Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• On the eighth floor, Li Qingshan struggles against the overwhelming pressure of the vast ocean of the Great Dao, which threatens to exhaust him.
• The Wish-Fulfilling Gourd awakens, absorbing violent law origins and returning purified Chaos Origin. This shields Li Qingshan from the worst of the pressure and strengthens his immortal apertures.
• Combining the gourd’s help with the Great Devouring Immortal Art, Li Qingshan rapidly tempers his 108 apertures and discovers 36 more hidden ones.
• He opens all 36, reaching 144 immortal apertures—the legendary great perfection of an ancient Profound Immortal—and advances much more easily through the ocean.
• Li Qingshan encounters Yun Yi, who has endured the trial with his Immaculate Immortal Body and the Yin-Yang Creation Pearl. Li Qingshan passes him.
• Yun Yi’s shock and competitive resentment disturb his previously pure Dao heart. His defenses weaken, and a huge wave of combined laws overwhelms him, ejecting him from the eighth floor.

Character developments

• Li Qingshan gains a major breakthrough, discovering the hidden apertures and reaching an unprecedented level of cultivation. He also learns that the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd has powerful, mysterious abilities beyond his understanding.
• Yun Yi is revealed as exceptionally capable, having reached the eighth floor with 72 hidden apertures and his body’s resistance to laws. But his pride and need to remain undefeated leave him vulnerable when Li Qingshan surpasses him.

Significant themes

• Endurance and transformation: The ocean’s deadly pressure becomes a means of strengthening Li Qingshan.
• The cost of comparison: Yun Yi’s fixation on Li Qingshan disrupts the inner calm that sustains his power.
• Hidden potential and mysterious treasures: Li Qingshan’s breakthrough depends on both his own cultivation and the gourd’s ancient, unexplained nature.
• Different paths to strength: Li Qingshan advances through absorption and refinement, while Yun Yi relies on innate talent and a supreme treasure.

Character interactions

• The chapter’s central interaction is a silent rivalry between Li Qingshan and Yun Yi. Yun Yi is stunned when Li Qingshan overtakes him, and his reaction ultimately contributes to his failure.
• After Yun Yi is expelled, Li Qingshan recognizes his opponent’s impressive abilities but concludes that a flaw in Yun Yi’s state of mind cost him the trial.

Key plot points and events

• Li Qingshan continues crossing the ocean of the Great Dao, where waves briefly form entire worlds or take the shape of individual laws before dissolving back into the sea.
• The constant pressure of the law origins begins transforming him: his immortal power, body, and soul start merging, signaling that he is nearing the Golden Immortal Realm.
• Just as his breakthrough seems imminent, the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd halts the transformation and reveals a hidden star chart within him: he has 360 immortal apertures, not merely the 144 he had discovered.
• The gourd then stops shielding him from the ocean’s laws. Their torrent tears through his meridians and forces open the other 216 apertures. The gourd heals the damage, while the law of chaos harmonizes the different origins filling them.
• When all 360 apertures are open and shining, Li reaches the far shore of the ocean and stands before the ninth floor’s golden barrier. His physical strength and immortal power have surged dramatically.

Character developments

• Li Qingshan moves from anticipating an early Golden Immortal breakthrough to being pushed into a far stranger, more powerful state as a Profound Immortal.
• He is astonished—and unsettled—by the discovery that the limits he understood were wrong. He suspects he has entered a “forbidden domain,” but does not yet know why the gourd prevented his advancement or what secret the extra apertures reveal.
• His confidence grows: he believes he could now defeat Dark Star with a single punch.

Significant themes

• Limits and hidden potential: Li’s 360 apertures exceed the established understanding of what a Profound Immortal can attain.
• Transformation through ordeal: The ocean’s destructive force becomes the means by which Li’s body and cultivation are remade.
• Unity amid difference: The law of chaos allows countless distinct law origins to coexist within him.
• The cost of power and the unknown: The gourd’s intervention brings immense strength but raises deeper questions about Li’s cultivation and destiny.

Character interactions

• Li has no direct conversations with other characters in this chapter. His key relationship is with the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd, which protects him, blocks his expected breakthrough, reveals his hidden apertures, and ultimately exposes him to the force that opens them.

Key plot points and events

• Li Qingshan reaches the eighth level of the divine mountain with 360 immortal apertures—far beyond the known Profound Immortal limits. Though the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd suppresses his transformation into a Golden Immortal, his raw power exceeds that of one; a clenched fist annihilates space without using immortal power or laws.
• At the eighth level’s summit, he finds three rewards: the ninth-grade Myriad Dao Immortal Sword, the Myriad Dao Immortal Canon, a complete cultivation art reaching the Immortal King Realm, and a seemingly ordinary, cracked gray seed.
• The Wish-Fulfilling Gourd reacts to the seed with extraordinary excitement. Li Qingshan chooses it over the sword and canon and places it inside the gourd.
• The gourd’s reaction reveals the seed’s true nature: its shell is covered in ancient law runes, which project a vision of it sprouting into a Chaos Ancient Vine bearing countless worlds and eventually producing a chaos-colored gourd.
• Li Qingshan realizes the seed may have given birth to a Chaos Gourd and wonders whether his own Wish-Fulfilling Gourd originated the same way.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Qingshan recognizes that his strength and cultivation defy established limits, but he remains cautious and prioritizes the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd over prestigious treasures.
• The Wish-Fulfilling Gourd, usually quiet and restrained, displays unprecedented longing and excitement at the seed, suggesting a deep connection between them.
• Li Qingshan’s main interaction is with the gourd and the seed: his decision to place the seed inside it triggers the revelation. The ninth level’s barrier remains ahead, but he has not yet entered it.

