Chapter Summaries

Ning Xiaochuan joined an imperial campaign against rebels as commander of the Right Route Army, despite recognizing that the Jade Ripple Great Emperor had assigned his exhausted forces the hardest front. The army marched toward the One Yuan Domain, where Ning Ren openly suggested that they rebel rather than face likely destruction.

• Qi Ming confronted Ning Xiaochuan at the palace and boasted that his master could defeat him, while Silver Pool Madam privately told Ning Xiaochuan she had changed and had fallen in love with him.
• At the military council, the Jade Ripple Great Emperor appointed Divine Dragon King marshal, assigned the three route armies to Qi Tian Marquis, Cloud Marquis, and Ning Xiaochuan, and placed Marquis Luo Shen over all three.
• Ning Xiaochuan led the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion's four hundred thousand troops toward the One Yuan Domain, the most distant and difficult front.
• Ning Xiaochuan told his generals that the Jade Ripple Great Emperor had arranged for the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion to face the hardest rebels after its losses against the Demon Sect.
• Ning Ren called the assignment a deliberate attempt to destroy the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion and urged Ning Xiaochuan to lead the army in rebellion instead.

Ning Xiaochuan deliberately slowed his army’s march toward the One Yuan Domain, claiming he wanted to coordinate a decisive campaign against the sects backing the rebellion. After learning that Marquis Luo Shen was coming to investigate him, Ning Xiaochuan left the camp with Yu Qing and learned that Ye Nantian and Nie Lanxin would marry in four days.

• Ugly Old Woman stopped Ning Xiaochuan’s army and offered to teach him medical arts, so he slowed the march to accommodate her.
• Ning Xiaochuan’s army reached the border of the One Yuan Domain after fifteen days, and Yu Qing arrived to warn him that Marquis Luo Shen was coming to investigate his delay.
• Yu Qing told Ning Xiaochuan that Cloud Marquis had defeated rebel armies at Pu Men Pass and Qi Tian Marquis had destroyed the Martial Profound Sect.
• Ning Xiaochuan told Yu Qing he had delayed the march so the three marquis residences could join forces against the One Yuan Sect and Heavenly Sound Sect.
• Ning Xiaochuan left the camp with Yu Qing at night, saying he was going to survey the One Yuan Sect, and learned that Ye Nantian and Nie Lanxin would marry in four days.

Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing infiltrated One Yuan Sect by stealing the Heavy Profound Gate’s invitation and disguising themselves. At the banquet, they agreed to kill Ye Nantian before his wedding to Nie Lanxin and planned to flee Xuanji Mountain afterward.

• Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing followed the Heavy Profound Gate disciples out of the city and forced their Grand Elder to hand over One Yuan Sect’s wedding invitation.
• Ning Xiaochuan erased the group’s memories of their martial cultivation, then he and Yu Qing changed their appearances and wore Heavy Profound Gate robes.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing entered One Yuan Sect on Xuanji Mountain and settled into the guest quarters prepared for visiting guests.
• At dinner, Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing heard guests discuss Ye Nantian, Nie Lanxin, and Nie Lanzhi while they kept their identities concealed.
• Yu Qing urged Ning Xiaochuan to kill Ye Nantian that night, and Ning Xiaochuan agreed, ordering Yu Qing to follow his instructions and leave the mountain as soon as Ye Nantian was dead.

Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing broke into Ye Nantian’s dojo to kill him, but Nie Lanxin had already poisoned him with the Heartless Pill. Ning Xiaochuan devoured Ye Nantian’s blood qi and began advancing toward the Earth Venerable Realm Second Level.

• Ning Xiaochuan agreed to join Yu Qing in killing Ye Nantian, and they infiltrated the One Yuan Sect’s inner sect.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing watched Ye Nantian and Nie Lanxin in the dojo, while Yu Qing speculated that Nie Lanxin intended to poison her betrothed.
• After Nie Lanxin left the dojo, Ning Xiaochuan attacked Ye Nantian as Yu Qing took responsibility for the people outside.
• Ye Nantian fought back with the Purple Cloud Flying Sword, but the Heartless Pill poisoned his heart before he could unleash his Mystic Sun Sword Intent.
• Ning Xiaochuan drained Ye Nantian’s blood qi until he became a dried corpse, and Ning Xiaochuan’s power rose toward the Earth Venerable Realm Second Level.

