Chapter Summaries

Wan Jianyi taught Ye Xuan the sword art Slay Ghosts and Gods, forcing him to confront his instinct to hold back and preserve a way out. After half a month of harsh training, Ye Xuan developed the art’s savage intent and asked to demonstrate it again.

• Wan Jianyi demonstrated Slay Ghosts and Gods with a devastating strike that embodied an all-or-nothing resolve.
• Ye Xuan copied the technique and shattered a boulder, but Wan Jianyi criticized him for relying on spiritual power while still planning to retreat.
• Ye Xuan accepted Wan Jianyi’s reprimand and stayed at the Ancestral Hall to train until he abandoned his cautious mindset.
• Over the next half month, Ye Xuan endured Wan Jianyi’s scolding and broom strikes while using his Innate Dao Body to imitate and absorb the art’s intent.
• At dusk, Ye Xuan stood before the Ancestral Hall with a changed presence and asked Wan Jianyi to let him try the technique once more.

Ye Xuan demonstrated his mastery of Slay Ghosts and Gods, and Wan Jianyi sent him to Yuqing Hall to meet Daoxuan. After seeing Ye Xuan’s rapid cultivation progress, Daoxuan asked whether he was willing to learn the Seven Star Sword Style, the Qingyun Sect’s Sect Master inheritance.

• Ye Xuan used a restrained sword aura to split an ancient tree, impressing Wan Jianyi with his talent and his version of Slay Ghosts and Gods.
• Wan Jianyi told Ye Xuan that he needed real combat rather than more guidance and sent him to Yuqing Hall to see Daoxuan.
• Ye Xuan thanked Wan Jianyi with three sincere bows before flying to Heaven-Piercing Peak.
• Daoxuan was shocked to see that Ye Xuan had reached the seventh level of the Shangqing Realm and asked whether he had mastered Slay Ghosts and Gods.
• Daoxuan asked Ye Xuan whether he was willing to learn the Seven Star Sword Style, Qingyun Sect’s Sect Master inheritance.

Ye Xuan received the Seven Star Sword Style from Daoxuan and returned to Great Bamboo Peak, where he arrived amid Tian Buyi's fury over Du Bishu's dice-shaped life-bound treasure. A powerful, familiar surge of spiritual energy then enveloped the peak, leaving everyone in Shou Jing Hall startled.

• Daoxuan gave Ye Xuan an ancient jade slip containing the Seven Star Sword Style and sent him back to Great Bamboo Peak.
• Daoxuan lamented that Ye Xuan was not a disciple of Heaven-Piercing Peak and blamed Fatty Tian for it.
• Tian Buyi berated Du Bishu for turning Redwood Essence into three dice called the Divine Wood Dice.
• Tian Buyi nearly struck Du Bishu, but a powerful, familiar aura suddenly enveloped Great Bamboo Peak and drew everyone's attention.

Ye Xuan returned to Great Bamboo Peak after two years away, impressing his fellow disciples with his swordsmanship and cultivation. Once Tian Buyi sent everyone else out and sealed Shou Jing Hall with a Soundproof Barrier, he prepared to discuss something privately with Ye Xuan.

• Ye Xuan arrived at Great Bamboo Peak on the Chang Qing Sword, and Tian Buyi greeted him with barely concealed pride.
• Tian Ling'er welcomed Ye Xuan, while Du Bishu asked him to defend the Divine Wood Dice he had made.
• Ye Xuan praised Du Bishu’s dice, and Tian Buyi sent Du Bishu to chop bamboo for three months instead of punishing him more harshly.
• Ye Xuan greeted Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan and assessed their cultivation progress.
• Tian Buyi and Su Ru sent Tian Ling'er, Lin Jingyu, and Zhang Xiaofan outside, then Tian Buyi raised a Soundproof Barrier around Shou Jing Hall.

Ye Xuan told Tian Buyi that he had learned Slay Ghosts and Gods, then revealed that he had reached the seventh layer of the Shangqing Realm. Tian Buyi and Su Ru were left stunned by the scale of his cultivation.

• Tian Buyi asked Ye Xuan whether he had gained anything during his two years on Heaven-Piercing Peak, and Ye Xuan admitted he had learned Slay Ghosts and Gods.
• Tian Buyi warned Ye Xuan that the sword art could damage his foundation and urged him not to neglect Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao.
• When Tian Buyi tried to examine his cultivation, Ye Xuan released his aura and revealed that he had reached the seventh layer of the Shangqing Realm.
• Tian Buyi and Su Ru were shocked that Ye Xuan had grown so powerful in only two years.

