Chapter Summaries

Yang Chen forced Han Hao Feng to withdraw the Fushui Sect rather than continue fighting Yuanshan Gate. After the sect left, Yang Chen confronted the Yuanshan Gate traitors who had tried to escape with them.

• Yang Chen warned the Fushui Sect that Yuanshan Gate could defeat them, and the disciples lost their resolve to fight.
• Yang Chen offered Han Hao Feng his life if he led the Fushui Sect away, and Han Hao Feng agreed.
• Han Hao Feng ordered the Fushui Sect to retreat despite objections over Chen Zi An’s death.
• Yang Chen stopped the retreat to expose Yuanshan Gate traitors hiding among the Fushui Sect, and the Fushui disciples drove them out.
• Yang Chen allowed the Fushui Sect to leave and turned his attention to the remaining Yuanshan Gate traitors.

After the Fushui Sect’s retreat, Yang Chen dealt with the Yuanshan Gate disciples who had betrayed their sect. He killed Lu Shuiyin, Luo Jin, Wu Yingying, and several other instigators, then refused to let the remaining traitors return to Yuanshan Gate and led his disciples away.

• The former Yuanshan Gate disciples begged Yang Chen to forgive their betrayal and let them return.
• Yang Chen killed Lu Shuiyin after she pleaded to become his slave.
• At Wu Ming’s urging, Yang Chen killed Luo Jin, Wu Yingying, and several other disciples who had led or incited the betrayal.
• Yang Chen told the remaining traitors they could not return to Yuanshan Gate and departed with his disciples.
• The abandoned traitors watched the Yuanshan Gate group leave and regretted their decision, unsure where they could go.

Yang Chen led Yuanshan Gate back through the Thousand Year Treasure, promising to find materials for the disciples despite their lack of time to search. After the group emerged safely, Mu Baisheng welcomed them and discovered that Yang Chen had advanced to the Half-step Origin Martial Realm.

• Yang Chen dismissed the idea of searching for leftover treasures and told Wu Ming and the other disciples to leave their supplies to him.
• Yang Chen kept his identity disguised as Yuanshan Gate made its way back, avoiding trouble before departing the secret realm two days later.
• Mu Baisheng and the Yuanshan Gate elders gathered at the exit and called for Wu Ming when the disciples emerged.
• Yang Chen removed his disguise and greeted Mu Baisheng, who saw his improved cultivation and recognized that he had reached the Half-step Origin Martial Realm.

Yang Chen returned from the secret realm and explained Yuanshan Gate’s losses, while Wu Ming revealed that Yang Chen had defeated Chen Zi An and captured Han Hao Feng. Mu Baisheng praised Yang Chen but decided not to pursue a dispute with the stronger Fushui Sect, and the chapter ended with the disciples being asked to report what they had gained from the Thousand Year Treasure expedition.

• Yang Chen told Mu Baisheng and the Supreme Elders that Fushui Sect disciples had killed many Yuanshan Gate disciples, while he had killed or expelled others who betrayed the sect.
• Wu Ming revealed that Yang Chen had defeated Chen Zi An and captured Han Hao Feng, forcing Fushui Sect to withdraw and letting the surviving disciples escape.
• Yang Chen downplayed his accomplishments, but Mu Baisheng accepted that he had performed well and recognized his position as Young Gate Master was secure.
• Mu Baisheng and the Supreme Elders agreed not to seek retribution against Fushui Sect unless it provoked Yuanshan Gate again.
• A Supreme Elder asked the returning disciples to report their results from the Thousand Year Treasure expedition, leaving them visibly awkward.

Yang Chen revealed a mountain of treasures to Yuanshan Gate’s leaders after they learned Fushui Sect had hunted their disciples and left them with little from the secret realm. Yuanshan Gate celebrated the windfall, unaware that Yang Chen had added many of his own materials to the Storage Bags he took from Han Hao Feng and Chen Zi An.

• Wu Ming explained how Fushui Sect had pursued Yuanshan Gate’s disciples and prevented them from collecting many treasures in the secret realm.
• Yuanshan Gate’s Elders grew furious and prepared to confront Fushui Sect, but Yang Chen said their journey had not been fruitless.
• Yang Chen opened the Storage Bags he had taken from Han Hao Feng and Chen Zi An, revealing a mountain of treasures and materials.
• Yang Chen claimed Han Hao Feng and Chen Zi An had likely managed much of Fushui Sect’s loot, and the Elders celebrated the apparent reversal of fortunes.
• Yang Chen privately revealed that he had added many of his own low-grade materials to the Storage Bags to repay Yuanshan Gate and conceal the source of the windfall.

