Chapter Summaries

Xuantian met Nanji Zi and Taizhen while traveling through the Primordial Continent, then discovered Hongmeng Purple Qi and transformed it into Hongmeng Source. After using the source to advance his Heavenly Secrets Great Dao comprehension, he formed the embryonic seed of the Great Dao.

• Nanji Zi stopped Xuantian, shared spiritual fruits with him, and parted after they talked.
• Xuantian met Taizhen, Queen Mother of the West, who said she was returning to West Kunlun and described Donghua's cultivation.
• Xuantian followed a pull into a hidden purple space and found Hongmeng Purple Qi.
• Xuantian used the Heaven-Burying Ancient Coffin to shatter the purple qi, took the Hongmeng Source, and absorbed it.
• Xuantian used the source to condense 129,600 Heavenly Secrets talismans, which fused into an embryonic chaotic-colored Great Dao seed above his head.

Xuantian engraved the Heavenly Secrets Great Dao Seed at the source of the Fate River and attained Hunyuan. He returned to Hong Huang only to find that his seed, memories, and Divine Abilities were gone, leaving him with two low-level techniques and the task of starting over.

• Xuantian used the Heavenly Secrets Great Dao to reach the source of the Fate River and learned that he needed to leave an Eternal Undying True Spirit imprint to attain Hunyuan.
• Xuantian engraved the Heavenly Secrets Great Dao Seed on the stone wall, left his eternal imprint, and attained Hunyuan as the Fate River erupted in waves.
• Countless Da Luo Golden Immortals sensed a disturbance, while Quasi-Saints glimpsed a seed above the Fate River and felt its power.
• Xuantian returned to his cultivation ward in Hong Huang and found that his seed, memories, and Divine Abilities were gone.
• Xuantian received the Dreamlike Great Dao, the Vast Righteous Great Dao, Dreams of a Thousand Autumns, and Vast Righteous Qi Art, but realized the techniques could not lead him to Immortality.

Xuantian’s history and extraordinary cultivation in the Snow World were recounted as the realm’s political and martial forces came into view. The chapter ended at the unusually busy Heart-Searching Temple in Northern Mang, where the Empress planned to suppress Buddhism.

• Xuantian had arrived in the Snow World, helped Xu Xiao unify the realm, and refused offers to become king or chancellor.
• After Wu Su’s White-Clothed Case and death, Northern Liang grew estranged from Liyang as Northern Mang and restoration loyalists kept the realm in a tense balance.
• Xuantian had spent more than fifty years cultivating the Greater Vajra, Greater Celestial Phenomenon, and Greater Finger Profound realms while keeping his abilities secret.
• The Empress of Northern Mang planned to suppress Buddhism and seize the temples’ wealth and fortune to strengthen the court and army.
• Worshippers streamed into the plain-looking Heart-Searching Temple outside Da'e City, making its Hall of Great Strength unusually lively.

After spending ten years traveling through Northern Mang, Xuantian met the starving Xu Fengnian and Old Huang on the road near Liangzhou. He gave them food and learned they were returning to the Northern Liang Prince's Residence after Xu Fengnian's three-year journey.

• Xuantian recalled leaving Heart-Searching Temple ten years earlier and departing Northern Mang.
• Xu Fengnian and Old Huang struggled toward Liangzhou after three years of hardship and hunger.
• Xuantian recognized them and tossed over dry provisions, which Xu Fengnian and Old Huang devoured.
• Xu Fengnian explained that he had traveled to avoid being summoned into the palace as Princess Sui Zhu's consort.
• Xu Fengnian proposed feeding dogs his waste and chickens the dogs' waste so he could live on eggs, and Xuantian abruptly sprang into the air.

After three years of wandering, Xu Fengnian returned to Lingzhou with Old Huang, exhausted and dressed in rags. His return drew the Northern Liang cavalry and spread through the city, leaving its residents and brothels in an uproar.

