Recaps

Qin Hao sent his Time Doppelganger and Devouring Doppelganger across the starfield toward a nearby Dead Star so the Devouring Doppelganger could cultivate there. After returning to the Hundred Immortals Palace, he went to Hundred Immortals Square to meet Mu Ziqing, where the palace’s female Disciples reacted with surprise to his presence.

• Qin Hao decided that his Time Doppelganger would take the underdeveloped Devouring Doppelganger to the nearby Dead Star, since the other planets were too far away.
• The Time Doppelganger used Half-Step Time Laws to carry the Devouring Doppelganger toward the Dead Star while Qin Hao left the Supreme Sword Tower’s Fourth Floor.
• Qin Hao returned to Shuixian Hall and found that the White-Robed Woman had already left without making a commotion in the Hundred Immortals Palace.
• Qin Hao messaged Mu Ziqing, who told him to wait at Hundred Immortals Square, and he headed there.
• Hundreds of female Disciples gathered in Hundred Immortals Square and stared at Qin Hao, with some recognizing him as a top genius from Southern Reach.

At Hundred Immortals Square, Meng Jieling tried to draw Qin Hao in by inviting him to her residence, apparently hoping to spite Mu Ziqing. Mu Ziqing arrived just as Qin Hao was being pressed for an answer.

• Female disciples praised Qin Hao’s feats and discussed his devotion to Mu Ziqing, drawing Meng Jieling’s attention.
• Meng Jieling approached Qin Hao, and the disciples speculated that she wanted to steal him from Mu Ziqing out of rivalry.
• Meng Jieling invited Qin Hao to rest at her residence, while a disciple who tried to invite him too fell silent under Meng Jieling’s glare.
• Mu Ziqing hurried into the square and rebuked Meng Jieling for her shamelessness.

Mu Ziqing arrived and publicly challenged Meng Jieling over Qin Hao, then revealed she had advanced to First-Tier Fire Laws and defeated Meng Jieling with one sword strike. She left with Qin Hao, warning Meng Jieling not to challenge her again.

• Mu Ziqing joined Qin Hao and told Meng Jieling that she and Qin Hao had trained and traveled together, then prepared to leave with him.
• Meng Jieling challenged Mu Ziqing, declared that she had taken a liking to Qin Hao, and refused to let Mu Ziqing take him away.
• Meng Jieling displayed two sets of Half-Step Laws at Grand Perfection, while Qin Hao realized Mu Ziqing had recently advanced beyond her previous level.
• Mu Ziqing attacked with First-Tier Fire Laws bolstered by Half-Step Wind Laws and overwhelmed Meng Jieling with a single sword strike.
• Mu Ziqing warned Meng Jieling not to cross her again, then took Qin Hao away.

Mu Ziqing defeated Meng Jieling with one strike after advancing her Fire Laws, then explained that she would stay behind to refine the Undying Phoenix Remnant Soul while Qin Hao traveled to the Central Continent Domain. The chapter left Qin Hao learning about the three great Sacred Lands there.

• Mu Ziqing defeated Meng Jieling with First-Tier Fire Laws, and Meng Jieling left after vowing revenge.
• Mu Ziqing took Qin Hao to Ziqing Pavilion and explained that she had refined part of the Undying Phoenix Remnant Soul with help from four Half-Step Creation Great Experts.
• Mu Ziqing said she would spend the next six months refining the remnant soul and told Qin Hao to travel to the Central Continent Domain without her.
• Qin Hao agreed to go ahead and make his final preparations for the Azure Flame Grand Tournament.
• Mu Ziqing told Qin Hao that the Central Continent Domain had three great Sacred Lands: the Spirit Martial Holy Land, the Spirit-Scolding Holy Land, and the Heaven-Piercing Holy Land.

Mu Ziqing explained the Heaven-Piercing Holy Land and gave Qin Hao Spirit Stones for his journey to the Central Continent. She warned him that others were searching for his Azure Flame Sect Inner Gate Disciple Token, and the chapter ended with Qin Hao embracing her.

