Chapter Summaries

Ning Chen and Little White Horse descended into a vast fissure and navigated a maze of blood-red corridors until they found Weak Water. After crossing it in a bottomless boat, they reached a gate marked “Underworld Netherworld” and Ning Chen opened it to discover what lay beyond.

• Little White Horse dragged Ning Chen into the fissure, and they descended to its bottom using Ink Sword and a damaged Woodcutter's Blade.
• Ning Chen followed a long passage with Little White Horse and explored several dead-end corridors before choosing a path that led to Weak Water.
• Ning Chen spotted a Yellow Springs Flower but left it untouched, then found a bottomless boat among a pile of rubbish.
• Ning Chen and Little White Horse crossed Weak Water in the boat and reached the opposite bank.
• Ning Chen and Little White Horse found a gate bearing the words “Underworld Netherworld,” and Ning Chen pushed it open.

Ning Chen endured endless waves of Underworld Soldiers and Underworld Cavalry in a chaotic illusion until Little White Horse broke it by swallowing a pearl. At the altar, Ning Chen claimed the Golden Pages but failed to take the Bloody Demonic Blade or Purple-Gold Divine Sword, which rejected him.

• Ning Chen entered the chaos and fought countless Underworld Soldiers and ghosts, suffering severe wounds as he struggled to survive.
• Four Underworld Cavalrymen attacked Ning Chen, but he crippled one, defeated the others, and kept a halberd for later study.
• Ning Chen fought repeated waves of soldiers and cavalry until the monotony and exhaustion pushed him close to madness.
• Little White Horse swallowed a pearl on the altar, shattering the illusion and freeing Ning Chen.
• Ning Chen bonded with the Golden Pages by dropping blood on them, but the Bloody Demonic Blade and Purple-Gold Divine Sword rejected his attempts to claim them.

Ning Chen fled the Underworld Netherworld without the divine weapons and encountered Underworld Son and Ghost Maiden, who both sought the demonic saber. Lost in a desolate wasteland with Little White Horse, Ning Chen coaxed a Golden Page into revealing a fissure that might lead them out.

• Ning Chen escaped the hall with Little White Horse as an Underworld Ghost Carriage arrived, leaving the demonic saber and divine sword behind.
• Underworld Son confronted Ghost Maiden and tried to claim the demonic saber, but neither weapon acknowledged him before Ghost Maiden departed.
• Ning Chen and Little White Horse crossed the wasteland, ran out of food and water, and continued onward rather than return to the hall.
• Ning Chen stopped the two Golden Pages from fighting after they began devouring each other in his depleted qi sea.
• Ning Chen persuaded the Golden Page from the altar to leave his qi sea, and its golden light revealed a huge black fissure.
• Little White Horse rushed toward the fissure without Ning Chen, who cursed and followed in his wheelchair.

Ning Chen and Little White Horse escaped the Underworld Netherworld and struggled across a snowfield before Ning Chen killed a man in white who attacked them. They reached an ancient city and entered an inn, where their ravenous feast astonished the onlookers.

• Ning Chen and Little White Horse emerged onto a snowfield, ate snow, and shared raw roe deer meat to regain their strength.
• Ning Chen and Little White Horse spotted a distant city, but a man in white attacked Ning Chen with a concealed sword.
• Ning Chen fought the man in white, severed his arm, and killed him with a sword strike to the throat.
• Ning Chen and Little White Horse reached the ancient city after dark and paid the innkeeper to let the horse eat inside.
• Ning Chen and Little White Horse devoured the inn's food, leaving the hall in disarray and frightening the people who watched them.

After a night of rest, Ning Chen set out for the academy, planning to return to the palace and later visit Sword City to learn what had happened to Mu Chengxue. He reached the academy and visited Old Lu to replace his slow wheelchair, but Old Lu greeted him with a sudden attack.

• Ning Chen and Little White Horse ate their fill, slept through the night, and left the next day after Ning Chen threatened the sulking horse with Ink Sword.
• Ning Chen decided to return to the palace to give Changsun an important letter, then visit Sword City to find out what had happened to Mu Chengxue.
• On the journey, Ning Chen studied the Golden Pages and trained the second page's cultivation art, though its techniques required a practitioner above the innate realm.
• Ten days later, Ning Chen returned to the academy, paid his respects to The Master, and left Little White Horse with him.
• Ning Chen went to Old Lu's courtyard to ask about a faster wheelchair, but Old Lu attacked him without warning and sent his wheelchair sliding backward.

Ning Chen visited Old Lu, received a new wheelchair, and tested it against him before leaving the academy. He told Little White Horse he would travel alone, then departed without looking back.