Ning Xiaochuan broke through to the Earth Venerable Realm Second Level after killing Ye Nantian, but the White Fox Young Master attacked him and Yu Qing before they could escape. With One Yuan Sect’s experts closing in, Ning Xiaochuan fled deeper into the sect, only to be trapped by a Martial Venerable using Martial Soul Transformation and six more arriving behind them.

• Ning Xiaochuan consumed ten bottles of Nine Colors Profound Water and advanced to the Earth Venerable Realm Second Level.
• Yu Qing entered the hall and found Ye Nantian dead, but Ning Xiaochuan stopped him when a stone hand burst from underground.
• The White Fox Young Master emerged and attacked Ning Xiaochuan, recognizing him despite his altered appearance.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing fled toward One Yuan Sect’s central palace complex as its experts arrived and the White Fox Young Master disappeared underground.
• An elderly One Yuan Sect expert used Martial Soul Transformation to block their path, while six more Martial Venerables cut off their retreat.

Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing fought their way past the One Yuan Sect’s pursuers after Ye Nantian’s death, then disguised themselves and slipped into the Heavenly Sound Sect’s residence. They found Nie Lanzhi and entered her room, leaving their escape plan unresolved.

• Ning Xiaochuan shattered Yuansheng Peak Master’s Martial Soul Transformation and killed a pursuing Martial Venerable with the World Extinction Divine Monument before fleeing into the palace complex with Yu Qing.
• The One Yuan Sect sealed Xuanji Mountain and began searching for the two fugitives, while Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing used Dislocation Pills to disguise themselves and agreed to seek help from the Heavenly Sound Sect.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing avoided patrols and followed a pipa-playing disciple into a building where Nie Lanzhi was studying Nine Palaces Divination.
• Ning Xiaochuan incapacitated the disciple Qingqing, then entered Nie Lanzhi’s room with Yu Qing and shut the door.

Ning Xiaochuan hid in the Heavenly Sound Sect’s courtyard and forced Nie Lanzhi to shelter him after admitting he had killed Ye Nantian. Nie Lanxin arrived and, though she warned that Xuanji Mountain was impossible to escape and accused him of endangering her sect, she ultimately put away her sword while Ning Xiaochuan demanded that she help him leave.

• Ning Xiaochuan revealed himself to Nie Lanzhi and asked her to hide him, admitting that he had killed Ye Nantian.
• Nie Lanzhi agreed to keep Ning Xiaochuan’s presence secret and guessed that he had killed Ye Nantian to prevent an alliance between the One Yuan Sect and the Heavenly Sound Sect.
• Nie Lanxin burst into the room, struck Yu Qing unconscious, and knocked Nie Lanzhi out again before confronting Ning Xiaochuan.
• Nie Lanxin warned Ning Xiaochuan that powerful sect leaders were searching for him and that the Fate Birth Peak Master could track him through his Martial Dao Imprint.
• Ning Xiaochuan accused Nie Lanxin of poisoning Ye Nantian and demanded that she help him escape Xuanji Mountain, while she put away her sword.

Ning Xiaochuan escaped Xuanji Mountain with Nie Lanxin, but the White Fox Young Master attacked them and forced them into a fight. Ning Xiaochuan struck back with his Demon Sword, piercing and tearing through the White Fox Young Master's stone body.

• Ning Xiaochuan disguised himself as the Yuansheng Peak Master, hid Yu Qing in his Universe Pouch, and made Nie Lanxin guide him out of Xuanji Mountain.
• After Nie Lanxin said they owed each other nothing, the White Fox Young Master appeared in a Stone Beast Giant and attacked her.
• Ning Xiaochuan broke the Stone Beast Giant's arm with a lightning-charged punch, stopping its axe from killing Nie Lanxin.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Nie Lanxin fled into the sky as the White Fox Young Master pursued them and hurled fireballs at them.
• Ning Xiaochuan stopped to fight, summoned his Demon Sword, and pierced through the White Fox Young Master's stone fists and body.

Ning Xiaochuan destroyed the White Fox Young Master and began refining its power for the Two-Headed Stone Beast, but the White Fox Old Ancestor and a growing group of powerful pursuers threatened him. He held Nie Lanxin hostage as six Martial Venerables surrounded him, demanding that they clear a path.