• Xu Fengnian and Old Huang fled danger in the forest and reached a wine stall outside Lingzhou.
• Xu Fengnian whistled for help, then fell asleep at the table while a hawk flew toward the city.
• Qi Dangguo arrived with two hundred Northern Liang cavalry and knelt to greet the sleeping Xu Fengnian as the Heir Apparent.
• Xu Longxiang arrived, mistook his sleeping brother for dead, and began to weep until Old Huang explained; he then carried Xu Fengnian toward the city.
• Lingzhou residents recognized Xu Fengnian as the Heir Apparent, and news of his return spread through the city, stirring excitement in its brothels.

Xu Fengnian returned to the Northern Liang Prince's Residence, woke after two days of sleep, and confronted Xu Xiao over being sent away for three years. Xuantian arrived with a map of Northern Mang and warned Xu Xiao about the Imperial Family of Northern Li, leaving him with an offer to join an old flame.

• A white-robed woman followed the cavalry into Liangzhou and learned that Xu Fengnian was the Prince of Northern Liang's heir.
• Celestial Master Zhao assured Xu Xiao that Xu Fengnian was only exhausted, and Xu Longxiang stayed beside his sleeping brother for two days and nights.
• Xu Fengnian woke, hurled an incense burner at Xu Xiao, and chased him through the courtyard with a broom for sending him away for three years.
• Xu Fengnian greeted Xu Longxiang warmly, and Xu Longxiang lifted him, showing how much stronger he had become.
• Xuantian reunited with Xu Xiao and presented him with a detailed map of Northern Mang.
• Xuantian told Xu Xiao to guard against the Imperial Family of Northern Li and suggested he take the three provinces and join his devoted old flame.

Xu Fengnian reunited with Chu Lushan at Tide-Watching Pavilion and confronted Xu Xiao over the enemies who had wronged him. He gave Xu Xiao a list of names and ordered him to take revenge on them all.

• Xu Fengnian visited Tide-Watching Pavilion with Xu Longxiang, Jiang Ni, and Yuan Zuozong.
• Chu Lushan rushed to greet Xu Fengnian and reminisced with him about their friendship.
• Xu Xiao arrived, and Xu Fengnian teased his father while Chu Lushan sat nervously nearby.
• Xu Fengnian presented Xu Xiao with a list of his enemies and told him to deal with every last one of them.

Xu Fengnian used his father’s power to target a reduced list of enemies while Xuantian settled into Tide-Watching Pavilion. As White Fox Face displayed her saber mastery and entered seclusion, strange disturbances shook the lake, and Xu Fengnian prepared to take Jiang Ni, Yu Youwei, and Old Huang out to admire the snow.

• Xu Fengnian showed Xu Xiao a list of enemies, then replaced it with a shorter one and had Chu Lushan arrange their removal.
• Xu Xiao asked Xu Fengnian to persuade Huang Man'er not to go to Mount Longhu, then left after Xu Fengnian ordered him away.
• Xuantian returned to Tide-Watching Pavilion and spent half a month reading and talking with Li Yishan.
• White Fox Face practiced with Embroidered Winter and Spring Thunder on the lake, impressing Xu Fengnian, Jiang Ni, Yu Youwei, Li Yishan, Xuantian, and Xu Xiao.
• White Fox Face abandoned Spring Thunder and entered seclusion on the Second Floor, while the lake shattered and koi leaped from the water.
• Xu Fengnian invited Jiang Ni, Yu Youwei, and Old Huang onto a covered boat to warm wine and admire the snow.

Xu Fengnian agreed to take charge of Northern Liang, and Bottom-of-the-Lake Old Kui fought Wei Shuyang before Jian Jiuhuang defeated him. Jian Jiuhuang then asked Old Kui to protect Xu Fengnian and set out to challenge Wang Xianzhi, with Xu Fengnian accompanying him out of Lingzhou City.

• Xu Fengnian teased Jiang Ni and Yu Youwei aboard a boat, but Jiang Ni refused his wager to stab him.
• Xu Fengnian agreed to inherit Northern Liang after Xu Xiao asked whether he would take charge of it.
• Xuantian sensed a battle outside the Tide-Watching Pavilion as Bottom-of-the-Lake Old Kui emerged from beneath the lake.
• Bottom-of-the-Lake Old Kui defeated Wei Shuyang with his twin sabers.
• Jian Jiuhuang used six sword techniques to subdue Bottom-of-the-Lake Old Kui again.
• Jian Jiuhuang asked Old Kui to protect Xu Fengnian, then left to challenge Wang Xianzhi as Xu Fengnian accompanied him out of Lingzhou City.

