Chapter Summaries

Ning Xiaochuan traveled with Yellow Ox Taoist toward Nine Yue Sky City, learning about the territory’s ongoing human pioneering, its decline after the War of Forbidden Beasts, and the terrifying Fang who ruled the city through Demon Fang Hall. As they continued, Ning Xiaochuan considered how to obtain the scripture needed to advance his cultivation, possibly by visiting one of the Four Great Taoist Temples.

• Ning Xiaochuan agreed to travel to Nine Yue Sky City with Yellow Ox Taoist and stay at Jue Mountain Temple while visiting the Situ Clan to treat Situ Jing’s grandfather.
• Yellow Ox Taoist explained that Nine Yue Territory was a mid-level Fifth Grade Civilization still being pioneered, where humans and Mystic Beasts struggled for control.
• Yellow Ox Taoist recounted how the War of Forbidden Beasts weakened the Nine Great Clans and how Fang killed twelve Heaven-Men before making an agreement with Heavenly Emperor Mountain and establishing Demon Fang Hall.
• Ning Xiaochuan asked about complete martial scriptures and learned that they were tightly guarded by the Nine Great Clans and Four Great Taoist Temples.
• Ning Xiaochuan privately considered that the Martial Soul Heavenly Venerable Seal might require a Dao Scripture, which could lead him to visit the Four Great Taoist Temples.

Ning Xiaochuan arrived at Nine Yue Sky City and learned that his Heaven and Earth Profound Qi required a specific Godly Scripture to reach the Heaven-Man Realm. The Heavenly Emperor Blade pointed him toward Heavenly Emperor Mountain or Spirit Void Venerable as possible sources of the Heaven and Earth Scripture.

• Ning Xiaochuan and Yellow Ox Taoist reached Nine Yue Sky City, where Ning Xiaochuan settled temporarily in a cave residence at Jue Mountain Temple.
• Ning Xiaochuan discovered that the Water of Life had transformed the Mystic Beasts in the Mystic Beast Appraisal, giving several of them the power of Dao.
• The Fish Jiao told Ning Xiaochuan that the Mystic Beast Appraisal had generated Demon Mark Dao Principles, allowing its beasts to cultivate Dao and potentially achieve godhood.
• Ning Xiaochuan considered using Water of Life on the White Bone Pearl, but the Heavenly Emperor Blade warned him that other scriptures would prevent him from entering the Heaven-Man Realm.
• The Heavenly Emperor Blade explained that Ning Xiaochuan needed the Heaven and Earth Scripture, which the Heavenly Emperor had cultivated, and suggested it might be at Heavenly Emperor Mountain or with Spirit Void Venerable.

Ning Xiaochuan went to Nine Yue Sky City seeking Earth-Grade Profound Stones and learned that Young Master Wuyue, a powerful heir of Demon Fang Hall, was leading a tribute procession. He discovered that the Zi Clan’s favored daughter had been sent as tribute to Wuyue, and the chapter left him watching her carriage pass.

• Ning Xiaochuan discussed his cultivation limits with the Heavenly Emperor Blade and decided he needed to travel to comprehend Invincible Sword Intent.
• Ning Xiaochuan asked the Jue Mountain Temple Daoists about Nine Yue Sky City’s marketplace and went to Golden Swallow Lake to search for Earth-Grade Profound Stones.
• Yan Shuiyi stopped Yan Mingzhu from attacking Ning Xiaochuan and suggested they wait for the Lei Clan and Situ Clan to deal with him.
• Ning Xiaochuan saw a golden carriage pulled by nine Dragon Elephants trample pedestrians as it entered the street.
• A middle-aged man told Ning Xiaochuan that the carriage carried Nangong Wuyue, Demon Fang Hall’s foremost young genius, and that the Zi Clan had offered its favored daughter as tribute to him.
• Ning Xiaochuan looked toward the tribute procession and saw a woman seated behind the curtains of a Purple Wood Carriage.

Ning Xiaochuan intervened when Young Master Wuyue’s tribute convoy was attacked and Zi Hanyan was seized. After Wuyue defeated Zi Hanyan’s father, Zi Lianshan, Ning rescued her and fled through the air while Wuyue pursued.

