Chapter Summaries

Nian Yuexian brought Lu Ye and Ying Wuji through a passage filled with Sword Qi in search of a powerful Flying Sword, relying on Lu Ye’s vitality and Spiritual Power to keep fighting. They survived the final, devastating slash when Lu Ye used Moon Return to help Nian Yuexian split it, and the passage fell quiet.

• Nian Yuexian explained that the Sword Qi came from a likely Flying Sword ahead and that she needed Lu Ye’s help to get through the passage.
• Nian Yuexian led Lu Ye and Ying Wuji past her previous limit, enduring increasingly fierce Sword Qi while Lu Ye replenished her vitality and Spiritual Power with Twin Phoenixes Flying and Demonic Cores.
• Nian Yuexian charged through a surging sea of sword light, but a final Sword Qi struck and began to crack her Spiritual Treasure-grade longsword.
• Lu Ye thrust with Myriad Stars, then clasped Nian Yuexian’s sword hand and formed Moon Return on her blade.
• Nian Yuexian used the Spiritual Pattern to split the final Sword Qi, then collapsed with Lu Ye; Ying Wuji urged them to get up, but no further attacks came.

Lu Ye and Nian Yuexian crossed a trapped Stone Bridge to reach a short sword, but pulling it free opened a vortex that dragged them inside. Lu Ye plunged after Nian Yuexian to escape the pursuing Flying Swords, and Ying Wuji followed them into the vortex.

• Lu Ye recovered by eating Demonic Cores while Nian Yuexian and Ying Wuji regained their strength.
• Lu Ye, Nian Yuexian, and Ying Wuji discovered a Stone Bridge, a platform with a short sword, and countless Flying Swords hovering above an abyss.
• Nian Yuexian broke the Formations along the bridge, then pulled the short sword free from the Stone Platform.
• A vortex appeared and the short sword scattered Nian Yuexian's Spiritual Power, dragging her into the vortex.
• Lu Ye rushed to help Nian Yuexian, but plunged into the vortex when Ying Wuji fled toward them with the Flying Swords in pursuit.
• Nian Yuexian, Lu Ye, Ying Wuji, and the Flying Swords vanished into the vortex, leaving the Stone Platform empty.

Lu Ye, Ying Wuji, and Nian Yuexian entered a Secret Realm and were brought before Kongkong, the Sword Artifact Sect Master, who tested Nian Yuexian and accepted the two men as prospective sect members. Lu Ye found Nian Yuexian after Kongkong sent her away, while she wondered whether the powerful master could reveal a path beyond the Divine Sea Realm.

• Lu Ye, Nian Yuexian, and Ying Wuji arrived at the Sword Artifact Sect, where Kongkong explained that they would have to forge Flying Swords to remain in the sect.
• Nian Yuexian challenged Kongkong with Willow Catkin, but he caught her sword, judged her unfit to enter, and sent her flying from the valley with a sword strike.
• Kongkong let Lu Ye and Ying Wuji enter the sect and explained that its disciples forged their own Flying Swords and practiced both artifact refinement and sword cultivation.
• Lu Ye concealed his saber and claimed to be a Sword Cultivator after Kongkong disparaged saber users, then left to search for Nian Yuexian while Ying Wuji scouted the area.
• Lu Ye found Nian Yuexian at the valley's mouth, where she recovered from her injuries and reflected on Kongkong's cultivation beyond the Divine Sea Realm.

Lu Ye, Ying Wuji, and Nian Yuexian learned that the tiny mystic realm was a Legacy Mystic Realm where they would have to pass Kongkong’s trial to inherit the Sword Artifact Sect’s teachings. Nian Yuexian warned that the realm might be deadly, and the group built houses to stay in while they prepared for the trial.

• Nian Yuexian explained that the entire mystic realm consisted of the valley and Spirit Peak and identified it as a Legacy Mystic Realm.
• Lu Ye told Nian Yuexian that Kongkong had ordered him and Ying Wuji to learn artifact refinement before he would teach them the Sword Cultivation Path.
• Nian Yuexian warned Lu Ye and Ying Wuji that Kongkong’s cultivation surpassed the Divine Sea Realm and might come from beyond the Nine Provinces or an earlier era.
• Nian Yuexian told Lu Ye that Willow Catkin might be bait and that earlier entrants could have died trying to obtain the inheritance.
• Lu Ye questioned why the path to Willow Catkin was so dangerous, and Nian Yuexian suggested Kongkong might control the restrictions and had allowed her through because she brought Lu Ye and Ying Wuji.
• Lu Ye and Ying Wuji built three Wooden Houses near the valley entrance for themselves and Nian Yuexian.

