Recaps

Chen Ye brought Chen Changqing and Xuanyuan Xiaoyu to the crater where the Heavenly Monarch Inheritance was rumored to have appeared, and powerful groups began arriving. Chen Ye explained that the True Martial Immortal Sect had not sent important forces because most such inheritance rumors proved false or exaggerated.

• Chen Ye led Chen Changqing and Xuanyuan Xiaoyu to the crater where the Heavenly Monarch Inheritance was said to have appeared.
• A half-step Tribulation Transcendence powerhouse from the Beast Taming Sect arrived, reminding Chen Changqing of his past conflict with the sect.
• The Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect and an Arhat from the Great Thunder Sound Temple arrived at the crater.
• A Daoist from the Dao Sect appeared, and Chen Changqing wondered why the True Martial Immortal Sect had sent no one.
• Chen Ye explained that most Heavenly Monarch Inheritance rumors were false or exaggerated, so the sect's higher-ups usually waited for conclusive evidence before sending important forces.

Chen Changqing and Xuanyuan Xiaoyu gave up waiting for the rumored Heavenly Monarch Inheritance and prepared to leave, but a strange eclipse and ancient spatial fluctuations appeared just as they turned away. The inheritance seemed to be opening as the Heavenly Dog Devouring the Sun plunged the world into darkness.

• After five days of waiting with little activity, Chen Changqing decided that he and Xuanyuan Xiaoyu would leave, while Chen Ye chose to keep waiting.
• As Chen Changqing and Xuanyuan Xiaoyu turned to go, the sky above the pitted ground trembled and black clouds gathered.
• A strange shadow began devouring the sun, prompting cultivators to debate whether the Heavenly Dog Devouring the Sun foretold misfortune or an inheritance.
• Ancient spatial fluctuations appeared in the clouds, and a vortex shone with vast radiance and mysterious runes, convincing the cultivators that the inheritance was opening.
• After about a quarter of an hour, the shadow completely covered the sun, leaving the world in gloom as the vortex's light grew brighter.

A massive gate opened to reveal the Heavenly Monarch Inheritance, and Chen Changqing, Xuanyuan Xiaoyu, and Chen Ye entered the inheritance realm. A Humanoid Puppet announced three trials and began the first, the Ten-Thousand-Weight Heart-Refining Array, which Chen Changqing and his companions entered.

• A huge gate appeared in the sky, and cultivators rushed through it to seek the Heavenly Monarch Inheritance.
• Chen Changqing explained that the inheritance would likely involve tests, then entered the gate with Xuanyuan Xiaoyu and Chen Ye.
• A Humanoid Puppet appeared in the realm and declared that seekers must pass three trials to obtain its master's inheritance.
• The Humanoid Puppet formed the Ten-Thousand-Weight Heart-Refining Array and required cultivators to endure it for one incense stick without leaving or losing control of their minds.
• Chen Changqing flew into the array, followed closely by Xuanyuan Xiaoyu and Chen Ye.

Chen Changqing, Xuanyuan Xiaoyu, and Chen Ye entered the Ten-Thousand-Weight Heart-Refining Array, where cultivators faced crushing body pressure and then soul-disrupting demonic sounds. Chen Changqing remained unaffected and protected Xuanyuan Xiaoyu through the first test, while the second test began eliminating more cultivators.

• Chen Changqing and his companions entered the array, and its Ten-Thousand-Weight Body Pressure flattened or expelled many cultivators.
• As the pressure intensified, Xuanyuan Xiaoyu and Chen Ye struggled, but Chen Changqing remained calm.
• Chen Changqing formed a Spiritual Qi shield around Xuanyuan Xiaoyu, causing the array's pressure to double, and used True Qi to help her endure it.
• The body-pressure test ended, and the Humanoid Puppet announced the second test, Soul-Disrupting Demonic Sound.
• Demonic sounds stirred painful and tempting memories in the cultivators, eliminating more than half of those who remained, while Chen Changqing stayed unruffled.

