Chapter Summaries

Ning Chen punished students who refused Hong Wulei’s lakeside class, then encountered Hua Zhongdie performing opera in Jinglun Pavilion. After surviving her blade demonstration, he tried to leave before she could cause him more trouble.

• Du Huanian mocked Hong Wulei and demanded to know why Mister Qi had not come, while Jiang Yiqing and the other students prepared to leave class.
• Ning Chen arrived, threw the students into the lake, sealed their cultivation, and trapped them there with a formation until the lotus incense burned out.
• Bai Yujing reported the incident to Yi Qingqiu, who confirmed that nobody had been injured and dismissed him.
• Ning Chen entered Jinglun Pavilion and found Hua Zhongdie performing opera; her blade light forced him to defend himself with his sword and saber.
• Hua Zhongdie insisted Ning Chen call her Senior Sister Die, teased him, and watched as he made an excuse to leave.

Hua Zhongdie took Ning Chen to Boundary Mountain to punish the Blade Alliance for disparaging her title as Blade God, while Ning Chen held off its experts. After they returned to the academy, Ning Chen practiced with his demon blade, determined to learn from Hua Zhongdie’s mastery.

• Hua Zhongdie changed out of her opera costume and took Ning Chen to Boundary Mountain, promising to help him obtain another half move from the Heavenly Book in exchange for his help.
• Hua Zhongdie attacked the Blade Alliance’s headquarters, and Ning Chen blocked its experts from joining the battle or escaping.
• Hua Zhongdie fought three Blade Alliance Half-Venerables and defeated them with the Crimson Blade, then split Boundary Mountain with a single slash.
• Hua Zhongdie warned the Blade Alliance against insulting her again, and she and Ning Chen returned to the academy after securing their deal for another half move.
• Ning Chen returned to his courtyard and practiced with his demon blade, replaying Hua Zhongdie’s blade techniques in his mind.

Hong Wulei returned to the ruined City of No Tears and offered Ning Chen knowledge of the Demon Wheel Sea and its Immortal Palace in exchange for his help. Ning Chen agreed to accompany her to the city, while elsewhere a sword master and a young girl continued through a war-torn land.

• Hong Wulei visited the ruins of the City of No Tears, then returned to the academy without trusting anyone there with the truth of her past.
• Hong Wulei decided that the Demon Wheel Sea and its Immortal Palace could serve as a bargaining chip to persuade Ning Chen to help her.
• Ning Chen trained against Hua Zhongdie during her opera, suffered another defeat, and told the academy's elders that he sought power beyond the human world to save someone who had died.
• Hong Wulei told Ning Chen about the Demon Wheel Sea and Immortal Palace, and he agreed to accompany her to the City of No Tears if her information proved true.
• In western Central Province, a sword master in azure robes and a young girl carrying a sword rack walked through the flames of war without stopping.

Ning Chen learned that the Immortal Palace was deadly, then uncovered signs that Emperor Yuan and Primeval Land were working against the academy. After disrupting Emperor Yuan’s attempt to enter the Supreme Realm, Ning Chen was ordered to leave with Hua Zhongdie for Wulei City and keep her out of trouble.

• Yi Qingqiu told Ning Chen that the Immortal Palace existed but that nearly everyone who entered had died, and Ning Chen requested leave to return to Wulei City with Hong Wulei.
• A Transformation Realm desolate beast attacked the academy, drawing Yi Qingqiu, the gatekeeper, and the Jinglun Pavilion scholar into battle while Hua Zhongdie and Ning Chen suspected the attack was a diversion.
• Ning Chen went to Kaiyang Imperial Palace and found Emperor Yuan using the dynasty’s fortune while nearing the Supreme Realm; he shot Emperor Yuan and disrupted his breakthrough.
• Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie returned to the academy and reported their findings to Yi Qingqiu, who ordered them to leave for a few days and told Hua Zhongdie to obey Ning Chen.

Ning Chen, Hua Zhongdie, and Hong Wulei reached the ruined Wulei City to investigate the Red King's death, and Ning Chen secretly planned his next move. He struck Hong Wulei down, took the Red King's Ring, and told Hua Zhongdie that she was next.