After learning that Jian Jiuhuang had died fighting Wang Xianzhi, Xu Fengnian began training in martial arts and went to Wudang Mountain to receive Wang Chonglou’s Great Yellow Court. He later encountered Li Chungang, who agreed to travel with him after Xuantian urged the Sword God to leave seclusion.

• Xu Fengnian learned that Jian Jiuhuang had died upright on the city wall after using Sword Nine against Wang Xianzhi, and vowed to retrieve his sword case from Martial Emperor City.
• Xuantian explained that Xu Xiao intended Xu Fengnian to inherit Wang Chonglou’s Great Yellow Court, and Xu Fengnian gained second-rank cultivation after receiving the transmission on Wudang Mountain.
• Li Yishan told Xuantian that Xu Xiao wanted him to help bring Li Chungang out of seclusion, and explained the Sword God’s troubled past and imprisonment beneath Tide-Watching Pavilion.
• After returning from Wudang Mountain, Xu Fengnian bought braised beef and later met the one-armed Li Chungang at Tide-Watching Pavilion.
• Xuantian told Li Chungang to travel with Xu Fengnian, calling the young prince an extraordinary opportunity, and Li Chungang agreed to accompany him.

Xuantian left Tide-Watching Pavilion and joined Xu Fengnian’s party on the road through Yongzhou, where the group was ambushed by the Talisman General Red Armors. After Xuantian killed the Water Armor, he entrusted four longtime followers to protect Xu Fengnian as he continued toward Martial Emperor City.

• Xuantian spoke with Nangong Pushe at Tide-Watching Pavilion and advised her to develop her own cultivation path.
• Xu Fengnian’s group entered Yongzhou and encountered the Water Armor blocking their road in the rain.
• Lü Qiantang and Shu Xiu charged the Water Armor but barely made it sway, while Li Chungang revealed that three other Red Armors were nearby.
• Xuantian arrived and killed the Water Armor with a finger strike, surprising the group and drawing Li Chungang’s praise.
• Xuantian summoned Xuan Yi, Xuan Er, Xuan San, and Xuan Si, then ordered the four peak Finger Profound Realm fighters to protect Xu Fengnian.

Xu Fengnian visited Mount Qingcheng, met Zhao Yutai, and obtained his mother’s Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Sword before continuing down the Swallow River. After Li Chungang demonstrated his strength against Wu Liuding, the group reached Xiangfan City, where Jiang Ni faced the approach to her fallen homeland.

• Xu Fengnian welcomed Xuan Yi and three other peak Finger Profound Realm masters after Xuantian disappeared.
• Xu Fengnian met Zhao Yutai on Mount Qingcheng, received Wu Su’s Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Sword, and settled his conflict with Wu Lingsu.
• Xu Fengnian’s group traveled downstream on the Swallow River, where Wu Liuding overturned Ning Emei’s ship with a bamboo pole.
• Li Chungang confronted Wu Liuding and split the river with a sword strike, driving him away.
• Jiang Ni worried about reaching Xiangfan, and Xu Fengnian teased her about the city’s ghosts.

Xu Fengnian and his companions witnessed Six-Bead Bodhisattva try to lead Xiangfan’s ghosts out of the city, only for a hidden power to claim them. While staying in Xiangfan, Xu Fengnian read the new Martial Ranking, which listed Xuantian as the Central Confucian Immortal, and felt inspired to cultivate.

