Chapter Summaries

Wan Ling defeated Xu Ruiting and Wang Teng despite their use of the Blood Burning Secret Technique, then exhausted herself before Hou Jingzhao. Li Chuan fought Hou Jingzhao, severed his right arm, and forced him to his knees.

• Xu Ruiting used the Blood Burning Secret Technique to challenge Wan Ling, but she struck him down with her blade.
• Wang Teng used the Blood Burning Secret Technique against Wan Ling, but she defeated him with the Shadowless Blade Technique.
• Wan Ling prepared to face Hou Jingzhao while exhausted, but Li Chuan stepped in to fight him.
• Li Chuan repelled Hou Jingzhao's kick and overpowered his Mountain-Suppressing Fist with the Heavenly River Blade Technique.
• Li Chuan's Shadowless Blade Technique severed Hou Jingzhao's right arm, and he forced Hou Jingzhao to kneel.

Li Chuan defeated Hou Jingzhao and won the contest for the Heavenly Blade Sect, but the victory was interrupted by Wraith’s attack and a swarm of Heart-Eating Insects. As the others fled, Li Chuan killed Xu Ruiting and left with the ore map.

• Hou Jingzhao admitted defeat after Li Chuan cut off his arm, and the Heavenly Blade Sect celebrated its victory.
• Ding Chiyan gave Li Chuan the Mountain-Suppressing Fist Sect’s map of the Heavenly Treasure Ore veins, but a warning from the Heart-Eating Insect stopped Li Chuan from approaching it immediately.
• A black-robed Wraith emerged from the shrubs and attacked Ding Chiyan, prompting Ye Fengmian to pursue them while Heart-Eating Insects swarmed the valley.
• Li Chuan cleared a path for the Heavenly Blade Sect disciples, then realized the insects’ warning might have saved him from Wraith and picked up the map.
• Xu Ruiting begged Li Chuan for help, but Li Chuan killed him with a slash and left as the Heart-Eating Insects devoured his body.

After the Heart-Eating Insects attacked the fleeing sect disciples, Li Chuan returned to the Heavenly Blade Sect and received rewards for recovering the Heavenly Treasure Ore blueprint. He used Heavenly Horse Essence Blood to advance Golden Bell Shield to Silver Bone, while resolving to reach Gang Force as danger from the Demon Sect loomed.

• Ding Chiyan returned, destroyed the Heart-Eating Insect swarm, and told Wang Teng and Hou Jingzhao that he and Ye Fengmian had killed Wraith.
• Li Chuan reunited with Xiao Nianxue and the other Heavenly Blade Sect disciples, then learned from Ye Fengmian that Wraith had been slain and that he had recovered the ore blueprint.
• Zhu Zhongye announced rewards for the disciples and privately confirmed Li Chuan would receive the High-grade Treasure Weapon Moon-Hide, along with Heavenly Horse Essence Blood from Sect Master Guan.
• Li Chuan considered Wraith's threat, the Demon Sect's likely moves, and the unexplained reaction of the Heart-Eating Insect hidden in his arm.
• Li Chuan drank the Heavenly Horse Essence Blood, endured its effects, and transformed all 206 bones as Golden Bell Shield broke through to Silver Bone.

Li Chuan adapted to the Silver Bone transformation, took Xiao Nianxue to Listening Wind Tower, and learned that his victory over Hou Jingzhao had raised his standing. Shen Yanran enlisted his help to secure Nine-Yang Wood in exchange for High-grade Treasure Armor, while Sect Master Guan Shan discovered that Li Chuan had consumed an entire bottle of Heavenly Horse Essence Blood.

• Li Chuan crushed ironstone with his new strength, then practiced until he could balance atop eggs and control his transformed body.
• Xiao Nianxue told Li Chuan that the disciples had used their new treasured sabers to defeat the Mountain-Suppressing Fist Sect, and he took her to Listening Wind Tower for a meal.
• Li Chuan tore romance pages from Xiao Nianxue's Record of Jianghu Grudges, then learned from Song Yichen that he ranked fifth among the Six Elites of Sanyuan Prefecture.
• Shen Yanran offered Li Chuan High-grade Treasure Armor in exchange for his help acquiring Nine-Yang Wood and warned him that Chu Xi would be a formidable opponent.
• Sect Master Guan Shan praised Li Chuan for defeating Hou Jingzhao, then realized that Li Chuan had consumed the entire bottle of Heavenly Horse Essence Blood.

Li Chuan chose the Withered Wood Hiding Spring Art to conceal his strength, collected the high-grade treasured blade Moon-Hide, and trained the Shadowless Blade Technique with the True Explanation of Blade Dao, Lower Volume. After two months of practice, he broke through to the Extreme Realm.

