Recaps

After Sikong Jing killed Xiao Lai, he abandoned his plan to save the Crescent Moon Lineage and headed to find the family head. Old Madam Ling and Ling Dongwei learned of his power and raced to stop him, while Ling Dongwei ordered the Crescent Moon Lineage’s key figures moved near the Whirlpool Forbidden Land.

• Sikong Jing told the surviving Mysterious Xiao Sect experts he would find the family head instead of saving the Crescent Moon Lineage, then left them alive to carry word to Ling Dongwei’s wife.
• The Mysterious Xiao Sect experts reported Xiao Lai’s death, and the Mysterious Xiao Sect Master used the Soul-Returning Mirror to confirm that Ling Jianxing had killed him alone.
• Old Madam Ling ordered a hunt for Ling Jianxing and told Ling Dongwei that he had killed a Super Divine Martial and was going to meet the family head’s people.
• Ling Dongwei decided to return through the small vortex entrance, ordered Crescent Moon Continent sealed off, and told Ling Zhisui to move the Crescent Moon Lineage’s key figures near the Whirlpool Forbidden Land.
• Ling Dongwei vowed to capture Ling Jianxing and make him watch as his parents and elder brother were flayed alive.

Ling Dongwei ordered the Straight Wind Lineage to kill the Crescent Moon Lineage, while Ling Zhijing and Ling Jianpu prepared Crescent Moon Town to fight back. As battle broke out, Ling Zhixin rushed toward the town and Luo Guangmang ambushed Straight Wind rescuers at sea.

• Ling Dongwei returned to the Whirlpool Forbidden Land and planned to capture Ling Jianxing, then silence the Straight Wind Lineage after they carried out his orders.
• Ling Zhisui told the Straight Wind elders that Ling Dongwei had contacted him, and the Straight Wind Lineage decided to attack Crescent Moon Town despite having sent away half its forces.
• Ling Zhijing and Ling Jianpu rallied the Crescent Moon Lineage to resist, hoping Ling Jianxing, Ling Mi'er, and the family head would come to their aid.
• Ling Zhixin hurried toward Crescent Moon Wasteland and tried to contact Ling Mi'er with the communication jade stone Sikong Jing had given him.
• Luo Guangmang ordered his companions to protect Ling Mi'er and ambush Straight Wind rescuers, then used the Army-Slaying Formation to trap them at sea.

Luo Guangmang and his allies survived a battle with Straight Wind Lineage experts, then learned Ling Dongwei was directing attacks on the Crescent Moon Lineage. A message from Ling Zhixin revealed Sikong Jing’s route through the world of void fissures, and Luo Guangmang tried to delay Ling Zhisui while Ling Zhixin hurried to the Crescent Moon Wasteland; meanwhile, Sikong Jing remained disguised on Crescent Moon Continent.

• Bian Fei used Luo Guangmang’s Army-Slaying Formation to ambush the Straight Wind Lineage’s Super Divine Martial expert, and the group won a bloody battle as several enemies escaped.
• Luo Guangmang tried to negotiate with Ling Zhisui, but received no reply until Ling Zhisui’s father told him that Ling Dongwei had ordered the Crescent Moon Lineage destroyed.
• Ling Zhixin contacted Luo Guangmang and explained that he was on the Crescent Moon Wasteland after traveling through the world of void fissures, revealing that Sikong Jing had not been caught by Ling Dongwei.
• Luo Guangmang deduced that Ling Dongwei had returned to the Void Rift World and learned that Ling Zhisui had been ordered to move the Crescent Moon Lineage’s key figures deep into the wasteland.
• Luo Guangmang threatened Ling Zhisui and severed his father’s arm to unsettle the Straight Wind Lineage, while Ling Mi’er prayed for her family to hold out until help arrived.
• Sikong Jing stood disguised as a small demon beast in an ancient forest on Crescent Moon Continent while the Mysterious Xiao Sect Master and Emperor Ling Tian experts talked above him.

Sikong Jing provoked Ling Dongwei’s forces across the Crescent Moon Continent to temper his sword and draw the blockade guards away from the Evil Crescent River. As the Straight Wind Lineage pushed the Crescent Moon Lineage to the brink, a new defender announced himself.

