Chapter Summaries

Hong Yuan arranged for Yang Lie to become Young Marshal of the Dragon Cavalry Army, then sensed a disturbance as he traveled and cultivated. At the Nine Tribulations Chan Monastery, monks treating Dharma King Baosheng recognized the force afflicting him as a path of transformation beyond Subtlety.

• Hong Yuan told Yang Lie and Wu Duxiong that Song Yinglong had become a Corpse Puppet and proposed that Yang take control of the Dragon Cavalry Army.
• Wu Duxiong agreed to help Yang Lie serve as Young Marshal while Song Yinglong's death was concealed; with support from the Sea-Calming Alliance and Qinglingzi, Yang took the position without open opposition.
• Hong Yuan read the Heaven Ranking, noted the leaders above him, and continued cultivating the Mirror-Realm Mental Method and Taiyin Soul-Slaying Curse as his root bone and comprehension slowly improved.
• Hong Yuan sensed a faint stirring from the direction of the Imperial Capital and turned his attention toward it.
• At the Nine Tribulations Chan Monastery, Yandao, Yanjue, and Yankong failed to remove the force afflicting Dharma King Baosheng, and Yankong identified it as a fourth path beyond Subtlety.

Hong Yuan traveled with Nan Guyun to Flower Creek to meet the Huaxi Swordmaster, Feng Nanyan, and test their swordsmanship. Feng Nanyan promised to strike only once, then unleashed a sword light that filled the world.

• Hong Yuan considered whether the Green Coin Organization might uncover the connection between his identities and the Hundred-Poison Corpse Puppet.
• Hong Yuan praised Nan Guyun’s swordsmanship and left the Vajra Temple with him for Flower Creek.
• Hong Yuan and Nan Guyun arrived at the Huaxi Sword Sect, where Feng Nanyan received them in a secluded courtyard.
• Feng Nanyan acknowledged Hong Yuan’s reputation and proposed an exchange in which he would strike once.
• Feng Nanyan’s tranquil gaze erupted into a sword light that flooded the world.

Feng Nanyan and Hong Yuan clashed through their mental arts, with Hong Yuan absorbing the essence of Feng Nanyan’s Heart Sword. Afterward, Feng Nanyan praised Hong Yuan’s skill, mentioned the mysterious Void God Cult Master, and asked about unusual objects in Hong Yuan’s sleeve.

• Feng Nanyan unleashed his Heart Sword, turning his sword intent into an ocean of blades in Hong Yuan’s mind.
• Hong Yuan swallowed the sword light with his eyes and counterattacked with a shadow transformed into an arrow.
• Feng Nanyan merged the sword light into himself and met the arrow, leaving a spot of blood on his brow as Nan Guyun felt their mental clash.
• Hong Yuan praised the Heart Sword and realized he had absorbed the essence of Feng Nanyan’s swordsmanship.
• Feng Nanyan admitted Hong Yuan surpassed him in their mental clash and said only the Void God Cult Master might challenge him in the south.
• Feng Nanyan asked Hong Yuan about unusual objects in his sleeve.

Hong Yuan showed Feng Nanyan a failing Spirit Vessel and the Nirvana Dharma Eye, which stirred despair when activated. Feng Nanyan connected the Dharma Eye to a legend that it might be a remnant of the Heavenly Demon, the Sage Emperor’s ancient foe.

• Hong Yuan showed Feng Nanyan a cracked Spirit Vessel, and Feng identified it as a vessel of the Phantom-Soul Astral Art.
• Feng explained that another practitioner with a matching astral body could wield the Spirit Vessel’s power, then accepted it as a gift from Hong Yuan.
• Hong Yuan activated the Nirvana Dharma Eye, and its ripple plunged Feng Nanyan and Nan Guyun into bleak despair until Feng broke its influence.
• Feng examined the Dharma Eye and recalled a tale of the Heavenly Demon, an immortal evil whom the Sage Emperor had divided into countless scattered pieces.
• Feng suggested the Dharma Eye might be one of the Heavenly Demon’s remains, while admitting the legend could be false.

