Chapter Summaries

Lu Xueqi used the Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique against Li Xiaoyu, but the summoned thunder slipped beyond her control. Li Xiaoyu tried to absorb some of it with the Immortal-Slaying Gourd as Lu Xueqi fell from the sky.

• Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi reached a stalemate, and Lu Xueqi began to falter under the strain.
• Lu Xueqi sacrificed her vital blood and used the Divine Sword Thunder Control Technique to summon the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder through the Tianya Divine Sword.
• Lu Xueqi sent the lightning-charged Tianya Divine Sword at Li Xiaoyu, who charged toward the strike instead of fleeing or defending.
• Li Xiaoyu raised the Immortal-Slaying Gourd, which absorbed part of the thunder, but the remaining lightning continued to surge toward them.
• The thunder went out of Lu Xueqi's control, wrapped around her, and sent her tumbling helplessly from the sky.

Li Xiaoyu shielded Lu Xueqi from the full force of her thunder technique, surviving with terrible injuries. Lu Xueqi conceded the match and rushed to his side, while Shang Zhengliang later said Li Xiaoyu was no longer in immediate danger, though he still had concerns.

• Li Xiaoyu caught Lu Xueqi and used his body to protect her from the thunder, leaving her unharmed as the arena was destroyed.
• The elders and disciples saw Li Xiaoyu standing in the crater, badly burned and bleeding, with Lu Xueqi safe in his arms.
• Lu Xueqi asked why he had saved her, then conceded the match as Shang Zhengliang and Master Shuiyue rushed to help them.
• Li Xiaoyu collapsed, and Lu Xueqi broke away from Master Shuiyue to hold him.
• That night, Shang Zhengliang told Chu Yuhong that the Three Purity Pill and Li Xiaoyu's strong constitution had saved his life, but he still had concerns.

Lu Xueqi secretly cared for the unconscious Li Xiaoyu as the Immortal-Slaying Gourd refined the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder and healed him, helping his Cultivation break through to the sixth layer of the Jade Purity Realm. The Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament final began with Li Xiaoyu facing Qi Hao, while concealing how much stronger he had become.

• Chu Yuhong warned Shang Zhengliang that the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder had damaged Li Xiaoyu's meridians and lungs, and Shang Zhengliang stayed by his bedside.
• Lu Xueqi delivered Small Bamboo Peak's Cold Jade Ointment, then stayed alone with Li Xiaoyu and carefully treated his wounds.
• As Lu Xueqi tended to him, the Immortal-Slaying Gourd refined the thunder's power, rapidly healing Li Xiaoyu and raising his Cultivation to the sixth layer of the Jade Purity Realm.
• The day of the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament final arrived, and disciples gathered at Heaven-Reaching Peak to watch Li Xiaoyu face Qi Hao.
• Li Xiaoyu appeared pale and unsteady, but privately knew he had recovered most of his injuries and planned to disguise his strength.

Li Xiaoyu defeated Qi Hao in the tournament final by destroying the ring beneath him with the Immortal-Slaying Gourd. Qi Hao survived the blast but was badly injured and thrown from the arena.

• Qi Hao confidently expected to beat the gravely wounded Li Xiaoyu and impress Tian Ling'er.
• Qi Hao taunted Li Xiaoyu before the final, but Li Xiaoyu dismissed his words and urged him to begin.
• Qi Hao summoned his Ice Sword and prepared a powerful technique as his spiritual energy surged.
• Li Xiaoyu aimed the Immortal-Slaying Gourd at the ring beneath Qi Hao, unleashing Thunder Power and Geng Metal Sword Qi that shattered the arena.
• The blast hurled Qi Hao from the ring and left him barely breathing, while Li Xiaoyu spared him by targeting the ground instead.

Li Xiaoyu defeated Qi Hao with a single strike and won the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, restoring Morning Sun Peak’s glory. At the award ceremony, he passed over the famous treasures and focused on a Red Flame Crystal.

