Chapter Summaries

Ji Hao subdued the remaining supreme beings, then entered the world of The Sage Who Transcended Samsara to seek a path toward Immortal Emperor strength. At the First Inn of the Sea of Sand, Meng Qi and his companions encountered Qu Jiuniang and heard that Weeping Elder had reappeared after vanishing for nine years.

• Ji Hao defeated and captured the golden supreme being, then used his power to overwhelm the four remaining supreme beings as they tried to flee.
• Ji Hao entered the world of The Sage Who Transcended Samsara with cultivation comparable to false Other Shore and placed his hopes on working with Daoist Celestial Worthy.
• Xuanbei, Meng Qi, and Zhenhui reached Quicksand Market and took rooms at the First Inn of the Sea of Sand, where the innkeeper Qu Jiuniang charged them fifteen taels for two rooms.
• A traveler complained that Qu Jiuniang had watered down her wine, and the inn’s guests laughed when she told him to drink it or leave.
• Meng Qi learned that Qu Jiuniang was an Exterior expert and the Empyrean Goddess of Bixia, while Ji Hao prepared to repay a karmic debt in this world.
• Sand Bandits discussed Weeping Elder’s return after his disappearance nine years earlier, following his challenge to Su Wuming.

Ji Hao defeated four Sand Bandits at Quicksand Market while reflecting on cultivating anew in this world. As the Weeping Elder unleashed the Eighteen Grievous Soul Strikes across the Sea of Sand, Xuanbei answered with his Buddhist vow, and Ji Hao prepared to meet Mang King Kong.

• Ji Hao let the Sand Bandits lead him outside, then blinded three with his sword and killed their leader when he attacked from behind.
• Ji Hao killed the three blinded bandits and returned to the inn, considering how he would rebuild his cultivation without relying on his former Dao Fruit.
• The Weeping Elder unleashed Vengeful Ghosts Claim Lives, draining life and souls across the Sea of Sand and reaching Quicksand Market.
• Qu Jiuniang's cold wind restored the inn's guests and protected the building from the attack.
• Xuanbei manifested a Bodhisattva image and recited his vow, reviving the withered oasis and its inhabitants as he contended with the Weeping Elder.
• Ji Hao drew his divine sword and prepared to meet Mang King Kong amid the battle between the Grandmasters.

Meng Qi opened his apertures while fleeing An Guoxie, then escaped through an underground river but was caught again. Ji Hao arrived and killed An Guoxie, revealed himself as Pei Ju, and was summoned to the Six Paths of Samsara Realm, where Meng Qi told the others about him.

• Ji Hao went looking for Meng Qi while Meng Qi tried to leave the battle and encountered An Guoxie, who pursued him through the Gobi.
• Meng Qi took a pill to open his apertures, wounded An Guoxie with the Anan Precept-Breaking Sabre Technique, and escaped through an underground river.
• An Guoxie intercepted the exhausted Meng Qi at the river's next outlet and bound him, but Ji Hao arrived and killed An Guoxie with a throwing knife.
• Ji Hao told Meng Qi to leave Shaolin and gave his name as Pei Ju before flying away; Meng Qi recognized him as the Evil King.
• The List of Gods pulled Ji Hao into the Six Paths of Samsara Realm, where Meng Qi told Jiang Zhiwei and the others about Pei Ju's Human Ranking position.

Meng Qi and his companions met Luo Shengyi’s team and learned they had been assigned a dangerous faction-versus-faction mission to attack the Demon Cult and reseal the Demon Tomb. In the inn, the group shared their abilities, gathered information, and formed a temporary gang before setting out for Fengyun Villa.

• Four newcomers appeared, and Luo Shengyi introduced himself along with Xia Chulin and Xia Dandan while Ji Hao identified himself as Pei Ju.
• The Lord of Six Paths of Samsara assigned the group a mission to join the four great sects’ assault on the Demon Cult and kill opposing reincarnators.
• Luo Shengyi and Zhang Yuanshan exchanged introductions to gauge the group’s cultivation and fighting skills.
• Ji Hao explained how faction-versus-faction missions balanced opposing forces, and Xia Chulin gathered information about Fengyun Villa and the local martial-world crowd.
• Meng Qi proposed naming their temporary gang the Power Gang, and Ji Hao suggested the Exploding Heavens Faction before he and Meng Qi traded familiar sayings.

