Recaps

Jiang Ning received Lin Qingyi’s news about a coming secret realm at Yang Lake and a letter from Princess Little Seventeen, then left the Water-Moon Sword Palace for Dongling City. In the wilderness, he spent 50,000 source energy to begin breaking the Indestructible Vajra Body’s limit.

• A woman surnamed Lin delivered Jiang Ning letters from Lin Qingyi and Princess Little Seventeen; Lin Qingyi’s letter reported that an unexplored secret realm might open above Yang Lake in mid-to-late August.
• Jiang Ning wrote a reply for Lin Qingyi and decided to leave for Dongling City, where Shangguan Guyun’s arrival threatened the safety of the imprisoned Five Swords Sect members.
• Jiang Ning told the Water-Moon Sword Palace patrol captain to continue paying tribute, then departed by boat while Xiao Emei lamented that he had left without saying goodbye.
• In a mountain forest, Jiang Ning finished training the Indestructible Vajra Body to 30,000 points and spent 50,000 source energy to break through.

Shangguan Guyun gathered Water-Blue Fairy Aunt, Spirit Serpent Gentleman, and Xiao Hongyuan to plan Jiang Ning’s assassination, while Jiang Ning completed a transformation that granted him the Six-Foot Golden Body. Confident in his strengthened foundation, Jiang Ning decided to complete his fifth blood replacement before returning to Dongling City.

• Shangguan Guyun told Water-Blue Fairy Aunt, Spirit Serpent Gentleman, and Xiao Hongyuan that Jiang Ning had to die, and Water-Blue Fairy Aunt agreed to join their attack.
• Jiang Ning completed his third limit break, turning his skin membranes golden and gaining the Six-Foot Golden Body trait.
• Jiang Ning manifested the Six-Foot Golden Body and tested its power by uprooting a tree, racing through the forest, and splitting a mountainside with one punch.
• Jiang Ning saw that he had spent much of his Source Energy but was satisfied with his gains and the strength of his body.
• Jiang Ning decided to complete his fifth blood replacement before setting out for Dongling City.

Jiang Ning completed his fifth blood change, replenished his depleted body with Crimsonflame Blood Crystals, and then advanced Water Mastery to its ninth limit break. He gained Water Source Affinity and tested its enhanced effects in a secluded pool.

• Jiang Ning completed his fifth blood change, replacing all thirty-six teeth as his body renewed itself.
• Jiang Ning consumed more than twenty Crimsonflame Blood Crystals to restore his energy and raised his source energy total above eighty thousand.
• Jiang Ning rested overnight, then used five thousand source energy points to advance Water Mastery to its ninth limit break.
• Jiang Ning discovered that Water Spirit Affinity had transformed into Water Source Affinity, which let him devour a water source's vitality and greatly enhanced his senses and recovery in water.
• Jiang Ning traveled to a secluded pool, entered the water, and sensed every part of it, including the fish, shrimp, and crabs below.

Jiang Ning absorbed life force from a pool, then advanced Water Affinity and gained the ability to command wind, rain, thunder, and lightning. He next broke through Wind-Thunder Steps, comprehended the conception of wind, and discovered his movement speed could surpass sound.

• Jiang Ning absorbed the pool’s life force, killing the fish and shrimp, then stopped when he realized the pool was becoming dead water and the recovery he gained was meager.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique and gained 87 experience before spending 10,000 source energy to break Water Affinity through its tenth limit.
• Jiang Ning gained the Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning trait and demonstrated that he could summon lightning from a clear sky and create a powerful whirlwind.
• Jiang Ning decided to improve Wind-Thunder Steps to pursue the conception of wind and spent 5,000 source energy on its sixth limit break.
• Jiang Ning comprehended the conception of wind, raced across the landscape, and found that his movement speed had increased by about twenty percent and could exceed sound.

