Chapter Summaries

Jiang Che returned to his childhood home in Abyss-Facing City and learned that an older man had searched for his family half a year earlier, giving him hope that the man was his father. He left Jiang Ling at an inn, infiltrated the Zhao Prince Mansion, and seized Zhao Kang to force a citywide search, but accidentally killed Zhao Ran.

• Jiang Che found his old home empty and learned from a neighbor that a man over fifty had searched for its former residents half a year earlier.
• Jiang Che told Jiang Ling he would look for their father, settled her in an inn, and left Little Black to protect her.
• Jiang Che used Shadow Evasion to enter the Zhao Prince Mansion and attacked Zhao Kang, hurling him into a wall.
• Jiang Che realized Zhao Kang was the man he had struck, pulled him from the wall, and revived him with a pill and true qi.
• Jiang Che questioned Zhao Kang and struck Zhao Ran for injuring his master, accidentally killing him with the blow.

Jiang Che forced Zhao Kang to help locate Jiang Dawu, then learned that Gu Song wanted his help exploring a hidden estate at Wild Goose Landing Mountain. Jiang Che recognized the mountain from a mysterious map he had found earlier and decided he would investigate alone rather than trust Gu Song.

• Jiang Che healed Zhao Kang and ordered him to find Jiang Dawu unharmed, while keeping him under watch in the main hall.
• Zhao Kang tried to escape when Gu Song arrived with soldiers, but Jiang Che pinned him down and easily repelled Gu Song’s palm strike.
• Gu Song withdrew his hostility and told Jiang Che that he had spent two years searching Wild Goose Landing Mountain for an ancient estate, using Zhao Kang and the Zhao Family to find clues.
• Gu Song explained that a craftsman had recently uncovered a clue and that a powerful restriction blocked his way, so he wanted Jiang Che’s help breaking through it.
• Jiang Che declined Gu Song’s offer, recalling that his sheepskin map also pointed to Wild Goose Landing Mountain, and resolved to explore the site by himself.

Jiang Che reunited with his father, Jiang Dawu, in Zhao Prince Mansion after Zhao Kang summoned him, and revealed himself as a powerful True Person. He learned that his mother was ill and hurried with Jiang Dawu and Zhao Kang to the craftsmen's dormitory, where Madam Zhou saw them approaching.

• Foreman Wang demanded that Jiang Dawu surrender his old house to settle a debt, but soldiers arrived and summoned Jiang Dawu to see Zhao Kang.
• At Zhao Prince Mansion, Jiang Che revealed himself to Jiang Dawu, and the father and son embraced after years apart.
• Zhao Kang kowtowed and begged Jiang Che for mercy, and Jiang Che spared him while warning that his future depended on his conduct.
• Jiang Dawu told Jiang Che that Madam Zhou was ill, so Jiang Che hurried with his father and Zhao Kang to the dormitory.
• Foreman Wang and the chief steward brought gifts to Madam Zhou and tried to appease her, then she saw Zhao Kang escorting Jiang Dawu and a familiar-looking young man toward her.

Jiang Che reunited with his parents and sister in Abyss-Facing City, and used true qi and a pill to stabilize his mother’s grave illness. After hearing Gu Song plot with two other True Person Realm experts to explore Mystic Yang True Person’s cave and then attack Jiang Che, he secretly followed them through his crow.

• Zhao Kang escorted Jiang Dawu and Jiang Che to their home, where Jiang Che reunited with Madam Zhou and temporarily stabilized her illness with true qi and a pill.
• Jiang Che took his parents to the inn, where Jiang Ling joyfully reunited with them after years apart.
• Jiang Che told his family about his martial studies and rise in the Azure Cloud Sect, while concealing his dangerous secrets; Madam Zhou and Jiang Ling then teased him about finding a wife.
• That night, Jiang Che’s crow spotted Gu Song meeting a middle-aged couple who were also True Person Realm experts and showing them a map to Mystic Yang True Person’s cave dwelling.
• Gu Song and the couple discussed using their combined strength to break the cave’s restrictions, then plotted to kill Jiang Che and seize his presumed secret or treasure.
• Gu Song and the couple set out into the night, unaware that Jiang Che’s crow was following them.

