Recaps

The Xu Household prepared for an inevitable war with the Celestial River Sword Sect while the Golden Sun Merchant Guild worked to strengthen the sect and draw the Demon Heaven Trading Company into the conflict. Xu Mingxian created the Five Elements, Five Aspects combined-attack art, and allied forces gathered to support Yuncang as the war approached.

• Bai Xiuqi defeated Gu Changming while Si Shurong lost to Le Ying at the Mystic Star Sect's competition, and Ye Fan refused to let Xu Chongsheng fight to avoid exposing the younger Xu Household heirs.
• Steward Qian arranged for the Golden Sun Merchant Guild to give the Celestial River Sword Sect the Three Thousand Fire Crows art and promised Nascent Soul-level help, while Xu Chuan agreed to send his Corpse King and Ghost King if the fighting proved worthwhile.
• Xu Chongxi and Xu Chongsheng achieved Divine Ability Core Formation, Xu Jingwu returned to the Heavenly Fortune Dynasty, and Xu Mingxian developed the Five Elements, Five Aspects art for the Xu Household's guards.
• Xu Dezhao reported that three thousand Five Elements Guards had developed initial combat strength, and Xu Chonghui brought Yuncang offers of reinforcements from allied lineages and factions.
• Mo Wentian convened the Azure Dragon Alliance lineages to choose reinforcements, and Lei Wuji and True Lord Bing Gan volunteered to join the fighting.

The Xu Household and its allies prepared for the coming war over Cloud Cang City, while Xu Chuan warned Xu Deling that Nascent Soul cultivators might target the household’s promising Golden Core cultivators. The Celestial River Sword Sect began its assault, but Xu Chuan’s hidden preparations and the defenders’ formation prolonged the fighting for more than half a year.

• Xu Chuan persuaded Xu Deling to stay out of the war because her talent and artifact-refining potential could make her a target for Nascent Soul assassins.
• True Lord Qingxuan failed to dissuade either the Xu Household or the Celestial River Sword Sect, while Moyue and Black Tiger discussed the coming conflict.
• The Xu Household assembled three thousand Five Elements Guards and allied Golden Core cultivators in Cloud Cang City, where Ye Fan explained the defense plan.
• The Celestial River Sword Sect challenged the defenders, then entered the Cloudsky Illusion Formation with formation masters and several peak Golden Core cultivators.
• Xu Chuan sent Mo Wentian a bottle of Purple Dragon Pills to secure his help, arranged for the Profound Yin Corpse King and Blood Fiend Ghost King to join the conflict, and resumed cultivating toward Golden Core perfection.
• Bing Gan fought Bai Sha and Si Jung inside the formation as the other allies battled the attackers; the Celestial River Sword Sect withdrew and returned repeatedly, leaving the siege ongoing after more than half a year.

Xu Chuan reached Golden Core Perfection, explored the Azure Dragon Secret Realm, and obtained nine Spiritual-Consciousness Grades from sealed Primordial True Demons. Meanwhile, the battle for Cloud Cang City began with the Xu Household and its allies withdrawing after an opening clash, leaving the war poised to continue.

• The Celestial River Sword Sect broke the Cloudsky Illusion Formation, but Jian Shisan camped outside Cloud Cang City and delayed the siege until the next day.
• Xu Chuan used a Golden Essence Pill to break through to Golden Core Perfection and discovered his spiritual consciousness reached two hundred and fifty li.
• Xu Chuan questioned Dragoness about secret realms and small worlds, then lured nine sealed Spirit Transformation Primordial True Demons into his Sea of Consciousness and took their Spiritual-Consciousness Grades.
• Xu Chuan divided the nine Spiritual-Consciousness Grades among Xu Household members and prepared to attempt the Nascent Soul bottleneck after half a month.
• The Five Elements Guards and Fire Crow Guards clashed as the two armies opened the battle, while Xu Chongfei, Xu Wenjing, and Xu Chongjian fought off powerful Golden Core opponents.
• Xu Mingxian and Ye Fan ordered their forces to withdraw inside Cloud Cang City's grand formation after the day-long clash, and the Golden Core fighters pulled back toward the city.

