Recaps

Shi Youbing fled the Elimination Round’s powerful fighters while blaming Qin Hao for his downfall and clinging to hopes of qualifying for the Azure Flame Sect. Sikong Xuan’s stray Sword Qi mortally wounded him, using up his final revival and eliminating him.

• Shi Youbing escaped underground after encountering Kong Yan, who was fighting Jiang Lei.
• As he fled, Shi Youbing resented Mu Ziqing’s success and cursed Qin Hao, whom he blamed for his poor ranking.
• Shi Youbing reflected that the many powerful contestants had left him struggling to survive, but he still hoped to enter the top hundred.
• Sikong Xuan’s Sword Qi struck Shi Youbing while he was underground, pulverizing his internal organs.
• Having already revived three times, Shi Youbing died and vanished from the Elimination Round.

Sikong Xuan killed Shi Youbing with a passing sword strike, sending Shi Youbing’s ranking below eighteen thousand and leaving him determined to drag Qin Hao down with him. At the Shi Family, Ancestor Yanshi grieved Shi Youbing’s failure and feared that the Azure Flame Sect would discover his actions after his Black Flame Grand Formations were broken.

• Sikong Xuan checked his ranking after killing Shi Youbing and decided he needed to rise from eighty-ninth place to at least the Top Fifty.
• Shi Youbing saw his ranking fall below eighteen thousand and blamed Qin Hao, then planned to lure powerful contenders toward Qin Hao in the valley region.
• Shi Youbing used Mystic Gate Earth Escape to head toward the valley region, determined to ruin Qin Hao’s chances if he could not reach the Top Hundred.
• The Shi Family watched Shi Youbing’s collapse in dismay, while Ancestor Yanshi called him useless and feared the Azure Flame Sect would act against him.
• Ancestor Yanshi learned that his Black Flame Grand Formations at the Myriad Phenomena Hall and Tianshui City had been broken and suspected a time-affecting Formation was protecting both places.

After stabilizing his Self-World and mastering Sword Qi Storm, Qin Hao emerged from seclusion determined to climb the Azure Flame Grand Tournament rankings. He concealed the true strength of his Origin Laws and flew toward the island’s outskirts, where he prepared to fight the first Warrior who challenged him.

• Ancestor Yanshi concluded that a powerful expert had likely helped Qin Hao and Elder Shuixian by setting up a formation, but he stayed to watch the competition and grew furious at Shi Youbing’s poor performance.
• Qin Hao stabilized his Self-World after half a month and reflected on the strength it and Sword Qi Storm had added to his abilities.
• Qin Hao resolved to stop keeping a low profile and draw out opponents so he could gain points before the Elimination Round ended.
• Qin Hao concealed his Origin Laws’ true level, made them appear to be at Second-Order Perfection, and flew toward the outer region of Two Realms Island.
• A bearded young man with Fourth-Tier Blade Laws attacked Qin Hao with his great saber after mistaking him for an easy target.

Qin Hao used his hidden strength to hunt warriors on Two Realms Island, quickly accumulating points and becoming known as the Setting Sun Sword Swordsman. After defeating three Heavenflame Continent contestants, he reached 31,068th place.

• Qin Hao stopped the bearded young man's saber with his Fourth-Tier Destruction Laws and killed him with the Setting Sun Sword, gaining over ten thousand points.
• Qin Hao disguised his strength and spent the next few days killing dozens of warriors, many of them with a single sword strike.
• Warriors began spreading word about the Setting Sun Sword Swordsman, who appeared to wield Second-Order Origin Laws but possessed far greater power.
• Qin Hao spotted three young men from the Heavenflame Continent and attacked them as they tried to decide whether to flee or fight.
• Qin Hao killed all three and saw his rank rise to 31,068th.

Qin Hao raised his Origin Laws to the Third-Order, defeated five Torch Dragon World warriors, and rose to 8,619th place before beginning to hunt opponents himself. As the Southern Reach celebrated his rise, Shi Youbing plotted to lure powerful geniuses into attacking him and stop him from reaching the top hundred.