• Ning Xiaochuan shattered the White Fox Young Master's stone body, then captured and refined the beast in the Heart Nourishing True Cauldron after it reformed.
• Ning Xiaochuan put the Two-Headed Stone Beast into the cauldron to absorb the White Fox Young Master's power and Nine Colors Profound Water.
• Nie Lanxin warned Ning Xiaochuan that the White Fox Old Ancestor could identify him through his Martial Dao Imprint, but Ning Xiaochuan said he did not regret killing the White Fox Young Master.
• Yuansheng Peak Master followed Ning Xiaochuan's Martial Dao Imprint and arrived, so Ning Xiaochuan seized Nie Lanxin and threatened her to keep him at bay.
• Five more Martial Venerables arrived with Yuansheng Peak Master and surrounded Ning Xiaochuan, while Mo Xueyi and Murong Cangying demanded that he release Nie Lanxin.
• Ning Xiaochuan rejected their promises and threatened to kill Nie Lanxin unless the six Martial Venerables cleared a path.

Ning Xiaochuan fought his way out of the encirclement while carrying Nie Lanxin, using the White Bone Pearl to defeat two Heavenly Sound Sect Hall Masters. He escaped as his pursuers regrouped and discovered that the Huanhua Family Head and Pu Su had vanished.

• Ning Xiaochuan wounded the Huanhua Family Head, then fled when Yuansheng Peak Master intervened; after Ning Xiaochuan controlled his mind, the Huanhua Family Head attacked Pu Su and carried him away.
• Yueqin Hall Master and Lanxiao Hall Master pursued Ning Xiaochuan with sonic attacks while he carried Nie Lanxin.
• Ning Xiaochuan used Burning Sky with Scorching Sun and the White Bone Pearl to break the Hall Masters' Fairy Sword Servant attack and injure them.
• Yueqin Hall Master sent Lanxiao Hall Master to report Ning Xiaochuan's power to the Sect Master and followed his trail, while the Five Elements Sect's Sect Master returned to Xuanji Mountain.
• Yuansheng Peak Master discovered that Pu Su and the Huanhua Family Head were missing and suspected another Demon Sect expert had captured them; he continued tracking Ning Xiaochuan.

Ning Xiaochuan used Nie Lanxin to escape suspicion, but she unexpectedly killed Yueqin Hall Master during their staged encounter. He left wary of Nie Lanxin, whose motives remained difficult to read.

• Ning Xiaochuan released Nie Lanxin in a county town and told her to leave, explaining that he had only pretended to take her hostage to protect her from suspicion.
• Nie Lanxin met Yueqin Hall Master and claimed Ning Xiaochuan had been injured by using Figurative Divine Power, prompting Yueqin Hall Master to attack him.
• As Ning Xiaochuan fought Yueqin Hall Master, Nie Lanxin stabbed her from behind and took the Earth Martial Pill from her Universe Pouch.
• Ning Xiaochuan absorbed Yueqin Hall Master's blood qi, then rebuked Nie Lanxin for killing her and departed into the forest.
• Nie Lanxin burned Yueqin Hall Master's Universe Pouch and left with her remains, while Ning Xiaochuan regretted becoming involved with her and recognized her as dangerous.

Ning Xiaochuan absorbed the blood qi of Pu Su and Yueqin Hall Master, cultivated the Eighth World Extinction Qi, and strengthened the Demon Sword, but failed to reach the third level of the Earth Venerable Realm. With Yuansheng Peak Master closing in, Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing agreed to fight him together, while news of further enemies worsened Ning Xiaochuan’s situation.

• The Huanhua Family Head brought Pu Su to Ning Xiaochuan, but Pu Su broke free, fled, and was stopped by Ning Xiaochuan, who drained his blood qi.
• Ning Xiaochuan absorbed the power of Pu Su and Yueqin Hall Master, cultivated the Eighth World Extinction Qi, and refined their blood qi for three days without breaking through to the third level of the Earth Venerable Realm.
• Ning Xiaochuan tested the Demon Sword by cleaving a great river, and the Huanhua Family Head congratulated him on his increased power.
• Yu Qing returned after luring Yuansheng Peak Master away with an Essence Qi Pearl, and Ning Xiaochuan agreed to face Yuansheng Peak Master with him rather than involve the Divine Dragon King.
• Yu Qing told Ning Xiaochuan that the Ten Thousand Sound Fairy Queen had vowed to kill him and that an important Demon Sect figure had arrived in the One Yuan Domain.

