Chapter Summaries

The First Elder recognized that the King of the Underworld strongly protected Su Zhan and sent him calming incense as a gesture of goodwill. The Sixth Elder returned to Underworld Mountain and was ordered to see the King of the Underworld, while Su Zhan sensed someone silently waiting outside his door.

• The King of the Underworld told the First Elder to have the Sixth Elder see him as soon as he returned.
• The First Elder decided not to offend Su Zhan and sent him calming incense, which Su Zhan accepted without dwelling on the reason.
• The First Elder intercepted the returning Sixth Elder and told him to report to the King of the Underworld immediately.
• The Sixth Elder worried about how to explain Xuan Qi's death as he headed to the King of the Underworld's great hall.
• Su Zhan sensed someone standing silently outside his door.

The God of Chaos visited Su Zhan and explained that the King of the Underworld wanted his help obtaining treasures from the Heavenly Painting Hall. Su Zhan learned that the dangerous task required recreating sword techniques shown in the hall’s murals to collect key fragments.

• The God of Chaos entered Su Zhan’s room after rendering the guards unconscious, and Su Zhan challenged him.
• The God of Chaos introduced himself and said he had come to test Su Zhan’s strength because the King of the Underworld was counting on him.
• Su Zhan admitted that the King of the Underworld had not told him what help he needed, and the God of Chaos suggested the task was dangerous.
• The God of Chaos explained that Su Zhan would need to recreate the Sword Cultivators’ techniques in the Heavenly Painting Hall’s murals to gather fragments and open the doors to the treasures.

Su Zhan rejected the God of Chaos’s attempt to sow discord and fought him to prove his strength. Meanwhile, the King of the Underworld questioned the Sixth Elder about Xuan Qi’s death, and the Sixth Elder denied killing him.

• The God of Chaos questioned Su Zhan about what was inside the hall and tried to make him doubt the King of the Underworld, but Su Zhan refused to be swayed.
• Su Zhan realized someone on Underworld Mountain had likely betrayed the King of the Underworld by revealing his presence and role.
• The God of Chaos attacked Su Zhan to test his strength, and they exchanged sword strikes inside the hall while the guards outside noticed nothing.
• The King of the Underworld confronted the Sixth Elder after Xuan Qi’s life lamp went out and asked whether he had killed Xuan Qi.
• The Sixth Elder denied seeing or killing Xuan Qi, admitted he had instructed him to provoke Su Zhan, and claimed he did not know how Xuan Qi died.

King of the Underworld grew furious at Sixth Elder’s excuses and ordered him confined while he investigated Xuan Qi’s death. First Elder then reported sword shadows inside Su Zhan’s hall, and Sixth Elder realized the God of Chaos he had brought in was fighting Su Zhan.

• King of the Underworld accused Sixth Elder of pretending to mourn Xuan Qi and ordered him not to leave until the matter was resolved.
• Sixth Elder blamed Su Zhan and claimed Su Zhan held a grudge against Xuan Qi, but King of the Underworld said Su Zhan had not spoken to him.
• Sixth Elder’s accusations further angered King of the Underworld, who rebuked him for slandering Su Zhan.
• First Elder reported that patrolling guards had seen sword shadows crossing inside Su Zhan’s hall.
• Sixth Elder realized the God of Chaos he had brought in was fighting Su Zhan and felt delighted.

The King of the Underworld, the First Elder, and the Sixth Elder found Su Zhan fighting the God of Chaos, who was impressed by Su Zhan’s swordsmanship and offered him a chance to change sides. Su Zhan refused and reaffirmed that he would help only the King of the Underworld.

• The King of the Underworld went to Su Zhan’s hall with the First Elder and the Sixth Elder after the guards were found asleep.
• The King of the Underworld saw Su Zhan suppressing the God of Chaos with his swordsmanship.
• The God of Chaos admitted that Su Zhan’s swordsmanship surpassed his own and offered to reward him if he switched sides.
• Su Zhan refused the offer and said he would help only the King of the Underworld.
• The King of the Underworld told the God of Chaos that he had heard Su Zhan’s answer.

