Chapter Summaries

Xuanyuan Jingcheng revealed his Celestial Phenomena realm and challenged Xuanyuan Dapan to the death on Great Snowy Terrace. As Xu Fengnian and his group climbed Mount Guniu, Xuanyuan Dapan began tearing apart Xuanyuan Jingcheng’s storm technique and counterattacking.

• Xu Fengnian ordered Xu Longxiang to force his way past Xuanyuan Jingyi, and Xu Longxiang brushed off the arrows and killed Hong Biao with one punch.
• Xuanyuan Qingfeng told Xuanyuan Jingyi that Xuanyuan Dapan had invited Xu Fengnian to observe the ceremony, allowing the group to ascend Mount Guniu.
• Xuanyuan Qingfeng recalled that Xuanyuan Jingcheng had killed Xuanyuan Jingxuan and vowed to clean up the Xuanyuan family so she and her mother could be free.
• Xuanyuan Jingcheng confronted Xuanyuan Dapan on Great Snowy Terrace and declared that he had come to ask his ancestor to die.
• Xuanyuan Jingcheng summoned three enormous dragon-shaped waterspouts, but Xuanyuan Dapan tore one apart and struck back with a palm.

Xu Fengnian's party neared Martial Emperor City as news spread of Li Chungang's return to the Land Immortal realm. Xu Weibear joined them on the way, while Zhao Kai considered retreating before an unseen voice challenged his decision.

• A mysterious Northern Liang expert killed Xuanyuan Dapan with repeated finger strikes, and Xuanyuan Qingfeng became head of the Xuanyuan Clan.
• Li Chungang confirmed that he had returned to the Land Immortal realm, and news of his feat spread across tianxia.
• Cao Changqing declined to go to Martial Emperor City and left Jiang Ni with Xu Fengnian's party before departing.
• Xu Weibear boarded Xu Fengnian's ship near the border of Sword Prefecture, and Xuantian worried about her affection for him.
• Xu Fengnian and his companions reached Martial Emperor City, while Zhao Kai decided to retreat until a sinister voice questioned him.

Zhao Kai received a secret weapon from Han Diao Temple and prepared to assassinate Xu Fengnian during the coming chaos in Martial Emperor City. As Xu Fengnian’s group arrived to pursue their own aims, Li Chungang summoned a vast river of swords before the city walls.

• Han Diao Temple gave Zhao Kai a dragon-qi-sealed short sword containing one strike of powerful sword intent and warned him to flee immediately after using it.
• Zhao Xuansu and a charcoal-selling girl from the Guanyin Sect met in Martial Emperor City and agreed their plans would not conflict.
• Yuan Qingshan, True Person Qilin, visited Mount Longhu and asked Zhao Danping to let him use the Demon-Slaying Platform to settle a cause and effect with Northern Mang’s Buddhist Sect.
• Xu Fengnian and his companions arrived at Martial Emperor City, each pursuing their own purpose, while Xu Fengnian said he wanted to retrieve Jian Jiuhuang’s sword case and pay respects to Old Huang.
• Li Chungang stepped forward and drew more than a thousand swords into a towering river behind him, filling the sky before Martial Emperor City’s walls.

As Li Chungang and Wang Xianzhi began their fight at sea, Lu Yuan’s group tried to advance on Martial Emperor City. Zhao Xuansu confronted Xu Fengnian beneath the gatehouse, but Deng Tai’a intervened, leaving the two Land Immortals poised to fight.

• Li Chungang borrowed the swords of Martial Emperor City and flew to the East Sea to face Wang Xianzhi.
• Xuan Yi charged the city walls to hold off six martial slaves and clear the way for Lu Yuan.
• Zhao Xuansu stopped Xu Fengnian beneath the gatehouse and revealed his plan to pass Mount Longhu’s calamity to him before ascending through Heaven’s Gate.
• Xu Fengnian and his companions attacked Zhao Xuansu, but he subdued them until Hehe Girl wounded him and forced him to reveal his true form.
• Deng Tai’a arrived and used twelve flying swords to trap Zhao Xuansu in his Dissolution formation.

Xu Fengnian survived Zhao Kai’s surprise sword attack, while Xuantian faced a coordinated assault after Yuan Qingshan summoned heavenly lightning against him. Yuan was killed, but Coal-Selling Girl’s Earthly Ascension Chart and a beam from the opened Heaven’s Gate immediately threatened Xuantian.

