Chapter Summaries

Ning Chen escaped the Buddhist Sage’s purification by triggering his fifth innate tribulation, then survived the Profound Water Calamity and continued north with Wan Hongzhu and Jian Shui'er. Elsewhere, Venerable Radiance sent Aizen Myōō to the Hundred Dynasties Competition as Prince Yan and A'man left Buddhist Mountain.

• The white-haired Sage used the Sin-Purging Incantation to imprison Ning Chen, while the holy power began dispersing the Ghost Qi around Ghost Maiden in the Ice Coffin.
• Ning Chen summoned the Profound Water Calamity, forcing the Buddhist to shield the ancient city as the tribulation shattered the Sage’s restraints.
• Ning Chen brought Wan Hongzhu, Jian Shui'er, and their companion a thousand miles away, then fought the profound rain until the clouds cleared and resumed their journey north.
• Nu Chang watched a young man cultivating in the Changling Ancient Land as Dragon Gates appeared above the Divine Palace and Demon Temple.
• Prince Yan defeated Venerable Radiance in their sword contest, declined to join Buddhist Mountain, and left with A'man.
• Venerable Radiance ordered Aizen Myōō to attend the Hundred Dynasties Competition, and she descended Buddhist Mountain.

Ning Chen and his companions arrived in Jingfeng City for the Hundred Dynasties Competition, where he defended Jian Shui'er from a powerful Second Calamity expert. At the inn, they reunited with Beigong Yu and Nanming Tian, and Beigong Yu ended the awkward silence by challenging Ning Chen to a fight.

• Ning Chen kept the group walking at a leisurely pace despite Jian Shui'er’s protests, and the four reached Jingfeng City one day before the competition.
• A purple-gold-armored man attacked Jian Shui'er after hearing her insult, but Ning Chen blocked his palm strike with sword intent and drove him back.
• Beigong Yu and Nanming Tian arrived in the city, and the four companions took the last two rooms at Youjia Inn.
• Beigong Yu and Nanming Tian joined Ning Chen’s room after Beigong Yu paid for the rooms, while the women settled next door.
• After the three men sat in awkward silence, Beigong Yu asked Ning Chen to fight.

Ning Chen entered the Contest Pagoda with Wan Hongzhu and Jian Shui'er, where he explained the tower’s trials and urged them to observe its power of creation. He recognized Qi Yanxia’s resemblance to Fan Lingyue, then asked her name as they reached the entrance to the second level.

• Ning Chen left Ruoxi at the inn and departed with Wan Hongzhu and Jian Shui'er, revealing that the innkeeper was a Half-Step Great Perfection Half-Supreme.
• Before the Contest Pagoda, Ning Chen noticed Qi Yanxia and was shaken by her resemblance to Fan Lingyue, though he knew she was not his old friend.
• The tower doors opened, and Ning Chen entered with Wan Hongzhu and Jian Shui'er after explaining the levels and dangers of the competition.
• Ning Chen slowed their progress through the first level and told the two women to observe the tower’s world and remember its creation.
• At the entrance to the second level, Ning Chen asked Qi Yanxia how he should address her, and she identified herself as the Tianshu Imperial Daughter.

Ning Chen led Wan Hongzhu and Jian Shui'er through the Contest Pagoda’s deadly trials, protecting Jian Shui'er until she left safely after the twenty-first floor. He and Wan Hongzhu raced ahead, but as they reached the twenty-fourth floor, an unknown attacker struck and declared that they could no longer leave.

• Ning Chen, Wan Hongzhu, and Jian Shui'er endured the tower’s trials, and Ning Chen used his sword intent to help Jian Shui'er withstand the nineteenth-floor Profound Water Tribulation.
• Ning Chen carried Jian Shui'er through the twentieth floor and shielded her for ten breaths on the twenty-first, allowing her to crush her Contest Bead and leave the tower.
• Ning Chen unleashed his sword to clear the karmic fire and led Wan Hongzhu rapidly through the twenty-second and twenty-third floors, drawing Qi Yanxia and other prodigies in pursuit.
• At the entrance to the twenty-fourth floor, Wan Hongzhu said she could go no farther, but an unseen attacker struck with overwhelming palm force and said it was too late for them to leave.