Ning Xiaochuan set up the Eight Winds Erosion God Formation and lured the Yuansheng Peak Master into it. The formation activated with the Yuansheng Peak Master trapped at its center.

• Ning Xiaochuan buried Profound Stones and established eight formation platforms for the Eight Winds Erosion God Formation, with Yu Qing, the Huanhua Family Head, the Two-Headed Stone Beast, and the Black-haired Ghost Bat Beast helping power it.
• The Yuansheng Peak Master confronted Ning Xiaochuan beside a lake, and the two clashed with their swords.
• Ning Xiaochuan used lightning to break free of the Thorn Wood Sword's vines and fled toward the formation, drawing the Yuansheng Peak Master after him.
• Ning Xiaochuan reached a formation platform and ordered the Eight Winds Erosion God Formation activated as the Yuansheng Peak Master entered its range.
• Pillars of light rose from all eight platforms, and three hundred and thirty-three Flame Meteorites appeared around the trapped Yuansheng Peak Master.

Ning Xiaochuan and his allies trapped Yuansheng Peak Master in the Eight Winds Erosion God Formation and overwhelmed him with lightning, Erosion Water, and repeated attacks. Ning Xiaochuan finally killed him with the Demon Sword, while Yu Qing received the formation manual.

• Yu Qing taunted Yuansheng Peak Master from within the formation, and Yuansheng tried to escape through the sky and underground before the formation stopped him.
• Ning Xiaochuan unleashed Thunder God Lightning Wind, breaking Yuansheng Peak Master’s Through-Back Divine Power and knocking him into the Erosion Water.
• Ning Xiaochuan, Yu Qing, the Huanhua Family Head, the Black-haired Ghost Bat Beast, and the Two-Headed Stone Beast joined forces to batter Yuansheng Peak Master as he struggled in the water.
• Ning Xiaochuan gave Yu Qing the Eight Winds Erosion God Formation manual, which Yu Qing eagerly stored away.
• Ning Xiaochuan drove the Demon Sword through Yuansheng Peak Master’s crown, killing him.

Ning Xiaochuan broke through to the Earth Venerable Realm Third Level while the No Life Path Lord attacked him, but the Dark Sky King intervened and revealed that Ning Xiaochuan was his disciple and heir. After Yu Ningsheng explained that she had asked the Dark Sky King to save him, the Dark Sky King brought up the betrothal once arranged between Ning Xiaochuan and Ningsheng and asked Ning Xiaochuan to make her a promise.

• Ning Xiaochuan absorbed Yuansheng Peak Master's blood qi through the Demon Sword and began breaking through as the No Life Path Lord arrived and destroyed the Eight Winds Erosion God Formation.
• The No Life Path Lord defeated Yu Qing and shattered the Two-Headed Stone Beast, then demanded that Ning Xiaochuan go with him to Nine Deaths Cliff for judgment.
• Ning Xiaochuan reached the Earth Venerable Realm Third Level and prepared to fight, but the Dark Sky King appeared and declared him his disciple and heir, forcing the No Life Path Lord to withdraw.
• The Dark Sky King told Ning Xiaochuan that Yu Ningsheng had asked him to save him, and Yu Ningsheng questioned Ning Xiaochuan about why he had gone to Xuanji Mountain to kill Ye Nantian.
• The Dark Sky King reminded Ning Xiaochuan of the betrothal once arranged between him and Ningsheng and asked him to make her a promise.

Ning Xiaochuan struggled to answer whether he would marry Yu Ningsheng, while Dark Sky King explained the Yulan Empire’s growing crisis. Their discussion was interrupted by Ru Xinghe and the One Yuan Sect, and the chapter ended as Ru Xinghe attacked Ning Xiaochuan and Dark Sky King summoned the Four Symbols to counter him.

• Dark Sky King questioned Ning Xiaochuan about his future with Yu Ningsheng and described how corruption and factional rivalries had weakened the Yulan Empire.
• Ning Xiaochuan hesitated to promise marriage, and Yu Ningsheng said they should decide for themselves after time tested their feelings.
• Ru Xinghe arrived with more than forty One Yuan Sect martial artists, who demanded vengeance for the Fate Birth Peak Master.
• Ning Xiaochuan sensed Ru Xinghe’s powerful Martial Heart Palace, but Ru Xinghe’s mental attack was repelled by the Seven Aperture God Demon Heart Palace.
• Ru Xinghe recognized Ning Xiaochuan’s talent and launched his battle sword at him, while Dark Sky King summoned the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Phoenix, and Black Tortoise to meet the attack.

