Chapter Summaries

At Bai Zhao’s banquet, Li Chuan discovered that Beast Meat could greatly nourish his body, inspiring him to seek better ways to fund his cultivation. After perfecting the Mountain Search Secret Record, he entered North Wild Mountain’s Inner Mountain forbidden zone, collected Moonlight Essence, and left safely with a six-thousand-tael mission reward within reach.

• Bai Zhao hosted a banquet where Shi Chongyue chose to sit beside Xu Kezhou, and the gathered disciples ate Beast Meat while discussing their training and resources.
• Li Chuan found that the Beast Meat improved his cultivation and physical condition, then decided he needed more money to afford nourishing food and better pills.
• Li Chuan trained the Mountain Search Secret Record to Perfection and accepted Elder Huang’s six-thousand-tael mission to collect Moonlight Essence despite Elder Sun’s warning about the danger.
• Li Chuan used his perfected mountain-searching skill to avoid powerful Monster Beasts, abandoned Heavenly Paste Grass when a Red-Eyed Golden Elephant lingered nearby, and collected Moonlight Essence from a pool guarded by an Ice Crystal Bear.
• Li Chuan escaped the forbidden zone with the Moonlight Essence, confident that he could claim the mission reward and afford better supplies.

Li Chuan returned from the restricted zone with moonlight essence, earning Elder Sun’s recognition and a six-thousand-tael reward. He treated Chen Dengke to exotic beast meat, continued cultivating, and opened his seventh Main Meridian as rumors and rival disciples’ breakthroughs stirred the sect.

• Li Chuan returned with moonlight essence and explained how he avoided an Ice Crystal Bear, convincing Elder Sun of his Mountain Search Art skill; Elder Sun praised him and gave him six thousand taels.
• Li Chuan visited the Dining Hall, ordered Green-Scaled Snake Tendon for himself and Chen Dengke, and saw Yin Taohua regret having sided with Zhou Yan.
• Chen Dengke thanked Li Chuan for his past help, ate with him, and said the meal brought him close to breaking through to middle core formation.
• Li Chuan bought Lead-Cleansing Pills and trained while Chen Dengke reached middle core formation, Bai Zhao and Zhong Ziyin opened their seventh Main Meridians, and Shi Chongyue failed his first attempt to open his eighth.
• Li Chuan ignored rumors that he was afraid to face Shi Chongyue, continued cultivating, and opened his seventh Main Meridian.

Li Chuan revealed that he had opened seven Main Meridians, then refused Shi Chongyue’s challenge unless there was a worthwhile stake. After Shi Chongyue wagered twenty days in a Grade-B Training Room, Li Chuan accepted and defeated him by cutting off both his arms.

• Li Chuan adjusted to the power of his seventh Main Meridian and mastered the flow of his Geng Metal True Qi before the Minor Assessment.
• At the assessment, Li Chuan, Zhong Ziyin, and Bai Zhao tested at seven Main Meridians, while Xu Kezhou’s True Qi nearly reached eight; Zhao Ciyuan announced that the next assessment would select a new Chief Disciple.
• Shi Chongyue ordered Du Jiming to challenge Li Chuan, but Li Chuan tore up the challenge letter and demanded a worthwhile stake.
• After Wan Ling urged Shi Chongyue to accept the wager, he offered twenty days in a Grade-B Training Room, and Li Chuan agreed to fight.
• At the Martial Arts Arena, Li Chuan’s Heavenly River Blade Technique outsped Shi Chongyue’s and severed both of his arms.

Li Chuan defeated Shi Chongyue with one slash, won the Grade-B5 Training Room token, and began cultivating to strengthen his Mystic Origin Twin Art. As the chief disciple succession and Heavenly Blade Tournament approached, Yu Jing remained confident she could keep her position, while Li Chuan’s training produced a breakthrough.