Jiang Ning advanced his Wind-Thunder Steps while traveling toward Dongling City and helped Qing'er at Ten-Li Pavilion, unknowingly accelerating the growth of her spirit body with his divine blood. Shangguan Guyun and his allies set out to ambush Jiang Ning outside the city, while Jiang Ning recognized that he had been targeted and continued toward them without fear.

• Jiang Ning gained the Wind Whisperer trait and continued accumulating Wind-Thunder Steps experience as he traveled toward Dongling City.
• At Ten-Li Pavilion, Jiang Ning bought Qing'er food and gave her broken silver after learning she had survived the calamity of war.
• Jiang Ning infused a cup of tea with his blood, and Qing'er drank it; her hidden consciousness recognized that the divine blood had accelerated her spirit body's growth.
• Qing'er revealed that she had pretended to be ill to protect herself, and Jiang Ning praised her cleverness before leaving with Shrinking Earth to Inches.
• Shangguan Guyun, Spirit Serpent Gentleman, Xiao Hongyuan, and Water-Blue Fairy Aunt agreed to kill Jiang Ning outside Dongling City and set out to intercept him.
• Jiang Ning noticed hostile watchers and carrier pigeons at Ten-Li Pavilion, realized someone had targeted him, and calmly continued toward the city.

Jiang Ning waited in the forest for four veteran grandmasters who had come to kill him after he destroyed the Five Swords Sect. When they attacked together, his perfected Indestructible Vajra Body withstood their blows, and the chapter ended as Shangguan Guyun prepared their final all-out assault.

• Jiang Ning sensed Shangguan Guyun, Xiao Hongyuan, Spirit Serpent Gentleman, and Water-Blue Fairy Aunt approaching and chose to face them in the forest.
• The four grandmasters recognized that Jiang Ning had detected them, then advanced rather than retreating.
• Jiang Ning identified Water-Blue Fairy Aunt as the masked fighter he had defeated with one punch when she attacked Zhao Yulong.
• Xiao Hongyuan opened the fight with a powerful saber strike, but Jiang Ning's golden body left him unharmed.
• Shangguan Guyun, Spirit Serpent Gentleman, Xiao Hongyuan, and Water-Blue Fairy Aunt attacked Jiang Ning together, while he stood firm behind his layered defenses.
• Shangguan Guyun realized the four would have to flee if their combined final assault failed, and he urged them to give it everything.

Jiang Ning revealed the Six-Foot Golden Body and killed Shangguan Guyun, Spirit Serpent Gentleman, Xiao Hongyuan, and Water-Blue Fairy Aunt after they ambushed him. He recovered the fallen grandmasters’ weapons and buried Xiao Hongyuan, whose breakthrough in battle had come too late to save him.

• Jiang Ning’s golden defenses withstood the four grandmasters’ attacks, and Shangguan Guyun recognized his Six-Foot Golden Body as the four tried to flee.
• Jiang Ning killed Shangguan Guyun with one blow and struck down Spirit Serpent Gentleman as Xiao Hongyuan fled.
• Xiao Hongyuan turned to fight, broke through in his saber intent, and earned Jiang Ning’s praise before Jiang Ning killed him.
• Jiang Ning chased down Water-Blue Fairy Aunt and killed her with a single strike that scattered her body into a blood mist.
• Jiang Ning retrieved Shangguan Guyun’s three-foot sword and Spirit Serpent Gentleman’s flexible sword, then took Xiao Hongyuan’s weapon and buried him.

After defeating four grandmasters, Jiang Ning returned safely to his household, studied the Five Swords Sect’s martial manuals, and discovered the power of the Burnblood Secret Art. He learned that a drop of his blood essence strengthened Linglong, then prepared to act against Divine Sword Manor before it could move its resources.

• Jiang Ning returned to Dongling City, reunited with Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan, and learned that nothing serious had happened at home.
• Jiang Ning read the martial manuals collected from the Five Swords Sect and tried the Burnblood Secret Art, condensing a luminous drop of blood essence.
• Jiang Ning fed the blood essence to Linglong, who gained five years of cultivation after swallowing it.
• Linglong and Old Softshell reported that a grandmaster had watched the house while Jiang Ning was away, and Jiang Ning summoned Lü Yi to call several allies to his residence.
• Jiang Ning decided to set out that day and destroy Divine Sword Manor before it could transfer its resources.