The Dark Sky King defeated Ru Xinghe with his Four Symbols Reincarnation and moved to kill him, but the Sword Saint Yuwen Luo intervened and demanded that the Dark Sky King leave Ning Xiaochuan behind. The Dark Sky King refused and challenged the Sword Saint, leaving a confrontation on the verge of beginning.

• The Dark Sky King and Ru Xinghe fought in a Different Dimension, where the Dark Sky King emerged victorious and revealed that he had cultivated the Four Symbols Reincarnation to major completion.
• Ru Xinghe unleashed the full power of the Sunken Iron Ancient Sword, but the Dark Sky King pierced his chest and killed a One Yuan Sect Martial Venerable who tried to intervene.
• As the Dark Sky King moved to finish Ru Xinghe, azure light struck his finger and carried Ru Xinghe away, revealing an azure lotus and the arrival of the Sword Saint Yuwen Luo.
• The Sword Saint healed Ru Xinghe and ordered the Dark Sky King to leave Ning Xiaochuan behind, but the Dark Sky King refused and challenged him to exchange moves.

Ning Xiaochuan watched the Dark Sky King defeat the Sword Saint’s incarnation and learned from the Heavenly Emperor Blade about the Four Chapters Scripture and Heavenly Emperor Mountain. The Dark Sky King confirmed that Heavenly Emperor Mountain lay far beyond the Yulan Empire, across the deadly Wild Marsh.

• Ning Xiaochuan flew to the edge of the battle to offer the Dark Sky King the Phoenix Feather, but the Dark Sky King defeated the Sword Saint’s incarnation before he could intervene.
• The Sword Saint sensed from Xuanji Mountain that someone in the Demon Sect had reached a realm beyond ordinary martial cultivation.
• The Heavenly Emperor Blade told Ning Xiaochuan that the Four Symbols Reincarnation Skill was a foundational method and described the four scriptures that formed its greater arts.
• The Heavenly Emperor Blade explained that Heavenly Emperor Mountain governed Daoist civilizations and that the Academy Master had gone there to continue cultivating.
• The Dark Sky King joined Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Ningsheng aboard the boat and warned that travelers seeking Heavenly Emperor Mountain often died in the Wild Marsh.

Ning Xiaochuan learned about Heavenly Emperor Mountain and lent Dark Sky King a True Phoenix feather to study. As the imperial court began its assault on Xuanji Mountain, Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing returned to the military camp, where they found the mountain under devastating bombardment.

• Dark Sky King explained Heavenly Emperor Mountain to Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Ningsheng, then borrowed Ning Xiaochuan’s Phoenix Feather for three days of cultivation insight.
• Ning Xiaochuan recovered Yuansheng Peak Master’s swords, supplies, and valuable medicines, including five ingredients for Earth Martial Pills.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing took Yuansheng Peak Master’s head and hurried back to the military camp after seeing Profound Stone Crystal Light Cannons streak toward Xuanji Mountain.
• Eighteen Profound Stone War Chariots bombarded Xuanji Mountain, broke its Mountain Protection Array, and brought down its seven peaks.
• The major sects’ martial artists suffered heavy casualties and prepared to flee before the imperial court’s army surrounded the mountain.

Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qing returned from Xuanji Mountain with military intelligence and the Fate Birth Peak Master’s head, earning the Divine Dragon King’s protection despite Ning Xiaochuan’s absence from his post. After Ning Xiaochuan defeated the Cloud Marquis in a clash of minds, the Cloud Marquis sent Ji Hanxing north with a Heartless Pill and ordered her to kill him.

• Yu Qing claimed he and Ning Xiaochuan had infiltrated Xuanji Mountain and presented the Divine Dragon King with a map of its strategic passes and towns.
• The Cloud Marquis challenged Ning Xiaochuan for abandoning his command, but Ning Xiaochuan wounded him in a battle of minds.
• Yu Qing revealed the Fate Birth Peak Master’s head, and the Divine Dragon King praised the pair while postponing Ning Xiaochuan’s punishment and ordering him to guard the four northern prefectures.
• The Cloud Marquis gave Ji Hanxing a Heartless Pill and ordered her to use it to kill Ning Xiaochuan.
• Ning Xiaochuan led his troops north, and Ji Hanxing caught up with the army at the head of a Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Cavalry squad.