Chapter Summaries

Shi Yongheng uncovered the Five Sacred Mountains Swordplay carvings on Cliff of Repentance and spent a year blending their techniques into his Nurturing Self Sword Art. He then fought Feng Qingyang, whose skill revealed that Shi Yongheng had begun to comprehend the embryonic form of sword intent.

• Shi Yongheng opened a hidden cave on Cliff of Repentance, found the skeletons of Demonic Cult elders and the Five Sacred Mountains Swordplay carvings, then showed the discovery to Yue Buqun.
• Shi Yongheng studied the sword arts of the Five Sacred Mountains for a year, refining his Nurturing Self Sword Art and developing a fluid style that blended their strengths.
• Shi Yongheng noticed an old man watching him and recognized the man's overwhelming sword aura; the old man identified himself as Feng Qingyang and criticized Shi Yongheng's approach to swordsmanship.
• Feng Qingyang agreed to fight without using internal energy beyond Shi Yongheng's level, and the two exchanged hundreds of moves as Shi Yongheng continually changed his techniques.
• Feng Qingyang realized that Shi Yongheng had comprehended the embryonic form of sword intent, while Shi Yongheng welcomed the battle as a chance to temper his swordplay.

Liu Zhengfeng received an imperial appointment and announced his retirement from the martial world, drawing disapproval from several guests. Just as he prepared to wash his hands in the golden basin, a group of yellow-robed men arrived and stopped the ceremony.

• Shi Yongheng told Yue Lingshan that Liu Zhengfeng’s wealth and status extended beyond the martial world.
• An official delivered an imperial edict appointing Liu Zhengfeng assistant general, and Liu Zhengfeng gave Lord Zhang a lavish gift.
• Liu Zhengfeng announced he would serve the imperial court, withdraw from martial-world conflicts, and let his disciples choose their own paths.
• Daoist Tianmen and Abbess Dingyi urged Liu Zhengfeng to reconsider, but he broke his sword to affirm his vow.
• As Liu Zhengfeng was about to put his hands in the golden basin, four men in yellow robes entered, followed by a tall man who halted the ceremony.

Liu Zhengfeng refused Zuo Lengchan’s banner command to postpone his retirement ceremony, while Songshan Sect disciples revealed that they had surrounded his home and taken his family and disciples hostage. Fei Bin stopped Liu from washing his hands by overturning the golden basin, then claimed Liu’s retirement threatened countless martial artists.

• Shi Denda presented Zuo Lengchan’s banner command, but Liu Zhengfeng argued that his private retirement ceremony was outside the alliance leader’s authority and refused to obey.
• Abbess Dingyi urged Liu Zhengfeng to postpone the ceremony, while voices from the rear hall revealed Songshan disciples were guarding the Liu household.
• Liu Zhengfeng called on the hidden Songshan disciples to show themselves, and dozens emerged from around the hall and courtyard.
• Songshan disciples brought out Liu Zhengfeng’s wife, sons, and disciples with daggers held against them, but Liu Zhengfeng declared he would not yield to threats.
• Fei Bin knocked over the golden basin with a concealed projectile and forbade Liu Zhengfeng from retiring, claiming the matter concerned the lives and livelihoods of countless martial artists.

Fei Bin accused Liu Zhengfeng of conspiring with the Demonic Cult, and Liu admitted that Qu Yang was his closest friend. As the heroes pressured Liu to kill Qu Yang, Yue Buqun proposed that Liu was washing his hands of the martial world to avoid choosing sides in the coming conflict.

• Abbess Dingyi defended Liu Zhengfeng’s right to leave the martial world, but Fei Bin claimed Liu’s retirement concealed a dangerous conspiracy.
• Ding Mian and Lu Bai appeared, and Fei Bin accused Liu of colluding with the Demonic Cult on Alliance Leader Zuo’s orders.
• Lu Bai asked whether Liu knew Qu Yang, and Liu admitted that Qu Yang was his dearest friend and confidant.
• Fei Bin offered to forgive Liu if he killed Qu Yang within a month, while Liu refused to harm his friend and explained that they shared a love of music.
• Abbess Dingyi and Daoist Heaven's Gate urged Liu to kill Qu Yang, but Yue Buqun argued that Liu was withdrawing to avoid taking sides in the coming war.

Liu Zhengfeng refused to kill Qu Yang despite Songshan Sect threats against his family, but Qu Yang rescued him before he could take his own life. Shi Yongheng crippled the Songshan attackers and challenged Dongfang Bubai, leaving their duel poised to continue.