• Li Xiaoyu’s Wine Gourd attack struck Qi Hao down, leaving the arena stunned.
• Daoist Daoxuan declared Li Xiaoyu the tournament champion, and Morning Sun Peak’s disciples celebrated him.
• Daoist Cangsong left with Qi Hao, inwardly vowing to remember Li Xiaoyu’s humiliation of Dragon Head Peak.
• Daoist Daoxuan presented the champion with several treasures to choose from.
• Li Xiaoyu examined the rewards and fixed his attention on an irregular, fist-sized Red Flame Crystal.

After choosing the Red Flame Crystal over the Six Harmonies Mirror, Li Xiaoyu fed its fire energy to the Immortal-Slaying Gourd, which began developing a third source of power. He was then summoned with three other tournament standouts and assigned to investigate the Blood Refining Hall’s activity near Kongsang Mountain.

• Li Xiaoyu chose the Red Flame Crystal instead of the Six Harmonies Mirror, and Daoist Daoxuan granted his choice.
• Qi Hao learned that Li Xiaoyu’s refusal had left him the Six Harmonies Mirror, spat blood, and fainted again.
• Li Xiaoyu fed the Red Flame Crystal’s energy into the Immortal-Slaying Gourd, forming a scarlet flame cloud alongside its metal and thunder powers.
• Li Xiaoyu returned to secluded cultivation and continued nourishing the gourd as his Spiritual Energy grew purer and stronger.
• Shang Zhengliang brought Li Xiaoyu to Jade Purity Hall, where Daoist Daoxuan revealed the Blood Refining Hall’s activity around Kongsang Mountain.
• Daoist Daoxuan assigned Li Xiaoyu, Lu Xueqi, Qi Hao, and Zhang Xiaofan to investigate Kongsang Mountain.

Li Xiaoyu accepted Daoist Daoxuan’s appointment as leader of the Green Cloud Sect team bound for Kongsang Mountain and traveled to Heyang City with Lu Xueqi, Qi Hao, and Zhang Xiaofan. At the Mountain Sea Pavilion, a young monk recognized them as members of the Green Cloud Sect, and Li Xiaoyu asked his name.

• Daoist Daoxuan overruled Daoist Cangsong and Tian Buyi’s objections, named Li Xiaoyu team leader, and ordered him to meet the others in Heyang City.
• Li Xiaoyu accepted the duty and left Green Cloud Mountain, while Lu Xueqi followed warmly, Qi Hao resented taking orders from him, and Zhang Xiaofan felt grateful to him.
• The four traveled east and arrived in Heyang City, where Li Xiaoyu led them to the Mountain Sea Pavilion to rest and gather information about Kongsang Mountain.
• A young monk at the inn asked whether the group were immortals of the Green Cloud Sect, and Li Xiaoyu introduced himself and asked how to address him.

At Mountain Sea Pavilion, Li Xiaoyu met the leading disciples of Heavenly Sound Temple and Incense Burning Valley, then answered Li Xun’s provocation without losing his composure. That night, the other sects tested his authority by keeping him waiting, while Zhang Xiaofan struggled to order an unfamiliar restaurant meal.

• Li Xiaoyu greeted Faxiang of Heavenly Sound Temple, then met Li Xun and Yan Hong of Incense Burning Valley.
• Li Xun mocked Li Xiaoyu’s reputation, but Li Xiaoyu calmly challenged him to judge his strength by his sword; Faxiang intervened before the dispute escalated.
• Li Xiaoyu suggested that everyone rest and meet later, then led the Green Cloud Sect disciples upstairs as Qi Hao watched him uneasily and Lu Xueqi admired him.
• That night, Faxiang and Li Xun failed to attend the scheduled meeting, and Li Xiaoyu realized they were testing him by making him wait.
• Li Xiaoyu reassured Zhang Xiaofan and invited him to order, but Zhang Xiaofan chose the cheapest greens with tofu and someone at the next table snickered.

