Chapter Summaries

Youyu Gate marched on Wuxiang City to seize the Lingxiu Sea and Hidden Sword Mountain’s resources, while Yang Zhengshan chose to hold the city and test their forces. The siege began with the Wolf-Head Black Armor Guard reaching the walls, but the Cloud-Piercing Crossbows disrupted the advancing army.

• Youyu Gate’s leadership used Han Jiangche’s disappearance as a pretext to invade the weakened Lingxiu Sea and sent its vanguard toward Wuxiang City.
• Yang Zhengshan and Jian Changhe watched Youyu Gate’s forces gather outside the city, and Yang refused to meet them in open battle.
• Sheng Youhuang and Li Xuanxiao arrived aboard a fortress flying boat, discussed Hidden Sword Mountain’s strength and Jian Changhe’s rumored spirit sword, then ordered an attack.
• Youyu Gate’s Wolf-Head Black Armor Guard led nearly a thousand elite Heavenly Dipper Stage fighters toward Wuxiang City as the rest of its army followed.
• Qu Changkong ordered the Cloud-Piercing Crossbows to fire, and their exploding bolts pierced enemy armor and slowed the advancing troops.
• The Wolf-Head Black Armor Guard reached the foot of the city while the troops behind them fell into a scattered formation, and Qu Changkong watched with a cold smile.

Youyu Gate’s attacks on Wuxiang City were repelled by the city’s defenses, so its leaders decided to use the Thousand Mountain Over-Sky Formation for a decisive battle. Yang Zhengshan and his allies prepared to meet them the next day, assigning opponents for the coming fight.

• Youyu Gate’s first assault on Wuxiang City faltered under crossbow bolts, arrows, and Heaven-Shaking Thunder, and Sheng Youhuang ordered the troops to withdraw.
• Yang Zhengshan and his commanders planned to intercept Youyu Gate’s reinforcements, sending Huanyue Sect toward the Yi River and Xuanqing Sect toward Xianling City.
• Youyu Gate attacked Wuxiang City again, but Jade Capital Guard shield-bearers rammed the Wolf-Head Black Armor Guard back off the walls until the attackers withdrew.
• Sheng Youhuang agreed with Jiang Taishu to use the Thousand Mountain Over-Sky Formation the next day and destroy Wuxiang City’s defenses.
• Yang Zhengshan and Jian Changhe’s allies prepared for the decisive battle, assigning Jian Changhe to face Sheng Youhuang and Yang Zhengshan to face Jiang Taishu.

Youyu Gate launched a full assault on Wuxiang City, and the Jade Capital Central Guard sent its Cavalry Battalion into battle. Ding Qiu’s saber intent let him slay several Golden Body Realm elders before stronger enemies stopped his charge, while Youyu Gate’s formation began to confront Jian Guyun’s hidden defense.

• Youyu Gate changed its siege tactics, turning the fighting on Wuxiang City’s walls into brutal close combat as its flying boat gathered spiritual power.
• Qu Changkong authorized the Cavalry Battalion, and Yang Minghao led its six hundred riders out of the city to crash into Youyu Gate’s army.
• Ding Qiu killed three Youyu Gate elders with his saber before an old, powerful martial artist blocked his attack and the cavalry became entangled in battle.
• Youyu Gate activated the Thousand Mountain Over-Sky Formation above Wuxiang City, and Jian Guyun’s towering Heavenly Sword Grand Formation appeared inside the city to oppose it.

Yang Zhengshan watched Hidden Sword Mountain and Youyu Gate clash in a chaotic battle around Wuxiang City, then confronted Jiang Taishu as the fighting continued. Jiang Taishu’s soul attacks failed to affect him, and he trapped Yang Zhengshan in netherworld chains and flames.