The God of Chaos tried to recruit Su Zhan, but Su Zhan repeatedly refused and mocked him. The God of Chaos made one final offer, promising Su Zhan leadership of a first-rate sect if he helped him.

• The God of Chaos offered to recruit Su Zhan, but Su Zhan refused without hearing his terms.
• The King of the Underworld praised Su Zhan’s rejection and challenged the God of Chaos to fight outside.
• The God of Chaos accused Su Zhan of raising his price, but Su Zhan said he genuinely would not help him.
• The God of Chaos offered Su Zhan the position of sect master of a first-rate sect if he agreed to help him.

The God of Chaos tried to recruit Su Zhan as a puppet, but Su Zhan refused. The God of Chaos then revealed that the Sixth Elder had brought him there, prompting the King of the Underworld to suspect the Sixth Elder’s role in Xuan Qi’s death.

• The King of the Underworld warned Su Zhan that the God of Chaos’s offer would make him a puppet, and urged him not to trust the God of Chaos.
• The God of Chaos insisted Su Zhan would keep everything he gained through the sect, but Su Zhan refused and told him to leave.
• The Sixth Elder told the God of Chaos to stop disturbing Su Zhan, but the God of Chaos said the Sixth Elder had brought him there.
• The Sixth Elder denied the accusation and claimed the God of Chaos was sowing discord, while the King of the Underworld began to doubt him.
• The King of the Underworld questioned the Sixth Elder about whether he had brought him to deal with Su Zhan.

The King of the Underworld executed the Sixth Elder for betraying him, while the God of Chaos left after warning Su Zhan that they were enemies. The King of the Underworld then took Su Zhan to Underworld Mountain's treasury and offered him ten precious treasures as a reward.

• The God of Chaos mocked the Sixth Elder and revealed that he had planned to expose the betrayal to the King of the Underworld.
• The King of the Underworld cut off the Sixth Elder's head as he turned to beg for mercy.
• The King of the Underworld ordered the God of Chaos to leave, and the God of Chaos warned Su Zhan they were enemies before departing.
• The First Elder followed the God of Chaos out of Underworld Mountain, then returned to handle the Sixth Elder's remains and inform the other elders.
• The King of the Underworld brought Su Zhan to the treasury and selected ten precious items for him.

After the Sixth Elder's betrayal, the King of the Underworld rewarded Su Zhan and promised him half of Heavenly Painting Hall's treasures. As they set out for the hall, the Cangyue Sect tried to claim it, but the assembled visitors killed the sect's people and continued onward.

• The King of the Underworld promised Su Zhan half of everything in Heavenly Painting Hall, asking only for a particular treasure in return, and Su Zhan agreed.
• The God of Chaos gave up trying to recruit Su Zhan, dismissed his invited experts, and decided he would follow Su Zhan into Heavenly Painting Hall if necessary.
• The King of the Underworld replaced the traitorous Sixth Elder and led Su Zhan and the elders toward Heavenly Painting Hall as the God of Chaos and others set out too.
• The Cangyue Sect claimed Heavenly Painting Hall and demanded a Heart Demon Oath and half of the treasures from anyone seeking entry.
• The King of the Underworld and the other visitors attacked the Cangyue Sect, quickly killing its people.

Su Zhan and King of the Underworld reached the sinking Heavenly Painting Hall, where ancient murals revealed Sword Cultivators’ battle against the Spirit Devouring Insect Clan. Su Zhan prepared to study and imitate the Sword Intent depicted in them, while many others gathered nearby hoping to enter the hall.

