Chapter Summaries

Wang Xian shattered Tian Jiguang’s Ten Thousand Swords into a River formation and turned the resentful souls against the City Lord. As Tian Jiguang’s runes and demonic markings burned away most of Wang Xian’s Ruoshui swords, Wang Xian countered his demonic strike with hidden chaotic power, leaving Tian Jiguang pale and bleeding.

• Tian Jiguang unleashed Ten Thousand Swords into a River, summoning the resentful souls of his dead men to attack Wang Xian.
• Wang Xian formed a great lotus from Ruoshui that swallowed the sword formation and sent the resentful souls toward a gate of light and reincarnation.
• Tian Jiguang suppressed his aura and prepared to defeat Wang Xian through sheer strength, but Ruoshui droplets pierced his protective formation and entered his body.
• Tian Jiguang released the runes and demonic markings branded into his body, burning away most of the Ruoshui swords while suffering their backlash.
• Wang Xian struck with the Azure Edge Sword, then used chaotic power to swallow Tian Jiguang’s demonic sword and secretly wounded him with a drop of Ruoshui.

Wang Xian killed Tian Jiguang after the City Lord’s demonic crystals drove him into a murderous transformation, then warned his companions about the crystals and the danger of collusion with barbarians. The group began clearing the mountain road while Wang Xian suspected Yu Henshui had escaped and said the matter still needed to be reported to the Great General.

• Wang Xian explained that Tian Jiguang’s refined crystals had bound him to a fate of madness unless their power was countered.
• Tian Jiguang attacked Wang Xian with demonic patterns and a blood-colored black dragon, but Wang Xian restrained him with chaos swords and defeated him with a divine-dragon punch.
• As Tian Jiguang’s body burned and his killing intent threatened those on the mountain, Wang Xian destroyed his escaping Divine Soul with a silver needle.
• Wang Xian collected Tian Jiguang’s Storage Ring and told Donghuang Shuyu to organize the battlefield cleanup while warning the group not to become greedy.
• Wang Xian cautioned Long Xiangyu against refining the crystals, and Donghuang Mingyuan described how the crystals had destroyed his fellow miners.
• Qin Jun said they would report the incident to the Great General, while Wang Xian concluded that Yu Henshui had acted as a counselor and escaped into the ravine.

After Wang Xian withdrew from the celebrations at Meihua Valley, Yu Henshui survived the battle and found help, while Tiger Gate Pass learned that Tian Jiguang and many of his guards had died. Qin Wentian and the gray-robed old man considered the political fallout and the dynasty’s punishment for colluding with the barbarians.

• Wang Xian asked the old man and Donghuang Zuoyuan to watch the mountain, then went to sleep alone in the main hall as winter began.
• Yu Henshui woke in the forest, discovered his armor and chest had been badly damaged, and called back to a familiar voice nearby.
• A guard told Wang Jinming that Yu Henshui’s Soul Jade had cracked and the other elders’ and cultivators’ Soul Jades had shattered; Wang Jinming ordered gifts prepared for a visit to the Great General.
• The gray-robed old man told Qin Wentian that Tian Jiguang and the guards who accompanied him had died, while Yu Henshui and many cultivators had also been involved in the expedition.
• Qin Wentian told the old man to return to the capital with a memorial, and they agreed that Yu Henshui would face execution if collusion with the barbarians was proven.

While Wang Xian recovered from his battle with Tian Jiguang, the mountain’s residents cultivated and Xiaobai advanced in the Dao of Runes. As Xiaobai broke through, Wang Xian opened the mountain’s formation for a visitor and sent him to meet them.

• Donghuang Mingyuan passed his tribulation, while Ziyu went into seclusion to cultivate as the others prepared for the spring battle.
• In the Four Directions Imperial City, Qin Yanyun stopped Qin Yu from risking herself at Tiger Gate Pass and urged her to stay out of the campaign.
• After waking, Wang Xian taught Xiaobai to carve runes, and Xiaobai inscribed his first rune on a bamboo arrow before deepening his control over thunder.
• Wang Xian and Qin Jun were surprised when Xiaobai made a breakthrough in the Dao of Runes, and Wang Xian considered founding a sect on the mountain after the war.
• Xiaobai returned to his senior sisters and broke through another barrier with a roar like a dragon’s, while Wang Xian opened the grand formation for a visitor and sent Xiaobai to meet them.