• Ning Chen cleaned Old Lu’s courtyard while Old Lu devised a more nimble wheelchair for him.
• Old Lu destroyed Ning Chen’s old wheelchair and ordered him to wait outside, where Ning Chen cultivated through the night and expanded his dark yellow vortex.
• Old Lu gave Ning Chen a new black wheelchair, and the two exchanged moves until Old Lu overwhelmed him with his cultivation.
• Ning Chen returned to the academy, then visited the Headmaster to thank him and say farewell before heading back toward the palace.
• Ning Chen told Little White Horse he planned to leave alone, refused its pleading, and departed without turning back.

Ning Chen returned to the imperial city and sought a way to contact Changsun while the palace factions reacted to his arrival. After meeting Yue Ling at Du'an Pharmacy, he asked the shopkeeper for help with his injuries.

• Ning Chen arrived at Lingyan Pavilion, reunited with Li'er, and learned that Yue Hanyi knew he had been at the academy.
• Ning Chen discovered Li'er had spent some of his share of the profits on hair ornaments and let her keep them.
• Qing Ling told Changsun that Ning Chen had returned, and Changsun ordered him watched; the Xia Emperor also ordered guards to watch him and kill him if he resisted.
• Wan Nishang concluded that Ning Chen had returned with the letter and suspected Steward Liao had died.
• Ning Chen went to Du'an Pharmacy for treatment and encountered Yue Ling, who pushed his wheelchair inside.
• The shopkeeper recognized Ning Chen and asked what had happened to his legs.

Ning Chen took Yue Ling to a pharmacy, where the shopkeeper diagnosed her with at most a year to live and sold her a costly Millennium Blood Ginseng King. After returning to Lingyan Pavilion with Yue Ling, Ning Chen faced another debt and Li’er’s scolding, then a midnight sword attack ended with an Ink Sword piercing an unseen assailant.

• The shopkeeper examined Ning Chen’s injuries, then told Yue Ling that she had at most one year to live.
• Yue Ling agreed to buy the Millennium Blood Ginseng King for one hundred thousand taels, and the shopkeeper let her take it before she paid.
• The shopkeeper prescribed medicine for Ning Chen, who paid seventy taels and added the remaining seven hundred and thirty taels to his debt.
• Yue Ling pushed Ning Chen back to Lingyan Pavilion, where Li’er scolded him and wondered whether eunuchs liked beautiful women.
• At midnight, a sword-wielding attacker pierced Ning Chen’s door, and Ning Chen’s Ink Sword struck a warm body outside.

Ning Chen tracked the archer who had repeatedly attacked him to a Buddhist pagoda and fought the cripple and his flute-playing companion. He killed the companion, while the cripple fell from the pagoda after warning that the Zhao Family would come for Ning Chen.

• Ning Chen used a woman he had stabbed as a shield against a third arrow, then followed the arrow’s direction to a Buddhist pagoda.
• Ning Chen found the crippled archer and a man holding a flute waiting atop the pagoda.
• The cripple fired arrows while the man’s flute disrupted Ning Chen’s mind, but Ning Chen used the Large Black Umbrella to stop a powerful arrow.
• Ning Chen challenged the flute-playing man to a fair fight, then secretly shot him with a concealed arrow and killed him.
• The crippled archer broke the pagoda railing, fell to his death, and warned Ning Chen that the Zhao Family would come for him.

Ning Chen used the Po Shang Bow to summon Changsun out of the palace, then gave her a confidential military letter. After reading it, Changsun reacted with anger toward the Northern Martial Marquis.

• Ning Chen claimed the Po Shang Bow and discovered that drawing it consumed a great deal of his true qi.
• Ning Chen escorted Yue Ling to Yuelai Inn, where she described her ideal as peace under heaven and prosperity for the people.
• Ning Chen fired an arrow carrying Changsun's Moon-shaped Jade Pendant toward Weiyang Palace to signal her.
• Changsun and Qing Ling left the palace and met Ning Chen at the Buddhist tower before the Western Palace and Heavenly Edict Hall could respond.
• Ning Chen handed Changsun a military letter, and her expression darkened after she read it.

Changsun helped Ning Chen escape the Imperial City after he delivered a grave letter from the northern border, and he headed east toward Sword City to seek Mu Chengxue. As the Xia Emperor collapsed after reading the letter and hearing that the Eighth Prince had been critically wounded, Yue Ling learned Ning Chen’s identity and sent pursuers after him; his journey was interrupted when his horses suddenly reared.