Yuanshan Gate celebrated the treasures Yang Chen obtained and Mu Baisheng offered him a share, but Yang Chen deferred his claim until after the sect's distribution. He Shangfeng then arrived with a large Canghai Sect force, accused Yang Chen of killing dozens of their people and his disciple Shao Changkong, and demanded an explanation; Mu Baisheng stood by Yang Chen.

• Mu Baisheng told Yuanshan Gate's disciples and Elders to deny knowing anything if Fushui Sect asked about the Storage Bag.
• Mu Baisheng offered Yang Chen one-tenth of the treasures, but Yang Chen deferred choosing his share until the sect had distributed the materials.
• He Shangfeng led hundreds of Canghai Sect members to Yuanshan Gate and demanded that Yang Chen come out.
• Mu Baisheng refused to let He Shangfeng make trouble for Yang Chen and challenged him.
• He Shangfeng accused Yang Chen of killing dozens of Canghai Sect members, including Shao Changkong, and demanded that Yuanshan Gate answer for it.

Yang Chen stepped forward after Mu Baisheng defended him against He Shangfeng’s accusations, admitting he had killed Shao Changkong and claiming he had killed far more Canghai Sect members than reported. He began explaining that Shao Changkong had led several hundred people to kill him and seize his Treasure Key.

• Mu Baisheng refused to hand Yang Chen over or yield to He Shangfeng’s threats.
• As He Shangfeng prepared to leave, Yang Chen called him back and challenged the Canghai Sect’s accusations.
• Yang Chen admitted killing Shao Changkong but said he had killed roughly a hundred or two Canghai Sect members, not merely a few dozen.
• Yang Chen began recounting that Shao Changkong had led several hundred people to attack him and take his Treasure Key.

Yang Chen revealed that the Canghai Sect had hunted him over his Treasure Key, turning its accusation against him into a dispute where the Yuanshan Gate had the stronger case. He Shangfeng tried to withdraw after learning his evidence was unreliable, but Mu Baisheng stopped him and demanded an explanation.

• Yang Chen said Shao Changkong and the Canghai Sect disciples had attacked him first, and the Yuanshan Gate disciples rallied to his defense.
• Yang Chen declared that Shao Changkong deserved to die and that he would have killed even more Canghai Sect attackers if they had come.
• He Shangfeng demanded proof, and Yang Chen offered witnesses who had seen the pursuit after he left the Heavenly Palace.
• He Shangfeng learned Han Fang had embellished what he knew, abandoned his demand for witnesses, and tried to lead the Canghai Sect away.
• Mu Baisheng blocked He Shangfeng's departure and demanded that he explain the Canghai Sect's conduct.

He Shangfeng withdrew Canghai Sect from Yuanshan Gate but blamed Han Fang for provoking the confrontation and stripped him of his position as Young Sect Master. As Yang Chen and the Yuanshan Gate elders watched Black Dragon Cult inspect Luoyun Main City and Yang Star Main City, Yang Chen realized it was investigating Yu Feilong’s death.

• He Shangfeng promised Yuanshan Gate an explanation and led Canghai Sect away.
• He Shangfeng blamed Han Fang for misleading him and demoted him from Young Sect Master to ordinary disciple.
• Yuanshan Gate’s elders questioned Yang Chen about Canghai Sect’s attempt to kill him and were reassured that he was unharmed.
• Mu Baisheng pointed out that Black Dragon Cult was inspecting Luoyun Main City and Yang Star Main City.
• Yang Chen used a Soul probe and discovered Black Dragon Cult was investigating the cause of Yu Feilong’s death.

Yang Chen faced suspicion from the Black Dragon Cult after Yuan San implicated him in the deaths of Yu Feilong and two other disciples. Under Black Scorpion Emissary's pressure, Yang Chen claimed the Heavenly Capital Great Emperor's restrictions had killed them, but the emissary doubted his account.

• Yang Chen worried the Black Dragon Cult might trace Yu Feilong's death back to him.
• Yuan San blamed Yang Chen by telling Black Scorpion Emissary that only five people entered the second level, and Yang Chen and Jiang Caiying were the only survivors besides the Black Dragon Cult's disciples.
• Black Scorpion Emissary confronted Yang Chen at Yuanshan Gate and demanded to know how Yu Feilong and the other two disciples had died.
• Yang Chen said the three disciples had triggered the Heavenly Capital Great Emperor's restrictions while challenging them.
• Black Scorpion Emissary increased the pressure on Yang Chen and asked whether he was certain he had nothing to do with their deaths.