The emperor and the gentleman discussed treachery at Tiger Gate Pass and agreed to wait for the Great General’s return, while Wang Xian remained on a dangerous mission in the Southern Border. At Misty Rain Lake, Bai Youyue worried over her disciple and reflected on Zijing’s feelings as the First Prince’s wedding approached.

• The emperor urged action against the officials at Tiger Gate Pass, but the gentleman persuaded him to wait until the Great General returned.
• At Qifeng Lake, Zijing wondered why the fish did not swim in pairs, and Long Tianyu, Tang Tian, and Li Yu spoke with her about Wang Xian and mandarin ducks.
• Old Man Sun and Huangfu Xuanyuan argued over whether children should be taught the harsh truths behind legends.
• After Old Man Sun’s message, Zijing fed the fish and accepted that their happiness mattered more than whether they paired up.
• At Misty Rain Lake, Bai Youyue told the gentleman she felt heartache for Wang Xian, who was fighting in the Southern Border, and said Zijing and Wang Yuan'an were not truly together.

As Wang Yuwen married Nalan Qiuqiu in the capital, Wang Xian’s preparations for war at Plum Blossom Valley were interrupted when enemy forces advanced from Humen Pass. He sent Qin Jun, Xiaobai, and the others to defend Ghosts’ Bane while he stayed behind to face the threat from Humen Pass.

• Wang Yuwen married Nalan Qiuqiu, and Nalan Qiuqiu blushed as she remembered meeting Wang Xian at an inn near Lucheng.
• Wang Xian and the people at Plum Blossom Valley prepared spirit wine and reviewed their defenses, while Long Qingmei visited Wang Xian and then left the mountain.
• Ziyu, Long Xiangyu, and Xiaobai warned Wang Xian that enemy forces were approaching Ghosts’ Bane from Humen Pass.
• Wang Xian sent Qin Jun, Xiaobai, Li Mengbai, and the others to defend Ghosts’ Bane while Donghuang Shuyu and Dantai Xiaoxue stayed with him.
• Qin Jun, Li Mengbai, Xiaobai, and Donghuang Mingyuan took positions along the three defensive lines, while Donghuang Shuyu worried about them through the night.

The emperor learned that two battles were about to begin at the southern frontier, while Wang Xian and Donghuang Shuyu faced a force sent by the City Lord's estate. Wang Xian stopped the troops on the mountain road and challenged their loyalty as the confrontation began.

• Liu Yun reported to the emperor that the strategist had gone to Netherworld Valley and that Deputy City Lord Tian Jishao had colluded with the barbarians.
• Li Mubai warned the emperor that two battles would begin the next day, and said he planned to watch Wang Xian at Misty Rain Lake with Bai Youyue.
• Chen Feng led three hundred troops from Qinghe Town toward Netherworld Valley, accompanied by Zhuge Liuxiang, while Wang Xian and Donghuang Shuyu descended the mountain to meet them.
• Zhuge Liuxiang released a powerful Sword Qi toward Wang Xian, but Wang Xian stood still as it passed him.
• Chen Feng attacked Wang Xian with Sword Qi, and Wang Xian cut it apart with a single sword strike.
• Wang Xian accused the City Lord's estate of joining the barbarian army and asked whether its members were all barbarian spies.

Wang Xian faced Chen Feng and the cultivators blocking the mountain path, then destroyed Chen Feng’s summoned demon with his embroidery needles. Chen Feng stepped forward to fight him, and the chapter ended as their sword energy clashed.

• Wang Xian offered the cultivators a chance to leave, but they refused and he declared the fight would end only when one side was dead.
• Chen Feng summoned a towering demon from black mist, and Wang Xian accused him of refining demonic crystals.
• Wang Xian pierced the demon with his embroidery needles, igniting it until it crumbled into flames.
• Chen Feng ordered the cultivators to retreat, then advanced to face Wang Xian with his spirit sword.
• Wang Xian’s lightning-like sword energy clashed with Chen Feng’s spirit sword as the cultivators watched in shock.