The Yinshan Sect planned to use a curse and a Spirit Vessel against the Myriad Calamities Daoist at Wuwang Peak. Hong Yuan left the Huaxi Sword Sect with Nan Guyun to watch the approaching duel, while rumors of his possible arrival unsettled travelers.

• Yinshan Sect members argued over recovering the Nirvana Dharma Eye from the Myriad Calamities Daoist, and a Yin-Patrolling Judge prepared a Blood Marrow Entangling Silk Curse using the Daoist's hair and old clothing.
• The Burial Earth Venerable and Yinshan Goddess decided to use the sect's Spirit Vessel against the Myriad Calamities Daoist at Wuwang Peak on the twentieth day of the second month.
• Hong Yuan studied the Huaxi Sword Sect's sword repository and read the Old Man of Flower Creek's account of the world's customs and martial-world lore.
• Nan Guyun told Hong Yuan that Bei Mingzi and Yuan Nutao's duel was approaching, and Hong Yuan left the Huaxi Sword Sect with him for Wuwang Peak.
• Travelers in Longyuan Prefecture discussed the gathering factions and wondered whether the Myriad Calamities Daoist would attend.

At a tea stall, Sword Saint Dugu Cheng’s young disciple Yang Yin killed Niu Yidao and disparaged the Myriad Calamities Daoist, while the other swordsmen revealed that their leader was Xiao Jiuli. Hong Yuan left Nan Guyun to confront Dugu Cheng’s disciples, and Nan Guyun hurried after them.

• Yang Yin challenged Niu Yidao after he mocked the Sword Saint’s disciples, then killed him with a swift sword strike.
• Xiao Jiuli stopped Yang Yin from continuing to insult the Myriad Calamities Daoist and led the disciples out of the tea stall.
• The martial artists recognized the swordsmen as Dugu Cheng’s disciples and identified Yang Yin as the Child Sword and Xiao Jiuli as the foremost disciple.
• Nan Guyun told Hong Yuan that Dugu Cheng was regarded as the south’s foremost Pill Path master and ranked fourth on the Heaven Ranking.
• Hong Yuan urged Nan Guyun to deal with the Sword Saint’s disciples, then vanished; Nan Guyun called out and chased after them.

Nan Guyun challenged the Sword Saint Sect disciples and defeated Yang Yin before facing Xiao Jiuli. Hong Yuan bypassed the guarded routes to Wuwang Peak and reached its summit ahead of Bei Mingzi and Yuan Nutao’s duel.

• Yang Yin complained about people praising the Myriad Calamities Daoist, while Xiao Jiuli explained that Yuwen Xuan had gone to court Miss Hua of the Profound Ice Sect.
• Nan Guyun caught up with the Sword Saint Sect disciples and asked to compare swordsmanship with them.
• Yang Yin attacked Nan Guyun, who stopped his sword with a sheathed blade and left him defeated.
• Xiao Jiuli accepted Nan Guyun’s invitation to fight, and the two exchanged sword blows as martial artists watched.
• Hong Yuan ignored the guarded routes and climbed Wuwang Peak using his lightness techniques.
• Hong Yuan found a quiet corner on the summit and focused on practicing his martial arts while factions gathered and fought nearby.

Hong Yuan cultivated on Wuwang Peak while martial artists and powerful factions gathered for the Qionghua Gathering. After the Profound Ice Sect Master and the heir to the Wu-Yue Kingdom arrived, an unidentified fighter called out Bei Mingzi and demanded their decisive battle begin.

• Hong Yuan refined his mental arts and practiced fusing a seventh force into his Six Voids Force without disturbing the snow around him.
• Nan Guyun and Xiao Jiuli reached the summit of Wuwang Peak after a sword duel and a race up the mountain, with Nan Guyun arriving first.
• Xie Lingjun identified powerful arrivals including Li Qianjun and Tu Hai, while Nan Guyun searched the summit for Hong Yuan.
• The Profound Ice Sect Master arrived with the Flower Fairy, Yuwen Xuan, and two formidable guards, drawing attention from the gathered masters.
• Xiao Jiuli greeted the Profound Ice Sect Master and Yuwen Xuan, and then a fighter cleared the arena and challenged Bei Mingzi to a decisive battle.