• Guan Shan discovered that Li Chuan had forged Silver Bone, warned him about the upcoming Vajra Sect selection, and told him a Jiang Family heir would soon arrive in Sanyuan Prefecture.
• Li Chuan admitted to Zhao Ciyuan that he had invoked his name to avoid revealing his body-tempering art, then visited the Scripture Pavilion and chose the Withered Wood Hiding Spring Art.
• Li Chuan collected Moon-Hide from Zhu Zhongye and obtained the True Explanation of Blade Dao, Lower Volume from Bai Ming with Bai Zhao's help.
• After two months of secluded training, Li Chuan understood the Shadowless Blade Technique's Traceless Blade Momentum and advanced the technique to the Extreme Realm.

Li Chuan attended a tea gathering at the Cloud Wild Sword Sect, where the sects were to discuss a contest over Nine-Yang Wood and he hoped to meet Jiang Zhaowu about fierce beast blood essence. Guan Shan revealed that Patriarch Heavenly Blade Ascendant might still be alive, and the chapter ended as Jiang Zhaowu arrived at the gathering.

• Li Chuan perfected his Trace-Free Blade Technique and received Shen Yanran’s invitation to the Cloud Wild Sword Sect’s tea gathering.
• Guan Shan took Li Chuan to the gathering, then learned that Li Chuan had been invited to help Shen Yanran face Chu Xi in the dispute over Nine-Yang Wood.
• Guan Shan told Li Chuan that Patriarch Heavenly Blade Ascendant had not actually died and warned him to keep the secret.
• Yan Zhiqiu escorted Guan Shan and Li Chuan to the gathering, where they met Xiao Nishang, Song Qinghuan, Shen Yanran, Han Tuo, and Chu Xi.
• Jiang Zhaowu arrived with an elder from the Jiang Family, making no greeting to the three sect masters.

At the tea gathering, Jiang Zhaowu insulted Xiao Nishang’s disciple, while Jiang Xuange announced a contest for Nine-Yang Wood and offered Scarlet Kite Essence Blood as a prize. Shen Yanran enlisted Li Chuan to face Chu Xi, and Li Chuan demonstrated his strength by killing a Crimson Night Tiger with one punch as they entered the Devouring Bone Black Marsh.

• Jiang Zhaowu knocked over a Cloud Wild Sword Sect disciple and refused to explain himself, prompting Jiang Xuange to compensate her and Xiao Nishang to let the gathering continue.
• Jiang Xuange announced that Jiang Zhaowu would challenge Sanyuan Prefecture’s Six Elites, with three bottles of Scarlet Kite Essence Blood promised to anyone who defeated him.
• Song Qinghuan explained that the sects would compete to kill the Mountain-Crushing Bull guarding the Nine-Yang Wood, and Shen Yanran later named Li Chuan as her partner against Chu Xi.
• Jiang Zhaowu showed interest in Chu Xi, while Li Chuan and Shen Yanran traveled toward the Devouring Bone Black Marsh and discussed how to locate the Nine-Yang Wood.
• Shen Yanran used her Flying Kite Puppets to scout the marsh, and Li Chuan chose to confront a Crimson Night Tiger blocking their route.
• Li Chuan unleashed a terrifying aura and killed the Crimson Night Tiger with one punch, leaving Shen Yanran astonished by his strength.

Li Chuan and Shen Yanran hunted their way toward the Nine-Yang Wood, revealing more of their abilities before separating to evade a pack of Gale Wolves. Li Chuan was then surrounded by the Heaven-Mixing Eight, whose leader carried a Jade Void Flower worth thirty thousand taels, and Li Chuan declared that it suited him.

• Li Chuan killed a Crimson Night Tiger with one punch, then reflected that forging his Silver Bone had greatly strengthened him and that the Golden Bell Shield could improve further.
• Shen Yanran bound a Toad Leopard with Finger-Circling Softness, and the Wooden Kite killed it with a volley of needles; she gave the carcass to Li Chuan.
• Li Chuan and Shen Yanran saw Chu Xi kill a Crimson Night Tiger with two sword strikes, then spotted leaves from the Nine-Yang Wood and hurried toward it.
• A pack of red-eyed Gale Wolves charged, so Li Chuan and Shen Yanran split up; Shen Yanran went ahead while Li Chuan outmaneuvered the wolves.
• Four members of the Heaven-Mixing Eight surrounded Li Chuan and demanded his bundles and blade, while their leader displayed a Jade Void Flower worth thirty thousand taels.
• Li Chuan told the bandit leader that the Jade Void Flower had an affinity with him.

