Recaps

Chen Changming learned that the Star Tracing Backflow would emerge within a year, then witnessed a confrontation between Great Compassion Temple and Nine Heavens Sword Sect over the temple sheltering Xie Lingyun. The dispute escalated when a powerful sword cultivator threatened an assault, leaving the two sects on the brink of conflict.

• Master Ziling told Chen Changming that signs of the Star Tracing Backflow had appeared and advised him against going there, but Chen said he had to go.
• A group of Nine Heavens Sword Sect disciples damaged Great Compassion Temple's wall and demanded that the temple hand over Xie Lingyun.
• Master Ziling explained that Xie Lingyun had become a lay devotee, then ordered the disciples to leave and swept them back with a gale.
• A sixth-layer Nascent Soul Realm sword cultivator arrived, accused Master Ziling of shielding Xie Lingyun, and threatened to attack Great Compassion Temple.
• Master Ziling invited the sword cultivator to try, as Nascent Soul Realm onlookers watched the sects approach a fight.

The Nine Heavens Sword Sect demanded that Great Compassion Temple hand over Xie Lingyun, but the temple refused despite facing a stronger force. Chen Changming suspected that the sect had an ulterior motive and waited as both sides took their fight into the sky.

• The Nine Heavens Sword Sect summoned its Nascent Soul Realm elders, including four eighth-layer cultivators, while Great Compassion Temple brought out its own monks and lay devotees.
• A Nine Heavens Sword Sect elder offered to trade five sixth-layer demonic cultivators for Xie Lingyun, but Chen Changming found the demand suspicious.
• Xie Lingyun knelt and begged to remain at Great Compassion Temple, and Master Zihui promised to protect him.
• Master Zihui and the other monks transformed into Black Buddhas and prepared to fight the Nine Heavens Sword Sect.
• Both sides flew into the sky to avoid damaging Great Compassion Temple, while Chen Changming stayed back, planning to intervene if the monks neared defeat.

Chen Changming joined Great Compassion Temple’s battle against the Nine Heavens Sword Sect, using a Thunder-Glitter Spirit Falcon to blunt the sect’s attack. Xie Lingyun escaped amid the fighting, and Chen Changming released two more falcons before teleporting away himself.

• The Nine Heavens Sword Sect overwhelmed Great Compassion Temple and its worshippers, while Xie Lingyun remained under guard.
• Chen Changming entered the battle and summoned a Thunder-Glitter Spirit Falcon to block the sect’s sword attacks.
• A sword cultivator from the Nine Heavens Sword Sect attacked the falcon, but its lightning strike shattered his offensive and eased the pressure on Great Compassion Temple.
• Xie Lingyun swallowed a medicinal pill and teleported away while the sect’s experts were occupied.
• Master Zihui praised Xie Lingyun’s escape, and Chen Changming suspected Xie Lingyun was concealing a secret.
• Chen Changming summoned two more Thunder-Glitter Spirit Falcons and teleported away.

Chen Changming pursued Xie Lingyun to learn why the Nine Heavens Sword Sect wanted him, then witnessed the dangerous sword art that sent Xie Lingyun into a frenzy. Xie Lingyun revealed that it was called the Slaughter Demon Sword Art, whose power came at the cost of driving its user mad.

• Chen Changming left the battle at Yeming City and caught up with the exhausted Xie Lingyun after his repeated teleportations.
• Chen Changming asked why the Nine Heavens Sword Sect sought Xie Lingyun, and Xie Lingyun swore that he had killed two of its Nascent Soul Realm elders.
• Xie Lingyun attacked Chen Changming with a three-move close-quarters sword art and fell into a frenzied state of slaughter.
• Chen Changming knocked Xie Lingyun unconscious, interrupting his rampage, and brought him down into a forest.
• After Xie Lingyun awoke, he named the technique the Slaughter Demon Sword Art and explained that it enhanced slaughter but drove its user mad.

Chen Changming learned that Xie Lingyun’s incomplete Slaughter Demon Sword Art came from an inheritance stele on Demon Abyss Island and decided to investigate it. As they entered the island, the Nine Heavens Sword Sect watched them and hoped they would uncover the complete sword art and its hidden companion technique.