• Li Chuan severed both of Shi Chongyue’s arms in one slash, then told him the wounds could be treated and accepted Shi Chongyue’s wager token.
• Shi Chongyue told Wan Ling that Li Chuan had deliberately spared his vital points, while Wan Ling dismissed Li Chuan as not yet worth comparing to her.
• Li Chuan resolved to become Four Peaks’ chief disciple and pursue the Heavenly Blade Tournament, whose first-place reward had been changed to the Great White Profound Yin Soul.
• Yu Jing remained confident she would defeat Li Chuan in the succession Minor Assessment after opening all nine main meridians.
• Li Chuan used Shi Chongyue’s token to enter the Grade-B5 Training Room and cultivated there for ten days.
• Li Chuan’s Mystic Origin Twin Art broke through to Major Mastery.

Li Chuan used his time in the Grade-B Training Room to strengthen his Geng Metal True Qi, then borrowed silver from Bai Zhao to fund his cultivation. After four months, he broke through the Eighth Main Meridian and reached Late Core Formation.

• Li Chuan advanced the Geng Metal Art while training, but ran out of Lead-Cleansing Pills and left the Grade-B Training Room early.
• Li Chuan rejected Chen Yuanqing's offer to become the Chen Clan's live-in son-in-law, and Bai Zhao helped him escape the proposal by claiming they were in love.
• Bai Zhao lent Li Chuan all eighteen thousand three hundred and twenty taels she had, and he bought thirty Lead-Cleansing Pills from the Medicine Hall.
• Zhou Yan secretly followed Li Chuan, killed a family of five to feed his Black Insect, and used the blood essence to force his own progress toward Late Core Formation.
• Over the next four months, Xu Kezhou and Bai Zhao failed to break through, while Shi Chongyue reached Late Core Formation and told others to stop spreading talk of revenge against Li Chuan.
• Li Chuan opened the Eighth Main Meridian, completed his second Greater Celestial Circuit, and broke through to Late Core Formation.

After reaching Late Core Formation, Li Chuan sought to improve his blade technique and earn money for access to Blade Stele Forest. Zhou Yan secretly followed him into North Wild Mountain and tried to kill him, but Li Chuan revealed his strength, killed Zhou Yan, and discovered that Zhou Yan’s Black Insect could receive messages from the Yaoguang Demon Sect.

• Li Chuan tested his newly transformed Geng Metal True Qi, learned that Yu Jing had opened all Nine Main Meridians, and obtained the fifth layer of the Geng Metal Art.
• Li Chuan decided to earn silver for Blade Stele Forest and accepted a mission to collect Purple Swallow Fruit in North Wild Mountain.
• Zhou Yan followed Li Chuan, accidentally touched a Water Dragon Ape’s droppings, and grew even more intent on killing him.
• Zhou Yan ambushed Li Chuan, but Li Chuan dodged the attack and defeated Zhou Yan with a single slash.
• Li Chuan searched Zhou Yan’s belongings, learned the Insect Control Art, and discovered that the Black Insect could receive messages from the Yaoguang Demon Sect.

Li Chuan learned to control Zhou Yan’s Heart-Eating Insect and gained insight into the Heavenly Blade Ascendant’s technique, then advanced the Heavenly River Blade Technique to the Extreme Realm. With the Four Peaks Minor Examination approaching, Yu Jing sought the chief disciple reward, while Li Chuan’s breakthrough revealed how formidable his blade force had become.

• Li Chuan discovered the Heart-Eating Insect’s abilities, used it to consume Zhou Yan’s essence and blood, and concealed it within his arm while recognizing its value as a way to learn Yaoguang Demon Sect plans.
• Zhou Zelin concealed Zhou Yan’s death by telling others his son had returned home to train, and Li Chuan learned that the sect accepted that account.
• Li Chuan paid to enter the Blade Stele Forest and saw the Heavenly Blade Ascendant’s vision of the Innate Great White True Gang, gaining insight into the Great White Profound Yin Soul.
• As the Four Peaks Minor Examination neared, disciples discussed Li Chuan’s prospects, and Yu Jing asked Zhao Ciyuan for the chief disciple’s reward; Zhao Ciyuan hinted that Li Chuan and Xu Kezhou had broken through to Late Core Formation.
• Li Chuan studied Guan Shan’s stele and broke the Heavenly River Blade Technique into the Extreme Realm, manifesting Heavenly River Blade Force that overwhelmed Song Yichen.