Jiang Ning prepared to move against Divine Sword Manor and the Sky-Pervading Sect after revealing that he had killed Shangguan Guyun and three other Grandmasters. Zhao Yulong offered the Inspection Office’s support, and he and Bai Luoyu left discussing how Jiang Ning might already be approaching the ranks of top-tier Grandmasters.

• Jiang Ning ordered Zhou Xing, Xie Xiaoj iu, and Feng Jiเก to gather their teams and head to Sunset Valley near Divine Sword Manor.
• Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu arrived, and Jiang Ning confirmed that he had killed Shangguan Guyun, Water-Blue Fairy Aunt, the Spirit Serpent Gentleman, and Xiao Hongyuan.
• Jiang Ning agreed with Zhao Yulong to split the spoils from attacks on Divine Sword Manor and the Sky-Pervading Sect, giving the Inspection Office twenty percent.
• Jiang Ning gave Zhou Xing, Xie Xiaoj iu, and Feng Jiเก jade bottles of medicine before they departed.
• After leaving, Zhao Yulong told Bai Luoyu that Jiang Ning’s strength was likely close to that of a top-tier Grandmaster and explained the ranks beyond ordinary Grandmasters.

Jiang Ning cultivated Wind-Thunder Steps while preparing to destroy Divine Sword Manor and Sky-Pervading Sect and face the dangers surrounding the Yang Lake Secret Grotto-Heaven. After Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu worried that his plans would expose him to the Heaven-Answering Alliance, Jiang Ning completed the art’s sixth limit break and began a breakthrough.

• Jiang Ning gave Xie Xiaoj iu a drop of essence blood and told her to digest it before he tested her strength.
• Jiang Ning considered the strength of Nan Zhiwei, Immortal Crossing Sect, and the Heaven-Answering Alliance, but decided to keep targeting Divine Sword Manor and Sky-Pervading Sect and to enter the Yang Lake Secret Grotto-Heaven.
• Jiang Ning trained Wind-Thunder Steps in the Dongling Mountain Range and refined the essence of the sun while Zhao Yulong and Bai Luoyu led their people toward Sunset Valley.
• Bai Luoyu told Zhao Yulong that Jiang Ning planned to go to Yang Lake, and Zhao Yulong warned that the Heaven-Answering Alliance could exploit his absence inside the secret grotto-heaven.
• Jiang Ning completed Wind-Thunder Steps’ sixth limit break, spent 10,000 source energy, and began absorbing the insights of a breakthrough.

Jiang Ning tested his newly acquired Deep Pool and Still Wind, discovering that its devastating power could pulverize everything within a hundred zhang but that his body could withstand only three steps. After replenishing his strength, he set out for Sunset Valley to join the move against Divine Sword Manor, and the chapter ended with a white-browed elder noticing him cross the Cang River.

• Jiang Ning activated Deep Pool and Still Wind, whose first step suppressed everything nearby and whose later steps unleashed destructive force.
• After three steps left him badly injured, Jiang Ning saw that the divine power had turned the surrounding trees and rocks to powder, then recovered quickly.
• Jiang Ning ate three Crimsonflame Blood Crystals and prepared to travel toward Sunset Valley while continuing to train Wind-Thunder Steps.
• Jiang Ning headed for Divine Sword Manor, reasoning that the Inspection Office had to strike before the manor and the Heaven-Answering Alliance learned of Shangguan Guyun's death.
• At the Cang River, Jiang Ning crossed the wide river on foot over the waves, drawing praise and curiosity from a white-browed elder and his granddaughter aboard a pleasure boat.

Jiang Ning led Zhao Yulong and the Inspection Office’s forces to surround Divine Sword Manor, where they confronted Shangguan Jincheng and called Sun Ming out. Sun Ming revealed that he had mastered sword intent and crossed the barrier between heaven and man, leaving Zhao Yulong facing the commandery’s strongest fighter.