Li Chuan defeated the Eight Evils of Huntian, took the Jade Void Flower and the Wild Beast Art, then got lost while trying to catch up with Shen Yanran. Shen Yanran and Chu Xi fought over the Nine-Yang Wood and the Mountain-Crushing Bull until Li Chuan arrived and killed the beast with a single blade strike.

• Li Chuan killed the handsome man and his three axe-wielding underlings, then took the Jade Void Flower and discovered the Wild Beast Art among their belongings.
• Li Chuan burned the Wild Beast Art, had the Heart-Eating Insects consume the bodies, and set off to find Shen Yanran, while Chu Xi passed through the site and sensed a threatening aura.
• Shen Yanran found the Nine-Yang Wood and fought the Mountain-Crushing Bull, using her threads and Mechanism Crossbow to wear it down as she waited for Li Chuan.
• Chu Xi arrived and attacked the Mountain-Crushing Bull, while Shen Yanran interfered to keep her from claiming the kill.
• Chu Xi forced Shen Yanran aside and prepared to finish the wounded beast, but Li Chuan appeared and cut off the Mountain-Crushing Bull's head with his blade.

Li Chuan used his Trace-Free Blade Force to help Shen Yanran defeat Chu Xi and claim the Nine-Yang Wood, stunning the Cloud Wild Sword Sect gathering and changing how the younger generation viewed him. Back at his courtyard, he counted his spoils and realized he could soon repay Bai Ming for the Lower Volume of the Explanation of Blade Dao.

• Li Chuan revealed his Trace-Free Blade Force and helped Shen Yanran defeat Chu Xi, who accepted her loss and recognized Li Chuan's skill.
• Shen Yanran uprooted the Nine-Yang Wood and promised to deliver Li Chuan's High-grade Treasure Armor after they returned.
• Chu Xi told the gathering that Li Chuan had struck down the Mountain-Crushing Bull, and his mastery of two Blade Forces shocked the sects and their guests.
• Guan Shan left with Li Chuan, defended him against Xiao Nishang's earlier inaction, and eagerly asked to see the book of poems Li Chuan described.
• Li Chuan returned to his courtyard, counted his spoils worth fifty-three thousand taels, and considered using the money to repay Bai Ming for the Lower Volume of the Explanation of Blade Dao.

Li Chuan repaid the Bai Clan, prepared for the Heroes' Gathering, and received armor from Shen Yanran while seeking fierce beast essence blood to improve his Golden Bell Shield. Meanwhile, Chu Xi resolved to pursue Li Chuan as Zhao Yan's suspected killer despite Yan Zhiqiu's warning, and Song Yichen returned with news about Li Chuan's request to Jiang Zhaowu.

• Li Chuan sold materials at the Treasure Pavilion, then repaid Bai Ming thirty thousand taels for the True Explanation of Blade Dao; Bai Ming and Fu Yun discussed using a favor to support Li Chuan's future cultivation.
• At the Cloud Wild Sword Sect, Chu Xi argued with Yan Zhiqiu over investigating Zhao Yan's death and left determined to kill Li Chuan if necessary.
• Li Chuan read the Jianghu Gazette, accepted Song Yichen's help handling visitors, and kept the three thousand taels Song Yichen had collected as payment for his work.
• Shen Yanran sent Li Chuan a Heavenly Net treasure armor, which he tested and found highly protective.
• Li Chuan decided to seek Scarlet Kite Essence Blood from Jiang Zhaowu to raise Golden Bell Shield before the Heroes' Gathering, and sent Song Yichen with a letter.
• Song Yichen returned two hours later with good news about Li Chuan's request.

Li Chuan killed Chu Xi after she ambushed him at Zhao Yan’s grave, then Jiang Zhaowu found her body and attacked Li Chuan with a Mountain-Shaking Pellet. The blast left Li Chuan unharmed, and Jiang Zhaowu faced the black-robed figure as it turned toward him.

• Song Yichen brought Li Chuan Jiang Zhaowu’s letter, which offered Scarlet Kite Essence Blood for one hundred thousand taels per bottle because Chu Xi disliked Li Chuan.
• Yan Zhiqiu learned that Chu Xi intended to leave the sect and kill Li Chuan, while Jiang Zhaowu eagerly set out to find Chu Xi at Zhao Yan’s grave.
• Chu Xi mourned Zhao Yan and resolved to kill Li Chuan before the Heroes’ Gathering, but Li Chuan ambushed her with a concealed weapon.
• Chu Xi fought Li Chuan with the Lone Moon Sword Force, but Li Chuan revealed his full strength and killed her.
• Jiang Zhaowu found Chu Xi’s body, hurled a Mountain-Shaking Pellet at Li Chuan, and saw that the black-robed figure survived the blast unharmed.

