Chapter Summaries

Ning Xiaochuan and his companions reached the Source of the Nether River, where the Spring of Life was guarded by the Saint Fish Race and Azure Fox Race. After the beast races threatened the gathered human cultivators, Zi Hanyan urged Ning Xiaochuan to leave and identified herself to their silver-scaled leader.

• Ning Xiaochuan and his companions hurried toward the center of the Black Mist Ghost Wasteland while Yan Mingzhu vowed to reclaim her lost dignity from Ning Xiaochuan, despite Yan Shuiyi warning her against provoking him.
• After seventeen days, Ning Xiaochuan and his companions found the Nether River, and the Two-Headed Stone Beast emerged with greatly increased strength after fusing with the humanoid stone beast.
• Ning Xiaochuan and his companions followed the river upstream and reached the Spring of Life, where the Saint Fish Race and Azure Fox Race barred human cultivators from approaching.
• The burly beast race man displayed the corpses of two Situ Clan elders, and the gathered humans learned that the Saint Fish Race's Fourth Prince and the Azure Fox Race's Princess Da Yue had claimed the Spring of Life.
• Zi Hanyan flew to Ning Xiaochuan and urged him to travel with the Zi Clan for protection, then introduced herself to the silver-scaled beast general.

Ning Xiaochuan killed Mu Tianhen after the Silver Scale Beast General attacked Zi Hanyan and her companions. Chan Chu revealed that their group served Azure Queen, prompting the other mystic beasts to hesitate as reinforcements arrived from the mountain summit.

• Mu Tianhen demanded that Zi Hanyan become his maid and then his Dao Companion, and he killed the Zi Clan elder who tried to stop him.
• Ning Xiaochuan defended Zi Hanyan, repelled Mu Tianhen's attacks, and destroyed him with the Bronze Ancient Lamp's Three-legged Firebird.
• Chan Chu warned the remaining mystic beasts against retaliation and showed them a token identifying the group as Azure Queen's people.
• The three-meter-tall man and the Fox Girl reacted with shock to the Azure Queen token as dozens of advanced mystic beasts flew down from the summit.

Ning Xiaochuan and his companions fought their way past the Mystic Beasts guarding the black mountain, claiming to act on Azure Queen’s orders to obtain the Spring of Life. After driving off the white-robed scholar, Ning Xiaochuan climbed toward the summit to confront the Saint Fish Race’s Fourth Prince and Princess Da Yue, while he gained a thirteenth strand of World Extinction Qi.

• The white-robed scholar challenged Ning Xiaochuan’s group, but they insisted they had come under Azure Queen’s orders to retrieve the Spring of Life.
• Ning Xiaochuan, Chan Chu, Situ Jing, and Monk Tan Qian attacked the guards and forced a path toward the black mountain; Zi Hanyan returned to the Zi clan’s camp with the purple-robed elder.
• The white-robed scholar tried to suppress the group with his conch shell, but Ning Xiaochuan’s Single Wheel Star Sphere, aided by Situ Jing and Chan Chu, drove him and the other Mystic Beasts away.
• Ning Xiaochuan’s Demon Sword drained the blood of a Mystic Beast as he climbed, and he condensed the thirteenth strand of World Extinction Qi.
• Ning Xiaochuan announced that he intended to meet the Fourth Prince and Princess Da Yue and possibly make them Mystic Beast Battle Pets, then continued toward the summit with his companions.

Ning Xiaochuan and his companions reached the summit of the black mountain and discovered the Yin Yang Hexagram Plate, where the Water of Life and Nether River were formed. They confronted Princess Da Yue’s Azure Fox guardians, and the battle began with a powerful Heavenly Demon Bear swallowing Ning Xiaochuan’s summoned firebirds.

