Chapter Summaries

True Person Mountain Mover praised Shen Changchuan’s tournament victory and regretted that he and Qianyuan had too little time left to guide him toward the Mystic Core Realm. He gave Shen Changchuan a pendant, whose stone he recognized as a fragment of an Enlightenment Stone.

• True Person Mountain Mover saw through Shen Changchuan’s abilities and praised his rise from the Tiannan Region and his victory over Lin Wushuang.
• Hou Ping was surprised by True Person Mountain Mover’s unusual praise and felt envious of Shen Changchuan.
• True Person Mountain Mover explained that he and Qianyuan lacked the time and energy to guide Shen Changchuan or support his cultivation further.
• True Person Mountain Mover gave Shen Changchuan a pendant and urged him to advance fearlessly.
• Shen Changchuan recognized the pendant’s ordinary-looking gray stone as a fragment of an Enlightenment Stone.

Shen Changchuan went to the Immortal Sect's Scripture Pavilion to find spells that might help him comprehend the True Intent of Time and returned to his cave abode to test his idea. He left determined to strengthen his combat power and begin verifying whether related spells could lower the threshold for grasping true intent.

• Shen Changchuan declined Hou Ping's offer to escort him and accepted a Message Talisman before leaving Ten Thousand Blade Peak.
• On the way to the Scripture Pavilion, Shen Changchuan worried that the methods revealed in the grand competition could be used to target him and resolved to improve his strength.
• Shen Changchuan considered how comprehending true intent could improve his safety and enable Heaven Path Foundation Establishment, though reaching ten percent true intent seemed daunting.
• Shen Changchuan entered the Scripture Pavilion with his Inner Sect Prodigy Token and selected thirty second-tier spells related to his Longevity Sword's Embryonic True Intent.
• Shen Changchuan returned safely to his cave abode, activated its sealing formation, and shut himself inside to test his idea.

Shen Changchuan discovered that the pendant from True Person Mountain Mover contained a genuine Enlightenment Stone fragment and used it to study the Ten Thousand Paths Map. He began to comprehend the Embryonic True Intent of Time for the Longevity Sword, but stopped when he realized the fragment was being rapidly consumed, leaving him to weigh its cost.

• Shen Changchuan confirmed that the pendant was a true Enlightenment Stone fragment whose comprehension-enhancing effect surpassed the Jade Platform he had used before.
• Shen Changchuan wondered how True Person Mountain Mover had obtained the fragment, then set aside his suspicions and focused on using it.
• Shen Changchuan activated the Enlightenment Stone and studied the Ten Thousand Paths Map for three days.
• Shen Changchuan gained insight into the map's Dao resonance and the embryonic form of True Intent, including the Embryonic True Intent of Time for the Longevity Sword.
• Shen Changchuan stopped his study after sensing that mastering the True Intent would nearly consume the Enlightenment Stone fragment, and questioned whether the tradeoff was worthwhile.

Shen Changchuan chose not to consume his Enlightenment Stone Fragment, instead strengthening his foundation by perfecting spells to prepare to comprehend the True Intent of Time. After a month of cultivating thirty-plus spells, he detected a slight movement in the Ten Thousand Paths Map, confirming his approach, though he estimated it could take at least five years.

• Shen Changchuan decided to save the Enlightenment Stone Fragment and rely on cultivating related spells to lower the threshold for comprehending true intent.
• He severed his connection to the fragment's internal power, stored the Ten Thousand Paths Map, and focused on spells borrowed from the Immortal Sect's Scripture Pavilion.
• Over the next month, Shen Changchuan perfected thirty-plus mostly second-rank spells and gained experience with their perfected traits.
• Shen Changchuan studied the Ten Thousand Paths Map without the pendant and sensed its profound lines moving faintly.
• He concluded that perfecting related spells could help him comprehend the True Intent of Time, but estimated that reaching the beginner level would take at least five years.

