Chapter Summaries

After Chen Mu refused Ji Xuanfei’s imperial edict and killed the envoy, he traveled openly toward Zhong Province, prompting the Great Xuan Court and martial powers across the realm to mobilize. He reached Zhong Province and continued toward Kyoto as the Profound Heaven Dao Lord sensed his arrival and the old Daoist hurried to witness what happened next.

• Ji Xuanfei watched Chen Mu reject his edict and kill Zhao Quan, then ordered Celestial Beings, military leaders, sect elders, and Prince Liang to gather in the front hall.
• Heaven Strategy Manor’s old Manor Lord recognized the rainbow crossing Willow Province as Chen Mu and ordered the manor sealed before departing for Zhong Province.
• Blood Exchange experts from Willow Province and other regions set out for Zhong Province as news spread that Chen Mu was heading for the Great Xuan Court.
• Chen Mu entered Zhong Province without concealing his presence and continued toward Kyoto, stirring alarm among the province’s martial powers.
• The Profound Heaven Dao Lord sensed Chen Mu’s arrival and chose not to interfere, while the old Daoist set off to witness Chen Mu’s expected confrontation.

Chen Mu confronted Ruan Tian at North Heaven Pass and was trapped by the Profound Heaven Formation and the million-strong Azure Dragon Army. He tore through the army despite being cut off from Heaven and Earth, forcing Ruan Tian to look to the hidden Great Xuan Blood Guard for help.

• Ruan Tian tried to persuade Chen Mu to abandon his vengeance and stay out of the court’s affairs, but Chen Mu demanded that Cheng Zu, Xiang Yuan, and the others come out to die.
• Ruan Tian activated North Heaven Pass’s Profound Heaven Formation and attacked Chen Mu, who resisted its suppression and struck back with a powerful palm seal.
• Ruan Tian ordered the Azure Dragon Army to deploy its Imprison Heaven Formation, while Cheng Zu watched from concealment and prepared further measures.
• Cut off from Heaven and Earth, Chen Mu charged through the million-strong army, smashing soldiers and breaking its Azure Dragon formations with his Martial Body.
• Ruan Tian realized the Azure Dragon Army could not contain Chen Mu and turned toward the concealed Great Xuan Blood Guard, whose forces had yet to make their move.

Chen Mu broke through the million-strong Azure Dragon Army, defeated the Bloodclad Guards, and killed Commander-in-Chief Tu Shan. With the army formation shattered, he crossed North Heaven Pass as Ruan Tian fled toward Jade Capital.

• Chen Mu charged through the Azure Dragon Army with his physical strength and reached its command banner, where Tu Shan refused to withdraw.
• Tu Shan intensified the army formation’s suppression as forty-nine Bloodclad Guards attacked Chen Mu, but Chen Mu resisted their techniques and killed one of them.
• Chen Mu used the Heaven and Earth Wheel Seal to scatter the Bloodclad Guards and sweep aside the Azure Dragon soldiers, then killed Tu Shan with a finger strike.
• With Tu Shan dead, the Azure Dragon Army’s formation collapsed, and Chen Mu annihilated the Bloodclad Guards with one palm strike.
• Chen Mu crossed North Heaven Pass while the army stood frozen, and Ruan Tian abandoned the pass and retreated toward Jade Capital.

Chen Mu crossed Jade Capital and entered the Imperial City, where he confronted Emperor Ji Xuanfei before the Golden Luan Hall. Ji Xuanfei activated the Non-Action Formation and sent Ruan Tian and thirteen Blood Exchange experts to attack, but Chen Mu caught Ruan Tian’s Boundless Cliff Sword between his palms as the other attacks struck him.

• Ji Xuanfei and Yang Qingshan concluded that the failed ambush at North Heaven Pass left the Imperial City as their last chance to kill Chen Mu.
• Chen Mu crossed Jade Capital without harming its people, reached the Imperial City, and walked past its guards toward the Golden Luan Hall.
• Chen Mu met Ji Xuanfei before the hall, dismissed the emperor’s arguments, and advanced to attack him.
• Ji Xuanfei activated the Non-Action Formation, which drew on the Earth Veins and Heaven and Earth Cauldron to suppress Chen Mu across the Imperial City.
• Ruan Tian and thirteen Blood Exchange experts attacked Chen Mu together, and Chen Mu caught Ruan Tian’s Boundless Cliff Sword between his palms as the other attacks engulfed him.