• Zhao Kai launched a talisman sword at Xu Fengnian, who blocked it with Spring Thunder before Xuan Er and the others pulled him clear.
• Coal-Selling Girl revealed that the Earthly Ascension Chart had identified Xuantian and said she had come to collect his corpse.
• At Mount Longhu, Yuan Qingshan summoned a lightning Qilin from the Demon-Slaying Platform and sent it toward Martial Emperor City.
• Xuantian recognized Yuan Qingshan’s attack and sent Chengying flying toward him as the heavenly lightning struck.
• Xuantian emerged unharmed from the lightning, and Chengying beheaded Yuan Qingshan.
• Coal-Selling Girl’s Earthly Ascension Chart swept toward Xuantian as the Heaven’s Gate opened and sent down a pillar of white light.

Xuantian defeated Charcoal Girl and took the shattered Earthly Ascension Chart after Zhao Xuansu died and Heaven's Gate closed. Xu Fengnian recovered from the battle, advanced into the Vajra realm, and Xuantian later arrived at Guangling River to watch the tidal bore.

• Xuantian used the Haoran Sword Array and Vast Righteous Finger to defeat Charcoal Girl after Heaven's Gate closed and the Earthly Ascension Chart lost its power.
• Dantai Pingjing rescued Charcoal Girl with the Moon Well Heavenly Mirror, while Xuantian stored the broken Earthly Ascension Chart and declined Wang Xianzhi's challenge.
• Li Chungang ended his fight with Wang Xianzhi, and Deng Tai'a left after repaying a favor and giving Xu Fengnian a case of flying swords.
• Xu Fengnian woke in a carriage, learned of the day's events, and stepped into the Vajra realm as his injuries began to heal.
• News spread that Xuantian was Northern Liang's strategist Xuan and that he had defeated Yuan Qingshan and Charcoal Girl.
• More than ten days later, Xuantian arrived at Guangling River as crowds gathered to watch the tidal bore.

At the Guangling tide, Xu Fengnian’s party clashed with Zhao Biao after he tried to seize their women, and Xu Fengnian and Li Chungang swiftly defeated his riders. Zhao Yi then ordered Lu Shengxiang to lead three thousand Back Kui Army soldiers against them, while preparing to rely on Grandmaster Chai.

• Zhao Biao ordered his cavalry to kill the men and take the women accompanying Xu Fengnian.
• Xu Fengnian killed Zhao Biao’s commander with Spring Thunder, and Li Chungang slaughtered the remaining riders with sword qi.
• Xu Fengnian injured Zhao Biao and proposed that his party go to the reviewing platform at Great Yan Reef to watch the tide.
• Zhao Yi and Lu Shengxiang discussed the threat posed by Xu Fengnian, Li Chungang, and the Four Killing Gods.
• Zhao Yi gave Lu Shengxiang three thousand Back Kui Army soldiers to attack Xu Fengnian’s party and asked Grandmaster Chai for help.

Xu Fengnian returned safely to Northern Liang after confronting Guangling King Zhao Yi, while Chen Yu sought a new path away from her prophesied fate. As preparations began for his journey into Northern Mang, Xu Fengnian and Xuantian discussed his targets and Northern Mang’s martial rankings, which placed Xuantian third.

• Xuan Yi and the others killed Zhang Erbao, and Chai Qingshan blocked a sword aura from Xu Fengnian, who threatened Zhao Yi before leaving Great Yan Reef safely.
• Chen Yu joined Xu Fengnian’s group and asked him to introduce her to the Confucian Sword Immortal so she could defy her fate; Xu Fengnian agreed to bring her along for now.
• Xu Fengnian returned to Northern Liang with Li Chungang and the others, and Xuantian later refused Chen Yu’s request to follow him but let her remain at the Northern Liang Prince’s Residence.
• Xuantian directed Nangong Pushe to seek guidance from Wu Jiang, whose true identity was the Saber Armor of the Spring and Autumn.
• Xu Fengnian told Xuantian and Lu Yuan that his goals in Northern Mang were to kill eight second-rank fighters, four Diamond Realm experts, and two Finger-Mysterious Realm experts.
• Xu Fengnian remarked that Northern Mang’s Empress had ranked Xuantian third in its new martial rankings.

