Chapter Summaries

After waking beside Su Qingying, Jiang Ning dealt with the arrival of Ji Mingyue, who asked him to honor their marriage promise. He agreed to marry her in two years if her feelings remained unchanged, then returned to find Su Qingying had heard their teasing conversation and offered to become a mother herself.

• Jiang Ning realized his encounter with Lin Qingyi had truly happened and worried that the old prince’s scheme might bring him trouble.
• Ji Mingyue visited the National Preceptor's Residence and saw Jiang Ning leaving Su Qingying’s room in disheveled clothes.
• Ji Mingyue reminded Jiang Ning of their agreement and asked when he would marry her; he promised to do so in two years if she still wanted it.
• Jiang Ning walked Ji Mingyue to the residence gates, where she renewed their promise and said she would be a better mother than Su Qingying.
• Jiang Ning watched Ji Mingyue reunite with Ji Minghao, then returned to Su Qingying, who revealed she had heard their conversation and suggested she could become a mother.

Jiang Ning used his Inner Landscape Grounds to accelerate cultivation of the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method, and his mental power transformed into that of a half-step second-rank grandmaster. He left the chapter expecting his next breakthrough to make him a true second-rank grandmaster.

• Jiang Ning discovered that the Immortal Seedling in his dantian had grown a branch and a two-toned leaf after his encounter with Lin Qingyi in the Inner Landscape Grounds.
• Jiang Ning expanded his Inner Landscape Grounds, established a cycle of day and night, and practiced the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method within them.
• Jiang Ning found that practice inside the Inner Landscape Grounds greatly accelerated his cultivation and strengthened his spirit, though it left his mind exhausted after less than half a cup of tea had passed outside.
• Jiang Ning continued cultivating until his mental power transformed, and the resulting surge forced him out of the Inner Landscape Grounds.
• Jiang Ning tested his divine sense, found it could reach fifty li, and judged his strength roughly equal to Fang Daoquan of Profound Finger Mountain.
• Jiang Ning confirmed that he had become a half-step second-rank grandmaster and saw that his next breakthrough should make him a true second-rank grandmaster.

Jiang Ning discovered that a mysterious animal bone from the mist could strengthen his spiritual power, then cultivated the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method toward becoming a second-rank grandmaster. After spending the night beside Su Qingying, he resumed training and left his progress just short of another spiritual transformation.

• Jiang Ning found a one-tael animal bone at the edge of the Inner Landscape Grounds and used it in the rising sun, gaining a noticeable increase in spiritual strength.
• Jiang Ning cultivated the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method until his progress reached 1799/2000, then decided to rest before completing his breakthrough.
• Su Qingying joined Jiang Ning in bed for the night, delightedly believing that sleeping beside him would let her have a baby.
• Jiang Ning returned to the Inner Landscape Grounds after waking and cultivated until his method reached 1933/2000, leaving him close to becoming a second-rank grandmaster.

Jiang Ning accepted Ji Minghao’s invitation to the Abyssal Gathering, then cultivated until he became a Principal Second Rank grandmaster. He discovered that his breathing now followed heaven and earth’s rhythm, while Su Qingying concealed the light of his breakthrough.

• Jiang Ning welcomed Ji Minghao at the National Preceptor's Residence, where Ji Minghao invited him to the Abyssal Gathering at the Abyss Pavilion that evening.
• After seeing Ji Minghao off, Jiang Ning returned to his courtyard and entered the Inner Landscape Grounds to cultivate toward third rank.
• Jiang Ning’s True Spirit mark fused completely with his soul, and a beam of white light announced his breakthrough to Principal Second Rank grandmaster.
• Su Qingying raised mist to conceal the light above the National Preceptor's Residence, and Jiang Ning sensed how his breathing now exchanged energy with heaven and earth.

After entering the second-rank grandmaster realm, Jiang Ning’s sharpened mind helped him master the Two Forms Hard-Soft Sword and break through, gaining the Sword Seed trait. As Jiang Ning spent source energy to advance the Seven-Star Demon-Subduing Sword, the Blind Elder saw seven stars stirring and wondered whether the omen concerned Su Qingying.