• Mu Ziqing told Qin Hao that the Heaven-Piercing Holy Land was open to anyone from the Human Race, though cultivation there required many High-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Mu Ziqing offered Qin Hao twenty million Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, and Qin Hao said he already had a million High-Grade Spirit Stones before accepting her ring.
• Mu Ziqing warned Qin Hao that many people were searching for his Azure Flame Sect Inner Gate Disciple Token and might target him.
• As Qin Hao reached for the Storage Spirit Ring, his fingers brushed Mu Ziqing's, and he instinctively pulled her into an embrace.

Qin Hao left Mu Ziqing and headed for the Central Continent, while Han Xu learned that Qin Hao possessed the Azure Flame Sect Inner Gate Disciple Token and waited for him in Nanyang City. Five days later, Qin Hao’s blue streak appeared in the sky as Han Xu opened his eyes.

• Qin Hao and Mu Ziqing parted, and Qin Hao set off for the Central Continent.
• Han Xu paid the Nanyang City Heavenly Treasure Pavilion master for intelligence about the Azure Flame Sect Inner Gate Disciple Token.
• The pavilion master told Han Xu that Qin Hao was a Ninth Layer Peak Saint Martial Realm warrior with formidable abilities and was expected to pass through Nanyang City.
• Han Xu went to the city walls and waited for Qin Hao, drawing attention from Nanyang City’s residents.
• Five days later, Qin Hao’s blue light appeared in the sky, and Han Xu opened his eyes.

Han Xu intercepted Qin Hao on his way to the Central Continent Domain and demanded his Azure Flame Sect Inner Gate Disciple Token. Qin Hao challenged Han Xu’s claim that he was too weak to use it, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Han Xu waited near Nanyang City and blocked Qin Hao’s flight through the sky.
• Qin Hao recognized Han Xu’s formidable aura and asked why he had stopped him.
• Onlookers identified Qin Hao as the fighter who had killed Shi Yan and the others, and recognized Han Xu as a top Spirit-Scolding Sect disciple.
• Han Xu told Qin Hao to wait until the next Azure Flame Grand Tournament and demanded his Azure Flame Sect Inner Gate Disciple Token.
• Qin Hao questioned whether Han Xu was certain he could use the token to become an Azure Flame Sect Outer Gate Disciple.

Han Xu challenged Qin Hao for his Azure Flame Sect Inner Gate Disciple Token, confident he could defeat him, but their battle proved them evenly matched. The chapter ended with both men retreating twenty steps after clashing their strongest attacks.

• Han Xu demanded Qin Hao hand over the Inner Gate Disciple Token, but Qin Hao refused and accepted his challenge.
• Han Xu revealed his nearly perfected First-Tier Water Laws and other Laws, while Qin Hao brought out his Destruction Laws, Vitality Sword Domain, and Half-Step Time Laws.
• Qin Hao and Han Xu traded attacks, and Han Xu's first spear strike staggered Qin Hao while Qin Hao's Destruction Laws began corroding Han Xu's spear.
• Han Xu unleashed his self-created Flying Immortal Spear Technique, Sky-Breaking, and Qin Hao countered with Earth's Sword and Half-Step Time Laws.
• Qin Hao and Han Xu emerged from the collision having each retreated twenty steps, with neither gaining the upper hand.

Qin Hao and Han Xu fought to a standstill as they unleashed their strongest spear and sword techniques, but Qin Hao’s Destruction Laws were steadily eroding Han Xu’s Water Laws. Han Xu conceded, accepted that Qin Hao deserved an Inner Sect Disciple Token, and took back his earlier dismissal.