The Xu Household and its allies fought the Celestial River Sword Sect over Cloud Cang City, while Moyue and Black Tiger faced Nascent Soul reinforcements and repeated ambushes. The city’s defenses held and the Celestial River Sword Sect suffered heavier losses, but the fighting continued as Moyue’s side deliberately prolonged the war.

• Bai Sha and the Golden Core cultivators failed to crack Cloud Cang City’s fourth-tier formation, so the Celestial River Sword Sect summoned its Grand Supreme Elders for support.
• Profound Yin and Blood Baleful joined the Celestial River Sword Sect’s forces, then fought Moyue and Black Tiger alongside Heavenly Water True Lord and Mysterious Thunder True Lord; Moyue revealed his full power and drove them off.
• The Celestial River Sword Sect and Yuncang forces fought repeated battles around the city, with Moyue disrupting sieges and Xu Mingshu, Xu Ying, and Xu Sky Lion helping defeat two arriving Golden Core cultivators.
• The Celestial River Sword Sect suffered mounting casualties while Cloud Cang City’s formation repeatedly recovered; both sides reduced their deployed forces, following Moyue’s orders to prolong the war.
• Profound Yin and Blood Baleful repeatedly ambushed Black Tiger, who withdrew into Cloud Cang City after another attack while Moyue stayed behind to cover his retreat.

After condensing a Dao Embryo Nascent Soul, Xu Chuan spent seven days retracing his past to temper his Daoheart before attempting to break through the Golden Core barrier. His journey strengthened his Thousand Illusions and brought him back to Yunxi, where he prepared to confront the Celestial River Sword Sect.

• Qian Qiushi revealed that Profound Yin and Blood Baleful were a fourth-tier corpse king and ghost king sent by the Demon Heaven Lord, and the Celestial River Sword Sect warned it would withdraw if it could not take Cloud Cang City within three months.
• Xu Chuan used his Dao-foundation Alchemy Furnace to gather numinous essence and condense a Nascent Soul with a golden dot between its brows, then told Xu Mingyuan and Xu Dezhao he would attempt to break through in seven days.
• Xu Chuan ordered the city gates, Grand Formation, and Grand Transmission Array sealed during his breakthrough, then traveled through Cloudbrook City and revisited places tied to his past.
• Xu Chuan met the Tree King's avatar, learned that he was called Azure Firmament, and gave Xu Bai Crimson Blood Pills and Thunder Zenith Pills to help him overcome his bottleneck.
• Xu Chuan revisited Dongxi, reflected on the Xu Household's rise, and advanced Thousand Illusions to minor mastery before leaving an illusion-art inheritance on a bluestone.
• Xu Chuan visited the Pill-Martial Sect, spoke with Xu Jingwu and Xu Mingqing, and returned to Yunxi through the Teleportation Formation.

Xu Chuan broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage and survived a Heart Demon Tribulation that nearly trapped him in an illusion of the Xu Household’s destruction. After awakening, he raised his spiritual consciousness to the Great Cultivator level and secretly traveled to Cloud Cang City, where he found Mo Wentian on the battlefield.

• Xu Chuan visited Mei Yun and Xu Mingxuan before returning to Yunxi and beginning seclusion in the Withering-and-Blooming Courtyard, while Xu Dezhao locked down Cloudbrook City.
• Xu Chuan shattered the barrier of his Golden Core world, absorbed the world into the golden point between his brows, and faced the Nascent Soul breakthrough’s Heart Demon Tribulation.
• The Heart Demon Venerable trapped Xu Chuan in illusions, including one in which Wang Shentong destroyed the Xu Household, but Xu Chuan recognized the Clan Genealogy’s absence and broke free.
• Xu Chuan completed his Nascent Soul breakthrough, attained Great Cultivator-level spiritual consciousness, and drew cheers from Cloudbrook City and the Xu Household.
• Disguised as a young cultivator, Xu Chuan teleported to Yuncang and found Mo Wentian near the northern gate of Cloud Cang City, preparing to make the battle harder for him.