Shen Changchuan realized that mastering the Power of Space alone would not be enough for the upcoming Joint Grand Competition, so he revised his training plan to accelerate his study of spells with the Enlightenment Stone. After ending his seclusion, he sparred with Hou Ping to test himself against a Spirit Wandering Realm prodigy, and the fight began with Shen Changchuan appearing behind him at extraordinary speed.

• Shen Changchuan judged that he needed two or three years at most to master True Intent and develop techniques capable of competing with the strongest young cultivators.
• He decided to use the Enlightenment Stone Fragment to improve his comprehension and perfect hundreds of related spells, leveraging his Progress Bar Panel to speed up later cultivation.
• After cultivating all thirty borrowed techniques, Shen Changchuan left seclusion to return them and meet Hou Ping, who had invited him to explore the area around Ten Thousand Blade Peak.
• Three days later, Shen Changchuan asked Hou Ping to spar so he could temper his skills and gauge the gap between them.
• Shen Changchuan used the Void-Stepping Technique to appear silently behind Hou Ping, who recognized his exceptional speed and prepared a counter.

Shen Changchuan tested his Void-Stepping Technique against Hou Ping and learned how greatly a Spirit Wandering Realm prodigy’s speed, reactions, and True Intent outweighed his advantages. Encouraged by Hou Ping’s praise, he launched a new attack with five Space Clones, and Hou Ping finally began to respond.

• Hou Ping countered Shen Changchuan’s teleporting strike with a True Intent-infused attack that nearly broke through his spatial defense.
• Hou Ping explained that fast attacks and soul-locking could overcome Shen Changchuan’s movement, while Shen realized his technique was better suited to escape or harass from a distance than to fight at close range.
• Hou Ping praised Shen Changchuan’s mastery of spatial power and said he would be difficult to catch if he focused on fleeing.
• Shen Changchuan asked to continue training and created five Space Clones that attacked Hou Ping with interwoven Space Slashes.
• Hou Ping unleashed blazing earthy-yellow radiance and sword intent as a colossal mountain phantom appeared around him.

After a year of repeatedly perfecting second-tier spells, Shen Changchuan amassed deep foundations and came within one step of comprehending True Intent. He considered trying third-tier spells to see whether their perfected traits could carry him across the threshold without using an Enlightenment Stone Fragment.

• Shen Changchuan lost his sparring match against Hou Ping and learned that he should flee from enemies above the third level of the Spirit Wandering Realm.
• Shen Changchuan returned to secluded cultivation and spent a year borrowing spells from the Immortal Sect's Scripture Pavilion and perfecting them with the Enlightenment Stone Fragment.
• Shen Changchuan perfected more than eighteen hundred second-tier and top-grade second-tier spells, gaining enough foundation to master related spells quickly.
• Shen Changchuan's accumulated perfect-spell traits brought him within one step of entering True Intent.
• Shen Changchuan decided to explore third-tier spells to test whether perfecting one could help him cross the final threshold without spending an Enlightenment Stone Fragment.

Shen Changchuan reached the peak of the Ninth Level of the Out-of-Body Realm and began considering preparations for advancing to the Spirit Wandering Realm. Situ Yuan visited to warn him that the war in Southern Yue had turned against Master Roaming Dragon and his disciples, leaving Shen Changchuan worried about his fellow disciples.

• Shen Changchuan reflected on his rapid cultivation progress and decided to explore third-rank spells while preparing for advancement to the Spirit Wandering Realm.
• Shen Changchuan left his cave abode and found Situ Yuan waiting outside.
• Shen Changchuan coldly rejected Situ Yuan, whom he regarded as a traitor to Ten Thousand Blade Peak, and secretly prepared to contact Hou Ping if needed.
• Situ Yuan reported that demonic forces had launched an all-out counterattack in Southern Yue, Master Roaming Dragon was struggling, and one disciple had died.
• Situ Yuan said the Immortal Sect would likely avoid intervening unless Master Roaming Dragon's plans failed completely, then departed.
• Shen Changchuan worried about Senior Brother Hong Yang, Senior Sister Wei, Senior Brother Wu Tianhao, and the others in Southern Yue.