• Xie Lingyun explained how he found the Slaughter Demon Sword Art on Demon Abyss Island and why the Nine Heavens Sword Sect pursued him.
• Xie Lingyun gave Chen Changming a Jade Slip containing the sword art’s three moves and told him about the inheritance stele.
• Chen Changming decided to visit Demon Abyss Island, and Xie Lingyun led him there.
• Chen Changming and Xie Lingyun flew into the island’s black demonic mist while the Nine Heavens Sword Sect observed them with an Ancient Mirror.
• Xu Jianjiu ordered the sect to monitor Chen Changming and revealed that the Sect Masters had secretly sought the Undying Demon Heart Art needed to cultivate the complete Slaughter Demon Sword Art.

Chen Changming entered Demon Abyss Island’s demonic mist to reach the Slaughter Demon Sword Art inheritance and endured increasingly vicious illusions designed to break his resolve. After defeating them, he continued toward the inheritance valley as the demonic mist conjured a new trial.

• Xu Jianjiu dismissed the others and began cultivating after recalling the Nine Heavens Sword Sect’s repeated failures to obtain the inheritance.
• As the demonic intent attacked, Xie Lingyun asked to split up, and Chen Changming sent him into the Universe Pagoda before pressing deeper alone.
• Chen Changming fought through an illusion of more than ten thousand Nascent Soul cultivators, then killed the mortals they became and continued toward the valley.
• The demonic intent conjured children, gods, and Buddhas to condemn and attack Chen Changming, but he laughed at the illusion and made it vanish by insisting that his flesh, blood, bones, and heart were black.
• Dense figures appeared on the road and in the void ahead, and Chen Changming furrowed his brows at the next trial.

Chen Changming endured a demonic trial by killing hundreds of thousands of copies of himself and reached Inheritance Valley, where an Ancient Demon revealed the existence of his clan’s three great inheritances. The Ancient Demon offered him a sword inheritance if he could defeat its body, and Chen Changming prepared to fight.

• Chen Changming discovered that the copies created by the demonic intent were nearly as strong as he was, then heard a hidden voice say he had to kill them all to enter Inheritance Valley.
• Chen Changming fought the copies for ten days and ten nights, killing hundreds of thousands and reaching the valley after losing himself in the slaughter.
• Chen Changming examined a stone stele depicting an Ancient Demon and a sword, then spoke with the Ancient Demon whose black eyes appeared above it.
• Chen Changming explained that a Demon Race senior from the Spirit Realm had given him his version of the Heavenly Furnace Body-Forging Art, and the Ancient Demon lamented that the Six Ancients might have fallen.
• The Ancient Demon offered Chen Changming the Ancient Demon Clan’s sword inheritance if he could defeat its body, and Chen Changming’s skin turned black as he prepared to fight.

Chen Changming fought the Ancient Demon, whose sword could not penetrate his body strengthened by the Nine Balefuls. The Ancient Demon stopped the duel and explained the three Ancient Demon inheritances and the Undying Demon Heart Art, leaving Chen Changming aware that he might be able to inherit their techniques.

• The Ancient Demon attacked Chen Changming with the Slaughter Demon Sword Art, but Chen Changming's hardened body withstood the sword light and overwhelmed him.
• The Ancient Demon ended the fight and praised Chen Changming's extraordinary physical strength.
• The Ancient Demon explained that the Ancient Demon race had three inheritances: body cultivation, Dao techniques, and the Sword Dao.
• The Ancient Demon said the Undying Demon Heart Art was the foundation of all three inheritances and that human cultivators' frail bodies could not withstand it.
• The Ancient Demon revealed that no one had succeeded in inheriting the Slaughter Demon Sword Art despite the Nine Heavens Sword Sect's efforts.

Chen Changming tried to comprehend the Slaughter Demon Sword Art, but made little progress before deciding to leave Demon Abyss Island for Star Tracing Backflow. The Ancient Demon gave him the Undying Demon Heart Art and warned him that the Nine Heavens Sword Sect might be waiting outside; Chen Changming reached the island’s edge and surveyed the area with an Ancient Mirror.