Xu Chuan arrived at the battle for Cloud Cang City after forming his Nascent Soul, killed the Golden Sun Sect’s Grand Supreme Elder, and forced the Celestial River Sword Sect to submit and become the Cloud Cang Sword Sect, a subordinate of the Xu Household. The battle ended with the Xu Household’s influence greatly expanded, and news of Xu Chuan’s victory spread across the region.

• Xu Chuan used the Heavenly Secrets Art to discover that the Golden Sun Sect’s Grand Supreme Elder was waiting to ambush Ye Fan and Xu Deyue, then instructed them to lure him out.
• Xu Chuan killed the red-haired and black-haired Golden Core cultivators and captured the purple-robed Grand Supreme Elder’s nascent soul.
• Xu Chuan joined the Nascent Soul battle with Mo Wentian, wounded several opponents with spiritual consciousness attacks, and helped kill Mysterious Thunder True Lord.
• Heavenly Water True Lord agreed to rename the Celestial River Sword Sect the Cloud Cang Sword Sect and make it a subordinate sect of the Xu Household.
• Xu Chuan planted restrictions on the sect’s Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators, then returned to Yunxi as the fighting ended.
• News of the Celestial River Sword Sect’s submission spread through Cangshan Prefecture and Yunxi, prompting widespread shock and debate.

After Xu Chuan’s Nascent Soul breakthrough made the Xu Household a major power, he unlocked new cave-heaven permissions and assigned access to key clan members across its factions. He completed the clan’s cultivation inheritances, recovered from his breakthrough, and announced a Nascent Soul Formation Ceremony in Yunxi six months later.

• Black Tiger agreed to serve as the Xu Household’s supreme attendant, while news of Xu Chuan’s breakthrough and the Cloud Cang Sword Sect’s vassalage spread among major powers.
• Zhang Fan, the Heavenforged Sect, and the Azure Cloud Sect reacted to the news and began preparing gifts for Xu Chuan’s ceremony.
• Xu Chuan rewarded the Profound Yin Corpse King and Blood Baleful Ghost King, then discovered that his transformed cave-heaven could admit others and grant ten people independent access.
• Xu Chuan assigned cave-heaven permissions to core members across the Xu Household’s branches, gave Xu Dewen and Xu Mingwei valuable pills, and expanded the clan’s cultivation and crafting inheritances.
• Xu Chuan recovered in seclusion and announced that his Nascent Soul Formation Ceremony would be held in Yunxi on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth month, six months later.

Xu Chuan’s Nascent Soul ceremony drew powerful guests from across the region, but the Golden Sun Sect turned it into a confrontation by provoking a duel that ended with Xu Deyue killing Zhao Chu. Wang Qianshan attacked Xu Chuan, and their evenly matched battle continued in the sky as the chapter ended.

• Xu Chuan refined the Wind-Thunder Wings into his lifebound magic treasure and discovered they let him fly at twice the speed of his perfected escape technique.
• Guests from across the Northwest and Southern Heaven arrived for Xu Chuan’s Nascent Soul ceremony, where the Heavenlyforged Sect presented him with a top-tier magic treasure alchemy furnace.
• Wang Qianshan of the Golden Sun Sect offered astral Doumu origin gold as a prize for a contest, and Xu Chuan agreed to have the juniors spar.
• Xu Deyue overwhelmed Zhao Chu, but he took a Blood-Burning Pill and launched a desperate attack; Xu Deyue killed him with a sword strike.
• Wang Qianshan tried to kill Xu Deyue, but Xu Chuan intervened and challenged him, then fought him to a standstill in the sky.

Xu Chuan survived the Golden Sun Sect’s scheme with Zhang Fan’s intervention, then agreed to divine the Mysterious Moon Sect’s future and discovered its coming killing tribulation. He began refining the Black Tortoise Demon-Refining Painting and arranged for Xu Dewen to establish a business for the Xu Household’s Demonic Path resources, while Xu Dewen’s status as a Heavenly Baleful Sect True Disciple was introduced.