Ji Hao’s party reached Fengyun Villa, where Ji Hao fought the Daluo Demonic Maiden, Gu Xiaosang, and saved Xia Chulin from her ambush. After Gu Kongshan gave them lodging on the villa’s outskirts, venomous creatures attacked the party’s rooms, and screams and a furious roar erupted across the villa.

• Ji Hao’s party learned about the Four Major Sects from Xia Chulin and were admitted to Fengyun Villa after Ji Hao demonstrated his strength to its servant.
• Xia Chulin went to investigate and was ambushed by Gu Xiaosang, but Ji Hao sensed the attack, protected him, and battled Gu Xiaosang until she withdrew.
• Xia Chulin and the others identified Gu Xiaosang as the opposing faction’s Samsara traveler and the Daluo Demonic Maiden, while Meng Qi misled Fengyun Villa’s guards about her strength.
• Gu Kongshan met Ji Hao’s party and assigned the nine of them adjoining rooms on the outskirts of the villa.
• Ji Hao detected venomous creatures outside the rooms and destroyed them with his Great Mercy and Compassion Palm as screams and a furious roar sounded from the villa’s center.

Ji Hao uncovered the Demon Tomb’s secrets and fought off an ambush while the Demon Cult’s reincarnators launched attacks across the desert. Their planned ambush faltered as Jiang Zhiwei, Zhang Yuanshan, and Meng Qi defeated their opponents, while Gu Xiaosang escaped and Su Yuanying mysteriously returned from death.

• Ji Hao identified the Fengyun Villa master as a perfected Half-Step Exterior expert, captured the poison-wielding Hongxiu, and ordered her killed to gain Gu Kongshan’s trust.
• The Demon Cult reincarnators learned that Hongxiu had died, while Gu Xiaosang revealed her fixation on Meng Qi and gave her companions misleading intelligence.
• After the alliance leaders divided their forces to travel toward the Holy Volcano, Ji Hao accepted a side mission to investigate the Demon Tomb and entered a ruined temple, where he repelled attackers.
• Su Yuanying intensified a sandstorm to divide the opposing forces, but Jiang Zhiwei killed him once with King Yama’s Greeting, Zhang Yuanshan and Fu Zhenzhen killed Shadow Killing, and Meng Qi killed a Demon Cult elder.
• Gu Xiaosang approached Meng Qi before fleeing when his companions arrived, while Su Yuanying reappeared after emerging from a maid’s body and Earth Venerable found him alive.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Demon Cult reincarnators—Su Yuanying, Yun Tingfeng, Earth Venerable, and others—receive orders from their Master to gather at the Demon Tomb.
• Ji Hao arrives at the mountaintop and confronts them, asking about Gu Xiaosang. The group realizes that the mysterious woman who manipulated them was actually Gu Xiaosang, the Luo Cult’s Holy Maiden.
• Yun Tingfeng recognizes Ji Hao as Pei Ju, known by the disliked title “Divine Legs Flying Over Grass.” He attempts to flee, but Ji Hao traps the group within his Sword-Intent Buddha Kingdom.
• Ji Hao effortlessly kills Su Yuanying, Yun Tingfeng, Earth Venerable, and Mo Kong. The Lord of Six Paths announces the deaths and deducts karma points from the surviving participants.
• Nine Heavens Thunder God then appears. He dismisses Ji Hao as an insignificant Aperture Opening cultivator and launches five simultaneous thunder strikes before heading toward the Demon Tomb.
• Ji Hao successfully withstands the attack and realizes that Nine Heavens Thunder God is severely injured, likely because he forcibly wielded the Overlord’s Peerless Saber.
• The two engage in a fierce battle involving thunder, sword intent, Buddhist power, and Ji Hao’s Great Mighty Celestial Dragon technique. Ji Hao is badly wounded, but manages to resist an opponent from the Exterior realm.
• Nine Heavens Thunder God withdraws when activity erupts from the Demon Tomb, unwilling to waste time on Ji Hao. Ji Hao refuses to let him leave and draws the Precious Weapon, the Nine-Shao Tone-Setting Sword, preparing to continue the battle.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao/Pei Ju: Demonstrates overwhelming strength by instantly destroying several powerful reincarnators and displaying combat ability approaching the Exterior realm. Despite severe injuries and an immense gap in cultivation, he remains defiant and refuses to retreat. His abilities are shown to be balanced across swordsmanship, movement, physique, spirit, will, and martial techniques.
• Su Yuanying and Yun Tingfeng: Their confidence collapses when Ji Hao appears. Both are killed almost immediately, showing the vast difference between them and Ji Hao.
• Gu Xiaosang: Her intelligence and deceptive abilities are emphasized. Even members of her own faction were unaware of her true identity and were manipulated by her plans.
• Nine Heavens Thunder God: Introduced as a powerful Exterior expert of Mythology, but revealed to be gravely injured and weakened. His arrogance leads him to underestimate Ji Hao, though he remains superior in direct combat.
• Xia Dandan: Becomes deeply impressed and enthusiastic after witnessing Ji Hao’s sword strike, reinforcing his growing reputation.