Chen Changqing, Xuanyuan Xiaoyu, and Chen Ye survived the Ten-Thousand-Weight Heart-Refining Array’s Soul-Disrupting Demonic Sound and Heart Demon Illusion tests. Only about a dozen cultivators passed the First Trial, and they followed the Humanoid Puppet toward the Second Trial.

• Xuanyuan Xiaoyu and Chen Ye endured the Soul-Disrupting Demonic Sound while other cultivators were eliminated.
• The Humanoid Puppet announced a third test, the Heart Demon Illusion, which confronted the cultivators with personal fears and desires.
• Chen Changqing broke his illusion with a strand of Sword Intent, while Xuanyuan Xiaoyu and Chen Ye overcame theirs through their own efforts.
• The array expelled cultivators who lost control, leaving only about a dozen survivors, including Chen Changqing, Xuanyuan Xiaoyu, Chen Ye, and several sect members.
• The Humanoid Puppet ended the First Trial and led the survivors toward the Second Trial.

Chen Changqing and the other trial participants entered a vast world and learned that the Second Trial required them to forge a Law Artifact. After discovering that time passed much faster inside the realm, Chen Changqing agreed to stay, leaving enough time for Xuanyuan Xiaoyu’s family competition.

• Chen Changqing and the others followed the Humanoid Puppet through a curtain of light into a world that resembled a Minor World.
• The Humanoid Puppet led them into a hall stocked with artifact-refining furnaces, tools, and materials.
• The Humanoid Puppet announced that they had one year to forge Law Artifacts, and the best participants would advance to the Third Trial.
• Xuanyuan Xiaoyu worried that the year-long trial would make her miss the Xuanyuan Family's Annual Competition, so Chen Changqing asked whether he could withdraw.
• The Humanoid Puppet explained that one day outside equaled two months inside, meaning the year-long trial would take only six days outside.
• Chen Changqing asked Xuanyuan Xiaoyu if that timing was acceptable, and she agreed to stay.

The Humanoid Puppet began the one-year artifact-refining trial by giving the contestants a manual and access to materials and furnaces. Chen Changqing activated his AFK Cultivation System to study the manual while appearing to do nothing, and the other contestants mocked him as he basked outside the hall.

• The Humanoid Puppet gave each contestant an artifact-refining manual, access to materials and furnaces, and a one-year deadline.
• A man from the Divine Fire Sect eagerly began refining artifacts, while the other contestants worried about his advantage and started studying.
• Xuanyuan Xiaoyu and Chen Ye asked Chen Changqing about his experience, and he admitted he had never refined an artifact before.
• Chen Changqing read the manual, activated Idle Cultivation through his AFK Cultivation System, and left the system to train him.
• As the contestants worked in the hall, Chen Changqing lounged outside, prompting Xuanyuan Xiaoyu to hold back her advice and the others to criticize him.

Over nine months in the Secret Realm, the contestants forged artifacts while Chen Changqing lounged without refining anything. Xue Kai produced a High-Grade Spirit Treasure, and after more than two additional months of failed efforts to improve their artifacts, Chen Ye and Xuanyuan Xiaoyu remained worried about advancing to the third trial.

• The black-robed elder, the young Arhat, the middle-aged Daoist, the Beast Taming Sect cultivator, and the star-robed cultivator each completed powerful artifacts.
• Xue Kai forged a High-Grade Spirit Treasure sword, drawing the contestants’ admiration and leaving Chen Ye worried that his Mid-Grade Law Treasure would not be enough.
• Xuanyuan Xiaoyu revealed that her artifact was only a Low-Grade Law Treasure, while Chen Changqing continued to bask in the sun and sleep instead of refining anything.
• Chen Ye and Xuanyuan Xiaoyu resumed refining, but Xue Kai dismissed their chances and placed his sword on a jade platform to nurture it.
• More than two months later, Chen Ye and Xuanyuan Xiaoyu had failed to improve their artifacts and lamented how difficult artifact refining was.