Significant themes

• Transcending established limits: Li Qingshan’s 360 apertures challenge what is considered possible for a Profound Immortal.
• Hidden origins and ancient mysteries: The seed’s vision hints at the primordial origins of the Chaos Ancient Vine, the myriad worlds, and possibly the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd itself.
• The value of understanding over prestige: Despite the immense power of the sword and canon, Li Qingshan chooses the mysterious treasure that may deepen his connection to his greatest secret.

Key plot points

• Li Qingshan chooses the mysterious seed over the Myriad Dao Immortal Sword and Myriad Dao Immortal Canon. Once inside the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd, the seed draws in its chaotic light, strengthening and expanding the gourd. A vast, ancient life force begins to awaken within it.
• Li wonders whether the seed and the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd share an origin, and whether the seed could transform the gourd. He recognizes the gourd as his greatest opportunity, but leaves the mystery unresolved.
• With the other treasures sinking back into the platform, Li enters the golden barrier leading to the ninth level, the Golden Firmament Realm—the first person to approach it in three million years.
• Outside the secret realm, the seven Immortal Lords learn that Yun Yi failed the eighth-level trial. He reached halfway across its vast ocean of the Great Dao before being cast out.
• Yun Yi had seen Li Qingshan ahead of him. The sight stirred resentment and competitiveness, unsettling his usually immaculate state of mind and costing him the trial.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Qingshan trusts his instincts and prioritizes the seed’s unknown potential over two renowned treasures. His progress and possible access to the ninth level make him an increasingly consequential, unpredictable contender.
• Yun Yi demonstrates extraordinary ability by reaching the eighth level, but his reaction to Li’s progress reveals that even his disciplined Dao heart can be shaken by rivalry.
• The Immortal Lords react with disbelief that a Profound Immortal could surpass Yun Yi. They debate whether Li’s mastery of chaos explains his advantage, but most doubt he can endure the eighth level’s trial.
• Yun Xu remains guarded. While the others assume Li cannot succeed, Yun Xu privately wonders whether Li may be the person he has been waiting for.

Significant themes

• Unknown origins and hidden potential: The seed’s connection to the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd may reshape Li’s understanding of his most important treasure.
• Rivalry and inner discipline: Yun Yi’s failure comes not simply from weakness, but from a moment of envy and competitive desire.
• Destiny versus expectation: Li’s rapid ascent challenges the Immortal Lords’ assumptions about what a Profound Immortal can achieve, leaving his true potential—and the ninth level’s secrets—unresolved.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingshan enters the ninth level of the Golden Firmament Realm, a chaotic void with nine rainbow bridges representing different laws.
• He chooses the Chaos Rainbow Bridge, leading to an ocean of pure chaos origin that tempers his physical body, immortal apertures, and law foundation.
• He reaches the end of the Chaos Rainbow Bridge, finding an ancient immortal palace with a mysterious voice welcoming him.

Character Developments

• Li Qingshan's three hundred and sixty immortal apertures reach perfection, and his Azure Dragon Transformation improves to the realm of major accomplishment.
• He demonstrates vigilance and caution upon hearing the mysterious voice.

Significant Themes

• The power of chaos, which can temper, evolve, and encompass all things.
• The journey of self-improvement and growth through trials and challenges.
• The mystery and allure of the Chosen Immortal King's inheritance.

Character Interactions

• Li Qingshan interacts with the ethereal, pleasant voice, which he suspects belongs to the Chosen Immortal King. However, there's no direct interaction with another character yet.

Key plot points

• Li Qingshan enters the immortal palace and meets the remnant soul of the legendary Chosen Immortal King, who has waited there for three million years.
• The remnant soul is astonished to learn that Li has opened 360 immortal apertures, far beyond the previously understood maximum of 108.
• He recounts his own rise: despite ordinary beginnings, he pursued the difficult chaos law, perfected nine Great Dao laws, and fused them into a Nine-Colored Chaos Dao Fruit. This earned him the title Ninefold Dao Immortal King and brought him to the threshold of becoming an Immortal Emperor.
• The Immortal King reveals that an unknown outsider prevents new Immortal Emperors from arising. It sleeps beneath the ruins of the Ancient Heavenly Court, drawing in the destiny and laws of countless worlds. When someone approaches the Immortal Emperor realm, it awakens and destroys them. The Immortal King was struck down by its black immortal light.
• Before dying, he sealed his Dao Fruit and remnant soul in the secret realm and created its trials, hoping to find someone capable of confronting the threat. He says no challenger in three million years met all the necessary conditions. The chapter ends as Li asks what those three conditions are.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Qingshan remains respectful and candid, answering the Immortal King’s questions honestly. His shock at the revelation gives way to resolve: even in the face of an enemy beyond his understanding, he does not intend to retreat.
• The Chosen Immortal King shifts from an imposing, mysterious presence into a weary mentor, sharing both his hard-won history and the catastrophe that ended his life. His reaction to Li’s 360 apertures suggests he sees unusual promise in him.
• Their exchange is formal but increasingly personal: the Immortal King tests Li’s background and abilities, then entrusts him with a warning about the Immortal Realm’s deepest danger.