• Sikong Jing decided to challenge the blockade formations and Super Divine Martial guards while preparing to enter the Evil Crescent River and complete the Heaven-Soaring Tenth Sword.
• Sikong Jing battled a Heaven-Soaring Imperial Family expert guarding a formation, then retreated after failing to kill him.
• Over the next day, Sikong Jing repeatedly challenged weaker Super Divine Martial guards, frustrating Old Madam Ling and the other pursuers before slipping toward the Evil Crescent River.
• After two days of battle at Crescent Moon Town, Ling Zhisui and the Straight Wind Lineage defeated Ling Zhijing, leaving the Crescent Moon Lineage close to collapse.
• An unidentified voice declared that the Crescent Moon Lineage still had him.

Ling Zhixin returned to Crescent Moon Town with Super Divine Martial power and helped the Crescent Moon Lineage fight off the Straight Wind Lineage. He secretly concealed that Sikong Jing had helped him and sent word that the family could hold out until General Luo arrived.

• Ling Zhixin appeared before the Crescent Moon Lineage, shocking both sides, and claimed the Ling Zhixin sent into the Evil Crescent River had been a Substitute.
• Ling Zhixin said he had cultivated in the Wasteland, severed his Heaven-Soaring Imperial Bloodline, and gained an ancient Heavenly Emperor bloodline before reaching Super Divine Martial.
• Ling Zhixin fought Ling Zhisui and suppressed him, while Ling Jianpu ordered the Crescent Moon Lineage to keep fighting.
• Ling Zhixin gave Ling Zhijing's wife a storage treasure containing healing supplies, and the Crescent Moon Lineage recovered strength with the pills.
• Ling Zhixin sent a message to General Luo, asking him to reassure Mi'er that the family was safe for now and could hold out until he arrived.

Ling Dongwei ordered the Blood Demon Grand Formation built across Crescent Moon Continent to force Ling Jianxing out, threatening the lives of its inhabitants. Hidden in Evil Crescent River, Sikong Jing resolved to counter with a Magic Beast Grand Formation and began connecting his Blood Devour Magic Beast aura to the shattered inner core in the flood dragon's corpse.

• Ling Dongwei emerged from Evil Crescent River and ordered Old Madam Ling and the others to construct the Blood Demon Grand Formation across Crescent Moon Continent.
• Old Madam Ling supported Ling Dongwei, and he threatened anyone who objected before ordering his troops to return beyond the Crescent Moon Grand Formation and inspect everyone for Ling Jianxing in disguise.
• As the formation took shape, Ling Dongwei blamed Ling Jianxing for the impending deaths, while people across the continent pleaded for help or condemned Ling Dongwei.
• Sikong Jing watched from Evil Crescent River and decided to answer the Blood Demon Grand Formation with a Magic Beast Grand Formation.
• Sikong Jing sat cross-legged and let the Blood Devour Magic Beast's aura flow through his breathing, connecting with the shattered inner core in the flood dragon's corpse.

Sikong Jing used the Evil Crescent River to spread Blood Devour Magic Beast blood qi across the Crescent Moon Continent, demonizing its magic beasts while restraining them. As Ling Dongwei neared completion of the Blood Demon Grand Formation, Sikong Jing revealed himself to be in the Evil Crescent River, and Ling Dongwei ordered his forces to pursue him.

• Sikong Jing merged with the Divine Flood Dragon's soul siphon and sent a thread of Blood Devour Magic Beast blood qi through the Evil Crescent River across the continent.
• Magic beasts absorbed the blood qi and began demonizing, but Sikong Jing's will restrained them from reacting while Ling Dongwei's people built the Blood Demon Grand Formation.
• An expert sent by the family head ordered Ling Dongwei to stop and keep Ling Jianxing alive, but Ling Dongwei ignored him and continued the formation.
• Nearly a day later, Sikong Jing told the strongest demon beast to wait at the Evil Crescent River's entrance for his command.
• Sikong Jing asked whether the formation would be lifted if he came out, and Ling Dongwei said it would not, then ordered his forces to follow him into the Evil Crescent River.