With only three days left in the Second Trial, Chen Changqing extracted Great Accomplishment-level artifact-refining knowledge from his system and began working at a furnace. He ignored the crowd’s ridicule and forged ordinary iron by hand, leaving everyone unsure what he intended to create.

• Xue Kai asked the Humanoid Puppet to announce the Second Trial’s results early, but the examiner said the results would come in three days.
• Chen Changqing received a system notification that his Artifact Refining Chapter had reached Great Accomplishment and extracted its results.
• After absorbing the principles of artifact refining, Chen Changqing rose and headed for a furnace while the crowd mocked him.
• Chen Changqing opened the Ground-Fire Spirit Vein, put materials into the furnace, and told Xue Kai he would show him true artifact refining.
• Chen Changqing heated ordinary iron and struck it with a hammer, prompting Xue Kai and the others to jeer at him.

With only three days left in the artifact-refining trial, Chen Changqing began hammering ordinary iron, and his work revealed a profound understanding of the art that astonished the Humanoid Puppet and everyone watching. The chapter left Chen Changqing still forging as the Humanoid Puppet saw hope that he might inherit his master's legacy.

• Chen Changqing ignored Xue Kai and the others’ mockery and began hammering ordinary iron, while the Humanoid Puppet recognized that his bearing followed the highest principles of artifact refining.
• The Humanoid Puppet recalled the principle of “Mortal Craft Bears the Dao” and wondered if Chen Changqing could become his master's successor.
• After half a day of hammering, Chen Changqing transformed the iron, drawing out impurities and giving it a faint chaotic sheen.
• Xue Kai dismissed the possibility that Chen Changqing could make a powerful Law Artifact from ordinary iron, while the black-robed elder, the Arhat, and the middle-aged Daoist sensed principles in his hammering.
• Chen Ye and Xuanyuan Xiaoyu also sensed that Chen Changqing was doing more than forging a Law Artifact, and the Humanoid Puppet marveled at his work.

Chen Changqing forged ordinary iron into a Lower-grade Law Artifact using the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique, astonishing the crowd and the Humanoid Puppet. The Humanoid Puppet recognized Chen Changqing as a potential successor to its master.

• Chen Changqing finished hammering ordinary iron into a crude saber blank, and Xue Kai and the others mocked him.
• The Humanoid Puppet saw that the saber blank contained perfectly formed Dao Marks and had reached the state of Return to Mundane.
• Chen Changqing summoned his hammer and struck the saber ten times with a technique the Humanoid Puppet recognized as the master's Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique.
• The saber became translucent and rose from ordinary iron to a Lower-grade Law Artifact, leaving Xue Kai, Xuanyuan Xiaoyu, Chen Ye, and the other cultivators stunned.

Chen Changqing used the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique to turn ordinary iron into a Quasi-Immortal Artifact, stunning everyone who witnessed the unprecedented refinement. After fifty blows, he stopped, visibly pale and at the limit of his strength.

• Chen Changqing kept hammering the ordinary iron saber, which advanced from a Law Artifact to a low-grade Law Treasure.
• The black-robed elder recognized Chen Changqing's method as Turn the Mundane into a Treasure, while the Humanoid Puppet grew convinced he suited its Master's inheritance.
• Chen Changqing's thirtieth blow raised the saber to a low-grade Spirit Treasure, and later blows advanced it to a high-grade Spirit Treasure.
• On the fiftieth blow, the saber became a Quasi-Immortal Artifact, and Chen Changqing stopped from exhaustion.

Chen Changqing stunned everyone by forging a Quasi-Immortal Artifact from ordinary iron and won first place in the Second Trial. As the eliminated contestants prepared to leave, he offered the artifact to Chen Ye and revealed that it could change shape.