Black Scorpion Emissary accused Yang Chen of killing the Black Dragon Cult’s geniuses and attacked him despite having no evidence. An unknown expert stopped the attack and revealed that Jiang Caiying was her disciple.

• Yang Chen concealed his anxiety and persuaded Black Scorpion Emissary that he could not have defeated the Black Dragon Cult’s geniuses.
• Black Scorpion Emissary decided that Yang Chen and the other surviving person from the second floor should die, then sent a storm of true qi at Yang Chen.
• Yang Chen began to activate the Heavenly Capital Divine Kingdom’s restrictions, but an unseen force destroyed Black Scorpion Emissary’s attack.
• Black Scorpion Emissary demanded that the person who intervened reveal herself, and a woman appeared with a companion and identified Jiang Caiying as her disciple.

Mei Xiuying appeared and stopped the Black Scorpion Emissary from killing Yang Chen, forcing the Black Dragon Cult to withdraw. Yang Chen was relieved but remained angry at Yuan San, while Mei Xiuying’s unexpected presence risked revealing his connection to her.

• Mei Xiuying arrived with Jiang Caiying, and the Black Scorpion Emissary recognized her as a renowned powerhouse.
• Yang Chen realized how much time had passed since his rebirth and worried that Jiang Caiying had told Mei Xiuying about him.
• The Black Scorpion Emissary invoked the Black Dragon Cult as he demanded to kill Yang Chen, but Mei Xiuying declared that she would protect him because she found him pleasing to the eye.
• The Black Scorpion Emissary conceded and led the Black Dragon Cult away.
• Yang Chen felt relieved that his secret remained hidden and vowed to remember the Black Scorpion Emissary’s actions, though Yuan San angered him most.

Yang Chen faced Mei Xiuying's questions about his connection to her and his knowledge of her name, while concealing his identity as the person she remembered. He began explaining that he had learned about her from the memories of a genius he killed, leaving Mei Xiuying to judge his prepared excuse.

• Yang Chen silently resented Yuan San for blaming him, then thanked Mei Xiuying for intervening.
• Mei Xiuying recognized Yang Chen's name and eyes as similar to someone she once knew, but concluded he was not that person.
• Mei Xiuying questioned Yang Chen about his master, and Yang Chen admitted he had invented the claim that his master knew her to avoid fighting Jiang Caiying.
• Mei Xiuying said she would not punish Yang Chen for deceiving Jiang Caiying, but asked how he knew the Rainbow Needle's name and Mei Xiuying's identity.
• Yang Chen explained that he had guessed the Rainbow Needle's name from its appearance and claimed he had learned about Mei Xiuying from the memories of a slain genius from Changning County.

Mei Xiuying offered to take Yang Chen as her disciple after explaining that his resemblance to an old friend had led her to protect him. Yang Chen declined to remain the Young Gate Master of Yuanshan Gate, and Mei Xiuying left with Jiang Caiying.

• Mei Xiuying considered Yang Chen's explanation for knowing her name possible and chose not to question him further.
• Mei Xiuying told Yang Chen that he resembled an old friend and offered to accept him as her disciple.
• Jiang Caiying encouraged Yang Chen to accept, while Mu Baisheng worried that Yuanshan Gate would lose him.
• Yang Chen declined Mei Xiuying's offer, citing his position and debt to Yuanshan Gate.
• Mei Xiuying accepted Yang Chen's decision and left with Jiang Caiying.

Mei Xiuying revealed to Jiang Caiying that her benefactor, whom Hua Wanru killed, had also been named Yang Chen. After refusing Mei Xiuying’s invitation, Yang Chen left for North Mountain Main City to prepare for the Trial Tower, where he planned to challenge its twentieth level.

• Mei Xiuying told Jiang Caiying that her deceased benefactor was named Yang Chen and had been killed by Hua Wanru.
• The Yan Hua Pond Master departed, and Mu Baisheng praised Yang Chen for standing with Yuanshan Gate rather than accepting Mei Xiuying’s invitation.
• Yang Chen announced that he would challenge the Trial Tower, so Mu Baisheng assigned Elder Ma and Elder Li to escort him to North Mountain Main City.
• After arriving in North Mountain Main City, Yang Chen arranged for the elders to contact the city’s people and entered seclusion for about ten days.
• Yang Chen considered the Trial Tower’s twentieth level and realized he could not rely on the Merfolk race’s soul abilities or summon Golden Claw as he had during the Ten Desperate Trials.