• Jiang Ning practiced the Two Forms Hard-Soft Sword, found that his improved mind accelerated his progress, and filled its experience to the breakthrough threshold.
• Jiang Ning spent source energy to break through the Two Forms Hard-Soft Sword, gaining the Sword Seed trait and discovering that the seed had sprouted into a sword-veined leaf on his Immortal Seedling.
• Jiang Ning questioned whether the world was real, then steadied his mind with Demon-Subduing Sword Intent and began spending source energy to advance the Seven-Star Demon-Subduing Sword.
• The Blind Elder appeared at the Heavenly Surveillance Bureau, saw seven stars stirring in broad daylight, and wondered whether the omen involved Su Qingying.

Jiang Ning made another breakthrough, gave Su Qingying a withered sword seed, and explored the Royal Capital with her. Meanwhile, Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan arrived at the capital and were directed to wait for Miss Qinghe, while Jiang Ning reflected on the dangers ahead.

• Jiang Ning broke through the Seven-Star Demon-Subduing Sword technique and gave Su Qingying a withered sword seed, which she stored away.
• Jiang Ning and Su Qingying ate at Jade Tower, where diners overheard a young man falsely claim he had fought Jiang Ning and nearly defeated him.
• Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan arrived at the Royal Capital, and a general recognized them and arranged for Miss Qinghe to meet them at the gate.
• Guests at Jade Tower recognized Jiang Ning and Su Qingying, then speculated about their relationship as the two left to explore the city.
• Jiang Ning declined to visit the temple fair and thought about the conflicts and threats he would eventually have to face.

Jiang Ning welcomed his family to the National Preceptor's Residence, then used the Inner Landscape Grounds to rapidly improve his Grand Void Yin-Yang Sword. As evening fell, Ji Mingyue arrived with gifts for Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan and said she would join Jiang Ning at the Abyssal Gathering.

• Jiang Ning reunited with Jiang Li, Liu Wanwan, Jiang Yiming, and Little Doubao on Vermilion Bird Avenue, where Su Qingying gave Little Doubao a silver bracelet and welcomed the family to the National Preceptor's Residence.
• Jiang Ning reassured himself that his family would be safe in the Royal Capital and helped them settle into an empty courtyard at Su Qingying's residence.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Grand Void Yin-Yang Sword and used the Inner Landscape Grounds to gain more than two thousand experience points in just over an hour.
• Liu Wanwan told Jiang Li that Su Qingying seemed to treat Jiang Ning like a superior, but they decided to trust him without pressing him about his secrets.
• Ji Mingyue arrived at the National Preceptor's Residence with gifts for Jiang Ning's family and said she would go with him to the Abyssal Gathering.

Ji Mingyue visited Jiang Ning’s family and presented Liu Wanwan, Jiang Li, Little Doubao, and Jiang Yiming with lavish gifts. She left the family welcoming her as Jiang Ning’s betrothed, while her mysterious gifts hinted at powerful benefits.

• Ji Mingyue arrived at the National Preceptor’s Residence and entered with Jiang Ning, holding his arm as she announced their engagement.
• Ji Mingyue gave Liu Wanwan a beautiful hairpin and helped her put it on.
• Ji Mingyue presented Jiang Li with the newly forged Snowscale Blade, which he accepted.
• Ji Mingyue gave Little Doubao a painted jade figurine that could save a life, though she kept its power secret from the child.
• Ji Mingyue offered Jiang Yiming seven Seven-Aperture Exquisite Pills, and he accepted them after Jiang Ning gave his approval.

Ji Mingyue brought Jiang Ning to the Abyssal Gathering, where he ate and drank to replenish his source energy. The arrival of Wan Jianyi, first on the Heaven Rankings, drew the gathering's attention, and Jiang Ning recognized Li Qing among his companions.