• The Ancient Demon gave Chen Changming the Sword of Inheritance, containing all nine moves of the Slaughter Demon Sword Art, and Chen Changming began studying it.
• After three days and then a month, Chen Changming admitted he had barely begun to comprehend the sword art.
• Chen Changming told the Ancient Demon he had to leave for Star Tracing Backflow, and the Ancient Demon gave him a black bead containing the Ancient Demon pattern and advised him to study the Undying Demon Heart Art first.
• The Ancient Demon warned Chen Changming that the Nine Heavens Sword Sect had lured demonic cultivators onto Demon Abyss Island and might be waiting to intercept him.
• Chen Changming bade the Ancient Demon farewell, flew toward the island’s edge, and used an Ancient Mirror to inspect the area beyond it.

Chen Changming used the Void Sky Mirror and Cold Nether Spider to scout the Nine Heavens Sword Sect’s ambush, then attacked and routed its Nascent Soul Realm cultivators. At Nine Heavens Island, Xu Jianjiu realized Chen Changming had hidden his strength and sent Sword Martial Elder to capture him.

• Chen Changming discovered a Nine Heavens Sword Sect squad near Demon Abyss Island and sent the Cold Nether Spider to assess its strength.
• The Cold Nether Spider reported three eighth-level, five seventh-level, and ten sixth-level Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, so Chen Changming prepared to strike.
• Chen Changming teleported to the squad and shattered most of its members with one punch, leaving only four able to fight.
• The four survivors attacked with their flying swords, but Chen Changming broke through their sword lights and forced them to flee.
• Xu Jianjiu saw the battle through the Ancient Mirror, recognized Chen Changming’s concealed strength, and ordered Sword Martial Elder to capture him alive.

Chen Changming fled the Nine Heavens Sword Sect cultivators and used the Buddha Bone to evade Sword Martial Elder, who pursued him at the tenth level of the Nascent Soul Realm. He encountered Zigang, a powerful Nether Buddha Sect senior brother, and prepared to face the pursuer with his help.

• Chen Changming and the Cold Nether Spider killed a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, then Chen Changming teleported toward the Great Compassion Temple to escape the remaining Nine Heavens Sword Sect fighters.
• Sword Martial Elder arrived and pursued Chen Changming with the Thousand-Mile Flowing Light Divine Ability.
• Chen Changming fused with the Buddha Bone to increase his teleportation speed and widen the gap from Sword Martial Elder.
• Chen Changming met Zigang, disguised himself as Zining, and told him a tenth-level Nascent Soul Realm cultivator from the Nine Heavens Sword Sect was hunting him.
• Chen Changming realized Zigang could help him confront Sword Martial Elder.

Chen Changming joined Zigang in confronting the Sword Martial Elder, who had come to capture him over a stolen treasure. While Zigang fought the elder head-on, Chen ambushed him with fragments of Demonic Heaven Vast Yin Mountain, but the elder remained standing behind a barrier of sword light.

• Chen Changming persuaded Zigang to help avenge the attack on him and planned to conceal the Buddha Bone by relying on a sneak attack.
• The Sword Martial Elder arrived, recognized Chen Changming despite his altered appearance, and demanded to take him back to the Nine Heavens Sword Sect.
• Zigang refused to hand Chen Changming over and fought the Sword Martial Elder with his fists against the elder’s flying sword.
• Chen Changming waited for an opening, then hurled two fragments of Demonic Heaven Vast Yin Mountain at the Sword Martial Elder.
• The fragments smashed through the elder’s sword-light barrier and rebounded, and Chen Changming caught them.

Chen Changming and Zigang drove Sword Martial Elder to retreat, then returned to Great Compassion Temple, where Chen revealed his identity and freed Xie Lingyun. After retrieving his three Thunder-Glitter Spirit Falcons, Chen left Yeming Island and headed toward the Backflow Sea.