• Six-Bead Bodhisattva approached Xu Fengnian with ten thousand ghosts, and Li Chungang faced her with his sword aura while Xuan Yi and the other Slaying Gods guarded the heir.
• Xu Fengnian told Xuan Yi and the others to stand down, but they surrounded Six-Bead Bodhisattva and combined their strength to strike her back.
• A mysterious voice silenced the ghosts, and the celestial talisman burned away as Li Chungang realized that a hidden figure had benefited from Mount Longhu’s and Mount Lantuo’s efforts.
• Xu Fengnian settled with Jiang Ni and Qingniao beside Lean Sheep Lake and read the new Martial Ranking, discussing its top entries and the experts on its secondary list.
• Xuan Yi explained the ranks of the Emperor, Venerables, Kings, and Slaying Gods under Xu Fengnian’s lord, while Xu Fengnian recognized the figures listed and resolved to cultivate diligently.

Xuantian entered Xiangfan after dealing with a hundred thousand ghost souls and confronted Huang Sanjia, whose schemes he laid bare. He invited Huang Sanjia to help him turn the immortals into pieces in a greater game, but Huang Sanjia remained unconvinced and chose to continue his plans.

• Xu Fengnian arrived while Li Chungang and Jiang Ni practiced calligraphy, and Li Chungang said Jiang Ni had the makings of a natural-born sword vessel.
• After sensing that he had advanced within the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, Xuantian entered Xiangfan to meet Li Baishi and Huang Sanjia.
• Huang Sanjia ordered Li Baishi to go to the capital when Xu Fengnian left Xiangfan, and said he would go to Reed Marsh to watch Zhao Heng's scheme.
• Xuantian entered Red Fish Hall and told Huang Sanjia that he knew the motives behind his schemes and that Xu Fengnian, not Huang Sanjia, would keep heaven and man apart.
• Xuantian proposed that Huang Sanjia help him make the immortals chess pieces, but Huang Sanjia refused and told Li Baishi to see their guest out.
• After Xuantian departed, Huang Sanjia told Li Baishi to proceed with their original plans.

Zhao Kai and Jing'an Prince Zhao Heng’s allies set a deadly ambush for Xu Fengnian outside Xiangfan City. As Li Chungang and the Xu household’s guards engage the attackers, the battle begins with several powerful enemies still closing in.

• Huang Sanjia watched events unfold and reflected that foreknowledge could not overcome a great gap in strength.
• Zhao Kai brought the Talisman General Red Armor to the reed marshes, intending to kill Xu Fengnian so he could seize power.
• Xu Fengnian’s carriage left Xiangfan City with Pei Nanwei behind it, while he and Xuan Yi discussed Zhao Heng’s likely ambush.
• Wu Liuding challenged Li Chungang to a duel, and Li Chungang flew out to meet him.
• Qi Jiajie appeared and drew Xuan Yi and Xuan Er away, while Xuan San and Xuan Si attacked the farmer Wang Mingyin.
• Zhao Kai ordered the attack, and the Earth Armor was the first Talisman General Red Armor to strike.

Xuan Yi and Xuan Er killed Qi Jiajie and joined the battle in Reed Marsh, where the four Killing Gods defeated Wang Mingyin and the remaining fighters survived or fled. Elsewhere, Li Dangxin confronted an elegant scholar in the Hall of a Thousand Buddhas, whose finger-flicked chess stones shook the Buddha statues.

• Xuan Yi and Xuan Er broke Qi Jiajie's strongest sword strike, and Xuan Er pierced his heart, killing him.
• Huang Sanjia watched the unfolding battle from afar and speculated about the fighters and the killing tribulation.
• Wei Shuyang and Shu Xiu killed the Wood-Armored Talisman General, while Lü Qiantang attacked the Fire-Armored Talisman General and was swept clear of its explosion by a powerful current of qi.
• Xuan Yi, Xuan Er, Xuan San, and Xuan Si overwhelmed and killed Wang Mingyin, while Wu Liuding fled with Cuihua.
• The battle in Reed Marsh ended with Ning Emei and more than twenty Phoenix Character Battalion soldiers dead or wounded, and the official road left ruined.
• Li Dangxin invited an elegant scholar in blue to play chess; the scholar appeared with sixteen stones, and his attacks made the Hall of a Thousand Buddhas' Arhat statues sway.

Cao Changqing found Jiang Ni and came to take her away as the princess of Western Chu, while Xu Fengnian’s guards tried to stop him. The chapter ended with Cao Changqing and Li Chungang facing off as Cao Changqing asked Jiang Ni whether her companions should live or die.