Sikong Jing made Crescent Moon Continent’s demon beasts enter demonization and ordered them to devour the energy of Evil Crescent River. Their combined feeding unleashed the river’s soul-siphoning force across the continent, and Ling Dongwei feared they would destroy the river.

• Sikong Jing entered the demonized Divine Martial Stage beast’s Spirit Platform consciousness sea and used it to command demon beasts across Crescent Moon Continent to enter demonization.
• Ling Dongwei and his subordinates discovered that the demon beasts were transforming, while Sikong Jing explained that the beast had spread its essence blood to trigger their demonization.
• Sikong Jing ordered the demon beasts to preserve their reason and devour only Evil Crescent River’s energy.
• The demon beasts across the continent devoured the river’s energy, diverting its soul-siphoning force into countless streams.
• Ling Dongwei demanded that Sikong Jing stop the demon beasts before they destroyed Evil Crescent River.

Sikong Jing used the beasts’ demonic transformation to make them devour Evil Crescent River, exploiting Ling Dongwei’s fear of losing it and throwing Crescent Moon Continent into chaos. As Ling Dongwei rushed to contain the crisis, Sikong Jing escaped from Evil Crescent River.

• Sikong Jing revealed that he had incited the beasts to become Blood Devour Magic Beasts so they could devour Evil Crescent River and pressure Ling Dongwei.
• Ling Dongwei sealed Evil Crescent River’s exits, but the resulting pressure caused its mountain range to rupture and its power to erupt in streams that the beasts devoured.
• Sikong Jing ordered the beasts to attack the sealing grand formation, and they tore a gap through which demonic energy spread to Ling Dongwei’s beast mounts.
• Sikong Jing’s vicious beast will drove many mounts below the Super Divine Martial realm into Crescent Moon Continent, where they underwent demonic corruption and joined the devouring.
• Ling Dongwei refused to withdraw the Blood Demon Grand Formation despite Sikong Jing’s warning that Evil Crescent River might be drained and explode.
• As Ling Dongwei neared Evil Crescent River, Sikong Jing used its erupting current to break through Ling Dongwei’s barrier and flee with Crescent Moon’s strongest demon beast.

Sikong Jing tried to force Ling Dongwei to abandon the Blood Demon Grand Formation by stirring resistance and unleashing demon beasts across Crescent Moon Continent. Ling Dongwei’s own subordinates secretly let demon beast mounts break through the sealing formations, worsening the Evil Crescent River eruptions and leaving Sikong Jing to recognize the backlash against Ling Dongwei’s cruelty.

• Sikong Jing urged Crescent Moon Continent’s people to attack the sealing formation and used his demonic-form spirit shadow to command Magic Beasts against those who still begged Ling Dongwei for mercy.
• Sikong Jing decided to reveal some of his beast bloodline power to draw in more demon beast mounts, while Ling Dongwei and Old Madam Ling worked to suppress the Evil Crescent River eruptions.
• A Super Divine Martial expert secretly helped a Super Divine Martial demon beast break a sealing formation, allowing demon beast mounts to flood into Crescent Moon Continent and worsen the eruptions.
• A second sealing formation exploded, and more mounts charged in while Ling Dongwei cursed them and struggled to contain the torrents.
• Sikong Jing realized that Ling Dongwei’s subordinates had deliberately let the demon beasts through and called the events backlash for Ling Dongwei’s depravity.

Sikong Jing pressured Ling Dongwei by exploiting the beast mounts’ rebellion and the Magic Beasts’ attack on Evil Crescent River. Ling Dongwei withdrew the Blood Demon Grand Formation and sent troops into Crescent Moon Continent, but Sikong Jing warned that doing so would leave more mounts vulnerable to demonic corruption and accelerate the river’s destruction.