Jiang Che secretly followed Gu Song, Du Yuanjiang, and Zhang Qian as they entered a hidden ruin and overcame its deadly traps. At the treasure chamber, Gu Song revealed his concealed strength, killed the couple, and stood alone before the three chests holding a divine weapon, a lost martial arts manual, and Mystic Yang True Person’s True Intent Inheritance.

• Jiang Che ordered Little Black to guard the inn and secretly pursued Gu Song and the couple using Shadow Evasion.
• Gu Song used an Array-Revealing Compass to open a hidden entrance on Wild Goose Landing Mountain, and the three passed through a trapped corridor and crossed the Oblivion Blood River.
• The trio reached a chamber containing three treasure chests, and Gu Song explained what each chest was believed to contain.
• Du Yuanjiang and Zhang Qian attempted to ambush Gu Song, but his defensive treasure blocked Du Yuanjiang’s strike and his lightning talisman killed Zhang Qian.
• Gu Song revealed that he had suppressed his cultivation at the True Person Realm Second Stage, rose to the Fourth Stage, and killed the fleeing Du Yuanjiang with a concealed dagger.

Jiang Che killed Gu Song, opened Mystic Yang True Person's three treasure chests, and received a vast collection of martial arts and Mystic Yang's martial will. Before fading, Mystic Yang warned him that a Black Demon Calamity would threaten humanity and directed him to the Endless Ice Plain, while Jiang Che suspected the Lord of the Black Abyss was connected to it.

• Jiang Che revealed his Black Armor Form and killed Gu Song with Azure Dragon Annihilation, then looted Gu Song and the married couple's belongings.
• Jiang Che combined the parchment map with Gu Song's translucent blueprint to reveal the codes for the three treasure chests.
• Jiang Che opened the chests and acquired Seven-Star Dragon Abyss and a jade talisman containing numerous cultivation manuals.
• Mystic Yang True Person appeared through his martial will, explained that he had left behind his life's work, and urged Jiang Che to create a perfect martial art to save humanity from the Black Demon Calamity.
• Mystic Yang True Person's mental energy entered Jiang Che's Sea of Consciousness, and Jiang Che wondered whether the Lord of the Black Abyss was the terrifying threat he had described.

After returning to the inn, Jiang Che worried that the Black Demon Calamity might be connected to the Lord of the Black Abyss and resolved to grow stronger to protect his family. He assessed the treasures from Wild Goose Landing Mountain, chose to keep the Illusion Truth Ancient Mirror equipped for its clone and revival ability, and discovered that Mystic Yang True Person’s collection held only rudimentary cultivation techniques.

• Jiang Che returned to the inn and connected Mystic Yang True Person’s warning about the Black Demon Calamity with the Heart of the Black Abyss and the Lord of the Black Abyss, while the unusually powerful Black Beasts on the road deepened his concerns.
• Jiang Che used Weapon Dissolution to identify Du Yuanjiang’s Mystic Turtle Shield and Zhang Qian’s Soul-Absorbing Jade Flute as True Grade weapons, then inspected Gu Song’s True Grade Clear Wind Fan and Body-Protecting Spirit Light.
• Jiang Che identified the black dagger as the Spirit Grade Nether Sting, whose Nether Ghost Flash could jump through space to strike an enemy’s soul within one hundred meters.
• Jiang Che discovered that Seven-Star Dragon Abyss was a Mystic Grade weapon with the Galaxy Dragon Devour ultimate, which could unleash devastating wide-area damage against evil entities and Demonic Beasts.
• Jiang Che chose to equip the Illusion Truth Ancient Mirror rather than either powerful weapon, restored his clone to guard his family, and put the weapons away in the Poison Dragon Bag.
• Jiang Che examined Mystic Yang True Person’s jade talisman for weapon-related cultivation techniques but found its contents rudimentary.