• Situ Lian and Luan Madam hurried toward the summit to seize the Water of Life and prevent Situ Jing from returning to the Situ Clan alive.
• Ning Xiaochuan used the Two-Headed Stone Beast to climb the cliffs with his companions and fought off Mystic Beasts along the way.
• At the summit, Ning Xiaochuan explained how the Yin Yang Hexagram Plate created the Springs of Life and Huang Water, while Monk Tan Qian said the Purple Gold Imperial Lord was likely buried beneath the lakes.
• Chan Chu spotted Princess Da Yue sitting on a skiff in the Black Crescent Lake, and the group faced Azure Fox guardians who blocked their path.
• Monk Tan Qian’s Buddhist scriptures restrained several Fox Girls, and Ning Xiaochuan summoned twenty-four Three-legged Firebirds to attack the charging Mystic Beasts.
• A giant White Bear smashed one firebird and swallowed the remaining twenty-three, prompting Chan Chu to identify it as a Heavenly Demon Bear.

Ning Xiaochuan and the other human cultivators collected the Water of Life from Crescent Moon Lake, disrupting Princess Da Yue’s attempt to reach the Heaven-Man Realm. Enraged, Princess Da Yue and Yu Jingshu ordered the humans slaughtered, and their attacks began killing cultivators across the lakeshore.

• Ning Xiaochuan and Monk Tan Qian collected large quantities of Water of Life while human cultivators and Mystic Beasts fought around Crescent Moon Lake.
• Ning Xiaochuan used the Mystic Beast Appraisal to absorb the lake’s water, turning it into Life Force that transformed the Mystic Beasts inside its six palaces.
• The falling water level disrupted Princess Da Yue’s attempt to break through to the Heaven-Man Realm, and she killed an elderly Daoist and two Dao Gate Cultivators before ordering the humans slain.
• Yu Jingshu’s attempt to reach the Heaven-Man Realm was also interrupted, and he killed six human cultivators before ordering the rest slaughtered.
• Yu Jingshu destroyed seven profound weapons and killed a Second Step Heavenly Ladder cultivator who tried to flee.

Ning Xiaochuan reached the Black Small Island in Crescent Moon Lake and claimed it, drawing the hostility of Yu Jingshu, Princess Da Yue, and Yu Jingshu’s white-robed attendant. His battle with the attendant began, and Ning Xiaochuan used the Bronze Ancient Lamp to weaken his opponent, leaving the contest unresolved.

• Ning Xiaochuan noticed the newly emerged Black Small Island and flew toward it, deflecting Yu Jingshu’s attack with the Single Wheel Star Sphere.
• Ning Xiaochuan summoned the Profound Stone Puppet and declared the island his, while Yu Jingshu sent his white-robed attendant to kill him and seize his Ninth Grade Profound Weapon.
• Ning Xiaochuan refused to back down and fought the attendant alone, hoping the battle would help him break through to the Earth Venerable Realm Ninth Level.
• Ning Xiaochuan swallowed Bloodline Spirit and Ninth Grade Mystic Beast bone marrow, then clashed with the attendant’s water dragons using his World Extinction Sword Intent.
• The attendant trapped Ning Xiaochuan with water chains, but Ning Xiaochuan brought out the Bronze Ancient Lamp and burned the attendant’s arm.
• Ning Xiaochuan’s lamp filled the area with flames and suppressed the attendant’s combat strength, while Princess Da Yue recognized the lamp’s potential.

Ning Xiaochuan used his fight with the white-robed scholar to break through to the Earth Venerable Realm Ninth Level, then withdrew to stabilize his cultivation. The Black Skeleton defeated the scholar with one punch, and Yu Jingshu revealed his Saint Fish Dharma Form to challenge Ning Xiaochuan.

• Ning Xiaochuan fought the white-robed scholar with his Ninth Grade Profound Weapons and broke through to the Earth Venerable Realm Ninth Level.
• Ning Xiaochuan stopped fighting and sat on the small island to stabilize his newly advanced cultivation.
• The white-robed scholar attacked Ning Xiaochuan, but the Black Skeleton struck him down with one punch.
• The Black Skeleton's strength shocked the human cultivators, Princess Da Yue, and Yu Jingshu.
• Yu Jingshu summoned his Saint Fish Dharma Form and prepared to test Ning Xiaochuan's strength.