After learning that the Nether Sect had entered Southern Yue’s conflict, Shen Changchuan worried about his master and senior companions but decided to strengthen himself and investigate cautiously. He headed to the Immortal Sect’s Scripture Pavilion to pursue True Intent before traveling south.

• Shen Changchuan considered the Nether Sect’s strength and feared that Southern Yue’s situation was more dangerous than Situ Yuan had suggested.
• He worried about Senior Brother Hong Yang, Senior Sister Wei, Senior Brother Wu Tianhao, and his master, Roaming Dragon, who were connected to the conflict in Southern Yue.
• Shen Changchuan suspected Situ Yuan might be drawing him into a scheme and resolved to proceed carefully when he reached Southern Yue.
• He decided to grasp True Intent and improve his combat strength before setting out, believing he could do more on the battlefield that way.
• Shen Changchuan flew to the Immortal Sect’s Scripture Pavilion, returned his borrowed jade slips, and headed toward the teleportation array to the third floor.

Shen Changchuan learned that third-tier spells required Spirit Wandering Realm cultivation methods and could not be cultivated at his current level. He returned to his secluded cave residence determined to focus on mastering more second-tier spells and reaching entry-level True Intent.

• The Scripture Pavilion deacon criticized Shen Changchuan for borrowing so many spells and advised him to master only a few methods.
• Shen Changchuan borrowed several dozen top-grade second-tier spells using his Inner Sect Prodigy Token, without explaining his Progress Bar Panel.
• Shen Changchuan recalled that third-tier spells required Spirit Wandering Realm-level power and cultivation methods, which made them impossible for him to cultivate yet.
• Shen Changchuan decided to pursue True Intent by perfecting more second-tier spells and later using the Enlightenment Stone Fragment and Ten Thousand Paths Map.
• Shen Changchuan hurried back to his secluded cave residence, excited that entry-level True Intent was close.

Hou Ping warned Shen Changchuan that Situ Yuan might have lured him into a trap with news of trouble in Southern Yue, and urged him not to leave Ten Thousand Blade Peak rashly. Shen Changchuan agreed to prepare carefully before acting, while Hou Ping offered to help him gather news and asked whether he needed assistance with his spell studies.

• Hou Ping waited for Shen Changchuan and explained that he had hurried over after sensing Situ Yuan's aura, fearing the traitor might harm him.
• Shen Changchuan told Hou Ping that Situ Yuan had reported trouble in Southern Yue involving Martial Uncle Roaming Dragon and Shen Changchuan's fellow disciples.
• Hou Ping warned Shen Changchuan that Situ Yuan could be plotting against him and urged him to consider that Roaming Dragon might have refused support because he had his own plan.
• Shen Changchuan assured Hou Ping that he would not act impulsively, and Hou Ping offered to ask around for news while advising him to remain on Ten Thousand Blade Peak.
• Hou Ping asked whether he could help with Shen Changchuan's cultivation after hearing that he had borrowed nearly two thousand spells from the Scripture Pavilion; Shen Changchuan realized he did need the senior brother's help with something.

Shen Changchuan sparred with Hou Ping to test his strength after a year of cultivating spells. Hou Ping was shocked to learn Shen Changchuan had perfected around eighteen hundred second-tier spells in that time, while Shen Changchuan reflected that he still could not master a third-tier spell.