• Xu Chuan defeated Wang Qianshan, but Wang Shentong arrived and threatened him until Zhang Fan revealed himself and forced the Golden Sun Sect to withdraw after paying the promised arena prize.
• Xu Chuan met Zhang Fan privately, agreed to divine the Mysterious Moon Sect’s fortunes, and promised only to help Zhang Fan’s Spirit Transformation attempt if he had the strength when the time came.
• After three days of divination, Xu Chuan foresaw an unavoidable killing tribulation for the Mysterious Moon Sect and concluded that it would need one or two new Great Cultivators to survive.
• Xu Chuan discovered that the Black Tortoise Demon-Refining Painting consumed True Demon Remains, and Dragoness let him take the remains and taught him secret arts for refining corpse puppets and purifying true demon qi.
• Xu Chuan gathered demonic remains, purified true demon qi, and told Xu Dewen to establish a business in the Blackwater Domain to trade the Xu Household’s Demonic Path resources.
• Xu Dewen accepted the plan as a Heavenly Baleful Sect True Disciple, and the chapter described the sect’s demanding standards for its twelve True Disciples.

Xu Dewen established Cloudshadow Tower by recruiting cultivators from the Heavenly Baleful Sect’s Human Resources Hall, freeing them from their fate as cultivation material in exchange for loyalty. As Xu Mo began managing the new shop, the chapter also showed Xu Chuan divining his prospects and the Xu Household preparing to expand into Cangshan Prefecture.

• Xu Dewen selected twenty qi-refining cultivators and nine foundation-establishment cultivators from the Human Resources Hall, then offered them freedom and resources in exchange for divine soul restrictions and service as his attendants.
• Xu Dewen gave Xu Mo the Blood Spirit Scripture and pills, then let him use his Blood Fiend Peak cultivation-ground opportunity to strengthen his cultivation.
• Xu Mo encountered An Changshan at Blood Fiend Peak, and An Changshan reported Xu Mo’s new status to Shi Wuyu, who ordered him to arrange Xu Dewen’s death.
• Xu Dewen set up Cloudshadow Tower in Heavenly Baleful City and appointed Xu Mo its shopkeeper, then asked Xu Chuan to divine whether Xu Mo could be trusted.
• Xu Chuan performed a divination and told Xu Dewen to proceed, while Xu Dezhao and Xu Mingyuan arranged for Xu Chongjian to take charge of the Cloud Cang Sword Sect in Cangshan Prefecture with Xihe and Wen Xiao.

Xu Chongjian took control of the Cloud Cang Sword Sect, using new rankings, strict discipline, generous rewards, and sword legacies to win over its disciples and elders. As the sect began to unite behind him, Mysterious Thunder True Lord challenged him to a spar, and Xu Chongjian opened with a five-element sword formation.

• Xu Chongjian arrived at the Cloud Cang Sword Sect and ended its closure, keeping existing positions while announcing a grand competition, new cultivation rewards, and a Heavenly Pride program.
• Xu Chongjian reshuffled the Enforcement Hall and Daoist Canon Pavilion leadership and offered the sect eight sword dao divine ability legacies, while reserving the Wind-Thunder Sword Art and Great Void Sword Canon for later.
• Xu Chongjian enforced new sect rules and held the first Sword Sect Grand Competition, inspiring disciples to compete and defend the sect as its unity grew.
• Heavenly Water True Lord warned Mysterious Thunder True Lord that Xu Chongjian’s reforms would win the sect’s allegiance, but Mysterious Thunder True Lord refused to accept the new Sect Master without testing him.
• Mysterious Thunder True Lord challenged Xu Chongjian to a spar, and Xu Chongjian summoned the Five-Spirit Casket and sent a metal-element flying sword toward him.

Xu Chuan learned that the Battle of the Heavens would determine access to the Heavenly Passage Water Mansion and agreed to participate, then selected Xu Household cultivators for the expedition. After Wang Shentong was chosen to lead Southern Heaven’s forces, Xu Chuan and Moyue prepared to protect their people.