• Su Qingying joined Ji Mingyue and Jiang Ning at Liu Wanwan's home, where Liu Wanwan welcomed Ji Mingyue and Su Qingying and served them dinner.
• Jiang Ning and Ji Mingyue left for the Abyss Pavilion, where Ji Minghao and Ji Mingyuan awaited guests outside.
• Ji Minghao welcomed Jiang Ning and Ji Mingyue into the pavilion, and the Third Prince greeted Jiang Ning with spirit wine before opening the gathering.
• Jiang Ning ate spirit fruits, roasted demon-beast meat, and spirit wine to gain source energy while the guests discussed the Martial Dao.
• Wan Jianyi arrived at the Abyss Pavilion with Li Qing and another companion, prompting a stir as guests recognized the first-ranked prodigy.

At the Abyssal Gathering, Jiang Ning focused on eating and drinking while Wan Jianyi sized him up as a rival for the metropolitan martial examination. After Wan Jianyi challenged him to spar, Jiang Ning refused, leaving the gathering tense as the crowd criticized him.

• Wan Jianyi arrived, recognized Jiang Ning as a likely rival, and took a seat opposite him while Li Qing and the others sat behind him.
• The Third Prince welcomed the guests and invited them to demonstrate their martial skills, promising the pavilion could withstand their fighting.
• A staff fighter and a swordsman took the platform, and the Third Prince gave them weapons and Dragon-Tiger Strength Pills before they began sparring.
• Jiang Ning watched briefly, judged the exchange beneath his level, and returned to eating and drinking while several guests observed him.
• Wan Jianyi challenged Jiang Ning to a match, but Jiang Ning declined, prompting the crowd to call him afraid.

At the Abyss Pavilion, Jiang Ning declined Wan Jianyi’s challenge until the martial examination in two days, then met his old senior sister Li Qing, whose discouragement over their diverging lives left her sorrowful. Back at the National Preceptor’s Residence, Jiang Ning entered his Inner Landscape Grounds to practice the Grand Void Yin-Yang Sword.

• Wan Jianyi challenged Jiang Ning to fight, and Jiang Ning agreed to face him at the martial examination in two days.
• Jiang Ning ate and drank through most of the Abyss Pavilion’s provisions, then spoke with Ji Minghao before leaving the gathering.
• Jiang Ning met Li Qing and encouraged her when she said she felt discouraged by the gap between herself and martial arts geniuses.
• Wan Jianyi encountered Jiang Ning and Li Qing, reiterated his anticipation of their match, and left; afterward, Li Qing watched Jiang Ning depart and lamented that they no longer belonged to the same world.
• Jiang Ning returned to the National Preceptor’s Residence, checked his sword technique’s progress, and entered his Inner Landscape Grounds to practice.

Jiang Ning practiced the Grand Void Yin-Yang Sword until he reached minor mastery, narrowly escaping the mental effects of spending too long in the unchanging Inner Landscape Grounds. His breakthrough let him unleash the sword art’s terrifying strike, Return to Ruin, as the martial examination approached.

• Jiang Ning practiced the Grand Void Yin-Yang Sword in the Inner Landscape Grounds, then escaped after realizing the unchanging surroundings were clouding his mind.
• Jiang Ning found his source energy had increased by more than fifty thousand after the Abyssal Gathering and resumed practicing the sword art.
• Su Qingying visited Jiang Ning, watched him practice, and accompanied him to breakfast with Liu Wanwan.
• Jiang Ning spent the day practicing until the Grand Void Yin-Yang Sword reached minor mastery.
• Jiang Ning unleashed Return to Ruin, twisting and disintegrating the space before him and drawing nearby objects toward the strike.

Jiang Ning tested the Void-Returning Sword with his Heavenly Eye and found that it could disrupt three layers of space, then practiced the Grand Void Yin-Yang Sword despite his limited progress. He later discussed the growing unrest across Great Xia with Jiang Yiming and warned that the dynasty’s survival depended on the Martial Saint.