• Jiang Ning joined Zhao Yulong, Su Zhi, and Bai Luoyu at Sunset Valley, and the Inspection Office force marched toward Divine Sword Manor.
• Shangguan Jincheng learned that Zhao Yulong’s men had surrounded the manor, ordered its warning bell rung five times, and sent for Sun Ming and the former manor lord.
• Zhao Yulong presented Shangguan Jincheng with a list of people accused of breaking Great Xia’s laws and demanded they come to Dongling City for questioning.
• After a manor member insulted Zhao Yulong, Zhao Yulong struck back and overpowered Shangguan Jincheng, then stopped when the warning bell began ringing.
• Sun Ming appeared at the manor entrance and revealed his breakthrough, displaying sword intent that convinced Zhao Yulong he had crossed the barrier between heaven and man.

Sun Ming confronted Zhao Yulong at Divine Sword Manor and refused to surrender the manor’s people when Zhao rejected his compromise. Meanwhile, Jiang Ning discovered the manor’s hidden foundation, Shangguan Feilong, and their clash escalated as Feilong prepared another strike.

• Sun Ming offered to hand over fifty people and punish the other accused, but Zhao Yulong refused, prompting Sun Ming to challenge him and reveal that Shangguan Guyun had likely been captured or killed.
• Jiang Ning broke into Divine Sword Manor’s treasury, plundered its treasures into his Mustard-Seed Leaf, and encountered Shangguan Feilong.
• Shangguan Feilong demanded the return of the treasures, then drew and launched the family’s Divine Sword with the Thunderclap Sword Cry technique.
• Sun Ming arrived and watched Jiang Ning knock Feilong’s sword away with his fingers, though Jiang Ning was forced back three steps.
• Shangguan Feilong performed the Heavenly Immortal from Beyond the Heavens technique as Zhao Yulong and Shangguan Jincheng arrived, and Feilong’s sword began gathering power for another strike.

Jiang Ning overwhelmed Shangguan Feilong’s divine-sword attack and then battled Sun Ming, who wielded the Shangguan Clan’s spirit sword and approached the strength of a top Grandmaster. After a prolonged clash, Sun Ming was still retreating under Jiang Ning’s relentless attacks, with no sign that he could turn the tide.

• Jiang Ning caught Shangguan Feilong’s divine sword barehanded and held it fast despite its spirit’s attempts to break free.
• Sun Ming struck Zhao Yulong aside and sent sword light at Jiang Ning, giving Shangguan Feilong a chance to retrieve the blade.
• Shangguan Feilong passed the divine sword to Sun Ming, who bonded with it and felt his sword intent and fighting strength surge.
• Jiang Ning struck Sun Ming twice, sending him flying and injuring him despite the spirit sword’s automatic defenses.
• Sun Ming unleashed River Sword Intent, but Jiang Ning used Fire Eye to spot its weak point and shatter it, injuring bystanders with the scattered sword light.
• Jiang Ning pressed Sun Ming through several courtyards, breaking each River Sword Intent and forcing Sun Ming to defend and retreat.

Jiang Ning defeated Sun Ming and subdued Divine Sword Manor, then examined the Shangguan Clan’s spirit sword and began refining it until it pleaded for mercy. The sword asked him to recognize it as his master through a blood ritual, and Jiang Ning considered its extraordinary ability to help martial artists comprehend sword intent.

• Jiang Ning unleashed his Blade Bone and full Saber Intent, overcame Sun Ming’s spirit sword, and cut Sun Ming down.
• Jiang Ning ordered Divine Sword Manor to surrender, and Shangguan Feilong and Shangguan Jincheng accepted the manor’s defeat.
• Jiang Ning assessed the strength of Shangguan Feilong and Sun Ming, checked his growing source energy, and took up the inherited divine sword.
• Jiang Ning threatened to refine the spirit sword with Glazed Divine Fire, and it begged him to stop and offered to communicate mind to mind.
• The spirit sword asked Jiang Ning to drip blood onto its blade to recognize him as its master, while Jiang Ning reflected on its power to help others comprehend sword intent.

