Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Xiaotang decides not to join Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying in exploring the Mountain-River Secret Realm due to their superior talent and strength.
• Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying continue their journey, engaging in intense sparring sessions to accumulate practical combat experience.
• The Ziyang Sect's inner disciples, led by Jin Sheng, set out for the secret realm, aiming to monopolize its resources.

Character Developments

• Bai Xiaotang: Realizes the gap in talent between her and her companions, feeling helpless and left behind.
• Jiang Ying: Reveals her true strength to Lu Yuan, showing mastery in Intents of Lightning and Ice, and rapid internal force recovery.
• Lu Yuan: Discovers Jiang Ying's extraordinary talent and acknowledges her as a bona fide talent freak.
• Jin Sheng: Confirms his intention to monopolize the secret realm's resources, displaying arrogance and confidence in his group's strength.

Significant Themes

• Talent and Strength: The disparity in talent and strength between characters is emphasized, affecting their opportunities and confidence.
• Opportunity and Rivalry: The theme of seizing opportunities and severing those of others is introduced, reflecting the competitive nature of the martial world.

Character Interactions

• Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying: Their bond strengthens as they spar and grow together, acknowledging each other's exceptional talents.
• Ziyang Sect Disciples: They interact with confidence and excitement, expecting to monopolize the secret realm's resources under Jin Sheng's leadership.
• Lu Chengfeng and Liu Wuji: They discuss the dynamics of strength and opportunity, accepting the reality of having their opportunities severed by the powerful.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying arrive at the secret realm's entrance, bordering Tianshui and Changhui Prefectures.
• They encounter powerful exotic beasts and notice a strange, spiritual energy-rich white mist.
• Upon entering the secret realm, they find a plain with over a hundred people exchanging resources and techniques.
• Lu Yuan buys a high-grade treasure weapon, Thunder Cutter, for 100,000 taels.
• Someone offers to exchange techniques, including an incomplete, powerful Saint Art.

Character Developments

• Lu Yuan demonstrates his wealth and confidence by purchasing a high-grade treasure weapon without hesitation.
• Jiang Ying shows surprise and curiosity about the spiritual energy and potential ancient inheritance.

Significant Themes

• The power of spiritual energy and its potential to increase cultivation speed and produce heavenly treasures.
• The value and exchange of techniques, with heaven-grade and Saint Arts being highly sought after.

Character Interactions

• Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying interact with each other, sharing their observations and thoughts about their surroundings.
• Lu Yuan interacts with a stall owner, purchasing Thunder Cutter, and later with someone offering to exchange techniques.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying encounter a richly dressed young man (Su Ze) who offers to copy an incomplete Sacred Art that touches upon space in exchange for resources like Blood Bodhi.
• They agree to the deal, as Lu Yuan values cultivation techniques over resources.
• They witness various trades and offers at other stalls, such as a spear technique exchange and a protection service for a percentage of obtained resources.
• The arrival of Ziyang Sect disciples creates a stir, and Su Ze greets Jin Sheng, a Sacred Body prodigy.
• Lu Chengfeng and Liu Wuji warn Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying about the dangers of the secret realm and Jin Sheng's presence.

Character Developments

• Lu Yuan: Shows temptation for the incomplete Sacred Art and willingness to trade for it, revealing his prioritization of cultivation techniques.
• Su Ze: Demonstrates his status and connections by greeting Jin Sheng and offering to copy a Sacred Art, indicating his power and influence.
• Jin Sheng: Shows arrogance and disregard for others, only acknowledging Su Ze as an equal, and warns Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying about the secret realm's dangers.
• Lu Chengfeng and Liu Wuji: Try to dissuade Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying from entering the secret realm due to its dangers and Jin Sheng's presence.

Significant Themes

• The value of cultivation techniques vs. resources
• Power dynamics and status within the cultivation world
• The allure and dangers of secret realms

Character Interactions

• Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying interact with Su Ze, agreeing to his terms for the incomplete Sacred Art.
• Su Ze greets Jin Sheng, acknowledging each other's status and power.
• Lu Chengfeng and Liu Wuji warn Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying about the secret realm's dangers and Jin Sheng's presence, showing concern for their safety.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Ziyang Sect arrives, asserting their dominance and claiming the secret realm's resources.
• The Blood Blade Sect appears, challenging the Ziyang Sect's monopoly.
• A green-robed man offers a severely incomplete sacred art, the Withered Glory Palm, to the highest bidder.

Character Developments

• Lu Yuan remains calm and confident despite the Ziyang Sect's overbearingness.
• Jiang Ying shows determination and defiance against the Ziyang Sect.
• Jin Sheng, the Ziyang Sect's chief true disciple, demonstrates his arrogance and power.
• Lin Feng, the leader of the Blood Blade Sect, is cunning and ambitious, aiming to challenge the Ziyang Sect.
• The green-robed man shows shrewdness in trading the Withered Glory Palm.

Significant Themes

• Strength reigns supreme in the martial world (jianghu).
• Cruelty and competition for resources in the jianghu.
• The allure and value of ancient inheritances and powerful cultivation methods.

Character Interactions

• Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying stand against the Ziyang Sect's dominance.
• Jin Sheng and Lin Feng clash over the secret realm's resources, setting the stage for a future conflict.
• The green-robed man interacts with Jin Sheng and Lin Feng, trading the Withered Glory Palm for sacred medicines.

Summary of Void-Splitting Finger, Entering the Secret Realm

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• Sacred Medicine Exchange Debate: A man in a green robe (likely a high-ranking sect member) refuses to give away a copied manual of his sacred art, Withered Glory Palm, unless recipients are Sacred Body prodigies or have Intent comprehension above 70%.
• Jiang Ying’s Revelation: The young girl Jiang Ying demonstrates 80% Thunder Intent with a single strike, earning her the manual for free. This shocks the crowd, proving her extraordinary talent.
• Su Ze’s Offer: Su Ze, grandson of a Martial Saint, reveals he possesses an incomplete sacred art—Void-Splitting Finger (a space-based invincible technique). He offers three slots to exchange for three sacred medicines each.
• Competition for the Void-Splitting Finger: Jin Sheng and Lin Feng (Sacred Body prodigies) immediately claim slots, while others scramble to gather sacred medicines to compete for the final one.
• Entry into the Secret Realm: A golden spatial rift opens, revealing a lush, treasure-filled world with rare herbs, beasts, and resources. The group rushes in to collect sacred medicines and other valuables.

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2. Character Developments

Jiang Ying

• Proves herself as a genius with near-perfect Intent comprehension (80% at age ~17-18).
• Gains confidence and respect from others, showing her strategic mind (she hands the Withered Glory Palm to Lu Yuan, implying trust in his future comprehension).
• Demonstrates calmness under pressure and natural talent in martial arts.