Chen Mu overpowered the imperial court’s forces before the Golden Luan Hall, killing the Blood Shadow Tower Master and the Ghost Underworld Gate Master while resisting the Human Emperor Seal and Ruan Tian’s sword. As he began to seize the seal, Ji Xuanfei revealed his true trap: Yang Qingshan used a wondrous object from the Great Wilderness to attack Chen Mu’s mind-soul.

• Chen Mu endured the combined attacks of thirteen Blood Exchange Realm experts and forced them back with a single burst of Astral Force, then drove Ruan Tian away.
• Chen Mu pursued and killed the Blood Shadow Tower Master, disrupting his attempt to advance through the path of killing.
• Chen Mu exposed the fleeing Ghost Underworld Gate Master with the Universe Blade and killed him inside the Golden Luan Hall.
• Ji Xuanfei attacked Chen Mu with the Human Emperor Seal, but Chen Mu blocked it, seized it, and restrained Ruan Tian’s Boundless Cliff Sword as the other experts tried to bind him.
• Yang Qingshan appeared above the Golden Luan Hall and used a black jade bead from the Great Wilderness to unleash a mind-soul attack on Chen Mu at Ji Xuanfei’s command.

Chen Mu resisted Yang Qingshan’s mind-and-soul attack, then slaughtered the Blood Exchange Realm experts and Cheng Zu who had trapped him. He left the ruined plaza and turned toward the fleeing Xuan Emperor, Ji Xuanfei.

• Yang Qingshan used the God Control Pearl to attack Chen Mu’s mind and soul, but Chen Mu overpowered him and left him gravely injured.
• Chen Mu killed Xiang Yuan with one palm and struck Ruan Tian into a ruined hall.
• Chen Mu used Qiankun True Words to weaken his opponents, then killed the Star Sect Grand Elder and the remaining Blood Exchange Realm experts.
• Chen Mu killed Cheng Zu after Cheng Zu tried to flee, while Cheng Zu muttered about the Heavenly Mandate.
• Chen Mu reflected that he had never been part of this world’s Heavenly Mandate, then walked toward the Golden Luan Hall as Ji Xuanfei fled.

Chen Mu pursued Ji Xuanfei to the White Jade Plaza and demanded the emperor’s death and the Great Xuan Court and Ji Family treasuries. Ji Yongheng and the Ji Family elders awakened the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, and Chen Mu met its descending power with his Heaven and Earth Wheel Seal.

• Ji Xuanfei fled through the palace as Chen Mu pursued him, while witnesses watched the emperor’s desperate retreat.
• Ji Xuanfei reached the White Jade Plaza and called for help; Ji Yongheng used the Heaven and Earth Cauldron’s light to shield him, but Chen Mu’s slash shattered the barrier and broke both of Ji Xuanfei’s arms.
• Ji Yongheng identified himself as head of the Ji Family and offered to depose Ji Xuanfei, but Chen Mu demanded Ji Xuanfei’s death and the Court’s and Ji Family’s thousand-year treasuries.
• Ji Yongheng refused Chen Mu’s demands and joined the Ji Family elders in awakening the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, causing the Non-Action Formation to vanish.
• The Heaven and Earth Cauldron rose and descended toward Chen Mu, who answered its suppressive force with the Heaven and Earth Wheel Seal, Heaven and Earth United as One.

Chen Mu clashed with the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, then seized control of it by using Ji Yongzhao’s methods and suppressed the Earth Vein Force. After killing Ji Xuanfei and defeating the Ji Family’s resistance, he stood unrivaled, and the world later honored him as the Martial Saint.

• Chen Mu’s Heaven and Earth Wheel Seal collided with the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, devastating the White Jade Plaza and shaking Jade Capital.
• Chen Mu struck the cauldron with his blade, forcing Ji Yongheng and the Ji Family elders to endure the backlash through the earth veins.
• Chen Mu used his qi and Ji Yongzhao’s inherited methods to seize control of the Heaven and Earth Cauldron despite Ji Xuanfei joining Ji Yongheng to resist him.
• Chen Mu brought the cauldron down onto the Azure Jade Platform, stabilizing the Earth Vein Force and ending the turmoil across Jade Capital.
• Ji Xuanfei fled the plaza, but Chen Mu struck him down before he could escape.
• In Great Xuan Calendar Year 1437, Chen Mu’s victories spread across the world, which honored him as the Martial Saint.