• A group of black-clad martial artists attacked the tribute convoy and tried to abduct Zi Hanyan.
• Young Master Wuyue killed many attackers, defeated Zi Hanyan and Zi Lianshan, and severed Zi Lianshan’s right leg.
• Wuyue accused Zi Lianshan of defying the Liao King, but Zi Lianshan said he had already severed ties with the Zi Clan.
• Wuyue threw Zi Hanyan into the Purple Sandalwood Carriage, where Ning Xiaochuan appeared wearing a Golden Ghost Mask.
• Ning Xiaochuan broke through Wuyue’s fiery attack, carried Zi Hanyan from the shattered carriage, and evaded Wuyue’s strikes in the air.

Ning Xiaochuan rescued Zi Hanyan from Nangong Wuyue and hid with her in an abandoned manor in Nine Yue Sky City. As Zi Hanyan confessed her feelings, Luan Madam and Situ Lian found them, and Ning Xiaochuan attacked Luan Madam with his Demon Sword.

• Ning Xiaochuan repelled Young Master Wuyue, escaped with Zi Hanyan, and hid in an abandoned manor while Wuyue ordered his men to take an old man prisoner and pressure the Zi Clan.
• Ning Xiaochuan revealed his identity to Zi Hanyan, who explained that returning to her clan would leave her vulnerable to Wuyue’s plan to make her his furnace.
• Ning Xiaochuan meditated on his Invincible Sword Intent while Zi Hanyan watched him and privately realized she had fallen for him.
• Zi Hanyan asked Ning Xiaochuan how love began and shyly asked whether he would burn if she sparked his feelings.
• Luan Madam and Situ Lian appeared in the manor, and Luan Madam teased Ning Xiaochuan before approaching him in a revealing robe.
• Ning Xiaochuan drew his Demon Sword and slashed at Luan Madam, cutting her beneath the collarbone and severing her bodice strap.

Ning Xiaochuan and Zi Hanyan were surrounded in an abandoned manor by Situ Clan and Lei Clan forces. After fighting off Situ Lian and Luan Madam, Ning Xiaochuan faced Lei Aotian and learned that several more powerful experts were waiting in the darkness.

• Situ Lian told Ning Xiaochuan that the Situ Clan had captured Situ Jing, while Luan Madam revealed that Nangong Wuyue had taken Zi Hanyan's father.
• Ning Xiaochuan wounded Situ Lian with his Stars and Moon Fill the Sky divine ability, then broke Luan Madam's hold and threw her into Situ Lian.
• Situ Lian and Luan Madam fled, but Ning Xiaochuan stopped pursuing them when a barrage of Thunder Cloud Arrows struck his formation.
• Lei Aotian arrived on a golden lion and accused Ning Xiaochuan of killing Lei Ao, Lei Yun, and Lei Yi before challenging him.
• Zi Hanyan urged Ning Xiaochuan to flee, but he said the clans had sealed the area and revealed that at least three more experts as powerful as Lei Aotian were nearby.

Ning Xiaochuan trapped Lei Aotian and his allies in the Eight Winds Erosion God Formation, killing Situ Lian and Luan Madam while battling Lei Aotian. Lei Aotian escaped through a gap in the formation, but Ning Xiaochuan struck him down, leaving his fate uncertain as Yan Mingzhu watched in shock.

• Ning Xiaochuan and five Ninth Grade Mystic Beasts activated the Eight Winds Erosion God Formation and trapped Lei Aotian, whose Kirin Golden Lion was consumed by corrosive water.
• Ning Xiaochuan used the Demon Sword to break through Lei Aotian's defenses, while corrosive water weakened Lei Aotian and their battle shook the formation.
• Situ Lian and Luan Madam entered the formation to attack Ning Xiaochuan and capture Zi Hanyan, but Ning Xiaochuan killed Situ Lian and Yu Jiao drove Luan Madam back.
• Ning Xiaochuan killed Luan Madam after she begged to become his servant, while Lei Aotian escaped through a gap in the formation.
• Ning Xiaochuan struck the fleeing Lei Aotian with a powerful sword slash, sending him crashing from the air, while Yan Mingzhu watched and wondered how she could still take revenge.