Ning Chen crippled Jin Zhaoran, then faced six powerful opponents as he defended Wan Hongzhu and the Origin Sky Jade. As the battle turned against him, he reclaimed his Sword Heart and summoned a purple-gold divine sword, which Qi Yanxia had been waiting to see.

• Ning Chen rescued Wan Hongzhu from Jin Zhaoran’s ambush and crippled Jin Zhaoran’s cultivation with a single strike.
• Aizen Myōō challenged Zhimin over the Origin Sky Jade, while King Xuanyang and other experts joined the confrontation.
• Ning Chen gave Wan Hongzhu the empowered Undying Bloom and sent her toward the next floor before holding off the attackers.
• Ning Chen fought Aizen Myōō, King Xuanyang, and four other heaven’s chosen, wounding them with his sword arts but taking injuries himself.
• As the six opponents began to overwhelm him, Ning Chen sighed, reclaimed his Sword Heart, and summoned a purple-gold divine sword into Zhimin’s hand.

Ning Chen defeated King Xuanyang and the other prodigies, then fought Aizen Myōō after she entered demonic transgression. Qi Yanxia stopped Ning Chen’s final strike as the twenty-third level began collapsing, and Aizen departed after saying they might meet again.

• Ning Chen overwhelmed Aizen’s initial Bright King Palm and defeated King Xuanyang, Liufeng, the man in green, and Pingfeng Zaoyu in succession.
• Nanming Tian and Beigong Yu judged that Ning Chen’s speed and killing-focused swordsmanship made him nearly impossible to defeat before they reached the Three Calamities.
• Aizen Myōō challenged Ning Chen alone, revealed her demonic form, and fought him with the Six Dusts of Demonic Transgression techniques.
• Ning Chen’s Sword of Nirvana defeated Aizen’s Brahma Ghost Annihilation by half a move, and he prepared to finish her with Heavenfall.
• Qi Yanxia caught Ning Chen’s descending sword and asked him to end the battle because the realm was collapsing; Ning Chen sheathed his sword and agreed to leave with Beigong Yu and Nanming Tian.
• Aizen returned to her Bright King form, crushed her Contest Bead, and vanished after telling Ning Chen to remember her name.

Ning Chen and Qi Yanxia faced the Four Symbols Consecration on the Contest Pagoda’s twenty-fourth floor, where the tribulation drove most contestants out. After Ning Chen defeated three holy beasts and helped Qi Yanxia overcome the Black Tortoise, he gave his Contest Bead to the wounded Ling Shijiu and Ling Xuan'er before advancing to the next floor.

• The Four Symbols appeared and attacked the contestants, prompting Nanming Tian, Beigong Yu, and many others to leave the tower.
• Ning Chen drew the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Vermilion Bird’s attacks toward himself while Qi Yanxia fought the Black Tortoise with the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Scripture.
• Ning Chen used Phoenix Speed and his sword to disperse the Vermilion Bird, then destroyed the Azure Dragon and White Tiger and took Black Tortoise heart blood.
• Ning Chen and Qi Yanxia exchanged words about friendship before Ning Chen turned toward the next floor.
• Ning Chen saw the wounded Ling Shijiu give his Contest Bead to Ling Xuan'er and tossed them his own bead before continuing onward.

As Ning Chen climbed beyond the Contest Pagoda’s known limits, his progress drew the attention of Sovereigns and sects across Southern Mausoleum. After he opened the gate to the thirtieth floor, powerful figures—including a Buddhist determined to stop further slaughter—set out, leaving Ning Chen facing a growing threat.

• Ruoxi and the shopkeeper arrived at the Contest Pagoda, where Qi Yanxia emerged from the twenty-seventh floor injured while the tower’s light remained lit.
• Ning Chen cleared the twenty-seventh floor, entered the twenty-eighth, and prompted sects to move to recruit him.
• The crowd learned that Yuheng Sacred Land ranked fourth, while Qi Yanxia ranked first and Myriad Realms Mountain and the Qilian Ling family were tied for second.
• Ning Chen reached the twenty-ninth floor and opened the gate to the thirtieth, drawing the Sovereigns of Southern Mausoleum toward the tower.
• Emperor Qi and a white-robed Buddhist left for the Contest Pagoda, while the Human Sovereign set out to kill Ning Chen.

Destiny defeated the Contest Pagoda’s mirror image and reached the thirty-first floor, but Ye Fengdu appeared and challenged him over Hong Wulei. Bodhi Venerable then tried to kill Destiny for his accumulated sins, until Emperor Qi intervened and helped him escape.