Lu Ye passed Kongkong’s first test in artifact refining and earned permission to learn the Artifact Refinement Method, while Ying Wuji had to continue studying spirit patterns. Nian Yuexian tried to take a Flying Sword from Sword Mountain and was confronted by Wang Yang, who challenged her to a duel.

• Lu Ye and Ying Wuji studied artifact-refining spirit patterns under Kongkong for half a month, and Lu Ye asked to begin hands-on refining.
• Kongkong tested them by displaying ten spirit patterns and requiring them to construct seven within four hours; Lu Ye eventually constructed all ten and passed.
• Kongkong told Lu Ye to return the next day to learn the Artifact Refinement Method, while Ying Wuji was ordered to continue studying spirit patterns.
• Lu Ye told Nian Yuexian about his progress, and they discussed how learning the Artifact Refining Dao might help them leave the mystic realm.
• Nian Yuexian flew toward Sword Mountain, fell because of an Air Prohibition restriction, and climbed toward a Flying Sword.
• A figure appeared, drew the Flying Sword, and introduced himself as Wang Yang before requesting Nian Yuexian’s guidance.

Lu Ye learned the basics of artifact refining from Kongkong and began practicing in the Sword Artifact Sect’s underground workshop, while Nian Yuexian climbed Sword Mountain to inherit its sword Dao legacy. Lu Ye aimed to finish Kongkong’s trial within half a year so he could leave the Secret Realm.

• Lu Ye realized that Kongkong had sent Nian Yuexian to Sword Mountain to inherit the Sword Artifact Sect’s sword Dao, while he and Ying Wuji were meant to study artifact refining.
• Kongkong took Lu Ye to the underground Artifact Refining Workshop, explained its tools and Underground Fire, and demonstrated forging a Dharma Artifact-grade flying sword.
• Lu Ye tried refining artifacts under Kongkong’s guidance and, after three days, forged a Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact with five restrictions.
• Kongkong praised Lu Ye’s talent in Spiritual Patterns and set a routine of morning lessons and afternoon practice, estimating that he could meet the flying sword requirements within three years.
• Lu Ye returned to his hut, rested, and continued his lessons and practice, setting himself a limit of half a year to complete the trial and leave the Secret Realm.

Lu Ye rapidly advanced in artifact refining while drawing energy from the Underground Fire, until an eruption and disturbances across the Secret Realm prompted Kongkong to reveal that he was an obsession of the long-dead sect master. Kongkong explained that the Secret Realm’s foundation was failing, but Lu Ye’s question about what sustained it remained unanswered.

• Lu Ye used the Talent Tree’s roots to absorb energy from the Underground Fire and stored it as fuel while refining artifacts and studying under Kongkong.
• Over two months, Lu Ye progressed from refining Low-Grade Spiritual Artifacts to producing a Peak-Grade Spiritual Artifact, while Ying Wuji entered the workshop and lagged behind.
• After Lu Ye tossed aside his newly refined longsword, the workshop shook and the Underground Fire erupted, forcing Lu Ye to flee as the Secret Realm trembled and black fissures appeared.
• Kongkong summoned Lu Ye alone to the Thatched Cottage, where he revealed that he was an obsession formed from the true Kongkong’s Divine Sense and that no one before Lu Ye had passed the trial.
• Kongkong told Lu Ye that the Secret Realm’s sustaining foundation had become unstable and that the realm would soon fail, leaving Lu Ye to ask what that foundation was.

Lu Ye learned that the Sword Artifact Sect Secret Realm was collapsing because its Underground Fire foundation had been drained, and Kongkong gave him the sect’s inheritance before sending him and his companions out. After the escape, Nian Yuexian drew Myriad Demon Ridge’s attention away from Lu Ye, who hid near Liyuan and waited as cultivators converged on the area.