Wang Xian faced Chen Feng on the mountain path and shattered his attacks, first cutting apart a flood dragon formed from black mist and then using lightning to break Chen Feng’s powerful sword strike. Elsewhere, Mu Shengtian’s army entered Ghosts’ Bane as Li Mengbai and Xiaobai prepared to delay them, and the chapter ended with Wang Xian’s lightning-charged sword continuing toward the enemy as Zhuge Liu ordered an attack.

• Wang Xian cut the black-mist flood dragon in two after it attacked him with hidden Sword Qi.
• Chen Feng personally unleashed a forceful sword attack wrapped in black mist and countless hidden Sword Qis.
• Mu Shengtian and Dongfang Shengyun led the capital’s army into Wang Xian’s Shocking Spirit Formation at Ghosts’ Bane.
• Li Mengbai told Xiaobai they could not fight the army to the death, while the defenders waited among fire-oil-soaked branches.
• Wang Xian raised the Azure Edge Sword into a thunderbolt, then brought it down to destroy Chen Feng’s incoming Sword Qi.
• Zhuge Liu ordered everyone to attack as Wang Xian’s lightning-charged sword continued forward.

Wang Xian used the mountain path’s grand formation to annihilate Chen Feng’s force, then challenged Zhuge Liuxiang and struck at the gravely wounded general. Zhuge Liuxiang attacked to stop him, and the chapter ended as his strike, Chen Feng’s black dragon, and Wang Xian’s sword converged.

• Wang Xian’s attack broke Chen Feng’s spirit sword and opened a deep wound across his chest, prompting the cultivators to charge.
• Wang Xian activated the mountain path’s grand formation, whose golden Sword Qi slaughtered the advancing cultivators and left Chen Feng gravely wounded as Zhuge Liuxiang escaped beyond the formation.
• Wang Xian told Chen Feng that he would wipe out those who came to avenge the demons, then challenged Zhuge Liuxiang to fight for the mines.
• Chen Feng offered to surrender the two mines, but Wang Xian refused and condemned him for colluding with the demons and the deaths of soldiers on the battlefield in the wilds.
• Wang Xian slashed at Chen Feng as Zhuge Liuxiang attacked him, while Chen Feng gathered his remaining spiritual energy into a black dragon; their attacks converged.

Wang Xian killed Chen Feng and prepared to finish his duel with Zhuge Liuxiang, while Xiaobai and Li Mengbai delayed the barbarian army at Ghosts' Bane. The Teacher and Bai Youyue watched the crisis unfold as Wang Xian challenged Zhuge Liuxiang over his dealings with Netherworld Valley.

• Zhuge Liuxiang's sword cut through Chen Feng's defense and killed him, but Wang Xian deflected Zhuge Liuxiang's attack and countered with purple lightning.
• Zhuge Liuxiang vowed to fight Wang Xian to the death, and Wang Xian declared that he would not spare him for colluding with the barbarian army.
• Bai Youyue and the Teacher watched the fight through the Teacher's power and discussed the danger of fighting on two fronts.
• Mu Shengtian's talisman masters bombarded the formations at Ghosts' Bane, while Xiaobai and Li Mengbai withdrew and used scattered, oil-soaked branches to slow the advancing army with fire.
• Wang Xian questioned Zhuge Liuxiang about Netherworld Valley's dealings with the barbarians, and Zhuge Liuxiang admitted that he had not known everyone there were demons.

Wang Xian faced Zhuge Liuxiang, whose sword drew on the power of heaven and earth, and answered with a faster strike backed by the power of chaos and hidden laws. Though Zhuge Liuxiang’s next blow shattered Wang Xian’s protective aura, he stood his ground with a tree behind him as the duel continued.

• Wang Xian taunted Zhuge Liuxiang about once being the general of Tiger Gate Pass before serving the barbarian tribes.
• Zhuge Liuxiang summoned the mountain’s spiritual energy and attacked Wang Xian with a sword imbued with what he believed was the will of heaven.
• Wang Xian refused to watch or dodge the attack and struck with his fastest sword, stopping Zhuge Liuxiang’s blade with the power of chaos.
• Wang Xian’s unseen sword formation wounded Zhuge Liuxiang repeatedly, and the wounds reopened whenever he tried to heal them.
• Zhuge Liuxiang gathered the surrounding power of heaven and earth and shattered Wang Xian’s protective aura, while Wang Xian stood firm before the tree behind him.

