Chapter Summaries

Wang Xian spent the first days of the New Year guarding Hu Keke’s courtyard while she and the crow remained unconscious. When nearly fifty black-clad guards from the imperial capital attacked, he turned his formations into killing formations and struck back.

• Murong Wan’er’s love poison failed to affect Wang Xian after Nurturing Soul Wood and Panlong neutralized it, though neither of them realized it.
• Wang Xian practiced with the Juque Sword, set warning signs around the courtyard, and added three formations while Hu Keke and the crow slept.
• A squad of nearly fifty black-clad guards from the barbarian imperial capital found the courtyard and advanced despite the signs warning them to turn back.
• The guards fired flaming arrows and then iron arrows at the courtyard, but Wang Xian’s formations stopped them.
• Wang Xian transformed the three defensive formations into killing formations and sent a sword strike through the storm, as a vacuum swallowed the guards.

Wang Xian annihilated the Imperial City guards who attacked his courtyard and killed their commander before learning why they had come. As he cleaned up the battlefield, he rediscovered Bai Youyue’s sword technique and began comprehending the power of heaven and earth, sensing a gray figure approaching.

• Wang Xian activated the courtyard’s killing formations and cut down the fleeing black-clad guards with his greatsword.
• Wang Xian questioned the wounded commander, but the man refused to reveal who had sent him and attacked with a concealed poisoned dagger, so Wang Xian killed him.
• Wang Xian collected the Storage Rings and money pouches, burned the bodies, and returned to the reception hall to brew tea.
• Wang Xian reflected on his homesickness as the wind and snow swept the battlefield clean and flames spread across Brightmoon Lake.
• Wang Xian recalled Bai Youyue’s sword technique, thrust his greatsword through the energy of three worlds, and sensed a gray figure approaching.

At Brightmoon Lake, Wang Xian confronted Zhang Ping, a Spirit Transformation cultivator from the Imperial Capital who had come to kill him and recover an escaped criminal. After Zhang Ping broke through Wang Xian’s three arrays, Wang Xian lit a candle and challenged him, leaving their fight about to begin.

• Murong Wan'er worried that Wang Xian did not fear her despite being poisoned, and the blind old man warned her that poisoning someone she needed would make him feel trapped.
• Zhang Ping left the lord's manor after seeing fireworks over Brightmoon Lake and rode to the lakeshore, where he found his fifty companions missing and Wang Xian’s warning signs and arrays blocking the way.
• Zhang Ping used talisman swords to break through Wang Xian’s first two arrays, but a hidden killing array killed his horse before he forced his way through the third.
• Zhang Ping accused Wang Xian of killing his companions and revealed that he had come from Tianfeng Imperial Capital to claim a reward for killing an escaped criminal.
• Wang Xian told Zhang Ping that his men had attacked him first, then lit a red candle and said Zhang Ping would die when it went out.
• Zhang Ping revealed that he was a Spirit Transformation grand cultivator and boasted that he would kill Wang Xian in three strikes at most; Wang Xian invited him to try.

Wang Xian fought Zhang Ping, a Spirit Transformation cultivator and talisman master, by abandoning his heavy sword and using a silver needle. The needle pierced Zhang Ping’s defenses, and Wang Xian declared him dead as it passed through three worlds toward him.

• Zhang Ping revealed his boastful reputation and decided to capture Wang Xian alive for the Great General.
• Wang Xian left the courtyard to fight Zhang Ping by the lakeside without disturbing Hu Keke.
• Zhang Ping unleashed layered talismans and spiritual pressure, pinning Wang Xian’s paper sword and weighing him down.
• Wang Xian put away the Juque and drew three silver needles, then pierced through Zhang Ping’s talisman with a swift sword strike.
• Wang Xian saw the needle pass through three worlds and told Zhang Ping he was dead.

Wang Xian fought Zhang Ping with hidden trapping arrays and embroidery needles while Murong Wan'er and the blind man arrived nearby. The final needle pierced Zhang Ping's brow, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Wang Xian struck Zhang Ping with his spirit sword and spoke of Murong Wan'er's poison as Zhang Ping prepared to capture him.
• Murong Wan'er and the blind man traveled toward Wang Xian after the blind man sensed danger approaching from outside Moon City.
• Wang Xian used a hidden needle and repeated trapping arrays to wound and restrain Zhang Ping, who repeatedly broke free and became enraged.
• Murong Wan'er and the blind man reached the lakeside and saw Wang Xian facing the powerful Zhang Ping.
• Wang Xian threw his last embroidery needle, and it pierced Zhang Ping's spirit sword before plunging into Wang Ping's brow.

Wang Xian killed Zhang Ping, a powerful talisman master from Tianfeng Imperial City, after poisoning him and defeating his final attacks. He returned to the courtyard, where he reassured the blind man and Mu Rong Wan'er before sharing a New Year’s meal with them as fireworks lit Bright Moon City.