Xuantian sought Zhang Fuyao in Shangyin Academy’s Merit Forest and asked to borrow three-tenths of the Confucian School’s fortune to become a Confucian Sage. Zhang Fuyao refused, and their Land Immortal battle began as scholars outside the forest watched.

• Xu Fengnian discussed the coming war with Xuantian and said he would leave for Northern Mang in three days.
• Xuantian and Xu Weibear became lovers, while Xu Xiao tried to attack him; they later lived together and roamed the martial world.
• After two years of cultivation, Xuantian heard that Xu Xiao was gravely ill and went to Shangyin Academy’s Merit Forest.
• Xuantian asked Zhang Fuyao for three-tenths of the Confucian School’s fortune, but Zhang Fuyao refused.
• Xuantian struck with sword energy, and Zhang Fuyao countered with words that became law as Chief Scholar Wang and Han Guzi watched from outside.

Xuantian defeated Zhang Fuyao’s attacks, received half of the Confucian School’s fortune, and broke through to celestial-human great longevity. He left with Xu Weibear, while Cao Changqing recalled the fall of Western Chu at the Western Fortress Wall to Jiang Ni.

• Zhang Fuyao countered Xuantian’s sword techniques with Confucian words made law and summoned a towering image of himself.
• Xuantian unleashed Vast Righteous Emptiness, and Zhang Fuyao vanished, leaving behind a stone bowl containing four hundred years of Confucian fortune.
• Xuantian drank the fortune, became a Confucian Saint and Land Immortal, then challenged the beings beyond Heaven’s Gate and reached celestial-human great longevity.
• Xuantian took Xu Weibear on the Chengying Sword and said he would visit his father-in-law.
• At the Western Fortress Wall, Cao Changqing told Jiang Ni how Ye Baikui’s army fell to Xu Xiao’s forces and Western Chu was destroyed.

Cao Changqing brought Jiang Ni to the Western Fortress Wall and awakened Western Chu’s hope of restoration, while Xuantian proposed an alliance between the Jiang and Xu clans. After years of war and the defeat of the invading immortals, Xuantian left the Heaven Realm with Xu Weibear for an unknown destination.

• Cao Changqing entered the realm of a Confucian Saint and urged Jiang Ni to restore Western Chu.
• Jiang Ni accepted Cao Changqing’s hopes for her and declared she would take on her duty as ruler.
• Xuantian arrived with Xu Weibear and proposed that Xu Fengnian become Emperor and Jiang Ni become Empress, with the Jiang and Xu clans sharing tianxia.
• Jiang Ni agreed to Xuantian’s plan after he revealed the reincarnations connecting her and Xu Fengnian.
• After Xu Xiao died, Xu Fengnian inherited Northern Liang, and years of war ended with Northern Liang unifying tianxia and Jiang Ni becoming Empress.
• Xuantian and the mortal world’s masters defeated the descending immortals, and centuries later Xuantian left the Heaven Realm with Xu Weibear for an unknown destination.

The chapter recounts the origins and history of cultivation, the Qingyun Sect’s long decline, and its revival under the gifted Daoist Qingye. It leaves the sect established as a leading power, with its seven lineages preserving the legacy from Qingyun Mountain.

• People pursued immortality through cultivation, and the Orthodox Dao came to dominate the Central Plains under the leadership of the Qingyun Sect, the Heavenly Sound Temple, and Incense Valley.
• Qingyunzi founded the Qingyun Sect after discovering a Nameless Ancient Scroll, but his ten disciples’ lineages dwindled and the sect declined for centuries.
• Outsiders occupied six of Qingyun’s Seven Peaks, while the weakened sect struggled to protect its reputation and survival.
• Wufangzi accepted the brilliant scholar Ye as his final disciple, and Ye mastered the sect’s teachings before studying the ancient scroll in seclusion for thirteen years.
• Daoist Qingye emerged from seclusion, slew the enemies occupying the six peaks, and later became sect master, restoring the Qingyun Sect’s strength and prestige.
• Before his death, Qingye assigned one of the Seven Peaks to each of his seven disciples, with the leading lineage based at Qingyun Temple on Tongtian Peak.

During the Zhongyuan Festival, Xuantian gained a breakthrough while watching river lanterns and resolved to travel with Xu Weibear. Their journey exposed the hardships of ordinary people, and they reached Longford Town, where its apparent prosperity concealed a troubling emptiness.