Jiang Ning claimed Sword Nine, learned that it could help others comprehend sword intent, and gave it to Xie Xiaoj iu before spending Source Energy to break through his Wood-Chopping Saber Technique. His saber intent reached a higher level, leaving him stronger as he prepared for the Yang Lake Secret Grotto-Heaven.

• Jiang Ning refined Sword Nine, learned its spirit could help people comprehend sword intent, and reached beginner-level sword intent himself.
• Jiang Ning gave Sword Nine to Xie Xiaoj iu and ordered it to help her master sword intent within a month.
• Jiang Ning learned Zhao Yulong and Shangguan Feilong had not yet reported back about the Sky-Pervading Sect, then considered how to strengthen himself before visiting the Yang Lake Secret Grotto-Heaven.
• Xie Xiaoj iu oversaw Divine Sword Manor and found manuals containing the Awakening of Insects saber intent and several incomplete seasonal scrolls.
• Jiang Ning spent fifty thousand Source Energy to break through the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique, producing a vast saber-intent phenomenon over Divine Sword Manor.
• Jiang Ning saw that his saber intent had risen another level and gained the Peerless in Saber and Sword trait.

Jiang Ning studied Divine Sword Manor’s incomplete solar-term scrolls and rapidly mastered several artistic conceptions with help from Sword Nine. He discovered that mastering four spring solar terms had revealed the higher-level Springtime Canon, which remained incomplete until he learned Clear and Bright and Grain Rain.

• Xie Xiaoj iu brought Jiang Ning Divine Sword Manor’s martial arts manuals and incomplete solar-term scrolls, including Beginning of Spring.
• Jiang Ning comprehended Beginning of Spring and advanced it from Minor Accomplishment to Perfection by practicing with his saber and Sword Nine.
• Jiang Ning studied the Rain Water scroll and raised Rain Water to Mastery with Sword Nine’s help.
• Jiang Ning comprehended Spring Equinox and discovered the Springtime Canon (Fragment), a higher-level art that required the Clear and Bright and Grain Rain conceptions to complete.
• Jiang Ning resolved to gather the remaining spring solar-term scrolls from Divine Sword Manor.

Jiang Ning guarded Divine Sword Manor while reading its accumulated books and consuming its pills, then chose to focus on breaking through Literacy as his source energy neared the required threshold. Meanwhile, Li Sixiang learned of Jiang Ning’s conquests and decided the Heaven-Answering Alliance should defer confronting him while the Vermilion Bird Envoy headed for the Yang Lake secret realm.

• Jiang Ning perfected two more solar-term concepts, collected treasures and manuals from Divine Sword Manor, and spent three days raising Literacy to its full experience limit.
• Jiang Ning found that he had 93,177 source energy points but still lacked enough to break Literacy through its current limit, and he chose that breakthrough over advancing the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique.
• Jiang Ning went to Water-Moon Sword Palace to look for Lin Qingyi, but Xiao Emei had not seen her, so he left and resolved to return in a month.
• Li Sixiang learned that Jiang Ning had destroyed the Five Swords Sect, forced Divine Sword Manor to submit, and ended the Sky-Pervading Sect’s influence in Dongling Commandery.
• Li Sixiang rejected an immediate attack on Jiang Ning, citing his strength and the danger of provoking the Inspection Office, and sent the Vermilion Bird Envoy toward the Yang Lake secret realm while he planned to consult the alliance leader.

After recovering, Jiang Ning secured the Shangguan Family’s allegiance by restoring Shangguan Feilong’s vitality and giving Shangguan Jincheng a drop of essence blood. He then spent one hundred thousand source energy to break through his Yin Spirit’s transformation while Xie Xiaoj iu guarded the courtyard.