• Mu Rong Wan'er watched Wang Xian defeat Zhang Ping and learned from the blind man that she had survived earlier because Wang Xian had spared her.
• Zhang Ping realized Wang Xian had poisoned him, tried to self-destruct, and was killed by Wang Xian’s paper sword, embroidery needle, and Divine Dragon Power.
• Wang Xian took Zhang Ping’s Storage Ring and carried his burning remains into Bright Moon Lake to conceal the evidence.
• The blind man asked whether Wang Xian wanted to leave before news of Zhang Ping’s death spread, but Wang Xian refused and explained that he had acted in self-defense.
• Fireworks went off over Bright Moon City, and Wang Xian, Mu Rong Wan'er, and the blind man shared mutton and buns while waiting for Hu Keke to wake.

Wang Xian refused to join Murong Wan'er and the blind man on their trip to the secret realm until Hu Keke woke, while warning them that surviving tribulation was only one step on a difficult path. Meanwhile, City Lord Wu Ye learned that Zhang Ping and fifty guards had vanished in Moon City and arranged to conceal the incident as he ordered a quiet investigation.

• Murong Wan'er and the blind man urged Wang Xian to travel to the secret realm after the Beginning of Spring, but he refused to leave Hu Keke behind and said he did not trust Murong Wan'er with him.
• Wang Xian told Murong Wan'er and the blind man that cultivation remained difficult even after tribulation, and he recounted witnessing three ascensions.
• Wu Ye returned to Moon City and learned from his steward that Zhang Ping had visited with fifty black-clad guards while he was away.
• Wu Ye sent his steward and two guards to search Moon City's inns, but they found no trace of Zhang Ping or his men.
• Wu Ye and his steward agreed to say Zhang Ping had already left for Ghosts' Bane and to investigate the disappearance quietly.

Hu Keke woke from a dream in which Wang Xian confronted him about his identity, warned him to survive rather than fight stronger enemies, and claimed he could become stronger than Zhang Ping. After Hu Keke learned he had slept through the New Year and advanced two realms, Wang Xian revealed that the blind man, the woman who poisoned him, and Feng Yanran were working together.

• In his dream, Hu Keke fought Wang Xian after Wang Xian demanded to know who he was, but Wang Xian easily evaded his attacks and urged him to run from enemies he could not defeat.
• Wang Xian demonstrated his power by cutting a tree in half with a raindrop, then told Hu Keke he could one day surpass Zhang Ping and claimed he was Lord Wang from the imperial capital.
• Hu Keke woke to find the crow beside him and learned Wang Xian was practicing swordplay by the lake; he set off fireworks to celebrate the New Year.
• Wang Xian told Hu Keke that a woman had poisoned his wine and forced him to explore a secret realm, and Hu Keke realized he and the crow had slept through the holiday.
• Wang Xian gave Hu Keke and the crow Storage Rings taken from the people he had killed, then said Hu Keke had advanced two realms while asleep.
• When Hu Keke asked whether the blind man had come looking for Wang Xian, Wang Xian said the blind man, the woman, and Feng Yanran from Bright Moon Manor were working together.

Hu Keke practiced swordsmanship beside Brightmoon Lake until the city lord’s adviser arrived searching for Zhang Ping and the Imperial City guards. Hu Keke defeated the adviser and set off to meet Wu Ye, while Wang Xian met Feng Yanran in Moon City and heard news from the Crow.

• Hu Keke and Wang Xian agreed to set out for the secret realm on the tenth day of the month, and Hu Keke practiced cutting snow with his spirit sword.
• The city lord’s adviser found Hu Keke and demanded to know what had happened to Zhang Ping and the fifty black-clad guards.
• The adviser attacked Hu Keke, but a restraining formation stopped him and Hu Keke cut his sword-wielding hand.
• Hu Keke decided to meet Wu Ye at the city lord’s residence, while the Crow flew off to find Wang Xian.
• Wang Xian bought supplies and ran into Feng Yanran, who invited him to tea and discussed Murong Wan'er.
• The Crow arrived at the teahouse and began chattering to Wang Xian.

Wang Xian learned that Hu Keke had been brought to the City Lord's Residence and sent his raven to check on him, while Wu Ye and his secretary discussed the mysterious disappearances of Zhang Ping and his guards. At the teahouse, Feng Yanran tried to recruit Wang Xian for a secret-realm expedition, and he agreed to go if Murong Wan'er faced danger.