• Fei Bin and Ding Mian threatened Liu Zhengfeng's family to force him to kill Qu Yang, while Shi Yongheng, Yue Buqun, and Abbess Dingyi condemned the Songshan Sect's actions.
• Lu Bai demanded that Liu Zhengfeng denounce his crimes or kill Qu Yang, and Liu Zhengfeng prepared to take his own life rather than sacrifice his friend.
• Qu Yang swept in and rescued Liu Zhengfeng, scattering Black Blood Divine Needles to drive back Lu Bai and Fei Bin as they tried to stop them.
• Lu Bai ordered the Songshan disciples to kill Liu Qin, but Shi Yongheng swiftly cut down the disciples and severed the right hands of Lu Bai, Ding Mian, and the other leaders.
• Shi Yongheng threatened to challenge Zuo Lengchan's leadership of the Five Mountains, then faced Dongfang Bubai in a sword-and-needle duel that moved from the hall to the rooftop.

Shi Yongheng’s clash with Zuo Lengchan’s schemes made him famous, while he pursued martial arts study and watched the Five Mountains sects’ tensions grow. At the Five Mountains Assembly on Mount Song, Yue Buqun and his disciples arrived to face Zuo Lengchan and the other sect leaders.

• Shi Yongheng warned that Zuo Lengchan’s brutality threatened the Five Mountains, and witnesses criticized Zuo after the Hengyang affair became widely known.
• Back on Mount Hua, Shi Yongheng studied the Evil-Warding Sword Art’s speed, while Linghu Chong learned the Nine Swords of Dugu, freed Ren Woxing, and was later expelled from Mount Hua.
• Shi Yongheng studied Daoist scriptures and considered seeking out the world’s greatest book collections, then earned the title of xiucai in Huayin County.
• Yue Buqun brought Shi Yongheng and other Mount Hua disciples to the Five Mountains Assembly at Songshan, where Zuo Lengchan welcomed them with concealed hostility toward Shi Yongheng.
• Yue Buqun greeted Daoist Tianmen, Mister Mo Da, and Abbess Dingxian before Zuo Lengchan led the assembled heroes into Junji Monastery.

At the Five Mountain alliance assembly on Mount Song, Zuo Lengchan proposed merging the five sects, but the other sect leaders refused. The assembly turned to choosing a new alliance leader through martial arts, where Shi Yongheng defeated the Mount Tai and Hengshan challengers before Zuo Lengchan challenged Yue Buqun.

• Zuo Lengchan argued that the Five Mountain Sword Sects should merge to better resist the Demonic Cult, but Mo Da, Daoist Heaven's Gate, Dingxian, and Yue Buqun rejected the proposal.
• Zuo Lengchan called for the alliance leader to be chosen through martial arts, and Shi Yongheng stepped forward on his master's behalf.
• Yuzi Zi challenged Shi Yongheng and was defeated in a few moves.
• Mo Da fought Shi Yongheng with the Thirteen Forms of the Ever-Changing Hengshan Cloud Mist, then conceded defeat and praised Yue Buqun's disciple.
• Dingyi declined to challenge Shi Yongheng, so Zuo Lengchan provoked Yue Buqun into facing him; Yue Buqun answered with pointedly humble remarks while Shi Yongheng watched.

Yue Buqun defeated Zuo Lengchan and became leader of the Five Mountains Sect, while Shi Yongheng later left Mount Hua to pursue the provincial examination. Over the next ten years, Shi Yongheng rose in the imperial court, learned powerful martial arts from palace books, and grew greatly stronger.

• Yue Buqun defeated Zuo Lengchan in a sword duel on the Fengchan Platform, using his superior inner strength and knowledge of the Evil-Warding Sword Art’s flaws.
• Zuo Lengchan honored their agreement, and the gathered heroes acclaimed Yue Buqun as leader of the Five Mountains Sect.
• On the journey back to Mount Hua, Yue Buqun and Shi Yongheng fought off a group of masked experts who were likely connected to Zuo Lengchan.
• Shi Yongheng later left Mount Hua to take the provincial examination, while Yue Buqun led the Five Mountains Sect through years of prosperity.
• Over the following ten years, Shi Yongheng advanced through the examinations, earned distinction in government and battle, and discovered the Taiji Fist Sutra and Great Shift of the Universe in the imperial library.
• Shi Yongheng cultivated Great Shift of the Universe to its fifth level, opened the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and five additional meridians, and greatly increased his strength.