Ning Xiaochuan faced a coalition of powerful enemies led by Situ Nanlie, Feng Muweng, and Princess Da Yue, then fled with Zi Hanyan when the odds became too dangerous. Feng Muweng sent a mass of vines after them as they escaped.

• Yan Shuiyi warned Yan Mingzhu that pursuing revenge against Ning Xiaochuan could bring disaster upon the Yan Clan, and Yan Mingzhu agreed to give up if he survived the night.
• Ning Xiaochuan challenged the assembled experts, and Feng Muweng revealed that he wanted to seize Ning Xiaochuan's Ninth Grade Profound Weapon.
• Situ Nanlie arrived with the Lei Clan's Thunder Cloud Arrow Squad and accused Ning Xiaochuan of abducting his elder brother and conspiring to control the Situ Clan.
• Ning Xiaochuan challenged Situ Nanlie to attack Demon Fang Hall, then Princess Da Yue appeared and declared her interest in him.
• Ning Xiaochuan took Zi Hanyan's hand and fled, but Feng Muweng transformed his Purple Wood Staff into vines that filled the sky and pursued them.

Ning Xiaochuan escaped Feng Muweng, Situ Nanlie, and Princess Da Yue with Zi Hanyan and took refuge with Monk Tan Qian, who sold him an Earth-Grade Profound Stone for five million Profound Stones. With the crystal giving him confidence to face his pursuers, Ning Xiaochuan learned that Monk Tan Qian was treating the former Situ Clan King after receiving three Earth-Grade Profound Stones from him.

• Ning Xiaochuan broke free of Feng Muweng's vines with his Demon Sword and Bronze Ancient Lamp, then fled with Zi Hanyan as Situ Nanlie, Feng Muweng, and Princess Da Yue pursued them.
• Chan Chu led Ning Xiaochuan and Zi Hanyan through the slums to Monk Tan Qian's makeshift temple, where a gravely injured old man lay on an incense table.
• Monk Tan Qian charged Ning Xiaochuan five million Profound Stones for an Earth-Grade Profound Stone, and Ning Xiaochuan paid, then decided to wait for his pursuers instead of fleeing.
• Monk Tan Qian identified the injured man as Situ Jing's grandfather, the former Situ Clan King, and prepared to treat him with the Blood-Devouring Transformation Grass.
• Chan Chu told Ning Xiaochuan that the Situ Clan King had given Monk Tan Qian all three of his Earth-Grade Profound Stones in exchange for the treatment.

Ning Xiaochuan refined Blood-Devouring Transformation Grass into Rare Medicine Spirit Elixir, removed the poisoned Shadowless Needle from the Situ Clan King, and began curing him. Situ Nanlie, Feng Muweng, and Princess Da Yue arrived to confront Ning Xiaochuan, who stood ready to fight as they surrounded the Buddhist Temple.

• Ning Xiaochuan refined the Blood-Devouring Transformation Grass into twelve drops of Rare Medicine Spirit Elixir and gave them to the Situ Clan King.
• Ning Xiaochuan discovered poisonous fluid and extracted a Shadowless Needle from the Situ Clan King's body, then said the poison should be neutralized and the king would awaken soon.
• Situ Nanlie arrived with the Thunder Cloud Arrow Squad and accused Ning Xiaochuan of kidnapping his elder brother, while Ning Xiaochuan said he was treating him.
• Feng Muweng demanded Ning Xiaochuan's Bronze Ancient Lamp, but Ning Xiaochuan warned him that his greed could cost him his life.
• Princess Da Yue arrived and offered to help Ning Xiaochuan survive his Killing Tribulation if he proved himself, but Ning Xiaochuan challenged her to become his profound beast Battle Pet.
• Ning Xiaochuan offered his enemies a chance to flee before fighting began, while Chan Chu taunted them and Princess Da Yue formed sharp jade claws.