• Destiny defeated his mirror image on the thirtieth floor, briefly opened the thirty-first floor, and left the Contest Pagoda without continuing upward.
• Ye Fengdu attacked Destiny outside the pagoda, then announced that he would wait at Luofu Peak in ten days and threatened Hong Wulei’s life.
• Four Human Sovereigns arrived as Ye Fengdu withdrew, and Bodhi Venerable appeared; Destiny sent Wan Hongzhu, Ruoxi, and Jian Shui’er away.
• Bodhi Venerable confronted Destiny in the Aurora Buddhist Realm, and Destiny fought back with King Yama’s Divine Weapons and his sword.
• Emperor Qi arrived and drove back Bodhi Venerable’s attack, then took Destiny away while the shopkeeper departed.

Ning Chen and Ye Fengdu fought a life-or-death duel at Luofu Mountain after Qi Yanxia helped Ning Chen recover and rescued Hong Wulei. The battle destroyed Luofu Peak, and Ye Fengdu opened Fengdu’s gates with his ultimate sword technique.

• Emperor Qi warned Qi Yanxia about the dangers of choosing the Love Tribulation, but she insisted on her decision to pursue Ning Chen.
• Ning Chen and Qi Yanxia trained in the Central Heavenly Court for three days before Ning Chen departed for his duel with Ye Fengdu.
• At Luofu Mountain, Ye Fengdu revealed Hong Wulei, and Qi Yanxia rescued her from the battlefield.
• Ning Chen and Ye Fengdu traded sword techniques, wounding each other as their battle drew the attention of powerful observers.
• Ning Chen’s Sever the Void clashed with Ye Fengdu’s Rakshasa Ghost Crossing, destroying Luofu Peak and leaving both swordsmen injured.
• Ye Fengdu released his sword and opened Fengdu’s gates as he unleashed Fengdu’s Soul Retention.

Ning Chen defeated Ye Fengdu, then went to the Yuheng Sacred Land to awaken the Ghost Maiden, where the Yuheng Old Ancestor betrayed him and tried to take their Phoenix and Ghost Sources. As Ning Chen’s Phoenix Body neared death, his true body sensed the crisis and rushed toward him with the Venerable Lady’s help.

• Ning Chen defeated Ye Fengdu, but the shopkeeper intervened and carried the wounded swordsman away.
• Ning Chen left Hong Wulei in Qi Yanxia’s care and traveled to the Yuheng Sacred Land with the Ghost Maiden in an Ice Coffin.
• The Yuheng Old Ancestor used the Yuheng Divine Cauldron to drain Ning Chen’s life force and seize the Phoenix and Ghost Sources.
• Xiao Wuming attacked the Yuheng Old Ancestor, but the elder wounded him and knocked back the Yuheng Sect Master.
• Ning Chen broke free with the Ice Coffin and fought the Yuheng Old Ancestor, who overpowered his gravely weakened Phoenix Body.
• Ning Chen’s true body sensed the danger, and the Venerable Lady used the Dragon Gate to carry him rapidly toward Southern Mausoleum.

Ning Chen reunited with his demonized Phoenix Body and fought Yuheng Old Ancestor on Mountain Above Mountain. After the elder Supremes sealed the Yuheng Divine Cauldron, Ning Chen defeated the Half-Venerable, leaving him kneeling and gravely wounded.

• Yuheng Old Ancestor attacked Ning Chen, and Xiao Wuming, then Wan Hongzhu, intervened and were badly wounded.
• Seeing their blood, Ning Chen fell to demonhood, but Knowing Fate arrived and merged with the Phoenix Body, restoring his full power.
• Ning Chen told Xiao Wuming to take Hongzhu away, then fought Yuheng Old Ancestor while four elder Supremes sealed the Yuheng Divine Cauldron.
• Ning Chen wounded Yuheng Old Ancestor with the Daoist Sect arts and the three scrolls, overcoming his ultimate Yin and Yang Convergence move.
• Ning Chen pierced Yuheng Old Ancestor, who fell to his knees, unable to rise as the battle ended.

Ning Chen defeated Yuheng Old Ancestor, who was killed by Mu Qianshang before he could self-detonate. After Bodhi Venerable departed, Ning Chen learned that the woman in the Ice Coffin faced the Danger of Dissipation because her Ghost Source was damaged.