Su Ze

• Establishes himself as a high-status figure (Martial Saint’s grandson, backed by multiple Martial Dao Grandmasters).
• Uses social leverage (family reputation) to secure the Void-Splitting Finger’s manuals, showing pragmatic ambition.
• Implies his ** Void-Splitting Finger** is a future powerhouse, hinting at deeper lore (space-based techniques are rare and highly valuable).

Jin Sheng & Lin Feng

• Competitive and ambitious, immediately seizing opportunities (claiming slots for the Void-Splitting Finger).
• Their Sacred Body status makes them elite, but they still respect Su Ze’s lineage, showing hierarchy awareness.

Lu Yuan

• Casual and strategic—he declines the Withered Glory Palm immediately, prioritizing the Void-Splitting Finger instead.
• Shows patience (he’ll study it later) and resourcefulness (likely planning long-term gains).

The Green-Robed Man

• Represents sect authority and elitism, enforcing strict rules for sacred arts.
• His smug confidence is undermined by Jiang Ying’s performance, showing talent as the ultimate judge.

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3. Significant Themes

Talent vs. Privilege

• The debate over who deserves sacred arts (Sacred Body prodigies vs. high-Intent comprehension) highlights meritocracy vs. birthright.
• Jiang Ying’s success proves raw talent can override status, while Su Ze’s family backing ensures institutional power.

The Value of Sacred Arts

• Incomplete sacred arts are still rare and powerful—even the Withered Glory Palm and Void-Splitting Finger are coveted.
• Completion depends on comprehension, not just possession (the green-robed man’s warning about "snatching" manuals without understanding).

Competition & Strategy

• The race for sacred medicines sets up future conflicts and alliances.
• Su Ze’s offer of three slots creates immediate competition, while the secret realm’s riches promise long-term rivalry.

Legacy & Lineage

• Su Ze’s Martial Saint grandfather and family of Grandmasters give him unmatched social capital.
• The Old Sword Saint’s potential intervention adds political weight, suggesting future sect or imperial conflicts.

Exploration & Discovery

• The secret realm’s opening introduces a new world of resources, setting up quests, battles, and alliances among the group.
• The abundance of spirit herbs and rare beasts implies

Summary: Chapter "Weighing, Blood Bodhi"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Inside a secret realm, many martial artists scramble to snatch precious herbs. Sacred Body prodigies Jin Sheng and Lin Feng keep order. Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying casually collect a few herbs, then split up to seek opportunities.
• Lu Yuan travels alone, killing many powerful strange beasts. He discovers a cave containing Blood Bodhi, a sacred medicine that can greatly shorten cultivation breakthroughs for third- and second-grade experts.
• After picking the Blood Bodhi, Lu Yuan is ambushed by a hidden swordsman using a golden bead and Sword Qi with 50% Intent. Lu Yuan easily dodges and kills him with a single technique.
• Later, a golden-robed young man attacks him with a golden fist imprint carrying 70% Metal Intent. Lu Yuan counters with the Great Sun Sword Art, revealing 100% Fire Intent, and instantly overwhelms him.
• The golden-robed man recognizes Lu Yuan and reveals that an unknown person gave him a portrait and told him to "weigh the limits of Lu Yuan's strength." He denies being hired by the Chu Family.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Yuan proves exceptionally powerful for a fourth-grade cultivator: he has mastered the Startling Wind Leg Technique, wields 70% Wind Intent and 100% Fire Intent, and remains calm against ambushes.
• He is pragmatic and resourceful, collecting precious herbs and sacred medicine without greed or panic.
• The golden-robed young man appears as a skilled but mysteriously directed opponent, hinting that someone is secretly testing or targeting Lu Yuan.

3. Significant Themes

• Greed and competition for secret-realm resources can turn cultivators against each other.
• Intent as a decisive advantage: Lu Yuan’s 100% Fire Intent is rare, shocking even a top disciple.
• Hidden, unknown enemies: Lu Yuan faces both direct attack and covert scheming from a mysterious figure.
• Survival in a dangerous realm: threats come from both strange beasts and hostile cultivators.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying briefly cooperate, then separate.
• Lu Yuan vs. strange beasts — repeated battles as he advances deeper.
• Lu Yuan vs. anonymous swordsman — silent, lethal exchange; Lu Yuan kills him.
• Lu Yuan vs. golden-robed young man — verbal exchange after battle, revealing the man’s purpose as a “weigher” sent by someone unidentified.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Yuan confronts Gold Garment, who appears to be testing his strength, possibly under the orders of the Chu Family or Longevity Cult.
• Gold Garment is shocked to discover that Lu Yuan has reached the fourth rank, mastered tenth-level Fire Intent, and possesses strength far beyond his apparent cultivation.
• Lu Yuan reveals an even greater ability: his Gang Thunder Sword Qi, a power associated with the realm of Martial Dao Grandmasters.
• Gold Garment attempts to flee, but Lu Yuan’s thunderous sword technique overwhelms and kills him, leaving only scorched earth.
• Lu Yuan senses that someone may be manipulating events from behind the scenes but resolves to continue growing stronger.
• Elsewhere, a group of martial artists discovers a tree bearing six Scarlet Essence Fruits, precious fire-attributed sacred medicines that aid cultivation and increase the chances of forming a fire-attributed Sacred Body or advancing toward the Martial Saint realm.
• The group realizes that a powerful exotic beast must be guarding the fruits beneath the surrounding lava-like fire pool.
• Before they can formulate a plan, Jin Sheng and the injured remnants of the Ziyang Sect arrive and seize control of the situation.
• Jin Sheng forces the original group to act as bait. He threatens to kill them if they refuse to lure out the beast.
• As the group approaches the fire pool, the lava begins violently bubbling, and a gigantic Rockflame Colossal Serpent erupts from it.

Character Developments

• Lu Yuan demonstrates that his previous battle strength was far from his limit. His mastery of both Fire Intent and lightning-based Gang power establishes him as an extraordinary, potentially peerless genius.
• Gold Garment shifts from confidence to disbelief and fear after recognizing Lu Yuan’s overwhelming abilities. His attempted escape ends in his death.
• Jin Sheng is portrayed as ruthless and domineering. Despite suffering casualties during the journey, he maintains control through intimidation and is willing to sacrifice weaker martial artists for the Scarlet Essence Fruits.
• The unnamed group of martial artists changes from excited treasure seekers to frightened survivors forced into risking their lives.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and underestimated talent: Lu Yuan’s cultivation rank conceals abilities vastly exceeding ordinary expectations.
• Power and survival: Those with greater strength, such as Lu Yuan and Jin Sheng, determine who lives and who is sacrificed.
• Greed and danger: The value of the Scarlet Essence Fruits draws people toward a deadly trap guarded by a powerful beast.
• Relentless advancement: Lu Yuan’s determination to keep growing stronger reflects his awareness of hidden enemies and future threats.
• The cruelty of the martial world: Jin Sheng’s treatment of the weaker group emphasizes that mercy is scarce when valuable resources are at stake.