• Three defending generals deliberately let their beast mounts break through the sealed formations, while torrents from Evil Crescent River poured into Crescent Moon Continent.
• Ling Dongwei ordered his subordinates to dismantle the Blood Demon Grand Formation to calm the beasts and protect Evil Crescent River.
• Sikong Jing used Crescent Moon’s strongest beast to demand that Ling Dongwei withdraw all forces from Crescent Moon Continent and Crescent Moon Sea, prompting the beasts to protect their leader and intensify their devouring.
• Sikong Jing hid his true body in a forest as Old Madam Ling pursued him and urged Ling Dongwei to keep the formation active.
• Ling Dongwei ordered all his troops to charge into Crescent Moon Continent, and Sikong Jing warned that their mounts could become demonized and worsen the destruction of Evil Crescent River.

Sikong Jing forced Ling Dongwei to abandon his attempt to control the Evil Crescent River by threatening to let the demon beasts keep devouring it. Ling Dongwei retreated from the Crescent Moon Continent and across the Crescent Moon Sea, while Sikong Jing defied his threats against the Crescent Moon Lineage.

• Ling Dongwei ordered his soldiers to kill their mounts, but their resistance and further breaches in the sealing formation forced him to retract the order.
• Sikong Jing said he could not guarantee the demon beasts would stop devouring the Evil Crescent River, and the strongest demon beast also refused to promise it.
• Sikong Jing's demonic-form spirit shadow threatened continued devouring unless Ling Dongwei withdrew, so Ling Dongwei removed his blockades and ordered the troops out of the Crescent Moon Continent.
• Sikong Jing commanded the demon beasts to stop devouring, then demanded that Ling Dongwei remove the great sealing formation and retreat across the Crescent Moon Sea.
• Ling Dongwei threatened Sikong Jing's family, but Sikong Jing repeatedly answered that he had killed Ling Ertian; Old Madam Ling then vowed to kill him.

Sikong Jing used the threat of absorbing the Evil Crescent River to keep Ling Dongwei at bay while waiting for the Heaven-Soaring Imperial Family’s Grand Elder to arrive. After an assassination attempt failed, the Grand Elder forced Ling Dongwei to withdraw, but Ling Dongwei still threatened the Crescent Moon Lineage’s key figures.

• Ling Dongwei ordered Ling Zhisui to bring the Crescent Moon Lineage’s key figures to him, not knowing Ling Zhisui had yet to defeat them.
• Sikong Jing kept watch over Crescent Moon Continent and considered how to conceal his Imperial Bloodline when he reached the Heaven-Soaring Giant Continent.
• When the Heaven-Soaring Imperial Family’s Grand Elder arrived, Sikong Jing sensed an assassin and resumed absorbing the Evil Crescent River, forcing Ling Dongwei to order a retreat.
• The Grand Elder rebuked Ling Dongwei and ordered him to relinquish control of the Crescent Moon Sea Region and withdraw his forces.
• Ling Dongwei left but ordered Ling Zhisui to bring the Crescent Moon Lineage’s important people to a location he would specify, defying the Grand Elder’s attempt to protect them.

Sikong Jing revealed that his second spirit shadow had controlled the demonic beasts, exposing how thoroughly Ling Dongwei had been deceived. After the Heaven-Soaring Imperial Family elders confirmed Sikong Jing had mastered the Heaven-Soaring Nine Swords, they promised to restore the Crescent Moon Lineage while considering him a weapon against Ling Dongwei.

• Sikong Jing told Ling Dongwei that his spirit shadow had taken over the strongest demonic beast, and Ling Dongwei flew into a rage before being forced to leave the Crescent Moon Continent.
• The Grand Elder and the Heaven-Soaring Imperial Family experts arrived, questioned Sikong Jing about his pure imperial bloodline, and asked him to demonstrate the Heaven-Soaring Nine Swords.
• After seeing the complete sword techniques, the elders promised to restore the Crescent Moon Lineage as the Bright Moon Branch and keep the Crescent Moon Sea under Sikong Jing's control.
• Sikong Jing went to the Straight Wind Palace Complex with the Crescent Moon demon beasts, accompanied by two elders assigned to protect him.
• The Grand Elder and Second Elder discussed Ling Dongwei's growing ties to the Flame Prison Heavenly Emperor and planned to use Sikong Jing against him before investigating Evil Crescent River.

