Recaps

Zhao Feng defeated the Ink Jiao and reunited with Xie Jinghan, revealing that he had inherited the legacy of Li Muyang, a remnant soul. Li Muyang then asked Xie Jinghan for a rare treasure on Zhao Feng’s behalf.

• Zhao Feng absorbed the Ink Jiao’s body into his longbow while Xie Jinghan and the beasts watched in shock.
• Zhao Feng’s powerful aura faded, and Li Muyang’s remnant soul appeared above his shoulder as Zhao Feng greeted him as his master.
• Zhao Feng recognized Xie Jinghan, who explained that the village chief and others were searching for him.
• Li Muyang explained that he had chosen Zhao Feng as the heir to his lineage and praised Xie Jinghan’s talent and courage.
• Li Muyang asked Xie Jinghan to help obtain a rare treasure for Zhao Feng.

Li Muyang traded Xie Jinghan some Ink Jiao essence blood for Earthcore Fire Lotus seeds and leaves, then formed a Blood Pact between Zhao Feng and the White Tiger. After the White Tiger swallowed an Ink Jiao Core and fell asleep during its advancement, Zhao Wen, Zhao Wu, and Black Boy arrived, and Li Muyang sent everyone away.

• Li Muyang traded Xie Jinghan a portion of Ink Jiao essence blood for two Earthcore Fire Lotus seeds and two leaves, and gave him a sealing art.
• Li Muyang formed a Blood Pact linking Zhao Feng and the White Tiger in mind and spirit.
• Li Muyang gave the White Tiger an Ink Jiao Core, and it swallowed the core before collapsing into a deep sleep as it advanced.
• Black Boy, Zhao Wen, and Zhao Wu rushed over and found Zhao Feng safe.
• Li Muyang told Xie Jinghan and the others to leave, and the Azure Wolf fled into the forest.

Li Muyang waited in the canyon as cultivators gathered, then met the current Mysterious Maiden, who delivered a message from Wu Min'er. After reading it, he accepted that Wu Min'er no longer wished to see him.

• Li Muyang and Zhao Feng waited while dozens of cultivators bowed to Li Muyang's soul remnant.
• An Azure Luan descended into the canyon carrying a beautiful woman, who recognized Li Muyang and the Red Sun Heaven-Burning Bow.
• Li Muyang recognized the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Sword and asked the woman about Wu Min'er.
• The woman gave Li Muyang Wu Min'er's sealed message and told him that Wu Min'er had searched for him but no longer wanted to meet.
• Li Muyang read the jade slip, recalled how Wu Min'er had set him on the path of cultivation, and sighed over their past.

Li Muyang named Zhao Feng as his heir and entrusted him with the task of reclaiming what they had lost. Back in Zhao Village, Xie Jinghan learned the Spirit-Sealing Origin-Locking Restriction and used it to seal valuable items.

• Li Muyang asked Li Niannian for Vermilion Bird Fire for Zhao Feng, and she gave him a pouch containing a Vermilion Bird Fire Seed before departing on an Azure Luan.
• Li Muyang declared Zhao Feng his heir and successor, then dismissed the waiting cultivators except for two people.
• Xie Jinghan and the others returned safely to Zhao Village after recounting their dangers in Great Black Mountain.
• Xie Jinghan studied the Spirit-Sealing Origin-Locking Restriction from Li Muyang's Jade Slip until he mastered it.
• Xie Jinghan sealed the Earthcore Fire Lotus leaves and then began sealing the remaining items.

After recovering from his battle at Great Black Mountain, Xie Jinghan swallowed the Earthfire Lotus Seed and broke through to the Third Heaven of the Innate Realm. He continued absorbing its remaining power as he discovered traces of both fire and lightning in his true qi.

• After seven days of recovery, Xie Jinghan decided to consume the Earthfire Lotus Seed rather than risk carrying the rare treasure any longer.
• Xie Jinghan released the Spirit-Sealing Origin-Locking Restriction and swallowed the Fire Lotus Seed.
• The Fire Dao Origin tempered Xie Jinghan’s true qi and meridians, breaking his cultivation barrier and advancing him to the Third Heaven of the Innate Realm.
• Xie Jinghan discovered that his true qi contained traces of flame from the Earthcore Fire Lotus and lightning from its earlier tempering.
• Xie Jinghan continued absorbing the Fire Lotus Seed’s remaining spiritual power on the ledge.

Three months after Xie Jinghan advanced his cultivation, Zhao Feng broke through and summoned terrifying Tribulation Clouds over Little Azure Mountain. Xie Jinghan saw the clouds gather as Zhao Feng faced the coming trial.