Character Interactions

• Lu Yuan and Gold Garment engage in a brief but intense confrontation, with Lu Yuan taunting him for attempting to flee after challenging his strength.
• The treasure-seeking group debates how to approach the Scarlet Essence Fruits and who should serve as bait.
• Jin Sheng interrupts their discussion, declares that they will be used as bait, and rejects their pleas for mercy.
• The chapter ends with Jin Sheng and the Ziyang Sect facing the emergence of the Rockflame Colossal Serpent, setting up a confrontation over the sacred fruits.

Chapter Summary: “Seizing, Complete Sacred Body”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group encounters a Rockflame Colossal Serpent, a powerful creature recorded in ancient texts as being nearly equivalent to a true demon. Its strength is comparable to that of a third-grade martial artist.
• The serpent instantly incinerates several sixth-grade geniuses protected by three layers of Gold Garment, demonstrating the overwhelming power of its rockflame.
• Jin Sheng and Lin Feng, both Sacred Body prodigies, decide to cooperate and kill the serpent in order to obtain the six Scarlet Essence Fruits growing in the fire pool.
• Although both are only fourth-grade cultivators, their combined strength reaches the level of second- or third-grade super experts. They destroy the serpent’s head and successfully kill it.
• Jin Sheng and Lin Feng claim that they will divide the fruits equally and threaten anyone else who attempts to take them.
• Before they can collect the fruits, Jiang Ying suddenly rushes ahead and takes two of them.
• Jin Sheng and Lin Feng attack her together, but Jiang Ying blocks them effortlessly and remains unharmed.
• When Lin Feng attacks her directly, Jiang Ying defeats him decisively, leaving him badly wounded while she suffers no visible injury.
• Jin Sheng realizes that Jiang Ying’s strength may indicate that she possesses a Complete Sacred Body, surpassing the Incomplete Sacred Bodies awakened by himself and Lin Feng.

Character Developments

• Jin Sheng and Lin Feng demonstrate impressive combat ability by killing the Rockflame Colossal Serpent, but their arrogance becomes apparent when they attempt to monopolize the Scarlet Essence Fruits.
• Lin Feng is shown to be highly aggressive and quick to resort to violence, urging Jin Sheng to attack Jiang Ying rather than negotiate. His defeat exposes the limits of his Incomplete Sacred Body.
• Jin Sheng displays confidence and dominance but becomes visibly shocked when Jiang Ying defeats Lin Feng. He begins reassessing her identity and power.
• Jiang Ying establishes herself as far stronger than previously believed. Her calmness, confidence, and willingness to challenge two Sacred Body prodigies suggest that she is not merely talented but possibly possesses a Complete Sacred Body.
• Su Ze acts opportunistically, encouraging Jin Sheng and Lin Feng to fight the serpent so that he can exchange his incomplete invincible art for Scarlet Essence Fruits without taking personal risks.

Significant Themes

• Power and hierarchy: The chapter contrasts ordinary geniuses, Incomplete Sacred Body prodigies, and the potentially superior Complete Sacred Body.
• Greed and entitlement: Jin Sheng and Lin Feng assume that killing the serpent gives them exclusive ownership of the fruits, while Jiang Ying challenges that assumption.
• Strength versus authority: Their verbal threat cannot force Jiang Ying to submit because her actual strength is greater than theirs.
• Hidden talent and revelation: Jiang Ying’s true power is gradually exposed, shifting the group’s perception of her from an ordinary-looking young woman to a possibly unparalleled prodigy.
• Exploitation and fairness: Jiang Ying criticizes Jin Sheng and Lin Feng for using weaker people as bait, highlighting the moral hypocrisy behind their claim to the fruits.

Character Interactions

• Jin Sheng proposes cooperation with Lin Feng, while Lin Feng initially hesitates over the danger but is provoked into joining.
• Su Ze manipulates the situation from the sidelines, benefiting from the two prodigies’ willingness to fight.
• After killing the serpent, Jin Sheng and Lin Feng jointly establish a threat against all competitors.
• Jiang Ying directly challenges their claim, arguing that those who see the fruits deserve a share.
• Lin Feng attacks Jiang Ying, but she defeats him effortlessly, completely reversing the power dynamic.
• Jin Sheng’s shock at Lin Feng’s defeat leads him to suspect that Jiang Ying possesses a Complete Sacred Body.

Chapter Summary: “Malice, the Path to Death”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jin Sheng realizes that Jiang Ying may possess the Complete Sacred Body, meaning the power she displayed while defeating him and Lin Feng was likely not her full strength.
• To avoid another confrontation, Jin Sheng proposes dividing the remaining Scarlet Essence Fruits. Jiang Ying agrees to take two, but demands that Lu Yuan also receive two.
• When Jin Sheng protests, Jiang Ying openly challenges him and declares that everyone may attack her together if they are dissatisfied. Recognizing that they cannot defeat her, Jin Sheng and Lin Feng reluctantly agree.
• Jiang Ying gives her two Scarlet Essence Fruits directly to Lu Yuan. With these, Lu Yuan now possesses two types of sacred medicine and is one step closer to trading for the Void-Splitting Finger.
• After Jiang Ying and Lu Yuan leave, Jin Sheng develops murderous intentions toward Lu Yuan, deciding that the youth has “set foot on the path to death” for accepting the fruits.
• Lin Feng warns Jin Sheng against provoking Jiang Ying and chooses to withdraw, believing further conflict would bring disaster. Jin Sheng instead orders Ziyang Sect disciples to track Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying.
• Lu Chengfeng and Liu Wuji observe the situation from a distance. Lu Chengfeng concludes that Jiang Ying is extremely powerful and suspects Lu Yuan may also be concealing his true strength, so they choose not to interfere.
• The Blood Blade Sect and Ziyang Sect continue competing violently over herbs and sacred medicine, with disputes sometimes escalating even into fights among their own members.
• When Jin Sheng learns that Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying have separated, he follows Ziyang Sect disciples to a cave where Lu Yuan is gathering precious herbs.
• The chapter ends with Jin Sheng confronting Lu Yuan. Lu Yuan calmly turns toward the intruders and greets them with a faint smile.