Chen Mu plundered the Great Xuan Inner Court Treasury, including its hidden Imperial Secret Treasury, while Jade Capital reacted to his conquest of the Imperial City. Prince Liang Ji Xuanzhen and Wan Qingxuan tried to flee to the Outer Sea, but Zhao Lie stopped them and urged Ji Xuanzhen to return.

• Chen Mu entered the Inner Court Treasury, collected its spiritual materials and Spirit Weapons, and opened a concealed hall filled with rare treasures, including Seeking Wood Spirit Liquid and a third-grade Gloomy Soul Lotus.
• News of Chen Mu's victory spread through Jade Capital, and the city's factions stayed indoors while they waited to see what would happen.
• Ji Xuanzhen told Wan Qingxuan that the Imperial Palace's defenses had failed and urged her to flee Jade Capital with him.
• Wan Qingxuan changed into plain clothes and suggested they escape to the Outer Sea, and Ji Xuanzhen agreed as they headed for the outskirts.
• Zhao Lie appeared in their path, told Ji Xuanzhen not to leave the city, and warned that many people were waiting to attack him if he ventured outside.

Chen Mu captured the resources of the Ji Family treasury and discovered an immense pool of Tenth-Rank Black Tortoise Demon Blood that could help him advance his martial blood. Ji Xuanzhen was captured after Wan Qingxuan was killed and died after revealing who had plotted against Qin Mengjun, while Chen Mu began transferring the Demon Blood into his Qiankun Pot.

• Wan Qingxuan and Ji Xuanzhen fled through West Heaven Pass, but Blood Exchange Realm elders killed Wan Qingxuan and captured Ji Xuanzhen.
• Fu Lianguo presented Ji Xuanzhen to Chen Mu on White Jade Plaza, where Ji Xuanzhen admitted that he and Nie Yuan had plotted against Qin Mengjun.
• Chen Mu told the sect elders to help prevent chaos across the Eleven Provinces of the Capital District and summon representatives to discuss its governance.
• Ji Xuanzhen severed his heart meridians and died after Chen Mu left, while the elders allowed him to take his own life.
• Chen Mu searched the Ji Family's West Treasury and discovered a huge pool of Tenth-Rank Black Tortoise Demon Blood.
• Chen Mu used his Qiankun Pot to begin collecting the Black Tortoise Demon Blood for his Blood Refinement cultivation.

Chen Mu collected the Black Tortoise, White Tiger, and Azure Dragon Demon Blood from the Great Xuan Court’s three secret treasuries, then headed to the Imperial History Pavilion to seek records about the Great Wilderness and other forbidden matters. He opened the pavilion’s protected archive and stood before its ancient records.

• Chen Mu found no more treasures in the first secret treasury, then collected the White Tiger Demon Blood from the second and learned that Demon Blood helped temper the soldiers of the four armies.
• Chen Mu collected the Azure Dragon Demon Blood from the final treasury and reflected on his foreboding that he needed to advance faster toward the Divine Realm.
• Chen Mu summoned a court eunuch, learned that officials and representatives were gathering, and asked where the court kept records about the world’s forbidden regions.
• A Grandmaster eunuch led Chen Mu through the Hall of Political Affairs and Academy of Historians, where officials recognized him and knelt in respect.
• Li Shou Xuan guided Chen Mu to the restricted area on the Imperial History Pavilion’s third floor, and Chen Mu carefully dismantled its formation without damaging the records inside.

Chen Mu read Great Xuan’s records about the Great Wilderness and learned Ji Yongzhao’s theory of the Below God ranks, then visited the Martial Hall seeking the court’s Eight Aspects Diagram. Lu Zongxi gave him the lost Original Chart, and Chen Mu agreed to leave the imperial throne with a virtuous Ji Family descendant while preparing to settle the turmoil in Zhong Province.

• Chen Mu read the restricted records on Tenth Rank Heavenly Demons and the Great Wilderness, learning about its Outer and Inner Realms and the dangers within.
• Chen Mu found Ji Yongzhao’s notes describing the Great Wilderness as a possible battlefield or trial ground and dividing powerful beings into nine Below God ranks.
• Chen Mu went to the Martial Hall to view its Eight Trigrams of Heaven and Earth Diagram and met Hall Master Lu Zongxi.
• Lu Zongxi gave Chen Mu the lost Original Eight Aspects Diagram, which Chen Mu recognized as the original chart created by ancient Celestial Being Realm masters.
• Lu Zongxi asked Chen Mu to treat the Ji Family’s descendants well, and Chen Mu agreed to choose a virtuous ruler from among them while still eradicating the bloodlines of Prince Han and Prince Liang.

