Chapter Summaries

Three months after promising to free Yu Ningsheng, Ning Xiaochuan visited Jade Viewing Pavilion and presented her with an Ice Silkworm Pill. He declared that he had come to redeem her freedom, stunning Yu Ningsheng and everyone around them.

• Ning Xiaochuan paid Yu Youyan to arrange a meeting with Yu Ningsheng and sent her an Ice Silkworm Pill as a gift.
• Yu Youyan escorted Ning Xiaochuan to the garden after Yu Ningsheng agreed to see him, turning away Ru Yizhi, one of the Imperial City Ten Talents.
• Ning Xiaochuan met Yu Ningsheng and explained that the pill was a token of gratitude for her life-saving kindness.
• Ning Xiaochuan announced that he had come to redeem Yu Ningsheng's freedom, leaving her, Yu Youyan, and the music courtesans astonished.

Ning Xiaochuan tried to ransom Yu Ningsheng from Jade Viewing Pavilion for eight hundred million coins, stirring alarm across the Imperial City. The pavilion’s master refused, and Yue Wuyang’s Martial Soul Avatar arrived to reveal that Yu Ningsheng was the daughter of a condemned minister.

• Ning Xiaochuan offered eight hundred million coins to ransom Yu Ningsheng, drawing the attention of Jade Viewing Pavilion’s mysterious master and its gathered guests.
• Yu Youyan celebrated Ning Xiaochuan as Yu Ningsheng’s benefactor, while Yu Ningsheng wondered whether she could truly leave the pavilion.
• Ning Qiancheng learned of the ransom attempt and rushed to stop Ning Xiaochuan from jeopardizing his marriage alliance with Princess Qianqian.
• Yue Wuyang learned of Ning Xiaochuan’s hidden martial talent and decided to use the ransom attempt against the planned alliance between Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion and the Great Golden Roc King Residence.
• Yu Qianqian heard that Ning Xiaochuan was ransoming Yu Ningsheng and angrily set out for Jade Viewing Pavilion with a group of experts.
• The master refused to release Yu Ningsheng, and Yue Wuyang’s Martial Soul Avatar appeared, declaring that she was the daughter of a condemned minister.

Ning Xiaochuan insisted on redeeming Yu Ningsheng despite Yue Wuyang accusing him of treason and trying to have him executed. Ning Qiancheng and the Old Marquis intervened, Yu Qianqian declared she would not marry Ning Xiaochuan, and Ning Qiancheng knocked him unconscious and carried him home.

• Yue Wuyang recounted the massacre at Nine Deaths Cliff, blaming Ning Qianyi and claiming Yu Ningsheng had been sold into Jade Viewing Pavilion as a child.
• Ning Xiaochuan challenged the Holy Emperor's authority, so Yue Wuyang ordered guards to seize and behead him.
• Ning Qiancheng arrived, drove off the guards, and threatened to unleash the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion's two million soldiers if Yue Wuyang pressed the matter.
• The Old Marquis and the Great Golden Roc King arrived and tried to end the confrontation, but Ning Xiaochuan again vowed to redeem Yu Ningsheng.
• Yu Qianqian declared that she would not marry Ning Xiaochuan and ran out, while Ning Qiancheng knocked Ning Xiaochuan unconscious and carried him back to the mansion.

After waking at the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion, Ning Xiaochuan learned that Princess Qianqian had annulled their arranged marriage and that his devotion to Yu Ningsheng had made him an Imperial City celebrity. He committed himself to growing stronger so he could change Yu Ningsheng's fate, then advanced his cultivation and tested his Lightning Divine Beast ability against Ning Xiner.

• Ning Xiner told Ning Xiaochuan that the Old Marquis had carried him home and praised his newly revealed ability to cultivate Martial Dao Profound Qi.
• The Old Marquis explained that Princess Qianqian had annulled her marriage to Ning Xiaochuan, worsening relations between the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion and the Great Golden Roc King Residence.
• Ning Xiaochuan learned that the Academy Master could change Yu Ningsheng's status, but he would first need to enter the Heavenly Emperor Academy and rank among its top ten examinees.
• The Old Marquis ordered Ji Bo and eight Martial Dao experts to keep Ning Xiaochuan inside the mansion until the entrance examination, while rumors branded him the Number One Romantic Fool Under Heaven.
• Ning Xiaochuan absorbed Earth Martial Essence Qi from the Gold Thread Purple Wood Box and advanced his Lightning Divine Beast ability until he could form half its body.
• Ning Xiner attacked Ning Xiaochuan to test his cultivation, and he blocked her sword with a Lightning Divine Shroud before counterattacking with his Lightning Divine Beast.