• As they traveled toward Wulei City, Hua Zhongdie pressed Ning Chen to teach her the Ruyi Method, and he agreed in exchange for her thinking carefully before acting.
• Hong Wulei revealed the Red King's Ring, which repelled Ning Chen's true essence, and identified the Purple King and Dark King as the Red King's closest associates.
• The three reached the ruined royal palace, where Ning Chen sent Hong Wulei away and explained a secret plan to Hua Zhongdie.
• Ning Chen wrote down the Ruyi Method for Hua Zhongdie and prepared three letters after Hong Wulei returned with brushes and ink.
• Ning Chen took the Red King's Ring and struck Hong Wulei in the heart, leaving her unconscious in a pool of blood.
• Ning Chen lifted Hong Wulei into his arms, approached Hua Zhongdie, and told her she was next.

Ning Chen sought the Red King's Ring’s secrets from the Azure King and used Hong Wulei’s life to force the three kings into revealing their positions. The Purple King saved Hong Wulei, while the Dark King left his palace after receiving Hua Zhongdie’s letter; Ning Chen returned without yet identifying the Red King’s murderer.

• Ning Chen left the critically injured Hong Wulei with Hua Zhongdie and ordered her to bring Wulei back before dawn or kill the kings who refused to save her.
• Ning Chen confronted Bi Chengkong, demanded instructions for controlling the Red King's Ring, and traded the jade slip for information about the Red King's daughter.
• Ning Chen told the Azure King that Hong Wulei was with either the Purple King or the Dark King and had almost no life left, hoping to set the kings against one another.
• Hua Zhongdie delivered Hong Wulei and a letter to the Purple King, who recognized Wulei and poured energy from her royal ring into her to restore her vitality.
• The Dark King read Hua Zhongdie’s letter, asked whether Wulei was still alive, and left his palace for the first time in ten years.
• Hua Zhongdie returned to Ning Chen and reported the kings’ reactions, then asked whether he could tell if the Azure King or Dark King had killed the Red King.

Bodhi Venerable confronted the demon but let him pass after the broken Saluo sword seemed to plead on his behalf. In Wulei City, Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie watched the Dark King attack the Purple King over Hong Wulei, then left still uncertain which king had killed the Red King.

• Bodhi Venerable used the Seven Buddhas Sin-Purging incantation against the demon, but the demon resisted and continued west.
• Ning Chen suspected the Three Kings and took Hua Zhongdie to the Purple Thorns Royal Palace to watch them.
• The Dark King demanded that the Purple King hand over Hong Wulei, and they fought as the Purple King defended him with her royal ring and royal artifact.
• The Green King intervened and separated the two kings before the Dark King withdrew.
• Hua Zhongdie judged the Dark King the likeliest culprit, while Ning Chen concluded the Red King's death was probably the work of one of the Three Kings and departed with her.

Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie visited Purple King to see Hong Wulei, who recoiled in terror at Ning Chen and refused to leave with him. After Hua Zhongdie attacked Purple King, Ning Chen departed and promised to return for Hong Wulei.

• News that the Immortal Palace lay in the Demon Wheel Sea spread across the land, alarming Emperor Yuan and the Academy Head.
• Hua Zhongdie flirted with Ning Chen, who warned her to be careful of the demon tribulation and said he would soon uncover who had plotted against the Red King.
• Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie went to Purple King's palace to visit Hong Wulei, and Ning Chen claimed he did not know who had attacked her.
• Hong Wulei recoiled from Ning Chen in fear, so Purple King refused to let him take her away.
• Hua Zhongdie attacked Purple King and wounded her, but Ning Chen called Hua Zhongdie away and promised to return for Hong Wulei.

As the great sects assaulted Demon Wheel Sea with King Artifacts in search of immortality, Ning Chen told Hua Zhongdie about his past as the Marquis of Knowing Fate and watched the Shaking Light King break through the corpse gods. The Dragon Burial Forbidden Land drained the life from intruders and devoured the power of King Artifacts, but Ji Yaoguang chose to enter with a Human Sovereign’s aid.