• Jian Guyun’s Heavenly Sword Grand Formation shattered the Thousand Mountain Over-Sky Formation, but Li Xuanxiao stopped the giant sword with his Void Shattering Palm.
• Jian Guyun, Jian Canghai, and Jian Suxin surrounded Li Xuanxiao and fought him with the Heavenly Sword Grand Formation while the Greater Yin Cold Spring Formation protected Wuxiang City.
• Jian Changhe attacked Sheng Youhuang’s Flying Boat, breaking its Protection Formation, as Yunxiao and Ming Shuzi fought to a standstill elsewhere.
• Yang Zhengshan blocked Jiang Taishu, whose Soul Severing Fan failed to harm Yang Zhengshan’s protected soul.
• Jiang Taishu unleashed Nether Flame Prison, binding Yang Zhengshan in black chains as black flames poured over him.

Yang Zhengshan killed Jiang Taishu with the Golden Crow’s Solar True Fire, then joined the battle and cut down Youyu Gate fighters while the Golden Crow set the battlefield ablaze. The surviving enemies fled, and Yang Minghao and Yang Mingzhi lay wounded as the fighting neared its end.

• Yang Zhengshan summoned the Golden Crow Eight Trigrams Furnace, and the Golden Crow’s Solar True Fire overwhelmed Jiang Taishu’s black flames and burned him to death.
• Yang Zhengshan sent the Golden Crow to burn the enemy forces while he went to aid the aerial battle.
• Yang Zhengshan saved Ding Qiu by killing the Youyu Gate elder who was about to strike down Ding Qiu’s Cloud Tiger Colt.
• Yang Zhengshan used the Soul Absorbing Technique and Vine Art to kill several Golden Body Realm Martial Artists, while Yang Minghao and Yang Mingzhi recovered from severe injuries on the ground.
• The Youyu Gate fighters fled as the Golden Crow spread fire across the battlefield, leaving the earth burning like a sea of flames.

Yang Zhengshan escaped Ming Shuzi’s Soul Suppressing Lock by countering with his Soul Locking Chain and Azure Flower Thunder Bead, killing him and helping rout Youyu Gate. As Jian Changhe called forth a hidden weapon against Sheng Youhuang, a powerful Artifact Spirit appeared in the depths of the Yunxiao Mountain Range, leaving Yang Zhengshan and Golden Crow alarmed.

• Yang Zhengshan was caught in Ming Shuzi’s Soul Suppressing Lock and could not enter the Spirit Source Land.
• Yang Zhengshan used his Soul Locking Chain to bind Ming Shuzi, then unleashed the Azure Flower Thunder Bead and killed him.
• Golden Crow told Yang Zhengshan it had burned the enemy forces, and Yang Zhengshan called it back to his side as Youyu Gate’s army collapsed.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yunxiao watched Jian Changhe and the others struggle against Sheng Youhuang and Li Xuanxiao, then waited rather than rushing to help.
• Jian Changhe shouted, “Sword, come!” and Sheng Youhuang wrapped herself in the Rainbow Bridge as a powerful sharp force descended.
• Golden Crow sensed a powerful Artifact Spirit in the depths of the Yunxiao Mountain Range, and Yang Zhengshan turned to look toward it.

The Azure Gold Sword appeared above Wuxiang City, and Jian Changhe used it to kill Li Xuanxiao and drive Sheng Youhuang away, securing victory for Lingxiu Sea. Afterward, Yang Zhengshan collected the spoils, tended the wounded, and learned that several Yang family members had suffered severe injuries; he went to check on Yang Chengxu.

• The Azure Gold Sword arrived above Wuxiang City, and Golden Crow told Yang Zhengshan that it might be a Holy Spirit nearing the level of a Spirit Treasure.
• Jian Changhe used the sword’s power to kill Li Xuanxiao, while Sheng Youhuang fled; the sword then departed after Jian Changhe and the others paid their respects.
• Yang Zhengshan arranged to take the damaged large flying boat to the Spirit Source Land for study, then returned to Wuxiang City to treat the wounded and oversee battlefield cleanup.
• Qu Changkong reported that the Jade Capital Guard had lost 1,832 soldiers and that Youyu Gate’s army and leadership had suffered devastating losses.
• Qu Changkong told Yang Zhengshan that Yang Chengxu’s dantian was badly injured, Yang Chengze had lost an arm, and Yang Qinwu had lost both legs.
• Yang Zhengshan went with Yang Mingzhi to check on Yang Chengxu.

Yang Zhengshan treated the wounded after the victory at Wuxiang City, then ordered the allied armies to pursue Youyu Gate’s retreating forces. With Youyu Gate’s armies scattered and Xianling City captured, the leaders at Wuxiang City debated a counterattack, and Yang Zhengshan argued they could strike without trying to conquer Youyu Gate.

• Yang Zhengshan stabilized Yang Chengxu’s injuries, arranged for Yang Qinwu and Yang Chengze to receive limb-regeneration pills, and checked on the other wounded.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered Yunxiao’s detached forces to support Xuanqing Sect, while Xuanqing Sect and Huanyue Sect routed Youyu Gate’s remnants and captured Xianling City.
• Yun Xi learned that Youyu Gate had been defeated at Wuxiang City and withdrew from Xianling City to avoid being caught between enemy forces.
• Xuanqing Sect’s army met Youyu Gate’s remnant force west of Xianling City and routed it; Huanyue Sect’s army also advanced, and the two forces captured more territory.
• Yang Zhengshan urged the leaders in Sifang Hall to counterattack into Youyu Gate’s heartland, while Jian Guyun warned that Youyu Gate still had two Divine Soul Realm martial artists.
• Yang Zhengshan said Hidden Sword Mountain could not swallow Youyu Gate and argued that they could attack without attempting to occupy its territory.

After the victory at Wuxiang City, Yang Zhengshan and Jian Changhe planned to press into Youyu Gate’s territory and force it to pay compensation and surrender Xianling City. The chapter ended with Yang Zhengshan reviewing the battle’s spoils and taking Li Xuanxiao’s storage bag.

• Yang Zhengshan persuaded Jian Changhe to invade Youyu Gate’s heartland, demand one million spirit stones, and claim Xianling City for Hidden Sword Mountain.
• Qu Changkong led three thousand Jade Capital Guard soldiers in pursuit of Huanyue Sect’s detached army as their forces captured Youyu Gate’s strongholds.
• True Person Yunguo explained that Heavenly Sword True Monarch might have reincarnated, and Yun Ge revealed that Jian Changhe had orchestrated the conflict to overawe rival powers.
• Fang Zhen and Zhang Ying decided to apologize to the Yang Family and seek the release of Fang Ze and Zhang Baishan rather than force their way into Yang Family Town.
• Yang Zhengshan learned that two Yang Family juniors had died in battle, then took Li Xuanxiao’s storage bag and assigned Jizhen and Qiuyan to study the captured flying boat.

Yang Zhengshan inventoried the spoils from Li Xuanxiao, Jiang Taishu, and Ming Shuzi, planted a Bodhi Seed, and began preparing to refine a Soul Suppressing Lock. A summons brought him to meet Fang Zhen and Zhang Ying, who sought the release of their captured juniors, and he left negotiations over an apology and compensation to Kou Ta and Hong Fuxiu.

• Yang Zhengshan found a living three-pattern Bodhi Seed in Li Xuanxiao's Storage Bag and planted it by the Spirit Spring Lakeside after infusing it with lifespan.
• Yang Zhengshan found a Startling Thunder Stone, a Ghostly Golden Fan, and a mid-grade Soul Suppressing Lock among Jiang Taishu's belongings, then set about refining the lock.
• Kou Ta summoned Yang Zhengshan, who met Fang Zhen of the Emerald Lake Fang Family and Zhang Ying of the Southern Wilderness Zhang Family in the Yang Family Courtyard.
• Fang Zhen offered an apology and compensation in exchange for releasing Fang Ze and Zhang Baishan, but Yang Zhengshan demanded proper apologies to his family and the innocent dead before dismissing them.
• Yang Zhengshan told Hong Fuxiu and Kou Ta to accept suitable apology gifts, release the captives, compensate the harmed subordinate families, and keep the remainder as their reward.

Yang Zhengshan and Jian Guyun negotiated peace with Wang Henglie and Sheng Youhuang after the Lingxiu Sea army advanced into Youyu Gate’s heartland. Youyu Gate paid compensation and ceded Xianling City, and the armies withdrew, leaving Hidden Sword Mountain’s authority over Lingxiu Sea firmly established.

