grand Elder led Zhang Qingyuan through the family’s guarded forbidden cave to the Sword Intent Post.
• Zhang Qingyuan entered the Stone Chamber, where the scroll’s raging Sword Intent stirred the residual Sword Intent within him and cut his skin.
• Zhang Qingyuan saw the scroll’s river move like a living thing, then found himself drawn into a boundlessly desolate world.

Zhang Qingyuan felt the sword intent within him stir as he began comprehending the Sword Intent Post, nearing completion of the Cloud Water Thirteen Sword Styles. Meanwhile, Zhu Tao plotted with the Vast Sea Sect, and Yuan Wenjun recruited two allies to ambush Zhang Qingyuan when he left Luoshui County City.

• Zhang Qingyuan saw a vast river of sword intent in a vision, then returned to his body and began comprehending the Sword Intent Post.
• Zhu Tao met with his confidants and discussed pressuring the Vast Sea Sect to honor its promised reward after their plans suffered a setback.
• Yuan Wenjun realized Zhang Qingyuan had likely killed the Scarface Cultivator during the attack on Jiang Haisheng's caravan and decided to target him.
• Yuan Wenjun persuaded two fellow cultivators to join the assassination plan, and they began bribing people and watching the city for Zhang Qingyuan's departure.

Zhang Qingyuan left the Jiang Family and traveled down the Luoshui River, where he discovered three cultivators pursuing him. He ambushed two of them, but Yuan Wenjun’s powerful strike hit him as the chapter ended.

• Zhang Qingyuan thanked the Jiang Family Grand Elder, accepted Jiang Yuan’s gift of Spirit Stones, and left to return to the sect’s separate courtyard.
• Zhang Qingyuan traveled downstream along the Luoshui River and entered the misty woods near the waterfall.
• Yuan Wenjun and two accomplices tracked Zhang Qingyuan, then decided to pursue him after their tracing technique failed.
• Zhang Qingyuan attacked from above and crushed the burly cultivator’s head with the Heavenly Eagle Hand.
• Zhang Qingyuan killed the lean cultivator with his Qi Breaking Needle while Yuan Wenjun’s strike slammed into his chest.

Zhang Qingyuan used the Profound Origin Bodyguard Armor to survive Yuan Wenjun’s full-force punch while killing Yuan Wenjun’s two companions, then led Yuan Wenjun to the Dragon Severing Waterfall. There, Zhang Qingyuan stopped above the river and challenged his pursuer, preparing to make the waterfall Yuan Wenjun’s burial ground.

• Yuan Wenjun’s punch shattered Zhang Qingyuan’s Profound Origin Bodyguard Armor barrier, but Zhang Qingyuan survived and fled while Yuan Wenjun pursued him.
• Zhang Qingyuan recalled that he had turned back to ambush the stalkers, relying on his improved cultivation, skills, and defensive armor to kill Yuan Wenjun’s two companions.
• Yuan Wenjun chased Zhang Qingyuan through the forest as Zhang Qingyuan recovered from his light injuries while running.
• The two reached the Dragon Severing Waterfall, where Zhang Qingyuan stopped above the river and told Yuan Wenjun he would make it his burial ground.

Zhang Qingyuan faced Yuan Wenjun at Cliff Waterfall and, as he plunged into the abyss, reached a profound breakthrough in his Sword Intent. He drew his sword beneath an evoked vision of Li Taibai’s waterfall poem, leaving Yuan Wenjun caught in its overwhelming artistic conception.

• Yuan Wenjun trapped Zhang Qingyuan with the Yinfeng Flowing Cloud Palm and moved to kill him.
• Zhang Qingyuan fell into the Cliff Waterfall, and Yuan Wenjun pursued him with a powerful attack.
• As he plunged through the waterfall, Zhang Qingyuan connected his past insights and entered a new state of perception.
• Zhang Qingyuan recited Li Taibai’s waterfall poem, and its artistic conception made Yuan Wenjun perceive the world as a frozen painting.
• Zhang Qingyuan drew the Silver Shadow Longsword with the Sword Drawing Technique, unleashing a piercing sword chant.

Zhang Qingyuan’s Sword Intent Flowing Light overwhelmed Yuan Wenjun, who consumed a Fate-Reversing Pill and raised his cultivation to Half-step True Essence Realm to counterattack. Their techniques collided with enough force to sever the waterfall, and Yuan Wenjun’s palm was being worn away as the chapter ended.