Sikong Jing entered a secret realm with two half-demonized Super Divine Martial beasts and revealed that he was the fierce beast Sovereign Seal Sikong Jing, not merely Ling Jianxing. After defeating them and securing their submission, he instructed them to carry a message to Luo Guangmang and reinforce the Crescent Moon Lineage.

• Sikong Jing brought the Crescent Moon strongest beast and two Super Divine Martial beasts to the Straight Wind Palace Complex and entered a secret realm while his guards waited outside.
• The two Super Divine Martial beasts questioned Sikong Jing about his strange spirit image, and he revealed his fierce-beast form and identity as Sovereign Seal Sikong Jing.
• Sikong Jing demanded the beasts' help, but they attacked him, so he fought them for half an hour and defeated them.
• The two Super Divine Martial beasts submitted, and Sikong Jing instructed them to deliver words to Luo Guangmang and remain with the Crescent Moon Lineage as reinforcements.

Sikong Jing prepared the Crescent Moon Lineage to leave the Heaven-Soaring Imperial Family’s territory, while Ling Mi'er and her family helped defeat the Straight Wind Lineage. After the First Elder and the others found no clues at Evil Crescent River, Sikong Jing departed for the Heaven-Soaring Giant Continent, still seeking his parents.

• Sikong Jing removed the demon aura from the Crescent Moon Lineage’s beasts and arranged for the lineage to escape the Heaven-Soaring Imperial Family’s reach.
• Ling Mi'er, Ling Zhijing, Ling Jianpu, Luo Guangmang, and Bian Fei arrived in the Crescent Moon Wasteland and helped Ling Zhixin crush the Straight Wind Lineage; its leaders were captured and the rest were killed.
• Ling Mi'er and Ling Zhixin told Ling Zhijing’s wife that Sikong Jing was not Jianxing but the son of Ling Xiaotian and Sikong Ding, and Ling Zhixin said they would wait for Sikong Jing’s arrangements.
• Luo Guangmang reported that Ling Dongwei had changed his orders for the Straight Wind Lineage, suggesting Sikong Jing had already won against him.
• The First Elder and the others took Sikong Jing from the Straight Wind Palace Complex to the Heaven-Soaring Giant Continent after finding no clues at Evil Crescent River.

As Sikong Jing traveled toward the Heaven-Soaring Giant Continent, the Crescent Moon Lineage began fleeing to the Seal Sovereign Empire’s Desolate Sea Region. Meanwhile, Eighth Princess Jun Guqiao arrived at the Cangyu Demon Sect and demanded that its chief sect master receive her.

• Sikong Jing’s orders led the Crescent Moon Lineage and demonic beasts to prepare to leave the Crescent Moon Sea Region for the Desolate Sea Region.
• Luo Guangmang used Ling Zhisui to send Ling Dongwei a false explanation for his delay, buying the fleeing group more time.
• Luo Guangmang led the Crescent Moon Lineage to rendezvous with the demonic beasts and travel through the Crescent Moon Sea Region during a troop handover.
• Luo Guangmang told Bian Fei and Bian Xin that following Sikong Jing offered them a future chance for revenge.
• Jun Guqiao arrived at the Cangyu Demon Sect, and after its leaders came out to receive her, she demanded that the chief sect master appear.

Jun Guqiao used Jun Guxian’s death as a pretext to attack the Cangyu Demon Sect, while Old Madam Bai joined her to destroy the sect. As the island’s visitors panicked, Jun Yisui trusted that his future son-in-law could handle the threat, only for the young disciple to object to being called Princess Fennel’s future husband.