• Shen Changchuan asked Hou Ping to spar, and Hou Ping agreed, thinking the fight might make Shen Changchuan cautious about going to the lands of Southern Yue.
• Shen Changchuan and Hou Ping flew to an uninhabited wilderness and fought for half an hour.
• After the spar, Hou Ping asked whether Shen Changchuan had perfected the two thousand second-tier spells rumored to have been borrowed from the Immortal Sect's Scripture Pavilion.
• Shen Changchuan clarified that he had perfected around eighteen hundred spells in a year, shocking Hou Ping.
• Shen Changchuan explained that he had a talent for spell cultivation, then recalled that he had been unable to grasp a third-tier spell and compared himself unfavorably to Lin Wushuang.

Shen Changchuan learned from Hou Ping why Lin Wushuang could use a Third-Tier Heterodox Method, while recognizing that his own Progress Bar Panel could not overcome the requirements for orthodox Third-Tier spells. He set aside the pursuit of such spells and returned to his cave abode to begin his final secluded cultivation.

• Shen Changchuan reflected on the limits of the Progress Bar Panel after realizing he could not meet the prerequisites for cultivating Third-Tier spells.
• Hou Ping warned Shen Changchuan not to call his remarkable spell talent modest and explained that an Immortal Sect Old Ancestor had planned Lin Wushuang's cultivation path from the start.
• Hou Ping explained that Lin Wushuang's bloodline-powered Third-Tier technique was a Heterodox Method, which relied on different conditions from orthodox spells.
• Hou Ping considered asking about an advanced Eternal Wood Scripture secret technique but kept the thought to himself.
• Shen Changchuan decided to focus on perfecting his Second-Tier spells and pursuing True Intent, then began his final secluded cultivation after Hou Ping departed.

After a month of cultivation, Shen Changchuan crossed the threshold of True Intent and comprehended the True Intent of Time. He confirmed the progress panel recorded his comprehension at 1.1 percent and began testing its power, while recognizing he still had a long way to go.

• Shen Changchuan released his newly comprehended True Intent of Time, causing everything around him to decay into dust.
• Shen Changchuan checked the progress panel and confirmed it listed Time True Intent at 1.1 percent.
• Shen Changchuan considered ways to improve his True Intent before reaching the Spirit Wandering Realm and reminded himself that other cultivators had mastered it too.
• Shen Changchuan gathered the True Intent of Time around his palm and demonstrated how it reduced exposed rock to dust.

Shen Changchuan tested his newly comprehended True Intent of Time and found that, despite its short range and heavy soul-power cost, it could potentially break through the defenses of Spirit Wandering Realm experts. He left the wilderness with the power as his strongest killing method and a substantial increase in strength.

• Shen Changchuan examined the True Intent of Time’s ability to rapidly age and destroy stone, then considered how he might use it in combat.
• Shen Changchuan devised a close-range attack strategy that combined the True Intent of Time with his spatial power and Void-Stepping Technique.
• Shen Changchuan practiced in a remote mountain forest, withering the trees and soil across several miles as he tested the True Intent’s range and effects.
• Shen Changchuan found that the True Intent was most effective within about ten feet, required time to mobilize, and consumed substantial soul power, but could potentially kill a Spirit Wandering Realm cultivator with a direct hit.
• Shen Changchuan concluded that the True Intent of Time surpassed his Power of Space as a killing method and greatly improved his ability to threaten powerful opponents.

After refining the True Intent of Time, Shen Changchuan prepared to seek further cultivation knowledge and strengthen himself before traveling to Southern Yue. At the Scripture Pavilion, members of the Dao Seeking Society challenged him to rematch Xuan Tianxing in seven days.

• Shen Changchuan spent several days integrating the True Intent of Time into his combat methods and believed he could now better counter Lin Wushuang.
• He considered how Xuan Tianxing and Lin Wushuang had used their True Intent to affect the void, then sent Hou Ping a message asking to visit him.
• Shen Changchuan resolved to keep cultivating spells and accumulating perfect-trait experience to advance his True Intent toward the ten-percent requirement for Heaven Path Foundation Establishment.
• He flew to the Jade Clarity Immortal Sect's Scripture Pavilion to study third-rank spells and information on the Heterodox Method before setting out for Southern Yue.
• Members of the Dao Seeking Society delivered a challenge letter on Xuan Tianxing's behalf, demanding a rematch with Shen Changchuan on the inner sect arena seven days later.