Li Xiaoyu deflected You Ji’s teasing of Zhang Xiaofan at the Mountain Sea Pavilion, while recognizing her as Bi Yao of the Ghost King Sect. After the sect disciples left Heyang City for Kongsang Mountain, Bi Yao and her guards followed them.

• You Ji mocked Zhang Xiaofan for ordering greens and tofu, but Li Xiaoyu defended him by calling the meal a test of skill and a path to the Dao.
• You Ji introduced herself as You Ji, bought Zhang Xiaofan steamed Sleep Fish and vegetarian dishes, and asked him to tell her stories about Green Cloud Mountain.
• Lu Xueqi sensed demonic Spiritual Energy and prepared to act, but Li Xiaoyu restrained her and recognized the girl as Bi Yao, daughter of Wan Renwang.
• Faxiang, Li Xun, and Yan Hong arrived, and Li Xiaoyu asked You Ji to leave before the group discussed their mission.
• The next morning, the three sects’ disciples flew toward Kongsang Mountain, while Bi Yao and her two guards followed at a measured distance.

Li Xiaoyu led the disciples into the Ancient Bat Cave, where they were attacked by a vast swarm of vampire bats. He and Lu Xueqi combined their powers to destroy the bats nearby, leaving the remaining swarm fleeing deeper into the cave.

• Li Xiaoyu protected Zhang Xiaofan from the poisonous miasma and refused Li Xun's proposal to search the area in separate groups.
• Li Xiaoyu led the disciples through Kongsang Mountain, where they fought demonic beasts and found the entrance to the Ancient Bat Cave.
• The group entered the cave and was surrounded by thousands of vampire bats, which began attacking Faxiang's golden shield.
• Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi joined their sword techniques and thunder power to wipe out the bats within a hundred-zhang radius.
• The surviving bats fled deeper into the cave, and the disciples stared in shock at Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi's combined strength.

Li Xiaoyu and his companions discovered the Blood Refining Hall performing a ritual in the Ancient Bat Cave and confronted its Hall Master, Nian Laoda. The righteous group was quickly overwhelmed, while Li Xiaoyu narrowly dodged Nian Laoda’s devastating punches.

• Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi destroyed the bat swarm, then led the others deeper into the cave toward the evil aura.
• Li Xiaoyu and his companions found Nian Laoda and other Blood Refining Hall members gathered around a ritual altar.
• Nian Laoda identified Li Xiaoyu and ordered Lin Feng, Liu Gao, the beautiful woman, and Wild Dog Daoist to fight the righteous cultivators.
• Li Xun and Faxiang struggled against Lin Feng and Liu Gao, Lu Xueqi became entangled with the beautiful woman’s Immortal Binding Rope, and Qi Hao and Zhang Xiaofan fought Wild Dog Daoist.
• Nian Laoda attacked Li Xiaoyu with a crushing punch, but Li Xiaoyu dodged it and evaded a barrage of follow-up strikes.

Li Xiaoyu wounded Nian Laoda, but the Blood Refining Hall’s sacrificial formation awakened and opened an abyss beneath the cavern. Li Xiaoyu fell into the darkness after saving Lu Xueqi, and she plunged in after him.

• Li Xiaoyu used the Autumn Water Sword and Geng Metal Dragon Qi to pierce Nian Laoda’s chest, but Nian Laoda struck him into a rock wall.
• As Nian Laoda prepared to finish Li Xiaoyu, the altar’s formation activated and the cavern began to collapse.
• Lin Feng revealed that the formation would sacrifice everyone on Kongsang Mountain to refine a Blood Pill, and the collapsing floor opened into a deep abyss.
• Li Xiaoyu shoved Lu Xueqi toward Faxiang to save her, then was dragged into the abyss.
• Lu Xueqi ignored Zhang Xiaofan and Qi Hao’s cries and jumped into the abyss after Li Xiaoyu.

Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi survived their fall into the Abyss of the Dead, where they faced a swarm of yin spirits as they searched for a way out. Li Xiaoyu began recovering with help from the Immortal-Slaying Gourd, but Lu Xueqi was injured while defending him.

• Lu Xueqi jumped into the abyss after Li Xiaoyu and held on to him as they fell.
• Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi landed at the bottom of the Abyss of the Dead and realized its yin energy was draining their spiritual energy.
• Li Xiaoyu used the Heart-Calming Incantation to repel the approaching yin spirits while Lu Xueqi protected him with Tianya.
• Li Xiaoyu took healing pills and discovered that the Immortal-Slaying Gourd absorbed the yin energy and helped restore him.
• Lu Xueqi fought the seemingly endless swarm until a powerful yin spirit pierced her protective sword qi, making her spit blood.

Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi survived the Yin spirits in the Abyss of the Dead and reached the Sea of Heartlessness, where the Black Water Profound Snake attacked them. As the beast moved to devour them, Li Xiaoyu shoved Lu Xueqi toward shelter and prepared to use his last trump card.

• Li Xiaoyu recovered enough to summon the Immortal-Slaying Gourd and absorb all the Yin spirits, then led Lu Xueqi onward through the darkness.
• Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi found the Sea of Heartlessness, but Li Xiaoyu sensed a terrifying presence beneath its black water.
• The Black Water Profound Snake erupted from the lake and its roar shattered Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi's defenses, leaving them injured.
• Li Xiaoyu tried to flee with Lu Xueqi, but the snake struck with its tail and knocked them down again.
• Lu Xueqi told Li Xiaoyu she was glad to die with him as the snake lowered its jaws toward them.
• Li Xiaoyu shouted for Lu Xueqi to close her eyes, shoved her toward a boulder, and faced the snake with his last trump card in mind.

Li Xiaoyu used the Immortal-Slaying Gourd’s Innate Geng Metal Sword Qi to drive off the Black Water Profound Snake, but the strike left him gravely weakened and unconscious. He awoke three days later in a cave with Zhang Xiaofan and Bi Yao, while Lu Xueqi was nowhere to be seen.

• Li Xiaoyu pushed Lu Xueqi behind a boulder and unleashed the Immortal-Slaying Gourd’s sword qi at the Black Water Profound Snake.
• The sword qi pierced the Black Water Profound Snake, forcing it to flee into the Sea of Heartlessness.
• Li Xiaoyu collapsed as the gourd lost its power, and the Snake’s waves swept his unconscious body into the darkness.
• Li Xiaoyu woke in a cave after three days and discovered that Lu Xueqi was missing.
• Zhang Xiaofan told Li Xiaoyu that a force had pulled him underground, and Bi Yao revealed her identity and taunted the weakened Li Xiaoyu.

Li Xiaoyu recovered in the Blood-Dripping Cave with Bi Yao and Zhang Xiaofan while worrying about Lu Xueqi, who had been separated from him in the Abyss of the Dead. Lu Xueqi eventually found the cave, but her reunion with Li Xiaoyu was interrupted by Bi Yao’s taunts, leaving the two women facing off.

• Bi Yao told Li Xiaoyu she had not seen Lu Xueqi and guessed Lu had survived after being swept elsewhere in the Abyss of the Dead.
• Li Xiaoyu healed while Zhang Xiaofan gathered food and water and Bi Yao teased him, growing fond of his kindness.
• After recovering part of his strength, Li Xiaoyu prepared to explore the cave when Lu Xueqi arrived, having followed the Tianya Divine Sword’s sense of his aura.
• Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi joyfully reunited, but Lu Xueqi raised her sword when she noticed Bi Yao.
• Bi Yao taunted Lu Xueqi by claiming she had been taking care of Li Xiaoyu for the past few days.