• Zhao Xin'er told Xie Jinghan about Zhao Feng's flight, guards, and magical weapons, then asked when she would meet a great master.
• Xie Jinghan comforted Zhao Xin'er while reflecting on his own progress to the Third Stage of the Innate Realm and forty percent sword intent.
• Zhao Feng shouted for a breakthrough while hovering above Little Azure Mountain in flame armor, holding the Red Sun Heaven-Burning Bow.
• Black Tribulation Clouds gathered over Little Azure Mountain as thunder and violet lightning flashed within them.
• Xie Jinghan sprang to his feet and looked toward Little Azure Mountain.

Zhao Feng faced the Foundation Establishment lightning tribulation on Azure Mountain and survived all nine bolts. Though badly battered, he broke through into the Foundation Establishment Realm, also known as the True Essence Realm.

• Xie Jinghan took Zhao Xin'er to Azure Mountain, where Black Boy, Zhao Wen, Zhao Wu, and the village chief watched from beyond the guards' perimeter.
• Zhao Feng met the first three bolts of heavenly lightning with his Fire Armor, Vermilion Bird fire, and Red Sun Heaven-Burning Bow.
• Zhao Feng endured the increasingly powerful purple lightning bolts, which strengthened his aura and reforged his Dao foundation.
• Zhao Feng faced the ninth bolt with his bow and fire, breaking apart the tribulation clouds and restoring daylight.
• Zhao Feng fell into a crater with shattered armor and a charred body, but his aura surged as he entered the Foundation Establishment Realm and gained a lifespan of two hundred and fifty years.

A little over half a month before the present, Li Niang managed the Shadow Tower’s remote outpost when Gong Feiyu arrived to demand news about the assassination contract on Xie Jinghan. After learning that the assassin A Qing was missing and Wei Dong was dead, she agreed to send a cruel Earth Rank assassin to ensure Xie Jinghan suffered a fate worse than death.

• Li Niang complained that she was bored at the mountain outpost while A Fan continued planting vegetables.
• Gong Feiyu arrived at the courtyard, presented a genuine Black Iron Token, and was invited inside by Li Niang.
• Gong Feiyu demanded an update on Xie Jinghan, and Granny reported that Wei Dong was dead while A Qing was missing.
• Li Niang declared A Qing’s mission a failure and ordered a messenger to find him and bring him back.
• Li Niang assigned the third-ranked Earth Rank assassin to torment Xie Jinghan, and Gong Feiyu approved the arrangement.

Zhao Feng visited Xie Jinghan after surviving his Foundation Establishment tribulation and explained the ancient qi-refiner path and why cultivators defied Heaven. He revealed that he would leave for Heaven Beyond Heaven in three days and asked Xie Jinghan to go with him.

• Zhao Feng arrived at Xie Jinghan’s courtyard with two guards, whose ability to stand in the sky astonished Xie Jinghan.
• Zhao Feng reassured Xie Jinghan that he still regarded him as an older brother and explained the difference between qi refiners and the Great Yan Dynasty’s martial path.
• Zhao Feng explained that cultivators seized spiritual energy and defied the Heavenly Dao, bringing down Heaven’s punishment upon themselves.
• Zhao Feng said he would set out for Heaven Beyond Heaven in three days and asked Xie Jinghan whether he would join him.
• Xie Jinghan asked Zhao Feng what Heaven Beyond Heaven was.

Zhao Feng described Heaven Beyond Heaven to Xie Jinghan and invited him to join the Blazing Sun Sect, but Xie Jinghan chose to settle his mortal-world obligations first. Zhao Feng gave him a fire-attribute secret technique, and Xie Jinghan promised to seek him out after reaching the True Essence Realm.

• Zhao Feng explained that Heaven Beyond Heaven was a vast cultivation domain centered on Penglai Immortal Mountain, and that only Foundation Establishment cultivators could enter.
• Zhao Feng said he could bring nine people with him, including Xin'er, and urged Xie Jinghan to come along.
• Xie Jinghan declined, saying he needed to settle his debts and grudges before going to Heaven Beyond Heaven.
• Xie Jinghan promised to find Zhao Feng at the Blazing Sun Sect after reaching the True Essence Realm.
• Zhao Feng gave Xie Jinghan a jade slip containing a fire-attribute secret technique, then shared his cultivation insights before leaving for the night.