• Chen Changming used his strengthened arm to hurl a black stone through Sword Martial Elder's sword defenses while Zigang pressed the attack.
• Sword Martial Elder unleashed a sword-riding escape technique and fled rather than risk his life against Chen Changming and Zigang.
• Zigang escorted Chen Changming to Great Compassion Temple, where Chen revealed that he was Junior Brother Zining and had previously visited in disguise.
• Chen Changming released Xie Lingyun from the Universe Pagoda, and Xie Lingyun greeted the monks of Great Compassion Temple.
• Chen Changming retrieved his three Thunder-Glitter Spirit Falcons, took leave of Zigang, and flew toward the Backflow Sea after changing his appearance and clothing.

Sword Martial Elder failed to capture Chen Changming after Zigang intervened, so Xu Jianjiu led the Nine Heavens Sword Sect’s strongest cultivators to Great Compassion Temple to demand the Body Cultivator. Learning that Zining had already left, Xu Jianjiu seized on Xie Lingyun instead, prompting Zigang to prepare to intervene.

• Sword Martial Elder told Xu Jianjiu that Zigang had stopped him from capturing the Body Cultivator, and Xu Jianjiu ordered the Nine Heavens Sword Sect’s top cultivators to go to Yeming City.
• Xu Jianjiu arrived above Great Compassion Temple with dozens of powerful cultivators and demanded that the temple hand over the Body Cultivator.
• Zigang told Xu Jianjiu that his Junior Brother Zining had already left Great Compassion Temple.
• Xu Jianjiu searched for Zining, found Xie Lingyun, and sent a hand of spiritual power to seize him.
• Zigang moved to stop Xu Jianjiu, but Sword Martial Elder warned him not to act.

The Nine Heavens Sword Sect captured Xie Lingyun and learned that Chen Changming may have obtained the complete Slaughter Demon Sword Art and the Undying Demon Heart Art. Xu Jianjiu sought a divination to track him, and Divine Calculator declared that Chen Changming would appear within Star Tracing Backflow before collapsing unconscious.

• Zigang refused to let Great Compassion Temple fight the Nine Heavens Sword Sect over Xie Lingyun, and Xu Jianjiu took Xie Lingyun away.
• Xie Lingyun told the Nine Heavens Sword Sect that Chen Changming had sent him into the Universe Pagoda and likely obtained the complete Slaughter Demon Sword Art.
• Xu Jianjiu regretted not sending both Sword Martial and Sword Edge after Zining and decided to seek Divine Calculator's help.
• Divine Calculator's tortoiseshell cracked as he divined, and he said Chen Changming would appear within Star Tracing Backflow before falling unconscious.

After Divine Calculator’s costly divination, Xu Jianjiu concluded that Zining had obtained Demon Abyss Island’s complete inheritance and persuaded his fellow elders to help seize it. The Nine Heavens Sword Sect mobilized to search the islands and seal off Backflow Sea, leaving Chen Changming in danger of being discovered.

• Divine Calculator recovered from the divination backlash and demanded five times the original payment, which Xu Jianjiu accepted.
• Xu Jianjiu told Sword Martial Elder and Sword Edge Elder that Zining likely possessed the Slaughter Demon Sword Art and Undying Demon Heart Art, and promised they could monopolize the inheritance.
• Xu Jianjiu ordered a sect-wide search of nearby islands and instructed disciples to test suspicious strangers with their swords.
• Xu Jianjiu directed the sect to seal off the seas around Backflow Sea before Chen Changming could blend into Star Tracing Backflow.
• Sword Martial Elder and Sword Edge Elder led a procession of sword vessels toward Backflow Sea.

Disguised as Chen Lin, Chen Changming hid in Black Dragon Temple while waiting for the Star Tracing Backflow, but the Nine Heavens Sword Sect quickly searched the island for him. The chapter ended with Han Jiang crying out that his master had been killed.

• Chen Changming, disguised as Chen Lin, joined Black Dragon Temple to hide from the Nine Heavens Sword Sect while awaiting the Star Tracing Backflow.
• Chen Changming recognized the approaching sword lights as belonging to the Nine Heavens Sword Sect and sensed a third-level Nascent Soul cultivator observing the area.
• Two Golden Core disciples of the Nine Heavens Sword Sect questioned the Black Dragon Temple disciples and pierced Han Jiang's and Meng Xian's ears with sword light.
• Han Jiang went to summon his master, and Li Yunsheng attacked the intruders with a flying sword.
• A second-level Golden Core disciple knocked Li Yunsheng's sword into the rear courtyard, where blood sprayed over the wall and Han Jiang cried, "Master, don't die!"