Character Developments

• Jiang Ying: Establishes overwhelming dominance over both Jin Sheng and Lin Feng. Her confidence and willingness to challenge everyone demonstrate that she is not merely strong but nearly untouchable. She also shows loyalty and generosity toward Lu Yuan by giving him the Scarlet Essence Fruits.
• Lu Yuan: Gains valuable sacred medicine without personally fighting for it, bringing him closer to obtaining the Void-Splitting Finger. His calm behavior and faint smile during Jin Sheng’s confrontation suggest that he may possess hidden strength and is not intimidated.
• Jin Sheng: Suffers humiliation after being defeated and forced to compromise. Rather than accepting the loss, he turns his anger toward Lu Yuan and begins plotting revenge through indirect means.
• Lin Feng: Displays greater restraint and pragmatism. Though humiliated as well, he recognizes Jiang Ying’s superiority and refuses to risk his life in a pointless confrontation.
• Lu Chengfeng and Liu Wuji: Act cautiously, prioritizing opportunities in the secret realm instead of becoming involved in a dangerous conflict.
• Su Ze: Remains pleased with the arrangement because Lu Yuan’s progress helps secure the sacred medicines needed for their planned exchange.

Significant Themes

• Strength and submission: Jiang Ying’s overwhelming power forces proud Sacred Body prodigies to suppress their anger and accept terms they would normally reject.
• Revenge versus prudence: Jin Sheng’s wounded pride drives him toward retaliation, while Lin Feng chooses survival and long-term prospects over immediate revenge.
• The danger of underestimating others: Jin Sheng assumes Lu Yuan is vulnerable because Jiang Ying protected him, while several characters suspect Lu Yuan may be concealing significant abilities.
• Greed and competition: The scarcity of valuable resources causes constant conflict. Even sect members may turn against one another when sacred medicine and precious herbs are involved.
• Power dynamics and influence: Lu Yuan benefits from Jiang Ying’s protection, demonstrating how alliances can reshape confrontations within the secret realm—but the chapter also suggests that relying on such protection may provoke enemies.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Ying and Jin Sheng/Lin Feng: She dominates their negotiation, using her strength to force them to accept her demands.
• Jiang Ying and Lu Yuan: She actively supports him by giving him the Scarlet Essence Fruits, while Lu Yuan accepts the gift without hesitation.
• Jin Sheng and Lin Feng: Lin Feng urges restraint after their defeat, but Jin Sheng rejects caution and begins planning an attack on Lu Yuan.
• Jin Sheng and the Ziyang Sect disciples: Jin Sheng uses them to track Lu Yuan and locate him after he separates from Jiang Ying.
• Lu Chengfeng and Liu Wuji: They discuss Jiang Ying and Lu Yuan’s hidden strength and decide to avoid unnecessary confrontation.
• Jin Sheng and Lu Yuan: Their hostility finally becomes direct when Jin Sheng tracks Lu Yuan to the cave, setting up the chapter’s impending conflict.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jin Sheng, the Ziyang Sect’s chief disciple, demands that Lu Yuan surrender two Scarlet Essence Fruits and attacks when Lu Yuan refuses.
• Lu Yuan effortlessly kills Jin Sheng’s two companions with Sword Qi, revealing that he has also reached the fourth rank.
• Lu Yuan overwhelms Jin Sheng with Gang Thunder, a terrifying form of Thunder Intent, and destroys him with a Thunder Dragon formed from lightning Sword Qi.
• After searching Jin Sheng’s corpse, Lu Yuan obtains silver notes, a Scarlet Essence Fruit, and a valuable five-colored lotus, a sacred medicine especially suited to his Five Elements cultivation.
• Lu Yuan decides not to hide Jin Sheng’s body, reasoning that the Ziyang Sect will blame him regardless and that he now has the Sword Hanging Division’s protection.
• Lin Feng learns of Jin Sheng’s death and feels relieved that he chose not to seek revenge against Lu Yuan. He resolves to avoid both Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying in the future.
• Lu Yuan enters an extremely cold region and discovers a frozen pool containing a Nether Tansy Flower, an ice-element sacred medicine.
• A powerful Mystic Ice Nether Serpent emerges from the pool. Lu Yuan kills it instantly with the Great Sun Sword Art and takes the flower.
• As Lu Yuan prepares to leave, Liu Wuji and Lu Chengfeng appear and question him about Jin Sheng’s death.

Character Developments

• Lu Yuan demonstrates overwhelming growth, combining fourth-rank cultivation with powerful sword techniques and Gang Thunder. His confidence and ruthlessness toward enemies become increasingly evident.
• He remains strategic and practical, recognizing both the political consequences of Jin Sheng’s death and the value of preserving his relationship with the Sword Hanging Division.
• Lu Yuan’s ambitions expand: he plans to obtain and master the incomplete Void-Splitting Finger, eventually challenging even Martial Dao Grandmasters.
• Jin Sheng changes from an arrogant aggressor into a desperate, regretful victim, realizing too late that he badly underestimated Lu Yuan.
• Lin Feng becomes more cautious and pragmatic after witnessing the consequences of pride and revenge. He chooses survival over restoring his dignity.
• Liu Wuji and Lu Chengfeng enter as potential witnesses or challengers, confronting Lu Yuan immediately after his latest battle.

Significant Themes

• The danger of arrogance and impulsiveness: Jin Sheng sacrifices his life by attacking someone far stronger, while Lin Feng survives because he accepts defeat.
• Power and rapid advancement: Lu Yuan’s extraordinary cultivation progress establishes him as a rising force capable of defeating elite disciples and powerful strange beasts.
• Pragmatism versus pride: Lin Feng’s decision to avoid further conflict contrasts with Jin Sheng’s reckless desire for revenge and status.
• Ambition and preparation: Lu Yuan continually gathers sacred medicines and seeks stronger techniques to prepare for future conflicts.
• The consequences of power struggles: Jin Sheng’s death is likely to provoke conflict between Lu Yuan and the Ziyang Sect, despite his confidence in his allies and future strength.

Character Interactions

• Jin Sheng threatens Lu Yuan and attempts to seize his sacred medicines, but Lu Yuan dismisses him and kills him without mercy.
• Lin Feng receives confirmation of Jin Sheng’s death from a Blood Blade Sect disciple and privately reflects on his own survival.
• Lu Yuan battles the Mystic Ice Nether Serpent over the Nether Tansy Flower, defeating it with a single decisive technique.
• Liu Wuji and Lu Chengfeng confront Lu Yuan at the chapter’s end, asking whether he was responsible for Jin Sheng’s death and setting up the next conflict.