After Ye Xuan revealed that he had reached the seventh level of the Shangqing Realm, Tian Buyi ordered him to keep a low profile, then privately celebrated his disciple’s achievement. Over the next half month, Ye Xuan mastered the Seven Star Sword Style and set his sights on learning the Sword Leading Azure Dragon True Art at Dragon Head Peak.

• Su Ru confirmed that Ye Xuan had reached the seventh level of the Shangqing Realm, and Tian Buyi scolded him before ordering him to cultivate in seclusion.
• Ye Xuan left Shou Jing Hall, and Tian Buyi admitted to Su Ru that he was delighted but wanted to protect Ye Xuan from unwanted attention.
• During the following half month, Ye Xuan practiced swordsmanship among the Black Bamboo and mastered the Seven Star Sword Style.
• Ye Xuan unleashed the Seven Star Sword Style, destroying the Black Bamboo within thirty feet and carving a deep trench into the ground.
• Ye Xuan reflected that he had mastered three of Qingyun Sect’s four great sword arts and identified the Sword Leading Azure Dragon True Art at Dragon Head Peak as his next goal.

Ye Xuan persuaded Tian Buyi that he could visit Dragon Head Peak to seek out Cang Song and show off his strength, since he was unlikely to compete in the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament. Tian Buyi was tempted by the prospect of shocking Cang Song, but had not yet agreed.

• Tian Buyi angrily rejected Ye Xuan's suggestion that he ask Cang Song for the Sword Leading Azure Dragon True Art, unwilling to lose face.
• Ye Xuan offered to go to Dragon Head Peak himself and reminded Tian Buyi that he had reached the seventh layer of the Shangqing Realm.
• Ye Xuan explained that Daoxuan would likely exclude him from the tournament because his strength would overwhelm the other disciples.
• Tian Buyi lamented that Ye Xuan might not get to demonstrate his abilities at the tournament.
• Ye Xuan proposed sparring with Cang Song now, and Tian Buyi found the idea of startling him enticing.

Ye Xuan went to Dragon Head Peak to visit Daoist Cangsong, despite Tian Buyi’s apparent anger at his departure. After a tense encounter with Qi Hao, Ye Xuan entered Cangsong’s hall alone, where Cangsong turned to face him.

• Tian Buyi sent Ye Xuan out of Shou Jing Hall, then revealed to Su Ru that he was pleased with the situation.
• Ye Xuan arrived at Dragon Head Peak and told Qi Hao he had come to visit Martial Uncle Cangsong.
• Qi Hao tried to send Ye Xuan back, but Ye Xuan’s brief display of pressure unnerved him.
• Qi Hao escorted Ye Xuan to the main hall, where Daoist Cangsong ordered him to leave and guard the entrance.
• Ye Xuan entered the hall, bowed to Cangsong, and waited until Cangsong turned to face him.

Ye Xuan went to Dragon Head Peak and demanded to learn its secret Sword Leading Azure Dragon True Art. After Cang Song refused, Ye Xuan challenged him to a spar, and Cang Song accepted, intending to teach him a harsh lesson.

• Cang Song recognized Ye Xuan and worried that he had uncovered Cang Song’s involvement in the events at Caomiao Village two years earlier.
• Ye Xuan asked Cang Song to teach him the Sword Leading Azure Dragon True Art, but Cang Song refused because Ye Xuan belonged to Great Bamboo Peak.
• Ye Xuan argued that the Seven Peaks should share their techniques, but Cang Song angrily ordered him to leave.
• Ye Xuan proposed a wager: if he won their spar, Cang Song would teach him the technique; if he lost, he would leave Dragon Head Peak and never return.
• Cang Song accepted the challenge, confident he would win and planning to use the spar to punish Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan sparred with Daoist Cangsong at Dragon Head Peak and revealed that his cultivation had reached the seventh layer of the Shangqing Realm. Cangsong, shocked by Ye Xuan’s strength, summoned Dragon Head Peak’s signature sword art, leaving the duel poised to intensify.

• Ye Xuan faced Cangsong before a crowd of Dragon Head Peak disciples and matched his opening strike.
• Cangsong attacked with a lightning-charged palm, but Ye Xuan met it head-on and the two retreated five steps apiece.
• Ye Xuan revealed an aura at the seventh layer of the Shangqing Realm, astounding Cangsong, Qi Hao, and the watching disciples.
• Cangsong announced he would demonstrate true Qingyun swordsmanship and summoned the Sword Leading Azure Dragon True Art.

Ye Xuan defeated Cang Song by using the Slay Ghosts and Gods sword technique, which reminded Cang Song of Wan Jianyi and made him lose control. Cang Song took Ye Xuan into the rear hall to speak privately and ordered everyone else to keep silent.