• Changsun escorted Ning Chen through the eastern gate, and he set out for Sword City to find Mu Chengxue.
• Changsun delivered the northern-border letter to the Xia Emperor, who collapsed after reading it and learning that the Eighth Prince had been critically wounded in an assassination.
• Yue Ling learned Ning Chen’s identity and ordered the old woman to pursue him and bring back his body, alive or dead.
• Ning Chen tried and failed to break through to the Fifth-Rank postnatal realm as he traveled east, while snow concealed his tracks.
• Ning Chen’s horses suddenly neighed and reared, nearly overturning the carriage.

Ning Chen reached Peerless City after witnessing the terrifying sword scar near Sword City, while news of the Eighth Prince’s death destabilized Great Xia and the Eternal Night Divine Cult prepared for a clash with Sword City. At a husband-selection arena, Ning Chen tried to leave after realizing his mistake, but the young woman struck at him with a whip.

• Ning Chen felt the sword intent left by Sword City's supreme sword and commanded the Ink Sword not to bow to anyone.
• News spread that the Eighth Prince had died, disrupting the balance among the princes competing for the throne.
• The Divine Son told Martial Lord that he had sensed the Scroll of Life in Great Xia and that the Underworld Son had awakened.
• Martial Lord sent the Divine Son to Sword City to exchange blows with its newly ascended Innate expert before a sword-verification battle.
• Ning Chen arrived in Peerless City and went to an arena to earn money, only to discover it was a contest to choose a husband.
• Ning Chen tried to leave the arena, but the young woman ordered him to stop and lashed at him with her whip.

Ning Chen clashed with Xia Nianyi after she repeatedly attacked him at an arena, then fought off her guards until Prince Yan stopped the fight. Prince Yan recognized Ning Chen as Wuyou’s companion and ordered Xia Nianyi to apologize before taking Ning Chen with him.

• Xia Nianyi repeatedly whipped at Ning Chen, who finally struck her and seized her whip.
• Xia Nianyi offered ten taels of silver to anyone who attacked Ning Chen, but he released his aura and sent the crowd flying.
• Xia Nianyi summoned Ah Da, Ah Er, and Ah San, and Ning Chen fought them, wounding Ah Er with the Ink Sword.
• Prince Yan stopped the fight, learned Ning Chen’s name, and identified him as the little eunuch beside Wuyou.
• Prince Yan ordered Xia Nianyi to apologize, citing Ning Chen’s service to Great Xia and his sacrifice escorting Miaoyu.
• Prince Yan told Ning Chen to come with him, and Ning Chen followed him away from the arena.

Prince Yan chose Ning Chen as his Sword Attendant, and Prince Tai tested Ning Chen with a sudden sword strike. Ning Chen rejected the position and prepared to leave, leaving his next move unresolved.

• Prince Yan told Xia Nianyi to push Ning Chen’s wheelchair, and Ning Chen asked what her arena had been for.
• Xia Nianyi explained that Prince Yan had been seeking a Sword Attendant, and Prince Yan revealed that Ning Chen had mistaken the arena for a contest to choose a husband.
• Xia Nianyi grabbed Ning Chen by the neck in anger, then let go after he insisted he had not thought she was choosing a husband.
• The three returned to Prince Tai’s Estate, where Prince Yan introduced Ning Chen as one of Wuyou’s people and named him as his choice for Sword Attendant.
• Prince Tai tested Ning Chen with a sword strike, and Ning Chen countered with a move that risked mutual destruction.
• Ning Chen thanked Prince Yan and Prince Tai for their regard, refused to become a Sword Attendant, and turned his wheelchair to leave.

Ning Chen agreed to serve as Prince Yan’s Sword Attendant for one year in exchange for Prince Yan accompanying him to Sword City. At Peerless City, Prince Yan confronted the City Lord over the hidden War-Stopping Sword and defeated the Wind and Rain Envoys, leaving the conflict unresolved.

• Prince Yan apologized to Ning Chen for Prince Tai’s test, and Ning Chen apologized for his own recklessness.
• Ning Chen agreed to become Prince Yan’s Sword Attendant for one year, and Prince Yan promised to accompany him to Sword City.
• Prince Yan and Ning Chen went to Silver Garden Heavenly Snow, where Prince Yan demanded the War-Stopping Sword from the City Lord of Peerless City.
• The City Lord denied having the sword and ordered twelve iron-armored guards to seize Prince Yan and Ning Chen, but Prince Yan sent them flying with his aura.
• The City Lord summoned the Wind and Rain Envoys, and Prince Yan defeated them, severing Rain Envoy’s arm and destroying much of Wind Envoy’s cultivation.

Prince Yan defeated the Wind and Rain Envoys, seized the War-Stopping Sword, and helped Ning Chen break through to Sixth-Rank while discovering that Ning Chen possessed two volumes of the Heavenly Book. They reached Sword City at dawn, where Ning Chen prepared to seek Mu Chengxue and face the answer he feared.