• Su Zhan and King of the Underworld traveled past people trying to extort a fortune from those seeking to enter the Heavenly Painting Hall.
• King of the Underworld pointed out the hall, and Su Zhan saw it leaning as if it might sink into the desert.
• Su Zhan examined the murals, which showed Sword Cultivators defeating the Spirit Devouring Insect King and revealed their movements with profound Sword Intent.
• Su Zhan realized King of the Underworld had chosen him because of his prior success, but he worried about reproducing the murals’ unique Sword Intent.
• Su Zhan felt eager to attempt the challenge and hoped studying the Sword Dao in the murals would help him improve.
• Su Zhan and King of the Underworld arrived at the hall, where many people had gathered and several lay sprawled on the ground, including members of the Cangyue Sect.

The King of the Underworld brought Su Zhan to the Heavenly Painting Hall, where everyone argued over whose Sword Dao expert would attempt the mural's trial first. Su Zhan proposed that they all try together, but the others rejected him, and he challenged their ability to focus.

• The gathered sects and aristocratic families argued over who would attempt the mural's trial first.
• The King of the Underworld introduced Su Zhan as his chosen helper and insisted that Su Zhan go first.
• The others protested the King of the Underworld's decision and defended the Sword Dao experts they had invited.
• Su Zhan suggested that everyone attempt the trial together, prompting the others to call the idea impossible.
• Su Zhan asked how they could interfere with one another and told those unable to focus to return home.

Su Zhan challenged the hired experts to attempt the murals together, dismissing their objections and insisting he would not be affected by them. The group began the test, and Su Zhan started imitating the sword cultivator in the first mural as the onlookers expected him to fail.

• Su Zhan called the hired experts incompetent and proposed that everyone attempt the challenge together.
• The hired experts accepted, and the King of the Underworld pressed the others to stop objecting.
• Su Zhan warned the group not to blame outside interference if they failed.
• The challengers gathered before the murals and drew their swords, while Su Zhan waited until last to begin.
• Su Zhan imitated the sword cultivator in the first mural, prompting the onlookers to mock him for starting without studying it.

Su Zhan began the mural trial alongside the others, confident he could succeed, while the King of the Underworld defended his choice against widespread mockery. The first person failed after losing focus and blamed others, and the King of the Underworld ordered him to leave the desert.

• The King of the Underworld declared that Su Zhan would win and dismissed the elders' worries.
• The gathered people mocked Su Zhan for attempting all twelve murals at once.
• A participant became distracted, failed the first mural, and blamed someone nearby for disrupting him.
• The failed participant's sponsor shouted at him, prompting others to warn them not to disturb the trial.
• The King of the Underworld rebuked the failed participant and told him to leave the desert.

Su Zhan began copying the first mural's swordsmanship, surprising everyone with his precise recreation despite seeing it for the first time. The challenger beside him prepared to continue while the observers watched Su Zhan closely.

• The failed challenger left after fearing the King of the Underworld, and the person who hired him followed to reclaim the promised reward.
• The observers recalled that the murals grew harder at each stage and that no one had passed the final two stages.
• The man who had previously reached the tenth stage stood to Su Zhan's left, drawing attention from the crowd.
• Su Zhan watched the first mural's sword cultivator and copied his tricky swordsmanship with steady, precise strikes.
• The spectators were shocked by Su Zhan's performance, while the man beside him glanced at him once and returned his attention to his own challenge.

Su Zhan matched the Sword Cultivator in the mural perfectly, stunning the onlookers and confirming the King of the Underworld’s confidence in him. As Su Zhan continued the challenge, the God of Chaos secretly hoped he would reach the end and open the Heavenly Painting Hall.

• Su Zhan performed the mural’s sword movements with identical Sword Intent, shocking the observers despite this being his first visit.
• The onlookers who had dismissed Su Zhan hoped he would fail, while the King of the Underworld’s elders defended his ability to continue.
• The God of Chaos, concealed in the shadows, abandoned his own competitor and decided to rely on Su Zhan to reach the Heavenly Painting Hall.
• The elders of Underworld Mountain joined the God of Chaos in hoping Su Zhan would succeed.