• Chen Changqing silenced Xue Kai by showing that he had forged a Quasi-Immortal Artifact in two days, while Xue Kai had made only a High-grade Spirit Treasure in a year.
• Chen Changqing explained that he had simply hammered the iron, while the Humanoid Puppet recognized the hidden role of the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique and the artifact embryo.
• The Humanoid Puppet ended the Second Trial, declared Chen Changqing first, and advanced the top ten contestants to the third trial.
• Chen Ye and Xuanyuan Xiaoyu were eliminated, while the Humanoid Puppet said the contestants could keep their refined artifacts and would transport the eliminated contestants out of the Secret Realm.
• Chen Changqing offered his Quasi-Immortal Artifact long saber to Chen Ye, then showed that the artifact could transform into a gauntlet.

Chen Changqing gave Chen Ye a shape-shifting Quasi-Immortal Artifact before the Humanoid Puppet teleported out those who failed the second trial. The ten remaining candidates learned the third trial required them to climb a ten-floor Trial Tower, and all had to start on the first floor.

• Chen Ye accepted Chen Changqing’s shape-shifting Quasi-Immortal Artifact gauntlets and thanked him for the gift.
• The Humanoid Puppet teleported Xuanyuan Xiaoyu and Chen Ye out of the Secret Realm because they had failed the second trial.
• The Humanoid Puppet led Chen Changqing and the other nine successful candidates to an open space and summoned the Trial Tower.
• The Humanoid Puppet explained that candidates had to defeat each floor’s guardian to advance, with guardians ranging from the Qi Nourishing Realm on the first floor to the Tribulation Transcendence Realm on the tenth.
• Chen Changqing asked whether candidates could start on a floor matching their cultivation realm, but the Humanoid Puppet said everyone had to begin on the first floor.

The cultivators discover that the Trial Tower’s guardians can defeat opponents far above their realm, and one by one they fail or struggle through its floors. Chen Changqing is the only one of the ten who has yet to enter, leaving everyone watching to see how far he will go.

• A Nascent Soul Late Stage Rogue Cultivator enters the Bronze Treasure Pagoda but is thrown out after failing the sixth floor.
• A Spirit Transformation Early Stage cultivator reaches the seventh floor, is defeated, and warns that the Gatekeepers can challenge opponents across realms.
• Xue Kai is defeated on the seventh floor, while the black-robed elder narrowly clears the eighth before losing on the ninth.
• The Arhat of the Great Thunder Sound Temple reaches the eighth floor, the middle-aged Daoist from the Dao Sect is stopped there, and the Beast Taming Sect man falls on the seventh.
• After the remaining cultivators fail on the sixth or seventh floors, everyone turns to Chen Changqing, the last of the ten yet to enter.

Chen Changqing entered the Trial Tower and easily defeated the Gatekeepers on its first four floors. He continued upward, leaving the others outside waiting to learn whether he could surpass their records and obtain the inheritance.

• Xue Kai urged Chen Changqing to enter the Trial Tower, and Chen Changqing silenced him with a chilling glance before heading inside.
• Chen Changqing defeated the first-floor Qi Nourishing boy by shattering his sword with two fingers.
• Chen Changqing repelled the second-floor Body Refining Gatekeeper with the force of his own body.
• Chen Changqing endured the third-floor Qi Refining Gatekeeper’s Technique Methods and defeated him with a hand chop.
• Chen Changqing bypassed the fourth-floor Foundation Establishment Gatekeeper’s shield with a fine sword and advanced to the next floor.

Chen Changqing rapidly cleared the Trial Tower’s first eight floors, surprising the spectators and reaching the ninth-floor Gatekeeper. He drew the Heavenly Thunder Sword and unleashed the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique as the Gatekeeper attacked.

• Chen Changqing defeated the fifth-floor Core Formation Gatekeeper with the Rainbow Sword Technique, then destroyed the sixth-floor Golden Core Gatekeeper’s Divine Ability with Palm Lightning.
• Chen Changqing cleared the seventh floor before Xue Kai could finish predicting his defeat, leaving Xue Kai stunned.
• Chen Changqing crushed the eighth-floor Gatekeeper’s strength-based punch with the Heaven-Collapsing Style of the Heavenly Emperor Divine Fist.
• The spectators watched Chen Changqing enter the ninth floor, while the black-robed Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect elder doubted he could defeat its Gatekeeper.
• The ninth-floor Spirit Transformation Gatekeeper struck with a powerful sword attack, and Chen Changqing drew the Heavenly Thunder Sword and used the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique.