Chen Changming killed the Nine Heavens Sword Sect disciples who had slaughtered the people of Black Dragon Temple, then disguised himself as one of them and infiltrated a search squad. The squad discovered eight strange people whose auras fluctuated between Golden Core and Nascent Soul.

• A Nine Heavens Sword Sect disciple killed Li Liang, Han Jiang, and Meng Xian with a flying sword, leaving Chen Changming as the only survivor at Black Dragon Temple.
• Chen Changming used his Divine Sense Wave Ability to stun two Golden Core disciples, stole one man's memories, disguised himself as him, and killed the other.
• Chen Changming reported to Elder Sun that Black Dragon Temple had been wiped out and learned that the elder feared encountering the hidden Body Cultivator.
• Chen Changming joined Zhou Zheng's four-man search squad as they searched White Cloud Island.
• Zhou Zheng's squad spotted seven men and one woman meditating in a valley, and Chen Changming noticed that their auras kept shifting between Golden Core and Nascent Soul.

Zhou Zheng’s squad discovered eight suspicious strangers whose auras shifted between Golden Core and Nascent Soul, and Elder Sun and Sword Martial Elder came to investigate. Sword Martial Elder attacked the group, but the black-robed young man blocked his strike, and Xu Jianjiu arrived asking whether they had found the Body Cultivator.

• Zhou Zheng led his squad away from the eight strangers and fired a signal, then told Elder Sun that they might be hiding the Body Cultivator.
• Elder Sun investigated the valley, judged the strangers highly suspicious, and summoned Sword Martial Elder with a jade talisman.
• The black-robed young man warned the others not to interfere with their greater plan while the woman complained about the Nine Heavens Sword Sect’s investigators.
• Sword Martial Elder found the eight strangers and launched a long-range sword attack to test their strength.
• The black-robed young man swallowed Sword Martial Elder’s giant sword with an azure wave, and Xu Jianjiu arrived to ask whether the Body Cultivator had been found.

Xu Jianjiu and the Nine Heavens Sword Sect searched the Backflow Sea for Chen Changming but found no trace of him, while they identified the strange valley dwellers as demons from Myriad Demon Island. Half a year later, the Backflow Sea began forming the vast vortex of Star Tracing Backflow.

• Sword Martial Elder reported that a black-robed young man in a valley had blocked his sword strike, and Xu Jianjiu and Sword Edge Elder searched the area.
• Xu Jianjiu recognized the strange people as demons from Myriad Demon Island using Shapeshifting Talismans, while Chen Changming remained hidden among the Golden Core disciples.
• Xu Jianjiu ordered Elder Sun to continue investigating White Cloud Island and left with the two sword elders to pursue Chen Changming elsewhere.
• The Nine Heavens Sword Sect searched the Backflow Sea for a month without finding Chen Changming, so Xu Jianjiu planned to wait for him to appear in Star Tracing Backflow.
• Half a year later, the Backflow Sea roared as an enormous seawater vortex began rising toward the sky.

As Star Tracing Backflow appeared, Chen Changming and Gu Huaibei entered the enormous vortex to search for True Person Spring Return’s image and the Spring Return Immortal Art. They encountered Long Qing inside, and Gu Huaibei attacked him and his companions.

• Eight freaks awakened on White Cloud Island, and the black-robed young man led them into the rising vortex to seek his missing father.
• Chen Changming and Gu Huaibei discussed their search for True Person Spring Return and entered Star Tracing Backflow after the Demon Race of Myriad Demon Island went in.
• Gu Huaibei searched the rapidly flashing images while Chen Changming guarded her from other cultivators in the vortex.
• Chen Changming recognized Long Qing of Little Night Palace, and he and Gu Huaibei blocked Long Qing and two demonic-path cultivators.
• Gu Huaibei unleashed a barrage of icy sword lights, sending the three cultivators flying and shattering several of their protective Spirit Treasures.