At the Four Peaks chief disciple selection, Yu Jing easily defeated Xu Kezhou, who had sacrificed his martial future to challenge her. Li Chuan then revealed he had reached Late Core Formation and struck Yu Jing with Extreme Realm Blade Momentum, leaving her disarmed and bleeding as the contest’s outcome hung in stunned silence.

• Cheng Xiuge, Yu Jing, and Li Jingci discussed the Great White Profound Yin Soul and the coming chief disciple selection, while Yu Jing declared she would defend her position.
• At the Four Peaks plaza, Zhao Ciyuan attended as Yu Jing called for anyone who had reached Late Core Formation to step forward.
• Xu Kezhou revealed his breakthrough and challenged Yu Jing, but she defeated him in three moves without drawing her saber, shattering his Dao Heart.
• Li Chuan stepped forward and challenged Yu Jing, revealing that he too had reached Late Core Formation.
• Yu Jing drew her saber and unleashed the Heavenly River Blade Technique, but Li Chuan countered with Extreme Realm Blade Momentum.
• Li Chuan sheathed Frost Without Trace as Yu Jing's saber fell from her hands and blood dripped from her torn fingers.

Li Chuan defeated Yu Jing with one strike and became Four Peaks’ chief disciple, earning the sect’s privileges and drawing attention from old acquaintances and potential allies. As Li Jingci explained the chief disciples’ opportunities and the coming Heavenly Blade Tournament, a clan arrived to offer Li Chuan a paid position as an offering.

• Yu Jing conceded defeat after Li Chuan’s blade revealed his Extreme Realm mastery, and Zhao Ciyuan named him Four Peaks’ chief disciple.
• Li Chuan received the chief disciple’s token, considered appointing Song Yichen to handle routine affairs, and invited him to his courtyard.
• Lu Qiuhan ordered a congratulatory gift for Li Chuan after learning he had become chief, while the Chen Clan prepared an apology gift and Chen Shiyu regretted rejecting him.
• Li Jingci visited Li Chuan, explained the chief disciple’s privileges and the Heavenly Blade Tournament, and proposed that they support each other.
• A representative of the Liang Clan arrived to discuss hiring Li Chuan as an offering.

Li Chuan weighed several offering positions, chose the Golden Bone Martial Hall, and accepted Bai Zhao’s unusually generous support from the Bai Clan. After using a Red Phoenix Pill to speed the opening of his Ninth Main Meridian, he consumed the Flamefire Flower and raised his root to Fifth Grade.

• Li Chuan declined Liang Hu’s Ironware Shop offer, then chose the Golden Bone Martial Hall over a riskier escort agency position.
• Bai Zhao offered Li Chuan five thousand taels a month as a Bai Clan offering, and he accepted her investment in his potential.
• Li Chuan received gifts from Lu Qiuhan and Chen Yuanqing, bought Red Phoenix Pills, and found that one pill greatly accelerated his work on the Ninth Main Meridian.
• Song Yichen reported a new disciple, Yu Jing’s vacated courtyard, and Xu Kezhou’s planned banquet; Li Chuan postponed the banquet until later.
• Li Chuan retrieved the Flamefire Flower from the treasury and consumed it, enduring its marrow-tempering effects until the Primordial Jade Record showed his root had reached Fifth Grade.

After improving his root aptitude, Li Chuan advanced his cultivation and combat techniques and accepted Xu Kezhou’s apology at a banquet. He declined to compete for Moonlight Stone Marrow at Sinking Moon Valley, then learned through the Heart-Eating Insect that the Yaoguang Demon Sect planned to use the marrow as bait to ambush and kill a chief disciple.