Yuan Nutao arrived to challenge Bei Mingzi, but a black-robed man interrupted the confrontation and revealed a familiar connection to the Profound Ice Sect Master. The man was recognized as Mister Yu the Great, while his excited reunion with her left the gathered martial artists stunned.

• Yuan Nutao entered the arena and challenged Bei Mingzi, drawing the attention of the gathered martial artists.
• A black-robed man arrived with extraordinary lightness skill and sent Yuan Nutao’s flying earth and stones back at him.
• Bei Mingzi arrived and warned Yuan Nutao not to attack the black-robed man, then greeted him as Mister Yu the Great.
• The black-robed man ignored Yuan Nutao and joyfully called the Profound Ice Sect Master “Little White,” saying he had searched for her for years.
• The Profound Ice Sect Master told Brother Yu to conduct himself with dignity, while Xie Lingjun and the others recognized him as the Divine Sword in the Wind, Mister Yu the Great.

The gathering on Wuwang Peak learned that Mister Yu the Great was Yu Linfeng of the Langya Yu Family, and that he had a past romance with the Profound Ice Sect Master. The gossip ended when Yuan Nutao and Bei Mingzi began their long-awaited duel.

• Xie Lingjun, Chen Liujia, and Wang Qiying respectfully greeted Yu Linfeng, while the gathered masters reacted warily to his presence.
• Yu Linfeng pursued the Profound Ice Sect Master, calling her Little White and recalling their time together, but she rejected his advances.
• Yuwen Xuan considered using Yu Linfeng and the Profound Ice Sect Master’s past to improve his ties with both of them.
• The Profound Ice Sect Master ordered Yuan Nutao and Bei Mingzi to fight, and the crowd turned its attention to the duel.
• Bei Mingzi warned Yuan Nutao to withdraw, but Yuan Nutao rejected the warning and attacked with his Sea-Covering Staff.

Yuan Nutao and Bei Mingzi fought fiercely on Wuwang Peak as Bei Mingzi dismissed his Heaven Ranking and revealed he had come seeking stronger opponents. The appearance of Myriad Calamities Daoist drew the crowd’s attention, while a black-robed man used a strange straw effigy and iron nail to make Hong Yuan open his eyes.

• Yuan Nutao attacked Bei Mingzi with the Sea-Calming Strike, but Bei Mingzi evaded his attacks and stopped his staff with his sword.
• Bei Mingzi told Yuan Nutao that he considered the battle an appetizer before challenging the Profound Ice Sect Master and Yu Linfeng.
• Yu Linfeng confronted a black-robed man for looking at the Profound Ice Sect Master, but she stopped them and the man withdrew.
• The Profound Ice Sect Master and Hua Xiangrong discussed the absent Myriad Calamities Daoist and Hua Xiangrong’s incomplete astral body.
• Yuan Nutao’s strike shattered a boulder and revealed Myriad Calamities Daoist sitting behind it, prompting the spectators to gather around.
• The Profound Ice Sect Master played a series of notes, and the black-robed man approached Hong Yuan and pierced a straw effigy with an iron nail, causing Hong Yuan to open his eyes.

Hong Yuan ignored the crowd while advancing his mastery of force, but the Yin-Patrolling Judge attacked him with a curse. Hong Yuan effortlessly resisted the curse and strode through the air toward his attacker, whose fate was left hanging as Hong Yuan clenched his fist.

• The Yin-Patrolling Judge unleashed the Blood Marrow Entangling Silk Curse at Hong Yuan while the Profound Ice Sect Master and Hua Xiangrong watched.
• Hong Yuan's blood and vital energy dispelled the curse, and he recognized the black-robed attacker as the Yin-Patrolling Judge.
• Hong Yuan rose into the air and walked toward the Yin-Patrolling Judge, demonstrating a new ability as his mastery of force neared eight-force unity.
• The Yin-Patrolling Judge detonated a straw effigy wrapped with Hong Yuan's hair and old clothing, sending blood-red ribbons toward him.
• Hong Yuan passed through the ribbons unharmed and clenched his fist, leaving the Yin-Patrolling Judge unable to move.