Significant themes

• Persistence against impossible odds: The Immortal King’s unconventional path and Li’s resolve both reflect perseverance despite ridicule, difficulty, or overwhelming enemies.
• The limits of power: Even a near-Immortal-Emperor can be defeated by a force beyond the known order.
• Hidden history and cosmic danger: The fall of the Heavenly Court and the absence of Immortal Emperors are revealed as parts of a larger mystery.
• Inheritance and hope: The trials were designed to preserve the Immortal King’s legacy and find a successor capable of facing the threat.

Plot points and events

• The Chosen Immortal King explains that defeating the still-sleeping threat requires three things: mastery of the laws of chaos, 360 immortal apertures, and the Chaos Gourd. All three let a cultivator resist the threat’s power without being detected by its network of laws.
• Li Qingshan realizes he possesses all three. His Wish-Fulfilling Gourd is actually the Chaos Gourd, a supreme treasure left by the Heavenly Emperor. The coincidence troubles him, and he wonders whether his life has been guided by someone.
• Lady Three-Flower appears and reveals her longstanding connection to both Li Qingshan and the Chosen Immortal King. The King confirms that Li is the ideal inheritor; Lady Three-Flower adds that his 360 apertures make him comparable to an innate god or devil.
• The Chosen Immortal King passes Li his inheritance: the Nine-Colored Chaos Dao Fruit, the Chaos Myriad Dao Art, the Chaos Heavenly Secret Sword, and the Chosen Cave Abode. He cautions Li to store the Dao Fruit in the Chaos Gourd and refine it gradually.
• With his mission complete and his remnant soul fading, the King asks Lady Three-Flower to purify the curse lingering in the Dao Fruit. At her urging, Li formally accepts the King as his master. The King dies peacefully, entrusting Li to Lady Three-Flower.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Qingshan is shaken by the revelation that his gifts may be part of a larger design, but he accepts the inheritance with sincere gratitude and reverence. He begins to understand that his cultivation has brought him to the level of the primordial innate beings.
• Lady Three-Flower reveals greater authority and history than Li had known: the Chosen Immortal King addresses her as a senior, and she has watched Li since his mortal days. Beneath her casual manner, she shows affection for Li and sadness at the King’s passing.
• The Chosen Immortal King moves from wary assessment to complete trust, giving Li everything he preserved across three million years. His final exchange with Lady Three-Flower reflects their old relationship and shared concern for the threat.

Significant themes

• Destiny and coincidence: Li’s rare qualifications fit a plan spanning millions of years, raising questions about whether his path was orchestrated.
• Inheritance and responsibility: The treasures are not merely rewards; they equip Li to confront a danger that threatens the Immortal Realm.
• Mortality and legacy: The King’s long vigil ends only after he finds a worthy successor.
• Trust and guidance: Lady Three-Flower’s hidden influence and the King’s confidence in Li emphasize the importance of mentors and allies.

Key plot points and events

• After the Chosen Immortal King disappears, Lady Three-Flower explains that he left behind only an obsession—not a surviving piece of his soul—and is truly dead.
• Li Qingshan asks about the mysterious Mastermind Behind the Scenes. Lady Three-Flower warns that even speaking his name could expose and destroy the entire Chosen Secret Realm. She says this being was likely responsible for the Ancient Heavenly Court’s sudden destruction.
• Lady Three-Flower urges Li Qingshan to become stronger than the Chosen Immortal King and reach the Immortal Emperor Realm if he hopes to oppose that threat. She believes his unusually strong foundation and mastery of chaos give him greater potential.
• When Li Qingshan produces the Chosen Immortal King’s Nine-Colored Chaos Dao Fruit, Lady Three-Flower discovers seven concealed curse marks embedded among its nine Great Dao laws. The curses would have annihilated Li Qingshan if he had tried to refine the fruit.
• She orders him out of the hall and spends three days using her innate origin, along with power drawn from the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd, to purify the Dao fruit. The process succeeds but leaves her severely weakened.
• Before retreating into the gourd to recover, Lady Three-Flower tells Li Qingshan the fruit is safe to refine, though he must proceed gradually because his cultivation is not yet sufficient to absorb it fully.
• Li Qingshan realizes Lady Three-Flower can draw upon the gourd’s origin. Suspecting a connection between her and the Ancient Heavenly Court—possibly even its Heavenly Emperor—he resolves to investigate later and focus first on reaching the Golden Immortal Realm.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Qingshan is shaken by the Chosen Immortal King’s death and the scale of the hidden threat. He recognizes his current helplessness but renews his resolve to grow stronger. His trust in Lady Three-Flower remains, even as her control of the gourd raises new questions about her identity.
• Lady Three-Flower reveals unusual fear and anger when discussing the Mastermind, while admitting her memories remain incomplete. Her willingness to risk her remaining strength to protect Li Qingshan shows her loyalty and concern beneath her commanding manner.
• Their relationship deepens through mutual trust: she warns and protects him, while he obeys her instructions and worries about the cost of her sacrifice.