• Hua Zhongdie asked Ning Chen where he came from, and he revealed that he was from Great Xia and had once been known as the Marquis of Knowing Fate.
• Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie agreed to keep his identity secret, and he told her about a martial arts prodigy princess who had once asked to marry him.
• The sects’ Supreme Elders charged into Demon Wheel Sea, where corpse gods rose from coffins and fought the attackers’ war chariots and King Artifacts.
• The Shaking Light King appeared and used the Longevity Sword to destroy corpse gods and open a path through Demon Wheel Sea.
• The Dragon Burial Forbidden Land drained the life from a Supreme Elder and consumed a King Artifact’s power, killing another would-be entrant.
• When a distant Human Sovereign asked whether Ji Yaoguang would enter the forbidden land, he said yes, and the Sovereign sent a palm strike to help him on his way.

Ning Chen secured the Dark King’s agreement to target the Azure King in exchange for the King’s Ring, hoping to expose who possessed the Red King’s Ring. The Dark King and Hua Zhongdie defeated Bi Chengkong, leaving the Azure King at their mercy.

• After the Shaking Light King entered the Dragon Burial Forbidden Land, Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie left to deal with Hong Wulei’s troubles.
• In the Purple Thorns Royal Palace, Hong Wulei remained withdrawn and frightened, while the Purple King tried to comfort her and learn what had happened.
• Ning Chen proposed that the Dark King help eliminate either the Azure King or the Purple King, with the King’s Ring as his price, and the Dark King accepted.
• Ning Chen explained to Hua Zhongdie that striking at the Azure King would disrupt the balance among the three kings and make the Red King’s Ring more valuable.
• At midnight, Hua Zhongdie and the Dark King entered the Azure Royal Palace and fought Bi Chengkong after he dismissed his ministers.
• The Dark King drew his royal weapon and, with Hua Zhongdie’s help, defeated Bi Chengkong; the Azure King accepted his loss as a blade was held to his throat.

Ning Chen arranged a midnight alliance with the Purple King to draw out and kill the Dark King, while Hong Wulei struggled to understand his motives. The plan ended with Hua Zhongdie stabbing the Dark King in the chest, though he counterattacked and sent her flying.

• Ning Chen entered the Purple Thorns Royal Palace to take Hong Wulei away, but she hesitated after the Purple King claimed the Dark King had murdered her father.
• Ning Chen offered to help the Purple King kill the Dark King in exchange for the Dark King's King's Ring and King's Artifact, and she agreed to meet him at midnight.
• The Dark King accepted the alliance because he wanted the Purple King dead, while Hong Wulei remained confused about Ning Chen's intentions.
• At midnight, Hua Zhongdie and the Dark King confronted the Purple King in Three Flowers Hall as Ning Chen watched from outside.
• Hua Zhongdie was injured during the battle, then drove her saber into the Dark King's chest during his clash with the Purple King.
• The Dark King endured the wound and struck Hua Zhongdie with a full-powered palm, sending her flying as she coughed up blood.

Ning Chen and the Purple King defeated the Dark King, but the Purple King betrayed Ning Chen and tried to seize the kings’ artifacts. Ning Chen and the Azure King fought her until she unleashed the Red King’s artifact, and a barefoot woman arrived with Tears of Buried Flowers.

• Ning Chen and the Purple King combined their attacks to defeat the poisoned Dark King, who fell after using his final move against the Purple King.
• The Purple King struck Ning Chen from behind and demanded the king’s ring and sword from Hong Wulei, but Ning Chen protected her and revealed he had suspected the Purple King.
• The Azure King arrived, and he and Ning Chen joined forces against the Purple King, who drew on the Dragon Vein’s power.
• The Purple King brought out the Red King’s artifact and unleashed a blood-colored hell that suppressed Ning Chen and the Azure King.
• A barefoot blue-clad woman entered the battlefield carrying Tears of Buried Flowers, and the Purple King reacted with alarm.