Wang Xian defeated Zhuge Liuxiang on the mountain path and learned that the old man had acted on Wang Jinming’s orders, while the Barbarian army advanced on Ghosts' Bane. Zhuge Liuxiang chose to go there before dying, and the chapter ended with the imperial court preparing for the decisive battle as Bai Youyue asked the gentleman to help Wang Xian.

• Wang Xian used his formation and sword techniques to keep Zhuge Liuxiang at a distance and fatally wound him.
• Wang Xian told Zhuge Liuxiang that the Barbarian army had reached Ghosts' Bane and that Wang Jinming’s choices had doomed Tiger Gate Pass.
• Zhuge Liuxiang asked to see the Barbarian army destroyed, then burned away and sent his Divine Soul toward Ghosts' Bane.
• The gentleman informed the old eunuch that the battle at Netherworld Valley was over and the decisive battle at Ghosts' Bane was about to begin.
• The Emperor discussed the coming battle, while Bai Youyue asked the gentleman to destroy the Barbarian army for Wang Xian and he said he could not.

The defenders at Ghosts' Bane fell back to the final formation as the barbarian army pressed its attack, and the little white fox confronted Great General Dongfang Shengyun. Wang Xian reached within five li of the battlefield and prepared to intervene, while Ao Qianyu descended from the cliff after spotting a divine dragon.

• Wang Xian left the fighting at Tiger Gate Pass and rode with Donghuang Shuyu toward Ghosts' Bane as its defenders retreated to the final line.
• Dongfang Xiaoxue and the others used fire to halt the pursuing army and ate while waiting for nightfall, but the barbarians soon charged again.
• The little white fox led the defense against a powerful sword strike as Li Mengbai and the others fired talisman arrows into the advancing soldiers.
• Ao Heng and Ao Qianyu watched from a high cliff, and Ao Qianyu descended after they noticed a divine dragon.
• The little white fox faced Great General Dongfang Shengyun after the general ordered his soldiers to withdraw fifty zhang.
• Wang Xian stopped less than five li from the battlefield, drank wine, and drew his bow after realizing the little white fox and Li Mengbai could not hold the enemy back.

Wang Xian arrived at Ghosts' Bane just as Little White was about to fall into the abyss, rescuing her with a gust of wind and driving back the barbarian army by activating a hidden killing formation. Little White was carried away by Ao Qianyu, who confronted Wang Xian about not visiting her at Spirit Mountain.

• Little White fought Dongfang Shengyun fiercely, but his spirit sword broke and he was sent flying toward the abyss.
• Wang Xian caught Little White in a gust of wind and struck Dongfang Shengyun’s spirit sword with an arrow, hurling him back toward the barbarian army.
• Wang Xian activated the ten-mile killing formation with a talisman arrow, killing several barbarian talisman masters and forcing Dongfang Shengyun to order a retreat.
• Li Mengbai recognized Wang Xian’s intervention, while Dongfang Xiaoxue and Qin Jun watched the formation drive back the army.
• Ao Qianyu carried Little White toward the cliff, and Wang Xian asked where she was taking her.
• Ao Qianyu told Wang Xian he had not visited her at Spirit Mountain after killing the Grand Elder, and Wang Xian replied that the Grand Elder had nearly killed him.

Wang Xian and Donghuang Shuyu joined the defenders at Ghosts' Bane after the Heavenly Demon army was driven back through multiple killing formations. That night, Wang Xian told Qin Jun that Chen Feng’s force and its supreme elder had been killed, while Zhuge Liuxiang’s Divine Soul had been spared and was coming to Ghosts’ Bane.

• Wang Xian left Xiaobai to fend for himself and rode with Donghuang Shuyu toward Ghosts' Bane.
• Wang Xian activated the killing formation at the second line of defense, and golden swords struck the retreating Heavenly Demon army.
• Wang Xian reached the bonfire, where Li Mengbai asked about Xiaobai and the defenders discussed their injuries and the enemy’s strength.
• Wang Xian told the group that Ghosts' Bane was an imperial war against the barbarians, and Qin Jun agreed to report the events to the great general.
• After the others went to rest, Wang Xian told Qin Jun that Chen Feng’s nearly three hundred people and their supreme elder had died, but Zhuge Liuxiang’s Divine Soul had been spared.