• Xuantian attended the Zhongyuan rites on Tongtian Peak, where river lanterns rose into the sky and sparked his realization that the Dao existed in the world and in his heart.
• Xuantian advanced Dreams of a Thousand Autumns to its third level and the Vast Righteous Qi Art to the peak of its fifth level, while Xu Weibear decided to descend the mountain and train with him.
• Xuantian and Xu Weibear spent more than a month traveling through Shenzhou Haotu, witnessing the stark differences between peaceful villages, exploited towns, and deserted settlements.
• Xuantian and Xu Weibear reflected on how powerful clans ruled without unified laws, and Xuantian said they could change things once they gained the power to do so.
• A sudden storm in Longford Town frightened a merchant caravan's horses into bolting, and Xuantian and Xu Weibear later noticed that the city seemed strangely empty despite its busy streets.

Xuantian and Xu Weibear uncovered a demonic scheme in a city, killed its leaders, and alerted Qingyun Sect before continuing their travels. They met the fortune-teller Zhou Yixian, learned of three legendary ice treasures, and arrived at the bamboo forests of Bamboo Bay.

• Xuantian and Xu Weibear discovered that Blood Refining Hall and its allies were manipulating the city, then infiltrated their estate and overheard Madam and a man discussing Blood Essence Stones, the Bloodthirsty Pearl, and Tang Quan.
• Xuantian and Xu Weibear attacked the estate after a fire broke out at Flying Crane Temple; Xu Weibear killed Madam, and Xuantian defeated Tang Quan and learned that he was an expelled disciple of the Myriad Poisons Sect.
• Xuantian reported the situation to Qingyun Sect, whose disciples later fought Blood Refining Hall and took control of the city.
• At a tea stall, Xuantian and Xu Weibear watched Zhou Yixian advise Wang Er, then caught up with him and asked about rare treasures and Xuantian's future.
• Zhou Yixian named the Kui Water Essence, Xuantian Nine Crystals, and Far-North Ice Jade as the world's highest-grade treasures, then cast a reading that described Xuantian's origins as obscure and his future as open.
• Xuantian and Xu Weibear traveled to Bamboo Bay and walked deep into its seemingly endless bamboo forest.

Xuantian and Xu Weibear came upon Gun Gun fighting a giant Six-Winged Blood Centipede, and Xuantian helped defeat the monster. They treated Gun Gun’s severe injuries, then followed the tracks to a chilly nearby cave.

• Xuantian and Xu Weibear followed the sounds of a battle and found Gun Gun fighting a Six-Winged Blood Centipede in the ruined bamboo forest.
• Xuantian attacked the centipede with his sword, while Gun Gun seized an opening to tear off one of its wings before the centipede hurled her away.
• Xuantian unleashed his sword aura and killed the centipede, whose poisonous blood sprayed across the forest.
• Xuantian and Xu Weibear treated Gun Gun’s wounds and drew out the poison, and Gun Gun fell asleep after they finished.
• Xuantian avoided the centipede’s toxic remains, and the two followed footprints to a nearby cave where an unusual chill greeted them.

Xuantian and Xu Weibear discovered Stone Pivot Ice Marrow, befriended the spiritually intelligent Gun Gun, and used the treasure to cultivate before leaving Arrow Bamboo Bay for the Northern Border. After surviving a blizzard, they found a mountain of Moon Osmanthus blossoms guarded by wolves and defeated the pack.

• Xuantian recognized the cave’s spring as Stone Pivot Ice Marrow, and he and Xu Weibear waited while Gun Gun recovered and made daggers Xuanyang and Weiyin from the Blood Centipede’s pincers.
• Xuantian realized Gun Gun used the marrow to gather spiritual energy, negotiated permission to cultivate with it, and discovered Gun Gun could shrink into a smaller form.
• Xuantian and Xu Weibear cultivated with Gun Gun in the cave for a year, using much of the marrow, before Gun Gun agreed to leave Arrow Bamboo Bay with them.
• Xuantian, Xu Weibear, and Gun Gun traveled to the Northern Border, endured a powerful blizzard in a sheltered cave, and later found a mountain of Moon Osmanthus blossoms.
• Xuantian and Xu Weibear attacked the wolves guarding the mountain, killed the wolf king and its pack, and prepared to gather the spiritual flowers and wolf bodies.

Xuantian and Xu Weibear traveled into the Ten Thousand Mountains, found the Beast God’s cave, and met the ancient being Linglong had created. The Beast God recounted how Linglong’s pursuit of eternal life led to his creation, their tragic bond, and her sacrifice to give him a human body.