Ning Xiaochuan used the Black Skeleton to deter Yu Jingshu and Princess Da Yue while continuing to cultivate on the island. He learned from Sui Hanyu how the World Extinction Swordplay related to the Five-Step Heavenly Ladder, but still had not truly entered its second step.

• The Black Skeleton broke Yu Jingshu’s attack, and Princess Da Yue persuaded him to leave Ning Xiaochuan alone and search the Greater Yang Lake instead.
• Ning Xiaochuan empowered the Black Skeleton with the Demon Sword, forcing Yu Jingshu to retreat rather than risk a fight that could exhaust its Earth-Grade Profound Stone.
• Princess Da Yue and Yu Jingshu led the high-grade Mystic Beasts away, while Chan Chu and Situ Jing explored the island and Monk Tan Qian identified its patterns as an ancient Space Shift formation.
• Ning Xiaochuan reached the Earth Venerable Realm Ninth Level and asked Sui Hanyu about the World Extinction Scripture and his progress toward the Heaven-Man Realm.
• Sui Hanyu explained that the World Extinction Swordplay was one of the Three Thousand World Extinction Paths and that Ning Xiaochuan had completed the Human Martial Realm but had not yet entered the Earth Martial Realm.

Ning Xiaochuan consolidated his Earth Venerable Realm Ninth Level and fused his Sword Dao with the Demon Sword, reaching the realm of Man and Sword as One and advancing to the Second Step Heavenly Ladder. As Monk Tan Qian neared completion of the Black Small Island’s array, Princess Da Yue approached Ning Xiaochuan to discuss something with him.

• Sui Hanyu explained that Ning Xiaochuan would need to cultivate separate Dao Origins for the Martial Soul Sword Seal and Martial Soul Heavenly Venerable Seal to be certain of entering the Heaven-Man Realm.
• Ning Xiaochuan spent three days converting his essence qi into Essence Elixir and consolidating his Earth Venerable Realm Ninth Level.
• Princess Da Yue and Yu Jingshu found the white island in Greater Yang Lake, while Monk Tan Qian began activating the array on the Black Small Island with Profound Stones.
• After half a month, Monk Tan Qian had activated 356 of the array’s 360 Array Eyes, with Situ Jing supporting him and Chan Chu guarding the island.
• Ning Xiaochuan fused his Sword Dao with the Demon Sword, attained Man and Sword as One, and split the Black Crescent Lake with a slash that killed three high-level Mystic Beasts.
• Princess Da Yue sent the Heavenly Demon Bear to summon Ning Xiaochuan, then approached him herself after he refused to discuss matters with the bear.

Ning Xiaochuan resisted Princess Da Yue’s Alluring Art Divine Power, rejected her offer to cooperate, and prepared to activate the array on the Black Small Island. He escaped with his companions as the Black Skeleton’s power ran out, leaving Princess Da Yue and Yu Jingshu behind to wonder where the array had sent them.

• Ning Xiaochuan used the Seven Aperture God Demon Heart to resist Princess Da Yue’s Alluring Art Divine Power and counterattacked her spirit, while Chan Chu and Situ Jing were affected by the dance’s aftershock.
• Princess Da Yue proposed an alliance, offering to help Ning Xiaochuan deal with Yu Jingshu, but Ning Xiaochuan refused and told her to leave.
• Monk Tan Qian placed the final Profound Stone into the array, activating the 360 Array Eyes on the Black Small Island.
• Princess Da Yue and Yu Jingshu broke through the array’s light curtain to enter, but the Black Skeleton struck them both and depleted its Earth-Grade Profound Stone.
• Ning Xiaochuan, his companions, and the beast vanished through the array before Princess Da Yue and Yu Jingshu could attack again.