• Jun Guqiao accused the Cangyu Demon Sect of hiding Grand Sect Master Teng Bahun and ordered her forces to seize its people.
• Zhan Hu, Forged Rock, and Joy Soul fought off Jun Guqiao’s Super Divine Martial experts as Ying Sanmeng invoked the sect’s Army-Slaying Formation and warned her that attacking the Five-Seal War General’s sect was treason.
• Jun Guqiao accused the sect of betraying the Seal Sovereign Empire and summoned Old Madam Bai, who blamed the sect for Jun Guxian’s death and vowed to destroy it.
• Visitors on Cangyu Island panicked when the activated Army-Slaying Formation blocked their escape, while Jun Yisui assured them the sect could handle the attack.
• A young Cangyu Demon Sect disciple asked Jun Yisui to stop calling him his future son-in-law, saying he and Princess Fennel were only friends.

The Cangyu Demon Sect used a Demonic Puppet from Gods and Devils Island Prison to kill Old Madam Bai during Jun Guqiao’s attack. Teng Yue explained the sect’s tactic to Jun Yisui, who realized the Demonic Puppet was part of the sect’s hidden foundation.

• Jun Yisui offered to help Teng Yue fight Old Madam Bai, but Teng Yue said the Cangyu Demon Sect needed to prove it could defend itself.
• Old Madam Bai attacked Ying Sanmeng and the Cangyu Demon Sect’s fighters as Jun Guqiao demanded revenge for Jun Guxian.
• Forged Rock used a tiny stone to bring Heavy Rock and a disheveled prison convict to the battlefield, then charged at Old Madam Bai with support from Zhan Hu, Ying Sanmeng, and Joy Soul.
• A Demonic Puppet emerged from the Desolate Sea Absolute Formation, killed the convict, and struck Old Madam Bai, whom Forged Rock finished off with a punch.
• Forged Rock warned Jun Guqiao and her followers that the Cangyu Demon Sect would destroy those who sought its destruction.
• Teng Yue told Jun Yisui that the Demonic Puppet punished escaped prisoners, revealing how the sect had used the convict to draw it into the battle.

After the Demonic Puppet killed Old Lady Bai, Jun Yisui explained that the Seal Sovereign Emperor would let the Sea-Chasing line and Golden Seal Bai Family clash while a war with the Dark Sea Divine Wind Kingdom loomed. The Cangyu Demon Sect temporarily survived Jun Guqiao’s retreat, and Sikong Jing’s actions continued to strengthen the sect and its allies from afar.

• Teng Yue explained that Sikong Jing had enabled the Cangyu Demon Sect to use the Demonic Puppet, and Jun Yisui predicted its appearance would delay Jun Guqiao’s assault.
• Jun Yisui told Teng Yue that the Seal Sovereign Emperor would not stop Jun Guqiao because the Golden Seal Bai Family needed to vent its fury and the Sea-Chasing line would defend the sect.
• Jun Yisui warned that the Dark Sea Divine Wind Kingdom was preparing a major offensive centered on the Desolate Sea Region, and urged the Cangyu Demon Sect to prepare for the coming war.
• Jun Guqiao cried out in anger over Old Lady Bai’s death and retreated, while visitors departed and rumors spread that the Cangyu Demon Sect faced destruction.
• Jun Yisui received word that Jun Feihong had brought the Evil Seal Patriarch’s essence blood to Jun Yiji, giving him another reason to protect the Cangyu Demon Sect.

Sikong Jing arrived at the Heaven-Soaring Imperial Hall disguised as Ling Jianxing and waited several days before being sent to the Imperial Hall Stairway. There, direct descendants and branch-family members treated him with contempt, and a young man ordered him to kneel.

• Sikong Jing reached the Heaven-Soaring Imperial Hall with the Grand Elder after nearly a month of spatial transmission.
• The Grand Elder left Sikong Jing in a small hall, where he waited three days without an audience and wondered whether the family head was testing him over the Crescent Moon Lineage.
• On the fifth day, Ling Yuyue introduced herself as the family head's eldest granddaughter, gave Sikong Jing clothes, and took him to the Imperial Hall Plaza before leaving him there.
• Sikong Jing noticed that his blue Bright Moon Branch robes made him stand out among the golden-robed direct descendants and red-robed Blazing Sun Branch members.
• A young man questioned Sikong Jing about his merit, then ordered him to kneel as several experts stepped forward behind him.