Significant themes

• Hidden power and existential danger: The Mastermind’s reach is so immense that even knowledge of his name may invite destruction.
• Inheritance and peril: The Dao fruit offers extraordinary power, but its concealed curses make the inheritance a lethal trap.
• Growth through limitation: Li Qingshan recognizes that he cannot yet confront ancient threats and must strengthen himself first.
• Mystery and trust: Lady Three-Flower’s uncertain past and connection to the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd hint at a larger role in the Ancient Heavenly Court’s history.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingshan refines the Chaos Thunder Dao Fruit to break into the Golden Immortal realm.
• He successfully condenses 360 strands of immortal golden essence, surpassing ordinary Golden Immortal cultivators.
• The Wish-Fulfilling Gourd expands and transforms, with the Chaos Ancient Vine sapling taking root and sprouting.
• Li Qingshan obtains the Chaos Heavenly Secret Sword and the Chaos Myriad Dao Art from the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd.
• The Chaos Gods and Devils Scripture and the Chaos Myriad Dao Art begin to merge within Li Qingshan's body.

Character Developments

• Li Qingshan advances from late Profound Immortal to early Golden Immortal, condensing an unprecedented 360 strands of immortal golden essence.
• His physical body, enhanced by the perfected Azure Dragon Transformation, reaches the level of a peak Golden Immortal.
• The Wish-Fulfilling Gourd's space expands and becomes richer in origin power due to the Chaos Ancient Vine sapling's growth.

Significant Themes

• The power of the Chaos Thunder Dao Fruit and the Chaos Myriad Dao Art aid Li Qingshan in his breakthrough to the Golden Immortal realm.
• The fusion of the Chaos Gods and Devils Scripture and the Chaos Myriad Dao Art foreshadows the creation of a powerful new cultivation art.
• The growth of the Chaos Ancient Vine sapling within the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd symbolizes the treasure's recovery and Li Qingshan's increasing power.

Character Interactions

• No significant character interactions occur in this chapter, as Li Qingshan is the sole focus, cultivating and absorbing the benefits of the Chosen Immortal King's inheritance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingshan refines the token left by the Chosen Immortal King, becoming the master of the Chosen Secret Realm.
• He discovers that several hundred young geniuses, including his friends, are trapped in a Demonic Star Heaven-Devouring Grand Formation set up by Dark Star from Heaven-Hunting Pavilion.
• Dark Star is using the formation to devour the origins of the prodigies to increase his power, planning to kill all the chosen geniuses.

Character Developments

• Li Qingshan: Becomes the master of the secret realm, shows concern for his friends, and exhibits cold killing intent towards Dark Star.
• Dark Star: Shows extreme greed and ruthlessness, willing to kill all the chosen geniuses to increase his power.

Significant Themes

• Power and Ambition: Dark Star's desire for power drives him to commit heinous acts.
• Friendship and Loyalty: Li Qingshan's concern for his friends motivates him to act.
• Survival and Struggle: The chosen geniuses fight to survive against the deadly grand formation.

Character Interactions

• Li Qingshan and his friends (Tantai Yue, Zhao Chengqian, Murong Xuanwu, Luo Yunyang, Luo Yiyi): Li Qingshan is worried about their safety, while they struggle to defend against the grand formation.
• Dark Star and the chosen geniuses: Dark Star shows no mercy, intending to slaughter all the chosen geniuses, while they fight back but are at a disadvantage.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Luo Yunyang takes a severe wound from Dark Star's attack, intended for Luo Yiyi.
• The six great prodigies attempt to break the Demonic Star Heaven-Devouring Grand Formation together but fail.
• Li Qingshan appears, using the Grass-Character Sword Art to shatter the formation with a single strike, saving everyone.

Character Developments

• Luo Yunyang demonstrates his protective nature towards Luo Yiyi, taking a fatal blow for her.
• The six great prodigies show unity in the face of danger, acknowledging the need to work together.
• Li Qingshan reveals his growth, now possessing a ninth-grade primordial immortal sword and displaying early-stage Golden Immortal pressure.

Significant Themes

• Unity and cooperation in the face of adversity.
• The power of individual strength versus collective effort.
• The consequences of underestimating one's opponent.

Character Interactions

• Luo Yunyang and Luo Yiyi: Brother-sister bond and protection.
• The six great prodigies: Temporary alliance and mutual respect.
• Li Qingshan and Dark Star: Rivals with a history, displaying their growing power and determination.

Plot points and events

• Dark Star confronts Li Qingshan, confident that his late Golden Immortal cultivation and more than a thousand strands of immortal golden essence will secure victory.
• Li Qingshan defeats him first with a single punch using the Azure Emperor Dragon-Controlling Fist, relying on his perfected Azure Dragon Transformation rather than his sword. Dark Star’s arm is shattered, and his earlier chest wound reopens.
• Li Qingshan follows with the Grass-Character Sword Art, channeled through the ninth-grade Myriad Dao Immortal Sword. The strike destroys Dark Star’s defenses and leaves him gravely wounded.
• As the gathered prodigies react in shock, Dark Star summons an avatar of the Heaven-Hunting Pavilion’s deputy pavilion master, the Dark Abyss Immortal Lord. Its overwhelming pressure immobilizes the crowd, and its sealing chains reach for Li Qingshan.
• Li Qingshan counters by using his authority as master of the Chosen Secret Realm. He channels the realm’s accumulated law power into his sword, splitting the avatar’s enormous hand and destroying the eye in its palm.
• A second, more substantial palm emerges from the rift, and the Immortal Lord’s voice threatens Li Qingshan. The battle remains unresolved at the chapter’s end.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Qingshan reveals that his strength far exceeds what his early Golden Immortal rank suggests. He moves from overwhelming Dark Star through physical power and swordsmanship to wielding the secret realm itself as his weapon.
• Dark Star shifts from arrogant confidence to desperation. Unable to escape or defeat Li Qingshan, he resorts to summoning his patron’s avatar.
• The observing prodigies reassess Li Qingshan. Xiao Yuntian realizes he could no longer challenge him; Yun Yi sets aside his resentment; Mo Wuhen calls him a “monster”; and Liu Qingyan finally abandons her lingering defiance.
• The confrontation highlights the contrast between Dark Star’s reliance on the Heaven-Hunting Pavilion and Li Qingshan’s command of the Chosen Secret Realm.

Significant themes

• True strength versus cultivation rank: Li Qingshan’s physical power, swordsmanship, and resources let him defeat an opponent of a much higher realm.
• Power through mastery and opportunity: His control of the secret realm transforms a seemingly impossible fight against an Immortal Lord’s avatar into a contest he can answer.
• Pride and desperation: Dark Star’s certainty collapses as Li Qingshan repeatedly outmatches him, driving him to use increasingly extreme measures.
• Awe and shifting hierarchies: Witnesses who once saw Li Qingshan as a rival now recognize the widening gap between his abilities and theirs.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Li Qingshan confronts the deputy pavilion master of the Heaven-Hunting Pavilion, who attacks through a rift with an Immortal Lord avatar.
• Using his perfected Azure Dragon Transformation and Azure Emperor Dragon-Controlling Fist, Li Qingshan shatters the avatar’s enormous black palm. He follows with the Myriad Dao Immortal Sword and the Grass-Character Sword Art, destroying the avatar and closing the rift.
• Dark Star attempts to escape with a Great Teleportation Immortal Talisman, but Li Qingshan uses his authority over the Chosen Secret Realm to seal the space. Chaos-colored chains then bind Dark Star, and Li Qingshan cuts him down.
• Li Qingshan uses the Great Devouring Immortal Art to capture and consume every strand of Dark Star’s immortal golden essence, preventing his resurrection. The Chaos Melting Furnace converts it into Chaos Origin, raising Li Qingshan’s total to roughly one thousand strands.
• With the assassin and avatar defeated, the hundreds of trapped prodigies are safe. They celebrate and recognize Li Qingshan as their rescuer.

Character developments

• Li Qingshan demonstrates overwhelming power, combining his cultivation, swordsmanship, and control of the secret realm to defeat both an Immortal Lord avatar and a late-stage Golden Immortal. His victory decisively establishes him as the strongest figure among the gathered prodigies.
• Dark Star shifts from a deadly hunter to a desperate fugitive, then begs for mercy before being completely annihilated.
• Yun Yi, Xiao Yuntian, and Mo Wuhen each recognize that Li Qingshan’s strength has surpassed theirs by an enormous margin. Xiao Yuntian also understands that the sword alone does not explain Li’s victory.
• Tantai Yue quietly watches with admiration; her earlier trembling stops. Luo Yunyang feels grateful that he befriended Li beforehand, while Murong Xuanwu celebrates having been proven right.

Character interactions

• Li Qingshan faces the avatar’s threats without fear and gives it no chance to recover after breaking its attack.
• Dark Star tries to teleport away, struggles against Li’s restraints, and pleads for his life; Li refuses to spare him.
• The rescued prodigies cheer, embrace, weep, and bow toward Li. Luo Yiyi calls out to him, while Zhao Chengqian playfully kicks Murong Xuanwu as they recover from the ordeal.

Significant themes

• Power and transformation: Li’s victory marks a dramatic leap beyond his peers, leaving the others to reassess their standing.
• Control and resourcefulness: He wins not through the sword alone, but by combining martial strength, secret-realm authority, and devouring techniques.
• Finality and consequence: By consuming all of Dark Star’s immortal essence, Li ensures there can be no return or revenge from the assassin.
• Recognition and mystery: The prodigies’ awe turns to speculation that Li may have obtained the Chosen Immortal King’s inheritance and become the Chosen One.

Key plot points and events

• Yun Yi asks Li Qingshan whether he obtained the Chosen Immortal King’s inheritance after witnessing his extraordinary strength. Li denies it, claiming he reached the end of the eighth level, gained the Myriad Dao Immortal Sword, and was expelled by the ninth level’s overwhelming laws.
• Li conceals the truth: he possesses the Immortal King’s inheritance and has erased evidence of reaching the ninth level from his Chosen Token. He also keeps secret that he controls the Chosen Secret Realm.
• The rescued prodigies thank Li and offer favors, gifts, and future assistance. The Chosen Secret Realm’s exit opens, and the survivors begin returning to the outside world.
• As he leaves, Li reflects that he can return to the realm whenever he wishes, making its remaining opportunities and cultivation sites a resource he must protect.

Character developments and interactions

• Yun Yi expresses deep respect for Li and promises repayment, inviting him to visit the Supreme Immortal Sect.
• Xiao Yuntian and Liu Qingyan, who previously clashed with Li, acknowledge their past hostility and apologize. Xiao pledges his service; Liu’s former arrogance has given way to respect.
• Mo Wuhen recognizes how far Li has surpassed him but remains determined to challenge him after reaching Golden Immortal.
• Yan Wushuang, Shui Qingyin, and the other survivors show gratitude for Li’s rescue. Murong Xuanwu jokes that Li is like a parent who gave him a second life, while Zhao Chengqian rebukes him. Luo Yiyi admires Li’s breakthrough, and Luo Yunyang thanks him solemnly.
• Tantai Yue quietly shares a warm, wordless moment with Li before leaving alongside him and their companions.

Significant themes

• Secrecy and self-preservation: Li hides the inheritance and his control of the realm because powerful Immortal Lords could become dangerous rivals.
• Respect earned through action: Li’s rescue and achievements transform former enemies and skeptics into allies.
• Gratitude and obligation: Many characters treat the lives Li saved as debts they intend to repay, while Li downplays the need for thanks.
• Ambition and rivalry: Mo Wuhen’s promise to fight Li again preserves their competitive relationship even as he acknowledges Li’s superiority.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Chosen Secret Realm's rankings are revealed, with Li Qingshan at the top with five million points, far ahead of second place Yun Yi with three million two hundred thousand points.
• The seven Immortal Lords discuss Li Qingshan's potential joining of their sects, each offering enticing incentives.
• The secret realm's gateway opens, and the cultivators emerge. Li Qingshan is the last to exit, drawing everyone's attention.

Character Developments

• Li Qingshan: His score and potential have drawn the attention of the seven Immortal Lords, who are eager to recruit him. He has proven himself to be a formidable cultivator and a potential Chosen One.
• Yun Yi: Despite being the Supreme Immortal Sect's prodigy, he is overshadowed by Li Qingshan's score. He emerges from the secret realm with a somewhat dimmed aura.
• The Immortal Lords: They reveal their eagerness and willingness to compete for Li Qingshan's allegiance, showing their desperation to secure such a prodigious talent.

Significant Themes

• Competition and Rivalry: The Immortal Lords' eagerness to recruit Li Qingshan highlights the intense competition and rivalry between the immortal sects.
• Potential and Opportunity: Li Qingshan's score and potential have opened doors to the highest levels of cultivation and power, emphasizing the importance of opportunity and potential in the cultivation world.

Character Interactions

• Li Qingshan and the Immortal Lords: The Immortal Lords' discussion about Li Qingshan shows their interest in him and their willingness to compete for his allegiance.
• Li Qingshan and Yun Yi: Their scores and positions on the rankings highlight their rivalry and the expectations placed upon them.
• Li Qingshan and his companions: Their emergence together from the secret realm emphasizes their bond and shared journey.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingshan's appearance at Chosen Plaza sparks widespread discussion about his achievements and potential inheritance of the Chosen Immortal King.
• Yun Xu, the leader of the seven Immortal Lords, questions Li Qingshan about the inheritance, and Li Qingshan reveals he was blasted out of the ninth floor.
• Li Qingshan admits to being injured by Dark Star during his time in the Chosen Secret Realm, which affected his performance on the ninth floor.
• Yun Yi, Xiao Yuntian, and Mo Wuhen confirm Li Qingshan's account, revealing Dark Star's actions and Heaven-Hunting Pavilion's involvement.
• The seven Immortal Lords express outrage at Heaven-Hunting Pavilion's actions and vow to take action against them.

Character Developments

• Li Qingshan: Maintains composure under pressure, reveals strategic information about his experiences, and shows regret for not obtaining the inheritance.
• Yun Xu: Initially hopeful about Li Qingshan's potential, but expresses disappointment when Li Qingshan reveals he didn't obtain the inheritance.
• The seven Immortal Lords: React with shock and anger upon learning about Heaven-Hunting Pavilion's actions, vowing to take action against them.

Significant Themes

• The power of secrets and hidden information, as Li Qingshan strategically reveals details about his experiences.
• The consequences of actions and their impact on others, as Heaven-Hunting Pavilion's actions spark outrage and a united response from the seven Immortal Lords.

Character Interactions

• Li Qingshan interacts with Yun Xu, revealing his experiences and expressing regret for not obtaining the inheritance.
• Yun Yi, Xiao Yuntian, and Mo Wuhen support Li Qingshan's account, revealing Dark Star's actions and Heaven-Hunting Pavilion's involvement.
• The seven Immortal Lords discuss and react to the revelations about Heaven-Hunting Pavilion, vowing to take action against them.

Chapter Summary: “The Death of Li Hanjiang!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yun Xu and the six other Immortal Lords decide that the seven great immortal sects will jointly exterminate Heaven-Hunting Pavilion after its assassins attacked the Chosen Secret Realm and slaughtered Immortal Sect Selection prodigies.
• Li Hanjiang, the Freewheeling King, realizes that Li Qingshan has killed both Dark Star and Heaven-Hunting Pavilion’s Immortal Lord incarnation. Fearing that his own collusion will be exposed, he attempts to flee.
• Li Qingshan stops him and publicly accuses Li Hanjiang and his son, Li Xuanyu, of hiring Heaven-Hunting Pavilion assassins to murder him.
• To prove the accusation, Li Qingshan kills and captures Gold Thirty-Six, a disguised gold-medal assassin hiding among the crowd. Yun Xu searches the assassin’s soul, revealing memories that directly record:
  • Dark Star assigning Gold Thirty-Six and others to assassinate Li Qingshan.
  • Li Xuanyu offering Heaven-Hunting Pavilion three hundred million immortal stones for the assassination.
• The evidence shocks the entire crowd and confirms the Freewheeling King’s betrayal.
• The Chu Emperor strips Li Hanjiang of his title, expels him from the Great Chu Immortal Kingdom, and permanently bars him from reinstatement.
• Driven by hatred and desperation, Li Hanjiang attacks Li Qingshan with his full peak Golden Immortal strength.
• Li Qingshan effortlessly defeats him with two strikes of the Myriad Dao Immortal Sword and the Grass-Character Sword Art. He then destroys Li Hanjiang’s remaining immortal golden essence with the Azure Emperor Dragon-Controlling Fist and absorbs it through the Great Devouring Immortal Art.
• Li Hanjiang dies completely, without even a remnant soul. The chapter ends with the assembled cultivators recognizing Li Qingshan as an unprecedentedly powerful figure.

Character Developments

• Li Qingshan: Demonstrates overwhelming strength, superior perception, and careful planning. He had identified Gold Thirty-Six earlier but waited to expose him at the most politically decisive moment. His ability to kill a peak Golden Immortal confirms that his power has surpassed ordinary Golden Immortal standards and approaches the Immortal Lord realm.
• Li Hanjiang: Changes from an influential, arrogant king into a frightened fugitive. Once exposed, he abandons restraint and launches a desperate final attack, but his hatred and overconfidence lead to his total destruction.
• Li Xuanyu: Though already dead, his crimes are confirmed through the soul-search, revealing the extent of his vicious cooperation with Heaven-Hunting Pavilion.
• Yun Xu: Shows approval of Li Qingshan’s judgment and tactical restraint. He acts decisively by exposing Gold Thirty-Six’s memories and validating the accusations.
• The Chu Emperor: Moves from authority to condemnation, stripping Li Hanjiang of his status and making clear that betrayal of the kingdom and assassination of a selection prodigy cannot be tolerated.
• Yun Yi and the other young prodigies: Their previous shock and competitiveness toward Li Qingshan shift toward awe, reverence, and, in some cases, renewed battle intent.

Significant Themes

• Justice and retribution: Heaven-Hunting Pavilion’s attack on the Chosen Secret Realm is treated as an assault on the foundation of all seven immortal sects, resulting in collective punishment.
• Exposure of hidden conspiracies: Li Qingshan turns an accusation into undeniable proof, showing that concealed wrongdoing eventually surfaces.
• Power and hierarchy: Li Qingshan’s victory reveals an enormous gap between him and ordinary Golden Immortals, establishing him as a transcendent figure among his generation.
• The collapse of status through betrayal: Li Hanjiang’s title, influence, and royal protection cannot save him once his collusion is proven.
• Strategic patience: Li Qingshan’s decision to preserve Gold Thirty-Six as a witness highlights the value of timing and evidence in addition to brute strength.
• Rise of a legendary figure: The crowd’s reaction confirms that Li Qingshan’s achievements in the selection have elevated him into a near-mythical figure in Supreme Emperor Heaven.

Character Interactions

• Li Qingshan and Yun Xu: Li Qingshan respectfully presents Gold Thirty-Six and requests a soul search; Yun Xu recognizes his intelligence and supports him.
• Li Qingshan and Li Hanjiang: Their confrontation moves from accusation to open hostility, ending with Li Qingshan killing Li Hanjiang after mocking his desperate attempt to retaliate.
• Li Qingshan and the Chu Emperor: The Chu Emperor publicly validates Li Qingshan’s accusations by punishing Li Hanjiang, reinforcing Li Qingshan’s position.
• Yun Xu and Gold Thirty-Six: Yun Xu extracts the assassin’s memories, turning him into decisive evidence against the Freewheeling King.
• The surrounding prodigies and Li Qingshan: Yun Yi, Mo Wuhen, Yan Wushuang, Shui Qingyin, Luo Yiyi, and others react with shock, admiration, excitement, or competitive determination after witnessing Li Qingshan’s effortless victory.

Plot points and events

• After Li Qingshan’s exceptional performance at the Chosen Divine Mountain, all seven Immortal Lords compete to recruit him, each offering rare resources, personal mentorship, and high status.
• Their offers include the Primordial Unity Immortal Sect’s ten drops of chaos divine liquid; the Ascension Immortal Sect’s nectar; the Jade Void Immortal Sect’s cultivation pool; the Wuji Immortal Sect’s abundant resources; the Purple Star Immortal Sect’s Chaos Thunder Pool; and the Supreme Immortal Sect’s unrestricted access to its teachings and resources.
• Li Qingshan weighs each sect’s strengths against his own needs. His perfected immortal apertures make the Ascension Sect’s nectar less useful, while several other offers are less directly suited to his cultivation of chaos laws.
• Lady Three-Flower advises him to choose the Primordial Unity Immortal Sect. She explains its deep connection to Chosen, whose inheritance Li Qingshan received, and stresses that the sect’s complete chaos-law lineage and the divine liquid will support his future progress.
• Li Qingshan accepts Zhao Cangming’s offer. Zhao celebrates and confirms Li’s status as a True Disciple, grants him one million contribution points, and promises him a superior-grade immortal mountain.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Qingshan’s achievement transforms him from a promising prodigy into the most sought-after recruit in Supreme Emperor Heaven. He carefully considers the offers rather than choosing solely by prestige or reward, ultimately prioritizing a sect aligned with his cultivation path.
• Zhao Cangming shows unusual eagerness for an early-stage Golden Immortal, making an exceptionally generous bid and personally pledging to mentor Li. His delight at Li’s choice underscores how valuable he considers him.
• Lady Three-Flower plays a decisive advisory role, revealing the historical connection between Chosen and the Primordial Unity Immortal Sect.
• The other Immortal Lords display a mix of admiration, disappointment, and competitive spirit. Mu Qingqing and Shui Wuhen accept Li’s decision with regret; Yan Lie leaves the door open for Li to join his sect later; Lei Ziyan rebukes Yan Lie for openly trying to poach him.

Significant themes

• Talent and opportunity: Extraordinary ability attracts powerful patrons and unprecedented rewards.
• Choosing the right path: Li selects the sect whose teachings and resources best support his long-term cultivation, not simply the most prestigious or lavish offer.
• Legacy and belonging: His inherited connection to Chosen makes joining the Primordial Unity Immortal Sect a return to an intellectual and historical lineage.
• Rivalry among institutions: The seven sects’ public bidding reveals both their fierce competition and the immense value they place on rare talent.

Key plot points and events

• Li Qingshan chooses the powerful Primordial Unity Immortal Sect, ending the Immortal Lords’ competition to recruit him.
• The other selected prodigies return to their sects: Yun Yi to the Supreme Immortal Sect; Xiao Yuntian and Liu Qingyan to the Purple Star Immortal Sect; Mo Wuhen to the Primeval Devil Sect; Yan Wushuang to the Wuji Immortal Sect; and Shui Qingyin to the Jade Void Immortal Sect.
• Shui Wuhen discovers that Tantai Yue has the foundation of a jade marrow immortal body. He invites her to the Jade Void Immortal Sect, where its methods and resources can awaken it. With Li Qingshan’s encouragement, she accepts.
• Murong Xuanwu chooses to follow Li Qingshan rather than join the Wuji Immortal Sect for its body-refinement legacy. Zhao Cangming promises to arrange suitable training for him.
• Luo Yunyang and Luo Yiyi also join the Primordial Unity Immortal Sect. Along with Li Qingshan, Murong Xuanwu, and Zhao Chengqian, they give the sect an exceptionally impressive group of five prodigies.
• The Qian Emperor and Tantai Xuanji offer Li Qingshan their support and urge him to make the most of his opportunity.
• The Chosen Secret Realm disappears. The Immortal Lords assume it will reopen in three thousand years, unaware that Li Qingshan has secretly made it his own private domain.
• The selection ends, and Li Qingshan departs for the Primordial Unity Immortal Sect with his new fellow disciples.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Qingshan confirms his growing status by choosing his own path, guiding Tantai Yue toward the opportunity best suited to her, and preparing to begin a new stage of cultivation.
• Tantai Yue accepts separation from Li Qingshan in order to strengthen herself. Their restrained, affectionate farewell reveals her feelings and her determination not to fall behind.
• Murong Xuanwu remains loyal to Li Qingshan, choosing gratitude and companionship over the Wuji Immortal Sect’s more specialized training.
• Luo Yiyi is shyly eager to stay near Li Qingshan, while her brother Luo Yunyang supports their move to the same sect.
• Zhao Cangming shows satisfaction at his sect’s recruitment haul and generosity toward Murong Xuanwu; Yan Lie reluctantly accepts that the young disciple must choose his own future.
• The Qian Emperor’s pride and Tantai Xuanji’s candid advice underscore their enduring support for Li Qingshan.

Significant themes

• Self-determination: The prodigies choose sects according to their ambitions, affinities, loyalties, and personal ties.
• Growth and sacrifice: Tantai Yue accepts a painful parting to pursue the cultivation she needs to keep pace with Li Qingshan.
• Mentorship and loyalty: Senior figures offer guidance and resources, while younger characters show gratitude and commitment.
• Opportunity and hidden advantage: Li Qingshan’s secret control of the Chosen Secret Realm gives him an enormous advantage beyond what the other Immortal Lords realize.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group arrives at the Primordial Unity Immortal Hall, which transforms into a radiant immortal vessel to travel to the Primordial Unity Immortal Sect.
• Zhao Cangming informs Li Qingshan about the sect's nine peaks and halls, each corresponding to a law of the Immortal Realm.
• Li Qingshan learns about the connection between the Chosen Immortal King and the Primordial Unity Immortal Sect from Zhao Cangming.

Character Developments

• Li Qingshan: Reflects on his cultivation progress and decides to stabilize his foundation before breaking through to the middle stage of the Golden Immortal realm. He also considers his trump cards, including the Chosen Immortal King's inheritance, the Chaos Heavenly Secret Sword, and the God-Devil Avatar.
• Zhao Cangming: Shows pride in the Primordial Unity Immortal Sect's gains during the Immortal Sect Selection and shares historical information about the sect and the Chosen Immortal King.

Significant Themes

• The connection between the Chosen Immortal King and the Primordial Unity Immortal Sect is further explored, hinting at a deeper mystery.
• Li Qingshan's cultivation journey and his pursuit of the Immortal Sovereign realm to refine the Chosen Immortal King's inheritance.

Character Interactions

• Li Qingshan and Zhao Cangming discuss the Primordial Unity Immortal Sect, its peaks, halls, and the connection to the Chosen Immortal King. Zhao Cangming treats Li Qingshan more casually, considering him one of their own.