Chapter Summary: “Return, Internal Tournament”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Chengfeng and Liu Wuji confront Lu Yuan after he kills Jin Sheng, asking whether he plans to avenge him. They clarify that they have no intention of fighting Lu Yuan, recognizing that his strength far exceeds Jin Sheng’s and that they would be unable to defeat him even together.
• They warn Lu Yuan that Ziyang Sect will retaliate because Jin Sheng was its chief true disciple and the student of Xu Jie, a powerful Grand Elder rumored to be close to the Martial Saint realm.
• Lu Chengfeng and Liu Wuji advise Lu Yuan to seek protection in the capital, possibly by joining the Blood Blade Sect. Lu Yuan politely declines, saying he already has his own plans.
• Lu Yuan completes his search of the secret realm. Although he fails to find the rumored ancient inheritance, he obtains a large quantity of valuable herbs and five sacred medicines: Blood Bodhi, Scarlet Essence Fruit, Ghost Epiphyllum, Five-Colored Lotus, and Golden Jade Ganoderma.
• He determines that the ancient inheritance may either be nonexistent, beyond his current ability to locate, or dependent on conditions he has not yet fulfilled. He decides to leave the secret realm.
• At the entrance, Lu Yuan meets Jiang Ying, who asks whether he truly killed Jin Sheng. After he confirms it, she praises him and follows him out.
• Outside the secret realm, Lu Yuan exchanges three sacred medicines—Blood Bodhi, Scarlet Essence Fruit, and Ghost Epiphyllum—with Su Ze for an incomplete copy of the invincible martial art Void-Splitting Finger.
• Su Ze warns Lu Yuan that Ziyang Sect will seek revenge and offers temporary protection from the Su Clan in the capital. Lu Yuan says he intends to go there, anticipating that the Sword Hanging Division will summon him after learning of his strength.
• Back at the Tianshui Guard Station, Fan Ping confirms that Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying failed to obtain the ancient inheritance but awards each of them ten thousand merit points.
• Because Lu Yuan killed Jin Sheng, Fan Ping grants him an additional twenty thousand merit points.
• Fan Ping invites Lu Yuan to participate in the Sword Hanging Division headquarters’ internal tournament in three months. A strong performance could earn him many merit points, promotion, and an opportunity to meet or receive instruction from the Old Sword Saint, Great Zhou’s only current Martial Saint.
• Jiang Ying immediately asks to participate as well, and Fan Ping approves, suggesting that both may be promoted to Silver Sword Envoys after the tournament.

Character Developments

• Lu Yuan remains calm and confident despite the threat of Ziyang Sect. He neither seeks revenge nor hides from the consequences of killing Jin Sheng. His decision to acquire Void-Splitting Finger shows his ambition to continue advancing rather than relying on external protection.
• Lu Chengfeng and Liu Wuji shift from disbelief to reluctant admiration. They recognize Lu Yuan as a monstrous talent who may already be invincible within the secret realm and possibly beneath the Grandmaster realm outside it.
• Jiang Ying becomes even more openly supportive of Lu Yuan. Her enthusiastic praise and decision to enter the internal tournament demonstrate her admiration and growing willingness to pursue greater strength alongside him.
• Su Ze treats Lu Yuan as a powerful and promising figure. He completes the exchange fairly, warns him about the Ziyang Sect, and offers assistance without attempting to control his choices.
• Fan Ping begins treating Lu Yuan as a potential elite member of the Sword Hanging Division. His rewards and recommendation for the tournament reflect Lu Yuan’s rapidly rising status.

Significant Themes

• Power and recognition: Lu Yuan’s killing of Jin Sheng establishes him as a major force, forcing others to reassess his previously hidden abilities.
• Consequences of strength: His victory brings prestige and rewards but also guarantees retaliation from the powerful Ziyang Sect.
• Self-reliance and ambition: Lu Yuan refuses to depend entirely on sects or patrons, choosing instead to strengthen himself through cultivation and martial techniques.
• Uncertainty surrounding destiny and inheritance: The mysterious ancient inheritance remains unresolved, suggesting that greater secrets or conditions may lie ahead.
• Advancement through competition: The upcoming internal tournament represents both a test of Lu Yuan’s abilities and a path toward greater authority, rewards, and access to the Old Sword Saint.

Character Interactions

• Lu Chengfeng and Liu Wuji caution Lu Yuan about Ziyang Sect and urge him to seek protection, while Lu Yuan calmly rejects their proposed paths.
• Jiang Ying greets Lu Yuan after the secret realm, confirms the truth of his victory, and follows him back to the Guard Station.
• Su Ze exchanges the sacred medicines for Void-Splitting Finger and offers Lu Yuan protection in the capital.
• Fan Ping rewards Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying, then invites them to the headquarters’ tournament; Jiang Ying eagerly accepts, turning the opportunity into a joint future endeavor.

Chapter Summary: “Completion, Protection”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Yuan exchanges merit points for the heaven-grade Meridian Transformation Art, allowing him to complete the final three chapters of the Five Elements Vajra Body: Meridian Opening, Aperture Connection, and Furnace.
• With this, the cultivation method is fully perfected and capable of leading to the first rank.
• Lu Yuan begins cultivating the Meridian Opening Chapter, rapidly constructing his meridian wheel. His enormous stockpile of sacred medicines allows him to replenish internal force and maintain several cultivation sessions each day.
• Meanwhile, the two Little Golden Men on the Ancient Scroll continue deducing the Startling Wind Leg Technique and Void-Splitting Finger, while Lu Yuan keeps comprehending the profundities of lightning, fire, and wind.
• After more than two months, Lu Yuan reaches the third rank, greatly increases the amount of Five Elements internal force in his dantian, and becomes powerful enough to challenge second-rank and even first-rank martial artists.
• With his Gang Realm lightning and fire profundities and perfected wind intent, he may even overpower quasi-grandmasters and exchange blows with a true Martial Dao Grandmaster. However, the incomplete Void-Splitting Finger remains a limitation.
• Zhuo Hang summons the Sword Hanging Division’s members and announces that Shangwu Prefecture may be suffering from a demon infestation connected to the Longevity Cult. He asks for someone to lead an investigative and suppression team.
• The Silver Sword Envoys hesitate because their third-rank strength may be insufficient against demons. Even a reward of fifty thousand merit points fails to convince them.
• Zhuo Hang then asks Lu Yuan to lead the mission. Lu Yuan initially declines, preferring to continue cultivating.
• Zhuo Hang explains that the Old Sword Saint has protected Lu Yuan by warning the Ziyang Sect not to send senior experts after him. He also hints that the Sword Saint has granted Lu Yuan an additional “stroke of fortune.”

Character Developments

• Lu Yuan makes a major breakthrough, completing his cultivation method and advancing to the third rank. His combat ability now far exceeds what his cultivation realm alone would suggest.
• He becomes increasingly ambitious, aiming to reach the second rank, first rank, Martial Dao Grandmaster realm, and eventually the Martial Saint realm.
• Despite his immense strength, Lu Yuan remains cautious and practical. He is reluctant to accept the Shangwu Prefecture mission because he values cultivation time and recognizes the danger posed by demons.
• Zhuo Hang demonstrates his authority and strategic awareness by personally assembling the division and offering a substantial reward. He also reveals the protection Lu Yuan has received from the Old Sword Saint.
• Fan Ping continues to view Lu Yuan as talented but not yet strong enough to confront genuine demons, showing concern over the danger of the mission.
• The Old Sword Saint is established as a powerful protector of Lu Yuan, deterring retaliation from the Ziyang Sect through a direct warning.