Significant Themes

• Defiance against overwhelming power: Ji Hao embodies the idea that courage and determination allow one to challenge even Heaven or an opponent of a higher realm.
• The limits of destiny and Heaven’s Will: Ji Hao reflects on Gu Xiaosang, the Human Emperor, and the struggle to escape the designs of Heaven. The Human Emperor represents humanity’s attempt to surpass fate, even if he ultimately falls short.
• Strength through comprehensive cultivation: Ji Hao’s survival depends not on one single technique but on the perfection of every aspect of his martial path.
• Arrogance versus caution: Nine Heavens Thunder God’s initial contempt allows Ji Hao to react to his first attack. Ji Hao’s vigilance, by contrast, keeps him alive against an Exterior expert.
• Identity, reputation, and titles: Ji Hao dislikes his nickname, while Yun Tingfeng’s recognition of Pei Ju reveals how reputations shape encounters in the martial world.

Character Interactions

• Su Yuanying criticizes Yun Tingfeng for providing poor intelligence, while Yun Tingfeng accepts the blame in Gu Xiaosang’s absence.
• Ji Hao questions the group about Gu Xiaosang, exposing that even the Demon Cult reincarnators did not know her true identity.
• Yun Tingfeng recognizes Ji Hao and tries to flee, prompting Ji Hao to unleash the Sword-Intent Buddha Kingdom.
• Nine Heavens Thunder God openly dismisses Ji Hao, provoking a battle in which Ji Hao exposes his injuries and challenges his confidence.
• Ji Hao’s final refusal to let Nine Heavens Thunder God escape establishes their confrontation as unfinished and sets up the next battle.

Ji Hao defeated the Nine Heavens Thunder God with his newly created Demon Buddha's Single Thought and learned that the Demon Tomb had opened. As the Demon Lord appeared above Holy Volcano, he told Ji Hao, “You came too late,” and Ji Hao wondered whether the Demon Lord had set his sights on him.

• Ji Hao turned his Buddhist power into demonic power, advanced to the Seven-Aperture Realm, and clashed with the Nine Heavens Thunder God at the ruined temple.
• Ji Hao drew power from the Demon Lord’s statue, created Demon Buddha's Single Thought, and killed the Nine Heavens Thunder God, earning the righteous faction 1,000 Karma Points.
• Meng Qi and the others arrived at Holy Volcano, and the Lord of Six Paths of Samsara announced that Gu Xiaosang had killed Xia Chulin and Xia Dandan.
• The Demon Tomb opened, its demonic qi killed nearby Demon Cult disciples, and four sealing divine weapons unleashed their power to suppress it.
• Qi Zhengyan recovered in the Demon Tomb while Meng Qi and Gu Xiaosang found traces left by the Demon Lord; Ji Hao completed his ancestral aperture after his battle.
• The Demon Lord appeared in the thunder above Holy Volcano, told Ji Hao he had come too late, and Ji Hao asked whether the Demon Lord had set his sights on him.