Hong Yuan killed a Yin-Patrolling Judge with one punch and accused the Profound Ice Sect Master of being tied to the Yinshan Sect. As she threatened him with the gathered experts, Hua Xiangrong unleashed the taotie from her winecup-shaped earring over everyone on Wuwang Peak.

• Hong Yuan burned away the Blood Marrow Entangling Silk Curse and killed the black-robed Yin-Patrolling Judge with a punch that scattered his remains across Wuwang Peak.
• Hong Yuan sensed a connection between the Profound Ice Sect Master's aura and the judge's, then confronted her as Bei Mingzi, Yuan Nutao, and the gathered factions reacted to his strength.
• Hong Yuan accused the Profound Ice Sect of being a front for the Yinshan Sect and asked whether the Profound Ice Sect Master was the Burial Earth Venerable or the Death-Crossing Venerable.
• The Profound Ice Sect Master denied the accusation, then warned Hong Yuan that two or three hundred experts stood against him as her smile beguiled the crowd.
• Hua Xiangrong chanted and released the taotie from her winecup-shaped earring, spreading its red light over everyone present.

Hua Xiangrong used the Dipper Mother Bewitching Heart Astral Art to overwhelm the fighters on Wuwang Peak with murderous desires, but Hong Yuan resisted their attacks and confronted the Profound Ice Sect Master about her Yinshan Sect ties. The Sect Master admitted her allegiance and asked Yu Linfeng to help capture Hong Yuan.

• Hua Xiangrong unleashed the Dipper Mother Bewitching Heart Astral Art, driving most of the fighters on Wuwang Peak into a murderous frenzy against Hong Yuan.
• Hua Xiangrong struck Yuwen Xuan with a blood arrow that transformed into a taotie and entered his eyes, while Nan Guyun shouted for the crowd to kill Hong Yuan.
• Hong Yuan repelled the attackers with a counterstrike and a stomp that sent snow surging through the crowd, while the Profound Ice Sect Master questioned how long he could resist so many experts.
• Hong Yuan identified Hua Xiangrong's art and asked the Profound Ice Sect Master whether she belonged to the Yinshan Sect; she admitted it and said her cult had ordered her to capture him.
• The Profound Ice Sect Master told Yu Linfeng she had kept her distance to avoid involving him and asked him to help her capture Hong Yuan.

Hong Yuan fought off the martial artists driven by Hua Xiangrong’s Spirit Vessel and revealed overwhelming power on Wuwang Peak. He herded the fighters together beneath a vast hand descending from the sky.

• Yu Linfeng promised to help the Profound Ice Sect Master recover her sect’s sacred relic, while Hong Yuan mocked their reunion and fought off the charging martial artists.
• Hong Yuan disarmed Nan Guyun, struck him aside, and used the Soul-Shaking Bell to break the Spirit Vessel’s influence and clear the martial artists’ minds.
• The Myriad Calamities Daoist unleashed a storm that swept the fighters across the summit and forced them together.
• Xiao Jiuli, Bei Mingzi, Yuwen Xuan, and the others realized Hong Yuan had gathered them beneath a huge hand that blotted out the sky and descended upon them.

Hong Yuan faced a combined assault from the experts at Wuwang Peak, Hua Xiangrong, the Profound Ice Sect Master, and Yu Linfeng. He shattered their attacks and left many fighters dead or gravely wounded, while Hua Xiangrong was consumed by spectral fire.

• Bei Mingzi, Yuan Nutao, Yuwen Xuan, and nearly twenty experts joined forces to strike the enormous palm descending over Wuwang Peak.
• Hua Xiangrong used a strange rune to trap Hong Yuan in a dark abyss and attack his mind with spectral fire.
• The Profound Ice Sect Master bound Hong Yuan’s neck with her sleeves, and Yu Linfeng struck his back, but neither attack harmed him.
• Hong Yuan released the martial force he had absorbed, blasting the gathered experts away and killing Li Qianjun.
• Hong Yuan used the Taiyin Soul-Slaying Curse to break Hua Xiangrong’s illusion, and spectral fire engulfed her.
• Hong Yuan’s force hurled the Profound Ice Sect Master and Yu Linfeng to the ground.