• Jiang Ning used his Heavenly Eye to examine the layered space and hidden formations around the National Preceptor's Residence, then confirmed that the Void-Returning Sword could disorder three layers of space but not break the fourth.
• Jiang Ning resumed practicing the Grand Void Yin-Yang Sword, discovered that his progress had slowed because the technique exceeded his current understanding, and continued accumulating experience through repeated practice.
• Jiang Yiming arrived to call Jiang Ning to eat and reported that he had reached the eighth rank with a strength of three thousand one hundred jin.
• Jiang Ning told Jiang Yiming that Dongling Commandery should remain safe through winter, while Nan'an Prefecture was vulnerable to the Yellow Heaven Cult after its inspector was assassinated.
• Jiang Ning explained that the Martial Saint was the force holding Great Xia together and that the dynasty could collapse if he died, while reflecting on the many powerful Immortal Dao and Primordial Spirit experts across the Nine Provinces.

Ji Minghao gave Jiang Ning rare Earth-Milk Spirit Marrow, which strengthened Jiang Ning and helped his Immortal Seedling grow as he continued cultivating. Ji Minghao revealed that he was preparing for the imminent succession struggle mainly to protect Princess Seventeen, while his teacher began considering a betrayal to safeguard his own family.

• Ji Minghao visited Jiang Ning before the martial examination and gave him a jar of Earth-Milk Spirit Marrow, saying they were practically family.
• Jiang Ning consumed the marrow, felt his body reach peak condition, and watched his Immortal Seedling grow before resuming the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method.
• Ji Minghao told his teacher that the emperor's life had been forcibly prolonged and that the succession struggle was near, leaving Jiang Ning's current influence too limited to help him win.
• Ji Minghao explained that he wanted Jiang Ning to become strong enough to protect Princess Seventeen if he died in the succession struggle, and said he would respect her choice not to marry the Northern Azure King's son.
• Ji Minghao rejected his teacher's advice to seek the Northern Azure King's support, and the teacher resolved to act against him because he feared for his family.

On the day of the martial examination, Jiang Ning used Ji Minghao’s Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid to boost his cultivation before arriving at the examination grounds. There he reunited with Yan Youjiao and faced Wan Jianyi and Mingxin as the candidates awaited the contest.

• Jiang Ning spoke with Su Qingying, then cultivated with the Dragon Hibernation Spirit Liquid and gained nearly triple his usual experience in the Spiritual Altar Illumination of the True Self Method.
• Su Qingying, Qinghe, Liu Wanwan, and Jiang Li saw Jiang Ning off as he left for the martial examination.
• Jiang Ning passed the identity checks, received his candidate token, and exchanged greetings with Wan Jianyi, who looked forward to fighting him.
• Yan Youjiao apologized to Jiang Ning for his past arrogance, and Jiang Ning invited him to sit beside him.
• Wan Jianyi challenged Jiang Ning and declared him a more worthwhile opponent than Mingxin.
• Wan Jianyi and Mingxin debated whether the martial examination was an arena of fame and gain or a means of understanding the mind, then agreed to meet on the training ground.

Ji Mingyue learned that her father was being killed by curses from powerful immortals and that he would let his sons fight for the throne. The martial examination began, and Jiang Ning stunned the crowd when his age was announced as nineteen.

• Ji Mingyue visited her ailing father, who told her that Primordial Spirit experts and surviving immortals were cursing him to death.
• Her father explained that he would let his sons struggle for the throne so the strongest prince could succeed him, and he warned Ji Mingyue to find her own protection.
• Ji Mingyue said Jiang Ning would protect her, and her father resolved to see what Jiang Ning could do.
• The martial examination began, and the candidates entered the parade ground as Ji Mingyue and the emperor watched from the raised platform.
• The examiner confirmed the candidates' identities and ages, drawing attention to Mingxin at twenty-five and Wan Jianyi at twenty-eight.
• The examiner announced Jiang Ning as a nineteen-year-old top-ranked martial degree holder, shocking the crowd and Wan Jianyi.