Su Zhan passed the first mural's trial in the Heavenly Painting Hall, breaking one of the twelve phantom chains on its doors and drawing the attention of the gathered experts. As Qi Liang began the second trial, the others saw their own candidates growing impatient as they watched the two men.

• Those gathered accepted that Su Zhan had the strength and qualifications to help open the Heavenly Painting Hall, despite their earlier doubts about his demands.
• Su Zhan passed the first mural's trial, and one of the twelve phantom chains vanished from the hall's doors.
• Golden light wrapped around Su Zhan and Qi Liang after Qi Liang also passed the first trial, and Qi Liang moved on to challenge the second mural.
• The onlookers praised Qi Liang's past progress and dismissed Su Zhan's achievement, while the King of the Underworld chuckled at their reactions.
• The onlookers noticed that their invited candidates had grown impatient and kept glancing toward Su Zhan and Qi Liang.

Su Zhan began challenging the second mural while the other cultivators struggled to pass the first trial. After many failed and left, the remaining challengers stayed focused on the trials and the chance to seize the Heavenly Painting Hall.

• Su Zhan began challenging the second mural with fluid sword movements.
• The elders of Underworld Mountain mocked the cultivators who had not passed the first mural and praised Su Zhan's chances.
• About half of the twenty or thirty challengers failed the first trial, prompting their companions to curse them.
• King of the Underworld and the other elders ordered the failed cultivators to stop shouting and leave.
• The failed cultivators departed, while those still competing watched for someone to open the Heavenly Painting Hall.

Su Zhan and Qi Liang advanced through the mural trials, while Su Zhan drew inspiration from the Sword Cultivator’s encounter with the Spirit Devouring Insect Clan. As Su Zhan continued to impress, the King of the Underworld laughed off the other challengers’ criticism.

• The remaining challengers passed the first mural after struggling, then began the second while Su Zhan and Qi Liang were already more than halfway through it.
• Qi Liang moved through the second mural more easily because he had challenged it before, while Su Zhan kept pace with the Sword Cultivator’s every movement.
• Su Zhan sensed the Spirit Devouring Insect King’s formidable aura and admired the Sword Cultivator’s strength, swordsmanship, and courage.
• Su Zhan smiled with confidence, prompting the onlookers to accuse him of arrogance and tell the King of the Underworld that he had chosen poorly.
• The King of the Underworld mocked the onlookers for being jealous, and the people from Underworld Mountain and the hidden God of Chaos laughed.

A failed challenger attacked Su Zhan and Qi Liang while they tried to open the Heavenly Painting Hall, but the God of Chaos intervened to protect Su Zhan. The attack was stopped, though the King of the Underworld questioned the God of Chaos’s arrival and warned that a larger fight could expose them.

• A failed man blamed Su Zhan and Qi Liang for his failure and attacked them in a fit of rage.
• The King of the Underworld and Elder Chen moved to stop the attacker, but discovered that he had used a puppet as a decoy.
• The attacker appeared between Su Zhan and Qi Liang, stabbing at Su Zhan and striking toward Qi Liang.
• The God of Chaos seized the attacker’s shoulder, tore it off, and stopped his strike just short of Qi Liang.
• Su Zhan recognized the God of Chaos, who said he had come to prevent Young Master Su from being interrupted and warned that fighting too many people could expose them.

Su Zhan and Hun Tianlong hid among the black-clothed men while the elder searched for them. The elder led the group outside and split everyone into teams, unaware that Su Zhan was leading one of them farther away.

• Su Zhan erased the traces of himself and Hun Tianlong, then returned with him to the enemy ranks.
• The elder and his men realized Su Zhan and Hun Tianlong were missing and debated whether Su Zhan might still be outside.
• The elder decided to search outside, accepting that Hun Tianlong might be left behind.
• The elder divided the black-clothed men into teams of five and ordered them to signal with fireworks if they found anything.
• Su Zhan and Hun Tianlong joined a team with three nearby men, and Su Zhan led them away from the elder.