After dying on Mount Hua, Shi Yongheng returned to the Shi Kingdom and entered the Blood Moving Realm, then left the imperial capital’s vicinity after Shi Ziteng found him. Ten years later, he traveled with Yuan Tiangang, who stopped an ambush at an inn as Shi Yongheng watched.

• Shi Yongheng returned to Mount Hua, reunited with Liang Fa, Shi Daizi, Yue Buqun, and Ning Zhongze, and revealed that he had lived as the court official Shi Yu.
• Shi Yongheng lived in seclusion, opened seven of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, and died after suffering a backlash while attacking the Ren and Du Meridians.
• Back in the Shi Kingdom, Shi Yongheng absorbed vital blood, entered the Blood Moving Realm, and trained until his strength surpassed ten thousand jin.
• After Shi Ziteng came to his courtyard, Shi Yongheng sold it and moved to Great Wilderness City to continue his training.
• Yuan Tiangang took the newborn Chang Feng from Su Mei after killing the old matron and left Su Mei to be executed by hanging.
• Ten years later, Yuan Tiangang and Shi Yongheng entered an inn, where armed men attempted to rob them and Yuan Tiangang prepared to fight.

Shi Yongheng continued posing as Li Xingyun while Yuan Tiangang arranged for him to observe the real Li Xingyun and secretly cultivate. After years of study and secluded training, Shi Yongheng opened several acupoints of his Du meridian, bringing him closer to a breakthrough.

• The Bad Commander told Shi Yongheng to observe Li Xingyun and learn his movements and daily habits, while presenting the boy as a candidate for the Tian Zi task.
• Yuan Tiangang secretly instructed Li Xingyun over the years as Shi Yongheng watched and studied martial arts, medicine, and the Tiangang Formula.
• Shi Yongheng recovered most of his former strength within two years, sealed his offensive power with the Huayang Needle, and evaded Yang Shuzi when he was discovered at the Sword Hut.
• Jingxin Demon discussed Shi Yongheng's altered face, and Shi Yongheng later settled in Yuzhou City to keep observing Li Xingyun.
• After three months of secluded cultivation, Shi Yongheng opened several Du meridian acupoints, though his Ren and Du Meridians remained incompletely opened.

News that Yang Shuzi and the Longquan Sword had appeared in Yuzhou City spread through the martial world, prompting the Dark Nether Cult, Tongwen Hall, and Phantom Sound phalanx to send people there. Shi Yongheng was told to return to Weapon Repository Valley while Shangguan Yunque stayed with Tian Zi.

• Spies uncovered news of Yang Shuzi and the Longquan Sword in Yuzhou City, but a downed carrier pigeon spread it throughout the martial world.
• Meng Po condemned Black and White Impermanence for withholding the news, then sent Yang Yan and Yang Miao to Yuzhou City to protect the Longquan Sword and bring back the others.
• Li Siyuan fed a disciple to his pythons for failing to watch the Young Lord, then ordered Li Cunzhong and his companion to retrieve the Longquan Sword and bring Fan'er back.
• The Empress decided to send At Ease Heaven and others to Yuzhou City after learning that the Dark Nether Cult and Tongwen Hall had acted.
• Yuan Tiangang ordered Shangguan Yunque to stay with Tian Zi and told Shi Yongheng to return to Weapon Repository Valley.
• Shangguan Yunque delivered Yuan Tiangang's order to Shi Yongheng, who agreed to leave his residence in Yuzhou City.

At Weapon Repository Valley, Yuan Tiangang ordered Yang Shuzi to sacrifice himself to awaken Li Xingyun’s royal purpose. After Yang Shuzi died saving him, Yuan Tiangang revealed Li Xingyun’s lineage and explained his own centuries-long history as commander of the Bad People.

• Shi Yongheng returned to Weapon Repository Valley, where Yuan Tiangang gave him a mask and told him to wait for the right time.
• Yuan Tiangang brought the unconscious Li Xingyun to the valley with Yang Shuzi and Shangguan Yunque, then ordered Yang Shuzi to do what was necessary.
• Yang Shuzi used his life and internal power to heal Li Xingyun’s damaged meridians, then died beside him.
• Li Xingyun woke and learned from Yuan Tiangang that Yang Shuzi had died serving him and that Yuan Tiangang led the Bad People.
• Yuan Tiangang revealed that Li Xingyun was the tenth son of Emperor Zhaozong and recounted how the commander had survived for more than two hundred years through the Immortality Medicine.