• Mysterious Thunder True Lord tested Xu Chongjian’s swordsmanship, and their strongest techniques ended in a draw.
• Three years later, Xu Chuan refined the Black Tortoise Demon-Refining Painting and studied the Myriad Spirits Transformation Freedom Art while the Xu Household celebrated Xu Chongxi’s betrothal to Song Mingzhu.
• Zhang Daoran told Xu Chuan about the coming Battle of the Heavens and the Water Mansion’s treasures; Xu Chuan agreed to join and asked to reserve several Golden Core places.
• Xu Chuan chose Xu Deling, Ye Fan, Xu Deyue, and Xu Mingxian to fight, assigned Xu Dewen to seek Demon Abyss treasures, and arranged Water Mansion places for Mei Yun and Xu Mingxuan.
• Zhang Daoran informed Xu Chuan that Wang Shentong would command Southern Heaven’s forces and warned him not to risk too many Xu Household prodigies.
• Moyue offered to accompany Xu Chuan as a spirit pet and protect the Xu Household cultivators if Nascent Soul enemies attacked.

Xu Chuan secured a Northwest Nascent Soul slot for the Battle of the Heavens, arranged Golden Core participants, and created a Ghost Path avatar to travel to Blackwater Domain. After finding Black Prison Marsh blocked by a powerful Zhuyan, he arranged passage with the Golden Sun Merchant Guild, and his disguised avatar arrived at its headquarters to join the party.

• Xu Chuan showed Moyue and Little Cold Crow his expanding cave-heaven, then sent White Bone High Person to represent him at the Mysterious Moon Sect's meeting.
• Zhang Fan named Zhang Daoran and Xu Chuan as two Nascent Soul participants, while Sun Zhidao won the third slot by defeating Heavenly Water True Lord in the final sparring match.
• Xu Chuan helped allocate Golden Core places among the Northwest's factions, and Mo Wentian's alliance meeting selected participants including Mo Yuantang, Bing Gan, Lei Wuji, Lei Yunpeng, Cang Lingxu, and Yan Kuangtu.
• Xu Chuan condensed a Ghost Path avatar and learned from Tree King Azure Firmament that a peak fourth-tier Zhuyan guarded Black Prison Peak, blocking the route through Black Prison Marsh to Blackwater Domain.
• Xu Chuan arranged to send his avatar to Blackwater Domain with the Golden Sun Merchant Guild, which offered to take it on its trip in three months.
• Xu Chuan's disguised incarnation arrived at the Golden Sun Merchant Guild with other cultivators, and Qian Qiushi greeted them as Elder Feng.

Xu Chuan crossed into the Blackwater Domain, recruited the siblings Bu Heng and Bu Yao, and faked his death to slip away from the Golden Sun Merchant Guild. While traveling toward Joyous Union City, he joined a battle over an Earthly Fiend Spirit Tree and attacked Blood Mad Blade.

• Xu Chuan learned that Bu Heng had an Earthly Fiend Body and Bu Yao had a flawed Celestial Yin Body, then healed Bu Yao and recruited both siblings to serve someone he had not yet named.
• Xu Chuan and the Golden Sun Merchant Guild crossed the Heavenly Passage River into the Blackwater Domain, where Elder Feng learned that the Demon Heaven Lord wanted him to establish a base and collect materials.
• Xu Chuan staged his death in Heavenly Passage City, escaped in disguise, and used his White Bone Skull Heads to kill cultivators who ambushed him on the road.
• Xu Chuan traveled toward Joyous Union City and found Blood Mad Blade fighting two Golden Core cultivators over an Earthly Fiend Spirit Tree.
• Xu Chuan joined the two cultivators against Blood Mad Blade, and one of his White Bone Skull Heads was struck by Blood Mad Blade's saber.

Xu Chuan plundered the Earthly Fiend Spirit Tree and the Huang Household’s treasure vault, then traveled to Heavenly Baleful City and met Xu Dewen. He learned that Shi Wuyu was protected by the sect’s rules and that the Heavenly Baleful True Disciples would travel to Southern Heaven in twenty years.