After the Demon Tomb was destroyed, Ji Hao returned from the mission with the Undying Seal Technique and adapted it to his path between Buddha and demon. He used his new technique and sword arts to defeat a group of Pei Family attackers, then arrived in Maoling under a new appearance.

• The Demon Tomb collapsed, the Lord of Six Paths of Samsara recalled the participants, and Ananda, the Demon Buddha, noticed Ji Hao and altered the Six Paths realm.
• Ji Hao received an Excellent mission evaluation and drew the Undying Seal Technique, then exchanged his remaining Karma Points for the Eight-Nine Xuan Gong’s Qi Accumulation and Aperture-Opening sections.
• Ji Hao killed a Half-Step Exterior saber wielder and destroyed another attacker’s White Tiger Sword with his newly revised Undying Seal Technique.
• Ji Hao used the Dragon’s Roar Heavenly Note, his sword arts, and the Undying Seal Technique to break the attackers’ coordinated assault and kill the remaining four men.
• Ji Hao arrived in Maoling disguised as a handsome stranger and drew attention as he walked through the city.

Chapter Summary: Shi Zhixuan of Heaven-Extinguishing Sect Storms Heroes Tower

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Hao uses the Eight-Nine Xuan Gong to alter his appearance and adopts the alias Shi Zhixuan, later giving himself the title “Evil King Shi Zhixuan.”
• He arrives at Heroes Tower, a renowned martial-arts venue where challengers must defeat successive guardians to ascend its five floors.
• At the entrance, Ji Hao defeats the four-aperture saber-wielding gatekeeper in a single palm strike.
• He proceeds through the tower, defeating each guardian with one move:
  • Second floor: He disarms a seven-aperture spearman by using the Undying Seal Technique to absorb and redirect the spear’s force.
  • Third floor: He overcomes the body cultivator “Vajra” Gao Yuanyuan, whose golden, immensely powerful punch is neutralized by Ji Hao’s palm.
  • Fourth floor: He defeats the renowned Left-Handed Saber Master with a single saber strike.
  • Fifth-floor entrance: He overwhelms a seasoned nine-aperture elder by transforming and amplifying the elder’s own fist force through the Undying Seal Technique.
• Ji Hao’s successive one-move victories astonish everyone in the tower. Spectators begin speculating that he may be a hidden Human Ranking expert or a prodigy from a major sect.
• A Six Fan Gates Blue-Sash Constable confronts Ji Hao after detecting ominous energy associated with the Heaven-Extinguishing Sect.
• Ji Hao drops his harmless disguise, enters the Heaven-Slaying Demonic Path, and unleashes a destructive palm technique. He openly admits his connection to the Heaven-Extinguishing Sect, declaring that he has arrived in the martial world without any intention of hiding.

Character Developments

• Ji Hao: Displays overwhelming confidence, refined combat skill, and complete mastery of the Undying Seal Technique. He fights casually and courteously, defeating powerful opponents without appearing strained. His adoption of the Shi Zhixuan identity marks a deliberate step toward building a feared reputation and operating under a new persona.
• The tower guardians: Each guardian demonstrates strength, experience, and a distinctive martial style, but all are decisively outmatched. Their reactions progress from confidence to shock and admiration.
• Left-Handed Saber Master: Though defeated instantly, he responds with respect and enthusiasm, recognizing the superiority of Ji Hao’s saber intent.
• Six Fan Gates constable: Acts as a vigilant investigator, correctly identifying Ji Hao’s demonic aura and forcing him to reveal his affiliation.

Significant Themes

• Identity and reputation: Ji Hao deliberately constructs the identity of Shi Zhixuan, showing how aliases and titles can shape one’s influence in the jianghu.
• Overwhelming mastery: The chapter emphasizes the gap between Ji Hao and ordinary martial artists through repeated one-move victories.
• Transformation and adaptation: The Undying Seal Technique allows Ji Hao to absorb, redirect, and amplify his opponents’ power rather than simply overpowering them.
• Public declaration of power: Ji Hao uses Heroes Tower as a stage to announce his arrival and establish himself as a dangerous new figure.
• Demonic cultivation versus orthodox authority: His confrontation with Six Fan Gates highlights the tension between the Heaven-Extinguishing Sect and the established forces of the martial world.