• Qin Hao raised his Origin Laws to the Third-Order, attracted more challengers, and killed five Torch Dragon World warriors without revealing his Sword Qi Storm.
• Qin Hao climbed to 8,619th place, became known as the Setting Sun Sword Swordsman, and began hunting warriors after contestants stopped daring to attack him.
• Disciples, Qin Hao's family, and the Southern Reach's Venerables celebrated his rise and hoped he would join Mu Ziqing in reaching the top hundred.
• Shi Youbing heard of Qin Hao's growing fame, grew jealous, and decided to find him and spread word of his strength to draw powerful geniuses into attacking him.

Shi Youbing spread a fabricated story that Qin Hao, known as the Setting Sun Sword Swordsman, had exposed the Devil Race and was feared by the Blood Demon Race, hoping powerful geniuses would hunt him down. The rumor swept Two Realms Island, and Mu Ziqing concluded Qin Hao was being targeted as formidable contestants began taking interest.

• Shi Youbing decided to draw powerful geniuses toward Qin Hao by making his reputation spread across Two Realms Island.
• Shi Youbing recruited weaker contestants to spread a rumor that the Devil Race had hunted Qin Hao because they feared his talent, and that he had exposed their infiltrators.
• The rumor spread across Two Realms Island, attracting the attention of many talented, highly ranked geniuses.
• Mu Ziqing heard the rumor and connected the Setting Sun Sword Swordsman to Qin Hao because Qin Hao owned the Setting Sun Sword and had previously been hunted by the Devil Race.
• Mu Ziqing realized someone was targeting Qin Hao and worried that formidable geniuses, many of whom were likely to finish in the top hundred, would pursue him.

Mu Ziqing worried that the famous Setting Sun Sword Swordsman would be targeted by powerful contestants, while Shi Youbing’s campaign to spread news of him gained momentum. The chapter left Kong Yan intent on hunting Qin Hao and Shi Youbing ready to reveal his location if he found him.

• Mu Ziqing feared that powerful geniuses would hunt Qin Hao and set out to look for him.
• Zhuge Hong and Chen Jianqing realized they had no chance of reaching the Top Hundred and could not help Qin Hao.
• Kong Yan killed a youth who identified the Setting Sun Sword Swordsman as a genius from the True Martial Continent, then vowed to defeat him.
• Kong Yan recalled his grudge against warriors from the True Martial Continent and went searching for the Setting Sun Sword Swordsman.
• Shi Youbing heard warriors discussing Qin Hao and considered the plan to spread news of his location if he found him.

Qin Hao wondered why Warriors were fleeing from him, then learned that rumors had dubbed him the Setting Sun Sword Swordsman and credited him with exposing Devil Race infiltrators. Leng Zhenxiong of the Heavenflame Continent challenged him, convinced the Blood Demon Race had singled him out, and drew a blazing saber.

• Qin Hao noticed that Warriors fled whenever they saw him and worried that he could not gain points quickly enough.
• Leng Zhenxiong approached Qin Hao and identified him as the Setting Sun Sword Swordsman, citing rumors about his strength and the Devil Race.
• Qin Hao explained that Devil Race infiltrators had hunted him and that the Blood Demon Race had targeted all top tournament talents, not just him.
• Qin Hao suspected someone had spread the rumors to lure top talents into fighting him, but welcomed the chance to face challengers.
• Leng Zhenxiong concluded that the Blood Demon Race had singled out Qin Hao and drew a flaming battle saber to challenge him.

Qin Hao fought Leng Zhenxiong after the Heavenflame Continent genius sought him out for a challenge. Qin Hao overwhelmed him with Shadowless Trace, and Leng Zhenxiong admitted defeat before vanishing.