• Yun Ge arranged mediation in Wuxiang City after Youyu Gate requested peace, and Wang Henglie and Sheng Youhuang arrived to negotiate.
• Yang Zhengshan demanded ten million Spirit Stones and compensation for the Yang Family’s losses, then threatened to resume fighting when Wang Henglie objected.
• Yun Ge revealed Yang Zhengshan was an eighth-grade Guest Elder of Wanbao Trading Company, and Wang Henglie agreed to pay ten million Spirit Stones and give Xianling City to Lingxiu Sea.
• Youyu Gate paid ten million Low-grade Spirit Stones, and the Lingxiu Sea army withdrew from Youyu Gate’s territory.
• Hidden Sword Mountain took five million Spirit Stones, while the Yang Family, Xuanqing Sect, and Huanyue Sect each received one million, with the rest divided among seven great clans.
• Hidden Sword Mountain’s killing of Li Xuanxiao established its prestige and confirmed its claim to occupy Lingxiu Sea.

After the war, Yang Zhengshan divided the former Wuxiang Sect’s encampment between the Yang family and Xuan Zhen’s new Wuzhen Dao Palace, then approved Mianyun Continent as the site of Hidden Sword Mountain’s Guest Elder Hall. Back at Spiritual Spring Mountain Plateau, he strengthened Red Cloud’s soul and discovered that the Soul Suppressing Lock could be fitted into the Soul Suppressing Pagoda, leaving him curious about Youyu Gate’s other treasures.

• Yang Zhengshan assigned Yang Chengzhang to manage the former Wuxiang Sect’s encampment and gave Xuan Zhen part of it for the Wuzhen Dao Palace.
• Yang Zhengshan backed Jian Qingxiao’s choice of Mianyun Continent for Hidden Sword Mountain’s Guest Elder Hall, which Xuanqing Sect would build with Huanyue Sect’s help.
• Yang Zhengshan used Soul-Condensing Cinnabar to nourish Red Cloud’s faint soul inside the Soul Returning Formation.
• Yang Zhengshan removed the Soul Locking Chain from the Soul Suppressing Pagoda and found that its six outer treasures were detachable components.
• Yang Zhengshan fitted the Soul Suppressing Lock into the pagoda, enhancing its power, and wondered whether Youyu Gate held more Soul Suppressing Locks.

Yang Zhengshan was asked to obtain Oblivion River Dew for Jian Changhe and broke through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage during secluded cultivation. After returning to the Spirit Source Land, he visited Yang Jizhen, who revealed that the Cave Heaven Portal had been refined into a formation disk and asked him to test it.

• Jian Qingxiao asked Yang Zhengshan to obtain Oblivion River Dew for Jian Changhe, offering two third-tier Demon Cores in exchange, and Yang Zhengshan agreed to try.
• Yang Zhengshan entered secluded cultivation and advanced to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, crediting the Water of Transformation in the Divine Wood Treasure Cauldron for his rapid progress.
• Yang Zhengshan learned that Yu Qingyi remained in seclusion and that Yang Jizhen had been asking to see him.
• Yang Zhengshan visited Yang Jizhen at the Immortal Artifact Pavilion and gave him a large pile of ores from his warehouse.
• Yang Jizhen showed Yang Zhengshan the completed Cave Heaven Portal, which had taken the form of a round formation disk, and asked him to test it.

Yang Zhengshan learned how Yang Jizhen’s new Grotto-Heaven Teleportation Array worked, arranged for more to be made with token-based access, and discussed a suitable sword for his future Life-Bound Magic Treasure. He then took Yang Zongyuan and the Li sisters toward Baiyun Immortal City, where Yang Zongyuan asked about buying puppets.