• Cang Song unleashed the Sword Leading Azure Dragon True Art, and Ye Xuan met its strongest strike with Slay Ghosts and Gods.
• Cang Song recognized the sword technique’s resemblance to Wan Jianyi’s and faltered, allowing Ye Xuan to overpower him.
• Ye Xuan thanked Cang Song for yielding, while Cang Song seized his shoulder and demanded to know where he learned the technique.
• Ye Xuan warned Cang Song that their conversation could not happen in front of the watching disciples, and Cang Song restrained himself.
• Cang Song invited Ye Xuan into the rear hall to fulfill their bet and ordered the others to disperse without discussing what happened.

Ye Xuan revealed to Cang Song that Wan Jianyi was alive and had taught him Slay Ghosts and Gods, then received Dragon Head Peak’s Sword Leading Azure Dragon True Art. Cang Song rushed to Heaven-Piercing Peak to see Wan Jianyi.

• Cang Song demanded to know how Ye Xuan had learned the forbidden art, and Ye Xuan described a one-armed man in a gray robe sweeping the Ancestral Hall.
• Cang Song realized the man was Wan Jianyi and broke down over his years of seeking revenge for someone who was still alive.
• Ye Xuan reminded Cang Song of his promise, and Cang Song gave him the Sword Leading Azure Dragon True Art.
• Cang Song asked who else knew about Wan Jianyi, and Ye Xuan said Martial Uncle Daoxuan knew.
• After Ye Xuan left, Cang Song flew toward Heaven-Piercing Peak to see Wan Jianyi.

Cang Song discovered that Wan Jianyi was alive and confronted him at the Ancestral Hall, where he blamed Daoxuan for Wan Jianyi’s ruin. Wan Jianyi questioned whether Cang Song truly believed Daoxuan was responsible.

• Daoxuan saw Cang Song fly toward the Ancestral Hall but chose not to stop him.
• Cang Song arrived at the Ancestral Hall and recognized Wan Jianyi sweeping there.
• Cang Song fell to his knees, wept, and asked Wan Jianyi why he had never come to see him.
• Cang Song accused Daoxuan of ruining Wan Jianyi and threatened to kill him and expose him before the sect.
• Wan Jianyi suppressed Cang Song’s outburst and asked whether he truly believed Daoxuan had ruined him.

Wan Jianyi revealed that he had killed their master to stop him after the Zhu Xian Sword drove him mad, and that Daoxuan had secretly protected Wan Jianyi for a century. Cang Song confessed his treachery and begged to die, but Wan Jianyi stopped Daoxuan and urged him to live and atone.

• Wan Jianyi told Cang Song that their master had gone mad from the Zhu Xian Sword's baleful aura, so Wan Jianyi killed him to save the Qingyun Sect.
• Wan Jianyi explained that Daoxuan had secretly saved him and kept his survival hidden for a hundred years, making Cang Song realize he had hated the wrong person.
• Cang Song confessed that he had allied with the demonic sect, ambushed Puzhi to steal the Bloodthirsty Pearl, and planned to bring the demonic sect to Qingyun Mountain.
• Daoxuan prepared to kill Cang Song, but Wan Jianyi stopped him and gave Cang Song a broom, telling him to live and atone for his sins.
• Cang Song begged to remain with Wan Jianyi and sweep the floor for the rest of his life, and Wan Jianyi looked to Daoxuan.

Daoxuan spared Cang Song and ordered him to return to Dragon Head Peak and atone by helping defend Qingyun Sect. Ye Xuan returned to Great Bamboo Peak and revealed that he had beaten Cang Song by one move, sending Tian Buyi into delighted celebration.

• Daoxuan refused Cang Song’s request to hide away sweeping floors and sent him back to Dragon Head Peak to watch the demonic sect.
• Cang Song accepted Daoxuan’s decision, picked up his sword, and left the Ancestral Hall to live on and atone.
• Tian Buyi anxiously waited for Ye Xuan to return, fearing Cang Song might have harmed or humiliated him.
• Ye Xuan arrived unharmed and told Tian Buyi that he had beaten Cang Song by one move.
• Tian Buyi celebrated Ye Xuan’s victory and praised him for making Great Bamboo Peak proud.

Ye Xuan mastered all four of the Qingyun Sect's great sword arts, while Great Bamboo Peak's returning disciples brought home newly forged magical treasures. As the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament was announced, Tian Buyi arrived at Yuqing Hall brimming with confidence, and Cang Song silently misread Ye Xuan's strength as a sign of Wan Jianyi's influence.