• Leng Zhenxiong spotted Qin Hao, confirmed his identity, and challenged him to a fight.
• Qin Hao revealed his Fourth-Tier Destruction Laws, and Leng Zhenxiong attacked with Thunderfire Lightning.
• Qin Hao countered with Shadowless Trace, whose Sword Shadows outnumbered and cut through Leng Zhenxiong's attack.
• Qin Hao accelerated the Sword Shadows and engulfed Leng Zhenxiong, who admitted defeat before vanishing.

After defeating Leng Zhenxiong, Qin Hao climbed the tournament rankings by defeating a succession of challengers and rose to 116th place. With his rank slipping and few warriors left to find, he encountered Kong Yan, a powerful fighter with Fifth Tier Earth Laws.

• Qin Hao defeated Leng Zhenxiong and discovered that the victory raised him to 938th place.
• Qin Hao checked the rankings and saw Mu Ziqing in 68th place, Qiao Chuyu in 99th, and Yang Yi in the top two hundred.
• Qin Hao defeated several warriors who sought to challenge him, rising from 938th to 116th place before slipping to 117th.
• Qin Hao searched for opponents for two days but found no one, then spotted Kong Yan approaching with powerful Fifth Tier Earth Laws.

Qin Hao’s victory over Leng Zhenxiong propelled him into the top rankings, drawing the attention of Kong Yan, a renowned genius from Ten Directions World. Kong Yan dismissed Qin Hao as beneath him, but Qin Hao destroyed his casual punch and made him turn back.

• Qin Hao’s rank rose to 116th after he defeated Leng Zhenxiong, then slipped to 120th as warriors at Myriad Phenomena Hall watched.
• Kong Yan confronted Qin Hao and dismissed his Fourth Tier Origin Laws as unimpressive while asking about Pang Xuan, Sikong Xuan, and Dongfang Lin.
• Kong Yan casually punched Qin Hao and turned away, calling the encounter a waste of time.
• Qin Hao cut apart Kong Yan’s fist-shaped shock wave with the Setting Sun Sword, making Kong Yan look back in surprise.

Qin Hao met Kong Yan’s Earth Pulse with Shadowless Trace, stopping the stronger warrior’s attack despite Kong Yan’s Fifth Tier Origin Laws. Qin Hao revealed that he had used only sixty percent of his Sword Move’s power, leaving Kong Yan stunned and angry.

• Kong Yan recognized that Qin Hao had easily blocked his earlier punch and challenged him to face Earth-Shattering Blast.
• Kong Yan used Earth Pulse, sending a massive fist of Earth Force and rolling waves of ground toward Qin Hao.
• Qin Hao used Shadowless Trace, and thousands of Sword Shadows carved away the fist imprint’s strength until the attacks were evenly matched.
• Qin Hao told Kong Yan that he had used only sixty percent of his Sword Move’s power, darkening Kong Yan’s expression.

Qin Hao faced Kong Yan’s second Earth-Shattering Blast and tested the defensive strength of Watertight Defense. He found that using eighty percent of its power could withstand Kong Yan’s earth fists, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Qin Hao explained through his thoughts that his merged Origin Laws and Self-World let him overpower opponents, and that he had used sixty percent of Shadowless Trace to block Kong Yan’s first attack.
• Kong Yan dismissed Qin Hao’s claim, then prepared his next punch and promised it would kill him.
• Kong Yan unleashed Heaven-Shattering Earth-Splitting, sending countless powerful earth fists at Qin Hao from the ground.
• Qin Hao used Watertight Defense at seventy percent power, but the earth fists dented and nearly broke the Sword Net.
• Qin Hao raised Watertight Defense to eighty percent, and the Sword Net withstood Kong Yan’s attacks.

Qin Hao blocked Kong Yan’s Heaven-Shattering Earth-Splitting, astonishing the warriors who gathered to watch their battle. Kong Yan admitted Qin Hao was worthy of fighting him but insisted he was still no match for him, and Qin Hao calmly challenged him to continue.