After receiving Mystic Yang True Person’s inheritance, Jiang Che discovered that his soul’s growth had greatly improved his comprehension, control, and Pupil Seal. He entered Zhao Prince Mansion and began using Pupil Seal on Zhao Kang, intending to secure his cooperation.

• Jiang Che realized ancient martial arts were less refined than modern techniques and decided to gather martial arts at the Heavenly Strategy Guard selection.
• Jiang Che used his enhanced comprehension to understand a cultivation art quickly and improve Crushing Stone Fist into a half-step True Art.
• Jiang Che smoothly controlled Little Black, the Crow, and his clone at the same time, then used Pupil Seal to subdue a large yellow dog.
• Zhao Kang debated fleeing Abyss-Facing City but stayed because he could not bear to give up his power and luxury.
• Jiang Che appeared in Zhao Kang’s bedroom, promised he could remain ruler if he handled a matter, and activated Pupil Seal on him.

Jiang Che rescued the Seven Star Gang elders from Zhao Kang’s water prison, used his control over Zhao Kang to restore the gang and stabilize Abyss-Facing City, then set out with his family. In Hengsha City, he recalled a suspicious well near Li Estate and sent his clone to investigate while he stayed with his family.

• Jiang Che used the Pupil Seal to control Zhao Kang, searched his memories, and learned that the Seven Star Gang members were imprisoned beneath the Zhao residence.
• Jiang Che freed Li Rushan, Situ Xuan, and Zhang Jinghuai from the water prison and ordered Zhao Kang to provide for them.
• Jiang Che commanded Zhao Kang to release the gang members, return their property, compensate them with Zhao Family resources, and help rebuild the Seven Star Gang.
• Jiang Che spent time with his family in Abyss-Facing City, arranged for the White Cloud Martial Hall and his residence to be restored, and then departed with them.
• Jiang Che’s parents explained that horse bandits had captured them before they reached Hengsha City and sold them to the Zhao Family’s Arsenal Workshop.
• While sightseeing in Hengsha City, Jiang Che recalled the strange well near Li Estate and sent his clone to investigate it.

Jiang Che followed eerie footsteps through the abandoned well into a terrifying world, where powerful monsters killed his clone. He later arrived with his family at Cang Prefecture Capital, while remaining determined to investigate the well’s hidden realm.

• Jiang Che heard footsteps that passed through him and descended into the abandoned well after them.
• Jiang Che crossed a strange barrier beneath the water and discovered a grotesque world where he found the remains of the servant he had thrown into the well.
• Several powerful, monkey-like monsters attacked Jiang Che, defeated his Black Armor form, and destroyed his clone.
• Jiang Che felt the clone’s death and concealed his distress from Madam Zhou, Jiang Dawu, and Jiang Ling as they continued their journey.
• Two days later, Jiang Che’s family reached Cang Prefecture Capital, where a gate guard recognized Jiang Che and let them enter without the usual questioning.

Jiang Che brought his gravely ill mother to the Azure Cloud Sect, where Ye Lianzhen began treating her, then traveled with the sect’s disciples to the Capital City for the Heavenly Strategy Guard selection. After the group was driven from their reserved inn by the Spirit Moon Sect, Chen Jiayu housed them at a Chen Family estate and warned that the selection’s situation looked bleak.