Character Interactions

• Ji Hao remains polite toward the guardians, repeatedly saying, “Thank you for letting me win,” even after humiliating them with one-sided victories.
• The spectators shift from curiosity to awe, openly debating Ji Hao’s identity and potential ranking.
• The guardians challenge Ji Hao according to Heroes Tower’s rules, each attempting to test his strength with their signature techniques.
• The Six Fan Gates constable directly accuses Ji Hao of belonging to the Heaven-Extinguishing Sect, prompting Ji Hao to reveal his demonic cultivation and publicly acknowledge his arrival.

Ji Hao, disguised as Shi Zhixuan, fought the Blue-Sash Constable and other Half-Step Exterior experts at Heroes Tower, using his martial arts to counter their attacks and temper his body. Under the pressure, he naturally achieved unity of heaven and man and redirected four attacks, but the Blue-Sash Constable finally spotted an opening and unleashed a jade-green wave of ghostly flames.

• Ji Hao attacked the Blue-Sash Constable with the Heaven-Extinguishing Dao, severing his connection to the natural world and damaging his Heaven-Earth Bridge and divine soul.
• A Wang Family expert intervened with Saint's Nine Swords, but Ji Hao reversed its righteous qi into demonic qi and struck back with the Heaven-Slaying Falling God Palm.
• The Blue-Sash Constable and the Wang Family successor pressed Ji Hao while he used his sabre, movement technique, and Life-and-Death Demon Seeds to withstand their attacks and temper his body.
• Two more Half-Step Exterior experts arrived and attacked Ji Hao, who closed his eyes and attained unity of heaven and man under the pressure.
• Ji Hao used Eight Gates Transposition to redirect the four attacks into one another, while the Blue-Sash Constable studied his movement technique and identified a weakness.
• The Blue-Sash Constable lunged toward Ji Hao's unoccupied spot and unleashed a vast tide of jade-green flames and ghostly energy.

Ji Hao defeated the blue-badged constable, earned a fearsome reputation as the Evil King, and entered a new reincarnation mission with Ruan Yushu. They arrived in a world threatened by the Blood Sea and set out to join the forces heading for the frontier.

• Ji Hao used a series of feints and a lightning-charged saber strike to badly wound the blue-badged constable, then turned toward the three remaining Half-Step Exterior experts.
• The Human Ranking named Shi Zhixuan third, identifying him as the dangerous Heaven-Extinguishing Sect disciple known as the Evil King and Heaven-Slaying Human-Demon.
• Ji Hao cultivated in seclusion, was summoned to the Six Paths of Samsara Realm, exchanged manuals and weapons for karma points, and obtained the Heavenly Blade.
• Ruan Yushu arrived as a newcomer, and the Lord of Six Paths assigned Ji Hao to guide her and sever the Blood Sea Channel within a month by finding the Golden Bow and Silver Arrows.
• Ji Hao and Ruan Yushu reached a bustling city, ate boiled lamb, and discussed the mission's links to Yang Jian.
• Ji Hao and Ruan Yushu bought horses and rode toward the frontier, planning to join the main force.

Ji Hao and Ruan Yushu joined a force heading to the Blood Sea frontier, where they fought a powerful Blood Fiend and destroyed its Divine Soul. The sixty-year upheaval began with an abnormal rift opening in space, and a gigantic hand reached through as Ji Hao and the remaining fighters faced the threat.

• Ji Hao and Ruan Yushu joined the contingent traveling to the Blood Sea frontier after Ji Hao called out to him.
• The group reached a Blood Sea Channel, where an old Daoist recounted legends about the Blood Sea's origins and the Celestial who had once stopped its invasion.
• A Blood Fiend emerged from the Blood Volcano, and Ji Hao and Ruan Yushu killed it and destroyed its Divine Soul, leaving behind a Blood Core.
• The Blood Sea erupted in an abnormal upheaval, opening a rift that revealed a bloody world beyond it.
• Ji Hao told those who wished to leave to go, while the remaining fighters stayed as a gigantic hand reached from the black mist and sent the word “Food” into their minds.