Significant Themes

• Rapid cultivation and accumulated preparation: Lu Yuan’s progress is fueled by perfected techniques, abundant resources, and relentless deduction, emphasizing the importance of preparation and sustained effort.
• Strength versus realm: Lu Yuan’s actual combat power far exceeds his third-rank cultivation, showing that mastery of techniques and profundities can overcome conventional realm limitations.
• Protection and political deterrence: The Sword Saint’s warning prevents the Ziyang Sect from retaliating, demonstrating how powerful figures and institutional backing can shield talented younger martial artists.
• Duty versus personal advancement: Lu Yuan must choose between remaining in seclusion to cultivate and accepting a dangerous mission involving demons and the Longevity Cult.
• Unfinished potential: The incomplete Void-Splitting Finger represents the next stage of Lu Yuan’s growth and suggests that his future strength may rise dramatically once he masters spatial power.

Character Interactions

• Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying: Jiang Ying informs Lu Yuan of Zhuo Hang’s summons, bringing him into the emergency meeting.
• Lu Yuan and Zhuo Hang: Zhuo Hang directly tests Lu Yuan’s willingness to undertake the mission. Lu Yuan questions whether he may refuse, while Zhuo Hang responds by revealing the Sword Saint’s protection and hinting at an additional opportunity.
• Lu Yuan and Fan Ping: Fan Ping speaks on Lu Yuan’s behalf, arguing that even his exceptional talent and fourth-rank reputation should not qualify him to confront true demons. This reflects Fan Ping’s cautious assessment of Lu Yuan’s strength.
• Zhuo Hang and the Sword Hanging Division: Zhuo Hang attempts to motivate the hesitant envoys with the promise of fifty thousand merit points, but their fear of demons outweighs their desire for reward.
• Lu Yuan and the Old Sword Saint: Though they do not interact directly in the chapter, the Old Sword Saint’s intervention has a decisive impact on Lu Yuan’s safety, preventing the Ziyang Sect’s older generation from seeking revenge.

Chapter Summary: “Corpse Puppets, Sword Saint Inheritance”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhuo Hang informs Lu Yuan that the Old Sword Saint has noticed his achievement in killing Jin Sheng and has selected him for a special mission.
• Lu Yuan is offered 50,000 merit points and the chance to comprehend a sword technique inherited from the Sword Master if he successfully completes the mission in Shangwu Prefecture.
• Lu Yuan immediately accepts, motivated especially by the opportunity to learn the inherited sword move and by his desire to visit the Chu Family.
• As an additional reward, he is promoted directly from Bronze Sword Envoy to Silver Sword Envoy, gaining higher official rank, greater authority, increased monthly merit points, and permission to command the forces stationed in Tianshui.
• Lu Yuan travels to Shangwu Prefecture with numerous Bronze and Iron Sword Envoys.
• Before entering the city, they are ambushed by several hundred black-clad members of the Longevity Cult. Lu Yuan’s forces swiftly massacre them.
• The bodies are identified as remnants of the Longevity Cult, revealing that the cult is far more powerful and active in Shangwu Prefecture than it was in Anyang Prefecture.
• Two powerful Corpse Puppets suddenly appear. They are revealed to be corpses of former Middle Third Rank martial artists, retaining their battle instincts while possessing tremendous strength, durability, and immunity to pain.
• The lower-ranking Sword Envoys are unable to injure the Corpse Puppets and are quickly overwhelmed.
• Lu Yuan steps in personally. With a single thunderous sword strike, he beheads both Corpse Puppets instantly, shocking everyone present.

Character Developments

• Lu Yuan gains greater recognition from the Sword Hanging Division and the Old Sword Saint. His promotion to Silver Sword Envoy confirms that his strength and accomplishments now merit significant authority.
• His growing confidence is evident in his immediate acceptance of the dangerous mission and his refusal of assistance from Jiang Ying.
• Lu Yuan’s combat power is shown to be far beyond that of ordinary Fourth Rank martial artists. His effortless destruction of two Corpse Puppets demonstrates that his true strength remains difficult for others to measure.
• Jiang Ying acknowledges Lu Yuan’s independence and accepts that she can no longer contribute much to battles at his current level.
• The other Sword Envoys develop even greater respect and awe toward Lu Yuan after witnessing his single-strike victory.

Significant Themes

• Recognition and advancement: Lu Yuan’s achievements bring him increased status, authority, and access to powerful opportunities.
• Power and hidden strength: The chapter emphasizes the gap between official rank and actual combat ability, especially through Lu Yuan’s ability to defeat enemies far stronger than expected.
• Escalating danger: The Longevity Cult’s strength in Shangwu Prefecture suggests a much larger threat than previously believed.
• Inheritance and destiny: The Old Sword Saint’s promised sword technique represents both a reward for Lu Yuan’s accomplishments and a possible path toward even greater mastery.
• The contrast between life and death: The Corpse Puppets embody the Longevity Cult’s unnatural methods, retaining martial ability while losing intelligence, emotion, and fear.

Character Interactions

• Zhuo Hang and Lu Yuan: Zhuo Hang presents the mission and rewards, while Lu Yuan confidently accepts.
• Jiang Ying and Lu Yuan: Jiang Ying offers support, but Lu Yuan declines, showing his confidence and growing independence. She nevertheless warns him to remain cautious.
• Lu Yuan and the Sword Envoys: Lu Yuan commands the group during the ambush and later protects them from the Corpse Puppets. Their initial confidence in him turns into astonishment after witnessing his sword strike.
• Lu Yuan and the Corpse Puppets: The confrontation is brief but decisive, establishing Lu Yuan’s overwhelming superiority over the supposedly formidable monsters.