• Wang Xian sent his raven to accompany Hu Keke at the City Lord's Residence after learning he had arrived there.
• Wu Ye and his secretary discussed Zhang Ping, A Lang, and fifty black-clad guards who had vanished in Moon City, while Hu Keke waited for the raven.
• The raven flew into the flower hall, whispered to Hu Keke, and revealed to Wu Ye and his secretary that he had an ally in Moon City.
• Feng Yanran told Wang Xian that she and Murong Wan'er planned to leave for a secret realm the day after tomorrow, and Wang Xian said Murong Wan'er had poisoned him.
• Wang Xian rejected Feng Yanran's offer of secret-realm treasures, but said he would help if Murong Wan'er ran into danger.

Hu Keke negotiated with Wu Ye over the threats from the imperial city, and the two reached an uneasy understanding while Hu Keke planned to leave Moon City by autumn and reclaim what was his within three years. Feng Yanran collected him from the City Lord’s residence, and the group arrived at Moon Lake to find a “Road Closed” sign.

• Wu Ye explained that the Great General and others wanted Hu Keke’s head, while Hu Keke warned that he would kill anyone who came after him.
• Hu Keke told Wu Ye he planned to return to the imperial city and reclaim everything within three years; Wu Ye agreed to alert him to danger and asked for a future opportunity for a Wu family descendant.
• The crow announced that someone had come for Hu Keke, and Feng Yanran arrived to take him away from the City Lord’s residence.
• Wu Ye and his aide agreed to pretend they had seen nothing and claim that Zhang Ping and the others had gone to Ghosts' Bane.
• In the carriage, Hu Keke and Feng Yanran wondered why Wang Xian was following them, and Feng Yanran guessed he had fallen for Murong Wan'er.
• Feng Yanran and Hu Keke reached Moon Lake, where she found a wooden “Road Closed” sign and wondered who had put it there.

Wang Xian, Hu Keke, Feng Yanran, and the blind man shared food and discussed their hopes before leaving Moon City for the secret realm. As they traveled, Hu Keke revealed that Murong Wan'er had claimed Wang Xian, and he fainted in shock.

• Hu Keke and Feng Yanran visited Wang Xian, where they ate mutton buns and prepared to leave for the secret realm.
• Feng Yanran offered to teach Hu Keke swordsmanship, while Wang Xian said he hoped to stay in Moon City until autumn to see whether a legendary lotus pod appeared.
• Hu Keke dreamed of eating a lotus seed and reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, the crow dreamed of becoming a divine crow, and Wang Xian said he wanted to help them fulfill their dreams.
• The group left Moon City in two carriages, and Hu Keke questioned the blind man about what he hoped to see in the secret realm.
• Wang Xian teased Hu Keke about becoming Brightmoon Manor's live-in son-in-law, and Hu Keke said Murong Wan'er had claimed him, causing him to faint.

Wang Xian and his companions reached the mountains and settled in a cave, where he taught Hu Keke to focus on killing strikes and sensing an opponent rather than performing flashy sword moves. He demonstrated his hidden swordsmanship, leaving the group stunned as the story turned toward their mountain training.

• At the river where they had parted from Little White, Wang Xian promised the crow he would help it and Little White achieve their dream if they met again.
• Wang Xian and his companions rode east toward the Fu Mansion mountain range and found a cave to shelter in.
• Feng Yanran taught Hu Keke the Phantom Sword Technique while Murong Wan'er secretly practiced alongside her.
• Wang Xian told Hu Keke to focus on strikes that could kill, then blindfolded himself and challenged her to attack with a bamboo branch.
• Wang Xian deflected Hu Keke's repeated attacks and explained that swordsmanship required sensing an opponent through instinct, sound, and the movement of air.
• Wang Xian snapped his bamboo branch into fragments that cut down several trees across the ravine, astonishing Hu Keke, Feng Yanran, Murong Wan'er, and the blind man.

Wang Xian stopped Hu Keke from being overwhelmed by monsters and offered her cryptic guidance that deepened everyone’s understanding of swordsmanship. Alone on watch that night, he sensed danger rising from the ravine and heard a lullaby-like song drifting from the pool.

• Hu Keke mistook monsters across the ravine for figures testing her sword, and Wang Xian drove them away with a fire dragon formed by spitting out wine.
• Wang Xian told Hu Keke she had summoned monsters rather than comprehended the sword, then explained how to use her heart’s eye and borrow strength from heaven and earth.
• Hu Keke, Feng Yanran, Murong Wan'er, and the blind man pondered Wang Xian’s sword advice while he kept watch alone that night.
• Wang Xian sensed a presence near the ravine as bubbles rose from the pool and mist spread toward him.
• Wang Xian drew the Jueque Sword and faced the pool, but froze when a gentle song rose from the water like his mother’s lullaby.

Wang Xian saw his mother’s image in a pool and discovered that drops of divine spring water had reached the jade disc she left him, but clouds soon hid her from view. He later woke beside a vast lake to find Murong Wan'er possessed and confined her, only for Feng Yanran to attack him next.