• Yuheng Old Ancestor sacrificed his lifespan and summoned the Dragon Gate for a final attack, but Ning Chen countered with the four scrolls and Phoenix Essence, reducing Mountain Above Mountain to ruins.
• As Yuheng Old Ancestor tried to self-detonate, Mu Qianshang arrived and severed his soul with the Snow Sword, then greeted Ning Chen as an old friend.
• Ning Chen stabilized Xiao Wuming and Hongzhu, sent Jian Shui'er to help them rest, and urged the elders to tell her the truth about the past.
• Ning Chen descended with Mu Qianshang and persuaded Bodhi Venerable to leave by revealing the location of the Sal Tree's Broken Sword.
• Ning Chen brought out the Ice Coffin and asked Venerable Lady if the dead could be revived; she warned him that the woman's damaged Ghost Source could soon cause the Danger of Dissipation.

Ning Chen entered the Sea Domain Divine Temple with Mu Qianshang to seek the Azure Dragon’s Origin Dragon Pearl and stabilize Ghost Maiden’s fading Ghost Body. After surviving the temple’s deadly passage, they drew the attention of its guardian, Water God Tian Wu, and continued deeper inside.

• Venerable Lady told Ning Chen that the Azure Dragon’s Origin Dragon Pearl might preserve Ghost Maiden’s Ghost Body, and he set out for the Sea Domain Divine Temple with Mu Qianshang.
• Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang found the temple beneath the Southern Sea and discovered that its halls weakened their sword techniques and reflected sword intent.
• The pair crossed a blood sea filled with corpses and fought an attack formed from an Azure Dragon and a tiger.
• Mu Qianshang sent a sword strike toward the distant guardian, and Water God Tian Wu appeared and declared that he awaited their arrival.
• Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang continued along the Nine-Bend Corridor while Ning Chen wondered where the blood sea had come from.

Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang crossed the Sea Domain Divine Temple’s shifting illusions, witnessed the Nether King’s defeat of the Four Symbol deities, and found the Dragon Pearl was a trap. After the illusion shattered, they faced Water God Tian Wu, the temple’s final guardian, and began a three-way sword battle above the sea.

• Mu Qianshang destroyed the Nine-Bend Corridor, and he and Ning Chen fought through the blood sea until Ning Chen severed the void and led them into a starry vision of the Nether King defeating the Four Symbol deities.
• Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang suspected they were inside the Azure Dragon’s body and continued through changing landscapes until they reached a hall containing the Dragon Pearl.
• Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang fought the sword-wielding lotus manifestations while Ning Chen reached for the Dragon Pearl, triggering an explosion that shattered the illusion.
• The blue-robed swordsman appeared and identified himself as Water God Tian Wu, the Sea Domain Divine Temple’s final guardian.
• Tian Wu challenged Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang to attack together, and their three streams of sword intent collided above the sea.

Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang fought Water God Tian Wu for the Azure Dragon's Origin Dragon Pearl, ultimately defeating him. Tian Wu revealed that the Dragon Pearl had already taken form, leaving Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang demanding that he save the Ghost Maiden or face them again.

• Ning Chen and Mu Qianshang battled Tian Wu across the sea, combining their swordsmanship against his growing power.
• Ning Chen summoned the Calamitous Demonic Blade and fought Tian Wu in a fierce final clash while Mu Qianshang watched.
• Ning Chen survived Tian Wu's sword strike with the Black Tortoise Heart Armor and wounded Tian Wu with Yama, winning the battle.
• Ning Chen revealed the Ghost Maiden in an Ice Coffin and asked Tian Wu for the Azure Dragon's Origin Dragon Pearl to stabilize her spirit body.
• Tian Wu said the Dragon Pearl was gone because it had already taken form, and Mu Qianshang demanded that he save the Ghost Maiden or fight them both to the death.

Ning Chen stabilized the Ghost Maiden’s spirit body with Tianwu’s help, parted from Mu Qianshang, and set out with Qi Yanxia and Hong Wulei for Bailu Academy in Central Province. On the road, he taught Hong Wulei a powerful sword technique while continuing to search for a way to revive the Ghost Maiden.