Jin Qianbao captured Duan Peng, a Shadow Tower assassin who had come to kill Xie Jinghan, and Xie Jinghan accepted responsibility for dealing with him. Zhao Feng left with his guards after asking Xie Jinghan to protect Zhao Village and its people.

• Jin Qianbao sensed a hidden intruder and struck Duan Peng with his Golden Coin Dart, exposing him.
• Jin Qianbao caught Duan Peng and sealed his cultivation before bringing him back to the courtyard.
• Zhao Feng asked Xie Jinghan what to do with the assassin, and Xie Jinghan agreed to handle him.
• Zhao Feng said Jin Qianbao and Gu Ping would set up a Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation to protect Zhao Village.
• Zhao Feng departed with Jin Qianbao and Gu Ping, while Xie Jinghan carried Duan Peng into the courtyard.

Xie Jinghan interrogated and killed the Shadow Tower assassin, then returned to Zhao Village as Gu Ping completed a powerful protective formation. The chapter left Xie Jinghan able to enter the village freely with a bound jade token.

• Xie Jinghan questioned Duan Peng about the Shadow Tower and suspected Gong Feiyu had ordered the assassination.
• When Duan Peng refused to reveal anything, Xie Jinghan used sword qi to torture him and sealed off the sound.
• The next day, Xie Jinghan took Duan Peng to Little Azure Mountain and gave him a quick death.
• Gu Ping set up the Cloudmist Mystic Origin Mountain-Guarding Formation around Zhao Village and asked Xie Jinghan to test it.
• Xie Jinghan struck the barrier with his sword, but it absorbed the attack, and Gu Ping said the formation could withstand a strike from someone in the Golden Core Realm.
• Xie Jinghan bound a jade token to his aura and used it to enter the village through the formation.

Xie Jinghan gave Zhao Xin'er a sword and taught her his Sword-Drawing Technique before she departed with the others for Heaven Beyond Heaven. After their flying boat vanished, Xie Jinghan watched from a hillside and seemed to make a resolution.

• Zhao Xin'er visited Xie Jinghan, and he gave her a Moonlit Night Sword and taught her the Sword-Drawing Technique.
• Xie Jinghan demonstrated Sword-Edge Flowing Light, letting Zhao Xin'er experience his sword intent as Zhao Feng, Jin Qianbao, and Gu Ping noticed the sword light.
• Zhao Xin'er spent two days practicing the Sword-Drawing Technique in Xie Jinghan's courtyard.
• Jin Qianbao summoned an Ancient Jade Boat at Zhao Village, and he and Gu Ping escorted Zhao Xin'er, Zhao Feng, and the other youths aboard.
• Zhao Xin'er and Zhao Feng waved farewell to Xie Jinghan as the flying boat departed, and Xie Jinghan remained on the hillside before withdrawing his gaze and seeming to make a resolution.

Xie Jinghan studied the Flame Manipulation Art Zhao Feng had given him and learned to shape fire with his fire-attribute true qi. After exhausting his qi, he continued studying the art and resolved to broaden his combat skills.

• Xie Jinghan quieted his troubled thoughts and read the Flame Manipulation Art from the Jade Slip Zhao Feng had given him.
• Xie Jinghan practiced the art and mastered the basic Fire Thread Twisting technique.
• Xie Jinghan formed nine fire threads into a crude fire net before his fire-attribute true qi ran dry.
• Xie Jinghan rested and continued studying the art, recognizing that he needed more ways to fight after his battle with the Ink Jiao.
• Xie Jinghan devoted himself to arduous cultivation.

Xie Jinghan swallowed a second Fire Lotus Seed at Tiger Leaping Gorge and broke through to the fourth level of the Innate Realm. He strengthened his fire techniques and ended the chapter discovering he could release Flame Sword Energy.

• Xie Jinghan consumed the second Fire Lotus Seed and circulated the Innate Breathing Method to absorb its spiritual energy.
• Xie Jinghan broke through to the fourth level of the Innate Realm, reaching 770'001 proficiency points after completing 108 Greater Celestial Circuits.
• Xie Jinghan found that he could produce eighteen fire threads and used them to strengthen his Fire Net Technique and Fire Rope Technique.
• Xie Jinghan formed a fireball and blasted a cliff face, cracking the rock and scorching nearby vegetation.
• Xie Jinghan coated his Moonlit Night Sword in fiery true qi and released a streak of Flame Sword Energy.

Xie Jinghan returned to Zhao Village after three days of cultivation and reunited with Xie Yue and the seven Sword Guards. Xie Yue told him that Miao Cunyi had slaughtered the Heavenly Wolf Escort Agency, and Xie Jinghan asked where Miao Cunyi was.