• Ye Lianzhen examined Madam Zhou, said Jiang Che had brought her in time, and promised to treat her until she recovered over about half a year.
• Jiang Che and the Azure Cloud Sect party departed for the Capital City under Yue Lingfeng and Xu Qingshan, then passed the city guards’ inspection and reached the Heavenly Strategy Guard selection area.
• The Spirit Moon Sect’s Elder Xuanhui forced the Azure Cloud Sect party out of the Flying Cloud Inn, and they found no rooms at several other inns.
• Chen Jiayu encountered the group and invited them to stay at the Chen Family’s estate, where they received a lavish welcome banquet.
• Chen Jiayu revealed that he had spent two weeks investigating the selection and warned the group that the situation did not look optimistic.

Chen Jiayu revealed the formidable contestants and the three-round points system for the Heavenly Strategy Guard selection, leaving Jiang Che confident that his strengths could carry him into the top ninety-nine.

• Chen Jiayu told Yue Lingfeng and the others that at least twenty contestants had reached the True Person Realm Third Stage, six or seven had reached the Fourth Stage, and two were suspected of reaching the Fifth Stage.
• Jiang Che remained eager to test himself against the powerful contestants, while Gu Qingxuan, Fang Muye, Shi Poyue, and Wang Zhenhai were discouraged by the gap in strength.
• Chen Jiayu explained that contestants would be ranked by combined scores from Realm Measurement, Heart Inquiry, and Martial Trial, with only the top ninety-nine selected.
• Chen Jiayu described how the Heaven-Reaching Stele would measure cultivation and the Heavenly Ladder would test soul strength and will.
• Chen Jiayu said contestants would fight illusion Monsters in the Asura Illusion Realm, scoring by enemies killed and survival time; Jiang Che believed his abilities suited the trials.
• Xu Qingshan urged everyone to prepare, and the group agreed to report for the selection early the next morning.

Jiang Che concealed his breakthrough until Cang Prefecture Capital’s realm test, where he revealed that he had reached the peak of the True Person Realm Second Stage and stunned his companions. The first assessment ended with the prodigies preparing for the next day’s divine soul test.

• Jiang Che and the Cang Prefecture Capital contestants gathered at Xuanwu Square, where Qin Wuya and Qin Xuange arrived before officials began the Heavenly Strategy Guard selection.
• The examiners announced that the first assessment would rank contestants by cultivation, and Jiang Che narrowly avoided exposing his unusual power when Daoist Wuwei sensed his probing gaze.
• Guo Yifan, Long Yu'er, Xiong Tong, and Nalan Ruoshui displayed powerful cultivation, with Xiong Tong and Nalan Ruoshui reaching the True Person Realm Fifth Stage.
• Qin Wuya tested at the Mid First Layer of the True Person Realm and ranked ninety-second, while Qin Xuange reached the Early True Person Realm Second Stage and ranked sixty-third.
• Jiang Che revealed his True Person Realm Second Stage Peak cultivation, ranked thirty-first, and shocked Xu Qingshan, Qin Xuange, Xiao Qingge, and the rest of the Cang Prefecture Capital group.
• The first day's assessment ended, and the contestants returned to the Chen Family residence ahead of the next day's divine soul assessment.

Jiang Che stunned the crowd in the Heart Inquiry trial by reaching the ninth place in the soul spirit rankings, then entered the Asura Illusion Realm for the final practical combat assessment. He began fighting its escalating waves of Illusion Beasts while deliberately concealing his full strength.

• Long Yu'er climbed to sixty-one steps, Xiong Tong reached seventy-three, and Nalan Ruoshui set the trial's leading mark at eighty steps.
• Jiang Che climbed to fifty-five steps, earning ninth place in the soul spirit rankings and winning cheers from the crowd, while Qin Xuange watched with envy.
• The officials announced that the final Martial Drill assessment would test how long participants could survive growing waves of Illusion Beasts in separate illusion spaces.
• Jiang Che entered the Asura Illusion Realm and decided to fight steadily without revealing his Black Armor Form.
• Jiang Che defeated the first wolf and then two ape-like Illusion Beasts with ease, waiting for the next wave.

