Chapter Summaries

Lin Hao’s master, Xuanyu, addressed the Sword Sect through his sword, secured his appointment as deputy Sect Master, and instructed Lin Hao to bring Liu Qingmeng to him in three years. After the sect meeting, Lin Hao treated Lin Qing'er, Yu Linglong, and Hua Xinyue to grilled meat while keeping the details of his encounter with the Demon Emperor secret.

• Xuanyu told Duan Tian to manage the Sword Sect and warned him not to misuse Xuanyu’s name, while promising the sect could return to the Central Region.
• Lin Hao estimated that Xuanyu’s weakened clone had belonged to someone at least in the Sovereign Realm, and Duan Tian announced Xuanyu as the Sword Sect’s deputy Sect Master.
• Hua Xinyue explained the disciple selection plan she had discussed with Lin Hao, and Duan Tian assigned the work to her.
• Lin Qing'er and Yu Linglong confronted Lin Hao for hiding his real name, then asked him to treat them to a feast.
• Lin Hao grilled meat for Lin Qing'er, Yu Linglong, and Hua Xinyue, and told them about Liu Qingmeng while keeping his origins and his encounter with the Demon Emperor vague.

Tan Ming and Song Qingyun arrived at the Sky Demon Sect seeking refuge and offered information about the Sword Sect in exchange for becoming elders. Their negotiations ended with the Second Elder rejecting their demand, while the Great Elder remained interested in what they knew.

• Lin Hao told Lin Qing'er and Yu Linglong that his beautiful senior sister had once saved his life and promised to bring her to the Sword Sect in three years.
• Two ragged Legendary-level experts arrived at the Sky Demon Sect claiming to bring a gift from the Sword Sect.
• The Great Elder received the visitors, who were revealed to be Tan Ming and Song Qingyun, hiding after Lin Hao spared them and took their storage pouches.
• Tan Ming explained that he and Song Qingyun wanted to defect to the Sky Demon Sect and offered information about the Sword Sect in exchange for terms.
• Tan Ming demanded that he and Song Qingyun be made elders, but the Second Elder immediately objected.

Tan Ming and Song Qingyun joined the Sky Demon Sect and urged it to attack the weakened Sword Sect, while the sect’s Sect Master set an invasion for one month later. At the Sword Sect, Hua Xinyue gathered promising disciples and summoned Lin Hao, Lin Qing'er, and Yu Linglong to the main hall, where they were about to begin training.

• Tan Ming and Song Qingyun offered the Sky Demon Sect intelligence about the Sword Sect in exchange for shelter and elder positions.
• Tan Ming and Song Qingyun described their defeat in the Dragon Slaying Mountain Range and asked the Great Elder to capture Lin Tianya for revenge.
• The Sky Demon Sect’s Sect Master announced that he would lead an attack on the Sword Sect in one month, after breaking through to the Sovereign Realm.
• Lin Hao continued cultivating while Lin Qing'er and Yu Linglong studied the sword intent he had left behind.
• Hua Xinyue selected seven Demigod-rank disciples for training and summoned Lin Hao, Lin Qing'er, and Yu Linglong to the main hall.
• Duan Tian welcomed the three and asked Lin Qing'er and Yu Linglong to join Hua Xinyue while Lin Hao took a seat.

Lin Hao agreed to train seven talented Sword Sect inner disciples alongside Lin Qing'er and Yu Linglong, and he planned to enter them in the Sect Competition. He also offered Duan Tian three sword formations to strengthen the sect, then brought his nine trainees to his courtyard and asked them to introduce themselves.

• Duan Tian and Hua Xinyue asked Lin Hao to train seven selected Earth-rank inner disciples, and he agreed on the condition that they not interfere with his methods.
• Lin Hao asked about the Sect Competition and decided that Lin Qing'er, Yu Linglong, and the seven disciples should all compete; Duan Tian agreed to register them.
• Lin Hao offered to teach Duan Tian three sword formations that Platinum-rank disciples could use, and the sect leaders welcomed the offer.
• Lin Hao took Lin Qing'er, Yu Linglong, and the seven disciples to his courtyard and asked the seven to introduce themselves.