• Tianwu stabilized the Ghost Maiden’s spirit body, gave Ning Chen a drop of heart’s blood, and warned that she was almost impossible to awaken.
• Ning Chen returned to Yuheng Sacred Land, left Ruoxi there to care for his main body, and said farewell to Mu Qianshang.
• After settling affairs at Yuheng, Ning Chen visited the awakened Hong Wulei at Tianshu Imperial Palace and learned that Bailu Academy had invited them to serve as Teaching Masters.
• Ning Chen, Qi Yanxia, and Hong Wulei set out for Bailu Academy, while Qi Yanxia explained its power and why Ning Chen’s achievement at the Contest Pagoda had drawn its attention.
• During their night’s rest, Ning Chen demonstrated a sword technique for Hong Wulei and told her to watch carefully because he would teach it only once.

Ning Chen, Qi Yanxia, and Hong Wulei traveled through Central Province to Bailu Academy, where Ning Chen hoped to learn whether the academy possessed the Scroll of Sun. After meeting Academy Head Yi Qingqiu, Ning Chen and Qi Yanxia agreed to teach at the academy, and Yi Qingqiu warned Ning Chen against killing its students.

• Ning Chen learned that Bailu Academy might possess the Scroll of Sun, which could help the Phoenix Body advance, and the travelers entered the Kaiyang Dynasty as its imperial succession grew uncertain.
• Ning Chen and Yi Xuanmiao, the Fourth Crown Prince, passed each other outside White Emperor City, and their swords resonated; Yi Xuanmiao later accepted invitations from the other Crown Princes.
• Ning Chen advised Hong Wulei to seek guidance from Bailu Academy's Half-Venerable gatekeeper before the group met Academy Head Yi Qingqiu.
• Yi Qingqiu asked Ning Chen why he had not entered the Contest Pagoda's thirty-first floor, and he explained that he could not obtain the Origin Sky Jade there.
• Yi Qingqiu invited Ning Chen and Qi Yanxia to teach at Bailu Academy once a month and warned Ning Chen that harming students was forbidden; Ning Chen claimed he preferred winning people over with virtue.

Ning Chen and Qi Yanxia ventured into the Primeval Land to obtain a Heavenly Beauty Fruit, but the Silver Leopard forced them to retreat after a fierce fight. Back at Bailu Academy, Hong Wulei demonstrated her swordsmanship, then learned from Yi Qingqiu that she had recognized Hong Wulei as the Red King's daughter and had once disciplined her father.

• Ning Chen ended his lesson at Half-Moon Lake, then joined Qi Yanxia in the Primeval Land to seek a Heavenly Beauty Fruit.
• Ning Chen fought the Silver Leopard while Qi Yanxia searched for the fruit, and the two withdrew after the beast's attack overwhelmed them.
• Qi Yanxia took the fruit into seclusion, and Ning Chen told Hong Wulei to teach her martial instruction class in two days.
• Hong Wulei displayed a powerful sword technique in the courtyard, drawing the attention of Yi Qingqiu and the academy gatekeeper.
• Yi Qingqiu summoned Hong Wulei, recognized her as the Red King's daughter, and explained that she had once defeated and disciplined her father at the academy.

Ning Chen infiltrated the imperial palace to test Emperor Yuan’s condition and discovered that the emperor had secretly become a formidable Half-Venerable despite his dwindling lifespan. After Ning Chen suggested the academy might be the target of Emperor Yuan’s long preparations, Yi Qingqiu realized that the emperor could be luring her into a trap.

• Yi Qingqiu advised Hong Wulei that Ning Chen might be able to accompany her to Wulei City, but Hong Wulei returned to find him gone on an unexplained errand.
• Ning Chen entered the Kaiyang Imperial Palace at night and attacked Emperor Yuan, fighting past the old eunuch and the Thirteenth Prince before clashing palms with the emperor and escaping.
• Ning Chen told Yi Qingqiu that Emperor Yuan had genuinely exhausted his lifespan but had gained extraordinary strength, possibly becoming an unusual Half-Venerable.
• Yi Qingqiu rewarded Ning Chen with half a move from the Golden Pages, and he proposed that Emperor Yuan might see Bailu Academy as a threat to his authority.
• Ning Chen warned Yi Qingqiu that Emperor Yuan’s ten-year plan might be designed to draw her into the Central Heavenly Court, where she could be trapped if the emperor died.