Ning Xiaochuan saw Yu Ningsheng riding the Blood-Colored Camel as its new guardian and resolved to grow strong enough to catch up with her. After arriving in a desolate region of Burial God Mountain, he and his companions began searching for Spiritually-Connected Rare Medicine.

• Ning Xiaochuan recognized Yu Ningsheng atop the Blood-Colored Camel, but Monk Tan Qian explained that she had inherited the camel's guardian mission and could not be reached without demigod-level cultivation.
• Ning Xiaochuan watched the camel vanish and vowed to cultivate until he could catch up with Yu Ningsheng.
• Ning Xiaochuan and his companions arrived in a dark, frozen wasteland, where a human head fled into a gorge and Ning Xiaochuan identified it as Spiritually-Connected Rare Medicine.
• Chan Chu smashed the gorge wall while trying to flush out the medicine, burying the passage and allowing it to escape underground.
• Monk Tan Qian proposed that the group split up to search for a month, and Ning Xiaochuan and the others sealed their cultivation before heading in separate directions.
• After the group left, the human head transformed into a golden ginseng root and burrowed underground.

Princess Da Yue reported that Azure Queen’s subordinates had entered the Ancient Medicine Field, while Ning Xiaochuan gathered rare medicine and rushed to Situ Jing’s distress signal. In the black mist, he and Monk Tan Qian confronted the Blood-Devouring Transformation Grass, which attacked them with blades as sharp as sabers.

• Princess Da Yue told the Three-Tailed Azure Fox King that Azure Queen’s team had entered the Ancient Medicine Field, and the Fox King decided to wait for them to return with medicine.
• Ning Xiaochuan captured a two-thousand-year-old Evergreen Spirit Vine and stored it in a Profound Spirit Wood Box.
• Ning Xiaochuan saw Situ Jing’s distress signal, flew north, and found the Purple Dragon Spear and bloodstains in the black mist.
• Ning Xiaochuan met Monk Tan Qian, learned that a creature had mimicked his appearance, and identified it as Blood-Devouring Transformation Grass.
• Monk Tan Qian lured the Blood-Devouring Transformation Grass into attacking, and Ning Xiaochuan emerged to strike at its blades as they wrapped around the monk.

Ning Xiaochuan and Monk Tan Qian defeated the Blood-Devouring Transformation Grass and discovered that its root stone was a Sub-God Bone. Following Situ Jing’s bloodstains, they reached the Purple Gold Imperial Lord’s remains, where they found Situ Jing emerging from a Spring of Life lake, apparently strengthened by a great opportunity.

• Ning Xiaochuan sealed the Blood-Devouring Transformation Grass’s spirituality with Locking Spirit, allowing Monk Tan Qian to claim the plant while Ning Xiaochuan took its heavy white root stone.
• Monk Tan Qian recognized the white stone as a Sub-God Bone and explained that Ning Xiaochuan could potentially refine it using Heaven Martial Essence Qi and mystic fire.
• Ning Xiaochuan stored the Sub-God Bone, and he, Monk Tan Qian, and Chan Chu followed Situ Jing’s bloodstains through the thinning black mist.
• The group discovered black and white Water of Life waterfalls flowing over a huge golden-armored skeleton that Monk Tan Qian identified as the Purple Gold Imperial Lord.
• Chan Chu tried to approach the skeleton but retreated under its crushing divine might.
• Situ Jing emerged from a distant Spring of Life lake, his body radiating faint white light and his strength apparently greatly increased.

Ning Xiaochuan and his companions discovered that Situ Jing had a Sub-God Bone embedded in his heart, and Ning Xiaochuan used the Heavenly Emperor Blade to divide his larger piece into portions. He began refining a piece under the Purple Gold Imperial Lord's divine pressure, which left him closer to the remains than Situ Jing and Chan Chu could endure.

• Situ Jing explained that a Sub-God Bone had struck and embedded itself in his heart, and that divine might had helped him begin refining it.
• Ning Xiaochuan agreed to trade Chan Chu a small piece of Sub-God Bone for his Wolf Tooth Club.
• Ning Xiaochuan secretly summoned the Heavenly Emperor Blade, which consumed the Wolf Tooth Club and cut the Sub-God Bone into ten pieces.
• Chan Chu swallowed his piece and went to refine it, while Monk Tan Qian declined Ning Xiaochuan's offer to trade a piece for his scriptures.
• Ning Xiaochuan approached to within 2,991 meters of the Purple Gold Imperial Lord's remains and began refining a piece of Sub-God Bone with the Yin Yang Bright Flame.

Ning Xiaochuan refined Sub-God Bones to strengthen his body, then cultivated beneath the Purple Gold Imperial Lord’s remains and comprehended Death Sword Intent. After awakening from an eight-month cultivation session, he realized he had also gained World Extinction Sword Intent and urged Situ Jing and Chan Chu to leave immediately.

• Ning Xiaochuan, Situ Jing, and Chan Chu refined Sub-God Bones and advanced closer to the Purple Gold Imperial Lord’s remains, while Ning Xiaochuan’s physical strength grew dramatically.
• Ning Xiaochuan stopped refining more bones and sat beneath the remains to comprehend Death Sword Intent, using seven mind-forms to cultivate sword techniques and World Extinction Qi.
• Ning Xiaochuan’s mind-forms entered the remains, where a powerful mind force startled him awake after eight months of cultivation.
• Ning Xiaochuan learned from Situ Jing that he had cultivated for around eight months, and he replenished his strength with Bloodline Spirit.
• Ning Xiaochuan realized he had comprehended Death Sword Intent and gained three strands of World Extinction Qi, bringing his total to sixteen and giving him six of the seven Sword Intents.
• Ning Xiaochuan said he needed Invincible Sword Intent to enter the Third Step Heavenly Ladder, then gravely told Situ Jing and Chan Chu that they had to leave immediately.

Ning Xiaochuan and his companions escaped the Purple Gold Imperial Lord’s burial ground after surviving its terrifying breath and a pursuing Ghost Hand, then returned to Black Small Island to find the Saint Fish Race and Azure Fox Race waiting to seize their medicine. When Yu Jingshu ordered them captured, Chan Chu attacked and killed a Ninth Grade Mystic Beast with one punch.

• Ning Xiaochuan sensed a terrifying force of mind within the Purple Gold Imperial Lord’s corpse, and a gale from the corpse drove the group to flee toward the exit.
• As the corpse began inhaling and a black Ghost Hand reached for them, Ning Xiaochuan’s scripture was shredded, but Monk Tan Qian activated the formation and sent them through the Space Shift array.
• Ning Xiaochuan confronted Monk Tan Qian about the scripture, learning its Buddha power could be used only once, before the group returned to Black Small Island.
• The Saint Fish Race and Azure Fox Race surrounded the island, and Yu Jingshu and Princess Da Yue demanded the Spiritually-Connected Rare Medicine.
• Yu Jingshu ordered the Mystic Beasts to capture the group, and Chan Chu rushed out and killed a Mid-Level Ninth Grade Mystic Beast of the Azure Scale Race with one punch.

Chan Chu slaughtered Azure Scale Race Mystic Beasts but was beaten badly by Yu Jingshu, who tried to force him to submit to the Saint Fish Race. Ning Xiaochuan intervened with the Demon Sword, knocking Yu Jingshu back and drawing Princess Da Yue’s interest.