• Xu Chuan killed Blood Mad Blade, ambushed the Blood Demon Grotto cultivator, and took the Earthly Fiend Spirit Tree after the rival factions fought over it.
• Xu Chuan refined his White Bone Skull Heads, evaded Nascent Soul cultivators searching for the Hidden Valley culprit, and joined the assault on the Huang Household.
• Xu Chuan secretly broke into the Huang Household’s treasure vault and took its accumulated wealth and a High-Grade Xiantian Spirit Treasure before escaping.
• The Jin Household later destroyed the Fei Household, while Xu Chuan erased a great cultivator’s mark and continued toward Joyous Union City.
• Xu Chuan traveled through Joyous Union City to Heavenly Baleful City and contacted Xu Dewen, who warned him not to kill Shi Wuyu because of the sect’s rules and the coming Heavenly Pride Gathering.
• Xu Chuan and Xu Dewen discussed the Heavenly Baleful Sect’s power and its plan to send its True Disciples to Southern Heaven in twenty years.

Xu Chuan strengthened Cloudshadow Tower by building a cultivation force, while Xu Deling learned that the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm was nearing its opening and might be collapsing. After divining grave danger around the secret realm, Xu Chuan gathered what information he could as Xu Deling prepared to pursue its opportunity.

• Xu Chuan arranged for Xu Dewen to recruit Bu Heng and Bu Yao into the Heavenly Baleful Sect, where their special constitutions helped them advance rapidly.
• Xu Mo formed a True Demon Blood Core and became a Golden Core elder, while Shi Wuyu resolved to focus on mastering his Divine Ability before confronting Xu Dewen.
• Xu Chuan directed Cloudshadow Tower to recruit cultivators and mortals, teach the mortals the Martial Way, and develop its own trained force.
• Xu Chuan refined the Azure Dragon Stele and planned his next cultivation priorities as Xu Deling reached the ninth level of Golden Core.
• Xu Deling's Vermilion Bird Token reacted, and Xu Chuan divined that the secret realm was about to open amid both great opportunity and mortal danger.
• Xu Deling asked True Sun and Flame Dragon to accompany her, while Xu Chuan consulted Murong Yun and the Dragoness about the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm's history and possible destruction.

Xu Deling and the other Vermilion Bird Token bearers entered the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm after its spirit barred Nascent Soul cultivators from entering. As factions split up to explore, Xu Deling escaped an attack by Su Zhaowu and Su Zhaolie and accepted the Secret Realm Spirit’s first inheritance trial.

• Xu Chuan warned Xu Deling that the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm’s opening was unusual, then gave her a Storage Pouch before she and Flame Dragon traveled to Eternal Sun Prefecture.
• At Vermilion Bird Ridge, the Su Household forced the Eternal Sun Sect to withdraw, and several factions gathered as the secret realm’s entrance appeared.
• The Secret Realm Spirit announced that each Vermilion Bird Token bearer could bring one companion, and Xu Deling and the other eligible cultivators entered the realm together.
• After the cultivators split up, Su Zhaowu and Su Zhaolie pursued Xu Deling, but she resisted their attacks, escaped by concealing her aura, and left them behind.
• The Secret Realm Spirit told Xu Deling the realm was nearing collapse and offered its inheritance to whoever passed three trials; Xu Deling accepted the first trial, which required hunting a peak third-rank demon beast alone.
• Lin Yansong and Zhang Xiucheng also accepted the trials, and Lin Yansong suggested that they split up to improve their sect’s chances.

The chosen participants completed the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm’s first trial and began the second, which tested their talent and offered individual assessments. Xu Deling excelled and defeated Lu Jiusi in the arena battle; Zhang Xiucheng then entrusted her with a pouch before facing Nangong Wen.

• Xu Deling killed a peak third-rank demonized blood tiger, passed the first trial, and learned that the Vermilion Bird Inheritance included artifact-refining methods for Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasures.
• The Secret Realm Spirit announced that Qi Yuan had died and Lin Yansong had failed; Lin Yansong was expelled and told the Nascent Soul cultivators outside about the dangerous trials and the secret realm’s imminent collapse.
• The participants gathered in the Secret Realm Core, where Xu Deling ranked first in the talent assessments after earning the highest physique evaluation and an A-Mid Daoheart score.
• Xu Deling chose an artifact-refining assessment and spent seven days making a High-Grade Magic Treasure while the others completed individual combat assessments.
• The final assessment began as an arena tournament, and Xu Deling defeated Lu Jiusi after they exchanged powerful attacks and he conceded.
• Zhang Xiucheng gave Xu Deling a Storage Pouch to deliver to Martial Uncle Qing Xuan if he died, then entered the arena as Nangong Wen followed.