Ji Hao used the Yuanxin Seal to see through the blood fiend’s illusion and discovered the Divine Bow hidden in the Blood Sea Fragment. The bow was reforged with the young Daoist as its artifact spirit, and Ji Hao took up the weapon as the blood fiend launched a counterattack.

• Ji Hao resisted the Blood Sea Fragment’s corrupting influence and was drawn with his companions into the true Blood Sea Channel.
• The old Daoist revealed that his lineage guarded the fragment and carried half of a Divine Bow that could sever the Blood Sea’s connection to their world.
• The blood fiend tried to possess the young Daoist, but golden light expelled it, and the Tai Xuan Imperial Lord arrived to battle the fiend.
• Ji Hao used the Yuanxin Seal to dispel an illusion and found the Divine Bow at the fragment’s core.
• The old Daoist revealed that the young Daoist was the bow’s artifact spirit, and the bow was reforged using the former Supreme Expert’s Buddhist and Daoist power.
• Ji Hao claimed the Divine Bow as its wielder, but the blood fiend unleashed a counterattack with the Blood Sea’s power.

Ji Hao destroyed the Blood Sea Fragment and returned with his companions, where they learned their next mission would be a death mission. After earning his rewards and discussing Eight-Nine Xuan Gong, Ji Hao left the Samsara realm as Meng Qi saw the updated Human Ranking and discovered his new title.

• Ji Hao split the Blood Sea Fragment with divine arrows, annihilated the Blood Fiend, and completed the mission, earning doubled karma rewards for the group.
• The Lord of Six Paths of Samsara announced a death mission in one year and gave the group their mission evaluations and rewards.
• Meng Qi learned about death missions from Luo Shengyi, endured teasing over his nicknames, and decided to consider Eight-Nine Xuan Gong as his primary cultivation technique.
• Ji Hao drew Ananda's Tears and suspected Ananda intended to choose him as a candidate for Reduction to Emptiness.
• Ji Hao told the group that Eight-Nine Xuan Gong could lead to either a Bodhi Golden Body or an undying Dao body, then gave Meng Qi a handkerchief and left.
• Meng Qi read the updated Human Ranking, saw Gu Xiaosang and Jiang Zhiwei's new records, and found himself listed as Gentleman Sword.

Chapter Summary: “Fighting Gu Xiaosang Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Meng Qi discovers that his alternate identity, Ji Hao, has been placed twenty-fourth on the Human Ranking under the embarrassing nickname “Gentleman Sword.” The ranking praises his swordsmanship, lightness skill, and past victories, but lists his identity as uncertain and possibly an alias.
• Meng Qi is furious at the nickname and suspects that the Six Fan Gates and Pei Ju deliberately arranged the title. He decides not to use the “Gentleman Sword” identity again.
• While staying in Ye City during the New Year season, Ji Hao spends his free time exploring the city’s food and refining his writings.
• Ji Hao encounters Gu Xiaosang, who is waiting for Meng Qi. She playfully calls him “Big Brother” and pretends to be concerned that Meng Qi might misunderstand their meeting.
• Ji Hao challenges Gu Xiaosang to settle their unfinished battle from the Demon Tomb world, intending to use her as a stepping stone to improve his Human Ranking position.
• Their battle rapidly escalates. Ji Hao employs sword, saber, palm, Buddhist, demonic, and life-and-death techniques, while Gu Xiaosang counters with Thousand Threads, Ten Thousand Nets, the Wusheng Finger, the Void Seal, and powers derived from the Unborn Mother Scripture of Deliverance.
• The fight devastates the surrounding street, pushing spectators away, damaging buildings, freezing and shattering the river, and distorting the surrounding space.
• Ji Hao ultimately wins, but Gu Xiaosang is protected by a token carrying the aura of a Dharma Body, preventing him from doing anything more serious to her.
• The battle gives Ji Hao valuable insight into “reducing emptiness,” a profound Dharma Technique connected to transcendence, karmic retribution, Ancient Ones, and the Dao Lord’s past experiments.
• Afterward, Ji Hao mischievously suggests that Gu Xiaosang should make an even deeper impression on Meng Qi. The chapter ends with Gu Xiaosang preparing to appear before Meng Qi and greet him as her “husband.”