• Han Xu was shocked that Qin Hao blocked his Sky-Breaking spear strike, while Qin Hao recognized the strength of Han Xu’s self-created technique and renewed his fighting spirit.
• Han Xu and Qin Hao repeatedly clashed with Sky-Breaking and the Earth Doppelganger’s Sword as the watching Saint Martial Grandmasters kept their distance.
• Han Xu unleashed Flying Immortal, and Qin Hao used Half-Step Time Laws to produce thousands of rapid Sword Shadows that matched the spear shadows.
• The two fighters were driven back roughly a hundred steps, but Han Xu realized the Destruction Laws were weakening him and declared that he had lost.
• Han Xu admitted Qin Hao qualified for an Inner Sect Disciple Token and apologized for his earlier words, while Qin Hao acknowledged Han Xu’s strength.

After defeating Han Xu, Qin Hao advised him that a true expert did not need an Inner Sect Disciple Token, and Han Xu left with renewed resolve. Qin Hao headed for the Central Continent Domain, reflecting on the strength he would need for the Azure Flame Grand Tournament and training as he traveled.

• Han Xu warned Qin Hao that clearing the Heaven-Piercing Tower could give him a chance to compete for a place in the Top Hundred.
• Qin Hao told Han Xu that a true expert did not need an Inner Sect Disciple Token, and Han Xu thanked him before leaving to prepare for the Azure Flame Grand Tournament.
• Qin Hao flew toward the Central Continent Domain while onlookers speculated that his Destruction Laws had worn down Han Xu's Water Laws and forced his defeat.
• Qin Hao judged that his current strength might not be enough to reach the Top Hundred and focused on studying Destruction Laws, Vitality Laws, and Time Laws during his journey.
• Qin Hao estimated that his Devouring Doppelganger, consuming a Dead Star on the Fourth Floor of the Supreme Sword Tower, would need another six months to a year before it could fight effectively.

Qin Hao reached the Holy City and saw how powerful its guards were when a Venerable who tried to skip the entry line was crushed and forced to wait. After paying to enter, Qin Hao learned that Heaven-Piercing Azure Mountain was visible inside the city and headed toward the sacred land, hoping to improve his Laws before the Azure Flame Grand Tournament.

• Qin Hao arrived at the Holy City after two and a half years of travel and decided to visit Heaven-Piercing Sacred Land.
• An Elder from the Western Domain Group tried to fly past the entry line, but the south gate Commander used Ninth-Order Laws to slam him into the ground.
• The Elder got up and joined the back of the line, while Qin Hao and the other arrivals paid one High-Grade Spirit Stone each to enter.
• Inside the city, Qin Hao learned that the Mountain Peak was Heaven-Piercing Azure Mountain, the only one of the Holy City's three sacred lands visible to outsiders.
• Warriors eager to cultivate for the Azure Flame Grand Tournament set off toward Heaven-Piercing Azure Mountain, and Qin Hao hoped its Origin Laws would help him advance his Vitality and Time Laws.

Qin Hao learned that Heaven-Piercing Azure Mountain offered 1,008 cultivation chambers with different costs and benefits, and that occupants had to defend them against challengers. After understanding the risks and rules, he sought information about the Heaven-Piercing Tower, which Han Xu had said was important for the Azure Flame Grand Tournament.

• Qin Hao approached Heaven-Piercing Azure Mountain and marveled at its immense size and dense Origin Laws.
• Qin Hao read a stone stele explaining the mountain’s 1,008 chambers, their grades, features, and steep daily prices.
• Warriors explained that all chambers stayed occupied and that each occupant had to accept three challenges daily, risking the loss of their chamber or serious injury.
• Qin Hao concluded that he needed both sufficient Spirit Stones and strength to cultivate on the mountain, then looked for information about the Heaven-Piercing Tower.

Qin Hao visited the Heaven-Piercing Tower and learned how its trials tested combat skill while earning discounts at Heaven-Piercing Azure Mountain. After discovering the immense cost of cultivating in a Heaven-Class Cultivation Chamber, he decided he would need to challenge the tower, though its higher floors demanded mastery of laws and a self-created Martial Skill.