• Chan Chu tore apart two Mid-Level Ninth Grade Mystic Beasts and wounded a High-Level Ninth Grade Mystic Beast, but Monk Tan Qian used the Moro Heart Sutra Mantra to stop him from devouring it.
• The injured Azure Scale Race Mystic Beast fled to Yu Jingshu, while the Three-Tailed Azure Fox King and Saint Fish King judged Chan Chu’s strength and praised Yu Jingshu’s advantage.
• Yu Jingshu fought Chan Chu, inflicted severe wounds, and offered to spare him if he submitted to the Saint Fish Race.
• Chan Chu refused to become Yu Jingshu’s servant, so Yu Jingshu attacked him with a golden-flamed claw.
• Ning Xiaochuan blocked Yu Jingshu’s attack with the Demon Sword, sent him flying, and cracked his Golden Dragon Scale Gauntlets.
• Princess Da Yue became interested in Ning Xiaochuan after seeing him force Yu Jingshu back.

Ning Xiaochuan fought Yu Jingshu and used its Undying Holy Flame to temper the Bronze Ancient Lamp into a true Innate Ninth Grade Profound Weapon. Monk Tan Qian then suppressed Yu Jingshu with the Beast Taming Scripture, but after Chan Chu took the Golden Saint Spear, the Saint Fish King attacked the group.

• Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Jingshu exchanged blows, while Monk Tan Qian struggled to find a chance to use the Beast Taming Scripture.
• Ning Xiaochuan secretly used Yu Jingshu's Undying Holy Flame to awaken the Bronze Ancient Lamp's Ruin World and upgrade it into a true Innate Ninth Grade Profound Weapon.
• Yu Jingshu broke free of the Bronze Ancient Lamp's firebirds with the Golden Saint Spear, but Monk Tan Qian immobilized it by pressing the Beast Taming Scripture onto its head.
• Chan Chu took the Golden Saint Spear and knocked a White Scale Race mystic beast into the lake, but the Saint Fish King's power froze him and pressed down on Ning Xiaochuan, Situ Jing, and Monk Tan Qian.
• The Saint Fish King formed an enormous golden handprint above Black Small Island and brought it down toward the group.

Azure Queen arrived at Black Small Island and stopped the Saint Fish King from attacking Ning Xiaochuan and the others. After forcing the rival beasts to withdraw, she took Monk Tan Qian’s scriptures and ordered Ning Xiaochuan to return with her to Heaven-Cleaving Desolate Ridge.

• Azure Queen appeared at Black Small Island and shattered the Saint Fish King’s attack with her azure palm seal.
• Azure Queen slapped Yu Jingshu and let Chan Chu beat him, then persuaded the Saint Fish King to withdraw by claiming the Golden Saint Spear as an apology.
• The Saint Fish King and the Three-Tailed Azure Fox King led their forces away from Burial God Mountain.
• Azure Queen took Monk Tan Qian’s bundle of Buddhist scriptures after he asked to take Chan Chu, and Chan Chu, Monk Tan Qian, and Situ Jing left the island.
• Azure Queen stopped Ning Xiaochuan from leaving and ordered him to return with her to Heaven-Cleaving Desolate Ridge.

Ning Xiaochuan escaped Azure Queen when the Giant Spirit Ghost King attacked, then found the surviving martial cultivators who had waited for him in Burial God Mountain and led them out. After the others departed, Yellow Ox Taoist asked what Ning Xiaochuan planned to do next.

• Azure Queen demanded that Ning Xiaochuan return to Heaven-Cleaving Desolate Ridge as her servant, but he refused and fled.
• Azure Queen pursued Ning Xiaochuan until the Giant Spirit Ghost King emerged; she fought it while Ning Xiaochuan escaped.
• Ning Xiaochuan reached the agreed meeting place and found fourteen surviving cultivators, including Yellow Ox Taoist, waiting for him.
• Ning Xiaochuan used the Single Wheel Star Sphere to escort the cultivators out of Burial God Mountain, and they thanked him before departing.
• Yellow Ox Taoist remained behind and asked Ning Xiaochuan about his next plans.