• Xuantian and Xu Weibear found the Beast God’s sealed cave and entered despite the stone guardians’ warning.
• The Beast God greeted them with Taotie and began telling the story of how Linglong created him from the world’s baleful energy.
• The Beast God described how fear and a surge of baleful energy led him to kill people, after which Linglong attacked him and imprisoned him in the Eight Fiends Mysterious Fire Formation.
• The Beast God recalled pleading to be made human, prompting Linglong to sacrifice her flesh and bones to form a human body for him.
• The Beast God said he understood Linglong’s final promise only after his rebirth, when he held her stone statue.

Xuantian accepted the Beast God's treasures, then infiltrated Incense Valley's Mystic Fire Altar and freed the imprisoned Nine-Tailed Sky Fox. After visiting the Ghost King Sect at Fox Qishan, he and Xu Weibear reached Heyang City on their way back to Qingyun, where Xuantian asked about an unusual fish dish.

• The Beast God gave Xuantian rare materials, and Xuantian upgraded several weapons before promising that Linglong might be reincarnated within a hundred years.
• Xuantian entered Incense Valley and overheard an elder leave the Mystic Fire Altar to help oversee the sect amid unrest in the Ten Thousand Mountains.
• Xuantian controlled the Eight Fierce Mystical Fire Formation, descended beneath the altar, and freed the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox from her chains.
• Xuantian and Xu Weibear visited Fox Qishan, where Ghost King Wan Renwang welcomed them and Xuantian discussed the Ancient Witch Clan and Shura.
• Xuantian and Xu Weibear arrived in Heyang City, and Xuantian asked a waiter how the unusual fish on their table had been prepared.

Xuantian and Xu Weibear traveled to Kongsang Mountain, survived a swarm of bats, and explored the Dead Spirit Abyss, where Xuantian fought the Black Water Mystic Snake and discovered Blackheart Elder’s cave. After Xu Weibear formed her Primordial Spirit while studying the First Volume of the Heavenly Book, they returned to Dazhu Peak with revised cultivation texts for their fellow disciples.

• Xuantian and Xu Weibear flew to Kongsang Mountain and fought through a vast swarm of bats on the way to the Myriad Bat Ancient Cave.
• Xuantian explained that the Heavenly Book had five volumes, and the pair descended into the Dead Spirit Abyss, where they encountered thousands of fleeing yin spirits.
• Xuantian fought the Black Water Mystic Snake on the shore of the Unfeeling Sea and drove it away with a powerful lightning attack.
• Xuantian found the Blood-Drop Cave, opened its hidden entrance, and discovered Blackheart Elder’s remains and the First Volume of the Heavenly Book.
• Xu Weibear comprehended the Heavenly Book and reached the sixth layer of Shangqing, forming her Primordial Spirit.
• Xuantian and Xu Weibear returned to Dazhu Peak after twenty years and gave Tian Buyi and Su Ru revised Taiji Xuanqing Dao stages and the Heavenly Book’s general principles.

Xuantian helped Dazhu Peak’s disciples grow strong, then entered Huanyue Cave Abode and studied the Fifth Volume of the Heavenly Book through the Zhu Xian Ancient Sword. After seven years of seclusion, he returned to find Tian Buyi managing Qingyun’s penal law and agreed to train the disciples assigned to it.

• Tian Buyi and Su Ru entered seclusion, leaving Xuantian and Xu Weibear to teach Dazhu Peak’s four disciples, who advanced rapidly over the next twenty years.
• At the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament, Song Daren placed third, Wen Min placed fourth, and Wu Dayi, Zheng Dali, and He Dazhi reached the top eight; Song Daren and Wen Min also fell in love.
• Xuantian found Gun Gun sparring with Wan Jianyi near the Founder Ancestral Hall, gave Wan Jianyi a modified Shangqing cultivation art, and helped Daoxuan understand Cangsong’s resentment and Wan Jianyi’s survival.
• Daoxuan granted Xuantian access to Huanyue Cave Abode, where Xuantian drew the Zhu Xian Ancient Sword and discovered the Fifth Volume of the Heavenly Book.
• After seven years of seclusion, Xuantian learned that Cangsong had surrendered Qingyun’s penal law to Tian Buyi, who then asked Xuantian to help manage it and train the disciples.