• Kongkong gave Lu Ye a Jade Slip containing the Sword Artifact Sect’s artifact-refining essentials and Sword Dao True Understanding, along with the sect master’s Sword Gourd.
• Kongkong split open a rift with ten thousand Flying Swords and sent Lu Ye, Nian Yuexian, and Ying Wuji out as the Secret Realm collapsed around him.
• The Underground Fire erupted after them, and Nian Yuexian shielded Lu Ye and Ying Wuji from the flames with her sword.
• Nian Yuexian took Ying Wuji and fled openly to draw Myriad Demon Ridge’s Divine Sea Realm cultivators away, while Lu Ye hid in another direction.
• Lu Ye concealed himself after flying thirty li, then sensed cultivators gathering around Liyuan and waited without contacting Nian Yuexian.

Lu Ye disguised himself as a handsome Sword Cultivator and traveled openly through Liyuan, hoping to leave without being recognized. A Myriad Demon Ridge group led by a Divine Sea Realm woman stopped him and invited him to travel with them for safety, leaving him forced to continue under his fabricated identity.

• Lu Ye changed his appearance with the Thousand Faces Spirit Pattern, dressed in white, and posed as a Sword Cultivator carrying a longsword and Sword Gourd.
• He flew openly through Liyuan, passing Myriad Demon Ridge Cultivators without incident as he made his way toward Cangyan Mountain Pass.
• A Divine Sea Realm woman and her group approached, and Lu Ye lowered his head to let them pass after sensing her divine perception sweep over him.
• One of the group’s women urged her Martial Uncle to bring Lu Ye along, and the Divine Sea Realm woman agreed after noticing him.
• Lu Ye claimed he had recently arrived from Peerless Continent and was traveling to seek Flying Swords before joining the Province Guard.
• The Divine Sea Realm woman warned Lu Ye about the dangerous Vast Sky Alliance cultivator in Liyuan, and the group offered to let him travel with them.

Lu Ye traveled with a Myriad Demon Ridge search party under the alias Li Taibai, then helped defend it from a masked Sword Cultivator who imitated Nian Yuexian’s techniques. The attacker escaped, leaving Lu Ye and Tong Shuyao to bury the dead while the Myriad Demon Ridge suspected someone was exploiting the hunt to sow discord.

• Lu Ye pretended to be a cultivator from the Peerless Continent and joined a search party led by a Divine Sea Realm woman, where Tong Shuyao grew close to him.
• Lu Ye gave Tong Shuyao the alias Li Taibai as the group searched Liyuan for Nian Yuexian and later camped for the night.
• A masked Sword Cultivator attacked the camp with sword energy, killing the other True Lake Realm cultivators and injuring Lu Ye.
• Lu Ye and Tong Shuyao joined the Divine Sea Realm woman in fighting the attacker, who soon withdrew.
• A middle-aged Divine Sea Realm cultivator arrived, and the woman concluded that the attacker had been fishing in troubled waters rather than being Nian Yuexian.
• The woman ordered the dead to be cleared, and Lu Ye agreed to help Tong Shuyao collect the bodies.

After Lu Ye impressed a Divine Sea Realm woman during a battle, she tried to recruit him into Myriad Demon Ridge and brought him to Myriad Demon City. He passed the city's faction inspection by activating his temporary Myriad Demon Ridge Battlefield Mark, but he remained trapped in her company until he chose a side.

• The woman asked Lu Ye about his origins, and he claimed to be a Rogue Cultivator from Peerless Continent who had advanced quickly after building a deep foundation.
• The woman asked whether Lu Ye would join Myriad Demon Ridge's Province Guard, but he hesitated, prompting her to pressure him to decide which faction to serve.
• At dawn, Tong Shuyao identified the city ahead as Myriad Demon City, and the woman told Lu Ye to stay with her until he made his decision.
• Lu Ye worried that the city's faction restriction would expose his temporary mark, then activated his Myriad Demon Ridge Battlefield Mark as he entered.
• The restriction swept over Lu Ye, and red light appeared on the back of his hand, confirming that he had passed the inspection.

Lu Ye accepted Tong Shuyao’s offer to join Myriad Demon Ridge’s Province Guard and registered as Li Taibai, a Rogue Cultivator from the Peerless Continent. Lin Yue assigned him to Dark Moon Forest Pass as her Attendant Before the Seat, where Tong Shuyao was told to arrange his accommodations.