• Kong Yan’s Earth Laws split the ground across more than ten kilometers, drawing warriors toward the battle.
• Shi Youbing recognized Kong Yan’s attack, assumed Qin Hao was fighting him, and hurried to watch.
• The gathered warriors saw Qin Hao inside a Sword Net Defensive Barrier formed from Setting Sun Shadows and realized he was the Setting Sun Sword Swordsman.
• Shi Youbing watched in disbelief as Qin Hao’s barrier withstood Kong Yan’s Heaven-Shattering Earth-Splitting.
• Kong Yan admitted Qin Hao’s strength was close to his own but claimed he would still win, and Qin Hao invited him to attack again.

Qin Hao used Watertight Defense and Gap-Seeking to counter Kong Yan’s strongest attack, but the blast left both fighters apparently wounded. Shi Youbing believed Qin Hao was near death and considered attacking him and Kong Yan to seize their points.

• Kong Yan warned Qin Hao that his third Earth Doppelganger-Shattering Blast was his strongest move and could injure him.
• Kong Yan struck the ground, unleashing a massive blast that tore through Qin Hao’s full-power Watertight Defense.
• Qin Hao used Gap-Seeking to meet Kong Yan’s fist, and the resulting shockwave shook the distant spectators.
• The onlookers sensed Qin Hao’s Life Aura fading and saw that Kong Yan was pale and clutching his chest.
• Shi Youbing assumed both fighters were wounded and began considering attacking them to gain their points.

Qin Hao defeated Kong Yan with the counterattacking Sword Qi from his defensive Sword Net, leaving Kong Yan mortally wounded while Qin Hao remained unharmed. Shi Youbing rushed in hoping to kill them both, but Qin Hao recognized him and attacked.

• Shi Youbing charged toward Qin Hao and Kong Yan, hoping to take advantage of their apparent injuries and earn their points.
• Kong Yan realized Qin Hao’s Sword Net had reflected his attacks and inflicted a devastating wound, while Earth-Shattering Blast’s backlash had also weakened him.
• Kong Yan admitted he had underestimated Qin Hao as his Life Aura rapidly faded.
• Shi Youbing arrived, saw that Qin Hao was uninjured and Kong Yan was near death, and was shocked that Qin Hao had defeated him.
• Qin Hao recognized Shi Youbing and slashed at him with the Setting Sun Sword, sending down Sword Qi imbued with Fourth Tier Destruction Laws.

Qin Hao killed Shi Youbing with a single sword strike after defeating Kong Yan, and Shi Youbing revealed that he had spread Qin Hao’s identity to draw powerful challengers against him. Shi Youbing was eliminated, while Kong Yan vowed to face Qin Hao again in a later round of the Azure Flame Grand Tournament.

• Qin Hao pierced Shi Youbing’s chest with one sword strike, leaving him mortally wounded and furious.
• Shi Youbing cursed Qin Hao and revealed that he had spread the news that Qin Hao was the Setting Sun Sword Swordsman to attract stronger challengers.
• Qin Hao resolved to destroy the Shi Family and pursue Tianshui City and the Myriad Phenomena Hall for their involvement.
• The Power of the Two Realms eliminated Shi Youbing from the Azure Flame Grand Tournament.
• Kong Yan praised Qin Hao’s strength and promised to defeat him in the Challenge Round or Advancement Round before he vanished.

Qin Hao killed Kong Yan and Shi Youbing, shocking the warriors who witnessed the battle and earning the name Setting Sun Sword Swordsman. His new rank rose to sixty-third, and he chose to wait atop a conspicuous peak for other powerful geniuses to challenge him.