• Qin Hao followed the crowd to the Heaven-Piercing Tower and saw its eighteen floors and shifting leaderboard.
• Wang Xiaoling offered Qin Hao a book about the tower, and Qin Hao learned that clearing floors earned discounts at Heaven-Piercing Azure Mountain.
• Qin Hao calculated that he could not afford six months in a Heaven-Class Cultivation Chamber without a substantial discount, so he resolved to challenge the tower.
• Wang Xiaoling explained that clearing the first twelve floors required a Half-Step Law, the first fifteen required an Origin Law, and all eighteen required a self-created Martial Skill at least as strong as a Secret Technique.

Qin Hao studied Wang Xiaoling’s booklet on geniuses who had challenged the Heaven-Piercing Tower and learned that 132 eligible contestants had already cleared it. He left with a clearer sense of the Azure Flame Grand Tournament’s competition and how the tower’s later floors worked.

• Qin Hao read the historical list of tower conquerors and recognized the One-Armed Sword Saint and Venerable Hun Yan.
• Wang Xiaoling sold Qin Hao information about 132 eligible geniuses who had cleared the tower, and Qin Hao paid him a hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones.
• Qin Hao learned that disciples from the Spirit-Scolding Sect and Spirit Martial Academy also trained on Heaven-Piercing Azure Mountain, while many hidden geniuses were absent from the list.
• Qin Hao found Han Xu among those who had passed the tower’s Fifteenth Layer and judged their combat strength to be comparable.
• Wang Xiaoling explained that the tower’s first twelve floors held Monsters or Half-Step Venerables, floors thirteen through fifteen held First-Level Venerables, and floors sixteen through eighteen made challengers fight copies of themselves.

Qin Hao entered the Heaven-Piercing Tower and quickly cleared its first two floors, learning that each floor increased the number of opponents. He faced a hundred Level Four Mid-Stage tiger Monsters on the Third Floor and welcomed the greater challenge.

• Qin Hao learned from Wang Xiaoling that the Heaven-Piercing Tower's opponents became Venerables from the thirteenth floor and that challengers faced themselves after the fifteenth.
• Qin Hao asked the white-haired Elder about the requirements, then entered the tower and found himself on a plain facing a Level Four Mid-Stage tiger Monster.
• Qin Hao killed the tiger with his Sword of Destruction and cleared the First Floor.
• Qin Hao defeated three more tiger Monsters and cleared the Second Floor.
• Qin Hao saw a hundred Level Four Mid-Stage tiger Monsters appear for the Third Floor and smiled at the challenge.

Qin Hao cleared the Heaven-Piercing Tower’s Third Floor in only a few dozen breaths, astonishing Wang Xiaoling, who realized the feat could attract the attention of powerful factions. On the Fourth Floor, Qin Hao instantly killed a Level Four High Rank Flood Dragon Great Demon with one sword strike.

• Qin Hao slaughtered a hundred Level Four Mid-Stage giant tigers and cleared the Third Floor.
• Wang Xiaoling saw Qin Hao’s name appear on the plaque and decided to wait for more information he could sell to major powers.
• Qin Hao entered the Fourth Floor and identified its opponent as an Ancient Flood Dragon with a Divine Beast Bloodline.
• Qin Hao struck the Flood Dragon Great Demon once with the Sword of Destruction and cut it in two.

Qin Hao cleared the Fifth and Sixth Floors of the Heaven-Piercing Tower, defeating three and then a hundred Level Four High-Stage Flood Dragon Great Demons. Afterward, he recognized that his lack of wide-area attacks could leave him vulnerable in a chaotic melee and decided to train a skill that could hit multiple targets.

• Qin Hao cleared the Fourth Floor, and his name appeared on the Heaven-Piercing Tower plaque as Wang Xiaoling watched and praised his speed.
• Qin Hao entered the Fifth Floor and killed three Level Four High-Stage Flood Dragon Great Demons with his Sword of Destruction.
• Qin Hao faced a hundred Flood Dragon Great Demons on the Sixth Floor and killed them all while dodging their attacks.
• Qin Hao reflected that his attacks lacked wide-area coverage and decided to train a Martial Skill suited to fighting multiple opponents.