Yang Chen emerged from seclusion and went with Deacon Xu to challenge the Trial Tower, drawing attention because of his victory over Han Fang. At the tower, he encountered Han Lingling, who still hated him but turned away, while Yang Chen prepared to test how far he could advance.

• Yang Chen spent ten days refining spirit talismans and emerged with his true qi restored to its peak.
• Deacon Xu welcomed Yang Chen and escorted him to the Trial Tower after Yang Chen said he wanted to challenge it.
• The gathered geniuses recognized Yang Chen and discussed how he had crushed Han Fang despite being only at Half-step Origin Martial Realm.
• Yang Chen spotted Han Lingling, who glared at him with hatred before turning away without confronting him.
• When Deacon Xu asked how many levels he expected to reach, Yang Chen said he would simply do his best.

Yang Chen entered the Trial Tower and quickly advanced to the Thirteenth Level, where he faced the thirteen sand soldiers that had stopped him before. Outside, Han Lingling secretly waited for a chance to have Ma Shenghe kill Yang Chen, while the spectators debated how far Yang Chen could go.

• Yang Chen entered the Trial Tower after Yu Gao finished his challenge, and the North Mountain Main City geniuses speculated about his likely result.
• Han Lingling watched Yang Chen’s challenge with hatred and recalled that her father had arranged her engagement to Ma Shenghe, who had promised to help her kill Yang Chen.
• Han Lingling left the crowd as the Trial Tower’s lights rapidly showed Yang Chen advancing through the levels.
• Yang Chen reached the Thirteenth Level without exhausting his true qi and faced thirteen sand soldiers.
• Yang Chen unleashed his Benlei Stance, sending lightning toward the sand soldiers.

Yang Chen cleared the Thirteenth through Sixteenth Levels of the Trial Tower, refining Creation Divine Qi after each victory to build strength for a breakthrough. He entered the Seventeenth Level as the gathered crowd watched to see whether he could match the rare few who had passed it.

• Yang Chen defeated the thirteen sand soldiers on the Thirteenth Level and refined its Creation Divine Qi without advancing to the Origin Martial Realm.
• Yang Chen passed the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Levels, using his demon fire on the Fifteenth.
• Yang Chen used Star Fire and the Benlei Stance to defeat the sand soldiers on the Sixteenth Level, then refined its abundant Creation Divine Qi.
• Yang Chen entered the Seventeenth Level, drawing a crowd as people realized he might become the fourth person in North Mountain Main City's history to pass it.

Yang Chen overcame the seventeenth level of the Trial Tower by using the God-Piercing Nail to defeat its sand soldiers one by one. He absorbed the Creation Divine Qi and entered the Eighteenth Level, astonishing the crowd outside.

• Deacon Xu and the crowd watched in amazement as Yang Chen reached the seventeenth level, where few martial artists had succeeded.
• Yang Chen struggled against seventeen sand soldiers fighting together in a powerful Combined Attack Formation.
• Yang Chen drew the sand soldiers' attention with Star Fire and demon fire, then used the God-Piercing Nail to pierce one soldier's head.
• Yang Chen defeated the remaining sand soldiers, absorbed the Creation Divine Qi, and entered the Eighteenth Level.
• The Trial Tower lit up at the eighteenth level, and the crowd erupted at Yang Chen's achievement.

Yang Chen’s achievement of reaching the Trial Tower’s Eighteenth Level stirred North Mountain Main City and drew Instructor Mo and its high-ranking figures to the tower. The officials argued over their past rejection and mistreatment of Yang Chen, while Deacon Xiao and his allies defended their actions.

• North Mountain Main City’s geniuses reacted to Yang Chen’s achievement, and many resolved to work harder rather than resent him.
• Deacon Xu summoned the city’s upper ranks, and Instructor Mo arrived with a group of officials to inspect the Trial Tower’s lit eighteenth lamp.
• Instructor Mo rebuked the officials for rejecting Yang Chen when he first showed his talent.
• Deacon Xu accused Deacon Xiao of targeting Yang Chen because Yang Chen had beaten Xiao Yunfeng in the Alchemy Competition.
• Deacon Xiao and other officials defended their opposition to Yang Chen, arguing that he had never intended to join North Mountain Main City.