Lin Hao trained nine disciples in sword fundamentals and teamwork while Duan Tian organized the Sword Sect to practice three formations. After weeks of work, Lin Hao’s students began coordinating the Three Talents Sword Formation, with Lin Qing’er’s group proving especially effective.

• Lin Hao assessed his nine students’ personalities, warned them that training would be grueling and dangerous, and began assigning exercises suited to each disciple.
• Lin Hao gave Duan Tian instructions for three sword formations, and Duan Tian had the Sword Sect’s Platinum-rank-and-above disciples drill them under the elders’ supervision.
• After half a month, Lin Hao paused individual training and began teaching the nine students the Three Talents Sword Formation in mixed groups.
• The students initially struggled to coordinate, so Lin Hao had them repeat basic footwork and essence-linking exercises while emphasizing teamwork.
• After another ten days, the three formations began working smoothly, and Lin Qing’er, Yu Linglong, and Sun Xiaoya’s group emerged as the strongest.

Lin Hao trained the Sword Sect disciples in increasingly powerful sword formations while Li Tianxing broke through to the Sovereign Realm and prepared an attack on the Sword Sect. Three days later, Lin Hao was summoned urgently to the Sword Sect’s main hall.

• Lin Hao taught seven disciples the Seven Stars Big Dipper Formation, then began teaching a nine-person formation to prepare them to comprehend Sword Intent.
• Li Tianxing emerged from seclusion after breaking through to the initial stage of the Sovereign Realm and welcomed Tan Ming and Song Qingyun as new allies.
• Li Tianxing ordered the Sky Demon Sect to prepare to attack the Sword Sect in three days, after Deputy Sect Master Li Tianfeng returned.
• Lin Hao began teaching the Nine Revolutions Swimming Dragon Formation to nine disciples and promised to teach the Sword Sect disciples to comprehend Sword Intent.
• A Sword Sect disciple urgently summoned Lin Hao to the main hall on Heavenly Sword Peak, and Lin Hao flew there.

Lin Hao discovered that Tan Ming and Song Qingyun had killed eighteen Sword Sect sentries before the Sky Demon Sect arrived to attack. Duan Tian concealed the sect’s strength and left Lin Hao alone at the mountain gate to face the invading forces.

• Lin Hao examined the sentries’ bodies and concluded that Tan Ming and Song Qingyun had ambushed them using sword techniques.
• Duan Tian sensed the Sky Demon Sect approaching and ordered Hua Xinyue to gather the Sword Sect disciples while Qiu Ya and the other Attendants hid.
• Duan Tian explained that the eighteen slain sentries had guarded the sect-protecting formation’s eyes, but he had already changed the formation.
• Li Tianxing led thousands of Sky Demon Sect members to the Sword Sect, accusing Baili Yunchang of killing the Fifth Guardian.
• Duan Tian hid with Hua Xinyue and the others, leaving Lin Hao alone at the mountain gate as the protective formation shielded him.

Lin Hao used Baili Yunchang’s death to undermine Sky Demon Sect’s justification for attacking the Sword Sect. Tan Ming and Song Qingyun then exposed their defection, giving Lin Hao a chance to turn the confrontation against them.

• Li Tianxing demanded that Lin Hao bring out Baili Yunchang to answer for the Fifth Protector’s death, and Lin Hao said the Sword Sect’s Sect Master was dead.
• Lin Hao showed the broken tokens of Baili Yunchang and the Fifth Protector, claiming both had been found dead in the Sword Sect’s main hall.
• Li Tianfeng insisted the Sword Sect still owed Sky Demon Sect an explanation, while Lin Hao urged them to leave and keep Baili Yunchang’s death secret.
• Tan Ming and Song Qingyun emerged from the Sky Demon Sect group and accused Lin Hao of lying about Baili Yunchang’s death.
• Lin Hao greeted Tan Ming and Song Qingyun as Sword Sect elders who had gone to Sky Demon Sect despite the Fourth Elder’s warning, but Tan Ming insisted they had left the Sword Sect and now belonged to Sky Demon Sect.

Lin Hao confronted Li Tianxing and the Sky Demon Sect, but their leaders refused to leave and Tan Ming and Song Qingyun attacked the Sword Sect’s protective formation. The barrier held, and Duan Tian appeared with the Sword Sect’s newly revealed strength, exposing the Sky Demon Sect’s conspiracy and leaving Li Tianxing looking for a way to retreat.