• Li Dangxin agreed to ensure the little princess of Western Chu would not die, but refused to help Cao Changqing restore the country.
• Xu Fengnian received Chu Lushan’s report that Xu Xiao had nearly secured hereditary succession in perpetuity by agreeing to resign as Supreme Pillar of State.
• Cao Changqing defeated Ning Emei, Lü Qiantang, and Shu Xiu as he advanced toward Xu Fengnian’s carriage.
• Cao Changqing knelt before the carriage and paid respects to Jiang Ni as Princess Tai Ping, revealing his intention to take her away.
• Jiang Ni felt conflicted about leaving Xu Fengnian, while Li Chungang confronted Cao Changqing and the two prepared to fight.
• Cao Changqing asked Jiang Ni whether the people around her should live or die.

Xu Fengnian refused Cao Changqing’s offer to take Jiang Ni in exchange for killing Chen Zhibao, while Xuantian defused the confrontation and joined Cao Changqing and Li Chungang for drinks. In Northern Liang, Xu Xiao and Li Yishan discussed Xu Fengnian’s journey and his approaching reunion with Huang Man’er at Mount Longhu.

• Cao Changqing’s pressure immobilized the group, but Xu Fengnian stood up and declared that no one would take Jiang Ni away.
• Jiang Ni asked Cao Changqing not to fight, and Cao Changqing offered Xu Fengnian a favor in exchange for entrusting her to him.
• Xu Fengnian refused to give Jiang Ni to Cao Changqing, even when Cao Changqing offered to help kill Chen Zhibao.
• Xuantian arrived and persuaded Cao Changqing to set aside their conflict, after which Cao Changqing, Li Chungang, and Xuantian drank together.
• At the Northern Liang Prince’s Residence, Xu Xiao and Li Yishan read a letter reporting that Xu Fengnian had seen his elder sister and discussed his upcoming visit to Mount Longhu.

Xu Fengnian’s group entered Sword Prefecture, rescued Murong Tonghuang and his sister from Yuan Tingshan’s attack, and continued to Mount Longhu. They reached Zhao Xituan’s Free and Easy Temple to visit Xu Longxiang, where talk turned to the Xuanyuan Clan.

• Xu Fengnian and his companions entered Sword Prefecture and discussed the Xuanyuan Clan during their journey.
• Xu Fengnian ordered Lü Qiantang and Shu Xiu to rescue the Murong siblings from Yuan Tingshan and his men, and the Phoenix Character Battalion defeated the attackers.
• Yuan Tingshan escaped after breaking through the crossbow bolts, while Xu Fengnian’s group took the Murong siblings with them.
• Xu Fengnian’s group reached Zhao Xituan’s Free and Easy Temple, where they found Xu Longxiang and Zhao Xituan cooked fish soup for them.
• Xu Fengnian and his companions discussed the Xuanyuan Clan of Mount Huishan.

Xuanyuan Jingcheng arrived at Mount Longhu and asked Xu Fengnian to protect his wife and daughter while he killed Xuanyuan Dapan and seized control of Mount Huishan. Xu Fengnian agreed to go to the mountain, where Xuanyuan Jingyi confronted his armed party at the entrance.

• Xuan Yi told Xu Fengnian and the others that Xuanyuan Dapan planned to dual cultivate with Xuanyuan Qingfeng, and they condemned the old man’s abuse of the women in his clan.
• Xuanyuan Jingcheng arrived, apologized for Xuanyuan Qingfeng, and declared that Xuanyuan Dapan had to die.
• Xuanyuan Jingcheng asked Xu Fengnian to protect Qingfeng and her mother in exchange for influence over Mount Huishan and its waterways, then flew off to kill Xuanyuan Jingxuan and Xuanyuan Jingyi.
• Xu Fengnian decided to follow Xuanyuan Jingcheng to Mount Huishan with Xu Longxiang, Li Chungang, and an armed escort.
• At Mount Guniu’s ceremonial gate, Xuanyuan Jingyi questioned Xu Fengnian’s arrival, and Xu Fengnian said his elder brother had invited him to witness a ceremony.