• Ye Xuan used the Sword Leading Azure Dragon True Art to summon an azure dragon from bamboo leaves, impressing Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu as he reflected on the limits of his victory over Cang Song.
• Wu Dayi returned to Great Bamboo Peak with Mountain-Steadfast, and Zheng Dali and Lu Daxin later came back with Crimson Flame and Clear Wind.
• Chang Jian summoned Tian Buyi to Yuqing Hall to discuss the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament, and Tian Buyi eagerly went to show off Great Bamboo Peak's strength.
• At Yuqing Hall, Tian Buyi smugly faced Cang Song, who stayed quiet while believing Ye Xuan's sword intent reflected Wan Jianyi's influence.
• Dao Xuan Zhenren entered the hall, and the chief disciples rose to greet him.

Daoxuan announced a new rule requiring each peak to send eight disciples to the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament, and Tian Buyi insisted Great Bamboo Peak had enough candidates. When Daoist Tianyun argued that Ye Xuan was too powerful to compete, Tian Buyi demanded compensation instead, eyeing Daoxuan’s thousand-year-old lightning-struck wood for Ye Xuan’s sword.

• Daoxuan announced that each peak would send eight disciples to the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament two years later.
• Tian Buyi listed Great Bamboo Peak’s disciples and declared that his peak could send ten competitors.
• Daoist Tianyun argued that Ye Xuan should be excluded because his strength far exceeded that of the other young disciples.
• Tian Buyi rejected the proposal, then demanded compensation if Ye Xuan could not compete.
• Tian Buyi asked Daoxuan for his thousand-year-old lightning-struck wood so Ye Xuan could use it to reforge the Chang Qing Sword.

Tian Buyi persuaded Daoxuan to give Great Bamboo Peak the Thousand-Year Lightning-Struck Wood to console Ye Xuan after the sect planned to bar him from the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament. Cangsong unexpectedly supported the request because he believed Ye Xuan might inherit Senior Brother Wan’s legacy, and Tian Buyi left Yuqing Hall pleased with the decision.

• Tian Buyi argued that excluding Ye Xuan from the tournament would hurt the disciple and demanded the Thousand-Year Lightning-Struck Wood as consolation.
• The other peak heads protested that the rare treasure belonged to Daoxuan’s cultivation practice, while Daoxuan hesitated over Tian Buyi’s request.
• Cangsong unexpectedly urged Daoxuan to give Ye Xuan the wood, privately recalling Senior Brother Wan and his legacy.
• Daoxuan agreed to send the Thousand-Year Lightning-Struck Wood to Great Bamboo Peak and warned Tian Buyi to ensure Ye Xuan did not complain about the sect.
• Tian Buyi tried to question Cangsong after the meeting, but Cangsong threatened to have Daoxuan retract the decision and left.
• Tian Buyi flew toward Great Bamboo Peak on Red Flame, delighted that he had secured the treasure for Ye Xuan.

Tian Buyi gave Ye Xuan Thousand Year Lightning Strike Wood as compensation for securing his place in the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament. Ye Xuan used the Myriad Ancient Cauldron to reforge his Chang Qing Sword, leaving the two materials struggling to fuse.

• Tian Buyi returned to Great Bamboo Peak and gave Ye Xuan Thousand Year Lightning Strike Wood, explaining that he had argued for Ye Xuan to compete in the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament.
• Ye Xuan thanked Tian Buyi and decided to use the wood and his Myriad Ancient Cauldron to upgrade the Chang Qing Sword.
• Ye Xuan sealed his room, summoned the Myriad Ancient Cauldron, and refined the lightning-struck wood into purple liquid.
• Ye Xuan melted the Chang Qing Sword and tried to fuse its green molten metal with the purple liquid, but the two forces resisted each other as he poured vital energy into the cauldron.

Ye Xuan finished reforging the Chang Qing Sword into a Low-grade Spirit Tool, impressing the disciples and elders of Great Bamboo Peak. The next morning, Lin Jingyu announced that he had reached the fourth layer of the Yuqing Realm and had a request for Tian Buyi.

• Ye Xuan used Tai Chi Vital Energy to force the sword materials together and completed the Chang Qing Sword’s transformation into a Low-grade Spirit Tool.
• Tian Buyi, Su Ru, and the others rushed to Ye Xuan’s room after the forging shook Great Bamboo Peak and admired the sword’s power.
• Tian Buyi scolded Ye Xuan for the noise but showed pride in his disciple’s achievement.
• At breakfast the next morning, Lin Jingyu stood before Tian Buyi and said he had broken through to the fourth layer of the Yuqing Realm.
• Lin Jingyu told Tian Buyi that he had a request.