• Prince Yan defeated the Wind and Rain Envoys, shattered the aura guarding the War-Stopping Sword, and took the sword from beneath Silver Garden Heavenly Snow.
• Prince Yan revealed that he had deduced Ning Chen was not castrated because the Azure Sword had sensed his sword breath, then taught Ning Chen how he had countered the Envoys' swords.
• Ning Chen broke through to peak Fifth-Rank while traveling, and Prince Yan infused him with Thick Earth Qi, helping him reach Sixth-Rank and revealing two volumes of the Heavenly Book within him.
• Prince Yan and Ning Chen continued toward Sword City and arrived beneath its gates at dawn.
• Ning Chen admitted he wanted an answer about Mu Chengxue, and Prince Yan asked what he would do if the answer disappointed him.

Ning Chen searched Arid City for Mu Chengxue as his unstable state of mind threatened his cultivation. When the Dark Shadow Guards tried to take him back to the palace, he fought them, while Prince Yan blocked the Dark Dragon Guard from intervening.

• Ning Chen searched Arid City with Prince Yan, asking a swordsman whether he had seen Mu Chengxue as his cultivation began to waver.
• The Dark Dragon Guard arrived with ten Dark Shadow Guards and ordered Ning Chen taken back to the palace; Prince Yan allowed the guards to act but stopped the Ninth-Rank Dark Dragon Guard from joining them.
• Ning Chen resisted the Dark Shadow Guards, then used Thick Earth Qi and his Ink Sword to kill several of them.
• Ning Chen used his bow and dark arrows to injure more guards, while Prince Yan stood between him and the Dark Dragon Guard.
• Ning Chen tricked the last three Dark Shadow Guards into charging, then killed them with a sword strike.

Ning Chen found Mu Chengxue, but she had forgotten him and attacked him, causing his cultivation to collapse. Prince Yan protected Ning Chen from Mu Chengxue and the Divine Son, escaped with him after Ning Chen fired three arrows, and brought him to Prince Tai’s Estate for treatment.

• Ning Chen and Prince Yan continued searching the desolate city while the Dark Dragon Guard left to report Ning Chen’s strength to the Xia Emperor.
• Ning Chen found Mu Chengxue after sensing her battle, but she did not recognize him and told him he deserved to die.
• Ning Chen’s cultivation fell from the Sixth-Rank, and Prince Yan blocked Mu Chengxue’s fatal attack while guarding him from her and the arriving Divine Son.
• Ning Chen fired three arrows at the Divine Son, giving Prince Yan time to carry him away from the city, but the effort left Ning Chen unconscious and gravely injured.
• Prince Yan brought Ning Chen to Prince Tai’s Estate, where Prince Tai agreed to save him and sent Xia Nianyi to fetch the Heaven-Revolving Pill.

Prince Yan took the badly injured Ning Chen south after saving him with a Heaven-Revolving Pill, then brought him to the Barbarian Dynasty to settle an old rivalry with the Barbarian King. Their long-awaited duel began with the Barbarian King wounding Prince Yan, while A'man surprised Ning Chen by offering to marry him if he took her to the Central Plains.

• Xia Nianyi brought the Heaven-Revolving Pill, and Prince Yan guided its power through Ning Chen's damaged meridians to stabilize his injuries.
• Ten days later, Prince Yan left Prince Tai's Estate with Ning Chen and traveled south, encouraging him to lift his gaze and look at the world around him.
• Prince Yan reached the southern frontier, then took Ning Chen to the Barbarian King's palace to resolve their old rivalry.
• Prince Yan and the Barbarian King exchanged powerful attacks, and the Barbarian King drew first blood while Ning Chen watched in shock.
• A'man pushed Ning Chen away from the duel and asked him to take her to the Central Plains, offering to marry him if he agreed.

Ning Chen rejected A'man’s proposal, while Prince Yan battled the Barbarian King in the royal hall. The Barbarian King broke through to the Xiantian Realm and gained the advantage, but Prince Yan drew the ancient sword hidden deepest in his sword rack as the fight continued.

• Ning Chen explained that he and A'man did not like each other, but A'man said she would work to like him so he would take her to the Central Plains.
• Prince Yan fought the Barbarian King with his swords until the Azure Ancient Sword cracked and shattered.
• Prince Yan switched to the Azure and Crimson Swords, using their speed to force the Barbarian King onto the defensive.
• The Barbarian King broke through to the seventh Xiantian Realm while Prince Yan watched without interrupting.
• The newly strengthened Barbarian King attacked Prince Yan, and the battle began to favor him.
• Prince Yan returned the Azure-Crimson Twin Swords to the rack and began drawing the ancient sword hidden deepest within.