• Jiang Ning confirmed his body had recovered, and Shangguan Feilong reported that the requested arrangements were ready and agreed to keep Divine Sword Manor’s remaining people inside for three months.
• Jiang Ning gave Shangguan Feilong a drop of essence blood, demonstrated his control over the resulting bond, and accepted the Shangguan Family’s allegiance.
• Shangguan Jincheng pledged himself to Jiang Ning, received a drop of essence blood, and said he expected to enter the third rank soon.
• Shangguan Feilong and Shangguan Jincheng discussed their decision and agreed that serving Jiang Ning offered the family a chance to recover and rise again.
• Jiang Ning asked Xie Xiaoj iu to guard the courtyard, spent one hundred thousand source energy on his Yin Spirit’s transformation, and invited Zhao Yulong and Su Zhi inside.

After leaving the fate of the Sky-Pervading Sect’s remnants to the Shangguan Family, Jiang Ning examined his panel and discovered that traits had gained color-coded grades. He set off alone for Yang Lake by way of Luoshui County, intent on developing his high-grade techniques and their traits.

• Jiang Ning told Zhao Yulong to leave the Sky-Pervading Sect’s remaining affairs to the Shangguan Family, and Zhao Yulong decided to return home.
• Jiang Ning’s panel displayed color grades for traits after consuming all his source energy, revealing that higher-grade techniques tended to produce stronger traits.
• Jiang Ning assessed his traits and soul, realizing that his Yin God was only two patches away from becoming a Yang God and that his divine sense now reached far beyond Divine Sword Manor.
• Jiang Ning decided to prioritize high-grade techniques and recognized Wind-Thunder Steps’ potential because it had produced the purple-tier trait Shrinking Earth to Inches.
• Jiang Ning left Divine Sword Manor alone, told Xie Xiaoj iu to inform Zhao Yulong that he would visit Yang Lake, and entrusted Zhou Xing with overseeing the delivery of the manor’s remaining resources.
• Jiang Ning traveled toward Luoshui County while practicing Wind-Thunder Steps, rested overnight, and saw that he had gained 11,317 source energy points.

Jiang Ning returned to Luoshui County, visited Wang Jin and his old home, then investigated the White Horned Dragon in Luo Water Lake. He discovered the lost Human Emperor Sword inside the dragon and concluded that it was part of a larger plot threatening Great Xia, leaving him worried about how to protect the people he cared about.

• Jiang Ning visited Wang Jin at Blue-Wave Martial Academy, learned that Wang Jin had advanced to the sixth rank, and warned him about the Grotto-Heaven secret realm near Yang Lake.
• Jiang Ning visited Ye Qiu and Hong Minghu, then checked on his abandoned home and asked Constable Feng to ensure no one damaged it.
• Jiang Ning entered Luo Water Lake and used his Heavenly Eye to search for the White Horned Dragon and the mysterious figure who had wounded Shen Wenyuan.
• Jiang Ning saw the White Horned Dragon and discovered the lost Human Emperor Sword inside its belly.
• Jiang Ning concluded that someone had placed the sword in the dragon as part of a scheme against Great Xia and realized he was still too weak to confront the forces behind it.

Jiang Ning arrived at Yang Lake as strange spatial ripples signaled that a secret realm grotto-heaven was nearing its opening. He reunited with Zhong Ling and Zhong Yue, who invited him aboard and warned him against becoming entangled in the struggle for the throne.

• Jiang Ning reached Yang Lake and observed the spatial ripples and many factions gathered around the lake.
• Desert Flying Eagle invited Jiang Ning aboard his pleasure boat after recognizing his exceptional movement arts.
• Zhong Ling spotted Jiang Ning, and Zhong Yue called him over to their boat.
• Zhong Yue accused Jiang Ning of compromising Zhong Ling's innocence and demanded that he marry her, but Jiang Ning cited his agreement with the Seventeenth Princess.
• Jiang Ning told Zhong Yue about his connection to Ji Mingyue and Ji Minghao, and Zhong Yue advised him to avoid the princes' succession struggle.
• Zhong Yue invited Jiang Ning to stay on his tower ship and offered to explain the notable figures gathered at Yang Lake.