• Yang Zhengshan refined Yang Jizhen’s Cave Heaven Portal and realized it was a Grotto-Heaven Teleportation Array, which could replace Cave Heaven Portals in places that did not need to transport bulky items.
• Yang Zhengshan asked Yang Jizhen to make more arrays and add token identification, dividing Jade Tokens into three types with different access rights to the Spirit Source Land.
• Yang Jizhen showed Yang Zhengshan a low-grade magic-treasure Azure Wood Violet Lightning Sword, but its Golden Thunder Bamboo material would not mature for over thirty years, so Yang Zhengshan decided to seek another material.
• Yang Zhengshan praised Yang Zongyuan’s High-grade Jade Marrow Pills and told him to prepare for a trip to Baiyun Immortal City, also planning to take Li Jianning and Li Jianan.
• Two days later, Yang Zhengshan traveled toward Baiyun Immortal City aboard a Jade Cloud Boat with Yang Zongyuan and the Li sisters, and Yang Zongyuan asked about the city’s puppets and their cost.

Yang Zhengshan and his companions spotted a fierce battle in the Yunxiao Mountain Range, where Luo Fengxia and his clan were being ambushed. After Luo Fengxia asked for help, Yang Zhengshan intervened with his Heaven Sealing Earth Severing technique, trapping most of the fighters and confronting two Foundation Establishment Cultivators who resisted it.

• Yang Zongyuan discussed selling his surplus Jade Marrow Pills in Baiyun Immortal City while Li Jianning and Li Jianan teased and joked with Yang Zhengshan.
• Yang Zhengshan noticed a large battle below the Cloud Skiff and brought his companions closer to watch.
• Yang Zhengshan observed Luo Fengxia using elaborate illusions to fight two Foundation Establishment opponents before reinforcements arrived and turned the battle against him.
• Luo Fengxia called on Yang Zhengshan for aid and promised a reward from the Luo Family.
• Yang Zhengshan entered the battlefield and used Heaven Sealing Earth Severing to bind most of the fighters, then asked the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators who resisted him to identify themselves.

Yang Zhengshan rescued Luo Fengxia from a planned ambush, then returned to Baiyun Immortal City and asked Zhongli Xiayi about Core Formation Spiritual Items. He learned that Wanbao Trading Company collected such items and that obtaining one required exchanging another, while Zhongli explained the categories of items and the nine layers of the Golden Core Lightning Tribulation.

• Yang Zhengshan killed two Foundation Establishment Cultivators and more than ten Qi Refining Cultivators who attacked Luo Fengxia, while three Foundation Establishment Cultivators escaped.
• Luo Fengxia told Yang Zhengshan that he did not know who had ambushed his party or why, and he thanked Yang Zhengshan before entering Baiyun Immortal City.
• Yang Zhengshan returned to Wanbao Trading Company with Yang Zongyuan, Li Jianning, and Li Jianan, then met Zhongli Xiayi.
• Yang Zhengshan asked whether Wanbao Trading Company had Oblivion River Datura or Oblivion River Dew, and Zhongli Xiayi explained that the company’s purpose in Baiyun Immortal City was to collect Core Formation Spiritual Items.
• Zhongli Xiayi explained that Yang Zhengshan could obtain Core Formation Spiritual Items by exchanging other items of the same category, then described the three categories and the nine layers of the Golden Core Lightning Tribulation.

Yang Zhengshan decided to pursue refining the Spring of Vitality as a way to obtain Core Formation Spiritual Items, then received Luo Cheng’s thanks and a warning about growing unrest around Baiyun Immortal City. The chapter left him aware that unknown forces might be probing the city, though Luo Cheng could not identify the culprits.

• Yang Zhengshan told Zhongli Xiayi he could not yet refine a Supreme Demon Core Pill, and she advised him to improve his cultivation and alchemy.
• Yang Zhengshan concluded the Spring of Vitality suited his abilities, instructed Yang Chengmou to prepare spirit fruits for its production, and sent Jian Qingxiao word that he could not obtain Oblivion River Dew for Jian Changhe.
• Luo Cheng visited Yang Zhengshan with Luo Fengxia, thanked him for helping her, and gave him two sets of second-rank superior-grade Artifact Formations.
• Luo Cheng warned Yang Zhengshan to avoid Wanbao Trading Company’s new guest elder, an arrogant alchemist who could refine superior-grade Demon Core Pills.
• Luo Cheng told Yang Zhengshan that Baiyun Immortal City faced possible trouble after a battle with the Earth-Shaking Tiger Demon King, and that Luo Fengxia’s attack might have been a probe by an unknown force.