The Vermilion Bird tournament narrowed to Xu Deling and Demon Three after Zhang Xiucheng, Su Zhaolie, Nangong Wen, and Su Zhaowu died in battle. Xu Deling won the inheritance, but Demon Three revealed himself as the Crimson Flame Demon General and pursued her after she spirited the Vermilion Bird ring into the Xu Clan Cave-Heaven.

• Zhang Xiucheng detonated his golden core, grievously injuring Nangong Wen before dying.
• Su Zhaolie ambushed Su Zhaowu with an Annihilation Thunder Pearl, but Su Zhaowu survived with a Life Talisman and killed him.
• Xu Deling killed the injured Nangong Wen, and Demon Three killed Su Zhaowu before revealing that he had possessed Demon Three and merged with the Secret Realm Spirit.
• Demon Three conceded the final battle because Xu Deling was the Vermilion Bird Sect's chosen inheritor, and the Secret Realm Spirit awarded her the inheritance.
• Demon Three tried to seize the crimson ring, but Xu Deling carried it into the Xu Clan Cave-Heaven and turned to confront the pursuing Crimson Flame Demon General.

Xu Deling fought the Crimson Flame Demon General, but Xu Chuan and the Vermilion Bird Spirit intervened, suppressed the demon, and secured the secret realm’s treasures before it collapsed. Outside, Xu Deling explained the disaster while powerful cultivators clashed over her survival and the Vermilion Bird Inheritance.

• Xu Deling transformed into a fire phoenix and fought the Crimson Flame Demon General, but he overwhelmed her and tried to possess her body.
• Xu Chuan’s mark expelled the demon’s primordial spirit, and Xu Chuan joined the Vermilion Bird Spirit to suppress it and collect the secret realm’s treasures.
• Xu Chuan sent Xu Deling out of the secret realm, which then collapsed as the Vermilion Bird Spirit warned the outside cultivators that a Void Refinement true demon had escaped.
• Xu Deling told the gathered cultivators that Demon Three had been possessed and that the true demon had killed the other trial participants before the Secret Realm Spirit rescued her.
• Nangong Bo and Wu Tong demanded that Xu Deling prove her account, while Flame Dragon and True Lord Qingxuan defended her and fought them.
• True Lord Yuanmo tried to seize Xu Deling, but Lu Qibai and Shi Qian intervened as the cultivators argued over the inheritance.

Xu Chuan protected Xu Deling from powerful factions seeking the Vermilion Bird Inheritance, then examined the treasures she brought back and planned a transformation to strengthen her for future threats. After consulting the Four-Winged Chongming Bird, he agreed that Xu Deling should undergo rebirth with Vermilion Bird treasures, though the process was delayed while a formation was prepared.

• Xu Chuan arrived at Vermilion Bird Ridge, struck Nangong Bo to demonstrate his concealed attack, and defended Xu Deling as four Great Cultivators gathered.
• Mu Qingfeng, Zhang Fan, and the other Great Cultivators examined the survivors and their storage artifacts; Lu Jiusi corroborated Xu Deling’s account of the Vermilion Bird Treasure-Refining Art, and the factions ended their accusations.
• Xu Chuan healed Xu Deling and returned with her and Flame Dragon to Yunxi, where Xu Deling gave the Heavenforged Sect a copy of the Vermilion Bird Treasure-Refining Art.
• Xu Chuan examined the Vermilion Bird treasures and learned that a spirit fruit and Vermilion Bird Spirit Blood could help Xu Deling transform; he then discovered the Four-Winged Chongming Bird hidden in her Spirit Beast Pouch.
• The Four-Winged Chongming Bird persuaded Xu Chuan that rebirth would suit Xu Deling better than the Supreme Heaven-Mending Foundation Art, and Xu Chuan agreed to provide a drop of Spirit Blood and let them undergo rebirth together.
• Xu Chuan chose the Xu Clan Cave-Heaven for Xu Deling’s rebirth and had Xu Mingxian set up the Fourth-Tier Rebirth Grand Formation, delaying the transformation until it was ready.