Li Chuan killed Jiang Zhaowu after surviving his Mountain-Shaking Pellet attack, then used Gale Wolves to erase the evidence and make the deaths of Jiang Zhaowu and Chu Xi appear to be a beast attack. As the Cloud Wild Sword Sect and the Jiang Family clashed over the news, Li Chuan returned to his courtyard and drank Scarlet Kite Essence Blood.

• Jiang Zhaowu attacked Li Chuan, who severed his arm and demanded a million taels for his life.
• Jiang Zhaowu tried to flee, but Li Chuan stabbed him through the heart and took three bottles of Scarlet Kite Essence Blood.
• Li Chuan used the Wild Beast Art to make Gale Wolves devour Jiang Zhaowu and remove the evidence.
• Xiao Nishang and Yan Zhiqiu discovered clues that Chu Xi had died, then learned that Jiang Zhaowu had also gone missing.
• Jiang Xuange confronted Xiao Nishang, who blamed Jiang Zhaowu for Chu Xi's death and refused to back down.
• The Jianghu Gazette reported that Chu Xi and Jiang Zhaowu had died in a Gale Wolf attack, and Li Chuan secretly drank Scarlet Kite Essence Blood.

Li Chuan refined Scarlet Kite Essence Blood to advance his Golden Bell Shield training and declined Xiao Nianxue’s offer of a Grade-A Training Room. Guan Shan invited him to a tea gathering for other prefectures’ prodigies, where Li Chuan learned that Sun-Day Red Gold Sand might appear in Haixing Prefecture.

• Li Chuan refined Scarlet Kite Essence Blood, raising his Golden Bell Shield proficiency and estimating he could reach the Internal Organs stage before the Heroes’ Gathering.
• Li Chuan guided Xiao Nianxue’s Heavenly River Blade Technique and noted that her movements seemed better suited to swordsmanship.
• Xiao Nianxue offered Li Chuan her half-month Grade-A Training Room token, but he refused and asked her to seek his guidance regularly.
• Li Chuan refined another bottle of Scarlet Kite Essence Blood and brought his Golden Bell Shield proficiency to 1829/3000.
• Guan Shan invited Li Chuan to a tea gathering with visiting Heavenly Prodigies and told him that Sun-Day Red Gold Sand might appear in Haixing Prefecture.
• Li Chuan recognized Sun-Day Red Gold Sand as an Earth Treasure that could help forge Red Bright Geng Metal True Qi and wondered if it was the opportunity he had awaited.

Li Chuan attended a tea gathering at the Cloud Wild Sword Sect, where he learned that Earth Treasures might soon appear in Emerald Mist Ridge, including the Sun-Day Red Gold Sand he needed. He resolved to pursue the Yellow Springs Molten Flame at the upcoming Heroes' Gathering so he could improve his Root Bone and reach Gang Force, then began preparing for seclusion.

• Guan Shan defended Li Chuan when Yan Zhiqiu questioned him about Chu Xi's death, and Yan revealed that people from Haixing Prefecture might have been behind the Gale Wolves' attack.
• Li Chuan and Guan Shan joined Xiao Nishang's gathering, where they met Haixing Prefecture's Gang Force talents Zhao Guangyao and Cui Qiongyu and heard about the treasures appearing in Emerald Mist Ridge.
• Li Chuan learned that Sun-Day Red Gold Sand might appear soon and realized he needed to reach Gang Force to compete for it.
• Li Chuan decided to rely on the Yellow Springs Molten Flame at the Heroes' Gathering to raise his Root Bone and speed his breakthrough.
• Li Chuan entered seclusion with two bottles of Scarlet Kite Essence Blood, intending to train the Golden Bell Shield to the Five Viscera and Six Bowels stage.

Li Chuan used the last of his Scarlet Kite Essence Blood to advance Golden Bell Shield to the five viscera and six bowels stage, then learned that the Vajra Sect would investigate Jiang Zhaowu’s death. At the Heroes’ Gathering hosted by the Heavenly Blade Sect, Han Yi arrived after reportedly touching Spear Intent, setting up a contest with Li Chuan whose outcome had not yet been decided.