• Wang Xian heard his childhood song and spoke tearfully to his mother’s image in the water, telling her he missed her and would find her one day.
• Drops of divine spring water fell from the jade disc into the woman’s image before clouds covered the moon and made her disappear.
• Yang Wanjin warned Wang Xian that using even one drop of divine water in the lower realm could bring heaven’s punishment, so Wang Xian abandoned his plan to use it on the others.
• Wang Xian woke by a snowy lake as Murong Wan'er bit him and shouted about eating a spirit herb, so he trapped her in confinement arrays and recited a Buddhist sutra.
• Feng Yanran suddenly attacked Wang Xian with her Phantom Sword Technique, accusing him of making her younger sister suffer.

Wang Xian fought off Feng Yanran and the blind man after both fell under an evil influence, trapping them while Murong Wan'er calmed down. As Wang Xian practiced his basic sword techniques, he suddenly stared at the lake in stunned silence.

• Feng Yanran attacked Wang Xian, but he used Giant Que to knock her back into the trapped formation.
• The blind man arrived and mistook Wang Xian for a demonic Buddhist impostor, then attacked him with a sword and an iron arrow.
• Wang Xian dodged the arrow, disarmed the blind man, and trapped him in another formation.
• Wang Xian returned the blind man's spirit sword and practiced basic sword techniques in front of the three immobilized companions.
• Wang Xian prepared to try One Sword No Trace, then stared at the lake without speaking.

Wang Xian faced several demons at the lake while trying to protect Hu Keke and the others. After deflecting the bewitching woman’s powerful sword strike, he appeared exhausted as the demons waited to see what he would do next.

• The white-haired old man returned, and Wang Xian traded insults with him and the bewitching woman before a man in black arrived carrying Hu Keke.
• The bewitching woman crossed the lake on floating leaves, but Wang Xian shot them down with a silver needle and sent her plunging into the water.
• The bewitching woman attacked Wang Xian with Sword Qi, and he dodged before taunting her and refusing to surrender his giant Que.
• The man in black carried Hu Keke across the lake while the white-haired old man demanded that Wang Xian come over to be eaten.
• The bewitching woman attacked Wang Xian with a powerful sword strike, but he met it with the giant Que and sent her flying.
• Wang Xian planted his sword and panted as the white-haired old man, the blind man, and Hu Keke waited to see whether he could fight again.

Wang Xian fought off the alluring woman and the black-clad man to rescue Hu Keke, then used black mist to seize the white-haired old man's flying swords. He reappeared with the swords and attacked the black-clad man, while Feng Yanran, the blind man, and Murong Wan'er remained by the lake.

• Wang Xian defeated the alluring woman with a dragon-powered sword strike, and she fell into the lake and transformed into a fox demon.
• The crow pecked out the black-clad man's eye, allowing Wang Xian to seize Hu Keke and flee as the white-haired old man sent flying swords after them.
• Wang Xian and Hu Keke vanished into black mist, which collected the old man's flying swords and caused him to spit blood.
• The injured black-clad man slashed at the mist, but Wang Xian's greatsword broke his spirit sword.
• Wang Xian emerged from the black mist wielding the captured flying swords and surrounded the black-clad man with them.

Wang Xian killed the black ape and the fox, then faced the white-haired old man, who unleashed the power of the lake against him. Wang Xian raised the Giant Que Sword and prepared to meet the old man's attack.

• Wang Xian used his flying swords to badly wound the black ape, then split it in two with One Sword Startles Gods and destroyed its Divine Soul.
• The fox lunged at Feng Yanran, but Wang Xian's formation cut her apart and burned her body and Divine Soul.
• The white-haired old man charged into the black fog, but Wang Xian's power drove him back; Wang Xian demanded a spirit herb, and the old man refused.
• Wang Xian declared that he would kill the old man for attacking his friends, while Hu Keke and Feng Yanran watched from the formation.
• The white-haired old man summoned a water dragon from the lake and sent his spirit sword at Wang Xian, who gathered divine dragon and chaos power into the Giant Que Sword.

Wang Xian defeated the white-haired old man, who transformed into a flood dragon, and the crow swallowed his escaping dragon soul. After the group woke from the dreamlike secret realm, Murong Wan'er attacked Wang Xian, fled after he struck her into the lake, and Wang Xian began cooking the flood dragon's meat.

• Wang Xian used the Giant Fault Sword to defeat the white-haired old man, who revealed that he had dragon power before Wang Xian cut him down.
• The old man's corpse transformed into a flood dragon, and the crow swallowed its escaping soul as Wang Xian opened the barrier formations.
• Wang Xian told the group they had entered a secret realm in their dreams, then butchered the flood dragon and put away its valuable parts.
• Murong Wan'er woke and attacked Wang Xian, who struck her into the lake; she flew away after Feng Yanran and Hu Keke mocked her.
• Wang Xian cooked flood dragon meat with a spirit herb, making Hu Keke sick and prompting her to call him a demon.