Li Xiaoyu stopped Lu Xueqi and Bi Yao from fighting and led her, Zhang Xiaofan, and Bi Yao deeper into the Blood-Dripping Cave to search for an exit. They discovered an ancient cultivation chamber whose writings awakened Li Xiaoyu’s Taiji Profound Clarity Path and revealed a new realm of understanding.

• Bi Yao provoked Lu Xueqi by claiming she had been feeding Zhang Xiaofan and Li Xiaoyu, and Li Xiaoyu intervened before the two women could fight.
• Li Xiaoyu persuaded the group to search the cave for another exit, assigned their positions, and led them deeper inside.
• The four entered a vast stone chamber with a statue, scattered magical artifacts, and walls covered in ancient writing that Bi Yao identified as connected to the Joyous Union Sect.
• Li Xiaoyu and the others read the defiant words and profound cultivation theory carved on the walls, and Li Xiaoyu’s Taiji Profound Clarity Path began operating on its own.

Li Xiaoyu, Lu Xueqi, Bi Yao, and Zhang Xiaofan comprehended the Heavenly Tome in the Blood-Dripping Cave, transforming their abilities and helping Zhang Xiaofan break through to the fifth layer of the Jade Purity Realm. They then discovered the former master's remains and a mysterious Joyous Union Bell in a hidden bedchamber.

• Li Xiaoyu, Lu Xueqi, Bi Yao, and Zhang Xiaofan recognized the writing on the cave wall as the legendary Heavenly Tome and sat down to study it.
• The four gained new insights as their existing techniques resonated with the Heavenly Tome, and Zhang Xiaofan's Buddhist and Daoist methods merged.
• Zhang Xiaofan broke through to the fifth layer of the Jade Purity Realm, while Li Xiaoyu, Lu Xueqi, and Bi Yao also strengthened their understanding and abilities.
• After the four awakened, Bi Yao noticed another chamber and opened it despite Zhang Xiaofan's warning.
• Bi Yao found the former master's skeleton holding a glowing Golden Bell and identified it as the Joyous Union Bell.

Bi Yao discovered Madam Golden Bell’s letter about the Love Obsession Curse, and the four companions grew closer as they searched for a way out of the Blood-Dripping Cave. The Joyous Union Bell led them to an underground river and an apparent exit, where Great Black Leeches attacked.

• Bi Yao read Madam Golden Bell’s letter and learned that the Love Obsession Curse could save someone at the cost of the caster’s soul and chance of rebirth.
• Bi Yao asked what they would do if a loved one sacrificed herself to save them, and Zhang Xiaofan and Li Xiaoyu expressed their resolve to protect the people they loved.
• After several days of recovery, Li Xiaoyu, Lu Xueqi, Bi Yao, and Zhang Xiaofan planned their escape from the Blood-Dripping Cave.
• Bi Yao used the Joyous Union Bell to sense spiritual energy, guiding the group through the tunnels to an underground river and a cave opening on the far bank.
• Several Great Black Leech tentacles burst from the river, and the four companions summoned their magical treasures to fight back.

Li Xiaoyu, Lu Xueqi, Bi Yao, and Zhang Xiaofan combined their powers to defeat the Great Black Leech and escape the Abyss of the Dead. After parting ways with Bi Yao and Zhang Xiaofan, Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi traveled together and stopped to rest in Little Pond Town.

• Li Xiaoyu, Lu Xueqi, Bi Yao, and Zhang Xiaofan joined their powers in a single strike that destroyed the Great Black Leech and split the underground river.
• The four escaped the Abyss of the Dead and emerged into the sunlight.
• Bi Yao thanked Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi, then flew away after telling Zhang Xiaofan she might visit him again.
• Zhang Xiaofan thanked Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi before flying back toward Green Cloud Mountain to report to his master.
• Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi flew together for several days, then landed near Little Pond Town to rest.