Xu Deling completed her second Nirvana, awakened powerful Vermilion Bird abilities, and received the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Scripture before joining Xu Chuan on a visit to the Heavenforged Sect. After Xu Chuan drove off an ambush and advised the sect on how to safeguard a future Spirit Treasure, he sensed a Great Cultivator probing him as he departed.

• Xu Deling and the Four-Winged Chongming Bird underwent three months of Nirvana, emerging with greatly strengthened bodies and bloodlines.
• Xu Deling broke through to Nascent Soul-level spiritual consciousness, opened the inheritance jade slip, and decided to cultivate the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Scripture.
• Xu Chuan and Xu Deling traveled to the Heavenforged Sect, where Xu Chuan repelled a Nascent Soul cultivator who attacked them and sent another observer fleeing.
• Xu Chuan advised True Sun to secure alliances and protection if the Heavenforged Sect refined a Spirit Treasure, and he donated rare spirit iron to the sect.
• Xu Chuan visited the Heavenforged Sect's Great Cultivator and sparred with Flame Dragon and Blazing Sun before departing.
• After leaving the Heavenforged Sect, Xu Chuan sensed a Great Cultivator probing him and decided to play along.

Xu Chuan challenged the Ascension Gate after Nangong Ji tried to kill him, gathering allies and abducting eighteen of its Golden Core cultivators. He confronted the sect at its mountain gate, where its elders prepared to attack and Xu Chuan used the prisoners to force a standoff.

• Nangong Ji attacked Xu Chuan, but Xu Chuan countered his blows and escaped with his winged treasure, then taunted Nangong Ji before leaving for Featherfall City.
• Xu Chuan told Xu Mingxian to enlist Zhang Fan and their allies, and Moyue, Mo Wentian, Black Tiger, and other cultivators agreed to join the planned confrontation.
• Xu Chuan secretly captured eighteen Ascension Gate Golden Core cultivators near the sect, then announced he would visit the mountain gate in three days.
• The Ascension Gate learned that Xu Chuan's visit was imminent, discovered its missing elders could not be contacted, and resolved to kill him and destroy the Xu Household.
• Xu Chuan arrived at the Ascension Gate with the eighteen captives, drew them in front of himself to stop an elder's attack, and said the sect's response would determine how the confrontation ended.

Xu Chuan fought the Ascension Gate with the Azure Dragon Stele, hidden abilities, and pill reserves, killing two Nascent Soul cultivators and drawing rogue cultivators to his side. After Heavenly Feather True Lord arrived and Zhang Fan confronted him, Heavenly Feather asked Xu Chuan whether he intended to fight the Ascension Gate to the death.

• Xu Chuan failed to persuade Li Qianyu to stop the attack, and Nangong Ji killed the Golden Core hostages with a gigantic palm.
• Xu Chuan used his assassination Divine Ability to kill Golden Core cultivators, then deployed the Azure Dragon Stele to withstand attacks from Nangong Ji, Li Qianyu, and the Ascension Gate cultivators.
• Xu Chuan and his allies killed one Nascent Soul cultivator and destroyed another's body, while Xu Chuan used his Azure Dragon of the Sword, Divine Abilities, and Wind-Thunder Wings to battle the Ascension Gate forces.
• Xu Chuan restored his Magic Power and Spiritual Consciousness with pills, then offered pills to nearby cultivators; Mysterious Tortoise High Person and three rogue Nascent Soul cultivators joined his side.
• Heavenly Feather True Lord arrived, shattered the Azure Dragon, and offered to end the feud if Xu Chuan joined the Ascension Gate; Xu Chuan refused and declared that the Xu Household would fight to the end.
• Zhang Fan revealed himself and exchanged blows with Heavenly Feather True Lord, while Mu Qingfeng and True Lord Yuanmo stayed neutral; Heavenly Feather then asked Xu Chuan if he meant to fight the Ascension Gate until one side was destroyed.