Ning Xiaochuan’s Black Skeleton devastates Situ Nanlie, Feng Muweng, and the Thunder Cloud Arrow Squad as the Situ Clan King recovers and confronts his younger brother. The chapter leaves Situ Nanlie stunned after the Situ Clan King catches his axe with one hand, revealing that he has reached the Heaven-Man Realm.

• Situ Nanlie attacked with his Giant’s Hand, but the Black Skeleton shattered his arm and tore it off.
• The Black Skeleton pursued Feng Muweng, destroyed his Purple Wood Staff, and killed him.
• Situ Nanlie ordered the Thunder Cloud Arrow Squad to attack, but the recovered Situ Clan King stopped the arrows with his Black Tortoise Battle Qi.
• Ning Xiaochuan annihilated the Thunder Cloud Arrow Squad and warned the other hidden experts not to interfere in the Situ Clan’s dispute.
• The Situ Clan King demanded to know who had helped Situ Nanlie ambush him three years earlier, and Situ Nanlie attacked him with a battle axe.
• The Situ Clan King caught Situ Nanlie’s full-force axe strike with one hand, revealing his Heaven-Man Realm cultivation.

Situ Beiling defeated Situ Nanlie, learned who had been backing him, and crippled his cultivation while sparing his life. After demonstrating Heaven-Man martial arts to Ning Xiaochuan, he returned to the Situ Clan, where his arrival forced the clan members to submit.

• Situ Beiling overpowered Situ Nanlie, learned the identity of his backer, and crippled him for destroying the Martial Heart Palace.
• Situ Beiling thanked Ning Xiaochuan and Monk Tan Qian for saving him, then restored his strength while demonstrating Heaven-Man martial arts.
• Ning Xiaochuan comprehended the demonstration and nearly broke through to the Third Step Heavenly Ladder Realm.
• Chan Chu fought off Situ Clan cultivators at the gates while they insisted Situ Nanlie would return victorious.
• Ning Xiaochuan brought the battered Situ Nanlie to the gates, and Situ Beiling arrived to confront his Fourth Brother.
• Situ Beiling's Heaven-Man pressure made the Situ Clan cultivators kneel and put away their weapons.

After Situ Beiling reclaimed control of the Situ Clan, Situ Jing rewarded Ning Xiaochuan and his companions and revealed his plan to take the Heaven's Gate Examination. Ning Xiaochuan then agreed to help Zi Hanyan rescue her father from Nangong Mansion, and the group arrived there with Monk Tan Qian reluctantly following.

• Situ Beiling resumed his position as Situ Clan King, freed Situ Jing, and punished several of Situ Nanlie's closest followers.
• Situ Jing gave the Buddhist sect eight million Profound Stones and presented Ning Xiaochuan with eight Earth-Grade Profound Stones.
• Situ Jing said he would refuse the clan kingship and pursue the Heaven's Gate Examination at Heavenly Emperor Mountain.
• Situ Jing and Chan Chu offered to help Zi Hanyan rescue her father from Nangong Wuyue, and Ning Xiaochuan promised to join them.
• Monk Tan Qian objected to confronting Demon Fang Hall but followed the group after Chan Chu reminded him that his Profound Stones were with them.
• Ning Xiaochuan, Zi Hanyan, Situ Jing, Chan Chu, and Monk Tan Qian reached Nangong Mansion.

Ning Xiaochuan, Zi Hanyan, Situ Jing, and their companions stormed Nangong Mansion, drawing a crowd and prompting the Zi Clan Old Ancestor to consider joining the fight. Ning Xiaochuan confronted Nangong Wuyue in the mansion’s central plaza as the battle raged around them.

• Chan Chu smashed through Nangong Mansion’s gates, and Ning Xiaochuan, Zi Hanyan, Situ Jing, and Monk Tan Qian followed him inside.
• Word of the attack spread through Nine Yue Sky City, while the Zi Clan Old Ancestor decided to prepare to help bring down Nangong Mansion.
• Ning Xiaochuan released his five mystic beasts, which ravaged the mansion and fought its beasts as Monk Tan Qian dragged Chan Chu toward the treasure vault to collect Incense Money.
• Ning Xiaochuan killed a Nangong Mansion elder who had wounded the Two-Headed Stone Beast, then challenged Nangong Wuyue from atop a vermilion hall.
• Nangong Wuyue acknowledged Ning Xiaochuan’s arrival and compared his Crimson Fang sword to Ning Xiaochuan’s Demon Sword.