Xuan Tianxing asked Xuan Daoji to help him comprehend true intent and defeat Shen Changchuan after Shen shattered his belief in the power of family backing. A month later, Xuan Daoji mastered Starry Sky True Intent and sent the Dao Seeking Society to intercept Shen, who faced the group without knowing why they had come.

• Xuan Tianxing raged to Xuan Daoji that Shen Changchuan’s tournament victory had destroyed his invincible momentum.
• Xuan Tianxing begged Xuan Daoji to help him comprehend true intent and defeat Shen, and Xuan Daoji agreed, calling it the last time he would help.
• A month earlier, Xuan Daoji comprehended Starry Sky True Intent and vowed to crush Shen Changchuan.
• Xuan Daoji ordered the Dao Seeking Society to intercept Shen Changchuan and challenge him.
• Shen Changchuan recognized the Dao Seeking Society among the men before him and saw Cen Yuantong hiding near the back.

At the Immortal Sect's Scripture Pavilion, Shen Changchuan refused Xuan Tianxing's challenge and openly dismissed the Dao Seeking Society. As its members prepared to respond, Shen Changchuan released a terrifying aura that swept over them.

• Shen Changchuan recognized Cen Yuantong among the Dao Seeking Society members but ignored him and faced their leader.
• The leader delivered Xuan Tianxing's challenge for a rematch seven days later, drawing a crowd that speculated about the upcoming fight.
• Shen Changchuan refused the challenge letter, saying he had no interest in fighting an opponent he had already defeated.
• When the Dao Seeking Society members accused him of looking down on their president, Shen Changchuan admitted that he did.
• The Dao Seeking Society members grew furious, and Shen Changchuan unleashed a terrifying aura that enveloped the area.

Shen Changchuan intimidated the Dao Seeking Society members who confronted him, then ignored Xuan Tianxing’s challenge and continued studying spells and Spirit Wandering Realm records in the Immortal Sect’s Scripture Pavilion. While rumors turned the inner sect against him, he learned that he could not use third-tier spells yet and found no records of the Heterodox Methods Hou Ping had mentioned.

• Shen Changchuan froze the Dao Seeking Society members with his pressure and walked past them without fighting.
• The crowd discussed Xuan Tianxing’s challenge and his new understanding of True Intent, while the Dao Seeking Society members slipped away.
• Shen Changchuan entered the Immortal Sect’s Scripture Pavilion, collected second-floor spells linked to the True Intent of Time, and searched the third floor for Spirit Wandering Realm knowledge and Heterodox Methods.
• Rumors portraying Shen Changchuan as a lucky coward spread through the inner sect, apparently pushed by hidden hands.
• After three days of study, Shen Changchuan confirmed he could not cultivate third-tier spells without a Spirit Wandering Realm method and found no Heterodox Methods in the pavilion.

Shen Changchuan learned that Heterodox Methods depended on specialized cultivation methods and decided to focus on perfecting second-tier spells instead of pursuing third-tier ones. He then realized he could browse spells in the Scripture Pavilion and add them directly to his Progress Bar Panel without borrowing jade slips.

• Shen Changchuan discovered that Heterodox Methods were bound to their source cultivation methods and could not be stored in the Scripture Pavilion.
• After three days of investigation, Shen Changchuan abandoned his plan to cultivate third-tier spells and chose to accumulate perfected experience by mastering second-tier spells.
• Shen Changchuan left the Scripture Pavilion, regretting that he could borrow only thirty jade slips at a time.
• Shen Changchuan realized he could simply browse spells in the Scripture Pavilion and simulate them to add them to his Progress Bar Panel.
• Shen Changchuan became excited at the prospect of recording spells from the Scripture Pavilion's vast collection for later cultivation.