• Zhang Qingyuan’s sword strike released Artistic Conception and Sword Intent, dispelling Yuan Wenjun’s Wind-and-Cloud Hand and leaving him bleeding from the eyes.
• Yuan Wenjun swallowed a Fate-Reversing Pill, sacrificing his cultivation and future Dao Path to raise his strength to Half-step True Essence Realm.
• Yuan Wenjun unleashed the full power of Yinfeng Flowing Cloud Palm against Zhang Qingyuan’s Sword Intent Flowing Light.
• The two attacks collided, blowing apart the waterfall and shattering the surrounding cliffs and reefs.
• Zhang Qingyuan’s Sword Intent Flowing Light steadily wore away Yuan Wenjun’s palm, despite Yuan Wenjun’s desperate efforts.

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Zhang Qingyuan killed Yuan Wenjun with a powerful sword strike that borrowed the Momentum of Heaven and Earth, then escaped the collapsing waterfall. The battle helped him comprehend Water Intent and greatly improve his Sword Drawing Technique, while onlookers arrived after he had left.

• Zhang Qingyuan used the waterfall’s terrain and the Sword Drawing Technique to defeat Yuan Wenjun with a strike that surpassed the Spirit Essence Realm.
• Zhang Qingyuan seized Yuan Wenjun’s Storage Bag and escaped the falling flood and rocks as Yuan Wenjun’s corpse vanished into the lake.
• Zhang Qingyuan’s Proficiency Panel recorded his comprehension of Water Intent and major progress in his sword techniques and cultivation method.
• Zhang Qingyuan left before anyone else arrived, and nearby cultivators came to inspect the shattered cliff and raging waterfall.

After Zhang Qingyuan’s battle with Yuan Wenjun devastated Dragon Severing Waterfall, cultivators who arrived there discovered deadly Sword Intent lingering in the shattered stones and fought to collect them. Zhang Qingyuan left the Luo River region after looting and burying two cultivators’ corpses, unaware of the frenzy his sword strike had caused.

• Low-level cultivators gathered at the ruined waterfall and speculated about the cause of the destruction.
• A Spirit Essence Realm Second Level cultivator touched a Sword Mark and was beheaded by its lingering Sword Intent.
• Several Spirit Essence Late Stage cultivators recognized the Sword Marks’ value and collected them, prompting a dangerous scramble among the other cultivators.
• Two more cultivators triggered residual Sword Intent as the crowd scoured the waterfall area for marked stones.
• Zhang Qingyuan looted the Storage Bags and valuables from two corpses, buried them, and left the Luo River region.

After killing Yuan Wenjun, Zhang Qingyuan used Spirit Stones to recover and broke through to the Spirit Essence Realm Eighth Level middle stage. He looted the three cultivators’ belongings, declined to investigate a suspicious map, and returned to the Seventeenth Branch with a fortune in resources.

• Zhang Qingyuan absorbed Spirit Stones to restore his Spirit Essence and broke through to the Spirit Essence Realm Eighth Level middle stage.
• Zhang Qingyuan steadied his cultivation and searched the Storage Bags of the three men he had defeated.
• Zhang Qingyuan found more than three hundred Spirit Stones, a Three-Colored Spirit Mushroom, and other valuable items, but not the Yinfeng Flowing Cloud Palm.
• Zhang Qingyuan discovered a Jade Slip map to a remote region in Luoshui County but decided not to investigate it in case it led to a trap.
• Zhang Qingyuan estimated his haul was worth at least one thousand Spirit Stones and returned to the Seventeenth Branch.

After returning to the Seventeenth Branch, Zhang Qingyuan experimented with incorporating Water Intent into his cultivation and found new paths to improve his techniques. He visited Headmaster Liu, who served him a remarkable spirit tea that clarified Zhang Qingyuan’s mind.

• Zhang Qingyuan returned safely to the Seventeenth Branch and praised Hu Junshan for tending the nearly ripe Spirit Grain.
• Zhang Qingyuan used the Spring Breeze Fine Rain Technique and noticed that attempting to blend in Water Intent increased its proficiency by two points.
• Zhang Qingyuan experimented with Water Intent and the Nine Refinements Bone Forging Fist, sensed a path toward Perfection, and discovered that the Water Control Technique had reached Great Accomplishment.
• Zhang Qingyuan visited Headmaster Liu and was compelled by the Dean’s power to sit and drink Yellow Mountain Century Spirit Tea, which cleared his mind.