Character Developments

Meng Qi/Ji Hao

• Becomes increasingly frustrated with the consequences of his alternate identity, especially the “Gentleman Sword” nickname.
• Demonstrates enormous combat growth, blending Buddhist and demonic cultivation with sword, saber, and palm techniques.
• His battle with Gu Xiaosang reveals that he has reached a level where he can fight one of the Human Ranking’s top figures head-on.
• Gains new understanding of transcendental concepts through Gu Xiaosang’s techniques and the Golden Emperor’s influence.

Gu Xiaosang

• Continues to display her playful, deceptive, and theatrically coquettish personality, pretending to be worried about Meng Qi’s jealousy.
• Reveals terrifying strength despite being only at the Nine-Aperture level, naturally exerting power comparable to an Exterior expert.
• Shows extraordinary mental cultivation, mastery of the Void Seal and Unborn Mother Scripture, and the protection of a Dharma Body-level token.
• Treats the battle as both combat and psychological play, constantly shifting between sacred, innocent, and lethal personas.

Ji Hao and Meng Qi’s relationship

• Ji Hao’s connection to Meng Qi is treated as an opportunity for manipulation and mischief. His plan to have Gu Xiaosang appear before Meng Qi suggests that he enjoys provoking and complicating Meng Qi’s personal life.

Significant Themes

• Identity and reputation: Meng Qi’s irritation over “Gentleman Sword” highlights the gap between how a person sees himself and how society interprets his actions.
• Combat as enlightenment: The battle is not merely a contest of strength; it allows Ji Hao to refine his techniques, understand life-and-death principles, and glimpse the mysteries of reducing emptiness.
• Life and death: Ji Hao’s sword and saber techniques repeatedly transform vitality into decay and destruction into renewal, symbolized by the lotus, withered trees, and the Life and Death Tai Chi Diagram.
• Deception and appearance: Gu Xiaosang’s innocent and sacred appearance contrasts sharply with her deadly techniques and manipulative personality.
• Power beyond realms: Gu Xiaosang’s strength demonstrates that cultivation level alone does not determine combat ability, especially when divine techniques, exceptional foundations, and powerful backing are involved.
• Fate and higher powers: The Golden Emperor, Dharma Body token, Dao Lord, and concepts such as karmic retribution and transcendence show that the characters’ struggles are connected to forces far beyond the immediate battle.

Character Interactions

• Meng Qi internally reacts with embarrassment and anger to the Six Fan Gates’ ranking of his alias.
• Ji Hao and Gu Xiaosang exchange playful, provocative dialogue before fighting, with Gu Xiaosang pretending to fear Meng Qi’s jealousy.
• Their battle is an intellectual and technical exchange: Ji Hao relies on overwhelming force, martial will, and transformations between Buddhism and demonic power, while Gu Xiaosang uses redirection, spatial distortion, sacred power, and endlessly changing techniques.
• Although Ji Hao wins, Gu Xiaosang’s Dharma Body protection prevents him from fully defeating or harming her.
• Ji Hao then schemes to make Gu Xiaosang appear before Meng Qi, setting up another emotionally awkward and potentially comedic confrontation.

Meng Qi reunited with Gu Xiaosang and Ji Hao, who robbed him of his silver before Gu Xiaosang used him as a distraction to attack Shan Xiumei in Ye City. The attack exposed a struggle involving the Mysterious Lady’s successor, and Ji Hao revealed himself as Shi Zhixuan before clashing with the Exterior experts who intervened.