Sikong Jing entered the Heaven-Soaring Imperial Hall square, where his calm admission that he had killed Ling Dongwei's daughter silenced the crowd and made people wary of confronting him. Above, Ling Dongchuan and the elders discussed exploiting Sikong Jing's sword comprehension and Imperial Bloodline before trading him to Ling Dongwei.

• Sikong Jing disclosed that he had killed Ling Dongwei's daughter, causing the crowd to fall silent and members of Ling Dongwei's branch to confront him.
• Sikong Jing asked where to queue, ignored the threats against him, and walked toward the Imperial Hall stairs as people made way.
• The youth and surrounding onlookers said Sikong Jing was unlikely to live long and decided not to provoke him for now.
• Ling Yuyue told her grandfather, Ling Dongchuan, that Sikong Jing was arrogant and failed to respect his status as a branch member.
• The elders urged Ling Dongchuan to hand Sikong Jing over to Ling Dongwei, while the Grand Elder proposed first extracting the value of Sikong Jing's Nine Swords comprehension and Imperial Bloodline.

Sikong Jing stepped onto the Imperial Hall Steps without a token, unaware to the watching crowd that Clan Head Ling Dongchuan had arranged for him to face the steps as an enemy. As the killing pressure began to rise, Sikong Jing sensed the trial was meant to make him beg for mercy.

• Ling Dongchuan ordered the guards to let Ling Jianxing onto the Imperial Hall Steps without giving him a Steps Token.
• Sikong Jing bypassed the queue and stepped onto the stairs, choosing to face the danger rather than delay his mission to rescue his parents.
• The gathered descendants realized Sikong Jing had no token and anticipated that the steps would crush him with their full pressure.
• An elder recounted how powerful challengers had failed at the 350th and 887th steps, and predicted Sikong Jing would not reach 400.
• Ling Yuyue asked what would happen if Sikong Jing refused to beg for mercy, and Ling Dongchuan said they would let him die or find a way to exploit him.
• Sikong Jing sensed the Heaven-Soaring killing intent on the first step and realized it would intensify with every stair to force him to yield.

Sikong Jing climbed the Imperial Hall Stairway without a token, using its killing intent to complete the Heaven-Soaring Tenth Sword and understand the formation. At the four-hundred-and-eightieth step, he began constructing his own stairway token.

• Sikong Jing decided to forge a stairway token by comprehending the formation and used the stairway's killing intent to complete the Heaven-Soaring Tenth Sword.
• The crowd mocked Sikong Jing and expected the stairway's negative forces to overwhelm him, while the Grand Elder recognized that he was comprehending its power.
• Sikong Jing climbed steadily, using the stairway's pressure to temper his spirit shadows until all three reached the Divine Venerable Realm.
• Sikong Jing assessed that his true qi would limit him to around the five-hundred-and-twentieth step, then completed the Heaven-Soaring Tenth Sword at the four-hundred-and-fiftieth step.
• At the four-hundred-and-eightieth step, Sikong Jing comprehended the formation's essence and began constructing an identical formation in his human-channel dantian to create a stairway token.

Sikong Jing used the stairway formation to conceal his beast-bloodline dantian and climbed to the five-hundred-and-twenty-sixth step, pushing his Heaven-Soaring Imperial Bloodline to its limit. His unprecedented achievement shifted opinion in the Heaven-Soaring Imperial Family, but Ling Dongchuan still planned to privately pressure him while publicly welcoming him.

• Sikong Jing completed the Stairway Token and discovered that the formation concealed his beast-bloodline dantian beneath the Heaven-Soaring Imperial Bloodline.
• Sikong Jing climbed past the five-hundred-and-twentieth step, tempering his true qi under the pressure, until blood burst from his body at the five-hundred-and-twenty-sixth step.
• The Imperial Hall Plaza’s younger generation admired Sikong Jing, while older members recognized that his talent made suppressing him politically risky.
• The elders debated whether to treat Sikong Jing with courtesy or force him to submit, and Ling Dongchuan decided to follow the original plan while making a public show of welcoming him.
• Ling Dongchuan descended the stairs, intending to appear courteous to the crowd while privately warning Sikong Jing.