• Li Chuan discovered that his Fifth Grade Root nearly doubled his cultivation efficiency and gave him new insights that raised several combat techniques, including Hidden Origin Art, to Perfection.
• Song Yichen told Li Chuan that Xu Kezhou had prepared a banquet and that Li Jingci had summoned him to meet Elder Ye with the other chiefs.
• At the Drinking Wind Banquet Hall, Xu Kezhou apologized to Li Chuan, who accepted his wine and told him to support Song Yichen; the disciples then crowded around to curry favor with Li Chuan.
• Elder Ye told Li Chuan, Li Jingci, Cheng Xiuge, and Wan Ling that the three sects would contest for Moonlight Stone Marrow at Sinking Moon Valley; Wan Ling, Li Jingci, and Li Chuan declined, so Cheng Xiuge was appointed to lead the team.
• After returning to his courtyard, Li Chuan awakened the Heart-Eating Insect and learned that the Yaoguang Demon Sect planned to use the Moonlight Stone Marrow as bait to ambush the chief disciples and kill one of them for a Human Refining Pill.

Li Chuan learned that the Moonlight Stone Marrow at Sinking Moon Valley was bait for a Yaoguang Demon Sect ambush, then prepared by mastering the Shadowless Blade Technique and training for the coming contest. As the sects and Demon Sect made their plans, his Heart-Eating Insect received a command to hurry to the valley and set an ambush.

• Li Chuan realized the Yaoguang Demon Sect intended to lure the three sects into fighting before killing their disciples to refine Human Refining Pills, and considered exploiting the chaos.
• The Scripture Pavilion steward advised Li Chuan to pair his fierce Heavenly River Blade Technique with a faster blade art, and Li Chuan chose the Shadowless Blade Technique.
• Li Chuan reached Minor Mastery in the Shadowless Blade Technique, then moved into the Chief Disciple's courtyard and began an intensive training routine.
• Bai Zhao reflected on her strained relationship with Bai Ming and the financial sacrifices she had made to invest in Li Chuan.
• Cheng Xiuge and Wang Chonglou speculated that Li Chuan's victories depended on a secret technique he could use only once, while Yama ordered the Demon Sect agents to ambush the three sects after their contest.
• Three days later, Li Chuan summoned his Heart-Eating Insect and learned that it had been ordered to hurry to Sinking Moon Valley and set an ambush.

Cheng Xiuge defeated the gathered disciples and won the Moonlight Stone Marrow, but a Yaoguang Demon Sect ambush plunged Sinking Moon Valley into chaos. While the fighters scattered, Li Chuan killed Pei Hongni and quietly took the marrow, leaving the battle behind.

• Wang Chonglou told Cheng Xiuge that Zhao Yan had joined the Cloud Wild Sword Sect, and the three sects began a round-robin contest for the Moonlight Stone Marrow.
• Cheng Xiuge defeated Zheng Tong, Wang Chonglou, Lu Ming, and Zhao Yan, revealing his Extreme Realm Heavenly River Blade Technique to overcome Zhao Yan.
• Yama ambushed Sun Hanhua, while Yaoguang Demon Sect disciples attacked the exhausted competitors and drove them to flee.
• The Demon Gate disciples pursued Wang Chonglou instead of Cheng Xiuge, leaving the cold pool and Moonlight Stone Marrow unguarded.
• Li Chuan appeared at the pool and claimed Yama had assigned him to guard the marrow, but Pei Hongni challenged him.
• Li Chuan killed Pei Hongni with his Shadowless Blade Technique, took the three drops of Moonlight Stone Marrow, and left unseen.

Li Chuan refined three drops of Moonlight Stone Marrow, learned that the Yaoguang Demon Sect had ambushed the sects, and faced rumors that his strength relied on a single slash. After learning that water bandits had robbed Bai Zhao’s trade route, he went to the Boyang Waters and killed all nine of them.