Yuan Tiangang revealed his identity and urged Li Xingyun to raise an army, restore Great Tang, and avenge his family, but Li Xingyun refused the throne. When Li Xingyun learned Yuan Tiangang planned to take Ji Ruxue, he confronted him and was swiftly defeated, leaving Yuan Tiangang demanding to know what she meant to him.

• Yuan Tiangang revealed his disfigured face and explained how he had survived for centuries and disbanded the Bad People after foreseeing Great Tang's fall.
• Yuan Tiangang knelt before Li Xingyun and urged him to use the Dragon Spring Treasure and the Bad People to overthrow Zhu Wen and restore Great Tang.
• Li Xingyun refused to become emperor, saying he wanted to avenge his family but preferred an idle life.
• Shangguan Yunque told Li Xingyun that Ji Ruxue was at the nearby altar, where Yuan Tiangang planned to harvest yin and replenish yang.
• Li Xingyun found Ji Ruxue and ordered Yuan Tiangang to release her, but Yuan Tiangang defeated him and challenged him to explain why he was risking his life for her.

Li Xingyun agreed to let Yuan Tiangang raise an army while he traveled the martial world, unaware that Yuan Tiangang had spread word of his royal blood and Longquan Sword to force him to grow through hardship. As Li Xingyun, Lu Linxuan, and Shangguan Yunque headed toward Luoyang, Shi Yongheng warned him that his royal identity left him little chance of living freely and mentioned his ninth brother, Li Zhu.

• Li Xingyun ordered Yuan Tiangang to stop harming women and leave, then freed Ji Ruxue from her acupoints.
• Yuan Tiangang ordered Shangguan Yunque to spread the news that Li Xingyun was Li Tang royal blood and bore the Longquan Sword, hoping danger would strengthen him.
• Li Xingyun told Yuan Tiangang he would travel the martial world while Yuan handled raising an army, then left Weapon Repository Valley with Ji Ruxue.
• Shangguan Yunque reunited Li Xingyun with Lu Linxuan, who learned that their master had died saving him, and joined them on their journey toward Luoyang.
• Shi Yongheng arrived on Yuan Tiangang's orders and warned Li Xingyun that his royal lineage made a carefree life impossible, mentioning Li Xingyun's ninth brother, Li Zhu.

Shi Yongheng tracked down Hou Qing to borrow the Blood-Tear Record, but Hou Qing fled and joined forces with Yinggou when Shi Yongheng caught up. The three began a fierce fight in Wu Kingdom, leaving the record still out of Shi Yongheng’s reach.

• Li Xingyun, Lu Linxuan, and Shangguan Yunque continued toward Luoyang as war between Qi Kingdom, Jin, and Liang Kingdom devastated the countryside.
• Zhu Yougui emerged from seclusion, angered Zhu Wen, and accepted a mission to capture Li Ye’s surviving son; he later killed Zhu Wen and prepared traps for Li Xingyun’s arrival.
• Yuan Tiangang learned that Li Xingyun had rejected the throne and that Zhu Yougui had been killed, while most of Dark Nether Cult’s followers had been Bad People planted by Yuan Tiangang.
• Shi Yongheng found Hou Qing outside Taiyuan City and demanded to borrow the Blood-Tear Record, but Hou Qing fled when they began fighting.
• Shi Yongheng pursued Hou Qing into Wu Kingdom, where Hou Qing joined up with Yinggou and she told him to lend Shi Yongheng the record.
• Shi Yongheng attacked Hou Qing and Yinggou after Hou Qing refused to lend the Blood-Tear Record, and their clash wrecked nearby stalls.

Shi Yongheng seized the Blood-Tear Record, then risked consuming Fire Lingzhi to break through to the Innate realm. He traveled to Fengxiang and demanded that the Empress recognize him as His Highness, leaving her shaken by his knowledge of Li Maozhen’s whereabouts.

• Shi Yongheng used the Blood-Tear Record to make Yinggou and Hou Qing stop fighting, then left with the promise to contact them when he needed help.
• Yuan Tiangang ordered Shi Yongheng to unite the feudal lords and claim the throne as the basis for a blood exchange, but Shi Yongheng secretly swallowed Fire Lingzhi to strengthen himself.
• Shi Yongheng endured the Fire Lingzhi’s violent effects, opened his meridians, and awakened in the Innate realm.
• After half a month of travel, Shi Yongheng entered Fengxiang and confronted the Empress at the Phantom Sound phalanx.
• Shi Yongheng demanded that the Empress recognize him as His Highness and revealed that he knew Li Maozhen’s whereabouts, prompting her to ask where her brother was.