• Gu Xiaosang met Meng Qi and enlisted Ji Hao, who called himself Shi Zhixuan, to help take Meng Qi’s silver before Meng Qi fled after their teasing.
• Gu Xiaosang disguised herself as Meng Qi’s maid and attacked Shan Xiumei in the Wang Clan’s private room, drawing out the Mysterious Lady’s successor.
• Wang Zai, Kong Yu, and a silver-badged constable intervened as Shan Xiumei’s escape revealed her unusual aura, while Ji Hao arrived to confront them.
• Ji Hao announced that he was cooperating with Gu Xiaosang and countered the silver-badged constable’s blade strike as Meng Qi joined the fight.
• Kong Yu attacked Gu Xiaosang, but Ji Hao blocked him with a devastating palm strike that made Kong Yu’s Heaven-Earth Bridge begin to collapse.

Ji Hao and Gu Xiaosang opened the Gate to the Immortal Realm and entered the ruined Ninth Heaven. Immersed in its Immortal Qi, Ji Hao awakened a Pure Yang Divine Soul and Dharma Body traits, then reached the sealed Lightning Sea with Gu Xiaosang and prepared to test whether he could pass.

• Ji Hao used Heaven and Earth Annihilation and God-Extinguishing against the silver-badge constable while Meng Qi gained insight from the clash and tried to strike Gu Xiaosang.
• Gu Xiaosang used a stone tablet, dragon script, phoenix writing, and a Samsara Talisman to join with the Mysterious Lady's successor and open the Gate to the Immortal Realm; Ji Hao followed them through.
• Ji Hao explored the ruined Ninth Heaven, where its clear principles and Immortal Qi brought him sudden enlightenment and formed a Pure Yang Divine Soul, a Dharma Body trait.
• Ji Hao reached the ruins of the Ancient Heavenly Court and continued through the collapsed heavens toward the upper three heavens.
• Ji Hao met Gu Xiaosang at the Lightning Sea, where she said the upper heavens held the true treasures and the sealed entrance seemed to require Thunder Mark.
• Ji Hao drew in Immortal Qi and transformed his Eight-Nine Xuan Gong, regaining Exterior-level combat strength as he prepared to test the seal.

Ji Hao and his companions entered a death mission set eight hundred years after the Journey to the West, where demons had thrown the mortal world into chaos. They found themselves at the ruined Great Leiyin Temple and faced a demon horde as night fell.

• Ji Hao failed to open the Heavenly Court's purple gate, then returned to the Six Paths of Samsara Realm as divine lights pursued Gu Xiaosang.
• The Lord of Six Paths of Samsara assigned the group a mission to survive until the ninth day, promising each survivor one thousand Karma Points and a Samsara Talisman.
• Ji Hao lent his companions Karma Points for supplies, and the group arrived in a ruined monastery in the Western Ox Continent.
• Ge Huaien divined that every direction held an omen of disaster, so Luo Shengyi urged the group to stay in the monastery for the night.
• Meng Qi and Ji Hao recognized the monastery's plaque as marking the Great Leiyin Temple, then a demonic horde descended on them.
• Ji Hao stepped forward and used a thunderous shout to stun or kill many of the charging demons.

Ji Hao and Meng Qi’s companions investigated the demons drawn to the temple’s light, then were ambushed by an Earthworm Monster that killed Ge Huaien. The Blue-Wave King Benbo'erba arrived, and after the group wounded him together, Ji Hao pressed the attack with a thunderous roar and a brilliant sword strike.

• Ji Hao killed a Half-Step Exterior demon with his self-created Merit-Exchange Ultimate Move, then forced a lesser demon to reveal that the slain demon was the Second Great King and that Benbo'erba ruled the Blue-Wave Pool demons.
• Meng Qi learned that Benbo'erba had obtained a longevity-giving pill, was away visiting relatives, and might return to the temple; the group decided to leave and gathered information about nearby demon territory.
• An Earthworm Monster burst from the ground, swallowed Ge Huaien, and split into two; Jiang Zhiwei and Ji Hao killed one while the other escaped, announcing that the First Great King was coming.
• Benbo'erba attacked the group, but Ruan Yushu struck him with the Demon-Reflecting Mirror while Meng Qi, Qi Zhengyan, and Zhang Yuanshan wounded him with their weapons and techniques.
• Ji Hao intercepted Benbo'erba as he tried to flee, severed his arm, countered his ghostly fish-fork attack with thunder and fire, and followed with a Great Thunderous Roar and a dazzling sword strike.