• Qin Hao survived the battle as Kong Yan and Shi Youbing vanished, leaving the watching warriors too afraid to approach him.
• Warriors across the battlefield called Qin Hao the Setting Sun Sword Swordsman and judged him strong enough to rank in the top thirty.
• Myriad Phenomena Hall celebrated Qin Hao's victory after his new ranking placed him sixty-third and in the Top Hundred.
• Qin Hao checked the rankings and saw Qi Long in first place, Dongfang Lin second, Ji Ziqi third, Sikong Xuan in the top ten, and Mu Ziqing sixty-seventh.
• Qin Hao decided to stay nearby rather than search for Mu Ziqing, then flew to a towering peak to invite powerful geniuses to challenge him.

After Qin Hao killed Shi Youbing in the Azure Flame Grand Tournament, Ancestor Yanshi considered how to deal with Qin Hao and worried about the consequences of his own actions. A mysterious visitor appeared in the Shi Family Hall, and Ancestor Yanshi recognized the intruder as a member of the Blood Demon Race.

• The Shi Family watched Qin Hao kill Shi Youbing with one sword strike, leaving Ancestor Yanshi furious.
• Ancestor Yanshi drove everyone from the hall and reflected on how Shi Youbing’s defeat endangered his hopes of breaking through to Creation.
• Ancestor Yanshi reasoned that Qin Hao was unlikely to become an Azure Flame Sect Official Disciple, so the sect might not investigate his actions in Tianshui City and the Myriad Phenomena Hall.
• A cold laugh sounded in the empty hall, and Ancestor Yanshi searched for the unseen intruder.
• A cloud of black mist formed into an ancient-looking elder, whom Ancestor Yanshi identified as a member of the Blood Demon Race.

Demon Ancestor Yin tried to recruit Ancestor Yanshi into a partnership with the Blood Demon Race, warning him that Qin Hao might become powerful enough to threaten him. Ancestor Yanshi rejected the offer until Demon Ancestor Yin promised the Blood Demon Great World could help him advance to Creation.

• Demon Ancestor Yin revealed that he knew what Ancestor Yanshi had done in the Southern Reach and warned that Qin Hao might report him to the Azure Flame Sect.
• Demon Ancestor Yin recounted how Qin Hao had destroyed the Demon-Suppressing Pool and described his rapid rise in strength, arguing that he could become an Azure Flame Sect Official Disciple.
• Ancestor Yanshi insisted Qin Hao could not reach the Top Ten or advance to the Outer Gate, but realized Qin Hao might eventually seek revenge regardless.
• Ancestor Yanshi threatened to strike Demon Ancestor Yin down and report him to the Inspector, while Demon Ancestor Yin offered help from the Blood Demon Great World to advance him to Creation.
• Ancestor Yanshi wavered when Demon Ancestor Yin revealed his offer.

Ancestor Yanshi rejected Demon Ancestor Yin’s offer to help him reach the Creation Realm but kept the visit secret, torn between suspicion and temptation. Meanwhile, Qin Hao continued advancing in the Azure Flame Grand Tournament, rising to thirty-second place with five days left in the Elimination Round.

• Ancestor Yanshi destroyed Demon Ancestor Yin’s Projection Demonic Body, and Demon Ancestor Yin reappeared to leave him an offer he could accept before the tournament ended.
• Ancestor Yanshi refused to cooperate with the Blood Demon Race but chose not to report Demon Ancestor Yin’s visit, partly to conceal what he had done to Qin Hao and partly because the offer tempted him.
• Ancestor Yanshi watched Qin Hao’s progress in the tournament and hoped Qin Hao would not rank high enough to threaten his plans.
• Qin Hao defeated Chai Rong, a powerful genius ranked seventy-first who had mastered the Fifth Tier of the Gold Laws, and killed several other geniuses.
• Qin Hao climbed from sixty-third to thirty-second place, with five days remaining in the Elimination Round.

The Elimination Round ended, and Qin Hao placed thirty-sixth while Mu Ziqing and Qiao Chuyu also qualified for the Challenge Round. As the contestants were transported away, the Power of the Two Realms strengthened Qin Hao’s Self-World, and the experts in the Holy City celebrated Qi Long’s first-place finish.