• Tong Shuyao guided Lu Ye around Myriad Demon City and encouraged him to join the Province Guard under Lin Yue.
• Lu Ye exchanged for a replacement Myriad Demon Ridge Battlefield Mark, then told Tong Shuyao he was willing to serve under Lin Yue.
• After Lin Yue emerged from seclusion, she brought Lu Ye to register as Li Taibai, who received the Military Rank of Fruit Guard despite having no Battle Merit.
• Lu Ye learned that his Battlefield Mark now recorded his identity, cultivation, location, and zero Merit and Battle Merit.
• Lin Yue took Lu Ye and Tong Shuyao to Dark Moon Forest Pass, named herself its Pass Master, and appointed Lu Ye as Attendant Before the Seat.
• Lin Yue ordered Tong Shuyao to take Lu Ye and arrange accommodations for him.

Lu Ye settled into Dark Moon Forest Pass with Yiyi and Amber, then began studying the Sword Gourd Kongkong had given him. He discovered it surpassed Spiritual Treasures in quality and learned that it could turn swallowed swords into stored Sword Qi.

• Tong Shuyao brought Lu Ye to his residence at Dark Moon Forest Pass, where he set up protective formations and released Yiyi and Amber.
• Lu Ye told Yiyi and Amber how he had joined the Myriad Demon Ridge Province Guard, and assured them he could leave when he chose.
• Lu Ye began cultivating and examined the Sword Gourd, sensing that its countless restrictions made it more powerful than a Spiritual Treasure.
• After refining the Sword Gourd for two days, Lu Ye fed it a High-Grade Spiritual Artifact longsword and discovered the gourd had transformed it into stored Sword Qi.

Lu Ye discovered that the Sword Gourd transformed Spiritual Artifacts into controllable Sword Qi, with stronger artifacts producing more powerful strands. Tong Shuyao took him to watch a duel between cultivators from opposing camps at the front line, where he recognized the saber fighter’s techniques as strangely familiar.

• Lu Ye tested the Sword Gourd’s nine strands of Sword Qi and found each could strike with the force of one of his attacks.
• Lu Ye fed the Sword Gourd many Spiritual Artifacts and discovered that the resulting Sword Qi varied in strength according to each artifact’s grade.
• Tong Shuyao visited Lu Ye and took him to watch a battle between cultivators from Dark Moon Forest Pass and Startled Waves Lake Pass.
• Tong Shuyao explained that the duelists fought for Battle Merit rewards, and Lu Ye studied the saber-wielding fighter’s familiar-looking techniques.

Lu Ye recognized the saber-wielding combatant as his Third Senior Brother, Xiao Xinghe, and watched him defeat Mu Tianxing despite suffering from earlier injuries. After a Vast Sky Alliance cultivator secretly disrupted Xiao Xinghe during the fight, Xiao killed Mu Tianxing and turned on the man who had interfered, leaving Lu Ye questioning the apparent hostility within their own side.

• Tong Shuyao identified the spear-wielding combatant as Mu Tianxing and learned that his opponent was Xiao Xinghe of Azure Emperor City.
• Lu Ye recognized Xiao Xinghe as his Third Senior Brother and recalled how Xiao's saber insights had shaped Lu Ye's early techniques.
• Xiao Xinghe fought Mu Tianxing while bearing injuries from earlier battles, and Lu Ye judged that he had the advantage.
• A high-ranking Vast Sky Alliance cultivator secretly struck Xiao Xinghe as he retreated, disrupting his Spiritual Power and exposing him to Mu Tianxing's spear.
• Xiao Xinghe dodged the killing thrust, took a wound to his shoulder blade, and killed Mu Tianxing with a saber strike.
• Xiao Xinghe stared down the interfering cultivator as Lu Ye asked what had happened, and a Myriad Demon Ridge cultivator said Xiao seemed unpopular and was frequently fighting for Battle Merit.

Lu Ye entered the arena as Li Taibai and defeated the exhausted Xiao Xinghe without harming him, forcing his Third Senior Brother to withdraw and rest. He then challenged the Vast Sky Alliance, quickly defeating another Tier Three True Lake Cultivator.