Chen Changqing defeated the ninth-floor Gatekeeper and entered the Trial Tower's final floor, where he faced a Tribulation Transcendence Realm elder. The other trial participants were expelled and waited outside the Secret Realm, while the elder began explaining the master's Dao of artifact refining to Chen Changqing.

• Chen Changqing cut down the ninth-floor Spirit Transformation Gatekeeper, and the tower's tenth floor lit up as he advanced.
• The spectators realized Chen Changqing had passed the ninth floor, and the Humanoid Puppet teleported the other participants out of the Secret Realm.
• Xuanyuan Xiaoyu and Chen Ye noticed Chen Changqing was missing and suspected he had obtained the final inheritance.
• The expelled participants waited near the Secret Realm's exit, hoping to seize a treasure if Chen Changqing emerged with one.
• Chen Changqing entered the tenth floor, where he found a gray-robed elder carrying a hammer and sensed the elder's overwhelming Tribulation Transcendence Realm presence.
• The elder told Chen Changqing that reaching the tenth floor showed he had approached the master's Dao of artifact refining, then spoke of the courage needed to face a heavenly tribulation.

Chen Changqing faced the tenth-floor guardian, whose Forging Dao hammer tested his strength with increasingly powerful strikes. After enduring dozens of blows and countering the guardian’s Soul Forging attack with Dao Reversal, Chen Changqing sent the hammer force back at its wielder, and the two forces collided.

• The old man named his hammer Forging Dao and attacked Chen Changqing with the first strike of the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique.
• Chen Changqing endured the first blow with the Primordial Nine-Turn Body Refining Technique, then countered successive strikes with his Heavenly Emperor Divine Fist and Heavenly Thunder Sword.
• Chen Changqing and the old man fought fiercely, and Chen Changqing withstood thirty-four hammer strikes.
• The old man unleashed Soul Forging, a blow that carried a deeper forging intent, and Chen Changqing countered with Immortal Execution: Dao Reversal.
• Chen Changqing reversed the hammer force toward the old man, who met it with his own hammer, causing the two forces to collide in an explosion.

Chen Changqing faced the Gatekeeper’s final hammer blow, which attacked the foundations of his cultivated Dao, and countered with his original body and two Avatars. He defeated the Gatekeeper and cleared the Trial Tower’s tenth-floor trial, leaving the Humanoid Puppet jubilant outside.

• The Gatekeeper praised Chen Changqing’s endurance and talent, then prepared his final hammer blow.
• The Gatekeeper’s hammer unleashed a force aimed at destroying Chen Changqing’s cultivated Dao.
• Chen Changqing summoned two Avatars, one wielding the Dragon-Patterned Sky-Splitting Spear and the other the Immortal-Burying Zither, while his original body used the fifth form of Immortal Execution.
• Chen Changqing’s three attacks shattered the hammer shadow and overwhelmed the Gatekeeper.
• The Gatekeeper congratulated Chen Changqing on passing the trial, then faded away.
• The Humanoid Puppet saw the light on the Trial Tower’s tenth floor dim and exclaimed that Chen Changqing had passed.

After passing the Trial Tower, Chen Changqing met Ouye Tiangong, an Immortal-grade Artifact Refiner who revealed his failed attempt to forge a treasure surpassing Immortal Artifacts. Ouye Tiangong gave Chen Changqing the complete Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique and revealed a Top-grade Immortal Artifact hammer.

• The Humanoid Puppet congratulated Chen Changqing for passing all three trials and led him through a gateway to Ouye Tiangong.
• Ouye Tiangong introduced himself as an Immortal-grade Artifact Refiner and recounted how heavenly punishment destroyed him while he tried to forge a treasure surpassing an Immortal Artifact.
• Ouye Tiangong gave Chen Changqing the complete true meaning of the thirty-six forms of the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique and his lifetime of artifact-refining insights.
• Ouye Tiangong showed Chen Changqing a pitch-black hammer that Chen recognized as a Top-grade Immortal Artifact.