Ning Xiaochuan sparred with Ning Xiner, gave her a Blood Toad Pill, and survived two assassination attempts before joining the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion's candidates for the dangerous Heavenly Emperor Academy assessment. Outside the Heavenly Gate, Yu TianDi attacked a Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion disciple, showing the gathered candidates his strength.

• Ning Xiaochuan and Ning Xiner exchanged ten blows, then he gave her a Blood Toad Pill that she swallowed before cultivating.
• Two groups of assassins attacked Ning Xiaochuan overnight, but Ji Bo and the guards killed them.
• At the Martial Arena, the Old Marquis announced a sixty-percent estimated death rate for the assessment, and sixteen young geniuses withdrew.
• Ning Qianwen announced rewards for admission and top-ten placement, and Ning Qiancheng led the remaining seventy-five candidates to the Heavenly Gate.
• The Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion's candidates met the larger Qilin King Residence contingent, and Yu TianDi struck a Sword Pavilion disciple who challenged his boast of being immortal.

Ning Xiaochuan and the other candidates entered the Emperor Ruins to begin the Heavenly Emperor Academy examination, while Yu Ningsheng sent him a letter saying their debt was settled. Ning Xiaochuan discovered a hidden poem on the envelope revealing her feelings, but he remained resolved to follow through on his promise.

• Ning Xiner drove Yu TianDi back with a single sword strike before the candidates entered the Heavenly Gate.
• Ning Xiaochuan sensed the Emperor Ruins through the gate and arrived in the Madaro Great Desert, where candidates received scrambled number tokens and learned the examination would begin the next day in a dangerous location.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Ning Xiner received different numbers and separated to find their assigned stone houses.
• Murong Wushuang delivered Yu Ningsheng's letter to Ning Xiaochuan, which said that he had fulfilled his promise and they owed each other nothing.
• Ning Xiaochuan found a poem written in water on the envelope expressing Yu Ningsheng's wish to stay with him and her sorrow at their separation.

Ning Xiaochuan and the other examinees were sent to the Fire Demon Mountain Range for a month-long Heavenly Emperor Academy examination to find Black Fire Wood Pearls and survive. After jumping down into the burning forest, Ning Xiaochuan was attacked by a disguised Vine Wood Snake.

• Ning Xiaochuan concealed the Gold Thread Purple Wood Box and cultivated Heaven and Earth Profound Qi through the night, nearing its fourth level.
• Jin Quexi gathered examinees onto the Blue Wind Spirit Sparrow and revealed that their examination would take place in the Fire Demon Mountain Range, where they had to find Black Fire Wood Pearls and survive for a month.
• Jin Quexi warned the examinees about the mountain range’s dangers and its Mystic Beast eggs before the Blue Wind Spirit Sparrow carried them into the range and dropped them at separate locations.
• Ning Xiaochuan jumped from the spirit sparrow and landed in the burning forest, where a Vine Wood Snake disguised as a vine struck him and sent him crashing into a tree.

Ning Xiaochuan survived a battle with a Third Grade Mystic Beast and escaped a Fifth Grade Rhino Horn Beast while searching Fire Demon Mountain Range for a Black Fire Wood Pearl. He witnessed Xiao Li rescue Qi Chan'er from Lin Hen's group, then saw Xiao Li kill Lin Hen with a single blow.

• Ning Xiaochuan killed a Vine Wood Snake, collected its Low-Grade Profound Stone, and stored the valuable beast in his Universe Pouch.
• Ning Xiaochuan fled a pursuing Fifth Grade Rhino Horn Beast, mapped the danger zone, and continued searching cautiously through the mountains.
• Ning Xiaochuan found Qi Chan'er fighting Lin Hen of Spirit Creek Sect, who demanded her Black Fire Wood Pearl and attacked her with two companions.
• Xiao Li appeared and killed Lin Hen's two companions with sword qi, then crushed Lin Hen's saber defense and killed him with a Taotie claw.
• Ning Xiaochuan recognized that Xiao Li had reached the Divine Body Second Level and watched him from concealment.