• Xiao Xinghe continued fighting despite his injuries, defeated a Myriad Demon Ridge Spell Cultivator, and demanded another opponent.
• Lu Ye rushed into the arena and introduced himself to Xiao Xinghe as Rogue Cultivator Li Taibai, greeting him as Senior Brother.
• Lu Ye countered Xiao Xinghe’s saber style with skillful swordsmanship and forced him to retreat without inflicting serious harm.
• Xiao Xinghe recognized that Lu Ye had intended to make him withdraw safely, saluted him, and left to treat his injuries.
• Lu Ye challenged the Vast Sky Alliance, and a new opponent entered the arena.
• Lu Ye swiftly defeated the new Tier Three True Lake Cultivator, surprising both camps.

Lu Ye, fighting as Li Taibai, defeated a succession of Vast Sky Alliance cultivators, culminating in a victory over Zhang Youlin, a Tier Six Sword Cultivator. Despite pleas to withdraw, he challenged the camp’s sole Tier Seven cultivator—the man who had made things difficult for Xiao Xinghe.

• Lu Ye defeated a Tier Four opponent and then a Tier Five opponent, winning his first four battles without killing anyone.
• Zhang Youlin of the Northern Profound Sword Sect entered the arena and challenged Lu Ye to a Flying Sword duel.
• Lu Ye and Zhang Youlin unleashed their swords in a fierce clash, and Lu Ye broke Zhang Youlin’s Sword Formation and won.
• Lu Ye pointed his sword toward the Vast Sky Alliance’s Tier Seven cultivator and called for another opponent.
• Tong Shuyao and other Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators urged Lu Ye to stop, but he continued because the Tier Seven cultivator was his target.

Lu Ye challenged Tan Shu after seeing him attempt to kill Xiao Xinghe with a borrowed blade, then revealed his full strength and killed the True Lake Tier Seven cultivator. The victory left both camps stunned, but Tan Shu’s followers rushed forward and chaos erupted.

• Lu Ye decided to avenge Xiao Xinghe after witnessing Tan Shu’s attempt to kill him.
• Lu Ye challenged Tan Shu, who identified himself as a cultivator from Heavenly Origin Sect.
• Lu Ye unleashed his full strength and struck Tan Shu with a Divine Sense attack, leaving him unable to defend himself.
• Lu Ye killed Tan Shu with a storm of sword light, winning his sixth consecutive battle.
• Tan Shu’s followers cried out and charged toward Lu Ye or Tan Shu’s corpse, plunging the field into chaos.

Lu Ye defeated Tan Shu and prevented the Vast Sky Alliance from disrupting the long-standing battles between the camps, then returned to Dark Moon Forest Pass to recover and reflect. Tong Shuyao reported his feats to Lin Yue, who saw him as a potential successor for their sect.

• Lu Ye killed the Tier Seven Tan Shu, and Tong Shuyao stopped the ensuing confrontation by warning that a larger fight would end the battles and Battle Merit opportunities.
• The Vast Sky Alliance cultivators withdrew with Tan Shu's body, while Myriad Demon Ridge celebrated Lu Ye's victory across four minor realms.
• Tong Shuyao carried the exhausted Lu Ye back to Dark Moon Forest Pass, where he used Soul Cleansing Water to recover and considered the day's battles and the motives behind Xiao Xinghe's troubles.
• Tong Shuyao told Lin Yue how Lu Ye had performed, and Lin Yue concluded that their sect had found a promising successor.

Lin Yue decided to recruit Li Taibai into Myriad Demon Ridge’s Main Sect after he killed Tan Shu, and she instructed Tong Shuyao to keep close to him. Two days later, Grand Pass Master Zhang Kun returned with troubling news and ordered Dark Moon Forest Pass to prepare for battle.

• Lin Yue concluded that Li Taibai had killed Tan Shu to establish his reputation and told Tong Shuyao to sound him out about joining the Main Sect.
• Tong Shuyao hurried to find Li Taibai but remembered he was recuperating in seclusion after the battles.
• The usual battles between the two camps stopped for several days after Li Taibai’s victory.
• Zhang Kun returned to Dark Moon Forest Pass and asked Lin Yue whether Li Taibai had killed a Vast Sky Alliance cultivator named Tan Shu.
• After Lin Yue confirmed the report, Zhang Kun urgently ordered the pass to prepare for battle.