Chapter Summaries

Li Bufan continued winning at Tianjiao Pavilion and faced Fu Yihe in a test of physical strength. After they fought evenly with their fists, Fu Yihe raised his aura and proposed they get serious.

• Li Bufan won nineteen consecutive matches while cultivating, and people began calling him Thunderclap Saber Li Bufan.
• Li Bufan was matched against Fu Yihe, a renowned body-tempering expert from Shi State.
• Li Bufan put away the Azure Scale Saber and chose to fight Fu Yihe hand-to-hand.
• Li Bufan and Fu Yihe traded powerful punches, proving that Li Bufan's strength and defense rivaled Fu Yihe's.
• Fu Yihe raised his aura and said they should get serious, and Li Bufan accepted.

Li Bufan defeated Fu Yihe with the Greedy Wolf Saber Technique, securing his twentieth consecutive victory at Tianjiao Pavilion. After recovering and improving his Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art, he learned that he had to leave the Pavilion and would place a volume of his recorded battles in its library.

• Fu Yihe used Stone King Armor and attacked Li Bufan with Stone King Shakes the Heavens, but Li Bufan countered with Chaos of Rivers and Mountains and won.
• The referee declared Li Bufan the winner, and the crowd watched in silence as he left the arena.
• Li Bufan returned to his room, replenished his true qi, and gained proficiency in the Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art from the fight.
• A blue-clad attendant told Li Bufan that his twenty consecutive victories meant he could no longer stay at Tianjiao Pavilion.
• The attendant explained that Li Bufan's battle records would be compiled into a volume for the inner hall library, which Li Bufan would place there himself.

After earning twenty consecutive victories at the Tianjiao Pavilion, Li Bufan placed his battle record in the library’s highest compartment and studied the achievements of earlier prodigies. As he prepared to leave after nightfall, a mysterious point of starlight appeared at the summit, drawing him back upward.

• The attendant gave Li Bufan a booklet recording his battles from his eleventh through twentieth victories and led him to the library.
• Li Bufan used Dragon Roaming Steps to reach the library’s hundred-zhang summit and placed his booklet there, joining the records of past champions.
• Li Bufan surveyed the arena below and reflected that his name, Thunderclap Saber Li Bufan, would be remembered alongside earlier champions.
• He read volumes about past prodigies and learned about the Songhe Gate’s peaks, elders, and disciples before deciding to leave at nightfall.
• A point of light formed from starlight appeared at the summit, and Li Bufan used Dragon Roaming Steps to reach it again.

Li Bufan chased a flickering light above the library and discovered it followed a fixed sequence through 365 positions. After stepping on each position in order through the night, he reached the final spot just as the light vanished at sunrise.

• Li Bufan used his Spirit Sense to trace the light point’s threads to the formations in the Tianjiao Pavilion’s halls and compartments.
• He pursued the light point hundreds of times, then paused to recover and realized its movements followed a pattern.
• Li Bufan identified 365 positions in a fixed sequence and saw that the stars appearing along the light’s path carried the same spiritual fluctuation as the roofless room.
• He stepped through the stars in order through the night, using Dragon Roaming Steps and Hundred Rivers Return to Sea to keep going.
• At sunrise, Li Bufan crossed the 365th position as the light point vanished, and the first ray of sunlight struck the spot beneath his feet.

Li Bufan comprehended the Circulatory Stars Diagram, a technique that tempered acupoints directly with heaven and earth’s vital energy. His newly awakened power shattered the library floor and revealed a mysterious mountain formation that entered his Sea of Consciousness and left sixteen glowing characters behind.

• Li Bufan realized that the 365 points of light represented the body's acupoints and learned the Circulatory Stars Diagram's method for opening and tempering them.
• Li Bufan gained the skill Circulatory Stars Diagram · One Acupoint (1/500) and sensed that its newly tempered acupoint held power beyond his current realm.
• Li Bufan accidentally cracked the Blue Stone floor with a stomp and uncovered an ancient mountain diagram beneath the library.
• The mountain formation came alive, produced a tiny mountain, and drew in the vital energy from Li Bufan's acupoint.
• The tiny mountain entered Li Bufan's glabella and sent a torrent of information into his Sea of Consciousness, where sixteen glowing characters appeared.

Li Bufan received the Sixteen Character Order inheritance in Tianjiao Pavilion’s library and discovered it could strengthen both body and spirit by drawing on the momentum of heaven and earth. He left with Zheng Haonan and Wang Mingxuan to prepare for Songhe Gate’s disciple selection, unaware that the library had collapsed and Tianjiao Pavilion had closed.