Ning Xiaochuan cultivated toward the Divine Body Second Level while secretly following Xiao Li and Qi Chan'er, but his breakthrough left him unable to move when Xiao Li discovered him and attacked. The chapter ended as Ning Xiaochuan's Lightning Divine Beast clashed with Xiao Li's saber strike.

• Qi Chan'er identified herself as the daughter of Silver Pool Madam, and Xiao Li concealed his hatred by claiming to be a loyal disciple of Qi Tian Marquis's Mansion.
• Xiao Li earned Qi Chan'er's trust as her protector while Ning Xiaochuan followed them for three days and resolved to kill Xiao Li after reaching the Divine Body Second Level.
• Ning Xiaochuan reached the peak of the Divine Body First Level, brought his Lightning Divine Beast to great mastery, and began activating the Source of Divine Power for his next divine power.
• The thunder from Ning Xiaochuan's breakthrough alerted Qi Chan'er and Xiao Li, who suspected someone was following them and hurried toward him.
• Xiao Li found Ning Xiaochuan immobilized in the middle of his breakthrough and slashed at him, but Ning Xiaochuan sent a Lightning Divine Beast to meet the blow.

Ning Xiaochuan fought Xiao Li and killed him with the Heavenly Thunder Bell and a saber strike, though Xiao Li’s dying blow left him gravely wounded. With savage profound beasts closing in, Qi Chan'er confronted Ning Xiaochuan and weighed whether to kill him because he knew about her Black Fire Wood Pearl.

• Xiao Li battered Ning Xiaochuan with saber strikes and a Gluttonous Giant Claw, but Ning Xiaochuan unleashed the Heavenly Thunder Bell and severed Xiao Li’s left arm.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Xiao Li resumed their battle as Qi Chan'er watched and savage profound beasts gathered nearby.
• Ning Xiaochuan stunned Xiao Li with the Heavenly Thunder Bell and cut off his head, but Xiao Li’s body struck Ning Xiaochuan in the chest before collapsing.
• Qi Chan'er told Ning Xiaochuan she had known Xiao Li was lying and had planned to kill him once her injuries healed.
• Ning Xiaochuan tried to leave, but Qi Chan'er held her sword over him and hesitated over whether to kill him to protect the secret of her Black Fire Wood Pearl.

Ning Xiaochuan escaped the pursuing mystic beasts by luring them into the Golden Winged Ghost King Scorpion’s territory, where the scorpion killed them with its poisonous mist. He discovered that the Demon Sword’s influence let him absorb the poison and heal, then gathered valuable loot and crept toward the scorpion’s nest.

• Ning Xiaochuan and Qi Chan'er fled from the mystic beasts drawn by Xiao Li’s blood, but split up when she ignored his warning to turn left.
• Ning Xiaochuan lured his pursuers into a dangerous forest, where a Golden Winged Ghost King Scorpion poisoned them to death.
• Ning Xiaochuan absorbed the scorpion’s poisonous mist and found that it strengthened his body and healed his wounds, which he attributed to the Demon Sword’s power.
• Ning Xiaochuan collected profound stones, hides, and armor from the dead mystic beasts and stored them in his Universe Pouch.
• Ning Xiaochuan concealed himself and approached the Golden Winged Ghost King Scorpion’s nest, hoping to find treasures.

Ning Xiaochuan stole the Golden Winged Ghost King Scorpion’s treasure-filled nest and escaped with Qi Chan’er as the enraged scorpion rampaged through the Fire Demon Mountain Range. After a gigantic bird seized and devoured the scorpion, Qi Chan’er learned Ning Xiaochuan’s identity and discovered that he had killed Xiao Li.