Jiang Ning watched the metropolitan martial examination as candidates lifted Mountains-and-Rivers Cauldrons, while the emperor proposed Shen Mengyun as a bride for Ji Minghao and General Shen refused. Shen Mengyun demonstrated her strength, Yan Youjiao failed to lift the first cauldron, and Mingxin began his test as the chapter ended.

• The examiner explained that candidates had to lift a cauldron overhead, hold it for three breaths, and lower it steadily to earn a rating.
• Zhao Meng lifted the first cauldron but failed to set down the second without dropping it.
• The emperor proposed Shen Mengyun as a bride for Ji Minghao, but General Shen said she already loved someone and the emperor accepted his refusal.
• Shen Mengyun steadily lifted and lowered the second and third cauldrons before attempting the fourth.
• Yan Youjiao failed to lift the first cauldron and returned to the stands, humbled by the strength of the other candidates.
• Mingxin, a leading contender for martial champion, descended to begin his test, and Jiang Ning noticed his twelve ordination scars.

Jiang Ning lifted the fifth Mountains-and-Rivers Cauldron with ease, and the first round of the martial examination ended with eleven top Grade A results. The standing archery round began, where Zhao Meng failed after shattering only the first mirror and Shen Mengyun impressed the spectators with a supersonic shot.

• Mingxin and Wan Jianyi each lifted the fifth Mountains-and-Rivers Cauldron, with Mingxin using one hand and Wan Jianyi struggling to hold it overhead.
• Jiang Ning lifted the fifth cauldron with both hands and found it nearly weightless, while Su Qingying watched from the northern stands and spoke about her relationship with him to the man on the dragon throne.
• The weightlifting round ended with eleven martial students earning top Grade A, and General Shen judged the class the strongest in more than a hundred years.
• Zhao Meng began the standing archery round but shattered only the first bronze mirror when his arrow was deflected.
• Shen Mengyun fired an arrow that broke the sound barrier, prompting praise from the man on the dragon throne, who then questioned General Shen about her marriage prospects.

Jiang Ning impressed the examiners with an extraordinary archery shot, then learned he had been ranked first in the martial examination’s preliminary evaluation. The chapter ended with Wan Jianyi ranked third and the contenders awaiting the next stage.

• Shen Mengyun and the other martial examinees completed the foot archery event, with Mingxin and Wan Jianyi demonstrating powerful shots.
• Jiang Ning used a lightning-charged arrow to shatter all nine mirrors and sink a foot into the refined-iron wall, matching or surpassing the other leading contenders.
• Jiang Ning discussed striving against oneself with Wan Jianyi and rejected Mingxin’s suggestion that he had an affinity with the Buddha, mentioning Jin Chan instead.
• Chief examiner Wang Hong announced that the evaluations would be revealed, and the yellow silk listed Jiang Ning, Mingxin, and Wan Jianyi in the first class.
• Jiang Ning realized his youth had helped place him first, while Wan Jianyi clenched his fists after seeing himself ranked third.

The first- and second-grade results were revealed, and the seven top candidates entered a formation to compete for the Martial Champion honors. Mingxin defeated Xie Fei with ease, while the next match was set between Wan Jianyi and Xu Sansheng.

• The results cloth revealed the candidates who earned first- or second-grade evaluations, and Wang Hong gave them time to react before announcing the final stage of the examination.
• Daoist masters set up a protective formation, and Jiang Ning, Wan Jianyi, Mingxin, and the other first-class candidates entered and received numbered battle plaques.
• Wang Hong called battle plaque number two, pairing Mingxin with Xie Fei; Mingxin's Indestructible Vajra Body withstood Xie Fei's attacks, then his controlled palm strike sent Xie Fei flying without injuring him.
• Jiang Ning recognized Mingxin's Divine Feet and admired his precise control, while Wang Jiadi told Jiang Ning he looked forward to exchanging blows with him.
• Wang Hong called battle plaque number three, and Wan Jianyi prepared to face Xu Sansheng, the second-to-last candidate to receive a Grade A evaluation.