• Li Chuan refined Scarlet Kite Essence Blood until Golden Bell Shield advanced to the five viscera and six bowels stage, strengthening his internal organs and demonstrating his increased power with a slash through Black-Gold Dark Iron.
• Guan Shan told Li Chuan that the Vajra Sect would send an elder to investigate Jiang Zhaowu’s death, but said the visit was unlikely to affect the Heavenly Blade Sect.
• Guan Shan encouraged Li Chuan to do his best at the upcoming Heroes’ Gathering, while Li Chuan reflected on the pressure the competition’s results placed on the sect’s resource share and future.
• Li Chuan joined Cheng Xiuge, Li Jingci, and Wan Ling at the Martial Arts Arena as the Heavenly Blade Sect prepared to host the gathering and leaders of the major factions arrived.
• Han Yi arrived late and apologized, while Lei Shouren explained that his disciple had been practicing; other disciples then whispered that Han Yi had vaguely touched Spear Intent and looked toward Li Chuan as his rival.

Fu Yun and Bai Ming attended the Heroes' Gathering, where Bai Ming declared his confidence in Li Chuan before the competitors drew lots and the first matches began. Han Yi defeated Hou Jingzhao with a single spear thrust, while Shen Yanran yielded to Li Chuan after his effortless counters revealed his growing strength.

• Prefect Fu Yun and Bai Ming arrived at the Heroes' Gathering, and Bai Ming said he had come to watch Li Chuan seize the crown.
• Guan Shan announced the Yellow Springs Molten Flame as the first-place prize and explained that the five competitors would draw lots for one-on-one duels.
• Han Tuo drew a bye, while Han Yi drew Hou Jingzhao and Li Chuan drew Shen Yanran.
• Hou Jingzhao attacked Han Yi with his Mountain-Suppressing Fist, but Han Yi pierced through the attack with a basic spear thrust and won.
• Shen Yanran's Finger-Circling Softness and Nine Yang Wood-enhanced wooden kite failed to trouble Li Chuan, so she yielded.

Shen Yanran conceded to Li Chuan, then defeated Hou Jingzhao to claim fourth place. Li Chuan drew a bye into the final, where he was set to face Han Tuo after Han Tuo decisively defeated Han Yi.

• Shen Yanran conceded to Li Chuan, explaining that his strength made her chances of winning too small, and said she hoped to see more of his ability when he claimed the crown.
• Shen Yanran trapped Hou Jingzhao with Finger-Circling Softness and defeated him with the Wooden Kite, securing fourth place.
• Han Yi and Li Chuan drew for the second round, and Li Chuan received the bye that advanced him directly to the final.
• Han Tuo cut Han Yi's spear in half with the Lone Moon Sword Art and won their second-round match.
• After the quarter-hour rest, Han Tuo and Li Chuan stepped onto the stage to contend for the championship.

Li Chuan overturned everyone’s expectations by matching Han Tuo’s swordsmanship and withstanding his full-power attack. The smoke cleared to reveal Han Tuo disarmed and collapsed while Li Chuan remained standing, leaving the duel’s outcome apparent.

• Spectators doubted Li Chuan could last long against Han Tuo, while Shen Yanran sensed Li Chuan was more dangerous than his opponent.
• Li Chuan parried Han Tuo’s opening strike without giving ground, forcing Han Tuo to recognize his strength.
• Han Tuo used Full Moon over the Western Tower, but Li Chuan countered with Profound Nether True Qi and sent him retreating with blood at his mouth.
• Han Tuo unleashed both strands of True Qi in another Full Moon over the Western Tower, and Li Chuan met the attack with the Golden Bell Shield and Five Viscera and Six Bowels Realm.
• After the clash, Han Tuo’s sword lay at the arena’s edge as he sat collapsed, while Li Chuan stood unyielding opposite him.

Li Chuan defeated Han Tuo to win the Heroes' Gathering, earning the Yellow Springs Molten Flame and securing the Heavenly Blade Sect a larger share of Sanyuan Prefecture's resources. After escaping an awkward encounter beneath a banyan tree, he consumed the flame and broke through to a Sixth Grade Root.

• Li Chuan defeated Han Tuo, and the Heavenly Blade Sect celebrated his victory as the new foremost figure among Sanyuan Prefecture's younger generation.
• Guan Shan announced the final rankings and divided the prefecture's resources, awarding the Heavenly Blade Sect forty percent and Li Chuan the Yellow Springs Molten Flame.
• Li Chuan avoided the factions seeking to meet him and encountered Bai Zhao and Xiao Nianxue beneath a banyan tree, where they fled from a giant cockroach.
• Guan Shan told Li Chuan that a wind-aspected Five-Colored Flowing Wind had appeared in Haixing Prefecture and explained the difficulty of breaking through to Gang Force.
• Li Chuan swallowed the Yellow Springs Molten Flame and rapidly opened his root, reaching Sixth Grade.