Wang Xian prepared to confront the retreating Heavenly Demon army after crippling Tiger Gate Pass, while Xiaobai reunited with Ao Qianyu and learned she would take him to a higher world. The enemy chose to await Wang Xian in the wasteland, and the chapter left Wang Xian and Donghuang Shuyu unexpectedly positioned near the battlefield at dawn.

• Wang Xian told Donghuang Shuyu that the Heavenly Demon army would retreat to the wasteland and that he planned to advance against them after daybreak.
• Xiaobai reunited with Ao Qianyu and Ao Heng, and Ao Qianyu declared that she would be his big sister and take him to a higher world.
• Dongfang Shengyun reported to Mu Shengtian and Duanmu Fa that hidden formations and an iron arrow had devastated his forces and killed their talisman masters.
• Mu Shengtian ordered the army to set up its formation in the wasteland and prepare for a decisive battle.
• Wang Xian and Donghuang Shuyu awoke on a mountain path near the wasteland, where the barbarian army was already waiting for battle.

Wang Xian and Donghuang Shuyu arrived at the barbarian front to confront the army over the deaths of their companions and Xiaobai’s fall into the abyss. As Dongfang Shengyun challenged Wang Xian to a duel, Mu Shengtian ordered his forces to let Wang Xian go.

• Donghuang Mingyuan and Li Mengbai learned Wang Xian and Donghuang Shuyu had gone ahead, then gathered everyone to follow them south.
• Duanmu Fa and Dongfang Shengyun investigated reports of two travelers and found Wang Xian and Donghuang Shuyu facing barbarian soldiers beyond Ghosts' Bane.
• Wang Xian identified himself and explained that he had killed the elders of Netherworld Valley to avenge his captured companions, while Dongfang Shengyun admitted knocking Xiaobai into the abyss.
• Dongfang Shengyun drew his sword and challenged Wang Xian, who refused to draw his own and taunted him about risking the loss of a Great General.
• Duanmu Fa sought Mu Shengtian’s instructions, and Mu Shengtian ordered the army to let Wang Xian go.

Wang Xian faced Dongfang Shengyun in a duel limited to three moves, and their first clash revealed the power of both swordsmen. Dongfang Shengyun unleashed a black-mist sword formation, while Wang Xian transformed into a lightning phoenix that pierced the mist; the second exchange remained unresolved as Dongfang Shengyun's giant sword rose to strike.

• Wang Xian sent Donghuang Shuyu back behind the formation and challenged Dongfang Shengyun to survive three moves.
• Dongfang Shengyun attacked first, but Wang Xian met his sword strike head-on and forced him to retreat several steps.
• Dongfang Shengyun summoned a formation of spirit swords and a giant sword amid black mist, then attacked Wang Xian.
• Wang Xian vanished into the wind as Dongfang Shengyun merged with the mist to form a black dragon and swept his giant sword downward.
• Wang Xian rose through the black mist as a lightning phoenix, burned through the dragon's mist, and soared above it as Dongfang Shengyun's giant sword brightened and slashed upward.

Wang Xian defeated Dongfang Shengyun in their three-sword duel, leaving the great general gravely wounded before Duanmu Fa pulled him from the battlefield. Mu Shengtian arrived with reinforcements, and Wang Xian challenged the army over the interruption as Duanmu Fa offered to fight him instead.

• Wang Xian shattered Dongfang Shengyun's black dragon with a lightning sword strike, and Dongfang Shengyun insisted he still had one move left.
• Wang Xian's chaotic force rebounded Dongfang Shengyun's Killing Intent into the Heavenly Demon soldiers, injuring several of them.
• Dongfang Shengyun unleashed his final sword formation, but Wang Xian struck first and pierced him with countless strands of Sword Qi.
• Duanmu Fa declared the battle lost and dragged Dongfang Shengyun back to the army before the great general could charge at Wang Xian again.
• Mu Shengtian arrived with several thousand troops and ordered guards to carry Dongfang Shengyun away to recover.
• Wang Xian accused the army of interfering before victory and defeat were settled, and Duanmu Fa offered to fight him in Dongfang Shengyun's place.