Hong Yuan overwhelmed Yu Linfeng and the Profound Ice Sect Master after Hua Xiangrong burned to ash, revealing the gap between his power and theirs. He buried the Profound Ice Sect Master, took the earring Spirit Vessel, and carried the crippled Yu Linfeng away.

• Hong Yuan’s force crushed the gathering’s defenses, and Hua Xiangrong burned from within until only her earring Spirit Vessel remained.
• Yu Linfeng recognized that Hong Yuan surpassed Grandmaster-level fighters and tried to persuade him to make peace by revealing a secret about Great Yin’s imperial family.
• Hong Yuan attacked Yu Linfeng and the Profound Ice Sect Master with one overwhelming palm, defeating both despite Yu Linfeng’s sword and the Profound Ice Sect Master’s Burial Earth Method.
• Hong Yuan examined the Profound Ice Sect Master’s martial arts, then buried her beneath earthen walls after Yu Linfeng pleaded for her life.
• Hong Yuan retrieved the earring Spirit Vessel, seized the crippled Yu Linfeng by the neck, and vanished into the clouds.

The survivors on Wuwang Peak struggled to comprehend the devastation Hong Yuan had caused, while word of his overwhelming power threatened to spread throughout the martial world. Zhang Shenxiao arrived after breaking through his bottleneck, unaware of the battle’s aftermath.

• The survivors surveyed the bloodied summit and recognized that Hong Yuan had crushed Yu Linfeng and many other experts with a single palm.
• Yuan Nutao praised the chance to witness the pinnacle of martial arts, while Bei Mingzi silently stared toward the clouds where Hong Yuan had departed.
• Yuwen Xuan learned that his arm had been severed and that Old Mu was dead, but the Stone Attendant warned him that they could not avenge themselves against Hong Yuan.
• Tu Hai predicted that news of the battle would reach the factions, military forces, and imperial court across the realm.
• Zhang Shenxiao arrived at Wuwang Peak after perfecting his martial arts and glimpsing the realm of true art.

Hong Yuan questioned the dying Yu Linfeng, who revealed that the Rebirth Ferry opposed Great Yin and that the imperial family had spent centuries cultivating martial masters to raise “gods.” After Yu Linfeng shared what he knew, Hong Yuan killed and buried him, leaving the threat of Great Yin’s hidden power unresolved.

• Hong Yuan restored Yu Linfeng’s vitality enough for him to speak, then revealed his true appearance as the Divine Prison Spear Lord and Myriad Calamities Daoist.
• Yu Linfeng explained that the Rebirth Ferry united forces opposed to Great Yin and that he had come to Longyuan Prefecture to investigate the missing Ferryer known as Mr. Wuhen.
• Yu Linfeng said the Rebirth Ferry was rumored to have been founded by the Limitless Daoist and claimed Great Yin deliberately caused conflicts to cultivate masters for harvest at martial gatherings.
• Yu Linfeng warned Hong Yuan that Great Yin had been raising “gods” for hundreds of years, though he knew little about the imperial family’s core secrets.
• After answering Hong Yuan’s further questions, Yu Linfeng asked him to spare the Yu family from revenge, and Hong Yuan instead promised to kill them swiftly if they sought it.
• Hong Yuan killed Yu Linfeng with a burst of force, buried his corpse, and saw rows of small text appear before his eyes.

Hong Yuan reached the ninth tier in the blessed land space, gained a huge increase in strength, and tested his ability to control matter with his mind. As he relaxed in Longyuan Prefecture, news of his massacre at Wuwang Peak spread across the world, earning him the name the Old Devil of Ten Thousand Tribulations.

• Hong Yuan reached the ninth tier of ascending the platform, saw heavenly illusions, and found that his root bone had risen to nine.
• Hong Yuan unleashed his strengthened blood and qi to smash through a gorge, then used his mind to lift a stone before traveling to Longyuan Prefecture.
• Hong Yuan relaxed aboard a pleasure boat while Qin Xin played the zither beside him.
• Martial artists returning from Wuwang Peak spread news that the Myriad Calamities Daoist had killed Hua Xiangrong, the Burial Earth Venerable, and Yu Linfeng, among many others.
• The Myriad Calamities Daoist became known across the land as the Old Devil of Ten Thousand Tribulations, and the third month arrived.