At the Heavenly Strategy Guard selection, Jiang Che endured the Asura Illusion Realm’s increasingly powerful beast tides and rose to third place, astounding the crowd and drawing the attention of the Three Great Sects. As the trial continued, Daoist Wuwei, Su Wuming, and Master Xuankong prepared to compete for Jiang Che’s allegiance.

• Guo Yifan and Elder Xuanhui threatened the Azure Cloud Sect disciples, but Daoist Wuwei intervened and forced the Spirit Moon Sect pair to withdraw; Xu Qingshan learned that Wuwei had acted because of Jiang Che.
• Qin Wuya broke through in battle, defeated sixteen peak First-Layer True Person Realm Illusion Beasts, and narrowly ranked above Qin Xuange; the cousins reconciled and hoped Jiang Che could change Qin Fuhu’s view of the martial world.
• Jiang Che remained inside the trial after contestants from the Second, Third, and Fourth Stages of the True Person Realm were eliminated, eventually securing third place behind Xiong Tong and Nalan Ruoshui.
• Jiang Che obliterated thirty-eight peak Fourth-Stage Illusion Beasts with Ten Thousand Dragons Prison Suppression while carefully deciding how much strength to reveal.
• Lei Kuang was eliminated in fifth place, and Long Yu'er followed in fourth, leaving Jiang Che among the final three; the Cang Prefecture Capital crowd celebrated and Qin Wuya urged him on.
• Su Wuming admitted that he had misjudged Jiang Che, while Su Wuming, Master Xuankong, and Daoist Wuwei each expressed interest in recruiting him.

Jiang Che emerged from the illusion trial in third place, cleared cheating accusations, and chose to join the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect despite his fourteenth-place overall ranking. As the unsuccessful candidates decided whether to return home or take outer sect examinations, he shared a farewell banquet with his companions before they went their separate ways.

• Jiang Che survived fifty True Person Realm Sixth Stage Mid-Phase Illusion Beasts before allowing a stronger wave to overwhelm him, then emerged to cheers after placing third in the combat trial.
• Lei Kuang accused Jiang Che of cheating and using Demon Sect methods, but the presiding official examined him and confirmed his cultivation was orthodox and his result valid.
• The final rankings placed Xiong Tong first, Nalan Ruoshui second, Long Yu'er third, Jiang Che fourteenth, Qin Xuange sixty-third, and Qin Wuya seventy-eighth; most other Cang Prefecture Capital candidates failed to qualify.
• Xiong Tong chose the Prajna Zen Sect, Nalan Ruoshui chose the Haotian Sword Sect, and Long Yu'er chose the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect; Jiang Che also chose the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect, while Qin Wuya joined it and Qin Xuange joined the Prajna Zen Sect.
• At a farewell banquet, Chen Jiayu, Xiao Qingge, Qing Ling, Shi Poyue, and Wang Zhenhai planned to return home, while Gu Qingxuan and Lin Qingyun chose to take the Haotian Sword Sect's outer sect examination.
• After the banquet, Jiang Che poured out the last of the wine and reflected on parting from his companions before they set out on separate paths.

Jiang Che traveled to Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect and learned that his selection only qualified him for a one-year trial to master its foundational art before he could become an inner disciple. As he settled into the vast sect, he began considering how to bring his family there, while the Heavenly Heart Order and his growing threat remained on the minds of others.

• Jiang Che bid farewell to Xu Qingshan and Azure Cloud Sect, then rode Daoist Wuwei’s flood dragon Qingming toward Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect with the other recruits.
• Bao Da told Jiang Che that the sect’s direct disciples included formidable talents and that the recruits would have to master the Foundation Chapter of Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao to earn inner-sect status.
• Azure Cloud Sect celebrated Jiang Che’s high ranking, Xu Zhouzi ordered resources sent to support him, and Xu Zhouzi kept the Heavenly Heart Order hidden until Jiang Che grew stronger.
• Qin Fuhu rejected Long Xiang’s proposal to target Jiang Che, choosing instead to focus on Cang Prefecture Capital and the rebel war while waiting to see whether Jiang Che survived the sect’s competition.
• Jiang Che and the recruits reached Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect, where Elder Xuancheng set a one-year deadline to reach the sixth level of the foundational art and explained the sect’s points system and four branches.
• Lu Qing showed the recruits around the sect and told Jiang Che that only true disciples could bring their families to live there, prompting Jiang Che to learn that the sect had only nine true disciples.