• Ning Xiaochuan found Black Fire Wood Pearls, Azure Gold, and Profound Stone in the Golden Winged Ghost King Scorpion’s nest, then took the whole nest when Qi Chan’er’s arrival awakened the scorpion.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Qi Chan’er fled together, but the scorpion pursued a herd of mysterious beasts and left destruction and dead examinees in its wake.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Qi Chan’er hid on a cliff and watched a huge black bird snatch the Golden Winged Ghost King Scorpion and eat it.
• Ning Xiaochuan introduced himself as a member of Sword Pavilion Marquis’s Mansion, and Qi Chan’er recognized him as the Number One Romantic Fool Under Heaven.
• Ning Xiaochuan told Qi Chan’er that he had killed Xiao Li, leaving her stunned to learn that the famed genius was already dead.

Ning Xiaochuan and Qi Chan'er recovered from their injuries, discovered that the Black Fire Wood Pearls revealed a ruined demon palace deep in the Fire Demon Mountain Range, and set out together to find it. They reached the deadly Five Colors Poison Barrier Forest and hid when a group of fourteen examinees arrived.

• Ning Xiaochuan told Qi Chan'er how he and Yu Ningsheng had met, then cultivated while she guarded him and hunted food for him.
• After Ning Xiaochuan recovered, he showed Qi Chan'er the Golden Winged Ghost King Scorpion's nest, where they found six Black Fire Wood Pearls and other treasures.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Qi Chan'er each saw a vision of a ruined demon palace in the depths of the Fire Demon Mountain Range and agreed to seek it together.
• The pair traveled deeper into the range and found a vast Five Colors Poison Barrier Forest filled with deadly mystic beasts, blocking their way forward.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Qi Chan'er hid in a tree as fourteen young martial artists arrived, led by a golden-armored man riding a restrained Six-Legged Lion.

Ning Xiaochuan and Qi Chan'er watched Yu Tiandi and more than sixty Qilin King Residence experts seize Black Fire Wood Pearls from other examinees. Believing his younger sister could challenge Yu Tiandi, Ning Xiaochuan left to find Ning Xiner.

• Yu Tiandi ordered the Qilin King Residence experts to ambush examinees entering the Five Colors Miasma Forest and take their Black Fire Wood Pearls.
• Yu Tiandi killed a fleeing Mystic Beastman from the Mystic Ox Tribe and took his pearl, then continued ambushing other groups with his men.
• Ning Xiaochuan and Qi Chan'er watched the Qilin King Residence gather more than sixty young experts and collect several Black Fire Wood Pearls.
• Ning Xiaochuan told Qi Chan'er that his younger sister could fight Yu Tiandi and left to search for Ning Xiner using their faint Divine Sense connection.

Ning Xiaochuan used the Gold Thread Purple Wood Box and the Demon Sword to strengthen his cultivation before entering a Flame Swamp in search of a Mystic Beast Egg. There, he clashed with an explosive ape over the egg and unleashed the World Extinction Demon Sword.

• Ning Xiaochuan hid underground, cultivated with the Gold Thread Purple Wood Box, and decided to absorb blood qi with the Demon Sword to break through to the Divine Body Third Level.
• Ning Xiaochuan drained the Vine Wood Snake's blood qi and refined it overnight.
• The next morning, Ning Xiaochuan killed a bat and a blood-red tiger, then found a golden fire pool in the Flame Swamp and suspected a Mystic Beast Egg was inside.
• Ning Xiaochuan encountered an explosive ape at the pool, and they charged toward it before attacking each other.
• Ning Xiaochuan wounded the ape but could not pierce its tough body, so he unleashed the World Extinction Demon Sword.

Ning Xiaochuan defeated an explosive ape, found a Mystic Beast Egg guarded by a tiny dragon, and took the egg after escaping the golden flames. He later encountered Murong Wushuang at the Four Prefectures Alliance’s valley base, where he learned that martial artists had joined forces to search for Black Fire Wood Pearls.

• Ning Xiaochuan killed the explosive ape with the World Extinction Demon Sword, absorbed its blood qi, and strengthened his Heavenly Thunder Bell.
• Ning Xiaochuan discovered a Mystic Beast Egg in a pool of golden flames and saw a tiny winged dragon emerge to claim it.
• Ning Xiaochuan chased the dragon, struck it aside, and took the egg after his blood seeped into its shell; the dragon followed him as he left.
• Ning Xiaochuan found a valley occupied by martial artists and recognized Murong Wushuang guarding its entrance.
• Murong Wushuang explained that the Four Prefectures Alliance had gathered more than a hundred and twenty martial artists to search for Black Fire Wood Pearls and defend against Mystic Beasts.

Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang learned that mysterious black-robed men had captured Yu Qianqian, and Ning identified them as members of Dark Emperor City. The twenty-four attackers demanded the Four Prefectures Alliance’s Black Fire Wood Pearls and overwhelmed its defenders, leaving Ning intent on teaching them a lesson.

• Murong Wushuang agreed to travel with Ning Xiaochuan as they sought the Sword Pavilion Marquis’s Mansion’s alliance.
• The wounded Luo Gai reported that black-robed men had captured Princess Qianqian and killed two of his companions.
• Twenty-four black-robed men arrived at the valley and demanded the Four Prefectures Alliance surrender its Black Fire Wood Pearls.
• Ning Xiaochuan recognized the attackers as Dark Emperor City members and explained their plan to use the pearls to place more of their people in the Heavenly Emperor Academy.
• The black-robed men attacked the Four Prefectures Alliance and killed more than ten martial house disciples as they advanced.

Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang tried to escape the valley after the black-robed leader overwhelmed the Four Great Martial Houses, but Ning Xiaochuan killed two pursuers and was surrounded. He joined forces with the four house leaders to break through the encirclement and began a fierce battle with the leader, whose identity remained hidden.

• Gu Lande attacked the black-robed leader with his Bronze Treasure Wheel, but she shattered its tornado, took the weapon, and tore off his arm.
• Zi Jing, Xue Rihuo, Dongfang Yi, and Gu Lande fought the leader together, while Ning Xiaochuan recognized that she was a woman and tried to leave the valley with Murong Wushuang.
• Two black-robed figures blocked Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang, and Ning Xiaochuan killed them by snapping their necks.
• Twelve black-robed figures surrounded Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang, and the leader identified Ning Xiaochuan and mocked the four house leaders.
• Ning Xiaochuan urged the four leaders to join him in carving a path out of the valley, then clashed with the leader using his lightning against her flames.

Ning Xiaochuan rescued Murong Wushuang, Dongfang Yi, and Xue Rihuo from the Dark Emperor City’s black-robed fighters, who killed Gu Lande and Zi Jing and captured Princess Qianqian. After learning the captors demanded twenty Black Fire Wood Pearls within three days, Ning Xiaochuan set out to raise his cultivation so he could go to her aid.

• The black-robed fighters killed Gu Lande and Zi Jing, but Ning Xiaochuan shattered the Bronze Treasure Wheel’s hurricane with Heavenly Thunder Bell and opened a gap for the survivors to escape.
• The black-robed leader refused to pursue Ning Xiaochuan and ordered the Great Golden Roc King Residence to deliver twenty Black Fire Wood Pearls within three days to ransom Princess Qianqian.
• Dongfang Yi and Xue Rihuo thanked Ning Xiaochuan and left separately, while Ning Xiaochuan explained that they feared their companions might steal their Black Fire Wood Pearls.
• News of Princess Qianqian’s capture and the massacre spread through the Fire Demon Mountain Range, alarming the examinees and prompting Great Golden Roc King Residence disciples to hesitate.
• After discussing the Dark Emperor City’s past atrocities with Murong Wushuang, Ning Xiaochuan vowed to break through to the Divine Body Third Level within three days and went to hunt Profound Beasts.

Ning Xiaochuan discovered that the Mystic Beast Egg was cracking from within, but its alluring fragrance drew a horde of beasts and forced him to flee. After killing a Golden War Lion to advance his cultivation, he saw the Little Red Dragon secretly absorb his Demon Sword aura and grow.

• Ning Xiaochuan caught the Little Red Dragon following him, struck it down, and showed it the Mystic Beast Egg.
• Ning Xiaochuan found a crack forming from inside the egg, then put it away when its scent attracted surrounding Mystic Beasts.
• Ning Xiaochuan killed a charging Mystic Devouring Wolf and fled the encircling beasts with the Little Red Dragon following him.
• Ning Xiaochuan drew the Golden War Lion away from two other Third Grade Mystic Beasts and killed it with the World Extinction Demon Sword.
• Ning Xiaochuan absorbed the Golden War Lion's blood energy while cultivating, as the Little Red Dragon secretly swallowed Demon Sword aura and grew longer.