Chapter Summary: “Monsters, Settling Personal Scores Under Public Pretense”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Lu Yuan defeats the two powerful Corpse Puppets, the Sword Hanging Division agents and other martial artists regard him with overwhelming admiration, believing he may soon become a Gold Sword Envoy.
• Lu Yuan leads the group into the county city and goes to the local Sword Hanging Division station to investigate a dangerous Snake Demon.
• A white-haired Daoist and a purple-clad woman observe Lu Yuan from a distance. They are searching for beings connected to a mysterious legendary place. The Daoist concludes that Lu Yuan is only an extraordinarily gifted martial artist, while the woman remains convinced that he may be connected to something greater.
• The local agents report that the Snake Demon is stronger than an ordinary Second Rank martial artist and may actually be a half-human, half-demon puppet created by the Longevity Cult.
• Lu Yuan receives a list of families and clans suspected of colluding with the Longevity Cult. The list includes the Chu, Liu, and Xu Families.
• Seeing the Chu Family listed, Lu Yuan decides to use the official investigation as an opportunity to settle his personal grudge against them, just as he previously did with the Cui Family.
• He leads the Sword Hanging Division directly to the Chu Family estate without requesting military assistance, confident that his current strength is sufficient.
• The Chu Family guards are killed, the gates are destroyed, and Lu Yuan announces that the family must be exterminated for collaborating with the Longevity Cult.
• The Chu Family recognizes Lu Yuan as the man who killed Chu Xiong, intensifying their hatred toward him.
• More than a dozen powerful Chu Family experts attack first, but Lu Yuan kills them instantly with his blade techniques. Hundreds of additional family members then join the battle, only to be overwhelmed by Lu Yuan and the Sword Hanging Division.
• The Chu Family suffers heavy casualties while Lu Yuan’s forces remain unharmed. Chu He, the family head, realizes that Lu Yuan is far beyond their expectations and desperately calls for help from the “Thunder Dharma King.”
• Dozens of terrifying figures emerge from the Chu Family’s inner courtyard, setting up the next confrontation.

Character Developments

• Lu Yuan: Demonstrates overwhelming combat power and growing confidence. His mastery of Wind Blade Intent allows him to annihilate the Chu Family’s forces with ease. He openly embraces the strategy of using his official authority to eliminate personal enemies while presenting it as enforcement against the Longevity Cult.
• The white-haired Daoist: Remains skeptical that Lu Yuan is connected to the legendary realm they seek. However, he acknowledges that Lu Yuan’s talent and strength are astonishing for someone only around eighteen years old and at Third Rank.
• The purple-clad woman: Becomes increasingly convinced that Lu Yuan is extraordinary and refuses to abandon her search for the mysterious place. Her curiosity and determination toward Lu Yuan deepen.
• Chu He: Shifts from anger and confidence to panic as Lu Yuan effortlessly destroys the family’s strongest fighters. His desperation leads him to summon a powerful external ally.
• The Chu Family: Their arrogance collapses once they realize that their numbers and martial strength are meaningless against Lu Yuan.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming talent versus conventional cultivation: Lu Yuan’s mastery of Wind and Thunder Intent allows him to surpass opponents of much higher rank, emphasizing that insight and exceptional talent can outweigh formal realm differences.
• Public duty masking private revenge: Lu Yuan uses the Sword Hanging Division’s investigation into the Longevity Cult to justify destroying a family he already resents, blurring the line between justice and personal vengeance.
• The hidden power of the Longevity Cult: The organization’s ability to create Corpse Puppets and Demon Puppets reveals that it possesses dangerous, unnatural techniques and extensive influence among powerful families.
• Misunderstanding and legend: The Daoist and the purple-clad woman interpret Lu Yuan’s strength through the lens of their search for a mythical place, showing how extraordinary power generates speculation and myth.
• Fear caused by unmatched strength: Lu Yuan’s effortless victory transforms him from a respected official into a figure the Chu Family sees as a “monster” or demon.

Character Interactions

• Lu Yuan gives direct orders to the Sword Hanging Division agents, who obey him with complete trust and respect.
• The white-haired Daoist and the purple-clad woman debate whether Lu Yuan is connected to the legendary place; their disagreement reflects the woman’s growing conviction and the Daoist’s cautious skepticism.
• Lu Yuan questions the local agents about the Snake Demon and its possible connection to the Longevity Cult, establishing the broader investigation.
• Lu Yuan and the Chu Family immediately clash over both the family’s alleged collaboration with the Longevity Cult and Lu Yuan’s previous killing of Chu Xiong.
• Chu He publicly orders his family to attack Lu Yuan, but after witnessing the massacre, he abandons confidence and calls upon the Thunder Dharma King for rescue.
• The distant observers analyze Lu Yuan’s abilities, particularly his full mastery of Wind Intent and Thunder Intent, confirming that his strength is genuine martial talent rather than demonic transformation.

Plot points and events

• The Longevity Cult confronts Lu Yuan. Thunder Dharma King offers him Longevity Holy Water and a high-ranking position, then threatens to kill him when he refuses.
• Lu Yuan tells the Silver Sword Envoys to stand back and faces the attackers alone. He unleashes Thunderous Force, a lightning-based Sword Qi technique, and instantly incinerates the dozens of Cult members.
• Thunder Dharma King and Chu He are horrified by Lu Yuan’s mastery of Gang Thunder, an achievement the old Daoist says no known prodigy had reached before becoming a Grandmaster.
• Thunder Dharma King summons Green Calamity, a powerful, intelligent half-human, half-demon creature known as a Demon Puppet. She appears as a giant snake with a beautiful woman’s face and can transform into a woman’s body.
• Green Calamity shows interest in Lu Yuan. When Thunder Dharma King orders her to kill him, she instead kills the Dharma King with a blast of green light, leaving Chu He terrified.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Yuan remains unmoved by promises or threats, demonstrating overwhelming confidence and a remarkable leap in ability.
• Thunder Dharma King shifts from recruitment to intimidation, then panic; his attempt to use Green Calamity ends in his death.
• Chu He, already driven by vengeance against Lu Yuan for his son’s death and the destruction of Chu family forces, becomes increasingly desperate and ends in shock.
• The old Daoist explains that Longevity Holy Water boosts health and cultivation by draining a person’s potential and lifespan. He suspects the Longevity Patriarch may have ties to a mysterious place.
• The woman in purple is eager to investigate that place and reacts with fascination toward Lu Yuan, though she also insults Green Calamity.
• Green Calamity ignores Thunder Dharma King’s authority, kills him, and openly flirts with Lu Yuan.

Significant themes

• Power and ambition: The Cult’s offers of advancement cannot tempt Lu Yuan, whose strength already exceeds its threats.
• The cost of shortcuts: Longevity Holy Water grants powerful benefits but consumes its users’ potential and lifespan.
• Unpredictability and control: The Cult’s formidable Demon Puppet turns against its apparent master, showing that power does not guarantee obedience.
• The extraordinary: Lu Yuan’s Gang Thunder and Green Calamity’s unusual nature deepen the mystery surrounding the Longevity Cult and the place connected to its Patriarch.