Ning Xiaochuan rescued Zi Lianshan and defeated Nangong Wuyue’s Heavenly Ladder Realm Daoists, breaking through to the Third Step Heavenly Ladder Realm. After Nangong Wuyue was struck down by the Black Skeleton, Ning Xiaochuan sent his consciousness into it to confront Nangong Ming while his physical body remained in the square.

• Nangong Wuyue threatened Zi Hanyan and held Zi Lianshan captive, but Ning Xiaochuan broke the bronze dragon array and rescued Zi Lianshan.
• Ning Xiaochuan fought eight Heavenly Ladder Realm Daoists, completed the World Extinction Sword Prison, and advanced to the Third Step Heavenly Ladder Realm.
• Ning Xiaochuan killed the eight Daoists and faced Nangong Wuyue, who revealed that he had reached the Fifth Step Heavenly Ladder Realm.
• The Black Skeleton struck Nangong Wuyue down and sent him crashing through a stone sculpture.
• A furious attack from within Nangong Mansion sent the Crimson Scale Battle Sword back at Ning Xiaochuan, who evaded it and summoned the Black Skeleton to guard him.
• Ning Xiaochuan sent his consciousness into the Black Skeleton and dispatched it toward the depths of Nangong Mansion to confront Nangong Ming.

Ning Xiaochuan and the Situ Clan attacked Nangong Mansion, where Nangong Ming’s interrupted breakthrough left him injured but still powerful enough to overpower the Black Skeleton. The Situ Clan’s two Heaven-Men struck from the shadows and crushed Nangong Ming, while Ning Xiaochuan prepared to return to the Yulan Empire.

• Situ Jing killed Nangong Wuyue, who warned that his father and the Demon Fang Hall would retaliate against the Situ Clan.
• Ning Xiaochuan sent the Black Skeleton to break into Nangong Ming’s cultivation chamber, shattering the stone mountain and interrupting Nangong Ming’s attempted breakthrough.
• Nangong Ming struck the Black Skeleton away, but his failed breakthrough had injured him and he could not destroy the puppet’s bones.
• The Black Skeleton’s Earth-Grade Profound Stone ran out, and Ning Xiaochuan formed a Thought Manifestation to replace it while Nangong Ming prepared to attack him.
• The Situ Clan King and the Situ Clan Old Ancestor secretly struck Nangong Ming with two palm attacks, creating a vast crater and leaving his fate uncertain.
• Ning Xiaochuan recognized the attackers as the Situ Clan’s Heaven-Men and planned to return to the Yulan Empire after killing Nangong Ming.

Nangong Ming was overwhelmed by Ning Xiaochuan’s Black Skeleton and several hidden Heaven-Men, but he tried to summon the Liao King through a blood sacrifice. Ning Xiaochuan pressed the attack rather than flee, leaving the confrontation unresolved as the Liao King began to awaken.

• Nangong Ming used the Three-Legged Scarlet Cloud Cauldron to batter the Black Skeleton, but a Situ Clan Heaven-Man’s flying sword and another’s palm strikes wounded him.
• Nangong Ming tried to escape, but the Zi Clan Old Ancestor blocked him with the Azure Sky Red Sun Diagram and forced him back into the fight.
• A white-haired Daoist Heaven-Man struck Nangong Ming out of the earth when he tried to flee underground, while other hidden Heaven-Men helped prevent his escape.
• The Black Skeleton cut away half of Nangong Ming’s skull, and Nangong Ming cut his wrist to begin a blood sacrifice intended to awaken the Liao King.
• The Situ Clan King warned Ning Xiaochuan to run, but Ning Xiaochuan kept the Black Skeleton charging at Nangong Ming.