Shi Yongheng coerced the Empress and Tianxia’s lords into cooperating, then confronted Li Xingyun and claimed he would take his identity while Yuan Tiangang watched from the shadows. The story then moved to a heavily guarded gathering at Weapon Repository Valley, where the Empress entered the cave and found representatives of the Dark Nether Cult and Qianjiang already waiting.

• Shi Yongheng defeated the Empress, warned her about Li Maozhen’s return, and demanded that she choose whether to cooperate.
• In Taiyuan, Li Siyuan agreed to cooperate with Shi Yongheng, who had spent half a year visiting Tianxia’s lords.
• Shi Yongheng revealed his face to Li Xingyun and Ji Ruxue on an overseas island, claimed he would become Li Xingyun, and left them stranded there.
• Yuan Tiangang observed Shi Yongheng’s confrontation and declared that no one could keep alive the person he wanted dead.
• Li Xingyun and Ji Ruxue escaped the island by boat after the Dark Nether Cult arrived.
• On the fifth day of the fifth month, the Empress entered Weapon Repository Valley’s cave, where Meng Po and a Qianjiang delegation had gathered.

At Weapon Repository Valley, Yuan Tiangang sought the support of powerful figures to restore Great Tang, but Li Keyong challenged his treatment of Three Jin and attacked him. Li Keyong revealed he had never been crippled, knocked off Yuan Tiangang’s mask, and left the outcome of their contest uncertain.

• The Witch King, Meng Po, and the Empress pledged support for restoring Great Tang, while the Empress said Qi Kingdom followed Li Xingyun’s stance.
• Li Keyong entered the cavern and accused Yuan Tiangang of abandoning him after Li Cunxu and other members of the Thirteen Guardians died.
• Yuan Tiangang attacked Li Keyong, but Li Keyong vanished from his wheelchair and appeared atop the central stone platform.
• Li Keyong revealed his strength, clashed with Yuan Tiangang, and knocked off his mask, exposing his scarred face.
• Li Keyong withdrew after the exchange and told Yuan Tiangang that it remained to be seen who was using whom.

Yuan Tiangang and Li Keyong clashed in the Weapon Pavilion until the Witch King's men helped Li Siyuan ambush and kill Li Keyong. Yuan Tiangang then confronted Shi Yongheng, warning that he would be eliminated for turning away from the Bad People.

• Yuan Tiangang and Li Keyong fought palm to palm as Li Keyong boasted of mastering the Supreme Sage Qian Kun Skill.
• The Witch King distracted Li Keyong, allowing one of his subordinates to strike him from behind with the Supreme Sage Qian Kun Skill.
• Yuan Tiangang revealed that the attacker was Li Siyuan, and Li Keyong realized his adopted son had joined the Bad People.
• Yuan Tiangang crippled Li Keyong, and Li Siyuan snapped his neck before accepting the title of Prince of Jin.
• Yuan Tiangang ordered Li Siyuan to deal with Li Keyong's army and gunpowder outside Weapon Repository Valley.
• Yuan Tiangang warned Shi Yongheng that, like Lu Youjie and Yang Shuzi, he would be eliminated for no longer serving the Bad People.

Shi Yongheng challenged Yuan Tiangang, proposed joining forces to conquer tianxia, and set a half-year meeting at Jie Liang to open the Dragon Spring Treasure. At the meeting, Shi Yongheng revealed the underground palace and ordered his followers to take its treasure back to Luoyang.

• Shi Yongheng fought Yuan Tiangang and proposed that they conquer tianxia together, with the throne going to Li Xingyun if Yuan Tiangang could persuade him to rule.
• Shi Yongheng announced that the Dragon Spring Treasure would be opened in half a year at Jie Liang, and Li Xingyun learned that Shi Yongheng was his brother.
• Over the following half year, Shi Yongheng established Tang from the former Great Liang and consolidated control with Meng Po and the four corpse ancestors.
• At Jie Liang, Shi Yongheng demanded the lords' submission and used his blood and the Longquan Sword to open a hidden entrance beneath the Salt Marsh.
• Shi Yongheng ordered Jiang Chen, Yinggou, Han Ba, and Hou Qing to transport the underground palace's treasures to Luoyang while others guarded the entrance.