• Li Bufan endured the mountain-like pressure of the first sixteen characters until the Spirit Chapter appeared, completing the Sixteen Character Order’s thirty-two-character inheritance.
• Li Bufan failed to cultivate the technique further, restored his spiritual power with the Constant Stillness One Scripture, and realized the order could strengthen both his body and soul.
• Li Bufan repaired the damaged library floor and left with Zheng Haonan and Wang Mingxuan after learning they had waited for him all day and that Songhe Gate’s selection was the next day.
• After Li Bufan and his friends left, the hundred-zhang library collapsed, and Tianjiao Pavilion announced it would close and ordered its cultivators and challengers to leave.

Li Bufan learned that Songhe Gate’s entrance trial began with a dangerous trek through Cangsong Dense Forest, then rejected Zhao Zhiqing when she came to see him. He let go of their bond and returned to cultivating ahead of the trial.

• Wang Mingxuan and Zheng Haonan told Li Bufan that the candidates would travel through Cangsong Dense Forest along the Path of Seeking Dharma, where formations, Demon Beasts, and rival candidates posed dangers.
• Li Bufan returned to his room and cultivated the Constant Stillness One Scripture while preparing for the next day’s trial.
• Zhao Zhiqing came to Li Bufan’s door and said she had been worried about him, but he refused to see her so he could prepare.
• Zhao Zhiqing left in tears after Li Bufan wished her well but kept his distance.
• Li Bufan recalled how Zhao Zhiqing had helped the elders question him, decided their bond should end, and resumed cultivating.

Li Bufan entered Songhe Gate’s Path of Seeking Dharma and arrived in Cangsong Dense Forest. There, he faced Xiao Tian, who intended to kill him, and vanished into action as their confrontation began.

• Li Bufan joined the selected disciples as they followed Songhe Gate’s instructors to Cangwu City’s Teleportation Formation.
• The elderly instructor explained that the trial began upon arrival in Cangsong Dense Forest, where fighting and killing were permitted.
• Zheng Haonan and Wang Mingxuan entered the formation before Li Bufan, and Li Bufan followed them into the light.
• Li Bufan landed safely on a tree branch in Cangsong Dense Forest and used his spiritual sense to check the area.
• Xiao Tian approached Li Bufan, drew his sword, and declared that killing him would earn a name and remove a rival.
• Li Bufan agreed that their meeting was fate, then vanished from his branch.

Li Bufan defeated Xiao Tian and continued along the Path of Seeking Dharma, where he became trapped in a five-colored forest formation. He destroyed the trees to break the formation, escaped into the Cangsong Dense Forest, and reached its edge.

• Li Bufan overwhelmed Xiao Tian with a barrage of palms, shattered his inner armor, and left him unconscious in the shrubs.
• Li Bufan entered a forest of five-colored leaves and realized its scenery kept repeating after finding his earlier mark on a tree.
• Li Bufan sensed that a trapping formation enclosed the forest but could not determine its full extent with his Spirit Sense.
• Li Bufan cut down the trees around him with the Thunderclap Saber Technique, disrupting the Vital Energy flow and collapsing the formation.
• Li Bufan found himself back in the Cangsong Dense Forest, hurried onward, and emerged from the forest into an open view.

Li Bufan crossed the river’s chain obstacle by dodging its water columns and cutting through seven of them with his Thunderclap Flash saber technique. At the Songhe Gate cliff, he discovered that the rock face sealed his true qi and began climbing it bare-handed.

• Li Bufan studied the river’s water-column attacks before stepping onto a chain and evading them with Dragon Roaming Steps.
• When seven water columns attacked at once, Li Bufan split them with Thunderclap Flash and reached the far bank.
• Li Bufan found dozens of contenders gathered at the cliff, none of them attempting to climb it.
• Li Bufan tested the cliff and discovered that touching it suppressed his true qi and subjected him to crushing pressure.
• Li Bufan ignored the onlookers’ warnings, gripped a protruding stone, and began climbing the cliff bare-handed.

Li Bufan pushed through the mountain’s crushing gravity to climb nearly ten thousand zhang, relying on the Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art and sheer will when his strength failed. He reached the summit with a final Explosive Steps leap, then collapsed and was carried toward Songhe Gate by an approaching figure.