Gu Huaibei killed Long Qing after phantom images twice swallowed her attacks, then vanished into one of the images herself. Chen Changming learned that some images could devour people, while the black-robed young man realized they might hold clues to his missing father.

• Gu Huaibei pursued Long Qing, but a phantom image absorbed her first attack and gave him time to escape.
• Gu Huaibei attacked again, and another image swallowed both her sword lights and Long Qing's counterattack before moving away.
• Gu Huaibei struck Long Qing with a third attack, killing him when no image appeared to protect him.
• As Gu Huaibei returned to Chen Changming, she vanished into a phantom image, and Chen Changming could not follow her.
• The black-robed young man asked about the disappearance, and Chen Changming explained that some images could devour people.
• The black-robed young man recognized the images as possible clues to his missing father, while Chen Changming failed to find an image that would take him in.

Chen Changming searched the Star Tracing Backflow for Gu Huaibei and a way into the swallowing illusions, but was confronted by the Nine Heavens Sword Sect. Members of Myriad Demon Island intervened to protect him, and their young leader revealed that he was searching for his father, who had vanished in the vortex.

• The black-robed young man and the other seven members of Myriad Demon Island agreed to stay together while searching for an illusion that could swallow them.
• Chen Changming searched for hours without finding another swallowing illusion or Gu Huaibei, and passed Senior Brother Zigang without stopping.
• Xu Jianjiu, Sword Martial Elder, and Sword Edge Elder confronted Chen Changming and suspected he was a Body Cultivator.
• A woman from Myriad Demon Island intervened, and the black-robed young man warned the three sword cultivators not to target Chen Changming.
• Xu Jianjiu withdrew with the two elders, then stayed behind with Sword Edge Elder to watch Chen Changming while Sword Martial Elder left.
• The black-robed young man told Chen Changming that Myriad Demon Island had come to find his father, who disappeared when the Star Tracing Backflow appeared before.

Chen Changming and Ninth Young Master searched Star Tracing Backflow for the illusory image that could lead them to Gu Huaibei, while Xu Jianjiu and Sword Edge Elder followed. At the bottom of the vortex, an image swallowed Chen Changming, Ninth Young Master, and a woman, leaving their companions behind and Xu Jianjiu stunned.

• Chen Changming befriended Ninth Young Master and continued searching the illusory images with the eight people from Myriad Demon Island.
• Xu Jianjiu and Sword Edge Elder followed the group, despite Ninth Young Master's companions warning them about the dangers below the vortex.
• After three days without finding the image, Chen Changming proposed exploring deeper into the great vortex, and Ninth Young Master agreed.
• The group descended toward the vortex's bottom, where violent space-time forces and countless fast-moving illusory images battered them.
• A small illusory image swallowed Chen Changming, Ninth Young Master, and the ordinary-looking woman before disappearing.
• The six remaining Myriad Demon Island members realized the three had entered the illusory world, while Xu Jianjiu watched them vanish in shock.

Chen Changming, Ninth Young Master, and the woman entered the Land of No Delusion, where a guide explained that outsiders could never leave and had to accept one of two terrible fates. The chapter ended with the guide explaining that the land’s reversed time would make those who refused to sacrifice their divine souls grow younger and lose their cultivation until they died.

• Xu Jianjiu and Sword Edge Elder fled the vortex after seeing three people vanish, while six others stayed behind to try their luck.
• Chen Changming, Ninth Young Master, and the woman arrived in a valley with sparse spiritual energy and saw a city in the distance.
• A yellow-robed guide told the three that the Land of No Delusion was created by the Five Direction Gods and that no one who entered could leave.
• The guide brought the three to an Earth God temple, where they offered incense and received the status of residents of the gods.
• The guide offered two choices: sacrifice their divine souls to the ruler and lose half their lifespan, or refuse and gradually grow younger as their cultivation regressed.
• The guide explained that reversed time filled the land and would eventually turn those who refused the sacrifice into infants before they died.