• Lin Hao urged Li Tianxing to decide whether the Sky Demon Sect would leave, promising the Sword Sect would explain the deaths of the Fifth Guardian and its Sect Master.
• Li Tianxing rejected Lin Hao’s attempt to send them away and declared that the Sky Demon Sect would raze the Sword Sect.
• Tan Ming and Song Qingyun claimed they had destroyed the formation cores and struck the protective barrier, but it barely rippled.
• Li Tianxing sensed at least four Sovereign Realm experts as Duan Tian and the Sword Sect’s forces appeared at the mountain gate.
• Duan Tian accused Li Tianfeng of conspiring with Baili Yunchang and revealed that he had killed the Fifth Guardian and submitted evidence of the Sky Demon Sect’s collusion to the City Lord of the Eastern Region.
• Duan Tian disowned Tan Ming and condemned him and Song Qingyun for betraying the Sword Sect, while Li Tianxing assessed the Sword Sect’s forces and considered how to escape.

Li Tianxing apologized for the Sky Demon Sect’s attack and accepted Duan Tian’s terms to deal with the rebellious disciples. Duan Tian killed Tan Ming after he threatened to expose the sect’s dealings with Baili Yunchang, then turned to the terrified Song Qingyun.

• Li Tianfeng warned Li Tianxing that the Sky Demon Sect could not afford to fight the Sword Sect, and Li Tianxing apologized to Duan Tian.
• Duan Tian pinned Tan Ming and Song Qingyun with his Sovereign Realm pressure and demanded three conditions from Li Tianxing.
• Li Tianxing agreed that Duan Tian could deal with Tan Ming and Song Qingyun, who were not yet formal Sky Demon Sect elders.
• Tan Ming accused Li Tianxing of colluding with Baili Yunchang and blamed Lin Hao for their failed plan.
• Duan Tian killed Tan Ming and destroyed his corpse, then faced Song Qingyun as Song begged for his life.

Duan Tian killed Song Qingyun and forced Li Tianxing to agree to pay a steep price to spare Li Tianfeng and provide the Sword Sect with future resources. Back at Heavenly Sword Peak, Lin Hao questioned why Duan Tian had let the Sky Demon Sect leaders leave, and the Sword Box explained that the deal would give the Sword Sect time and resources to outgrow its rival.

• Duan Tian killed Song Qingyun by shattering his body and then making it explode.
• Li Tianxing asked Duan Tian to spare Li Tianfeng, and Duan Tian invited him to name a price.
• Li Tianxing offered three million Mid-grade Spirit Stones and thirty percent of the Sky Demon Sect's cultivation resources, and Duan Tian accepted.
• Duan Tian demanded thirty percent of the Sky Demon Sect's future resources regardless of its performance in the Sect Competition, and the two sect masters signed a contract.
• Li Tianxing led the Sky Demon Sect members away, and Duan Tian returned to the Sword Sect's main hall on Heavenly Sword Peak.
• Lin Hao questioned why Duan Tian let Li Tianxing and Li Tianfeng go, and the Sword Box explained that the resource deal would weaken the Sky Demon Sect and help the Sword Sect surpass it.

Lin Hao had Duan Tian gather the Sword Sect and shape a giant boulder into a stone stele, keeping his real plan secret. He then displayed his Eightfold Sword Intent and Sword Domain before the assembled sect, leaving everyone stunned.

• Lin Hao thanked Qiu Ya and the attendants for bringing a huge boulder to the Training Ground.
• Lin Hao persuaded Duan Tian to summon the Sword Sect's disciples and admitted to Hua Xinyue that he was making Duan Tian repay him for leaving him alone against Li Tianxing.
• Duan Tian used his Sword Domain to cut and polish the boulder into a hundred-meter-tall stone stele.
• Lin Hao appeared before the stele and unleashed his Eightfold Sword Intent, Sword Domain, and ancient black Sword Box, astonishing Duan Tian, Hua Xinyue, Qiu Ya, and the crowd.