• Li Bufan began climbing the cliff, inspiring dozens of hesitant people to follow him.
• As the pressure intensified, Li Bufan continued climbing and felt his Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art proficiency rise.
• Fu Yihe caught up with Li Bufan and challenged him to race to the summit, and the two climbed side by side.
• At nine thousand five hundred zhang, Li Bufan nearly lost consciousness but renewed his strength by refusing to give up.
• Li Bufan climbed to nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine zhang, then used Explosive Steps to leap onto the summit and regain his true qi.
• An approaching figure praised Li Bufan, carried him away, and left him to lose consciousness while thinking Songhe Gate was ahead.

After completing the Heavenly Stairway, Li Bufan awakened in a pool of spiritually rich water and met Tian Ying, the creator of the Sixteen Character Order, who asked him to become his disciple. Xie Qisha contested Tian Ying for Li Bufan, and Li Bufan chose Xie Qisha; the two Peak Masters agreed to share his training before two newcomers interrupted the ceremony.

• Li Bufan awoke in a pool and discovered that the Heavenly Stairway had greatly advanced his Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art.
• Tian Ying revealed himself as the creator of the Sixteen Character Order and asked Li Bufan to become his disciple.
• Xie Qisha arrived and claimed Li Bufan as the inheritor of his Blade Peak because Li Bufan had learned the Po Jun and Greedy Wolf Saber Techniques.
• Li Bufan chose Xie Qisha, citing the life-saving help of his saber arts, and Tian Ying accepted the decision without anger.
• Tian Ying and Xie Qisha agreed to divide Li Bufan's training between Blade Peak and Formation Peak, and Li Bufan formally bowed to Xie Qisha as his master.
• Two figures suddenly entered the hall and shouted for them to wait.

Li Bufan weighed offers from Flame Peak and Ice Peak before choosing to honor his promise to Xie Qisha and join Blade Peak. Xie Qisha accepted him as a disciple and took him toward Blade Peak, while the other Peak Masters invited him to visit their peaks.

• Yan Cangxuan and Gu Hanqing arrived and each claimed Li Bufan had a destined connection to their peak, citing his crimson fire flowing paste and Mysterious Ice Pearl.
• Yan Cangxuan offered to teach Li Bufan alchemy and artifact forging, while Gu Hanqing offered him immediate True Disciple status at Ice Peak.
• Li Bufan considered the advantages of Flame Peak and Ice Peak, then knelt and formally affirmed Xie Qisha as his master.
• Xie Qisha welcomed Li Bufan to Blade Peak, explained its rules, and said a disciple who surpassed his master must leave to forge his own path.
• Yan Cangxuan and Gu Hanqing invited Li Bufan to visit their peaks, and Xie Qisha led him toward Blade Peak as Old Man Broken Formation praised his choice of disciple.

Old Man Seven Killings brought Li Bufan to Blade Peak, taught him the Saber Intent Art, and set him the goal of opening his remaining two dantians. Li Bufan began training atop the peak, where he discovered a pool of exceptionally pure Essence Fluid.

• Old Man Seven Killings led Li Bufan to Blade Peak and judged his cultivation foundation and saber intent.
• Old Man Seven Killings passed the Saber Intent Art to Li Bufan, whose proficiency advanced to the proficient level.
• Old Man Seven Killings explained the three dantians and told Li Bufan to complete his qi and essence paths.
• Li Bufan agreed to train on Blade Peak with Old Man Seven Killings until all three dantians were open.
• Old Man Seven Killings took Li Bufan to the summit, where Li Bufan found a pool of Essence Fluid purer and denser than what he had obtained in the secret realm.

Li Bufan completed the Meridian Connecting Realm and, after realizing the Five Elements Heaven Skill’s five elements were reflected in his own experiences, opened his Middle Dantian. He broke through to the second level of the Dantian Realm and planned to familiarize himself with his new power.

• Old Man Seven Killings sent Li Bufan to cultivate in the Essence Fluid Pool and told him to visit Formation Peak to borrow Town Prison Peak for body tempering.
• Li Bufan cultivated in the pool until he opened his Ren Meridian, then continued until he opened his Du Meridian and completed the Meridian Connecting Realm.
• Li Bufan struggled for ten days to understand how to advance, then contemplated how the five elements related to his cultivation arts and battles.
• Li Bufan understood the Five Elements Heaven Skill and opened his Middle Dantian, reaching the nine-inch limit of the first level.
• Li Bufan broke through to the second level of the Dantian Realm, expanding his dantian to a foot in diameter, and stood to get used to his new power.

After reaching the second level of the Dantian Realm, Li Bufan tested his strengthened techniques and traveled to Formation Peak to ask Old Man Broken Formation to lend him Town Prison Peak. Old Man Broken Formation examined his cultivation and revealed that Li Bufan had already begun entering the Spirit Chapter of the Sixteen Character Order.