Key plot points and events

• Green Calamity, a Demon Puppet, kills the Thunder Dharma King, then tries to seduce Lu Yuan into going with her.
• Lu Yuan answers with three powerful throwing knives, badly wounding her. Despite the attack, Green Calamity survives and transforms into her Beauty Snake form, launching a stream of poisonous green light at him.
• Lu Yuan’s Strange Bead activates on its own. It swallows the attack, envelops Green Calamity in blue light, and dissolves her completely.
• The bead returns to Lu Yuan at his command. He senses a new mental connection to it and discovers it contains an enormous amount of pure spiritual energy, possibly gained by consuming demons.
• From a distant tower, a Daoist-robed elder identifies the bead as a magical treasure. He and his granddaughter, Zi’er, conclude Lu Yuan may come from a legendary place they hope to reach. The elder urges patience and friendship; Zi’er is eager to ask Lu Yuan to take them there.
• With the threat gone, Lu Yuan orders the Sword Hanging Division to kill Chu He and the others. Chu He begs for mercy, citing a family connection to the Ziyang Sect.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Yuan demonstrates confidence and exceptional skill, then gains a major new asset in the Strange Bead. He suspects it can turn demons into a renewable source of cultivation energy.
• Green Calamity shifts from seductive confidence to fury, but her resilience cannot withstand the bead’s power.
• Chu He moves from expecting the Demon Puppet to rescue his family to panicked pleading once Lu Yuan defeats her.
• Zi’er grows excited at the prospect of reaching the place she has long dreamed of, while her grandfather counsels caution and a gradual approach to Lu Yuan.
• The Sword Hanging Division’s forces cheer Lu Yuan’s feat, and the distant observers react with amazement.

Significant themes

• Hidden power and discovery: The Strange Bead’s true abilities emerge unexpectedly.
• Power and survival: Lu Yuan’s skill and new treasure decisively overturn the Chu family’s hopes.
• Ambition tempered by patience: Zi’er’s urgent desire contrasts with her grandfather’s strategic advice.
• Cultivation resources: The possibility of extracting spiritual energy from demons could transform Lu Yuan’s future training.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Yuan kills Chu He, then leads Sword Envoys in wiping out the Chu Family and other powerful households tied to the Longevity Cult. The purge lasts three days and leaves Shangwu Prefecture in fear.
• As Lu Yuan departs, a veiled young woman appears and vows that the Longevity Cult will never stop seeking his death.
• Back at the Tianshui Guard Station, Zhuo Hang rewards Lu Yuan with the promised fifty thousand merit points and a scroll containing a sword technique passed down by the Sword Master.
• Lu Yuan studies the technique while continuing his cultivation. He uses spiritual energy from the Strange Bead to replenish his internal energy, enabling unusually intensive training.
• Before the internal tournament, he perfects the Meridian-Opening Chapter of the Five Elements Vajra Body, forming a Meridian Wheel that greatly improves energy circulation and recovery. He also advances his wind profundity to the Gang Realm.
• By combining the sword technique’s spatial principles with those of the incomplete Void-Splitting Finger, Lu Yuan creates a stronger, distinct move he names Sword One. He reaches its beginner level, exhausting nearly all his stored spiritual energy and precious medicines in the process.
• Confident in his new power, Lu Yuan believes he can now defend himself even against a Martial Dao Grandmaster.

Character developments

• Lu Yuan grows from a formidable cultivator into a far more dangerous fighter, mastering three Gang Realm profundities—lightning, fire, and wind—and creating a powerful spatial sword art. His confidence shifts toward readiness to confront the threats pursuing him.
• Zhuo Hang shows strong support for Lu Yuan, rewarding his achievement and encouraging him to excel in the upcoming tournament and seek the Sword Master’s personal instruction.
• The veiled woman emerges as a new antagonist, revealing the Longevity Cult’s continuing hatred and intent to retaliate.

Significant themes

• Power gained through relentless cultivation: Lu Yuan’s rapid advancement comes from disciplined training and the costly use of rare resources.
• Innovation and mastery: He does not merely learn the Sword Master’s technique; he combines it with another art to create something stronger.
• Violence and its consequences: The purge eliminates the Cult’s local network but leaves survivors determined to retaliate.
• Security through strength: Lu Yuan’s growing power gives him confidence that he can withstand future threats.

Character interactions

• Lu Yuan kills Chu He and commands the Sword Envoys in the purge of the Chu Family and other suspected Longevity Cult supporters.
• The veiled woman watches the force depart and publicly vows vengeance against Lu Yuan.
• Zhuo Hang praises Lu Yuan, gives him the sword-technique scroll, and expresses confidence in his future; Lu Yuan promises not to disappoint him.
• Lu Yuan’s solitary study of the scroll and the Void-Splitting Finger leads him to synthesize their principles into Sword One.

Zhuo Hang brought Lu Yuan, Jiang Ying, and three other Silver Sword Envoys to the Capital City for the Internal Grand Competition, where they learned about the Heroes Ranking and the formidable talent gathered there. After reaching the Sword Hanging Division Headquarters, Lu Yuan discovered that his Startling Wind Leg Technique had broken through its limits into the Heaven Grade Wind-Thunder Evasion and began training through the night before the competition.

• Zhuo Hang asked Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying about their chances in the Internal Grand Competition, and both said they expected to perform well.
• Zhuo Hang led the group to the Capital City, where the Silver Sword Envoys remarked on the abundance of young experts and placed their hopes on Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying.
• Zhuo Hang explained the Heroes Ranking's Heaven, Earth, and Human lists, noted that the Saint Ranking had been abolished, and warned Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying not to underestimate their opponents.
• Zhuo Hang arranged accommodations for the group at the Sword Hanging Division Headquarters and told them to rest before the competition.
• Lu Yuan went to the Training Room and began practicing Wind-Thunder Evasion, the Heaven Grade movement and evasion technique formed after Startling Wind Leg Technique broke through its limits.

Lu Yuan gained initiation in Wind-Thunder Evasion, adding a powerful technique to his arsenal as he prepared for the Sword Hanging Division’s Internal Grand Competition. At the gathering, Zhuo Hang warned him and Jiang Ying that formidable ranked competitors would make reaching the top ten difficult.

• Lu Yuan tested Wind-Thunder Evasion’s speed, offense, and defensive barrier, then left his quarters confident it could help him contend with Martial Dao Grandmasters.
• Lu Yuan met Jiang Ying and three Silver Sword Envoys, and he and Jiang Ying both said they expected to make the top ten.
• The group arrived at the competition grounds, where the Silver Sword Envoys pointed out Zhuge Zheng, a Quasi-Grandmaster who had once fought a grandmaster without losing.
• Lu Yuan considered the dangers facing Great Zhou if the Old Sword Saint were no longer there to hold the realm together.
• Zhuo Hang warned Lu Yuan and Jiang Ying about Sacred Body prodigies Chen Changxu and Guo Rong and other highly ranked competitors; Jiang Ying asked whether she and Lu Yuan were absent from the rankings.