Hua Zhongdie killed the Purple King, and Ning Chen returned Hong Wulei’s king’s ring before leaving with Hua Zhongdie. An urgent message summoned them back to Bailu Academy, where Yao Qiluo and a massive beast tide were attacking while Emperor Yuan pursued the Human Sovereign Realm.

• Hua Zhongdie defeated and killed the Purple King with Tears of Buried Flowers, then made the Qing King promise to keep her identity and actions secret.
• Ning Chen apologized to Hong Wulei by returning the Red King’s Ring, gave her the Red King’s royal weapon, and told her that Ye Fengdu was still alive.
• Hua Zhongdie gave the Qing King medicines that cured the Dark King’s poison, and five days later Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie left while Hong Wulei went into seclusion.
• An Azure Bird delivered the Academy Head’s urgent message, so Hua Zhongdie and Ning Chen hurried back toward Bailu Academy.
• Yao Qiluo led tens of thousands of ancient beasts and nine powerful beasts against Bailu Academy’s formation, while Yi Qingqiu and the academy’s elders defended it.
• Imperial edicts recalled the princes and attendants as Emperor Yuan cultivated with the dynasty’s fate in an attempt to reach the Human Sovereign Realm.

Bailu Academy survived a massive assault from the Primeval Land after Yi Xuanmiao and Hua Zhongdie joined the battle, but Ning Chen learned that Emperor Yuan would soon enter the Human Sovereign Realm. The chapter ended with Ning Chen asking for time to consider how to stop the growing threats.

• Yi Xuanmiao arrived at Bailu Academy, wounded Silver Leopard, and held off two demon kings while Hua Zhongdie confronted Yao Qiluo.
• Yao Qiluo ordered the demon kings and beast tide to retreat, and Yi Xuanmiao left for the Kaiyang Imperial Palace after speaking with Yi Qingqiu and Ning Chen.
• Ning Chen attacked Emperor Yuan at the palace, but Yi Xuanmiao intercepted his arrow and prevented him from continuing.
• Yi Zhaohui learned that Yi Xuanmiao had gone to Bailu Academy and privately considered his own wait for the throne.
• A Zhao Family elder helped defend Emperor Yuan from Ning Chen's next attack, and Yi Xuanmiao again blocked Ning Chen before he withdrew.
• Ning Chen told Hua Zhongdie and Yi Qingqiu that Emperor Yuan would soon enter the Human Sovereign Realm, then asked them to give him time to think.

Ning Chen proposed a plan to draw the four princes and the Primeval Land into conflict while revealing Hua Zhongdie, and Hua Zhongdie agreed to trust him. In the Northern Plains, Mu Chengxue defeated Wu Qingying to enter the Heavenly Sound Valley, leaving her purpose there unrevealed.

• Ning Chen proposed that the academy gift the Heavenly Esteem Pill to the Kaiyang imperial family, invite the four princes to the Heavenly Fire Pagoda, and expose Hua Zhongdie as the Scroll of Sun's thief.
• Yi Qingqiu objected that Emperor Yuan would soon reach the Sovereign Realm and that revealing Hua Zhongdie would invite attacks, but Hua Zhongdie agreed to proceed and staked her life on Ning Chen.
• Hua Zhongdie dragged Ning Chen away after teasing him for ordering her to be still.
• Mu Chengxue forced her way into the Heavenly Sound Valley after Wu Qingman refused to let her enter.
• Mu Chengxue defeated Wu Qingying with a sword move combining three scrolls, and Wu Qingying let her pass into the valley.

Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie left the academy together after learning that a Human Sovereign had come south, while Yi Qingqiu stayed behind to face the newcomer. The Azure-White Venerable, Mo Qingbai, arrived at the academy and declared that he intended to kill Hua Zhongdie.

• Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie clashed on the eighth level of the Heavenly Fire Pagoda until Yi Qingqiu stepped in to contain their shockwaves.
• Ning Chen explained that Emperor Yuan had not taken the Heavenly Esteem Pill and predicted that the academy’s gift would draw trouble from Half-Venerable experts.
• After Yi Qingqiu revealed that a Human Sovereign had come south, Ning Chen decided to leave the academy with Hua Zhongdie rather than let her face the danger alone.
• Hua Zhongdie gave her final opera performance at the academy, and she and Ning Chen departed before dawn.
• Mo Qingbai arrived at the lakeside pavilion, greeted Yi Qingqiu, and said he had come to kill Hua Zhongdie.

Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie prepared to confront the Thirteen Great Bandits, with Ning Chen buying a house in White Emperor City and planning to earn money by fighting them. At night, they found the bandits in the wilderness, and Ning Chen unleashed Nine Suns Burning Heaven to kill three of them.

• Mo Qingbai went south to hunt Hua Zhongdie, while Yi Qingqiu sent a warning message that reached her in White Emperor City.
• Ning Chen bargained with the Pot-bellied Merchant and bought his house for three thousand taels, leaving himself without money for Hua Zhongdie's rouge and powder.
• Hua Zhongdie told Ning Chen that Mo Qingbai and the remaining bandits were coming, and they planned to fight them that night.
• Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie traveled into the wilderness and found seven bandits gathered around a bonfire; Hua Zhongdie engaged the three Half-Venerables while Ning Chen attacked the others.
• Ning Chen used Nine Suns Burning Heaven to unleash nine suns and kill three bandits.

Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie defeated the three bandit Half-Venerables, though Hua Zhongdie was slightly injured while shielding him from Bahong’s self-destruction. They returned to White Emperor City, where Hua Zhongdie bought rouge before Ning Chen continued preparing for his journey to the Demon Wheel Sea.

• Ning Chen arrived to help Hua Zhongdie fight Bahong, Jinghua, and Luohui, and Hua Zhongdie killed Luohui with her blades.
• Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie trapped the remaining bandits; Hua Zhongdie killed Jinghua, and Bahong detonated his cultivation before Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie could finish him.
• Hua Zhongdie protected Ning Chen from the blast and suffered minor internal injuries, so he carried her while they returned toward White Emperor City.
• As they traveled, Ning Chen said he still had to enter the Demon Wheel Sea to seek a way to awaken the Ghost Maiden, and Hua Zhongdie asked him to deal with Mo Qingbai before leaving.
• In White Emperor City, Hua Zhongdie selected three boxes of rouge, and Ning Chen paid ten taels of gold for them.

Ning Chen rescued Zhao Liusu from a mysterious attacker and learned she belonged to the Zhao Family, then joined Hua Zhongdie on the way to the imperial palace. There, Emperor Yuan survived an assassination attempt, killed one Half-Venerable, and drove the other away as the battle ended.

• Ning Chen declined Lü Ying’s advances at Spring Flowers Autumn Moon Pavilion and shared a table with a disguised young gentleman.
• When the pavilion shook, Ning Chen blocked an illusory attacker from seizing the young gentleman and discovered she was Zhao Liusu.
• Zhao Liusu followed Ning Chen, and Hua Zhongdie recognized her as the granddaughter of the Zhao Family elder in Kaiyang Imperial Palace.
• Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie headed to the palace with Zhao Liusu as Emperor Yuan’s forces fought two Half-Venerables.
• A second arrow wounded Emperor Yuan, but he unleashed his power, killed Dugu Xiu, and forced the other Half-Venerable to flee.

Ning Chen and Hua Zhongdie kept Zhao Liusu at their house after he rescued her, and learned more about the Zhao Family and its Death Substitute Talismans. The chapter ended when an unexpected visitor arrived at their courtyard.

• Ning Chen persuaded the tearful Zhao Liusu to stay at the house for a few days, while Hua Zhongdie questioned her about the Zhao Family.
• Ning Chen brought Zhao Liusu steamed buns and fermented mung bean milk, then agreed to take her to see the Lantern Festival lanterns.
• Ning Chen asked Zhao Liusu about her attacker and learned that the Zhao Family had two Death Substitute Talismans that could save those below the Human Sovereign level.
• Hua Zhongdie sang and danced in the courtyard as Ning Chen and Zhao Liusu watched.
• Someone called from outside the courtyard, and Ning Chen recognized the visitor and rose with a grave expression.