Jiang Che settled into Chuyang Peak with Bao Da, Lin Xiao, and Su Xiaoxiao, then began learning the Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao. After understanding Elder Gu’s lecture far more readily than the other newcomers, he joined his courtyard companions on a trip to Duo Bao Peak.

• Jiang Che moved into courtyard C-72 and met his neighbors Bao Da, Lin Xiao, and Su Xiaoxiao, who discussed the difficulty of converting their existing cultivation.
• Bao Da encouraged Lin Xiao and Su Xiaoxiao to endure the yearlong assessment, and Jiang Che studied the Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao Foundation Chapter through the night.
• Jiang Che and his companions went to the Dao Inquiry Hall, where Elder Gu lectured on Qi absorption, origin returning, and converting heterogeneous True Qi.
• Jiang Che understood Elder Gu’s explanation and reached the Entry Realm of the Foundation Chapter, while Bao Da, Lin Xiao, and Su Xiaoxiao struggled with the lesson.
• Bao Da proposed visiting Duo Bao Peak, and Jiang Che and the others set off for the sect’s marketplace.

The Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect’s Vein Masters discussed the threat from Great Yan Kingdom’s assassins and their Giant Spirit Demonic Martial Arts. Meanwhile, Jiang Che and his companions explored Duo Bao Peak, discovered how costly sect resources were, and resolved to earn more points.

• Daoist Wuwei argued that Jiang Che and Long Yu'er were promising candidates for the inner sect, while Lei Wanjun and Gu Shan rejected Jiang Che as a prospect for their peaks.
• Yue Ying reported that Great Yan Kingdom had sent assassins to target Great Chu’s young geniuses, prompting Lei Wanjun to restrict disciples from leaving the sect and order stricter patrols.
• The Vein Masters discussed Great Yan Kingdom’s Giant Spirit Demonic Martial Arts, which rapidly enhanced fighters through mutations at the cost of their lifespans.
• Bao Da led Jiang Che, Lin Xiao, and Su Xiaoxiao through Duo Bao Peak’s pill, scripture, weapon, and beast halls, where the high prices left them unable to afford most resources.
• After seeing the prices, Bao Da, Lin Xiao, and Su Xiaoxiao decided to take missions and earn points, while Jiang Che also wanted to acquire resources.

Jiang Che prepared to cultivate the Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao while prioritizing the safety of his hidden trump cards, then gathered weapon techniques from the Scripture Repository to strengthen his abilities. Song Yuan delivered a valuable pill from Daoist Wuwei and invited Jiang Che to consider joining Spirit Void Peak, leaving Jiang Che undecided but keeping the gift as a future safeguard.

• Jiang Che estimated that he could meet the sect examination requirement within a few months, then decided to open a second Soul Slot so he could use the Illusion Truth Ancient Mirror without giving up the Breath-Concealing Orb.
• Jiang Che deduced the Iron Lock Across the River Saber Technique and visited the Myriad Laws Tower, where he memorized twenty-two weapon-type Blood-Qi Realm techniques in one hour.
• Song Yuan arrived on Daoist Wuwei's orders, delivered Jiang Che a wooden box, and asked him to consider Spirit Void Peak when choosing a branch vein after the assessment period.
• Jiang Che learned that the box contained an Essence-Melting Pulse-Protecting Pill worth about five thousand contribution points, but decided not to sell the gift and stored it as a safeguard.