• Li Chuan split the Heart-Eating Insect into a mother and offspring, then used Moonlight Stone Marrow to advance his cultivation and open more than half of his Ninth Main Meridian.
• Li Chuan learned that Yama’s ambush at Sinking Moon Valley had killed Wang Chonglou and left Elder Sun Hanhua seriously injured, while the Moonlight Stone Marrow had disappeared.
• Li Chuan heard about the Dragon Gate Formation, and Yama ordered Wang Chonglou’s corpse refined into a Great Restoration Pill.
• Bai Zhao paid Li Chuan his salary, and he joined her and Zhong Ziyin for tofu pudding before learning that the Nine Ghosts of Strange Waves had robbed a ship on her trade route.
• Li Chuan dismissed concerns about the nine bandits and went to the Boyang Waters, where he killed all nine with nine slashes.

Li Chuan defeated the Nine Ghosts of Strange Waves in nine strokes, ending rumors that he could unleash only one powerful attack and earning new respect throughout the Heavenly Blade Sect. After repaying Bai Zhao and reassuring her about her ship, he returned to train the Shadowless Blade Technique, while Cheng Xiuge reconsidered him as a formidable rival.

• Li Chuan collected the Nine Ghosts of Strange Waves’ valuables, told the gray-robed boy to report what happened, and crossed the water to shore.
• The gray-robed boy told Bai Zhao and Zhong Ziyin that Li Chuan had killed all nine bandits in nine strokes and returned the merchant ship’s cargo unharmed.
• News spread through the Heavenly Blade Sect, disproving the rumor that Li Chuan could perform only one powerful strike; Cheng Xiuge realized Li Chuan could sustain his strength but reassured himself that his cultivation lead remained.
• Li Chuan returned eighteen thousand taels to Bai Zhao and confirmed that her ship and cargo were safe; Bai Zhao declined to buy Osmanthus Cake and returned to the Bai Clan with money left over.
• Bai Ming offered to give Bai Zhao money, but she showed him her banknotes and walked away; Uncle Qian explained how Li Chuan had defeated the bandits, prompting Bai Ming to praise him.
• Li Chuan ate expensive Wild Ox meat and returned to his courtyard, determined to raise the Shadowless Blade Technique to Major Mastery.

Li Chuan advanced his Shadowless Blade Technique and learned to forage in the Boyang Waters after the sect sealed North Wild Mountain. With the Dragon Gate Formation approaching, he focused on cultivation and opened his ninth Main Meridian five days before the challenge.

• Li Chuan raised the Shadowless Blade Technique to Greater Mastery, then attended Guan Shan and Ye Fengmian’s meeting, where they discussed the Vajra Sect selection, the Yaoguang Demon Sect, and Dragon Gate Formation rewards.
• Li Chuan concealed his true skill and displayed only minor accomplishment in the Shadowless Blade Technique, impressing Guan Shan and unsettling Cheng Xiuge.
• After learning North Wild Mountain was sealed, Li Chuan took Bai Zhao’s Tidal Foraging Art, gathered valuable resources in the Boyang Waters, and continued taking mountain missions when the area reopened.
• Five days before the Dragon Gate Formation, Li Chuan used a Red Phoenix Pill and the Geng Metal Art to clear the final blockage and open his ninth Main Meridian.

After breaking through to Late Core Formation, Li Chuan tested his strength, defeated Yu Jing in a spar, and learned about Cheng Xiuge's abilities and the Dragon Gate Formation. He entered the formation alongside the other chief disciples and, in the second round, disarmed Cheng Xiuge with a Shadowless Blade Technique at Major Mastery.