Lin Hao carved two massive sword marks into the Sword Intent Stele, helping nearly a hundred Sword Sect disciples comprehend Sword Intent over the next half month. As Duan Tian expanded the sect’s training, Lin Hao guided nine chosen Core Disciples along individual paths in Sword Comprehension Valley, where several began refining powerful Sword Intents and techniques.

• Lin Hao drew Zixiao from his Sword Box and carved two enormous purple sword marks into the stele, prompting Duan Tian to order the disciples to study its Sword Intent.
• Lin Hao agreed to let Chen Feng and the others join the disciples in comprehending Sword Intent, and nearly a hundred disciples succeeded over half a month.
• Duan Tian invested resources from the Sky Demon Sect into the Sword Sect’s growth and required Platinum-rank disciples and above to train in Lin Hao’s three sword formations.
• Lin Hao gathered Lin Qing'er, Yu Linglong, Chen Feng, Zhao Zijun, Su Wan, Shi Poshan, Liu Mengli, Han Yue, and Sun Xiaoya in Sword Comprehension Valley to develop their individual Sword Dao.
• Lin Qing'er comprehended fourth-level Ice Silence Sword Intent, while Yu Linglong, Chen Feng, and Su Wan each advanced their own Sword Intent and signature techniques.

After his companions made rapid progress in Sword Intent, Lin Hao reassured Yu Linglong that she could join the coming Sect Competition despite her lower cultivation. Duan Tian and Hua Xinyue brought him the competition rules, and Lin Hao learned he would have to lead the team to Tiandu City.

• Zhao Zijun, Shi Poshan, Liu Mengli, Han Yue, and Sun Xiaoya each advanced their Sword Intent and developed a signature move during half a month of training.
• Yu Linglong asked Lin Hao to help her raise her cultivation quickly because she feared holding the others back at the Sect Competition.
• Lin Hao reassured Yu Linglong that she could compete and encouraged her to keep training.
• Duan Tian and Hua Xinyue told Lin Hao that the Sect Competition would feature teams of fifteen from seventy-two Eastern Region sects, with competitors rotating in and out.
• Duan Tian said Lin Hao would lead the team to Tiandu City because he knew the trainees best, while Duan Tian and Hua Xinyue would accompany them.

Lin Hao and the Sword Sect team traveled to Tiandu City for the Sect Competition, arriving amid the attention of rival sects. At the City Lord’s Mansion, a guard recognized Duan Tian and revealed that a young lady had ordered the Sword Sect to be admitted directly, leaving the waiting sects baffled.

• Lin Hao told Hua Xinyue to choose five younger disciples to accompany the team, while he focused on the existing members.
• Three days later, Duan Tian, Hua Xinyue, Lin Hao, and the Sword Sect disciples departed by Spirit Boat for Tiandu City.
• Lin Hao and his companions reassured nervous Yu Linglong during the journey.
• The Spirit Boat reached Tiandu City, and Duan Tian led the Sword Sect team to the City Lord’s Mansion to register.
• A guard recognized Duan Tian and said a young lady had instructed the mansion to let the Sword Sect enter directly, astonishing the other sects waiting outside.

The Sword Sect registered for the Eastern Region Sect Competition and received luxurious lodging through Lin Qingya of the Myriad Treasures Merchant Guild, who had come to see Lin Hao. That evening, Hua Xinyue shared information on the competition’s five leading sects, leaving the Sword Sect to prepare for the event beginning the day after tomorrow.

• Duan Tian and the Sword Sect members registered for the competition after cutting in line, then teased Duan Tian about a woman from the City Lord's Mansion.
• Lin Qingya introduced herself as a representative of the Myriad Treasures Merchant Guild and invited the Sword Sect to stay in a courtyard behind the City Lord's Mansion.
• Lin Qingya’s attention to Lin Hao prompted the Sword Sect members to tease him after she left, while Lin Qing'er and Yu Linglong stayed quiet about what they knew.
• Su Qingya told the Sword Sect that the drawing ceremony and competition would begin the day after tomorrow.
• Hua Xinyue distributed information on the five favored sects: the Heavenly Machine Pavilion, Hegemon Body Sect, Illusory Moon Sect, Beast Taming Sect, and Profound Nether Sect.

Lin Hao reviewed intelligence on the Sect Competition and took charge of the Sword Sect’s team, deciding to let the disciples compete while he waited for the finals. After the draw gave the Sword Sect a first-round bye and a second-round match against the Earth Fiend Sect, he selected six disciples to fight.

• Hua Xinyue warned Lin Hao that Xing Suanzi of the Heavenly Machine Pavilion had reportedly reached the Legendary Realm, and Su Qingya arrived with detailed records of rival sects and offered to cover the Sword Sect’s expenses.
• Lin Hao and the Sword Sect studied Su Qingya’s records, and Lin Hao decided he would not compete before the finals so he could test the disciples’ progress.
• Duan Tian and Hua Xinyue handed Lin Hao authority over the team and said they would spend the competition relaxing and traveling.
• Duan Tian drew the Sword Sect’s match details: the team received a first-round bye and would face the Earth Fiend Sect in the second round.
• Lin Hao chose Chen Feng, Su Wan, Zhao Zijun, Shi Poshan, Liu Mengli, and Han Yue for the team match, while Lin Qing'er, Yu Linglong, and Sun Xiaoya rested.

The Sword Sect’s six disciples entered the team competition against the Earth Fiend Sect, drawing attention by claiming six were enough for a seven-person match. They launched a coordinated assault on the Seven Fiends Immortal Slaying Array, and the battle remained underway.

• Lin Hao encouraged the Sword Sect disciples to use the competition to prove the sect’s strength, while the Sword Sect received a bye in the first round.
• The referee called the Sword Sect and Earth Fiend Sect to the third platform for the second round of the team competition.
• Chen Feng, Su Wan, Zhao Zijun, Shi Poshan, Liu Mengli, and Han Yue entered the arena, and Chen Feng declared that six Sword Sect disciples were enough.
• The Earth Fiend Sect formed its Seven Fiends Immortal Slaying Array, and Chen Feng ordered his team to follow their plan.
• Shi Poshan used Prison Suppression to disrupt the formation as Su Wan and Zhao Zijun attacked its weak points, Liu Mengli identified an opening, and Han Yue guarded the team.

The Sword Sect decisively defeated the Earth Fiend Sect in under ten breaths, revealing the strength and teamwork of its six disciples and drawing attention from the Eastern Region’s leaders. Back at the courtyard, Lin Hao led a detailed review of the fight as the disciples identified ways to improve.

• Chen Feng struck the Earth Fiend Sect formation as Zhao Zijun’s Sword Qi weakened it, and the Sword Sect’s six Demigod fighters overwhelmed all seven opponents.
• The referee declared the Sword Sect the winner, and the arena’s spectators and sect leaders reacted with surprise and concern.
• Li Tianxing confronted Duan Tian about the Sword Sect’s unexpected strength, while the Domain Lord grew curious about Lin Hao and the Sword Sect.
• Lin Hao praised the disciples, then led them away as the Sword Sect’s victory spread through Tiandu City.
• At the courtyard, Lin Hao questioned Chen Feng and Su Wan about flaws in their techniques, and Zhao Zijun, Shi Potian, Liu Mengli, and Han Yue also reviewed their performance.

Lin Hao prepared the Sword Sect for its top-thirty-two match against the Blazing Sun Sect, assigning Lin Qing'er to counter Yan Lie’s blazing power. The match began with the Sword Sect disrupting the Blazing Sun Battle Array, and the fight remained underway.

• Lin Hao learned that the Sword Sect would face the Blazing Sun Sect and reviewed the opponent’s strengths with the disciples.
• Lin Hao named Lin Qing'er as a core fighter and ordered the team to pin down Yan Lie and exploit a weak point in the Blazing Sun Sect’s formation.
• The Sword Sect took the arena against Yan Lie and six other Blazing Sun Sect disciples, while Chen Feng refused to respond to Yan Lie’s taunts.
• After the match began, Shi Poshan’s Suppressing Hell gravity field weakened the Blazing Sun Battle Array, and Liu Mengli identified Yan Lie as its core and another disciple as its weak point.
• Chen Feng, Su Wan, and Zhao Zijun attacked to split the Blazing Sun Sect’s formation as its members struggled to unleash their Spiritual Power.