Chen Changqing received Ou Ye Tiangong’s artifact-refining inheritance and the Haotian Hammer, while the Humanoid Puppet chose to remain behind as the Secret Realm collapsed. Outside, Xuanyuan Xiaoyu and Chen Ye anticipated that the waiting trial participants would attack Chen Changqing when he emerged.

• Ou Ye Tiangong explained the Haotian Hammer’s power and advised Chen Changqing to follow the heart and Dao rather than become a slave to tools.
• Chen Changqing accepted the thirty-six forms of the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique and the Haotian Hammer, then used Idle Cultivation to study the technique and Ou Ye Tiangong’s insights.
• The Humanoid Puppet told Chen Changqing it would remain in the collapsing Secret Realm to accompany its master, and Chen Changqing bowed to it before leaving.
• Outside the Secret Realm, Xuanyuan Xiaoyu assured Chen Ye that Chen Changqing would obtain the inheritance and recalled how he had excelled in the trials.
• Chen Ye warned Xuanyuan Xiaoyu that the other trial participants were waiting nearby, and she feared they would attack Chen Changqing when he emerged.

Chen Changqing emerged from the Secret Realm with the Heavenly Monarch Inheritance, only to find cultivators waiting to seize it. After Xue Kai attacked Xuanyuan Xiaoyu, Chen Changqing protected her and declared that everyone who threatened her would die.

• Chen Changqing emerged from the Secret Realm and confirmed to Xuanyuan Xiaoyu and Chen Ye that he had obtained the inheritance.
• The black-robed elder, Xue Kai, and other cultivators surrounded Chen Changqing and demanded he share the treasures or die.
• Xuanyuan Xiaoyu tried to drive the crowd away by invoking her status as the Third Princess of the Nine Provinces Divine Dynasty, but they mocked her.
• Xue Kai insulted Xuanyuan Xiaoyu and attacked her with a fire dragon after she struck at him.
• Chen Changqing destroyed the fire dragon with Sword Qi, stepped in front of Xuanyuan Xiaoyu, and vowed to kill the crowd for threatening his wife.

Chen Changqing attacked Xue Kai after he threatened Xuanyuan Xiaoyu, shattering his defenses with his physical strength before killing him with a fire-infused punch. The other cultivators who had gathered to seize Chen Changqing’s inheritance watched in fear.

• Chen Changqing charged Xue Kai and shattered his High-Grade Spirit Artifact shield with his bare strength.
• Chen Changqing punched Xue Kai, badly injuring him and breaking the Quasi-Immortal Artifact Body Protection Mirror.
• Xue Kai unleashed his Natal True Fire and Quasi-Immortal Artifact sword, sending a fire dragon of Sword Qi at Chen Changqing.
• Chen Changqing used Samadhi True Fire and Vermilion Bird True Fire to destroy Xue Kai’s attack and blast apart his body and Primordial Spirit.
• The cultivators who had surrounded Chen Changqing to seize his inheritance grew fearful after witnessing him kill Xue Kai.

Chen Changqing killed the Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect’s Half-Step Tribulation Transcendence elder after effortlessly breaking through his attacks and defenses. He then unleashed his Sword Domain to stop the fleeing cultivators who had threatened his wife.

• Xuanyuan Xiaoyu and Chen Ye watched in shock as Chen Changqing’s strength became clear.
• The black-robed elder attacked Chen Changqing with the Mysterious Yin Void-Splitting Sword Gale, but Chen Changqing shattered it with a giant palm.
• Chen Changqing rushed the elder, broke his sword shield, crushed his throat, and destroyed his Primordial Spirit.
• The Arhat and the other cultivators panicked and fled after witnessing the elder’s death.
• Chen Changqing invoked his Sword Domain to slow the fleeing cultivators and challenged them to look at the inheritance he had obtained.