• The Inspector announced that the Elimination Round had ended and that the top 180 contestants would advance to the Challenge Round in three days.
• Qin Hao noticed the Power of the Two Realms withdrawing his conjured weapons and checked the final rankings: he placed thirty-sixth, Mu Ziqing fifty-second, Qiao Chuyu ninety-eighth, and Yang Yi one hundred and seventieth.
• The Power of the Two Realms descended fully and transported Qin Hao away, while its influence made his Self-World more stable.
• In the Holy City, King Lingyi accepted congratulations after Qi Long took first place and offered King Yongtai a bottle of Dragonflame Wine.
• King Yongtai accepted the wine and reminded King Lingyi that the Elimination Round rankings did not determine the tournament’s final results.

King Yongtai revealed that he believed Qin Hao could reach the Azure Flame Grand Tournament’s Top Ten, surprising the other Creation Realm experts because Qin Hao was not his Disciple. King Zhenyan wondered whether the Two-World Diagram Spirit had taken notice of Qin Hao after witnessing his battle with the Devil Race.

• King Lingyi and the other experts dismissed King Yongtai’s prediction as irritation until Marquis Yanshan mentioned that he had a Disciple competing in the tournament.
• King Yongtai explained that his competing Disciple did not know his identity, while the experts recalled that his previous Disciples had been killed by the Alien Races.
• King Yongtai praised Qi Long and Dongfang Lin, then named Qin Hao as another contender for the Top Ten.
• The experts recalled Qin Hao’s secluded training, the Devil Race’s failed siege, and his current thirty-sixth-place ranking, but King Yongtai clarified that Qin Hao was not his Disciple.
• King Zhenyan reconsidered the Two-World Diagram Spirit’s attention to Qin Hao and wondered if it had watched his battle with the Devil Race before judging the Devil Race Members.

King Yongtai defended his belief that Qin Hao could reach the Top Ten, though he could only explain it as instinct, while the other rulers doubted him. After the Elimination Round ended, Qin Hao reunited with Mu Ziqing, Yang Yi, and Zhuge Hong and noticed Dragon Holy Son Qi Long and a strikingly cold woman among the remaining contestants.

• King Zhenyan recalled the Two Realms Diagram Spirit’s response to Qin Hao’s fight and decided to watch him more closely.
• King Lingyi argued that Qin Hao could reach the Top Fifty but not the Top Ten, while King Yongtai said his confidence came from instinct.
• King Zhenyan celebrated the Elimination Round’s end with the assembled Creations, and King Lingyi offered Dragonflame Wine.
• The contestants were transported outside the Holy City, where Qin Hao spotted Mu Ziqing, Yang Yi, and Zhuge Hong among the survivors.
• Qin Hao reunited with the three and agreed to meet Fang Lang and Chen Jianqing at their usual spot, while Mu Ziqing remained cold toward him.
• Qin Hao noticed the imposing Dragon Holy Son Qi Long and a beautiful, icy woman among the departing contestants.

After the Elimination Round, Qin Hao reunited with his friends, congratulated the three who advanced, and heard that the others planned to leave and train. The gathering ended with promises to meet again in ten years while Mu Ziqing and Yang Yi continued toward the Challenge Round.

• Qin Hao wondered whether a woman in the Top Ten was Ji Ziqi and looked for Dongfang Lin, but the high-ranking contestants had already left.
• Qin Hao and his three companions met Chen Jianqing, Fang Lang, Lin Zhang, and the others at an inn, where they discussed their eliminations and congratulated Qin Hao, Mu Ziqing, and Yang Yi on advancing.
• Chen Jianqing said that he and the others planned to leave in two days to train, and Fang Lang and Lin Zhang described how the tournament had exposed their weaknesses.
• Zhuge Hong vowed to train and challenged Qin Hao, Mu Ziqing, and Yang Yi to compete again in ten years.
• Mu Ziqing wished the departing group a safe journey, while Yang Yi said he would try to reach the Top Hundred in the Challenge Round.