Chen Mu settled the future governance of the divided realm and the Eleven Provinces of the Capital District, delegating court affairs to ministers while leaving martial world disputes to sects unless they harmed ordinary people. He left the gathered officials and sect elders to work out remaining details, with Yan Jingqing in line to pursue his long-held ambition in court.

• Chen Mu thanked Lu Zongxi for his concern for the people and said he would attend the Kunlun Dao Discussion in two years if he reached the Heaven-Human Level.
• Blood Exchange Realm experts and court officials gathered in the Imperial City, where Shangguan Nan urged the rival sect elders to set aside their grudges until Chen Mu arrived.
• Chen Mu told the gathering he would not reunify the nine regions and said rulers who governed poorly should be replaced by people of virtue and talent.
• Chen Mu directed Han Kuo and the other ministers to choose a young, capable collateral descendant of the Ji Family as emperor and assist him in governing Zhong Province.
• Chen Mu ruled that sects could follow martial world customs unless they harmed ordinary people, in which case court law would apply.
• Chen Mu ended the meeting and left the officials and sect elders to discuss the remaining court and martial world affairs.

Chen Mu returned from Zhong Province after crushing Xuan Emperor Ji Xuanfei and taking control of the Great Xuan Court, then reunited with his family and shared rare treasures to help them advance their martial arts. He left for the Seven Mysteries Sect’s forbidden grounds to cultivate in seclusion, while his loved ones prepared to pursue longer lives through the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

• Yan Jingqing and Yu Jiujiang played chess when Chen Mu suddenly returned to the Yu Family courtyard and placed a move on the board.
• Chen Mu gave Yan Jingqing a Ten Thousand Year Blood Sesame and a letter recommending him for the Inner Cabinet, then told Yu Jiujiang about Xu Hongyu and their daughter, Chen Yao.
• News reached Cold North that Chen Mu had swept through Kyoto, destroyed Xuan Emperor Ji Xuanfei, and compelled the Great Xuan Court to follow his will.
• At Seven Mysteries Sect, Chen Mu reunited with Xu Hongyu, Chen Yue, Xiao He, and Chen Yao, and recounted his victory in Zhong Province.
• Chen Mu distributed rare spiritual treasures to help Xu Hongyu, Chen Yue, and the others challenge the Marrow Cleansing Mysterious Pass, then went to cultivate in the sect’s forbidden grounds.

Chen Mu returned to the Seven Mysteries Sect, gave Yin Heng and Qin Mengjun resources from Kyoto and the Original Eight Aspects Diagram, then secluded himself to temper his body with Heavenly Demon Blood. After more than half a year, he reached the experience threshold for Blood Refinement Perfection and began advancing toward a level no one had achieved before.

• Chen Mu gave the Seven Mysteries Sect a large cache of Spirit Weapons and spiritual items, then revealed the Original Eight Aspects Diagram to Yin Heng and Qin Mengjun.
• Yin Heng and Qin Mengjun began jointly studying the Original Chart, while Chen Mu entered the forbidden ground to cultivate with resources taken from the Great Xuan Court.
• Chen Mu submerged himself in Black Tortoise and then Azure Dragon Demon Blood, using the demon power to refine his Martial Body as the world settled under his influence.
• After more than half a year, Chen Mu reached 3,003 experience points in Blood Refinement and chose to advance to Perfection.
• A surge of energy poured through Chen Mu's body, refining his Martial Blood as its golden color spread.

Chen Mu endured the System Panel’s tempering and transformed all his Martial Blood into the Essence Blood of Heaven and Earth, reaching Blood Refinement Perfection. He sensed the restraint separating him from the Divine Realm, but his body still needed further tempering before he could break through it.

• Chen Mu’s body repeatedly cracked and healed as the System Panel tempered his blood, while Yin Heng used the Heaven and Earth Locking Dragon Formation to contain the disturbance.
• Qin Mengjun entered the Mountain Cave, saw Chen Mu’s alarming condition, and received his message that she need not worry.
• Qin Mengjun watched Chen Mu’s Martial Blood turn almost entirely gold and realized he was proving that Blood Exchange could reach Perfection.
• Chen Mu refined away the final traces of mortal blood and sensed the gate to the Divine Realm, though he knew he could not yet cross its threshold.
• Chen Mu tore open a Void Rift and tested his body against its turbulence, emerging with only a tiny wound before concluding that he still needed to temper his physique further.