Qin Hao considered creating his own Area-of-Effect Martial Skill, then encountered a Level Four Peak Rank Winged Dragon on the Heaven-Piercing Tower’s Seventh Floor. After the Winged Dragon dodged his Sword of Destruction with its Movement Technique, Qin Hao decided to test Near at Hand, Far Away against it.

• Qin Hao realized he lacked an Area-of-Effect Martial Skill and resolved to create one himself, though he did not know where to begin.
• A Level Four Peak Rank Winged Dragon appeared on the Seventh Floor, and Qin Hao recognized that the later floors would hold increasingly dangerous numbers of them.
• Qin Hao attacked the Winged Dragon with Sword of Destruction, but it evaded the strike using its Movement Technique.
• Qin Hao decided the Winged Dragon was an ideal opponent for practicing Near at Hand, Far Away and used the technique as it charged at him.

Qin Hao honed Near at Hand, Far Away by fighting Black-Winged Wyverns, steadily increasing the distance he could Teleport. After defeating the three wyverns on the Eighth Floor, he prepared to face the hundred Black-Winged Wyverns in the Ninth Trial.

• Qin Hao pursued the Black-Winged Wyvern while repeatedly using Near at Hand, Far Away, improving his maximum Teleportation distance to fifteen meters before killing it with the Setting Sun Sword.
• Qin Hao began the Eighth Floor challenge and dodged the combined attacks of three Level Four Peak Rank Black-Winged Wyverns while continuing to train his Movement Technique.
• Qin Hao increased his casual Teleportation distance to fifteen meters and used his improved speed to kill all three Black-Winged Wyverns.
• Qin Hao completed the Eighth Trial and anticipated that the hundred Black-Winged Wyverns in the Ninth Trial would further improve his Movement Technique.

Qin Hao faced a hundred Black-Winged Wyverns on the Heaven-Piercing Tower’s ninth floor and tried to train Near at Hand, Far Away without relying on his other abilities. The wyverns formed a Heavenly Net designed to counter his movement, leaving him certain to lose unless he used his other powers.

• The elder in White Robes observed Qin Hao’s progress and anticipated that the ninth floor’s hundred Black-Winged Wyverns would challenge him.
• Qin Hao set aside his other techniques and relied only on Near at Hand, Far Away as the wyverns attacked from every direction.
• A Black-Winged Wyvern struck Qin Hao and disrupted his movement, but he forced the technique through and escaped the encirclement.
• The hundred wyverns arranged themselves in a Heavenly Net with eighteen meters between each one, covering Qin Hao’s possible escape routes.
• Qin Hao realized the formation countered Near at Hand, Far Away and that he would lose unless he used his other powers.

Qin Hao tried to escape the hundred Black-Winged Wyverns on the Heaven-Piercing Tower’s ninth floor by refining his Near at Hand, Far Away technique. After discovering he could change direction mid-teleport and reach one hundred and eight meters, he faced the Wyverns with a new possibility.

• Qin Hao realized the Wyverns’ Heavenly Net was too vast to escape with a single teleport, then figured he could chain teleports by circulating through the Cultivation Diagram in advance.
• Qin Hao successfully completed three uninterrupted teleports, covering fifty-four meters, but found his True Essence limited him to three jumps.
• Qin Hao repeatedly teleported as the Wyverns attacked, taking hits while refusing to use the Destruction Laws.
• Qin Hao sensed the Wyverns shifting to intercept him and changed direction midway through a teleport.
• Qin Hao’s altered teleport carried him one hundred and eight meters, astonishing and delighting him.

Qin Hao used Spatial Power to dramatically improve his teleportation, then began killing the Black-Winged Wyverns on the Ninth Floor. As other challengers failed, Qin Hao’s name appeared among the few who had reached the Tenth Layer.