Yang Zhengshan prepared the Immortal Hall’s alchemists to extract Life Force and brought Yang Zongyuan to Wanbao Trading Company’s treasure vault, where he encountered the arrogant guest elder Zhao Tianhai. After noticing that Zhao Tianhai’s martial-artist attendants had unusually strong souls, Yang Zhengshan entered the vault to exchange for materials to refine a life-bound magic treasure.

• Yang Zhengshan taught six Immortal Hall alchemists to extract Life Force from spiritual medicines and fruits, then left the courtyard with Yang Zongyuan for the treasure vault.
• Yang Zhengshan scolded Yang Zongyuan for neglecting alchemy and cultivation while indulging his interest in puppetry.
• Yang Zhengshan saw Zhao Tianhai and his attendants arguing with Li Deming over entry to the treasure vault and learned Zhao wanted to take his appointment slot.
• Yang Zhengshan subdued one of Zhao Tianhai’s Golden Body Realm attendants with soul pressure, then entered the vault without arguing with Zhao.
• Yang Zhengshan realized Zhao Tianhai’s martial-artist attendants had unusually strong souls and asked the vault elder for third-order lightning-attribute materials to refine a life-bound magic treasure.

Yang Zhengshan obtained Golden Thunder Bamboo and Purple Cloud Stone for the Azure Wood Violet Lightning Sword, then met with Jian Changhe during a severe cold current in Baiyun Immortal City. Jian Changhe sought an audience with Situ Yuan, and the chapter revealed Situ Yuan’s connection to Heavenly Sword True Monarch and the Situ Family of Lingxiu Sea.

• Yang Zhengshan chose Golden Thunder Bamboo and Purple Cloud Stone from the treasure vault and gave them to Yang Jizhen to prepare for refining the Azure Wood Violet Lightning Sword.
• More than half a year later, a cold current from the Ming Sea blanketed Baiyun Immortal City, and Yang Zongyuan returned to the Spirit Source Land while Yang Zhengshan stayed behind.
• Jian Changhe arrived seeking Oblivion River Dew, asked Yang Zhengshan about Situ Yuan, and gave him a White Jade Small Sword as a token for arranging a meeting.
• Situ Yuan recognized the sword’s hidden Sword Qi, revealed that Heavenly Sword True Monarch had left it behind, and agreed to meet Jian Changhe.
• Jian Changhe explained that Situ Yuan was a collateral descendant of the Situ Family of Lingxiu Sea and that the True Monarch had once helped Situ Yuan’s master’s master.

Yang Zhengshan kept his distance from Wanbao Trading Company and Hidden Sword Mountain while the Spirit Source Land expanded under the name of Wuzhen Dao Palace. Four years later, he and his disciples forged the high-grade Azure Wood Violet Lightning Sword, and he promised to help his disciples prepare life-bound treasures of their own.

• Jian Changhe exchanged a Core Formation Spiritual Item for Oblivion River Dew, gave Yang Zhengshan a third-rank Demon Core as thanks, and left Baiyun Immortal City to prepare for Core Formation.
• Yang Zhengshan withdrew to the Spirit Source Land, wary of Zhao Tianhai and his followers, while the Spirit Source Land absorbed Wuxiang Sect resources and established Wuzhen Dao Palace as its public identity.
• Four years later, Yang Zhengshan, Yang Jizhen, Ma Qiuyan, Ning Yun, and Cui Yang worked together in the Pill Hall to forge the Azure Wood Violet Lightning Sword.
• Yang Jizhen completed the sword by adding the Azure Flower Thunder Bead and tempering it with thunder, producing a high-grade magic treasure that Yang Zhengshan could nurture as his life-bound weapon.
• Yang Zhengshan praised his disciples’ efforts and promised to sponsor each with one third-tier spiritual material when they reached Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.