• Xie Jinghan used his Leaping Art to return to Zhao Village after cultivating at Tiger Leaping Gorge for three days.
• Xie Jinghan met Xie Yue and the seven Sword Guards in the village square, where the Xie clansmen were trading with villagers.
• Xie Jinghan praised the seven Sword Guards for their progress; Xie Ku had reached the sixth-grade Postnatal realm, while the others had reached the seventh grade.
• Xie Yue told Xie Jinghan that Miao Cunyi had returned after disappearing and slaughtered everyone at the Heavenly Wolf Escort Agency in a single night.
• Xie Jinghan asked Xie Yue where Miao Cunyi was now.

Xie Yue told Xie Jinghan that Miao Cunyi had been sentenced to public execution after autumn, and Xie Jinghan decided to travel to Shu Province to see if he could save him. In Dutian Prefecture, Miao Cunyi endured torture while the city lord ordered his adviser and the Cold-Blooded Thirteen Eagles to uncover his connections before his execution.

• Xie Yue told Xie Jinghan that Miao Cunyi was imprisoned in Dutian Prefecture and scheduled to be beheaded after autumn.
• Xie Yue pleaded with Xie Jinghan to save Miao Cunyi, and Xie Jinghan resolved to go to Shu Province, though he could not promise to save him.
• Xie Yue left Zhao Village, while Xie Jinghan spent two days teaching swordsmanship to Xie Ku, Xie Po, Xie Qianmei, and four other youths.
• Jailers dragged the badly wounded Miao Cunyi from his cell and whipped him in the torture chamber.
• The blue-robed adviser demanded that Miao Cunyi reveal his school's swordsmanship manual and threatened his loved ones, but Miao Cunyi refused.
• The city lord ordered the adviser to investigate Miao Cunyi's movements and contacts and to enlist the Cold-Blooded Thirteen Eagles before the execution.

Xie Jinghan visited Wolf Valley and made a deal with the Azure Wolf to protect Zhao Village in exchange for Ink Jiao blood essence. After leaving the village in Xie Ku and the others’ care, he set out for Shu Province.

• Xie Jinghan found Wolf Valley and offered the Azure Wolf a bottle of Ink Jiao blood essence to guard Zhao Village.
• The Azure Wolf accepted the deal, consumed the blood essence, and gave Xie Jinghan three Spirit Stones.
• Three days later, Xie Jinghan gave Xie Ku a jade token and explained how the village could seek the Azure Wolf’s help.
• Xie Jinghan told Xie Ku, Xie Po, and the others to protect Zhao Village, then rode away toward Shu Province.

In Dutian Prefecture, Xie Jinghan learned more about the ten prisoners condemned for execution after autumn and decided he needed to meet Miao Cunyi. With prison visits forbidden, he sought out Qian Sanqi, a powerful underworld broker who could open almost any door.

• Xie Jinghan surveyed the bustling streets of Dutian Prefecture, mindful that only fifteen days remained until the executions after autumn.
• Xie Jinghan read a booklet detailing the crimes of the ten condemned prisoners, including Miao Cunyi, who had slaughtered more than a hundred members of the Heavenly Wolf Escort Agency.
• Xie Jinghan decided to find a way to meet Miao Cunyi despite the law forbidding visits to prisoners condemned for serious crimes.
• Xie Jinghan went to Qian Sanqi's residence, hoping the underworld broker could help him reach the prisoner.

Xie Jinghan sought Qian Sanqi’s help to enter Dutian Prefecture’s prison and see Miao Cunyi before his execution. He traded a Spirit Stone for Qian Sanqi’s assistance and agreed to meet him and others near the prison three days later.

• Xie Jinghan entered Qian Sanqi’s secluded residence after paying the gatekeeper ten taels of silver.
• Xie Jinghan crossed the lake by boat and passed a tall, heavily armed stranger traveling in the opposite direction.
• Xie Jinghan asked Qian Sanqi to arrange a prison visit with Miao Cunyi, but Qian Sanqi demanded the Thunderclap Sword as payment.
• Xie Jinghan offered a Spirit Stone instead, and Qian Sanqi accepted it in exchange for arranging the visit.
• Qian Sanqi told Xie Jinghan to meet him and the others in a mountain hollow thirty li south of Dutian Prefecture’s prison at midnight three days later.

Qian Sanqi sent more silver and arranged additional slots after meeting Xie Jinghan, then visited the Three-Legged Golden Toad that had brought him wealth and power. The toad sensed another hidden treasure on Xie Jinghan, and Qian Sanqi began refining the Spirit Stone it swallowed.