• Li Bufan tested his improved palm, movement, and saber techniques before descending Blade Peak and heading toward Formation Peak.
• Zhou Yuanqing met Li Bufan at Formation Peak and led him through its formations to Old Man Broken Formation’s cottage.
• Li Bufan endured the crushing pressure outside the cottage and respectfully asked Old Man Broken Formation to lend him Town Prison Peak.
• Old Man Broken Formation examined Li Bufan, noted that he had reached the second level of the Dantian Realm, and said his foundation suited the Sixteen Character Order.
• Old Man Broken Formation explained that the Sixteen Character Order followed completion of the Circulatory Stars Diagram and inferred that Li Bufan had already entered its Spirit Chapter.

Li Bufan trained on Town Prison Peak until he opened his Lower Dantian and advanced the Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art to its Seventh Revolution. After recovering in the Essence Fluid Pool, he left Formation Peak to return to Seven Killings.

• Li Bufan learned from Old Man Broken Formation that the Sixteen Character Order had three trials and borrowed Town Prison Peak to open his Lower Dantian.
• Li Bufan climbed Town Prison Peak for fifteen days, completing the Sixth Revolution before finally breaking through near the summit.
• Li Bufan opened his Lower Dantian, completed Copper Skin Iron Bones and Golden Muscles Jade Meridians, and advanced the Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art to the Seventh Revolution.
• Old Man Broken Formation carried the unconscious Li Bufan to the Essence Fluid Pool, where his cultivation continued to improve as he recovered.
• Old Man Broken Formation told Li Bufan that a month had passed and urged him to return before Seven Killings worried; Li Bufan left Formation Peak.

After reaching the Dantian Realm in essence, qi, and spirit, Li Bufan climbed Blade Peak to face Xie Qisha’s test of his saber attainments. He forced his way through the mountain’s saber intent with several techniques and ended by carving a saber mark into the peak’s wall, leaving him exhausted but satisfied.

• Li Bufan tested his martial skills on the way to Blade Peak and reflected on how much he had changed in a year.
• Xie Qisha summoned Li Bufan, who discovered that Blade Peak’s saber intent grew stronger as he climbed.
• Li Bufan used the Po Jun Saber Technique and then the Thunderclap Saber Technique to push through the saber intent to three thousand zhang.
• Li Bufan activated the Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art and Spirit Sense to find a weak point in the saber intent.
• Li Bufan unleashed Chaos of Rivers and Mountains with Old Man Seven Killings’ saber intent and carved a mark into Blade Peak’s mountain wall.

After Li Bufan opened all three Dantians, Xie Qisha instructed him to strengthen his cultivation and saber skills and ordered him to compete in the Inner Disciple rankings. At his residence, Li Bufan used the Small Cauldron’s wind blades to temper his body and considered how to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art’s third layer.

• Xie Qisha explained that Li Bufan needed to consolidate his cultivation, advance in the Dao of the Saber, and gain combat experience, then ordered him to become Songhe Gate’s top Inner Disciple within a year.
• Li Bufan returned to his residence and restored his true qi with the Five Elements Heaven Skill, finding that his Dantians refilled in less than half an hour.
• Li Bufan used three wind blades from the Small Cauldron to temper his body, raising his Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art proficiency by more than thirty points.
• Li Bufan increased the wind blades to nine, endured their injuries, and refined them over two hours, raising his proficiency by more than one hundred and fifty points.
• Li Bufan realized that the third layer of the Nine Revolutions Golden Wall Art required water and fire Vital Energy, but hesitated to ask Flame Peak and Ice Peak for access to their cultivation grounds.
• Li Bufan set aside the matter and continued practicing the Surging Waves Palm, Five Elements Heaven Skill, and other techniques.

Ling Zhan took Li Bufan to Hundred Battles Peak and explained its ranking contests, but Li Bufan discovered he could not register without an inner disciple token. Ling Zhan gave him a jade slip about the sect and offered to help process his inner disciple status.

• Ling Zhan escorted Li Bufan to Hundred Battles Peak and explained the ranking contests and their rules.
• Li Bufan surveyed the arenas and fighters across the mountain, then went to register for the inner disciples' matches.
• The registration disciple told Li Bufan he needed an inner disciple token, which he did not have, and directed him to consult the sect rules.
• Li Bufan found Ling Zhan waiting outside and explained why he had left without registering.
• Ling Zhan gave Li Bufan a jade slip about the Songhe Gate and led him to have his inner disciple status processed.