Jiang Ning joined Zhong Yue on Yang Lake as they waited for the Secret Grotto-Heaven to open, and learned about its dangers and the powerful factions gathering there. The Heaven-Answering Alliance’s Vermilion Bird Envoy and Azure Dragon Envoy planned to kill him, while signs of wider upheaval left Jiang Ning wondering whether the world was about to descend into chaos.

• Jiang Ning told Zhong Yue he intended to enter the Yang Lake Secret Grotto-Heaven, and Zhong Yue explained how a Grotto-Heaven differed from a secret realm and why second-grade grandmasters rarely entered one.
• The Vermilion Bird Envoy identified Jiang Ning and decided to attack him inside the Grotto-Heaven, summoning the White Tiger Envoy and Black Tortoise Envoy while the Azure Dragon Envoy agreed to join her.
• Jiang Ning recognized Long Xingyun on the Eighteen Dragon Heads’ ship, where Long Xiaofeng welcomed him as family and promised to introduce him to their relatives.
• Zhong Yue warned Jiang Ning not to provoke the Eighteen Dragon Heads, whose Dragon Head was an invincible grandmaster, and pointed out that the Heaven-Answering Alliance and Qingyang Sect were also gathered at Yang Lake.
• Zhong Yue described the rise of Grotto-Heaven Blessed Lands and religious cults as the Martial Saint’s long absence unsettled the world, and Jiang Ning asked whether chaos was coming.

Jiang Ning learned that the realm stood on the brink of chaos as the Martial Saint’s life neared its end, while a mysterious man found the Human Emperor Sword within White Horned Dragon but chose to leave it undisturbed. On Yang Lake, Zhong Yue pressed Jiang Ning to take Zhong Ling with him after the secret grotto-heaven, and Jiang Ning finished grinding Wind-Thunder Steps to its limit.

• Zhong Yue told Jiang Ning that the realm would remain peaceful only while the Martial Saint lived, though he did not know the Martial Saint’s condition.
• A black-robed man located White Horned Dragon on Luo Water Lake, confirmed the Human Emperor Sword was inside it, and left without taking the sword.
• Jiang Ning practiced Wind-Thunder Steps aboard the ship, then shared a meal with Zhong Yue and Zhong Ling as they traveled across Yang Lake.
• After Zhong Ling drunkenly told Jiang Ning she had missed him, Zhong Yue urged him to marry her and decided she should leave with him after the Yang Lake Secret Grotto-Heaven.
• Zhong Yue privately hoped Jiang Ning would keep Zhong Ling safe from the dangers gathering in Five Peaks Prefecture.
• Jiang Ning practiced through the night and raised Wind-Thunder Steps to 8000/8000, unlocking its plus sign.

Jiang Ning broke through Wind-Thunder Steps and gained the Spatial Resonance trait after sensing the spatial ripples surrounding Yang Lake. As the Secret Grotto-Heaven neared its opening, he returned to the ship and turned his attention to advancing the Springtime Canon.

• Jiang Ning spent source energy to break through Wind-Thunder Steps, and the intensified spatial ripples drew him into an unusual state of comprehension.
• Zhong Yue and Zhong Ling found Jiang Ning motionless on deck and made sure no one disturbed him until he woke.
• Jiang Ning discovered the Spatial Resonance trait on his panel and tested it, stirring the lake into a frenzy before a monk from Golden Light Temple asked him to stop.
• Jiang Ning met Jin Chan and his martial uncle, who praised Jiang Ning's Indestructible Vajra Body and advised Jin Chan to seek his help inside the Yang Lake Secret Grotto-Heaven.
• Jiang Ning realized his breakthrough had brought him closer to the mysteries of space and considered pursuing his sixth blood exchange.
• Jiang Ning found Zhong Ling asleep in his room, left without waking her, and studied the missing fragments needed to complete the Springtime Canon.