After Nangong Ming awakened Liao with a blood sacrifice, Ning Xiaochuan was trapped by the powerful beast until Azure Queen arrived and spoke with it. Liao withdrew, and Ning Xiaochuan agreed to travel with Azure Queen to Heaven-Cleaving Desolate Ridge, planning to return to the Yulan Empire.

• Ning Xiaochuan killed Nangong Ming, took the Nine Suns True Fire Scripture and Three-Legged Scarlet Cloud Cauldron, and stored Nangong Ming's frozen corpse.
• Monk Tan Qian and Chan Chu escaped Nangong Mansion with sacks of stolen treasures, then tried to hide their loot from Azure Queen.
• Liao emerged in the form of an old man and immobilized Ning Xiaochuan while demonic clouds covered Nine Yue Sky City.
• Azure Queen entered Nangong Mansion and spoke privately with Liao about the Phoenix, the Truth Heavenly Kingdom, and the God-Sealing Battlefield.
• Liao returned underground after Azure Queen told it Ning Xiaochuan was her man, and the demonic clouds dissipated.
• Ning Xiaochuan agreed to accompany Azure Queen to Heaven-Cleaving Desolate Ridge, intending to visit Little Red and Little Ling'er and eventually return to the Yulan Empire.

After leaving Nangong Mansion, Ning Xiaochuan traveled toward the Great Wilderness with the Azure Queen and resolved to become stronger after Yu Ningsheng’s departure. The Azure Queen explained that the phoenix connected to his Phoenix Feather might have emerged from the legendary God Sealing Cave, leaving Ning Xiaochuan with questions about her origins and the Heavenly Emperor.

• Situ Jing and Zi Hanyan met Ning Xiaochuan and the Azure Queen outside Nangong Mansion, and the Azure Queen’s question about his wife made Zi Hanyan believe he was married and leave heartbroken.
• Ning Xiaochuan told Situ Jing he would let fate decide whether to explain his feelings to Zi Hanyan, then departed with the Azure Queen toward the Great Wilderness.
• Ning Xiaochuan stopped competing with the Azure Queen and rode the Two-Headed Stone Beast while preparing to break through to the Third Step Heavenly Ladder.
• The Azure Queen lectured Ning Xiaochuan about being fickle and offered to find him another woman, while Ning Xiaochuan recalled Yu Ningsheng and strengthened his resolve to cultivate.
• Ning Xiaochuan told the Azure Queen that a phoenix had given him the Phoenix Feather, and she warned that the phoenix might be tied to a terrifying higher civilization.
• The Azure Queen linked the phoenix to the God Sealing Cave, which she said had produced the Heavenly Emperor, and admitted that her long search for the cave in Heaven-Cleaving Desolate Ridge had failed.

Ning Xiaochuan suspected the sealed cave was the God Sealing Cave Abode and persuaded Azure Queen to travel with him to the Yulan Empire to search for it. As Azure Queen slept on the journey, Ning Xiaochuan prepared for the conflicts awaiting him there and set aside a complete martial scripture for his family.

• Ning Xiaochuan connected the God Sealing Cave Abode to the Heavenly Emperor, Phoenix, Ten Thousand Sound Fairy Queen, and the Black Bone Giant Race, and concluded it might lie north of the Heaven-Cleaving Desolate Ridge.
• Azure Queen revealed that Fanhou Demon King had forbidden crossing the ridge to protect the Human Civilization in the Heavenly Emperor's homeland, and she admitted she had already explored beyond the boundary.
• Ning Xiaochuan proposed using his human identity to control the Yulan Empire and mobilize its people to find the cave, and Azure Queen agreed to go there with him.
• Azure Queen fell asleep against Ning Xiaochuan's thigh, and he suspected that her lifeless appearance was part of her cultivation.
• Ning Xiaochuan ordered the Two-Headed Stone Beast to head for the Yulan Empire and decided he would deal with Jade Ripple Great Emperor and the Sword Saint before visiting Little Ling'er and Little Red.
• Ning Xiaochuan examined the complete Nine Suns True Fire Scripture, found that he could not cultivate it, and planned to give it to his grandfather for the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion.