Chapter Summaries

Xiao Xuan returned to the Northern Liang Prince's Residence with Xu Fengnian and his sisters, after meeting the gifted Nangong Pushe, who requested entry to Tide-Watching Pavilion in exchange for three future services. At dinner, Xiao Xuan and Xu Xiao discussed an assassination linked to Western Chu and the growing question of who would inherit Northern Liang.

• Xiao Xuan rebuked Xu Fengnian for suggesting Huang Man'er inherit Northern Liang, then revealed that Nangong Pushe had been watching them.
• Nangong Pushe praised Xiao Xuan's recovered martial arts and asked to enter Tide-Watching Pavilion, offering to act for Northern Liang three times; Xu Fengnian agreed to take him to the residence.
• Xu Fengnian and his siblings returned to the residence, where Xu Xiao welcomed them and Xu Longxiang happily greeted his older siblings.
• Xu Fengnian chased Xu Xiao around Wutong Court, and the two stopped their roughhousing when Xu Longxiang woke; the family later ate together without Xu Fengnian, who was asleep.
• Xu Xiao asked Xiao Xuan about the Western Chu spies who had tried to assassinate him, and Xiao Xuan said further moves were likely and questioned whether anyone in the army was plotting over the succession.
• Xu Xiao admitted that Ning Emei supported Huang Man'er, and Xiao Xuan urged him to warn Ning Emei while contrasting Chen Zhibao's loyalty to Northern Liang with Chu Lushan's understanding of Xu Xiao.

Xiao Xuan guided Nangong through the Northern Liang Prince's Residence and showed him Tingchao Tower, explaining how its martial arts collection was arranged. He advised Nangong to study the thirty thousand beginner techniques before seeking out the tower's advanced manuals.

• Xu Fengnian invited Old Huang, Xu Longxiang, Xu Xuan, Xu Zhihu, Xu Weibear, and Nangong to fish, while Xiao Xuan led Nangong toward Tide-Watching Pavilion.
• Xiao Xuan encountered Xu Fengnian, Hongshu, Qingniao, Jiang Ni, and Chu Lushan by the lake, then left with Xu Fengnian.
• After Xu Fengnian returned with a woman, the group ate grilled fish prepared by Old Huang.
• Xiao Xuan brought Nangong to Tingchao Tower and described its hidden levels, martial arts books, and tower-guarding slaves.
• Xiao Xuan urged Nangong to study the beginner techniques first, explaining that their creators' accumulated wisdom could teach him more than rare manuals alone.

Xiao Xuan welcomed Nangong Pushe to Tide-Watching Pavilion and told Li Yishan the truth about her parents and her quest for revenge. As Xiao Xuan, Li Yishan, and Xu Xiao discussed their plans, Lin Tanhua arrived in Lingzhou City and publicly denounced Xu Xiao and Xu Fengnian to draw the Prince's Residence's attention.

• Xiao Xuan gave Nangong Pushe access to the first four floors of Tide-Watching Pavilion and entrusted Wei Shuyang with helping her.
• Xiao Xuan gave Wei Shuyang a Small Return Pill and went to the eighth floor to visit Li Yishan.
• Xiao Xuan told Li Yishan that Nangong Pushe was Xie Guanying's daughter and sought revenge for her mother's death.
• Xu Xiao joined Xiao Xuan and Li Yishan, and the three discussed the state of the realm and their plans.
• Lin Tanhua arrived in Lingzhou City and publicly insulted Xu Xiao and Xu Fengnian to attract the Northern Liang Prince's Residence's attention.

Xu Fengnian encountered Xu Yongguan while the old veteran staged a false accident to defend Xu Xiao, then continued playing along with Lin Tanhua’s public denunciation. Later, Xu Fengnian threw Spring Thunder into the lake to release Old Kui, hoping to learn saber techniques and see the master’s strength.

• Xu Fengnian went to watch Lin Tanhua denounce Xu Xiao and joined in from the crowd.
• Xu Yongguan pretended Lin Tanhua’s carriage had struck him, and Xu Fengnian recognized the blind veteran and persuaded him to leave.
• Xu Fengnian continued pretending to share Lin Tanhua’s hatred of Xu Xiao, while Jiang Ni followed in confusion.
• Xu Xiao and Xiao Xuan let events unfold, as Xu Xiao’s scheme involving Lin Tanhua and Shu Xiu proceeded.
• Xu Fengnian borrowed Spring Thunder from Nangong Pushe and threw it into the lake to release Old Kui.
• The lake began to boil and the boat rocked violently, leaving Xu Fengnian soaked as he waited for Old Kui to emerge.

Old Huang defeated Chu Kuangnu and revealed that he planned to leave for Martial Emperor City to reclaim Huanglu. The chapter left Xu Fengnian learning of Old Huang’s unresolved defeat by Wang Xianzhi and the swordsman’s past.

• Old Kui escaped the lake, overpowered Wei Shuyang, and threatened Xu Fengnian until Old Huang stepped in.
• Old Huang used three flying swords to force Old Kui to stop fighting, and Chu Kuangnu sat down to eat.
• Xiao Xuan demonstrated his sword control, rewarded Shu Xiu with the White Emperor's Plain-Holding Formula, and ordered her to clean the courtyard.
• Old Huang told Xu Fengnian he was leaving for Martial Emperor City to retrieve Huanglu, the sword he had lost to Wang Xianzhi.
• The chapter recounted Wang Xianzhi’s reputation and the mysterious Western Shu swordsman who had once challenged him.

Xu Fengnian learned that Jian Jiuhuang had died after challenging Wang Xianzhi, then asked Chu Kuangnu to teach him martial arts so he could retrieve Old Huang’s sword case. Chu Kuangnu began his training with a simple test of endurance.

• Xu Fengnian gave Jian Jiuhuang money, wine, and a horse before saying farewell, and named Sword Nine “Six Thousand Li.”
• Xu Weibear fought Chu Kuangnu and showed that she was a first-rank expert, though he held back during their exchange.
• Xu Fengnian came of age, Xu Weibear left for Shangyin Academy, and Xu Longxiang was secretly sent to Wudang.
• Xu Fengnian read a letter describing how Jian Jiuhuang fought Wang Xianzhi and died atop the city wall.
• Xu Fengnian asked Chu Kuangnu to teach him martial arts so he could retrieve Jian Jiuhuang’s sword case, and Chu Kuangnu made him stand holding a blade for half an hour.

Xu Fengnian trained in the blade under Chu Kuangnu and traveled to Wudang, where Wang Chonglou began passing the Great Yellow Court cultivation to him. As Wang Chonglou grew visibly older, Xu Fengnian struggled to absorb the decades of inner power.

• Xu Fengnian endured Chu Kuangnu's grueling daily blade drills until his technique entered the gate, then hurried to Tingchao Tower to seek an inner method.
• Xu Fengnian went to Wudang and found Xu Longxiang unharmed, while Wang Chonglou praised Xu Fengnian's elder brother as a peerless genius.
• Xu Fengnian continued practicing his blade beneath a waterfall and asked Hong Xixiang how he had managed to split it.
• Wang Chonglou used the Great Yellow Court Scripture to transfer his decades of cultivation into Xu Fengnian, warning him to absorb as much as he could.

Xiao Xuan exposed how Zhao Heng had manipulated Lin Tanhua into an assassination attempt, then helped Xu Xiao spare the Lin Family by giving Lin Tanhua a new identity as Lü Qiantang. He began training Lü Qiantang and left Shu Xiu wondering whether the former assassin could be trusted.

• Xiao Xuan told Lin Tanhua that Zhao Heng had engineered the assassination attempts to frame the Lin Family and explained Xu Xiao's restraint toward the Liyang Emperor.
• Xu Xiao ordered Shu Xiu to free Lin Tanhua and offered to save the Lin Family if he surrendered his life and identity.
• Xu Xiao renamed Lin Tanhua Lü Qiantang, gave him the Red Glow Sword Art, and assigned him to Xiao Xuan's care.
• Xiao Xuan gave Xu Xiao a pill that could add thirty years of inner strength and help heal his old injuries.
• Xiao Xuan trained Lü Qiantang, guided a Small Return Pill's medicinal power through his body, and helped open several meridians.
• Shu Xiu asked Xiao Xuan whether Lü Qiantang could be trusted.

Nangong revealed a hidden chamber beneath Tide-Watching Pavilion, and Xu Fengnian found it by activating a concealed mechanism among the flying apsara statues. Inside, Xu Xiao explained the sacrifices behind Northern Liang and announced he would travel to Tai'an City to arrange Xu Fengnian’s succession, while urging him to seek guidance from his capable elder brother.

• Nangong showed Xu Fengnian that the floor beneath Tide-Watching Pavilion concealed a chamber, but left him to investigate it himself.
• Xu Fengnian discovered the mechanism in a one-eyed flying apsara statue and opened a passage beneath the pavilion.
• Xu Fengnian descended into a hall filled with spirit tablets honoring Northern Liang generals and heard Xu Xiao explain that the realm belonged to the fallen soldiers as well as the Xu family.
• Xu Xiao told Xu Fengnian he would go to Tai'an City to handle the formalities of his succession and insisted that the people there could not take his life.
• Xu Xiao said Xu Fengnian’s elder brother had once been his favored successor and urged Xu Fengnian to ask him for advice.

Xiao Xuan met Huang Longshi at a beef shop in Lingzhou, where they discussed Northern Liang and Huang’s daughter’s cultivation. Huang recognized Xiao Xuan as Xu Xiao’s formidable eldest son and urged his daughter to learn from him; Xiao Xuan left with Shu Xiu, unconcerned about Huang’s schemes.

• Xu Xiao said that his elder brother could likely place in the top ten of the martial rankings.
• Xiao Xuan and Shu Xiu visited a beef shop, where Huang Longshi recognized Xiao Xuan and invited him to share a meal.
• Xiao Xuan praised Huang Longshi’s daughter, Hehe Girl, and invited her to visit the Prince’s Residence to exchange pointers with a prodigy there.
• Huang Longshi asked Xiao Xuan to teach Hehe Girl, and Xiao Xuan agreed to share his experience.
• After Xiao Xuan left, Huang Longshi told Hehe Girl that Xiao Xuan was a peerless general and strategist who might challenge Wang Xianzhi.
• Shu Xiu asked whether Huang Longshi posed a threat to Northern Liang, and Xiao Xuan dismissed his schemes before teasing her after she bumped the wheelchair into a roadside stall.

Xiao Xuan received the Great Dream Spring and Autumn manual from Xu Xiao and placed it in Tide-Watching Pavilion, where Xu Fengnian encountered the newly emerged Li Chungang. Xiao Xuan explained to Li Chungang how his aunt, Wu Su, had been gravely weakened by war and assassination before her death, leaving the Emperor of Liyang suspected as the mastermind.

• Xu Xiao gave Xiao Xuan the Great Dream Spring and Autumn manual and asked him to place it on the sixth floor of Tide-Watching Pavilion.
• Xu Fengnian met a one-armed old man reading martial arts manuals in Tide-Watching Pavilion and tried to persuade him to steal books.
• Li Chungang recognized Xiao Xuan as a formidable martial artist, and Xiao Xuan greeted him as the Senior Sword God.
• Li Chungang asked whether Wu Su had reached the Land Immortal realm, and Xu Fengnian listened closely when Xiao Xuan began describing her.
• Xiao Xuan recounted how Wu Su was injured by the aftermath of the Western Fortress war and repeated assassinations, then died after returning to Northern Liang.
• Xiao Xuan said Wu Su had concealed the identities of those who besieged her, though he and Xu Xiao suspected the Emperor of Liyang had ordered it.

Xiao Xuan reflected on Xu Xiao’s choices and praised Xu Fengnian’s upcoming journey before vanishing, while Li Chungang revealed how extraordinary Xiao Xuan’s cultivation was. Xu Fengnian set out for the East Sea as Xu Xiao departed for Tai’an City, and strange reactions across the martial world followed a threat to Mount Longhu’s Dragon-Tiger Fortune Golden Lotus.

• Xiao Xuan told Xu Nian that Xu Xiao had buried his hatred for Auntie’s sake and said Fengnian would decide for himself whether to seek vengeance or protect the people.
• Li Chungang praised Xiao Xuan’s changed outlook and powerful cultivation, then invited Xu Fengnian to watch his unfinished duel with Wang Xianzhi.
• Xu Fengnian left with Qingniao, Shu Xiu, Lü Qiantang, Wei Shuyang, Li Chungang, and Ning Emei’s Phoenix Character Battalion, while Xu Xiao rode to Tai’an City and left Xiao Xuan in charge of the residence.
• A childlike figure at Mount Longhu erupted in anger over someone targeting the Dragon-Tiger Fortune Golden Lotus, drawing the attention of powerful figures across the martial world.
• On the journey, Li Chungang laughed at a sudden realization and refused to tell Jiang Ni what he had discovered unless she agreed to become his disciple.

Xiao Xuan forged the Strange Iron into the sentient Heavenly Sword, which revealed that it could sense its scattered fragments. When Heaven’s Gate opened, he struck down the Immortals who threatened the mortal world and helped seal the gate, leaving observers across the realm wondering who had acted.

• Xiao Xuan discovered that his blood transformed the Strange Iron into a sword, named it the Heavenly Sword, and found that it could enter his Sea of Consciousness and show him fragmented visions of its past.
• The Heavenly Sword told Xiao Xuan that it could sense its scattered fragments, then unleashed sword qi that opened Heaven’s Gate and shook the martial world.
• Xiao Xuan drew fortune into his body, reached the sacred realm of the Confucian School, and sent a sword strike through Heaven’s Gate that killed the arrogant Immortals within.
• A mysterious symbol rose from the mortal world and sealed Heaven’s Gate, while Wang Xianzhi, Xu Fengnian, Li Chungang, and Nangong Pushe reacted to the display of power.
• Nangong Pushe recognized that the sword light and sealing symbol came from the Northern Liang Prince’s Residence and went into seclusion to pursue that level of strength.

Xiao Xuan welcomed Wang Linquan and his family to Northern Liang, arranged a home and work for them, and praised Xu Fengnian’s fitness to inherit the prince’s title. He remained focused on cultivation despite his sisters’ hopes that he would marry Wang Chudong.

• Xiao Xuan learned that Wang Linquan had arrived and summoned him and his family to the reception hall.
• Wang Linquan greeted Xiao Xuan, who welcomed the family and praised Wang Chudong’s literary talent.
• Xiao Xuan arranged lodging, a welcome banquet, and a residence in Lingzhou for the Wang family, and asked Wang Linquan to help manage Northern Liang’s finances.
• At the banquet, Xiao Xuan explained why he had declined the succession and asked Wang Linquan what he thought of Xu Fengnian.
• Hongshu helped Wang Linquan purchase an estate near the Northern Liang Prince’s Residence, where he began learning financial management.
• Xu Zhihu hoped Xiao Xuan would marry Wang Chudong, but Xiao Xuan remained absorbed in cultivation and left the matter undecided.

Xiao Xuan watched Nangong Pushe and Jia Jiajia spar before meeting the ancient Confucian Saint Zhang Fuyao, who challenged him to a game of Go. Xiao Xuan won their long match and revealed the depth of his learning to Zhang Fuyao.

• Xiao Xuan listened as Hongshu told Wang Chudong about his studious habits and secluded courtyard.
• Xiao Xuan and the women watched Nangong Pushe fight Jia Jiajia, who won after Nangong adapted to his new Mysterious Realm cultivation.
• Zhang Fuyao arrived at the Tide-Watching Pavilion and discussed the Confucian Way with Xiao Xuan.
• Zhang Fuyao challenged Xiao Xuan to Go, and the two played for hours while discussing Confucian ideals.
• Xiao Xuan won the match, and Zhang Fuyao praised his skill and recognized him as a famous teacher behind Xu's strong Go skills.

Xiao Xuan played two long Go matches with Zhang Fuyao, then dreamed of combining essence, qi, and spirit into a Golden Core. He woke to find his body unchanged and tried to remember the dream’s insights.

• Xiao Xuan recognized Zhang Fuyao’s identity and discussed the dangers of Huang Longshi’s schemes with him.
• Xiao Xuan and Zhang Fuyao played two matches in the Northern Liang Prince’s Residence, each winning once when holding the first move.
• Zhang Fuyao praised Xiao Xuan, left the residence, and Xiao Xuan rested after the exhausting games.
• Xiao Xuan dreamed that essence, qi, and spirit merged as he formed a flawless golden particle amid gathering clouds and thunder.
• Xiao Xuan woke with no changes to his body and tried to recall everything from the dream.

Xuanyuan Jingcheng confronted Xuanyuan Dapan at Great Snowy Terrace after killing Xuanyuan Jingyi’s brother and vowing to purge Mount Huishan. He revealed his Celestial Phenomenon power and sent three tornadoes against the patriarch, whose vast inner power began to counter them.

• Xu Fengnian and his companions reached the Xuanyuan Clan’s ceremonial gate, where armed clan members blocked the way.
• The Xuanyuan Clan learned that Xuanyuan Jingcheng had killed Xuanyuan Jingyi’s brother and declared his intent to kill the patriarch, so Xuanyuan Jingyi led his men toward Great Snowy Terrace.
• Xu Fengnian’s group arrived at Great Snowy Terrace and saw Xuanyuan Jingcheng facing Xuanyuan Dapan.
• Xuanyuan Dapan challenged Xuanyuan Jingcheng to prove his strength, and Jingcheng summoned three tornadoes with his Celestial Phenomenon power.
• Xuanyuan Dapan dismissed Jingcheng’s borrowed power and used his accumulated inner energy to strike at the tornadoes.

Xuanyuan Jingcheng sacrificed himself to reach the Land Immortal realm and kill Xuanyuan Dapan, entrusting Xuanyuan Qingfeng to care for her mother and Xu Fengnian with his final words. In Northern Liang, Xiao Xuan completed his own breakthrough to the Land Immortal realm and then stopped beside the lake.

• Xuanyuan Jingcheng fought Xuanyuan Dapan on Great Snowy Terrace, using his strange techniques to disrupt the old ancestor but suffering injuries.
• Xuanyuan Jingcheng burned his essence and blood to ascend to the Land Immortal realm, summoning lightning as Li Chungang recognized him as a Confucian Sage.
• Xuanyuan Jingcheng held Xuanyuan Dapan in place and called down heavenly thunder, killing them both; he told Xuanyuan Qingfeng to care for her mother and left Xu Fengnian in charge.
• Xiao Xuan reflected on Xuanyuan Jingcheng’s death and resumed secluded cultivation in Tide-Watching Pavilion.
• Xiao Xuan’s state of mind broke the barrier above the Greater Finger Profound realm, allowing him to ascend to the Land Immortal realm without disturbing the surroundings.
• Xiao Xuan left the pavilion, noticed Nangong Pushe still cultivating, and stopped by the lake.

Xiao Xuan reunited with Xu Xiao and decided to travel to Martial Emperor City to witness Li Chungang and Wang Xianzhi’s battle. He left with Hongshu after speaking with Chen Zhibao, who warned him to take care on the journey.

• Pei Nanwei met Xiao Xuan at the lakeside, and he warned her not to wander into forbidden areas of the Northern Liang Prince's Residence.
• Xu Xiao returned, praised Xiao Xuan's cultivation breakthrough, and teased him about avoiding women.
• Xiao Xuan told Xu Xiao he planned to go to Martial Emperor City to watch Li Chungang and Wang Xianzhi fight.
• Chen Zhibao met Xiao Xuan, discussed his plans for the journey, and wished him caution before departing.
• Xiao Xuan agreed to take Hongshu along, and they left the residence by carriage that evening.

Xiao Xuan and Hongshu arrived in Martial Emperor City as martial artists gathered for a major battle with Wang Xianzhi. Wang Xianzhi sensed that a mysterious powerful figure had entered the city, while Xiao Xuan met Deng Tai'a.

• Xiao Xuan and Hongshu entered Martial Emperor City, where Wang Xianzhi spotted them from a high pavilion and reacted with excitement.
• Wang Xianzhi welcomed Cao Changqing and the Peace Princess of Western Chu, then discussed the coming battle and his belief that a mysterious expert might challenge him.
• Wang Xianzhi revealed that the mysterious expert had already arrived in Martial Emperor City but kept his identity secret from Cao Changqing.
• Xiao Xuan and Hongshu encountered Deng Tai'a, who remarked that Xiao Xuan had left his military career to pursue martial arts.