• Li Chuan punched through a Refined Iron Stake and concluded that his new Geng Metal True Qi made him far stronger.
• Yu Jing returned after half a year of training and challenged Li Chuan, who defeated her with a single clash and asked her about Cheng Xiuge.
• Yu Jing explained that the chief disciples could earn a top-tier martial art by reaching Initiation in a day, and Li Chuan decided to seek that opportunity after the Dragon Gate Formation.
• Ye Fengmian announced the two-round Dragon Gate Formation, and Wan Ling, Cheng Xiuge, Li Chuan, and Li Jingci began the trial; Wan Ling reached the first platform first, followed by Cheng Xiuge, Li Chuan, and Li Jingci.
• In the second round, Cheng Xiuge attacked Li Chuan with Sound Severance, but Li Chuan blocked him and knocked his blade away, revealing his Shadowless Blade Technique had reached Major Mastery.

Li Chuan defeated Cheng Xiuge in the Dragon Gate Formation and earned second place, drawing attention from Heavenly Blade Sect’s leaders and rivals across Sanyuan Prefecture. After learning about the Vajra Sect selection and planning to improve his movement technique and Mysterious Origin Twin-Life Art, he received word that the master of Golden Bone Martial Hall wanted to negotiate with him again.

• Li Chuan used Golden Bell Shield, Phantom Shadow Step, and Shadowless Blade Technique to escape the wooden dummies, then cut through Cheng Xiuge’s hidden fist attack and finished second in the Dragon Gate Formation.
• Guan Shan and Ye Fengmian awarded Li Chuan a Dragon-Tiger Pill, while Cheng Xiuge and Li Jingci received Red Phoenix Pills; Guan Shan told Li Chuan to prepare for Vajra Sect’s selection and remain opposed to Demon Gate.
• Sun Hanhua warned Han Yi about Li Chuan, while Zhao Yan vowed to avenge his brother after receiving an envelope.
• Li Chuan decided to seek a new top-tier movement technique and cultivate the Mysterious Origin Twin-Life Art, then Song Yichen told him that the master of Golden Bone Martial Hall wanted to make him a sincere offer.

Li Chuan accepted a lucrative position from Gu Lianghong, refined the Dragon-Tiger Pill, and refused Jiang Ran’s dangerous offer to hunt the Five Snakes of Lingdong. Seeking a better movement technique, he chose the difficult Void-Gap Formless Step, and his first step astonished Ye Fengmian.

• Gu Lianghong offered Li Chuan a salary of four thousand taels per month to lend the Golden Bone Martial Hall his name and visit once every three months, and Li Chuan accepted.
• Li Chuan swallowed the Dragon-Tiger Pill and used its medicinal power to open thirty percent of his tenth Main Meridian.
• Jiang Ran invited Li Chuan to join an expedition against the Five Snakes of Lingdong, but Li Chuan refused because the risk was not worth the reward.
• Li Chuan visited Ye Fengmian to seek a top-tier movement technique and learned that he had to achieve initial mastery within a day to avoid a task.
• Ye Fengmian showed Li Chuan the Void-Gap Formless Step, a technique combining agility and explosive speed, and Li Chuan chose it despite its difficulty.
• Li Chuan contemplated the technique and took a single step that made Ye Fengmian’s pupils contract.

Li Chuan learned the basics of Void-Gap Formless Step and learned that winning the Heroes' Gathering could improve his root, while Zhong Ziyin warned him that Zhao Yan was investigating him. Zhao Yan resolved to avenge his brother by killing the suspects, but a mysterious attacker caught and beheaded him.

• Li Chuan quickly entered the beginner stage of Void-Gap Formless Step, impressing Elder Ye, who urged him to compete for the Heroes' Gathering and its Yellow Springs Molten Flame reward.
• Li Chuan set out a training plan, found that Qi Strengthening Pills were no longer sufficient, and learned from Zhong Ziyin about the other chief disciples and Han Tuo's rise.
• Zhao Yan showed Chu Xi the four suspects in his elder brother's death, including Li Chuan, and Chu Xi encouraged him to pursue vengeance regardless of the consequences.
• Zhong Ziyin warned Li Chuan that Zhao Yan had commissioned an investigation into him, and Li Chuan accepted the news calmly.
• Zhao Yan vowed at his elder brother's grave to kill the suspects and their loved ones, but a mysterious attacker pursued him and cut off his head.