• Xie Jinghan returned to his lodgings at the Cloudcome Inn, and Qian Sanqi ordered A-Da to send another million taels of silver to the city lord's residence and arrange three more slots with Yang Shijing.
• Qian Sanqi went to the Treasure Gathering Tower's top floor and called to his Three-Legged Golden Toad, Little Gold.
• Qian Sanqi recalled finding Little Gold as an egg in an ancient tomb and learning that it could devour treasures, grow stronger, and feed gold and spiritual power back to him.
• Little Gold croaked that Xie Jinghan had another treasure hidden on him, which Qian Sanqi's treasure-detecting art had failed to find.
• Qian Sanqi gave Little Gold the Spirit Stone, and the two began cultivating as he refined its power.

Yang Shijing and Bai Ji arranged a prison visit to draw out their enemies, while Xie Jinghan joined a group of masked visitors heading to Dutian Prefecture's prison. The group entered under A Xian's guidance, bound by strict rules and a one-stick-of-incense time limit.

• Yang Shijing accepted Qian Sanqi's payment and request to add three places to the Prison Visit.
• Bai Ji explained his plan to use the Autumn Execution and Criminal Register to attract attention, profit, and expose conspirators, and Yang Shijing promised to recommend him to the sect.
• Three days later, Xie Jinghan waited near the prison and met another black-clad visitor.
• Nine more masked figures arrived, including a slender woman with melancholy eyes.
• A Xian set rules for the visit, then led the ten visitors toward Dutian Prefecture's prison at midnight.

Xie Jinghan visited the imprisoned Miao Cunyi and learned that City Lord Yang Shijing had orchestrated the destruction of Xu Lingkong’s lineage to seize the Seven-Star Sword Sect’s secret techniques. After giving Miao Cunyi a Foundation-Stabilizing Pill, Xie Jinghan remained determined to hold his position as their visit time ran out.

• A Xian presented the chief jailer with a gilt waist token and led ten visitors into Dutian Prefecture’s heavily guarded prison.
• Xie Jinghan found Miao Cunyi gravely wounded in a cell on the third underground level.
• Miao Cunyi warned Xie Jinghan that the prison visit was a trap and urged him to leave.
• Xie Jinghan sealed the cell against sound and probing senses, and Miao Cunyi revealed that Yang Shijing had planned the attacks on Xu Lingkong’s lineage to steal the Seven-Star Sword Sect’s techniques.
• Xie Jinghan gave Miao Cunyi a Foundation-Stabilizing Pill, and the allotted visit time expired.

Xie Jinghan and the other visitors left the Underground Prison only to be surrounded by Bai Ji and three thousand troops. As Bai Ji ordered their capture, the visitors exposed his crimes, and Xie Jinghan realized that many of the so-called villains had been framed.

• Bai Ji learned that Miao Cunyi had revealed important information and ordered his men to capture every visitor.
• Three thousand garrison troops surrounded Xie Jinghan, the other nine visitors, and A Xian outside the prison.
• A masked woman accused Bai Ji of embezzling disaster relief funds, framing her father, and slaughtering the Jiang Family.
• The tall man in black and an elderly visitor accused Bai Ji of sexual violence, false accusations, and stealing money.
• Xie Jinghan realized that powerful officials had framed many of the so-called villains, and he questioned A Xian about Qian Sanqi's role.
• A Xian asked Bai Ji to honor his master's rules, but Bai Ji had him detained and ordered the troops to seize the ten visitors dead or alive.

The garrison surrounded the ten, and Xie Jinghan and a tall swordsman fought their way toward a breach while the others struggled to escape. Just as the two seemed close to breaking out, the Cold-Blooded Thirteen Eagles appeared and blocked their path.

• An old man used the Empty-Handed Thieves' Sect's Smoke Net Illusion Step to flee, but Bai Ji trapped him in a heavenly-silkworm-silk net and had soldiers seize him.
• Xie Jinghan cut through the armored front ranks with the Moonlit Night Sword and charged toward the opening he created.
• A tall, burly swordsman carved a bloody path through the soldiers with his massive sword, while the other escapees were driven back.
• The remaining seven rushed toward Xie Jinghan and the tall swordsman for help, and Bai Ji ordered his troops to focus on surrounding the pair.
• Xie Jinghan and the tall swordsman fought off the converging soldiers until Black Iron Chains blocked their way and the Cold-Blooded Thirteen Eagles emerged.