After nearly a year of seclusion, Chen Mu exhausted Great Xuan’s treasures while raising his Blood Refinement physique to Perfection, though he still lacked the experience needed to reach its limit. He shared his insights into the Divine Realm and Body-Tempering Martial Dao with Qin Mengjun and Yin Heng, then turned to the Original Chart to pursue the Heaven-Human Level.

• Chen Mu tested his newly perfected physique, then told Qin Mengjun that his breakthrough had gone well and asked about her contemplation of the Original Chart.
• Chen Mu used the remaining Demon Blood and rare treasures from the Qiankun Pot to accumulate experience, but after four months he had only reached 7,314 points and ran out of useful resources from Great Xuan.
• After emerging from nearly a year of seclusion, Chen Mu found Qin Mengjun and Yin Heng contemplating the Original Chart and explained the Divine Realm, the Below God Ninth Rank, and his insights into Blood Exchange and Blood Refinement.
• Qin Mengjun and Yin Heng discussed how Heart Soul strength and Artistic Conception supported further Body-Tempering cultivation, while Chen Mu explained that the Celestial Being Realm was only a foundation for advancing further.
• Chen Mu joined Qin Mengjun before the Original Chart and began contemplating it to pursue the Heaven-Human Level.

Chen Mu spent more than a year contemplating the Original Eight Aspects Diagram as martial artists gathered for the approaching Kunlun Dao Discussion. After awakening with his accumulated insight at its limit, he decided to attend and suddenly achieved Heaven and Earth United, entering the Celestial Being Realm.

• Chen Mu, Qin Mengjun, and Yin Heng contemplated the Original Chart in the Seven Mysteries Sect's forbidden ground while the world remained at peace.
• As the Kunlun Dao Discussion approached, martial artists from across the world gathered around Kunlun, drawn by the chance to witness the masters' debate and Chen Mu's legendary power.
• Qin Mengjun and Yin Heng discussed attending the Dao Discussion and wondered whether Chen Mu would join them.
• Chen Mu awakened from his contemplation with 100,000 experience points and agreed to make the journey to Kunlun.
• Chen Mu's aura merged with heaven and earth and spread across the Seven Mysteries Sect, revealing that he had achieved Heaven and Earth United and entered the Celestial Being Realm.

Chen Mu entered the Celestial Being Realm by enduring heaven and earth’s refinement, using the process to strengthen his soul until half of it became an Undying Soul. After his transformation, he could merge with heaven and earth across 3,600 miles and wield overwhelming power, leaving him close to the Divine Realm.

• Chen Mu fully merged his soul-mind with heaven and earth and let its power temper him, relying on his Undying Aura of Light to withstand the refinement.
• Chen Mu extended his perception across Seven Mysteries County and Jade Province, briefly observing Le Er as she cared for his former residence.
• Chen Mu continued enduring heaven and earth’s scouring for nearly two weeks, expanding his Undying Aura of Light until it occupied nearly half his soul-mind.
• Yin Heng and Qin Mengjun watched over Chen Mu as his transformation continued, and Yin Heng surmised that he was deliberately using the breakthrough to temper his soul.
• Chen Mu completed his Celestial Being transformation and extended his perception to 3,600 miles, while his power left Yin Heng and Qin Mengjun overwhelmed.
• Chen Mu assessed that he could suppress Blood Exchange experts with a thought and wondered whether he could challenge a Tier Five existence.

After emerging from two years of seclusion, Chen Mu reached the Heaven-Human Level and prepared to attend the Kunlun Dao Discussion, hoping to learn about the Source Path from the foremost Celestial Being Realm experts. He left for Kunlun with Hua Nongying and Hua Nongyue, while the East Lin Sword Saint waited alone atop the mountain summit.

• Chen Mu withdrew from his Heaven-Earth United state, greeted Qin Mengjun and Yin Heng, and agreed to join them at the Kunlun Dao Discussion.
• Chen Mu visited Xu Hongyu and his daughter Chen Yao, then spoke with Xiao He before setting out from Ling Xuan Peak.
• Chen Mu met Hua Nongying and Hua Nongyue in Seven Mysteries County, accepted the Joyful Union Sect's invitation, and offered to take the sisters to Kunlun.
• Chen Mu used the Power of Heaven and Earth to carry Hua Nongying and Hua Nongyue swiftly toward the Kunlun Mountain Range, revealing his Celestial Being Realm to them.
• At Kunlun, martial artists gathered at different elevations while the East Lin Sword Saint stood alone at the summit, warding off Void Rifts with Sword Qi.