• Qin Hao discovered that changing direction let Spatial Power pull him forward, increasing his teleportation distance to as much as 136 meters.
• Qin Hao used his improved movement to evade the Black-Winged Wyverns, then drew the Setting Sun Sword and began killing them.
• The White-Robed Elder watched Qin Hao’s breakthrough and praised his movement technique, hoping he would clear the Heaven-Piercing Tower.
• Challengers outside the tower described how difficult the upper floors were, while only three people were known to be stuck on the Tenth Layer.
• Qin Hao’s name appeared on the Jade Stone Plaque’s tenth line, surprising the stern young man watching it.

Qin Hao’s steady climb through the Heaven-Piercing Tower drew the attention of the Spirit-Scolding Sect’s Flying Fish Hall and other groups seeking exceptional talent. After learning that Qin Hao had defeated Han Xu, the observers decided to report him as a potential recruit, while Wang Xiaoling hoped to sell him information.

• Ke Cheng dismissed Qin Hao at first, but Qi Zhiyuan argued that his steady progress through the tower’s floors made him worth watching.
• Ke Cheng sent Qi Zhiyuan to investigate Qin Hao and He Kai to monitor the Jade Stone Plaque, then asked the tower master to let him view Qin Hao’s fights.
• The tower master refused Ke Cheng’s request, prompting the three Flying Fish Hall members to suspect that he was protecting Qin Hao’s strength from outsiders.
• He Kai reported that Qin Hao ranked first on the Southern Domain Group’s Hidden Dragon Ranking, cultivated several powerful techniques, and had defeated Han Xu, who had passed the Fifteenth Layer.
• Ke Cheng ordered the others to report Qin Hao to the Spirit-Scolding Sect headquarters, while Qin Hao’s arrival on the tenth floor made him a focus of attention in Heaven-Piercing Square.
• Wang Xiaoling celebrated Qin Hao’s reputation and hoped that, despite the crowd’s access to information about him, Qin Hao might still buy information from her.

After clearing the Ninth Floor of the Heaven-Piercing Tower, Qin Hao faced its Tenth-Floor Guardian, a powerful Half-Step Venerable, and used their battle to study Earth's Wrath. He sensed that the Guardian's Half-Step Gold Laws could suppress the Power of Heaven and Earth behind the ability, but the insight remained incomplete as their fight continued.

• Qin Hao cleared the first nine floors, advanced Near at Hand, Far Away, and prepared to face stronger opponents on the upper floors.
• The Tenth-Floor Guardian appeared in silver armor and attacked Qin Hao with a powerful Blade Laws strike.
• Qin Hao put away the Setting Sun Sword and met the Guardian's attack with Earth's Wrath, suffering a cut to his fist.
• Qin Hao realized the Guardian's Half-Step Gold Laws had weakened Earth's Wrath by suppressing the Power of Heaven and Earth it drew upon.
• Qin Hao charged again barehanded, and he and the Guardian continued battling in midair.

Qin Hao honed Earth's Wrath while fighting through the Heaven-Piercing Tower and discovered Borrowing Force to Repel Force, which let him draw on his opponents' laws to strengthen his attacks. He killed two of the three Eleventh Layer guardians, leaving one still standing.

• Qin Hao improved his speed and mastery of Earth's Wrath until he broke the Tenth Layer guardian's Great Saber and defeated him.
• Qin Hao began the Eleventh Layer challenge against three Half-Step Venerables and fought them using Earth's Wrath.
• When the spear-wielding guardian threatened him with Half-Step Water Laws, Qin Hao drew on those laws and killed him with one punch.
• Qin Hao realized Earth's Wrath had broken through into Borrowing Force to Repel Force, though he could not yet gather an opponent's laws completely.
• Qin Hao used the new technique to drain a guardian's Half-Step Gold Laws and killed him with a punch.